WHM | Chapter 38

~Chapter 38~

Eileen’s maid, Mary, grew restless the moment her lady vanished like the wind.

Should I just go straight to Lord Cedric and tell him?

Eileen clearly wanted to talk to Diana alone. That must have been why she left those instructions and went out by herself.

But why does she care so much about that girl…?

From Mary’s point of view, Eileen didn’t need to go that far for Diana. If anything, she should have given her a sharp lesson about knowing her place.

“But now there’s someone who always steps in to defend her…”

In Mary’s eyes, this was all because of Cedric’s attitude.

Honestly, her frustration with Cedric had been building. At first, she thought he was paying Eileen special attention—that he’d be a good fiancé and, one day, a good husband.

Was I wrong? Or what is he even thinking…?

He didn’t seem to help her, didn’t give her the chances she needed to secure her place in this house.

If Eileen had handled the banquet, none of that disaster would’ve happened.

Since Eileen had come all this way to a place full of strangers, Cedric should have stepped in to support her. But he didn’t seem to realize she was supposed to be the future mistress of this house.

And now he was even snapping at her over Diana. The worst of all.

Why do the two of them always seem so distant from each other?

That was Mary’s deepest question.

At first, Cedric had been gruff but not unkind toward Eileen, and Eileen didn’t seem fond of him as a fiancé. Even so, Mary thought they’d grow closer naturally.

Instead, it felt like there was a wide river between them that neither could cross.

***

Still, Mary couldn’t wait long. She soon went to find Cedric. After all, he was the only one who could truly protect Eileen outside.

“Lord Cedric.”

She spotted him as he was coming down from the castle wall.

“Should we widen the search area, even outside…?”

“In that case…”

“…Do it.”

After giving his knights orders, Cedric finally turned to face Mary. He looked strangely displeased to be dealing with Eileen’s maid.

“What is it?”

“I think Lady Eileen went out… to look for Lady Diana.”

“Diana?”

“Yes. She said she was going to the old abandoned tower outside the castle.”

“…The tower? The one that used to be a watchtower?”

Cedric muttered to himself. He hadn’t expected her to go that far. But since they hadn’t seen a trace of Diana inside the castle, it made sense.

Still… how did Eileen know about that tower?

He looked up sharply at Mary.

“And how would she know about it?”

“That’s…”

Mary faltered. She couldn’t answer clearly because she hadn’t questioned it herself. Eileen always acted so naturally, as if she’d thought everything through already.

Mary had long since stopped wondering how. To her, that wasn’t important.

She’s always ahead of everyone, always observing and figuring things out.

When Eileen’s engagement to Cedric was announced, she hadn’t even flinched—almost as if she’d expected it. Mary was the one who worried, while Eileen stayed calm.

Lord Lowell isn’t cruel, right?
He may not like me, but he’s not a bad man.
Have you heard rumors about him?
They’re about the same.

And indeed, Cedric Lowell wasn’t a bad man. He was closer to good. But Mary wished Eileen had been wrong about one thing—that he might hate her.

Eileen needed someone firmly on her side. Cedric seemed like he could be that person. If their relationship fell apart, Eileen would have no one left to trust.

“…Alright. Eileen has never been wrong before.”

Cedric sighed, then didn’t press for more details.

“She went alone?”

“…Yes.”

Expressionless, he turned back to his knights.

“Send word. We’re going to check the tower.”

Mary could only watch him stride past.

Now she’ll be safe…

Technically, she’d disobeyed her lady’s instructions. But with Cedric moving quickly, she felt relieved. No one was more trustworthy when it came to Eileen’s safety.

If only my lady realized that herself.

The one Eileen truly wanted to lean on—whether she admitted it or not—was Cedric Lowell.

Diana didn’t really need protection. In this castle, she was cared for by many, even without Cedric’s help.

But Eileen was different. To everyone else here, she was just an outsider.

What’s the use of treating her politely like a guest? She’s not a guest—she’s supposed to be the future mistress of this house.

Eileen brushed it off, saying she didn’t care to show off. But respect and authority wouldn’t suddenly appear the day after the wedding.

Cedric should’ve been preparing the way for her now, helping her become a true member of the Lowell family.

Yet instead, he clashed with her over Diana. To Mary, Cedric’s attitude looked bleak.

“My lady can cry, too. She can be hurt, too.”

Mary whispered words she could never say in front of him.

If only Eileen could just break down and cry openly to Cedric, telling him all her hardships since childhood. Maybe then he’d understand.

Cedric mounted his horse and led the knights out at once.

Something feels… wrong.

The air was strangely quiet—too quiet for such a safe part of the duchy. His heart grew uneasy.

“Move quickly.”

“Yes, my lord.”

He tightened his grip on the reins, urging his horse faster. The tower was farther than he thought.

“Snow…”

“It’s starting to snow, my lord. Looks like winter is here.”

Cedric glanced briefly at the falling snowflakes. Just then, one of the knights called out urgently:

“My lord! Someone’s coming this way—it looks like Lady Diana!”

“Diana? Alone?”

In the distance, the tall tower loomed. A small figure was running frantically from its direction.

“…Lady Cassiar isn’t with her.”

Strange. How could they have gotten separated? Weren’t they supposed to be together?

Then where is Eileen…?

Cedric urged his horse forward, but then stopped.

Why is she running like that?

As Diana drew closer, her terrified face became clear. She looked back again and again as if something was chasing her.

Cedric’s eyes followed hers, scanning the darkness. At first it was hard to see, but then a large, armed man emerged.

“Diana is being chased.”

The knight pointed. The pursuer froze when he saw Cedric ahead, hesitated, then turned and bolted in the opposite direction.

“After him!”

Cedric’s order sent his knights racing after the man. Meanwhile, Cedric dismounted, dread creeping through him.

Eileen had gone out to find Diana. Yet Diana was the one running back alone, being hunted.

So where was Eileen?

“Cedric!”

“Diana.”

She nearly threw herself into his arms, trembling.

“What happened—”

“Cedric, you have to hurry. Eileen, your fiancée—”

Her wide eyes were filled with terror. Gasping for breath, she forced out one more word.

“She’s in danger.”

Cedric felt his heart drop.