Chapter 45
Jealous, Heated Breath
The servants of the Mansion of Light busied themselves all afternoon, preparing for the visit of the Grand Duchess.
Yet, despite their tasks, their eyes kept flicking toward one place—
Their master, Cedric, who stood in a corner of the reception room, watching the scene as if overseeing it himself.
Finally, after the last dish for tonight’s dinner was placed on the table, Cedric gave his long-awaited command to the servants.
“Everyone, leave.”
“Yes….”
“Oh, and make sure no one comes near here while the Grand Duchess is dining.”
Although this was a repeated reminder, the servants simply nodded politely and left the reception room.
Once alone, Cedric could no longer hide his restlessness.
He paced around the table, checking and rechecking that nothing was missing.
Luxuriously decorated dishes, the finest wine, and candles lit throughout the room—everything was perfectly prepared, and the atmosphere was exceptionally romantic.
Perfect.
Cedric concluded this to himself.
Still, he couldn’t resist giving the reception room another thorough once-over.
Did Rebecca like this kind of atmosphere? No… maybe it would be better to make it even more extravagant before she arrives…
He chewed on his lip, deep in serious thought.
Suddenly realizing himself, Cedric let out a short, self-deprecating sigh.
Getting nervous over something like this… how unlike me.
To release his tension, he slowly walked to the window.
Leaning against the sill to catch his breath, he saw Rebecca standing at the main gate of the Mansion of Light.
Seeing her there made a small smile creep onto Cedric’s lips.
Finally, she’s here.
But that smile soon began to fade.
It was only after he noticed that Adrian was escorting her.
They paused for a moment at the front gate, exchanging words.
In the past, Cedric wouldn’t have paid the slightest attention to such a scene.
Yet now, he couldn’t help but wonder what they were talking about.
Watching them share a private conversation from a distance he could not reach, he felt not just jealousy but indignation.
And he couldn’t look away, making it all the more painful.
Because standing there… was Rebecca, the woman who had long since captured his gaze.
The two, oblivious to Cedric’s stare, continued their conversation for a while.
When Adrian finally stopped speaking and pressed his lips to the back of Rebecca’s hand,
Cedric exhaled a hot, jealous breath.
Vincent, the idiot cousin, echoed in his mind:
“If you leave someone precious by your side without valuing them, guys like me will sneak in and take them away.”
At the same time, his heart flared up like a blazing fire.
To feel such emotions for someone not yet imprinted on him was both astonishing and frightening.
If I were imprinted on her… I’d go mad over Rebecca from that day onward.
Suppressing his rampant jealousy, Cedric finally turned from the window.
Time passed quickly. I should head to the Mansion of Light…
By the time she had finished preparing and was about to leave for the Grand Duchess, Adrian was seen leaning against a window in the hallway, seemingly lost in thought as he gazed outside.
“Adrian.”
He turned his head at her call, a gentle smile forming on his lips.
“Your Highness, you’ve come out.”
“Yes… but… what are you doing here?”
“I heard the news. That Your Highness is having dinner with the Grand Duke at the Mansion of Light.”
With a soft smile, he continued,
“I came to escort you there.”
“Oh, there’s no need to go to such trouble…”
“No, it’s my duty.”
A faint, shy smile escaped her lips as she slightly bowed her head.
Although it was naturally Adrian’s role as her butler to escort her, knowing his feelings, she had found it difficult to ask him.
So she had intended to go alone…
“Your Highness, you look beautiful today as well.”
“……”
“As always.”
Adrian slowly approached her, extending one arm, wearing his usual gentle smile.
“Thank you,” she said, feeling relieved, and took his arm.
Apparently, the incident with Duke Bold had been kept secret from Adrian, just as she had instructed the maids.
Knowing his personality, if he had learned about yesterday, he would have blamed himself severely.
On the way to the Mansion of Light, she tried to maintain a casual conversation with him.
Yet, the more she tried, the more awkward it felt.
Being escorted by the man who confessed to me yesterday while going to a dinner with my ex-husband… this is really strange.
Slightly frowning, Adrian seemed to notice her inner thoughts and suppressed a smile.
“Your Highness, you don’t have to go to such lengths for me.”
“But to receive an escort feels too cruel for you, Adrian,” she admitted honestly.
A faint bitterness crossed his smile at her words.
His soft voice returned as they arrived at the main gate of the Mansion of Light.
“Your Highness, there’s no need to rush your decisions for my sake.”
Her gaze lifted at his calm voice.
In his usual deep blue-violet eyes, faint ripples seemed to form.
“Of course, I hope not, but even if… Your Highness does not choose me…”
“…Adrian.”
Seeing her look at him with pity, Adrian let out a soft smile.
“Think of it as giving me time to prepare myself. It’s always the same, but being rejected immediately would…”
“……”
“…be a bit more painful.”
His fingers lightly brushed over the back of her hand.
For a moment, his gaze lingered on her hand as if yearning to hold it.
“So don’t rush. Waiting for Your Highness, as I always have, is the happiest thing for me.”
Finally, his lips softly touched the back of her hand.
“Just remember… my heart is always by your side.”
Escorted by Adrian, Rebecca entered the Mansion of Light, letting out a long sigh as the door closed behind her.
Ever since that day, I’ve been too distracted.
Grasping the door handle, she let out another long breath.
“Do those two really have so much to talk about with each other?”
A familiar voice suddenly sounded from beside her.
Startled, she turned to see Cedric leaning against the gate with his arms crossed.
His face was expressionless as usual, but somehow slightly sulky.
“You startled me… were you waiting for me?”
“Yes.”
“…Usually, the host doesn’t greet guests in the reception room, right? I thought that would be the case.”
Cedric rubbed his eyebrows awkwardly.
“I was curious all along when you would arrive.”
Softly murmuring, he gently extended his hand.
“Shall we go up, then?”
Finally entering the reception room, Rebecca looked around in slight confusion.
There wasn’t a single servant in sight.
“Where did all the servants go?”
“I sent them all away. I wanted no one nearby while we have dinner.”
Pouring wine into her glass, Cedric continued,
“I’ll handle any errands for you, so don’t worry.”
“You?”
Cedric nodded with a relaxed smile.
He must prefer private dining without servants in his personal reception room.
Though she was the Grand Duchess, it was her first time being personally invited to Cedric’s private quarters.
Most likely, even the ‘real’ Rebecca had never been invited here before.
This was a room carefully prepared by Cedric for private time.
His private reception room was small and cozy, with a table just large enough for two.
No wonder it feels so intimate.
It was the first time she had dined so close to Cedric.
Realizing this, her lips felt dry, a mix of awkwardness and tension.
Just as she reached for her wine, Cedric spoke:
“Here.”
He placed her portion of steak, cut into bite-sized pieces, in front of her.
“It would be cumbersome for you to keep cutting it yourself. Shouldn’t we call a servant?”
Shrugging, Cedric said,
“No, I actually prefer it this way. There are things I want to discuss with you alone.”
“Are they that important?”
“Well… sort of. About Adrian.”
“Adrian?”
What could Cedric possibly have to say about him…?
Her curiosity quickly reminded her of the time Adrian had discovered their divorce.
Hah, so Cedric already knows.
There was no point in keeping silent now.
She quickly spoke.
“That… was a mistake, Cedric.”
Cedric blinked slowly, as if struck by an unexpected counterattack.
“…Hm?”
“I only wanted to preview the mansion I would live in later. I never expected anyone to notice.”
“……”
“And it wasn’t something I revealed—it was discovered. And Adrian wouldn’t tell anyone…”
“……”
“So… I hope you don’t bring up the penalty clause too harshly…”
Even as she spoke, she kept glancing at Cedric.
Please don’t actually demand a penalty from me…
After learning about Greyson Village, she had begun planning new welfare projects for its people.
Naturally, much of her investment income would go into this project.
I was supposed to earn money again anyway… now a penalty on top of this?
Biting her lips anxiously, Cedric suddenly spoke:
“Rebecca, what are you talking about?”
His face showed genuine confusion.
“I meant… Adrian discovering our divorce?”
Cedric’s eyebrows arched like mountains in disbelief.
“That wasn’t it at all, but I learned something new thanks to you.”
Ahem. Cedric cleared his throat awkwardly, while her eyes and lips puckered in embarrassment.
After keeping it secret, she had just revealed it herself…
Cedric’s voice followed gently:
“Rebecca, don’t worry—I have no intention of exacting a petty penalty.”
How petty could a penalty even be?
It was worth several times more than the alimony Cedric had given her.
And yet Cedric dismissed it lightly, thanks to the immense fortune of the Twins family. She silently felt grateful for that.
“But in the end, Adrian… found out about our divorce,” Cedric murmured, his expression darkening slightly.
He remained silent for a while, deep in thought.
Then, his gaze, now resolute, returned to her.
“I’ll let this slide, but there’s a condition.”
