Chapter 4.1 – Sometimes, Running Away Is the Answer

The royal banquet marking the start of the spring social season was lively. Debutantes, hoping to stand out, were awkward like young peacocks flaunting their feathers, but the appearance of new faces always sparked interest. For Lucas, who had received a royal invitation and couldn’t find a suitable excuse to decline, it was someone else’s affair.

Lucas, who didn’t bother to hide his bored expression, moved his body from leaning against the wall like a statue when he spotted the Earl Rosewood couple and Jayden.

“Hello, Mother.”

“Oh, Lucas. You were here early.”

“Yes, somehow.”

“Then you’ll run away early?”

Lucas laughed lightly at the Countess’s sharp joke but didn’t deny it. He exchanged a small nod with Jayden, who was similarly armed with superficial courtesy.

“Your face looks good. You must have rested well?”

Jayden shrugged with a grin at Lucas’s question. Unlike Lucas, who was busy with ducal duties, Jayden could enjoy a real vacation as his father, the head of the Earl’s household, was in good health.

“Where is Wendy?”

Lucas glanced around, noticing a familiar face was absent. Missing the biggest banquet would be a huge loss for an unmarried lady, so Wendy’s absence was unthinkable.

“She went to Karen in the south.”

“The south? Suddenly?”

“Karen fell off a horse and injured her leg. It’s inconvenient for her daily life, and Charlotte requires a lot of attention, so she needed help.”

“Ah. Is she seriously hurt?”

“They said it’s not worrisome, but we’ll know more when Wendy sends a letter.”

The south. The south.

Though Karen was injured, it was a rather timely escape.

“You didn’t know?”

“How could I?”

“Oh, I thought Wendy would write you a letter.”

Whenever the family traveled, Wendy never forgot to send postcards or letters to Lucas. So Jayden naturally assumed Wendy would do the same this time.

“What a surprise. I thought she’d tell you everything.”

“……”

Wendy, who sent thick letters even when nothing happened. 

When was the last time she sent a letter? Was it last winter?

“But why do you ask about Wendy?”

“There’s something I need to talk to her about.”

“Did she get into some trouble again?”

Lucas chuckled instead of answering.

Trouble. She did cause trouble. And it was quite an unbelievable one.

“Whatever it is, I’m sorry. As her brother, I apologize on her behalf.”

“You don’t need to apologize. Don’t worry about it.”

Ten days at the shortest, maybe a month at most. The Countess had grand plans for Wendy’s marriage this social season, so she wouldn’t let her stay away for long anyway.

It might have been fortunate. He had some time to choose the right words to avoid hurting Wendy, who ran away after causing such trouble.

‘I must explain it clearly.’

At the time, Wendy was too drunk to listen to Lucas’s words. He was flustered, saying she shouldn’t do such things, that it was a vulgar act that didn’t suit her, but she just smiled and fell asleep.

So he had to make sure she understood when she was sober, so she wouldn’t do it again. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to relax.

‘Oh, I must also tell her not to drink in front of other men.’

If she appeared disheveled like that, any man would fall for her ten out of ten times. Even Lucas was briefly swayed.

“Lucas. Isn’t your grandmother coming up again?”

“Well, maybe in the summer?”

“Hmm, another tough time for you.”

Jayden teased, and Lucas retorted with a crooked smile.

“Shouldn’t you be worried? Without Wendy, Mother will focus on you. Look over there.”

As expected, the Countess was already chatting amicably with ladies accompanied by unmarried daughters. Her occasional glances at Jayden were meaningfully pointed.

“She said she’d focus on Wendy this year, so she should stick to that. Why me again? I should explain the importance of choice and focus to Mother.”

“Why don’t you try to do well for her sincerity? Be filial.”

“Is it déjà vu? Why does that sound so familiar?”

Lucas’s low laughter echoed, and Jayden turned his back to avoid his mother’s gaze.

Seeing him ready to escape, Lucas naturally moved without saying much. He had no business at a banquet without Wendy.

***

“Is Wendy still not back?”

“Yes. My sister asked her to stay longer.”

On a day at the end of spring, despite the rising temperature, Jayden complained to Lucas, who had returned from supervising training at the parade ground.

It was understandable. During the spring without Wendy, Jayden was quite bothered by the Countess. It was his first time attending so many banquets and social gatherings.

“It’s almost summer.”

“Exactly. If I’m bothered like this in summer too, I might die. Would you write on my tombstone? Died of overwork due to Mother’s nagging.”

“Crazy.”

The trivial conversation flowed, and the familiar daily life faded normally.

Summer came, and as the Dowager Duchess came up from the southeastern territory to the capital, Lucas attended social gatherings more frequently, just like Jayden. Thanks to this, spring was short and summer was tedious for Lucas.

And Wendy still hadn’t returned after summer passed. According to Jayden, even though the Countess urged her to come up, Wendy kept delaying her return, saying she liked the southern life.

Then came autumn. The royal banquet where Wendy debuted last year returned.

Lucas fiddled with his cufflinks as he entered the banquet hall late. Besides the obligatory attendance at the royal banquet, Lucas had a purpose for stopping by this event, even briefly.

It didn’t take long for him to spot a familiar back while casually scanning the banquet hall.

“Long time no see, Wendy.”

“Oh, Lucas.”

Wendy turned around at Lucas’s voice. As soon as their eyes met, a cheerful smile blossomed on her fair face.

With her jet-black hair elegantly tied up and wearing an off-shoulder dress tinged with red that revealed her neckline and shoulders, Wendy resembled a budding rose.

“How have you been? It’s really been a while.”

“You were in the south, I heard?”

“Yes. My sister was having a hard time.”

“Is your sister okay now?”

“Yes. She walks well now, though quite slowly. Moreover, Charlotte seems to be exhausting her.”

Charlotte, the eldest daughter of Count Enjet and Wendy’s niece, was full of energy these days. Even Wendy, who was perfectly fine, found it challenging to keep up with the child’s vitality. Watching over Charlotte allowed Wendy to escape from complicated thoughts and worries.

“Were you so busy? You couldn’t even contact me.”

“Oh. I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily…”

Wendy awkwardly laughed at Lucas’s subtle reproach, but soon met his gaze calmly.

“Whenever I send letters, you always responds with baskets of flowers or fruits. But the south is too far for that.”

“Well…”

“I thought my brother would explain things well. Besides, there wasn’t anything special enough to write a separate letter.”

You wouldn’t have read it anyway. 

The thought crossed her mind briefly, a moment of quiet bitterness she didn’t show. Wendy knew better now—not to expect anything, because expectations only led to disappointment.

“More importantly, Lucas. I have something to say.”

“Hmm?”

“Well, I’m sorry for causing trouble at the villa.”

“……”

Lucas hadn’t expected to hear about that day from Wendy before he brought it up himself.

“I should have apologized immediately, but at the time, I couldn’t face you.”

“……I understand. Is that why you ran away?”

“Yes, well……”

Wendy flinched, her exposed white shoulders shrinking awkwardly.

“To make an excuse, as soon as I returned to the capital, I received news that my sister was injured, so I rushed to the south. I wanted to apologize to you face-to-face. I’m sorry.”

“No, I wasn’t saying anything. Of course, you had to go since your sister was in trouble.”

Wendy quietly nodded.

Her eyes, shaded by long black eyelashes, were filled with concern. Because of this, Lucas couldn’t bring himself to give the stern advice he had planned. It seemed Wendy was already reflecting sufficiently without him mentioning it.

So, Lucas decided to bury the issue and change the subject. Like how she had been in the south.

“But Wendy…”

Just then, Lucas spotted a man hovering behind her, unsure whether to approach. He looked familiar—someone they must’ve bumped into around the social scene—but Lucas couldn’t quite remember his name.

The man was glancing at Wendy, indicating that he didn’t have business with Lucas. Watching him approach with the intent of finding a bride, Lucas raised his head with a disdainful look, causing the man to flinch and stop.

‘What does he plan to do with such courage?’

Despite Lucas’s displeased glare, the man, after hesitating, finally approached with determination.

“Good day, Duke Devon.”

The man greeted Lucas nervously and then turned to Wendy.

When their eyes met, Wendy’s teal eyes curved gently. The man, reassured, smiled broadly and extended his hand to Wendy.

“The promised quadrille, Miss Wendy.”

“Yes, indeed.”

Wendy placed her hand softly on his.

“Then Lucas, excuse me.”

“……Sure, see you later.”

It seemed she had a prior engagement.

Lucas stepped back willingly, allowing Wendy to go.

“Then.”

The man bowed to Lucas and led Wendy to the dance hall. Despite being too scared to approach properly earlier, he now appeared triumphant.

Lucas watched with a fierce smile as Wendy walked away, holding another man’s hand.

He wasn’t pleased. The man seemed inadequate in every way to be entrusted with Wendy.

“……”

And Wendy’s subtly changed demeanor as well.

Half a year. It had only been half a year, yet the strange sense of discord from Wendy felt unfamiliar.

She still smiled and spoke well, but this odd discomfort persisted.