Chapter 107
“Fortunately, since that day, there hasn’t been any notable reaction. For now, we should just be grateful that Celine wasn’t driven away.”
“I hope it all leads to a good outcome.”
“Thank you.”
Just as Bern’s story was winding down, the drinks they had ordered arrived.
Sipping the fragrant coffee, Bern turned to Lucia.
“Lucia, you’ve been fine too, right? I was worried that our sudden engagement cancellation might have startled you.”
“Well… it would be a lie to say I wasn’t surprised, but I’m fine. You know how much I like Herwin, and my mother even seemed somewhat pleased about it.”
“Really? That’s unexpected.”
“There are some complicated interests involved. But fortunately, the Feneus family also received me positively.”
“So everything went smoothly.”
“Yes, that’s right. Soon, we’ll meet with the Feneus family to discuss the marriage formally. Since it’s practically decided, we’ll mostly talk about scheduling.”
“Then the wedding should happen soon.”
“Probably. Herwin wants to get married as soon as possible, and now that things have come this far, I want to get married quickly too.”
“I understand that feeling. It’s just like us.”
Their eyes met, and without thinking, both of them smiled. They stared at each other silently for a while before Lucia spoke.
“Are you happy?”
Bern nodded, a gentle smile on his face.
“Nothing painful remains for you now, right?”
“No, nothing. Even if there is…”
Bern glanced at the closed door and smiled happily.
“I’ll face everything together with Celine.”
Compared to the fear and trembling of the past, this answer was far better.
“Though it was a short time, thank you for being with me.”
“Likewise. I’m glad you were my fiancée.”
There was no trace of pretense—only pure sincerity. After sharing comfortable smiles, the two rose from their seats.
With the conclusion reached, it was time to go their separate ways.
“Oh, right. About our engagement cancellation.”
Just before leaving, Bern suddenly turned back.
“I’ll be the one to inform everyone first.”
“You mean you’ll take responsibility alone?”
“Yes. After announcing the cancellation, we’ll announce the marriage immediately, and naturally, all eyes will be on us.”
It was the kind of story that socialites who loved gossip would go crazy over. Once the news spread, people would poke, prod, and criticize them endlessly.
Yet Bern said he would bear it all alone.
“You don’t have to. It’s a mutual agreement to part ways; Bern shouldn’t have to shoulder all the burden alone…”
“No, I’ll handle it myself. I’ve already discussed it with Celine. Actually, it was Celine who brought it up before me.”
“Miss Jenson?”
“Yes. She said she owed you too much and wanted to repay you, at least in this way.”
“But…”
“Don’t refuse. Once the rumors die down a bit, it will be best to announce the marriage. In the meantime, we’ll take all the criticism.”
Though Lucia worried about placing such a heavy burden on Bern, he seemed to find it easier that way.
Resigned, Lucia nodded.
“…Then, shamelessly, I’ll leave it in your hands.”
“Good choice. Oh, you’ll come to our wedding, right?”
Attending the wedding of a man who had almost been her fiancé was unusual, but considering the gossip that might arise, it was necessary to show that they still maintained a good relationship after the cancellation.
Lucia agreed readily.
“Of course. Please send me the invitation first.”
“Ha, understood. I’ll make sure you get it first, Lucia.”
With that cheerful exchange, they opened the door. The café was still crowded.
At a table near the entrance were Celine and Herwin.
“Herwin, we should—Wait, what are you doing?”
Lucia froze for a moment as she approached Herwin. Bern was equally uneasy.
Herwin and Celine were glaring at each other, passionately arguing. Yet somehow, it looked like a scene between lifelong friends.
“Ah! Lucia!”
Herwin noticed Lucia, immediately stood, and moved to separate her from Bern.
Celine clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“Tsk tsk, do you have to show your emotions so blatantly? How unadultlike.”
“Hmph, yet you’re holding tightly onto the Marquis’s arm yourself.”
Celine, sticking to Bern, subtly showed that he belonged to her, leaving Herwin no room to criticize.
Meanwhile, Lucia and Bern, clueless about why their partners were behaving like this, were left dumbfounded.
“Really, what are you doing, Herwin?”
“Celine, you’re especially spoiled today.”
The two lovers just laughed, soothing their spoiling partners. Lucia and Bern, sharing a look of solidarity, nodded quietly.
“We’ll be going now. It was fun talking today.”
“Same here. I hope you’ll be happy.”
No further farewells were necessary. This was truly the final moment. Bern and Lucia now turned their gaze from each other to their respective partners.
Bern left the café with Celine, and Lucia with Herwin.
As they went in opposite directions, Herwin whispered to Lucia.
“What did you talk about with the Marquis?”
“Nothing much. Just a final farewell.”
“If that’s the case, you could’ve just sent a letter.”
Still displeased about her meeting Bern, Herwin pouted but said no more.
“Oh, right. Bern decided to announce the engagement cancellation himself. He said he’ll take it on, since everyone will be watching. The marriage announcement will follow soon after, so keep that in mind.”
“Hmm, I like that. Of course, he should. What did that guy even do to you?”
“Well, in that sense, I’m no different from Bern…”
“No, you’re different from the Marquis.”
Since becoming lovers, it seemed Herwin was completely smitten. Lucia shook her head, helpless.
She slipped her hand from Herwin’s arm, which had been holding hers.
Herwin froze in confusion, and Lucia smirked.
“So, until the rumors settle, no public displays of affection.”
Herwin’s face froze as if struck by lightning, unable to respond.
“That’s ridiculous! How does that even matter?”
“Of course it matters. Once the cancellation news spreads, all eyes will turn to me too. If we’re seen together, people will talk. Look—when we entered the café today, people were already whispering while watching us.”
“But…!”
“When we’re alone, you can do as you like. Just bear with it a little. Oh, and you know you can’t visit my house frequently either, right?”
Lucia kept explaining, worried about onlookers, while Herwin felt utterly despairing.
Finally becoming a couple, yet unable to touch or visit his beloved.
Watching Herwin’s constantly changing expressions, Lucia held back a laugh.
Was he always this expressive? Since they started dating, she felt like she had seen so many new sides of him.
‘I’ll tell him he’s cute later.’
She wanted to enjoy being a little superior to him for now.
Humming, Lucia walked ahead. Herwin trailed behind, occasionally trying to grab her hand, only for her to playfully evade him.
Though it was their first date as a couple, only Lucia was happy; Herwin had a gloomy day.
Bang!
“Lu-Lucas! Did you hear the news?”
Lucas, busy with work, snapped back to attention when Ares rushed in, out of breath.
Before he could react, Ares was already by his side.
“Look! The Marquis Casper is getting married!”
Ares handed him a newspaper from a publication that mostly covered gossip and scandals.
Looking where Ares pointed, it said Marquis Casper was breaking off his engagement with Lucia and marrying Celine, who had only months ago been the Marchioness Lemario.
Having already heard everything from Bern, Lucas remained unmoved.
“What? That’s no big deal.”
“No big deal? You usually flip out over your sister’s stuff! Be honest—Lucas, are you okay?!”
Ares couldn’t believe Lucas’s calm reaction. Shaking his shoulder, Lucas brushed him off.
“I’m fine.”
“Fine? When Lucia got engaged to Marquis Casper, you couldn’t concentrate on work for days!”
Watching his friend act strangely, Lucas remembered something.
“Ah, did I never tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Lucia broke up with Marquis Casper some time ago. And she’s decided to marry someone else.”
It was the first time Ares had heard this. Shock froze him in place.
“I guess I never told you.”
Seeing Lucas calmly apologize, Ares returned to reality. He didn’t know whether to be angry or relieved.
He had worried the newspaper story would shock his brotherly friend, but now…
“Cheeky guy.”
Saying sorry isn’t enough. He should have told him immediately.
“Ha… but at least Lucia wasn’t hurt. Congratulate her on marrying Herwin for me.”
“What? How do you know she’s marrying Herwin?”
“She said she’s getting married.”
“Yeah.”
“She suddenly decided to get married without seeing anyone else, so naturally, the partner has to be Herwin, right?”
“Well…”
“Besides, Arista has been gossiping about Herwin lately, looking like she hates him. Occasionally, she mentions Lucia’s name with him, so I figured Herwin must like Lucia.”
At the mention of Arista, Lucas flinched slightly, unnoticed by Ares.
“So that’s why you’ve been spaced out recently, worrying about Lucia?”
“Me… spaced out?”
“For a few days. You only react if I call your name multiple times, stare out the window in the middle of work. I thought you were heartbroken.”
“Ah, haha… yeah.”
Initially hesitant, Lucas snapped to attention and nodded.
He remembered Becky. They had broken up after he saw his first fiancée cheat. Yet, until now, he hadn’t thought of her once. Instead—
‘Arista won’t leave my mind.’
During the seemingly endless time a few days ago when he escorted her to Lydia’s house, her face remained vivid in his mind.
No matter how hard he tried to shake it off, he caught himself thinking of her.
Lucas secretly covered his face with his hand, blushing.
‘Why am I like this?’
His heart kept racing with a pleasant flutter.
Before he could define this feeling, someone knocked on the door.
