Episode 25
The Harmony Gathering had ended.
All the distinguished guests were leaving the mansion.
Niel watched them depart.
“Niel, I’ll escort you.”
That was when Damian approached.
His gloved hand was extended in front of her, urging her to come with him.
“I was waiting because I wanted to say goodbye to Raymond, but I can’t find him.”
“His Highness…”
“He hasn’t left yet. I haven’t seen him go.”
“…”
“Of course, it’s possible I just missed it.”
Niel smiled at Damian.
“Then shall we wait a little longer?”
Her blue eyes scanned the garden.
“Katrina’s gone too. It’s been a while. I wanted to at least say hello.”
Is she with Raymond? Niel murmured quietly.
Damian had also noticed.
Raymond disappeared, and not long after, Katrina also vanished.
At that moment—
Raymond appeared, strolling through Aviche’s garden with an attendant.
He also noticed them and began approaching at a leisurely pace.
“It’s been a while, Raymond.”
Niel was one of the few people who could speak freely with Raymond.
But Damian noticed something else.
Raymond’s appearance was slightly disheveled.
His neatly arranged hair had signs of having been mussed.
“Where on earth have you been? Selena was looking for you.”
“Oh dear. I should apologize to Miss Selena, then.”
“You should.”
Niel sighed as she looked at Raymond.
“Really, Raymond, you’re always…”
“Were you with Katrina?”
Raymond’s gaze, which had been fixed on Niel, shifted at Damian’s sudden question.
His green eyes rounded slightly.
“No?”
Raymond smiled calmly and turned to walk away.
“I’d better get going. I’ve got things to do. It was a good time, Damian.”
“…”
Damian silently watched him leave.
“What do you mean? They were together?” Niel asked Damian.
But Damian only smiled faintly.
“It’s nothing.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But isn’t it getting late? Allow me to escort you.”
When Damian offered his arm, Niel placed her hand on it.
As he escorted her, Damian quietly watched Raymond’s carriage disappear into the distance.
Katrina and Raymond had been together.
Faint, but unmistakable…
There was a scent of perfume on Raymond.
It was the same scent Katrina wore.
After the Harmony Gathering ended, Katrina was immediately summoned by the Duke of Aviche.
“Katrina Aviche.”
The Duke looked more furious than ever.
His hands trembled, as if he could not contain his rage.
“Have you lost your mind?!”
“…”
“How dare you! In my mansion, without my permission! What were you thinking?!”
Bang!
He slammed his fist onto the desk.
At least he’s not throwing things this time.
Last time, she was lucky enough to avoid injury. If she were hit wrong, it could’ve been serious.
“Did I do something wrong?” Katrina asked shamelessly.
At first, she had hoped to be acknowledged by the Duke, so she wouldn’t be sent to the monastery.
Her method for that was Raymond.
But now, her mind had changed.
You’re no longer necessary.
She knew that the moment she made the slightest mistake, the Duke would discard her without hesitation.
He would continue to use the threat of the monastery to control her.
“You don’t even know what you did wrong?”
“If you explain, I’ll take it to heart.”
“Ha!”
The Duke looked utterly dumbfounded.
Her defiance, after acting so obedient all this time, twisted his expression with fury.
“You invited a family of unknown name! Don’t you understand what it means for Aviche to issue an invitation?!”
A humble family?
Katrina nearly laughed in his face.
You came from such a humble family yourself.
He had once been a nameless, insignificant noble.
But marrying Arabella had changed his fate.
The previous head of the family had only one child—Arabella.
The current Duke of Aviche had entered the family as a son-in-law.
Perhaps his connection with Arabella also began…
…thanks to a lucky invitation to a past Harmony Gathering.
“I know, Father. You always said that those who receive the invitation represent Aviche’s image.”
“Yet you dare send an invitation without my permission? Don’t you realize that allowing such a lowly family into our estate degrades Aviche’s reputation?!”
He’s insulting himself without even realizing it.
“Since when did the Harmony Gathering depend solely on the name of a family?”
“What?”
“Don’t you remember what Grandmother used to say? That the more prestigious a family is, the more stagnant it becomes—and that we must be open to new and emerging groups?”
“You…”
“She always emphasized the importance of communication, didn’t she?”
“You’re trying to lecture me now?”
“Of course not.”
After the previous head passed away, the guest list for the Harmony Gathering had clearly changed.
She used to invite those with talent, even if they lacked fame.
But the Duke only associated with major noble families.
“…Katrina Aviche. I won’t say it again. Go to the monastery.”
“…”
“Immediately!”
The Duke roared, but Katrina remained unmoving.
“That might be difficult, Father.”
“What?”
“I have things to do here.”
“Who gave you the right—!”
“Grandmother did.”
“…”
The Duke blinked, momentarily speechless.
“She asked for my help with her affairs.”
“…”
“So I won’t be going to the monastery.”
She didn’t need to listen to him anymore.
For now, no one could touch Katrina easily.
“You—you…!”
The Duke, trembling with fury, pointed a finger at her, but couldn’t utter another word.
“I’ll be going now, Father.”
Katrina walked out of the room.
She felt relieved. She didn’t have to endure it anymore.
But the moment she turned around and closed the door—
She ran into Damian.
He must have come for something.
Thinking that, Katrina tried to walk past him.
“Were you with Raymond?”
Damian suddenly asked.
How does he know this?
“Because it was fun.”
At that moment, she remembered Raymond’s mocking face when he saw her shocked expression.
You said you liked me.
But you seem desperate to humiliate me.
He enjoyed watching her in pain. And now, she understood that.
“Raymond, I…”
She had realized it far too late.
“I hate you.”
Katrina smiled brightly.
“I despise you.”
Now she knew what he really wanted.
Him saying he loved her was laughable.
Clearly intoxicated by vulgar indulgence, he couldn’t even tell the difference between fleeting excitement and love.
That’s why—she would never give him what he wanted.
