“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. No matter how obsessed Cedric is with you, in the end, he’ll abandon you because of the situation around him. He might keep you as a mistress at best.”
I had somewhat expected Selena to say something like this, but hearing it out loud still didn’t feel good. I didn’t respond, and Selena spoke sharply.
“It would’ve been better if you hadn’t come back here after leaving. Cedric got even more entangled because you showed up. Do you know what it’s like when rumors spread that someone has a mistress nearby?”
Selena spoke as if she were already married to Cedric. I glanced at her hand and said,
“You’re not even married yet. You haven’t even received an engagement ring.”
Selena let out a dry laugh.
“I’ll get it soon. Cedric visited a jewelry shop, and once the upcoming banquet happens, he’ll make a big announcement.”
If I thought about her words carefully, they were all just guesses.
“Did Cedric say that? That he’d do it at the banquet?”
“He didn’t say it, but…”
“Then it might not happen that way.”
I said indifferently, and Selena frowned as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Revril, I didn’t want to go this far, but right now, you mean nothing to Cedric. You’re just someone he played with once.”
“Herder said something similar. But I won’t believe anything unless Cedric tells me himself.”
Selena looked at me in surprise. I had misunderstood so much because of what they said. When I left Cedric, I didn’t even get to hear his side properly. If we had sat down and talked calmly, things wouldn’t have gone so wrong.
“Revril, Lord Herder told me about you, but I didn’t expect you to act this shamelessly. You’re from a worthless family.”
A worthless family. I had nothing to say since it was true. When I stayed silent, Selena seemed angry and started throwing out words.
“Right now, Cedric might be looking for you, but soon he’ll throw you away.”
“Why are you so sure of that?”
“Because Cedric broke up with you and was just given the power to act as regent. If he keeps someone like you from a low-status family around, people will talk.”
“…”
“And my family has been helping him a lot. Especially in getting that regency authority.”
Hearing that made me feel hollow inside. It was true that my family hadn’t done anything to help Cedric. In fact, my father had asked so much of him that it was a relief he hadn’t caused harm. After I broke up with Cedric, my father’s business failed suddenly. That showed how much we had been depending on Cedric.
“That’s why someone with nothing like you doesn’t belong here,” Selena emphasized.
Even so, I wished she would leave this place.
“I don’t mind other women, but I want you to be the one to end things with Cedric.”
“What did you just say?”
“As long as it’s not you, I’ll be fine. I know I’m of no help to Cedric anyway.”
“Revril, you really…”
“So please leave this mansion first.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Selena threw her teacup at me. I took out a handkerchief and wiped the tea off my face. She gave a short, sarcastic laugh, surprised that I stayed calm.
“There’s nothing you won’t say in front of me.”
Her words were sharp and bitter. I no longer felt the need to stay seated.
“I’ll be going now.”
As I turned to leave, a teacup flew past me and shattered not far away. I flinched but didn’t care and walked out.
As soon as I left the drawing room, Meli rushed toward me.
“Lady Revril, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
That was all I said before heading upstairs. Meli followed behind in quick steps. She glanced at me a few times, then lowered her head and sighed.
I looked at her, wondering what was going on, and she began to mumble.
“Lady Revril, I’m sorry. Actually, when Master asked about the dress, I told him everything, even about Lady Selena’s involvement.”
“When was that?”
“This morning, before he left.”
I didn’t feel good that Cedric had left without a word, but knowing he had cared enough to ask calmed me a little. At least it felt like he cared more about me than about Selena. Even if I couldn’t help him in any way.
“Our family has been helping Cedric a lot. Especially in getting him the regency authority.”
I sighed inwardly as I climbed the stairs. I never imagined that a family with nothing to offer would keep weighing me down like this. Not only in society, but even the people around me judged me based on the family I came from.
Since my family had no honor, people saw me as someone not worth much either. In a way, it was a miracle that Cedric had sent me a marriage proposal in the first place. And I had kicked that miracle away myself.
I walked with my head down, trying not to look at the pink roses in the hallway. But the roses became more abundant as I walked. Near my room, the walls were so covered with pink roses that I could see them even while looking at the floor.
It was obvious—like he wanted me to see them. I held in my rising emotions and went into my room.
My mind was a mess, so I lay on the bed right away. I wanted to sleep and forget all the complicated thoughts.
How long had I been asleep? I felt something touch my wrist. When I opened my eyes, someone was gently lowering my hand. The person was wearing white, and I recognized him from before.
I quickly looked around. Then I locked eyes with Cedric, who was standing beside the bed. Bad memories from the past came rushing back, and I quickly spoke.
“I’m fine now.”
Cedric gave a signal to the doctors. They bowed and quietly left the room. Cedric silently looked down at me. His gaze felt intense, as if it could see through me. I asked, wondering why he had come with doctors.
“Why are you here? And what’s with the doctors?”
“You had a high fever back then. I wanted to check if there was something more serious.”
“…”
“And I’ve taken care of your trial so you don’t need to worry. The documents have been transferred to our side.”
I didn’t know if I should thank him or tell him he didn’t have to go this far. I couldn’t speak right away. When I looked up, our eyes met. Just seeing his face made my heart race. I was a little glad Cedric had come. He could’ve chosen not to come at all, especially to such a distant room.
Cedric came closer to the bed, not looking away from me. His deep blue eyes under perfectly neat black hair stared straight at me.
I could see his chest rising and falling noticeably. Even though it was covered by a white shirt, I could make out the strong shape of his chest. His scent filled the air strongly. I found myself slightly breathless. I remembered the night we spent together.
Then Cedric leaned down toward me. His warm breath brushed against me as his soft lips touched mine. Before I could catch my breath, he laid me down and climbed over me. He positioned himself between my legs and kissed me again. His breath grew hotter and deeper, his tongue moving softly against mine.
I felt something hard against my thigh. My head was spinning, but I was strangely tired today. Still, Cedric’s touch remained gentle and tender. Especially when he looked at me with that intense gaze full of desire—it made me feel like he hadn’t forgotten me.
I clung to Cedric and let out a breath. The closer he came to me, the more I hoped his memories of me would grow stronger. So that, in the end, he wouldn’t leave me. With a useless family like mine, Cedric was my only lifeline. I leaned against his shoulder and closed my eyes.
When I woke up in the morning, Cedric was gone. I wasn’t surprised—it had always been like this—but I still couldn’t hide my disappointment. I had barely slept last night. I was also feeling unwell and had been blankly staring at the blanket when—
“Lady Revril?”
A familiar voice called from outside the door.
