Chesterfield Mansion: The House of the Man Who Hates Me - Chapter 33

Celian searched her memory. She hadn’t particularly seen it. Generally, a handkerchief exists to wipe something, but usually, Izer used something other than cloth to wipe Celian, for example, his bare hands or tongue…

‘This is a mess.’

Unaware of her thoughts, Ophelia continued speaking.

“It’s incredibly old. The heir of Chesterfield, to whom artisans beg to use their products and offer all kinds of luxury items, carries around a worn-out handkerchief. He doesn’t seem to take it out often. In the first place, what would he need to wipe to have a reason to take out a handkerchief.”

Celian inwardly agreed with her words. People who are meticulous usually wipe their hands a lot with handkerchiefs, but in Izer’s case, he had gotten into the habit of not creating situations where he needed to wipe his hands at all. Of course, except when he was intimate with Celian…

“Once, I was so curious that I secretly took it out of his jacket. Don’t look at me like that. It’s fine as long as I didn’t steal it, right?”

Now she understood why Izer was so annoyed with Ophelia. Ophelia Montes was very brazen, and while she had grown older, it seemed she hadn’t acquired any sense of propriety.

“But your name was on it.”

“……?”

“It seemed like it was made a long time ago, I wonder if you remember.”

Celian tried to hide her surprised expression.

She knew what handkerchief Ophelia was talking about. While Celian in her teens was closer to a tomboy than a proper lady, surprisingly, she was good at embroidery.

This talent, which had supported her until recently, was actually used effectively only once when she was a noble. On the day Izer came of age, the handkerchief with her name boldly embroidered on it was the result. Izer had accepted her gift, albeit with a rather troubled expression.

But she didn’t know he was still using that old handkerchief. Celian answered Ophelia in a dry tone.

“I don’t remember. As you said, it’s probably because I made it too long ago.”

“If what you just said is true, it would be quite unfortunate for Izer.”

Before Celian could say anything, Ophelia pressed her point.

“Izer likes you. So you don’t need to try harder to seduce him. It’s a waste of time.”

“What are you saying……”

“I told you I know everything.”

“……”

“The duke told me. He must have been worried I’d be upset, such a kind man. He said all men are inherently flawed. I never knew he had such a romantic side.”

Celian let out a hollow laugh. The romance Ophelia thought of and the romance she knew seemed to be in different languages.

“But that’s the duke’s perspective……”

Having said that much, Ophelia put her hands on her hips and leaned forward. The face of the woman taller than Celian suddenly came close.

Ophelia’s face filled her entire field of vision. It must have been the same for Ophelia. She murmured in admiration.

“You really are pretty. No wonder my brother says he wants to f*ck you every time he drinks.”

“……”

“If you need money, just say so. I’ll arrange for you to meet my brother. Even if not my real brother, I know plenty of ‘brothers’.”

“……”

“I’m threatening you, Sis.”

The light blue eyes that had been trying to appear calm wavered. Just as Ophelia was about to recite the names of these ‘brothers’ with a satisfied smile, a man’s voice was heard beside the two women.

“I seem to have timed my return poorly. I should have come back later.”

“……”

The face that had been right in front of Celian’s nose retreated. At the same time, the oppressive atmosphere surrounding her disappeared.

The man’s footsteps drew closer. Celian learned for the first time today that the young duke of Chesterfield was capable of walking with heavy steps.

Celian only lowered her gaze. She didn’t want Izer to see her face.

Izer didn’t seem particularly inclined to acknowledge her either. His cold voice was directed at Ophelia.

“Ophelia, if you’re done with your business, leave.”

“Izer, wouldn’t your mother be upset if she knew you treated guests like this? What if rumors spread? That the young duke of Chesterfield lacks any dignity……”

This confirmed that Ophelia lived for her own self-importance. Izer seemed to have the same thought as Celian.

His voice, full of displeasure, sneered.

“A Montes worrying about the honor of a Chesterfield…… Should I take this as an honor?”

While they’re praised as successful commoners to their faces, behind their backs follows the dishonor of being those who clean up after the nobles.

Perhaps realizing she had overstepped, Ophelia was silent for a moment.

But if she backed down here, she wouldn’t be Ophelia Montes. Celian’s shoulders flinched at the words that followed.

“Izer, you’re really pitiful. You don’t even know why this woman is by your side.”

He retorted nonchalantly.

“That’s rich coming from a drug addict. You keep it around knowing it’s harmful.”

Ophelia’s golden hair shone brightly. Izer’s eyes naturally narrowed at the color similar to his adoptive father’s.

“Izer, at least drugs don’t betray you. They don’t pretend to be beneficial. But doesn’t that woman you keep around act as if you’re the only one in the world?”

“Celian Berienne?”

Izer asked in disbelief. Celian had never been friendly to him. While responding passionately physically, she would cry as if she hated herself for it. Just last night, even.

Ridiculously, as soon as he recalled her crying face, blood rushed to his lower body. He felt Celian trying to twist her arm free as she sensed the strength in his grip on her wrist, but Izer responded to her effort with an even stronger grip.

He waved the hand he had grabbed in front of Ophelia. Even at that moment, Celian was desperate to escape his grasp.

“You’re right, Ophelia Montes. This lady is damn proud and prickly.”

Celian, who had been struggling to free her trapped arm, opened her eyes wide. Izer continued.

“Thanks to that, I still haven’t been able to undress this woman even once.”

Celian swallowed a groan and bowed her head deeply.

A man standing in front of his fiancée could have said he had no relationship with her. However, his method of explanation was somewhat different from what Celian had in mind.

“Playing hard to get is only fun for so long, I was starting to get bored. Her tenacity is admirable though.”

“……”

Celian couldn’t understand why Izer was speaking this way. As she blinked in confusion, Ophelia sneered in front of her.

“Izer, stop it. Your struggling looks pitiful.”

“…ugh.”

Ophelia’s words ended almost simultaneously with Celian’s groan of pain. That sound shifted the gaze of the man and woman who had been glaring at each other. Ophelia lowered her eyes to look at the hand that seemed to have lost circulation.

“……Your effort is truly commendable.”

With those final words, Ophelia headed for the entrance. Celian, unable to bear the pain, groaned as she looked at her wrist. The sound of the head butler politely seeing off the future mistress could be heard, but Izer was still gripping her.

* * *

The woman who had been summoned hesitated as she closed the door.

Two things were different from usual. First, the room was filled with the smell of alcohol. Second, instead of his perfectly tailored outdoor clothes, Izer was wearing a black sleeping gown. It was strange to see the man who usually ordered her to undress while dressed like ready to go out at any moment, now sitting in a gown, as if to highlight the difference between them.

He spoke as he brought an ice-filled glass to his mouth.

“Sit down. On that chair.”

A small glass was placed in front of her. It seemed that Celian’s duties today included serving alcohol.

As soon as she thought this, Izer picked up the bottle and filled the glass in front of her.

“Drink.”

“……”

“I didn’t spike it. The alcohol content is a bit high though.”

The only alcoholic drinks she had ever tasted were wine and cheap beer. She wasn’t sure if she could handle such a strong liquor that seemed intoxicating just from its smell.

But she couldn’t refuse in front of the man nodding his head. Celian obediently brought the glass to her lips.

Her first impression of whiskey was the worst. It was bitter enough to dry her tongue. The woman shuddered at the movement of the liquid that seemed to reveal the shape of her throat. When she belatedly came to her senses and raised her head, she saw the man looking at her with an amused expression.

“Looks like that’s enough. It’s okay, you don’t need to drink more.”

“……”

“I’ll apologize on behalf of what Ophelia said.”

Celian realized. Izer Chesterfield was always gentle to her on days when Ophelia Montes was involved. The day he suddenly sat her down in front of a tray piled high with bread for breakfast, and today when he told her to drink just one glass of alcohol.