I followed Cedric right away. I could feel Selena’s sharp gaze. Strangely, a strange pleasure rose inside me. Herder was wrong, and I was right.
My heart was pounding fast, but just knowing he had something to say to me gave me a little hope. Suddenly, I looked at his hand. Between his strong, masculine fingers, there was no ring. If it wasn’t a wedding ring with me, I wished he had no ring at all.
When Cedric reached the office door, a servant opened it. I followed him slowly inside. He unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt and sat down. His calm eyes looked tired.
“Sit down.”
Cedric motioned to the chair in front of him. When I sat, he spoke.
“Revril, I want you to leave this mansion now.”
I felt numb, as if I had been hit hard in the head. It was like my blood cooled, and I became nothing. I couldn’t accept it and opened my mouth blankly.
“What do you mean…?”
“Now that I think about it, maybe I’m doing something wrong to you.”
“No, I’m really okay.”
“I will find you a better place to stay than before. Stay there until the trial is over.”
“Cedric, that’s not necessary. I…”
Our eyes met suddenly. He smiled faintly at me. Unlike my desperate look, he seemed calm, like he was enjoying this situation. When I stared silently, he answered.
“Selena is uncomfortable.”
My head felt cold. Earlier, he didn’t seem to care about Selena at all. Why suddenly now…?
I barely held back the feelings rising inside me and said,
“So, what will happen with the trial?”
“I’ll make sure you win. I’m not going to force you to do something you hate.”
His tone sounded like he was doing me a favor. That attitude felt like a wall between us. Didn’t he want me earlier? I couldn’t accept it and said,
“Cedric, you said your body wants me.”
Cedric looked at me for a moment. When I didn’t look away, he smirked.
“That was before… but now, it’s not.”
“Why?”
“I don’t like women who cry in bed.”
“Cedric, back then I…”
“Revril, you don’t have to explain. I don’t have any special feelings now anyway.”
“If you don’t have feelings, then why do you look at me like that?”
Cedric tilted his head slightly. I felt a lump in my throat but continued.
“Don’t you want me?”
One side of Cedric’s mouth curled up attractively.
“Revril, let’s go.”
Then Cedric stood up. Before, he often cut off my words coldly and built a wall. I was tired of that wall now. Suddenly, I said,
“Are you really going to get engaged to Selena?”
Cedric turned to look at me. I looked into his eyes and asked,
“Is it true?”
He stared at me for a long time. After seeing my desperate eyes, he smirked again.
“Revril, I don’t care about you anymore.”
My pride felt crushed like paper. What were all the times he paid attention to me? Was everything I felt and what the servants said just a useless illusion? I was afraid to admit it, so I just looked at him.
Cedric was about to pass by me, but I grabbed his hand impulsively. The warmth of his large hand felt good. His scent seemed to wrap around me even more.
Cedric stopped, then grabbed my arm and pulled me down. His bright blue eyes were dark, flashing with desire just like before. Now I thought Cedric felt the same as I did.
“Don’t you think the same as me?”
Cedric turned me around. A table touched my back. When I flinched, he came closer, close enough to touch my thigh. His breath touched my lips. I stared stiffly, and Cedric smirked.
“Revril, act only as much as you can handle.”
His tone was sharp. I barely answered.
“I can handle it.”
“Then will you take off your dress for me?”
It wasn’t impossible. I lowered the dress straps. Cedric’s gaze deepened. I unbuttoned the rest of the dress buttons, but my nervous hands kept messing up. Then Cedric suddenly pulled the dress open. A few buttons popped off and scattered around.
Before I could be embarrassed, he kissed me. He was rough and forceful, like something was bursting inside. When the breath grew heavier, he pulled back and kissed my neck and collarbone. Then he stopped at my nape and took a breath. He stayed still, then smirked.
“You always have a scent I like.”
“…”
“It’s nothing special, but it makes me want it.”
Cedric kissed my shoulder.
When I opened my eyes, I was in my room. It was still dark because the night hadn’t fully passed. My head was still fuzzy. I felt like I wasn’t myself, but I was also glad Cedric wanted me, at least a little. Even though he seemed to avoid me, he couldn’t hide his desire inside.
Though it was shameless, I wanted to get close to Cedric again. Maybe that feeling was deep inside me from the start, before I came here.
Besides, I owed two million crocks in debt. The only way I could do was to cling to him. Thinking that made me feel everything was my fault, and tears fell.
“If I hadn’t called Cedric a monster…”
My blanket was stained, but I left my tears to flow.
Then I heard knocking a few times, and the door opened. I looked up and saw an unexpected person.
“Cedric?”
Cedric frowned when he saw me. He looked like he was barely holding back anger.
“Revril. I told you to act only as much as you can handle.”
I hurriedly wiped my tears.
“I’m not crying because of you.”
“If it’s not because of me, then why do you always cry when I see you?”
“That’s…”
“You want to provoke me and make me look like the bad guy?”
“…”
“Oh, maybe I’m already the bad guy?”
Cedric looked at me with a cold face. His eyes were so cold it felt like they pierced my heart.
“Why do you keep staying here when all you’ll do is get hurt?”
“I’m okay.”
Cedric stepped closer. He looked angry.
“Don’t pretend to be okay. Your face shows you’re not.”
I bit my lip and looked down. Cedric frowned and stared. Then he spoke quietly.
“I tried to kill you, didn’t I?”
I remembered when he choked me while I ran away. I was really scared then. I thought he would kill me. But still, he let me go.
“You didn’t really want to kill me.”
“How do you know that?”
His calm voice sounded a little mocking. He didn’t take his eyes off me as he waited.
“When I let you go, your face looked like you were in a daze.”
Cedric smirked.
“You think you can guess me just from that?”
I added,
“And I heard the curse you had is gone now.”
Cedric looked at me without answering. His silent gaze was persistent. I was nervous and couldn’t look up.
A voice echoed above me.
“When you wanted to sleep with me, you were brave. Why can’t you even raise your head now?”
My face turned red quickly. I couldn’t lift my face. Then Cedric sat in front of me.
“Say something, Revril.”
When I looked up slightly, he smiled. His bright blue eyes shone fully with me inside. When I stayed silent, Cedric smirked and slowly stood up.
“If you really want, stay here until the trial ends.”
“…”
“After that, you have to leave.”
He said only that and left the room. Quietness filled the room again. I still didn’t know if it was right to approach Cedric first. It was a sudden impulse. Herder and Selena teamed up to ignore me, so I wanted something from Cedric. Even if it was just pleasure, it was fine. Still, the relationship with Cedric wasn’t bad. He was unbelievably kind.
“I wish he would just treat me badly.”
Then I wouldn’t hold on anymore. Cedric was always like this. So kind that I couldn’t think of anything else. But when we talked, I felt a strange wall.
I left my tears flowing and lay down on the bed. I stared blankly at the ceiling, waiting for sleep.
In the morning, I felt cold all over. I must have caught a cold because I didn’t close the window properly last night. I curled up and picked up a fork. The maid asked carefully,
“Revril, are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine after resting a bit.”
When I caught a cold before, this often happened. Even with a cold, I had to make scented sachets. To pay off debt and rent, I had no choice.
The maid hesitated a moment, then said,
“This time, Selena will stay in this mansion while you are here.”
