There was a quietly persistent edge in his careless eyes. I took it as his interest and kept talking.
“I can understand other women. But Selena…”
“Revril, do you know you don’t have the right to say that?”
“……”
“Of course, I did wrong to you too, but you left first.”
“……”
“And we are already broken up.”
My head felt empty, like something was stabbing my heart. Cedric looked down at me with cold eyes.
“Don’t act so petty, it’s tiring.”
He walked out of the dining room right away. I just breathed out there, feeling like I had been dragged down to the very bottom. I barely held back tears and stood there. After a while, a servant came in and glanced at me.
I slowly turned and left the dining room. Then I heard footsteps. They sounded very fast, like someone was angry. When I looked up, Selena was staring at me. Her eyes were wide open, and her lips were moving.
Curious about what she was saying, I watched her smile bitterly.
“Now you even steal my clothes?”
I was speechless.
“This dress is originally mine.”
“But the maid said she found it in the storage. So now it’s my dress, right?”
“We aren’t even officially engaged to Cedric yet. Don’t take my things without permission.”
Now I was really angry. Selena looked at me like she couldn’t believe what I said. She seemed surprised that I would say such things. I passed by her without saying anything.
I felt wronged as I went up the stairs. It seemed like they wanted to take everything I had. If Cedric married Selena too, I really couldn’t accept it. Even if it was petty, it was no use. Thinking that Cedric’s finger might have a wedding ring for Selena made my stomach twist.
I went straight to my room and carefully took off the dress, putting it in the closet. After I finished organizing the closet, someone knocked on the door.
When I said come in, Meli opened the door calmly and walked in. Her face didn’t look very good. She bowed her head and said in a gloomy voice,
“Miss Revril, I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Miss Selena says to bring that dress to her.”
“What?”
Meli seemed helpless. I didn’t want to lose even this dress.
“Tell her no. It’s originally my dress.”
Meli blinked like she didn’t understand. I didn’t want to explain, but it felt silly to lie now, so I told her everything.
“This is the dress I got when I married here.”
“What? So, Miss Revril, you originally belong here…”
Meli couldn’t finish her sentence. She still looked surprised as she looked at me.
“Even though things ended badly with Cedric, tell her I can’t give up this dress.”
Meli nodded anyway. Her face was still a little blank, but it seemed she was starting to accept reality.
Selena’s words didn’t stay in my mind, but Cedric’s words did clearly:
“Don’t act so petty, it’s tiring.”
Even though he clearly rejected me, I couldn’t leave this mansion easily. I was never a clean-cut person. I always held onto regrets, and it was true that I acted petty like he said.
While I was here, I hoped my trial would end well and Selena would leave this place forever.
Sometimes I got hurt by Cedric’s words, but I could endure it. I even regretted leaving before because I didn’t trust Cedric and only saw small parts of him. At that time, I believed Cedric’s mother’s words without knowing it.
This time, I wouldn’t just leave things alone.
In the evening, Felix came to visit. He looked a little tired but his eyes were lively.
“Miss Revril, we have prepared some papers, so next time we will be more ready.”
There was confidence in Felix’s words. Hearing his bright voice gave me some strength.
“That’s a relief.”
My voice got a little louder. Felix was quiet for a moment and then asked carefully,
“Still, Duke Jedburgh’s help is the biggest. How is he? Did he say he would help?”
I hesitated for a moment and said,
“I think he will.”
Felix smiled brightly. I didn’t smile back. Maybe I just thought it was normal. Also, nothing seemed to be going well, so I wasn’t happy at all.
Then Felix said,
“Miss Revril, don’t worry too much. Duke Jedburgh always keeps his word, so things will end well.”
I was thankful Felix said that. In my mind, only Cedric’s cold face floated.
Then came the sound of horse hooves and wheels. When I turned my head, a large black carriage raised dust and stopped nearby.
The servants quickly ran to the carriage. The door opened and Cedric got out. He ignored the servants’ greetings and walked, then saw me. His gaze quickly moved to Felix. Worried Felix might feel uncomfortable, I quickly said,
“Felix, thank you for coming. It must be hard to come every time like this.”
“No, I’m staying nearby anyway.”
“I hope it’s not too much trouble because of my trial.”
Just then, Cedric came closer. Felix bowed as soon as he saw Cedric. Cedric looked at Felix quietly and said,
“You come often.”
Felix smiled awkwardly.
“You are my client, so it’s natural I come often.”
Cedric’s expression suddenly hardened. He looked at Felix with cold eyes and asked,
“Have you eaten dinner?”
“No, not yet.”
“Then let’s eat together.”
I looked at Cedric, surprised. But he didn’t look at me anymore and went inside the mansion first. I had no idea what Cedric was thinking. Why did he suddenly want to eat dinner together?
I smiled awkwardly and said to Felix,
“Felix, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to eat with us. I think he’s just saying that.”
“No, Duke Jedburgh said it himself, so I’m honored.”
Felix really seemed to think Cedric’s invitation was an honor. I followed him into the mansion, still reluctant. Soon, a servant led us to the dining room.
There was already one more person inside. Selena was looking at me sharply, but when she saw Felix, her expression softened strangely.
I didn’t care and sat in a corner where Selena’s gaze wouldn’t reach me. Felix gently touched my arm.
“Miss Revril, aren’t you going to sit here?”
“I’m fine.”
I forced a smile. Felix nodded and sat where the servant showed him. Then Cedric looked at me and said,
“Revril.”
Everyone looked at me. When I raised my eyes, he gestured to sit close to him.
I always wondered what Cedric was thinking in moments like this. Inviting Felix to dinner suddenly was strange too.
Cedric looked at me as if waiting for me to come. Despite Selena’s sharp gaze, I didn’t care and got up to sit next to Cedric. The servant brought food in front of me. It was uncomfortable to eat with many people, not just with Cedric.
Just when I hesitated to take the fork,
“Who is this? What is your relationship with Revril?”
Selena’s lively voice echoed, and Felix stopped moving his fork for a moment.
“He is my client. I am a lawyer now.”
Selena nodded and looked at me.
“Then you must be quite close to Revril.”
“Yes, somewhat.”
I looked at Felix, and he smiled happily. I smiled back and tried to pick up my fork.
“Normally, lawyers don’t get this close to their clients.”
Suddenly Cedric spoke. Felix looked surprised.
