~Chapter 11~
“…I see. So that’s how it is.”
Ironically, Cedric’s voice, now filled with gloom, pulled Eileen out of the abyss of her own thoughts.
“You have nothing to say to me, then.”
His tone was completely different from before, when he had been so relaxed. Eileen, lost in her own reflections, had only just realized how strange his behavior was.
Before she could ask again what the problem was, Cedric suddenly lifted his head, staring at her with a look of determination.
“By the way, Count Cassier said something interesting.”
Eileen felt a chill run down her spine. The title that had once been welcoming when her father was alive now felt like an ominous warning.
“He said… you truly want to become the Duchess.”
“Don’t say nonsense.”
What kind of ridiculous lie had the man claiming to be her uncle told?
Aileen felt a wave of frustration.
Of course, if anyone asked, they’d never believe that Aileen didn’t want to become the Duchess.
They’d probably just ask why she would throw away such a great opportunity.
‘That’s exactly what I hate.’
That was the part that made Aileen feel trapped. She had no intention of entering a miserable marriage where neither person wanted the other.
What’s the point of having near-royalty status in the North if the Duke and Duchess can’t even trust or depend on each other?
“He also said… you wanted a bodyguard from the capital.”
“And what? He asked you to give someone he knows a spot in the Duke’s knights?”
She didn’t even need to hear the rest to know where this was going.
It felt like she had just been smacked on the back of the head.
She expected that someone might use her position to approach Cedric—but she didn’t expect it to happen today.
And of course, they waited until she wasn’t around to do it.
To lie so shamelessly and pull such a cheap trick—she was speechless.
“I told you, Cedric Lowell. I don’t want to marry you.”
“But Count Cassier says otherwise.”
“You can tell just by looking at him that he’s a shameless opportunist. Surely you can see that too.”
Her annoyance finally slipped out in her voice.
Cedric was starting to sound like one of those smooth-talking capital nobles—circling around the point and twisting her words.
As her voice rose, a few people around them began glancing over.
Aileen took a deep breath and lowered her voice again.
“Whatever he said—don’t believe it.”
“Why not? He’s a Cassier, same as you.”
“Cassier is the name I was born into, the name I used to be proud of… but that’s it. I’m still Aileen, but the ‘Cassier family’ makes their own decisions, separate from me.”
Cassier—the name that greedy people had dragged into the mud.
And she had no power to stop it.
Saying all this in front of Cedric was harder than she thought.
If her parents were still alive, none of this would’ve happened. They wouldn’t have made ridiculous requests, and the Cassier name wouldn’t be covered in shame.
“That’s all you have to say?”
She had tried to speak honestly and sincerely.
But Cedric’s face seemed even colder than when they had first started talking.
“…Do you want me to write a statement saying I have nothing to do with Count Cassier’s words?”
She didn’t know what he wanted her to do to prove her innocence.
And honestly, it was frustrating that Cedric had believed Count Cassier’s words so easily.
Sure, they hadn’t known each other long. But still—wasn’t it obvious what kind of scheme this was?
Didn’t they at least know each other’s characters by now?
“By the way, leaving proof of our breakup like that wouldn’t be a good idea, Cedric.”
Eileen sighed in resignation.
It wasn’t easy to ask him to trust her entirely, given their fragile bond of trust.
“But leaving behind written proof about our broken engagement doesn’t sound like a great idea, Cedric.”
Aileen sighed in defeat.
It was true—given the fragile trust between them, it was hard to demand that Cedric just believe her words alone.
“So if you really can’t feel at ease, I guess I have no choice but to put our agreement into writing—”
“I don’t want a document or anything like that.”
Cedric sharply cut her off. Then, unable to hide his frustration, he looked at her for a long moment before turning and walking toward the ballroom doors.
“Then what do you want…?”
Aileen stared at his back, completely taken aback.
“…You could at least say something clearly. You’re usually so direct with your words—what’s with this?”
After saying that, he left.
She placed her glass on a passing servant’s tray, crossed her arms, and stood there thinking.
Should she follow him or not?
“…Guess I have no choice.”
It’s not like there was anything left for her to do if she stayed.
So Aileen made up her mind and walked out of the ballroom, deciding to follow Cedric and his confusing behavior.
***
As she walked down the quiet hallway, glancing around, she eventually saw Cedric up ahead.
He was leaning forward, gripping the windowsill tightly, staring outside.
Anyone seeing him might think he was seriously considering firing the gardener because the garden didn’t look right as winter was approaching.
‘Why is he in such a bad mood?’
There wasn’t much to see in the garden anyway—it was winter, and everything was dead.
“Cedric.”
Aileen stopped a few pillars away and called out.
He didn’t turn to look at her. But she could see his hands tighten on the windowsill.
“…I won’t betray you.”
She couldn’t tell him everything. But that much—at least that—she could promise.
“How can I be sure of that?”
Cedric knew he was being unfair. Twisting her words like this wasn’t something he usually did.
He just… wanted her to open up. That desire alone was what made him act this way.
“I told you my story.”
Once he said it, it actually made him feel a bit better.
Yes. I tried to show you a little of who I really am.
“But you… you’ve built a wall around yourself. You tell me to trust you, but you won’t trust me back.”
Aileen. Why is it you… who can’t trust me?
Aileen realized the deeper meaning in his words.
‘…Oh. Could it be…?’
Her lingering frustration melted away in an instant.
It was ridiculous, but somehow… he sounded like he was sulking.
“That’s why I even considered listening to Count Cassier. Just to get your attention.”
Now Aileen was flustered for a whole new reason.
She didn’t know how to take his words. Was this a complaint? A confession? Or something else entirely?
‘How do I even respond to that…?’
She let out a long sigh.
She hated showing weakness in front of him. But…
If he suddenly said, “This isn’t my problem,” and walked away, she knew she’d regret ever opening up.
“Cedric. About the Cassier family… I—”
Maybe, just maybe, she could tell him. Maybe she could finally explain what she had been through.
She thought—perhaps she could trust him enough to say it out loud.
Just as Aileen was about to speak—
“Tell me later.”
Cedric cut her off coldly, before she even got a word out. His expression was icy, like nothing she’d seen from him before.
“Just go. For now.”
He was so firm, it was almost frightening.
Aileen stood frozen for a moment. Then, when she didn’t move, Cedric stepped forward and gently but firmly pushed her shoulder, guiding her away.
“Cedric. Wait. I was trying to explain—”
“I said I get it. Just go.”
Even as he pushed her a few steps back, Aileen couldn’t shake the strange feeling in her chest.
Was he really trying to push her away without even giving her a chance to explain?
“What do you ‘get’ exactly?”
“You were right. I was acting like a child. So just go.”
Cedric ran a hand through his hair, frustrated, his eyes scanning the hallway as if the conversation was already over.
He wasn’t even looking at her anymore.
Aileen followed his gaze and looked around too—but the corridor was dark and empty, filled with nothing but silence.
“Cedric, you know that’s not what I really meant.”
“I know. I know that… which is why I’m asking you to please, just go.”
Cedric clenched and unclenched his fists behind his back, his anxiety growing.
The faint presence he had started to sense a moment ago wasn’t normal.
