I quickly returned to my room and locked the door. Just as I was about to lie down on the bed, I saw a note on the nightstand. I weakly picked it up and looked at it again.
[……It’s not your fault, so don’t worry too much.
With love,
Cedric]
Tears fell down my face again. I missed Cedric so much.
Cedric hadn’t come back for a week. I spent most of the time locked up in my room. But honestly, I could manage everything inside the big room. And I didn’t want to go outside and run into Cedric’s family.
After all, it was my fault, and just like they said, there was nothing special about me. After being humiliated like that, I was too scared to face them again.
The only relief was that since then, Cedric’s mother hadn’t called for me again, and Herder hadn’t tried to meet me either. Like a criminal, I stayed quietly in my room, waiting for Cedric to come back.
Then one day, the wind was blowing strongly and dark clouds filled the sky. It looked like a storm was about to hit. The weather was awful, and I wasn’t feeling great either as I sat eating a weak breakfast.
“My lady, a guest has come to see you.”
I slowly lifted my head. At some point, the butler had appeared and was looking at me. I remembered what he said and asked again,
“A guest?”
The butler nodded. But I didn’t really feel like I needed to go. Without Cedric, I was less than a servant in this house anyway.
Besides, the guests who came here were usually for Herder, Batis, or Cedric’s mother. I set down my fork and said,
“Isn’t Herder here?”
“Miss Herder said you should come out.”
“Why?”
“She said since a guest is here at the mansion, it’s right for you to greet them.”
I felt uneasy.
‘Why do I have to go out?’
I was sure Herder didn’t mean it in a kind way. But I was still curious about who the guest was.
“Who is the guest?”
“She’s someone the madam invited. She also knew the previous master well.”
I nodded. If Cedric’s mother had called her, then I had no choice but to go. No matter what she might say, if I didn’t show up, it would only get worse.
After taking the medicine I always took, I stood up. The butler kindly led me to the parlor. I walked in lifelessly.
A woman was sitting in a chair. She wore a dress the color of emeralds. She was so beautiful and elegant that she caught my eye immediately.
As she looked down at her teacup, she slowly lifted her eyes. Even that small movement was full of grace. She smiled calmly.
“Miss Revril?”
Her voice was like a fairy whispering. I was startled and looked at her in surprise. The woman stood up with a bright smile. I looked at her with a confused expression.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Selena. I was Cedric’s childhood friend.”
I didn’t expect someone close to Cedric to be a woman. And such a beautiful one, too. Did I really need to meet her? I couldn’t understand Cedric’s mother’s intentions.
As I stood there silently, Selena looked at me in surprise.
“Didn’t Nancy mention me?”
Calling Cedric’s mother by her first name like that showed how close they were. I finally came to my senses and walked closer to Selena.
“She didn’t say who exactly would be visiting.”
As I said that, I couldn’t help but think of Cedric. I wished he’d come back soon. My heart ached from missing him. Maybe I shouldn’t have come here, just like Cedric said. I was starting to regret it.
“Are you okay?”
I forced a small smile and nodded. Selena looked at me with concern before calmly speaking.
“Madam Nancy told me you were unwell, so I came quickly. She’s always been especially fond of me since I was little.”
Her calm voice showed that she was well-mannered. I barely managed to keep my smile and nodded. Then, a lively voice rang out.
“Oh my, you’re already here!”
I didn’t need to look to know who it was—Herder.
She naturally sat beside me and smiled warmly at Selena.
“Selena, I didn’t expect you to arrive so soon!”
She must have known ahead of time. That’s why I was seated here before she arrived.
Selena and Herder chatted with friendly smiles. I felt left out, and my heart grew heavier.
I had a rough idea why Cedric’s mother and Herder had brought me here. It felt like they were warning me not to try crossing into their world. Even though I had married Cedric, he didn’t feel fully like my husband. I felt like someone who could be replaced at any time—a puppet.
I sat there blankly, listening to their laughter. Like a painting on the wall.
Then the chatter suddenly stopped. I saw Selena and Herder quickly stand up. Wondering what was going on, I turned my head—and saw a familiar face.
My eyes widened.
“Cedric.”
Cedric smiled the moment he saw me and walked over. Ignoring everyone else, he kissed my forehead.
“Have you been well?”
His gentle voice was always so comforting. I barely managed to keep my expression steady and nodded. Then a cheerful voice interrupted.
“Cedric, it’s been so long.”
Cedric’s brows slightly furrowed. The smile on his lips slowly disappeared. As he turned his head, Selena smiled awkwardly and said,
“You didn’t forget me just because it’s been so long, right?”
Cedric stared silently at her, and Selena quickly spoke again, flustered.
“I’m Selena. I used to visit around here sometimes.”
“What are you doing here?”
His voice was cold—uncomfortably so. Herder stepped in.
“Cedric, what do you mean? You and Selena were so close as children. Besides…”
“Did Mother invite her?”
Cedric’s sharp gaze made Herder look away in panic.
“She did, but still, Selena was your childhood friend…”
“So she invited her and also brought Revril here to create this situation?”
“Cedric, what do you mean ‘this situation’? A guest comes, so of course Revril…”
“Revril doesn’t need to meet people like her.”
“People like her? Selena is from the honorable Verdin family! And she even helped with Revril’s mistake.”
Cedric scoffed.
“I heard about that. You and my brother got involved in something pointless.”
Herder’s hands shook.
“Pointless? Batis went through so much trouble. Even now, he’s still…”
“Everything my brother prepared will be thrown out.”
Herder looked shocked.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean only the documents I’ve officially prepared are valid. My brother’s documents use old methods and aren’t needed.”
Herder’s eyes trembled. Ignoring her, Cedric looked at Selena. Their eyes met, and he said in his cold voice,
“If you’re worried about my mother, you should have gone straight to her. Don’t expect to be welcomed here.”
Then Cedric gently held my hand.
“Revril, let’s go.”
At that moment, Selena hurriedly said,
“Cedric, but still…”
Cedric slowly turned back. His gaze grew sharper.
“You only called me that when we were kids. Now, it annoys me.”
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
“Even short words like that get on my nerves.”
Selena replied stiffly,
“I’m sorry.”
Without listening further, Cedric walked out of the parlor. I followed, holding his hand. As soon as we stepped out, the butler bowed his head in front of Cedric.
“If Mother invites someone I don’t want to see, do I still have to face them in this house?”
“I’m sorry. The madam said she really wanted to see her…”
“Then you should have taken better care of Revril. Why would you bring her into that kind of setting?”
“I have no excuse.”
The old butler kept his head bowed. I felt bad, so I lightly grabbed Cedric’s arm. He immediately looked at me.
“Cedric, even if the butler had stopped me, I probably still would’ve gone to the parlor.”
Cedric looked at me for a moment, then said to the butler,
“Come to my office later.”
