In the end, I had washed myself in Cedric’s bathroom. Just like that, I ended up entering Cedric’s bedroom through the door between our rooms. As I stood staring at the door, a maid came up to me.
“The master will be here soon.”
She bowed her head and left the room. I slowly looked around. Just like the last time I had been in his room, there was only a bed, table, chair, and bookshelf. No other furniture could be seen, which made the large room feel empty.
Strangely, it felt similar to his mother’s room. Thinking of that gave me chills, and I turned to look out the window. Even now, I sometimes had nightmares where Cedric’s mother appeared. Her bloodshot eyes, the way she tried to choke me to death—it was all still clear in my memory. I could still remember the humiliation. All those times I was looked down on just because I didn’t come from a noble family came flooding back.
“She’s already dead.”
There was no one left I could talk to about this pain. With the person gone, there was no point in bringing it up now. I thought I had forgotten it all, but suddenly, a tear rolled down.
To be honest, the one good thing about not living with Cedric was that I no longer had to deal with that group. I had already suffered enough from Cedric’s mother I didn’t want to be treated like that anymore.
While I was wiping away my tears, the door burst open. I quickly wiped my eyes with my sleeve. Cedric walked toward me, then paused.
“Revril.”
I barely lifted my head. When he saw my face, he frowned slightly.
“Am I so disgusting that I made you cry?”
“No. I just…”
I couldn’t say anymore. The memory of how he used to protect me from his mother rushed back, and the tears came again. I bit my lip and lowered my head. I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
“I’m sorry. I’m fine, really.”
I couldn’t look at Cedric, so I just kept wiping my tears. Back then, the way he shielded me had felt so warm. Thanks to him, I had barely managed to endure it.
Then, a low voice echoed.
“Go back.”
Surprised, I looked up. Cedric was staring at me with sharp eyes.
“It feels like I’ve become some disgusting trash.”
For the first time, I saw emotion in his eyes. He looked like he was barely holding back his anger. I quickly got up. He took off his robe and handed it to me.
“Wear this.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to give me that…”
“Put it on.”
His voice was firm. I felt like if I didn’t, he’d drape it over me himself.
Without a word, I put on Cedric’s robe and walked past him. When I passed him, he turned his gaze away, as if he didn’t want to see me. My heart felt heavy, and I left the room quickly.
As I walked down the hallway, Cedric’s scent filled my nose. Maybe it was because I was wearing his robe, which even dragged along the floor. When I lifted it slightly, the soft fabric touched my hands. I wrapped the robe around me more tightly and headed toward a quiet corner of the hall.
As soon as I entered my room, I took off the robe and lay down on the bed. More tears soaked into the pillow, as if I hadn’t finished crying yet.
When I opened my eyes, the light coming in felt especially bright. The first thing I saw was Cedric’s robe on the nightstand. No matter how I thought about it, I should have spent the night with him yesterday. Two million crocks were on the line, and I didn’t know what would happen at this rate.
“Why did I have to think of Cedric’s mother at that moment? I never even think about her normally.”
I sighed and sank into thought. Just then, a voice came from outside the door.
“Lady Revril, are you awake?”
“Yes!”
As soon as I answered, the door opened right away. The maid came in with food, just like yesterday. As she set down the tray, I asked her,
“How is Cedric right now?”
The maid tilted her head slightly, and I added,
“I mean, is he angry? Or is he in a good mood?”
She seemed to think for a moment, then answered,
“He didn’t look especially happy or unhappy.”
“Is he eating alone in the dining room?”
“No. He usually eats in his office. But he rarely eats breakfast.”
Her unexpected answer made me feel a bit down.
‘At least when he was with me, he used to eat breakfast.’
As I sat in a daze, the maid said,
“Lady Revril, please eat before it gets cold.”
I thanked her and picked up the fork. She bowed and left the room. No matter how I looked at it, the situation had turned strange. My mind was still tangled, and I ate without really tasting anything, eventually setting the fork down.
I wanted to see Cedric and talk to him. I had come here with determination, but if things just ended like this, the two million crocks could become a problem.
I had a feeling that if I made some kind of move, Cedric would help. He had acted that way until now.
But even if I didn’t spend the night with him, Cedric wouldn’t feel any loss. I fiddled with my fingers and stood up.
In the end, I had to approach him first. I had to solve the matter of the two million crocks somehow.
I firmed up my resolve and headed down the stairs. If I ran into the butler, I wanted to arrange a meeting with Cedric. As I went to the drawing room to find the butler, I heard a voice.
“Cedric, how about this one?”
It was a familiar voice, and it sounded very friendly. She even called him by name and spoke informally. Curious, I looked into the room and saw a familiar face.
Selena. She was smiling brightly and handing Cedric several documents. Cedric was examining them with a serious face.
His large hand caught my eye. He used to always wear a silver wedding ring, but now it was completely gone. Just imagining a different ring from someone else on that finger made my chest ache.
Just then, two servants passing nearby whispered as they glanced toward the room.
“She comes here so often these days, doesn’t she?”
“Didn’t you hear? The Verdin family and his are even talking about engagement.”
Engagement. A chill ran through me like the air had frozen. I stood there in a daze, then quickly moved away. I didn’t want Selena to see me in this state.
Just as I was about to go back upstairs.
“Lady Revril.”
I turned my head at the butler’s voice. He bowed and said,
“Lord Felix is here to see you.”
I immediately ran to the door. Felix smiled when he saw me and came closer.
“Lord Felix, what brings you here?”
“I have something to tell you. By the way, do you have time now?”
I nodded, then said carefully,
“Lord Felix, I’m staying in this mansion, but I’m not really in a position to invite anyone…”
“Then, would it be alright to talk in the garden for a bit?”
I nodded with a bright smile. As we walked in the garden, memories of being there with Cedric came to mind. Especially in this spot, where we had burned Cedric’s mother’s clothes.
“Lady Revril?”
His voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned my head to see Felix looking at me curiously.
“Yes?”
Felix narrowed his eyes.
“You didn’t hear what I just said, did you?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Felix gave a warm smile.
“It’s okay. You must be very stressed because of the trial.”
I lowered my head awkwardly. Felix looked at me for a moment, then spoke again.
“So, is the Duke of Jedburgh considering the two million crocks?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know if Cedric will really do that…”
“Are you close to the Duke of Jedburgh?”
His question caught me off guard, and I asked back without thinking,
“Why?”
“You call him by his full title without hesitation.”
I quickly added,
“I’ve visited this place before. So I know him a little.”
It wasn’t a lie. I had come here six months ago, and it wasn’t like I didn’t know Cedric at all.
Felix furrowed his brow and seemed to think for a moment. Then he looked at me. His expression was more hopeful than before.
“Then maybe we have a good chance of winning the trial?”
“Still, I’m not sure he’ll really help. I can’t say for sure.”
“That’s why I wanted to say…”
Felix paused like he was hesitating. I watched him, curious about what he was going to say. Before I knew it, we were near the mansion. If something happened, we were close enough to be seen from the main entrance.
But since Cedric and Selena were still in the drawing room, we were out of their sight. Unless they came outside, they wouldn’t see us.
As I quietly waited, Felix spoke.
“What if we delay the trial a bit?”
“Delay it?”
Felix nodded.
“If we rush things on our side, I’m afraid you’ll feel more pressured.”
“I think I’m okay, but…”
“Are you really okay with it?”
I couldn’t answer right away. I needed to talk to Cedric and decide what to do, but the trial was in just a few days. I was feeling anxious.
