Chapter 22
Cedric looked at her with pitiful eyes, and Calix finally opened his mouth.
“When I got there, the situation was already over. It was nothing serious.”
“Really?”
“I don’t think it’s something worth being so overprotective about, Odelia. If you keep holding him that tightly, Cedric’s face will get squashed flat.”
Odelia glanced at Cedric suspiciously, then finally took her hands off his face. Sitting back down, she sighed as if exhausted.
“If you’ve got worries, you can just tell me. Why bottle it all up until you get into fights with ruffians?”
Cedric averted his gaze and muttered under his breath.
“No… it’s not like that…”
Frowning slightly, Odelia spoke seriously.
“I might not be much help when it comes to dating advice, but I do know how to comfort a friend after heartbreak, you know?”
Cedric let out a long sigh and slumped his shoulders.
“How could someone as clueless as you comfort anyone…?”
“What do you mean, clueless?!”
“Forget it… just forget it…”
At that moment, Calix spoke up in a calm voice, backing Cedric.
“Odelia is rather clueless, that much is true.”
Odelia pouted, looking at Calix as if to say, How could you call me clueless, Your Highness…?
Watching her grumble, Calix’s lips curved slightly.
“But I like that about you too.”
At that short remark, Odelia’s expression grew troubled once again, while Cedric, watching Calix, thought to himself:
‘Ah, I must have been out of my mind, even for a moment, to see him as my rival.’
It might be improper to say aloud, but he couldn’t help thinking it. His Highness Calix could be sly as a fox.
And then, suddenly, another thought came to him.
‘If that’s the case, then why does His Highness keep letting Odelia go on these dates?’
At that same time, in the Empress’s chambers, where a soft fragrance lingered in the air, Fabiana slowly set down a teacup adorned with pearl decorations.
【Earl’s eldest and second sons murdered by assailants on their way home from the social club.】
Fabiana folded the newspaper and muttered in a low voice.
“So this is how you want to play it, Calix…”
The Dalton family was one that had long been loyal to the Empress’s natal family, and it wielded considerable influence in high society. Not long ago, Fabiana had deliberately invited the two Dalton sons for tea, subtly feeding them stories that would tarnish Odelia’s reputation.
They had dutifully spread those rumors, making sure everyone heard them—ensuring everyone viewed Odelia with suspicion.
Now those very sons had been found mutilated, brutally murdered. Fabiana shifted her gaze to the window.
Trees in the garden swayed gently in the breeze, carrying a faint fragrance to her nose.
The newspaper had described the leaves scattered over the corpses as a mocking gesture. But Fabiana recognized them instantly. They were the same tea leaves she had served when she last invited the Dalton sons—tea leaves that could only be harvested from the Empress’s private garden.
There was no doubt. This was a warning. A message carefully calculated so that she alone would recognize it.
Fabiana nodded slowly, then spoke to her lady-in-waiting.
“Send condolences to the Earl’s family. Make preparations for me to attend the funeral.”
Her tone, outwardly sympathetic, carried a chilling undercurrent.
She lifted her teacup again, though her fingertips trembled slightly, causing the porcelain to clink faintly.
“Murder, just for that woman? All they did was spread some gossip. And you killed them for it? Are you really protecting her to that extent, Calix?”
Not long after, Odelia was changing into an outfit suitable for attending Lady Herdale’s tea party. She wore a neat pastel-toned dress.
Calix, Cedric, and the Archduchess were waiting to see her off.
Their faces looked uneasy, as if they couldn’t trust her to go alone. Seeing this, Odelia smiled shyly, feeling grateful yet embarrassed.
“It’s not like I’m some child being left near the water. I’m just dropping by a young lady’s tea party. Please, all of you, go back inside.”
Gently pushing Cedric and the Archduchess toward the entrance, Odelia hesitated when it came to Calix. She couldn’t bring herself to touch him, so she stiffly said, “Your Highness should also go back inside.”
Calix only smiled with his eyes and replied,
“When did I ever treat you like a child near the water? You’re already plenty grown, aren’t you?”
Well… that was true. Odelia felt flustered and quickly grabbed the door handle to leave. But just then, Calix stepped forward, gently took her hand, and pressed something into it.
It was a large picnic basket. From beneath the cloth covering, the aroma of delicious food wafted up.
“What is this?”
Calix only gave her a meaningful smile and a short answer.
“You’ll see when you open it.”
And with an even slower, more deliberate motion, he slid a small ring onto Odelia’s left pinky finger. The ring fit perfectly—not too tight, not too loose.
“Wh-why a ring, all of a sudden…?”
Flustered, Odelia trailed off, and Calix gently rubbed the ring where it rested on her finger.
“This too—you’ll find out when you get there.”
As the carriage rolled smoothly forward, Odelia’s gaze drifted naturally to her left hand. The small ring glittered faintly in the sunlight.
Her fingertips lingered on it, unable to stop rubbing. She could still feel his touch lingering on its surface.
Slowly lowering her eyes, she felt her chest swell with a mix of excitement and heaviness. Then, catching the gaze of the attendant seated opposite her, she quickly turned her head to stare out the window instead.
Fixing her eyes on the scenery rushing past, she let out a quiet breath.
The carriage arrived at the Herdale estate. The garden was immaculate, and the mansion itself bore a dignified, classical design. As Odelia stepped down, her attendant followed carefully, carrying the large basket.
Soon the Herdale butler came forward with a polite bow, guiding Odelia and her attendant toward the mansion. But just as they were about to step inside—
“You came!”
A bright voice rang out, and Judith hurriedly ran up. She clasped Odelia’s hands tightly, her delight plain to see.
It seemed Odelia had arrived right on time, as several other young ladies appeared behind Judith, while the sound of more carriages and greetings drifted from the entrance.
Smiling, Odelia’s attendant discreetly stepped back, while Odelia followed Judith toward the garden terrace where the tea party was already underway.
Since it was rare for her to visit another household’s townhouse, Odelia looked around curiously as they walked.
The terrace, supported by elegant columns, was adorned with blooming roses. The garden trees swayed gently in the breeze, the sound of the fountain mingling with floral scents, creating a scene that felt like a work of art.
“This is… such a beautiful mansion. It feels like the temple of a goddess from myth. No wonder Lady Herdale is so lovely, living in a place like this. Wow, how can a garden be so…”
Words of awe spilled from her lips, but suddenly embarrassed at sounding so rustic, Odelia cleared her throat.
“My apologies. I lost my composure.”
Judith quickly shook her head with a radiant smile.
“No, Lady Odelia. You truly mean your compliments. Thank you.”
“What? Of course I have ulterior motives.”
“…Pardon?”
“I want to make a good impression. This is the first time I’ve been invited to a tea party by a fellow debutante from my year. Besides, I love beautiful and adorable things.”
Judith’s face turned red. Is Lady Odelia naïve, or simply bold? To speak so honestly is proof that she has no ulterior motives at all…!
