This is ridiculous. It can't be true.
Even as she thought that her heart had already accepted Diego's letter as fact. She had checked it several times and said that the letter was late.
“Cecilia.”
Eden was not such a careless man as not to notice Cecilia's agitation.
"...Yes?"
Cecilia, who had been absentmindedly grabbing the hem of her skirt, answered a beat late. Eden, who was sitting across from her in the carriage, placed his elbow on her thigh. Then he leaned forward.
“What are you thinking about?”
His attitude was that he would listen to her concerns.
“I ate breakfast halfway through the day.”
How could she say that her own father had become his stepmother's mistress? Cecilia awkwardly raised the corners of her lips.
"Just..."
"Just?"
“I think Abby has a boyfriend. She’s like a family member, so I have a lot of thoughts.”
And she made up a false excuse. It was a hastily made excuse, but it wasn't bad.
“Oh, that maid girl.”
This was because Eden also knew that Cecilia cared very much for Madame Monte and Abby.
“She’s about the same age as you, so I guess it’s time for her to get married.”
Cecilia nodded.
“I was thinking of just letting her go once she got married.”
Usually, a servant girl would follow her master even after she married and had children like Madame Monte, so Cecilia's decision was an exception.
“She says it’s good to be my servant, but it’s not easy to take care of me. I hope she suffers less from now on.”
There was no reason for Abby to work for money since Diego Lawson was the one who had it all.
“Everyone has their own life, so don’t worry too much about it.”
As he said that, Eden reached out to Cecilia. The hand that had been neatly placed on her thigh was grabbed.
“If you feel bad about losing a true friend, I will be your friend too.”
Eden bowed his head and gave Cecilia a quick kiss on the back of her hand. Cecilia bent down and stared blankly at the man looking up at her.
“You want to be my husband and my friend?”
Eden smiled brightly. At the same time, Eden’s hand slowly fell away. The warmth that had been supporting her hand seemed to gradually fade away.
“There is no reason why it cannot be done.”
But he didn't just quietly move away. Eden's hand slowly moved down, running along her palm and fingers. She felt a tingling sensation as if something was popping out of her fingertips.
“And you still want to be my friend?”
It wasn't because Cecilia was being mean. It was a contact with a rather impure intention from the beginning. When Cecilia slyly glared at him, Eden laughed out loud.
“That’s right. It would be hard to become friends.”
Eden responded with a sly attitude. That was natural. They had already crossed the river of no return countless times.
“Your Highness, we have arrived at Count Casper’s residence.”
Just when Cecilia had barely managed to forget about Curtis through the idle conversation, the carriage stopped and the coachman announced that they had reached their destination.
“Hold my hand.”
Eden, who got out of the carriage first, extended his hand toward Cecilia as if he were worried that Count Casper's servants would steal his work.
“Welcome, Your Highness the Grand Duke. And Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
Just as Cecilia was setting foot on the floor, the butler of Count Casper's family approached and greeted her.
“I was waiting to show you both. Please come in.”
Then he pointed to the indoor exhibition hall and took the lead. Cecilia placed her hand on Eden's arm and walked in step with him.
"Oh."
“The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Burnett have arrived.”
“Countess Casper is here, so of course she will come.”
The people who had been gathered in the main hall whispered to each other as they saw Eden and Cecilia just entering the entrance. Cecilia leisurely greeted them and passed them by.
“...”
That was until she discovered an unforgettable face among them.
“Ilya is here too.”
Cecilia wasn't the only one who noticed Ilya, and Eden's face was also expressionless and staring at one place. Malone Jackinson, who was now Ilya's husband, was with her. But that was all. No one came near Ilya.
“I guess they didn’t fully accept it.”
In addition, there was a rumor that Countess Jackinson, who could not refuse the Emperor's congratulations, had hastily pushed for the marriage while crying. Of course, Cecilia, who had secretly urged Countess on, knew that this was not true.
The Count of Jackinson would have liked to have installed a simple and ridiculous woman as his puppet, and bury the family's scandal forever. Rather than becoming a government, Ilya would have been better off becoming the mistress of a family close to the Empress.
“...It suits you well.”
Cecilia muttered, her eyes fixed on Malone and Ilya. She was serious. No matter how dirty their insides were, on the outside they were a pretty good match.
“Should I send them both out?”
Eden asked softly as if he sensed the discomfort in Cecilia's gaze.
Only then did Ilya feel Cecilia's gaze and straighten her back. However, Malone, who discovered the Grand Duke couple too late, bowed and greeted Cecilia and Eden. Ilya also greeted them awkwardly.
“No, it’s okay. I think they were invited too.”
Cecilia replied, trying to look away from Ilya. That was until she remembered that the Count Jackinson family was a close family to the Empress.
“...”
Could it be possible that the Count of Jackson knew about the relationship between the Empress and Curtis?
Even as she thought that her heart had already accepted Diego's letter as fact. She had checked it several times and said that the letter was late.
“Cecilia.”
Eden was not such a careless man as not to notice Cecilia's agitation.
"...Yes?"
Cecilia, who had been absentmindedly grabbing the hem of her skirt, answered a beat late. Eden, who was sitting across from her in the carriage, placed his elbow on her thigh. Then he leaned forward.
“What are you thinking about?”
His attitude was that he would listen to her concerns.
“I ate breakfast halfway through the day.”
How could she say that her own father had become his stepmother's mistress? Cecilia awkwardly raised the corners of her lips.
"Just..."
"Just?"
“I think Abby has a boyfriend. She’s like a family member, so I have a lot of thoughts.”
And she made up a false excuse. It was a hastily made excuse, but it wasn't bad.
“Oh, that maid girl.”
This was because Eden also knew that Cecilia cared very much for Madame Monte and Abby.
“She’s about the same age as you, so I guess it’s time for her to get married.”
Cecilia nodded.
“I was thinking of just letting her go once she got married.”
Usually, a servant girl would follow her master even after she married and had children like Madame Monte, so Cecilia's decision was an exception.
“She says it’s good to be my servant, but it’s not easy to take care of me. I hope she suffers less from now on.”
There was no reason for Abby to work for money since Diego Lawson was the one who had it all.
“Everyone has their own life, so don’t worry too much about it.”
As he said that, Eden reached out to Cecilia. The hand that had been neatly placed on her thigh was grabbed.
“If you feel bad about losing a true friend, I will be your friend too.”
Eden bowed his head and gave Cecilia a quick kiss on the back of her hand. Cecilia bent down and stared blankly at the man looking up at her.
“You want to be my husband and my friend?”
Eden smiled brightly. At the same time, Eden’s hand slowly fell away. The warmth that had been supporting her hand seemed to gradually fade away.
“There is no reason why it cannot be done.”
But he didn't just quietly move away. Eden's hand slowly moved down, running along her palm and fingers. She felt a tingling sensation as if something was popping out of her fingertips.
“And you still want to be my friend?”
It wasn't because Cecilia was being mean. It was a contact with a rather impure intention from the beginning. When Cecilia slyly glared at him, Eden laughed out loud.
“That’s right. It would be hard to become friends.”
Eden responded with a sly attitude. That was natural. They had already crossed the river of no return countless times.
“Your Highness, we have arrived at Count Casper’s residence.”
Just when Cecilia had barely managed to forget about Curtis through the idle conversation, the carriage stopped and the coachman announced that they had reached their destination.
“Hold my hand.”
Eden, who got out of the carriage first, extended his hand toward Cecilia as if he were worried that Count Casper's servants would steal his work.
“Welcome, Your Highness the Grand Duke. And Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
Just as Cecilia was setting foot on the floor, the butler of Count Casper's family approached and greeted her.
“I was waiting to show you both. Please come in.”
Then he pointed to the indoor exhibition hall and took the lead. Cecilia placed her hand on Eden's arm and walked in step with him.
"Oh."
“The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Burnett have arrived.”
“Countess Casper is here, so of course she will come.”
The people who had been gathered in the main hall whispered to each other as they saw Eden and Cecilia just entering the entrance. Cecilia leisurely greeted them and passed them by.
“...”
That was until she discovered an unforgettable face among them.
“Ilya is here too.”
Cecilia wasn't the only one who noticed Ilya, and Eden's face was also expressionless and staring at one place. Malone Jackinson, who was now Ilya's husband, was with her. But that was all. No one came near Ilya.
“I guess they didn’t fully accept it.”
In addition, there was a rumor that Countess Jackinson, who could not refuse the Emperor's congratulations, had hastily pushed for the marriage while crying. Of course, Cecilia, who had secretly urged Countess on, knew that this was not true.
The Count of Jackinson would have liked to have installed a simple and ridiculous woman as his puppet, and bury the family's scandal forever. Rather than becoming a government, Ilya would have been better off becoming the mistress of a family close to the Empress.
“...It suits you well.”
Cecilia muttered, her eyes fixed on Malone and Ilya. She was serious. No matter how dirty their insides were, on the outside they were a pretty good match.
“Should I send them both out?”
Eden asked softly as if he sensed the discomfort in Cecilia's gaze.
Only then did Ilya feel Cecilia's gaze and straighten her back. However, Malone, who discovered the Grand Duke couple too late, bowed and greeted Cecilia and Eden. Ilya also greeted them awkwardly.
“No, it’s okay. I think they were invited too.”
Cecilia replied, trying to look away from Ilya. That was until she remembered that the Count Jackinson family was a close family to the Empress.
“...”
Could it be possible that the Count of Jackson knew about the relationship between the Empress and Curtis?
Cecilia blood ran cold when she thought about it.
“You two are here. I’ve been waiting for you!”
No. That can't be. There's no way Ilya, who was burning with malice toward herself and no one else, could have pretended not to know that fact.
“Countess Casper.”
Cecilia greeted the host, Countess Casper, with a smiling face.
“Don’t look over there. I invited Count Jackinson and his wife, but I sent those two away because I had some business to attend to.”
Countess Casper hurriedly excused herself, blocking the view of Malone and Ilya, even though she hadn't said a word about them yet.
Perhaps it was because of the rumors that Ilya had not done her job as a maid properly before marriage, or that she had flirted with Eden. Although the latter was denied as a mere rumor, Ilya's reputation in social circles was in shambles.
“Duke Lane has arrived too. Have you seen his face?”
“Has my father arrived?”
Countess Casper nodded at Cecilia's question. Ilya and Malone disappeared over Countess Casper's shoulder.
“Of course. He is the kind of person who keeps his promises like a sword.”
“Where are he now?”
“He was talking to my husband before I got here. He must be on the terrace in the garden.”
"Your Highness."
Cecilia looked up at Eden. Eden nodded with a smile on his face.
“Let’s go together. I think I should say hello too.”
“Then I will bring it to you.”
Countess Casper took the initiative. She wanted to bring Eden to her son and husband and open up a conversation. Eden had not been of much help to them lately. She wanted to rekindle their relationship.
“Honey, the Grand Duke has arrived.”
“Oh my, dear. I didn’t even realize a guest had arrived because I was talking to him.”
Count Casper, who was chatting excitedly with Curtis, noticed Eden and Cecilia and hurried to greet them.
"Father."
“Are you here?”
Curtis greeted Cecilia with a gentle face. Cecilia greeted him as usual. However, her gaze was searching his every feature.
“I heard that you two are doing well.”
“Is it just a story? They actually stick together like this.”
Count Casper chuckled and nodded at Eden's hand that was wrapped around Cecilia's waist.
“It seems like it won’t be long before we see a successor between you two.”
Curtis also looked pleased. Cecilia smiled along with him.
“Yes. I also have to think about the successor of the Duke of Lane.”
But there was truth to those casual remarks.
“I wanted to talk to you about it anyway, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Come and talk comfortably.”
Eden readily let Cecilia and Curtis go.
“What did Her Highness want to talk about that made you ask for separate time?”
Curtis spoke with a friendly face. It was no different from usual, which made her even more upset. Cecilia stopped only after reaching the garden and confirming that no one was there.
“I heard a strange story. I have something to ask you, father.”
“What did you hear that made you say that?”
Curtis looked puzzled at Cecilia's grim face.
“Are you seeing a woman recently?”
“Ah, that’s...”
But his questions soon became embarrassing as Cecilia pressed him. Curtis tried to choose his words carefully.
“Where did you hear that story?”
“Does it matter where I heard it? I want to hear the answer to my question. It’s important to me.”
As Cecilia spoke sarcastically, Curtis sighed.
“I indeed have a girlfriend, but it won’t affect your position..."
“Why?”
“Cecilia, that’s...”
Curtis mumbled and hesitated to answer Cecilia's question. Cecilia quietly clenched her fists. Her cold hands trembled beneath her sleeves.
“Because it is a noble blood that cannot be compared to the Duke of Lane?”
Because his hesitation was soon the answer.
“You two are here. I’ve been waiting for you!”
No. That can't be. There's no way Ilya, who was burning with malice toward herself and no one else, could have pretended not to know that fact.
“Countess Casper.”
Cecilia greeted the host, Countess Casper, with a smiling face.
“Don’t look over there. I invited Count Jackinson and his wife, but I sent those two away because I had some business to attend to.”
Countess Casper hurriedly excused herself, blocking the view of Malone and Ilya, even though she hadn't said a word about them yet.
Perhaps it was because of the rumors that Ilya had not done her job as a maid properly before marriage, or that she had flirted with Eden. Although the latter was denied as a mere rumor, Ilya's reputation in social circles was in shambles.
“Duke Lane has arrived too. Have you seen his face?”
“Has my father arrived?”
Countess Casper nodded at Cecilia's question. Ilya and Malone disappeared over Countess Casper's shoulder.
“Of course. He is the kind of person who keeps his promises like a sword.”
“Where are he now?”
“He was talking to my husband before I got here. He must be on the terrace in the garden.”
"Your Highness."
Cecilia looked up at Eden. Eden nodded with a smile on his face.
“Let’s go together. I think I should say hello too.”
“Then I will bring it to you.”
Countess Casper took the initiative. She wanted to bring Eden to her son and husband and open up a conversation. Eden had not been of much help to them lately. She wanted to rekindle their relationship.
“Honey, the Grand Duke has arrived.”
“Oh my, dear. I didn’t even realize a guest had arrived because I was talking to him.”
Count Casper, who was chatting excitedly with Curtis, noticed Eden and Cecilia and hurried to greet them.
"Father."
“Are you here?”
Curtis greeted Cecilia with a gentle face. Cecilia greeted him as usual. However, her gaze was searching his every feature.
“I heard that you two are doing well.”
“Is it just a story? They actually stick together like this.”
Count Casper chuckled and nodded at Eden's hand that was wrapped around Cecilia's waist.
“It seems like it won’t be long before we see a successor between you two.”
Curtis also looked pleased. Cecilia smiled along with him.
“Yes. I also have to think about the successor of the Duke of Lane.”
But there was truth to those casual remarks.
“I wanted to talk to you about it anyway, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Come and talk comfortably.”
Eden readily let Cecilia and Curtis go.
“What did Her Highness want to talk about that made you ask for separate time?”
Curtis spoke with a friendly face. It was no different from usual, which made her even more upset. Cecilia stopped only after reaching the garden and confirming that no one was there.
“I heard a strange story. I have something to ask you, father.”
“What did you hear that made you say that?”
Curtis looked puzzled at Cecilia's grim face.
“Are you seeing a woman recently?”
“Ah, that’s...”
But his questions soon became embarrassing as Cecilia pressed him. Curtis tried to choose his words carefully.
“Where did you hear that story?”
“Does it matter where I heard it? I want to hear the answer to my question. It’s important to me.”
As Cecilia spoke sarcastically, Curtis sighed.
“I indeed have a girlfriend, but it won’t affect your position..."
“Why?”
“Cecilia, that’s...”
Curtis mumbled and hesitated to answer Cecilia's question. Cecilia quietly clenched her fists. Her cold hands trembled beneath her sleeves.
“Because it is a noble blood that cannot be compared to the Duke of Lane?”
Because his hesitation was soon the answer.
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