I turned my head in surprise. A moment later, a maid brought out tea. I sat at the table with a small sense of relief.
There was only one steaming teacup on the large table. It seemed they hadn’t prepared one for Cedric.
The maid placed the cup down, bowed her head, and left. I took a sip of the tea, feeling nervous. A sweetness I’d never tasted before spread through my mouth. It was a strangely new flavor.
But I didn’t drink anymore and set the cup down. It tasted good, but for some reason, my heart started pounding, and I didn’t feel like drinking any more.
I sat quietly, fidgeting with my hands. Tick-tock. The ticking of the second hand sounded especially loud. I stared at the empty seat in front of me, then looked around. But soon, my heart became even more tense.
Just then, calm footsteps approached. I wet my dry lips and swallowed. The door opened. I was holding my breath.
“Lady Revril, the master will be a little late.”
All the tension drained out of me at once. I forced myself to keep a neutral expression and nodded. The butler bowed and left the room.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have come here.’
Now that I thought about it, I might be the worst person to Cedric. Maybe that’s why he was avoiding me. My mind was filled with countless thoughts as I looked at the clock. As time passed, my anxiety grew. My hands became sweaty, and I had to hold a handkerchief.
Then, steady footsteps sounded, and the door opened quietly. A familiar face appeared. I immediately stood up.
“Cedric.”
Cedric saw me and slowly walked over. He sat at the table and looked at me.
“It’s been a while, Revril.”
He gave a faint smile. His sharp eyes, straight nose, and well-balanced lips were as perfect as ever. His appearance was still flawless, like not a speck of dust could touch him.
Unlike how he looked in the newspapers, he felt so real in person that I stared at him blankly. Then, I caught a familiar scent—it was one I had faintly remembered. A comforting and reassuring scent.
“Are you going to just stand there?”
His words finally brought me back to reality. I slowly sat down, and Cedric spoke.
“The butler said you had something to tell me.”
I had thought I’d have a lot to say when I saw Cedric. I assumed he would too. But now he was acting like there was a wall between us, only saying what was necessary. Of course, Cedric probably had no thoughts about me anymore.
I let out a silent sigh and opened my mouth.
“I’m sorry.”
That was the first thing I wanted to say when I met Cedric. I had tried to express it in the letter too.
Cedric silently looked at me. His expression was cold, without a hint of warmth—unapproachable at a glance.
It was my fault for misunderstanding him and speaking badly about him, so I had no room to complain. But I still felt ashamed for coming here to ask for help empty-handed.
Though I wasn’t sure I had anything that could satisfy Cedric anyway. Lost in thought, I lowered my head.
“You came all this way just to say that?”
His low voice was quite cold. I swallowed hard and fidgeted with my hands.
“That too, but…”
“Don’t beat around the bush. Just say it.”
His voice was softer than before. I hesitated for a moment, then said,
“Can you help with the trial that’s happening here?”
Even I felt ashamed of myself. After running away, I came back just to ask for help. Honestly, I wouldn’t blame Cedric if he kicked me out right away.
Then Cedric said,
“That’s not possible.”
I stiffened and looked at him.
“I’ve never gotten involved in a trial like that before.”
But Felix had said that if we asked Cedric, the outcome of the trial might improve. Was Felix wrong?
As I stayed silent, Cedric continued,
“Of course, I do have the final say in trials held in my territory, but I didn’t expect you to come here and ask me directly.”
My face grew hot. I really did seem like someone shameless in front of Cedric.
“I’m sorry. Everything happened so fast that I couldn’t think straight. I have a lot of debt to pay too…”
“That’s not why I’m here.”
Cedric stared at me intensely. I closed my mouth and lowered my head. I didn’t have the courage to meet his gaze. As I fidgeted with my hands, a low voice reached me.
“Revril, since you came all the way here, shouldn’t you offer something in return?”
When I looked up, Cedric was staring hard at me. His eyes were intense, like he wanted something. As I stayed silent, he said,
“If I say no, are you just going to leave?”
“No… I…”
Cedric chuckled. His attractive smile was still the same.
“Why don’t you say what you said that night—ask me to spend the night with you again?”
“…What?”
I looked at him, confused, and he smiled slightly.
“If you say that, I might just go along with it.”
My heart pounded unevenly. When I stared at him in shock, Cedric calmly said,
“So, what are you going to do?”
I couldn’t answer right away. The smile had already disappeared from his face. He looked cold, just like when he looked at others. There was no warmth in his gaze.
I barely calmed myself and said to him,
“I’m sorry for leaving without hearing you out. Back then, I…”
Cedric leaned forward. Looking into my eyes, he said quietly,
“Revril, like I said, I didn’t come here to hear that.”
“…”
“You don’t need to apologize to me. I’m only thinking about how to use you right now.”
“Cedric…”
I answered blankly, and he gave a slight smile.
“At least I still like your body.”
It was something I hadn’t expected. As I sat there speechless, Cedric straightened up firmly.
“Next time, make things clear.”
“…?”
“Don’t come with an empty heart.”
Cedric stood up and walked out. I stared blankly at the closed door. Eight million crocks. My head was spinning. But to think of being his bed partner for a night?
No matter how I thought about it, that wasn’t right. I sighed and stood up. I regretted coming here. It felt like I’d reached the lowest point, and I felt endlessly miserable.
I left the room weakly. Just like the butler had earlier, I walked down the hallway. I heard laughter echoing. Down below, people in fancy dresses were gathered, laughing among themselves. I quickly walked away so they wouldn’t notice me and left through the servant’s door. Outside the mansion, it was completely quiet. The only sound was the occasional chirping of bugs in the darkness.
Eight million crocks. That huge amount and Cedric’s voice kept swirling in my head. But no matter how I looked at it, it was a complicated problem.
I returned to the inn, locked the door, and lay down. As soon as I turned off the light, I heard all kinds of noises—thumping and the creaking of beds. I had heard those sounds many times before, so they weren’t unfamiliar, but I still couldn’t sleep.
‘What do I do?’
No matter how I thought about it, eight million crocks was too much to repay. But to become Cedric’s bed partner? I sighed and turned over in bed.
The next day, I went to the nearby courthouse. I needed to know what would happen if I lost the case. When I arrived and approached the counter, a person wearing glasses asked,
“What brings you here?”
“I came to hear the result of the trial request.”
They asked for my name and looked through some files. Then they showed it to me. I carefully received the document. The first trial was set for two days later. And if I lost, I would have to pay double the eight million crocks. I was so shocked I read it again. The result was the same.
‘Felix is doing his best, so maybe we have a chance.’
Strangely, Felix had never lost a trial before. That’s the only reason I was barely holding on with the small payment I had given him.
I stared at the information about the person who filed the claim. It was someone who worked in Cedric’s mine. According to the claim, my younger brother had borrowed my name and committed fraud in the mine. I had now blocked him from using my name again, but it was disgusting how useless my family was.
“Did you finish reading?”
Startled by the sudden voice, I quickly handed the file back.
“Thank you.”
I gave a short thank-you and left the courthouse. If Felix won, I would only need to pay two million crocks. But if we lost, the debt would double to sixteen million crocks. It really was a gamble. Even so, I couldn’t run to Cedric again. In truth, I was shocked by what he said.
He didn’t seem like the person I used to know anymore.
Two days later, Felix arrived exactly 20 minutes before the trial. As soon as he saw me, he greeted me cheerfully.
“Lady Revril, I’m sorry! I had more work than I expected and came late.”
“It’s okay. I’m just thankful you came.”
Honestly, I had been worried he wouldn’t come because I hadn’t paid him much. But Felix smiled as if it was nothing and entered the courthouse. At exactly the scheduled time, the trial began.
As harsh words were thrown at me, I lowered my head. Everything had been done by my younger brother, but because it was under my name, it became my crime.
After this trial ends, this kind of harsh treatment will end too. People were whispering around me. When I looked up slightly, I saw a familiar face.
