Anri blinked, then silently stared at him.
Their eyes locked for a while. It was only a short moment, but it felt painfully long.
‘Is he… trying to start a staring contest?’
Edwin gave a small smirk.
That cold smirk made a slight crease form between the woman’s brows.
That was it.
That very expression of discomfort greatly amused him.
‘…Is he toying with me?’
Anri couldn’t hide her discomfort.
This man had a talent for making people feel unpleasant just with his gaze.
He’d stare for no reason and scoff, and now he seemed amused.
“We don’t know if you’ve come from far or nearby!”
Suddenly, Catherine clapped her hands and spoke in a loud, cheerful tone.
Edwin’s gaze, which had been fixed on Anri, turned back.
Only then did Catherine and Candice smile brightly.
“We don’t know where you live or who you are, of course. If it’s inconvenient to share, we won’t press, but we’re awfully curious. Hohoho.”
“Hohoho.”
Following Catherine, Candice covered her mouth and let out a high-pitched laugh. The “hohoho” echoed like a chorus.
Anri sat quietly with a neutral expression, back straight.
Candice, clearly taking after her mother, not only looked dry and fragile but even sounded just like Catherine.
Despite the noise, it seemed Eunice was still asleep.
“Where is Marilyn?”
Suddenly, the man tilted his sharp chin and asked impassively.
His tone was like throwing cold water over the overexcitement of the mother and daughter.
Catherine blinked in surprise but quickly regained her composure.
“Such urgency! We didn’t expect you so soon and haven’t quite finished tidying the stables. In the meantime, please take off your gloves and rest. We even have a lovely guest room ready. Hohoho.”
“Hohoho.”
Like a rehearsed duet, Catherine and Candice’s laughter swelled again.
Anri couldn’t stand their pretense, nor the man’s arrogant, rude demeanor.
As much as she disliked her stepmother and stepsister, she couldn’t bear to see them treated with such disrespect, even if they were Wenthworth women.
Besides, if the man hadn’t taken off his gloves, it likely meant he didn’t plan to stay long.
Anri abruptly stood up. Catherine and Candice turned to her in confusion.
Edwin also watched her with quiet anticipation, wondering what she would say next.
“It seems you won’t be staying long enough to need a room. I’ll escort you to the stables. It’s not proper to host an unknown gentleman in a house of women. And we don’t even know who you are.”
“Anri!”
Catherine screamed, quickly pressing her lips as if trying to take it back.
“Oh my, I didn’t mean to. She’s so dreadfully rude, you see.”
Even before Catherine spoke, Anri and Edwin were already clashing with their eyes.
Anri took a deep breath, her hands clasped tightly, clearly signaling she wouldn’t be easily swayed.
Edwin met her determined gaze with relaxed composure.
Suddenly, a mischievous thought occurred to Edwin.
‘Should I pull a trick on her?’
He was curious to see her reaction.
“The trip was tiring. May I be shown to the guest room?”
Edwin stood, smiling lightly as he removed his gloves.
With his gently creased eyes, Candice nearly fainted.
“Of course!”
Catherine and Candice jumped up at once like it was a celebration.
“There are rooms for your coachman and servant as well. Our Candice will guide you to your room!”
Catherine practically pushed Candice to Edwin’s side.
Before exiting the drawing room, Edwin glanced back at Anri.
He was subtly eager to see her expression.
It was strange.
They had only met twice, and yet he felt oddly familiar with her, as if they had known each other for a long time.
Just as he expected, her jewel-like pink eyes were filled with annoyance.
She was clearly wondering why he asked for a room when he acted like he’d leave right away.
Who does he think he is?
Who indeed.
Edwin gave her a crooked smile—a smirk that signaled his victory.
Anri’s pupils momentarily flickered.
‘Did he just mock me?’
The man turned away calmly and walked off.
Though she had no intention of following him, Anri stood frozen in place.
She was utterly dumbfounded.
She hadn’t felt this ridiculous since she was reborn as an infant, or when her father brought home Catherine and her twin daughters.
‘I want to punch him! Right in the gut!’
Anri clenched her lips and tightened her fists.
“Try this, it’s delicious.”
“This dish is quite trendy these days.”
In less than half a day, the man had already charmed Catherine and Candice. He’d made them his allies.
No, to be honest, they were eager to fall for him from the start.
‘They don’t even know if he’s a conman, a scammer, or a womanizer.’
All because of his luxury carriage from Roses and Hounds—a true masterpiece crafted by artisans, not mere extravagance.
That one detail turned him into a top-tier suitor in their eyes.
He might already be married, too!
Anri set down her water glass coolly and fixed her gaze on the man seated across from her.
He was clearly a high-ranking noble.
The elegant, precise pronunciation, flawless table manners—everything about him screamed aristocracy.
But just because he was nobility didn’t mean he wasn’t a liar, a creep, or a playboy.
In fact, that made it even more likely.
Especially him.
“I’d appreciate it if you left before sunset.”
Before Anri’s sharp remark had even finished, Catherine and Candice glared at her.
Eunice rolled her eyes and stayed silent.
She found handsome men intimidating and awkward, so she hadn’t eaten much. Honestly, she hoped he would leave soon.
Edwin let a faint smile rise at Anri’s coldness.
His plate was piled with asparagus and lamb—served generously by the mother-daughter pair.
Looking at the mountain of food, he suddenly became aware of something strange.
‘What the hell am I even doing here?’
He didn’t know.
Suppressing a bitter chuckle, Edwin dabbed his lips with a napkin and lowered it.
He met Anri’s gaze across the table.
“Now that I think of it, Marilyn must be desperately searching for Kyrishtan by now.”
“It’s not Marilyn—it’s Kyrishtan.”
Anri corrected him with clear pronunciation, staring into his eyes.
A gentle, almost fabricated smile formed on her face.
“Kyrishtan’s been restless—sleepless, even, twisting his tail. I thought it was only right to bring her, to save that poor stud. But who would’ve guessed that ‘a man whose identity we don’t even know’ would be such a nuisance?”
“Unintentionally, I must apologize.”
The man flashed an unexpectedly harmless smile. There was still a hint of arrogance, though.
“Many eyes are watching me. I was worried I might cause even more trouble—but clearly, I’ve already offended you.”
‘What’s with this… sincere apology?’
Anri blinked, caught off guard.
He had been mocking her just earlier, flaunting his stay in the guest room, and now he was pretending to be kind?
“Still, I assure you I’m not the shameless type, nor a fraud, nor a womanizer. You needn’t worry.”
“……?”
At his specific wording, Anri stiffened. Had he read her thoughts?
But given her cold attitude thus far, it wasn’t hard to guess. He clearly wasn’t a fool.
“Alright, Anri! That’s enough.”
Catherine, worried the man would leave, hurried to scold her.
She tried to placate him again.
“Kyrishtan isn’t just any horse. One glance told me he was a rare breed. While Marilyn and Kyrishtan enjoy their first night together, who knows what might happen? You must stay with us. The sun sets quickly here.”
Catherine and Candice sent fluttery looks his way. Eunice quietly bowed her head.
Would she have to endure another uncomfortable dinner and breakfast?
“I appreciate the thought, but I should see how things go. This house is full of ladies, so I intended to leave shortly anyway.”
The awkward dinner ended.
Though Catherine tried to get him to eat more, the man firmly set down his utensils.
As he was about to stand, Catherine nudged Candice toward him again—suggesting she guide him to the stables.
But Edwin turned to Anri instead. His cold, impassive face leaned toward her.
“Would you show me the way this time, Lady Anri?”
“……?”
A ripple of confusion and suspicion spread across Anri’s face. She didn’t answer right away, and their eyes locked again.
As if she had the right to stare into his soul, Anri held his gaze for a long time.
The longer she looked, the more she saw.
It was strange.
Though the man wore a calm, expressionless face,
within those dark eyes was a subtle, persuasive plea—or rather, a persistent obsession urging her to accept.
He tried to hide it, but the dark desire coiled deep inside him was revealed through his gaze.
Suddenly, a shiver crept across her skin.
His thoughts toward her—coming from a stranger—felt cold and eerie.
And she instinctively sensed danger.
‘Why should I agree to anything he says?’
What would he do if she refused…?
Maybe her hesitation lasted too long. The man’s face seemed to stiffen, almost cracking. Even his pupils narrowed.
“I thought it best to ask the young lady who cares so deeply for Marilyn.”
“…….”
His words left Anri with nothing to refute.
