Chapter 4.6

When was it? At some banquet, seeing Wendy dancing with Kevin Avon, Lucas head cooled instantly.

“Kevin Avon’s private life is messy. If you’re considering him seriously, think again.”

As soon as the dance ended, Lucas quickly pulled Wendy away from Kevin and quietly advised her.

Avon Distribution, run by Kevin’s father, Viscount Avon, was one of the largest partners distributing most of the Earl Rosewood’s logistics company’s products. So, he understood not being able to treat Kevin carelessly, but he was not suitable as Wendy’s partner.

Moreover, Kevin had a girlfriend. Since the women changed frequently, it was unclear if she was a girlfriend or just someone he played with once. Anyway, there was a rumor that she was pregnant with Kevin’s child, as she had just started gaining fame as an opera singer.

“My brother said the same thing.”

“And?”

“Brother only says bad things, so I wasn’t sure if it was true, but since you said it too, Lucas, I should be careful.”

Wendy nodded quietly.

Kevin appeared gentle and calm on the outside, but his gaze sometimes felt unsettling.

“But Avon Distribution is an important business partner for Father…”

“Would you like to dance?”

Lucas’s sudden interruption was quite unexpected for Wendy. She blinked at Lucas with wide eyes before smiling brightly.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to worry. I’m never left alone now.”

“…”

“You don’t like dancing. Don’t push yourself. Just keeping the promise you made when I debuted is enough.”

Wendy lightly patted the arm of Lucas, who was escorting her. As she turned her body like dancing, her hair, flowing like the night sky, brushed against his arm, almost within reach.

The soft hair tickled his palm and gently departed, leaving only a subtle lingering scent of roses.

“Dancing, really…”

What a foolish thing to say. What was he thinking when he suddenly said that?

He laughed at himself, puzzled. But the moment he saw the men approaching Wendy as if they were waiting, he understood why.

He couldn’t stand it. The insidious intentions of those who wrapped themselves in kindness and courtesy but were actually hitting on Wendy were all too clear.

Compared to them, Ryan was a gentleman. Of course, it was equally unpleasant to see him blushing and fumbling around Wendy.

“…Hey, Lucas. Are you listening?”

“Ah, I’m listening.”

Jayden, who was leading the strategy as number 3, quickly explained the plan and checked on Lucas. This time, Lucas was the number 1 forward, so he had to lead the attack.

He hadn’t really listened to the strategy, but it didn’t matter. After all, wasn’t it just about hitting the ball into the goal with a mallet?

***

“Well done. It was a winning game, so why did you charge recklessly? That’s not like you.”

“…”

Jayden clicked his tongue, sitting backwards on a chair with his face resting on the backrest.

Lucas had no words to counter Jayden’s remark, as he agreed with him. Lucas frowned and clenched and unclenched his fist a few times.

The throbbing pain felt quite heavy. It didn’t seem like a serious injury, but it looked like he would suffer for a while.

“My goodness, Lucas. Are you hurt badly?”

The Countess of Rosewood, who entered the guest tent late after watching the rowing match where Ryan participated, was surprised to see Lucas with a bandaged arm. She had watched the polo match to the end but hadn’t noticed Lucas getting hurt at all.

“It doesn’t hinder my movement.”

“What about the doctor? Did you get examined?”

“Yes, I did.”

“It’s not broken, so don’t worry, Mother. A few days of icing will heal it.”

Jayden explained on Lucas’s behalf and glanced behind the Countess.

“What about Wendy?”

“She’s coming with Ryan.”

Jayden and Lucas simultaneously turned their heads in the direction the Countess indicated.

Wendy was walking slowly towards them with Ryan.

“Looks good, really good.”

Jayden crossed his arms and grumbled mischievously.

In Jayden’s eyes, Ryan was smiling foolishly, but Wendy was smiling brightly for some reason.

“Indeed.”

Lucas, massaging his aching arm, wore the same expression as Jayden.

However, Lucas’s gaze was more on Wendy than on Ryan.

Her shyly covered mouth as if she had heard a pleasing compliment, her gentle hand movements almost touching Ryan’s arm, and her soft gaze meeting his as she tilted her head slightly.

The little girl who couldn’t hide her fondness and expressed it with her whole body had grown up a bit and was now naturally acting like a lady.

“What happened, Lucas? Are you hurt?”

Ryan, noticing the bandage under Lucas’s rolled-up sleeve, approached in surprise.

Wendy was the same.

“Just a bruise.”

“Be more careful.”

Beside Ryan, who clicked his tongue, Wendy asked worriedly.

“Was it during polo? I didn’t see any situation where you could get hurt.”

“Did you even watch? You seemed busy with other things.”

“Ah…”

To Jayden and Ryan, Lucas’s tone sounded as dry as usual.

But for Wendy, it was a first. Even when refusing, Lucas was always gentle.

“Exactly. Who takes Wendy away during our match?”

“Who took her away? She just went to get something to drink because it was hot. And weren’t you worried about Mother and Wendy sitting under the scorching sun throughout the match? Really, army guys have no consideration.”

“Ha, have you forgotten about the person who almost froze to death watching a rowing match by the riverside on a cold day last year? You shameless navy guy.”

“Now, let’s stop and eat something.”

As always, the Countess casually ended the argument. Then she pointed to the food the maids had busily placed on the table. It was the lunch she had been preparing since morning for her sons.

Both the polo and rowing matches ended in the morning, so after lunch, they could freely enjoy a picnic or gather in groups. They could go home, but since it was an extension of the social scene and for harmonious organizational life, most stayed to build friendships.

“Isn’t this too much?”

Unlike others who were enjoying lunch casually, Wendy seemed somewhat gloomy.

Lucas was on her mind. Not his injury, but his dry tone and somewhat cold expression.

Her mother, brother, and Ryan all ignored it, so it shouldn’t be a big deal, but she wondered if she was the only one who was overreacting.

“Wendy?”

Beside her, Ryan cautiously checked Wendy’s complexion. She had been holding a fork absentmindedly.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

She quickly covered it up with a smile and stabbed an apple from the salad closest to her with her fork.

She knew Lucas was watching her intently, but she pretended not to notice. She just diligently put fruit in her mouth, laughed, and chatted. As if she didn’t care about Lucas, as if nothing was wrong.

***

“You’re getting along well with that guy named Ryan, aren’t you?”

Helen asked while putting a cookie in her mouth.

She waited for Wendy’s answer, stuffing the remaining cookie piece into Bestie’s mouth to stop her from nagging about talking while chewing.

“Well, sort of.”

“What does ‘sort of’ mean? What do you mean?”

“It’s like… I feel like I’m being swept along by the situation regardless of my will. So I’m scared.”

Wendy picked up a sweet cookie. It was her favorite, but her face was still clouded with concern.

“Is it okay to just stay like this?”

“Why? Is he not a good guy?”

“No, he’s such a good person that saying he’s just okay would be an understatement.”

“Then?”

Wendy furrowed her smooth brow and closed her mouth.

Ryan was undoubtedly a good person. Being with him was enjoyable and pleasant, and he was thoughtful and, above all, treated Wendy well.

But do I like him?

She couldn’t say she loved him, but she thought she liked him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t talk to him, go places with him, or spend time with him. But…

“It’s autumn, yet it doesn’t feel cooler.”

On a sunny day, when the temperature was recently high, and she had forgotten her hat.

Ryan had provided shade for Wendy with his hand all day. Under the gentle shadow of his large hand, Wendy slowly closed and opened her eyes.

She raised her head slowly from his chest to his chin and then to his eyes. Her hair, tousled like the midday sun, was red, but he wasn’t dazzling. So he wasn’t blinding, and she could look up at Ryan directly.

Was it thanks to his hand’s shadow? Perhaps.

The feelings were entirely different from when she loved Lucas, unfamiliar yet comfortable and stable, not bad. Yes, not bad.

“Much better.”

Really. Wendy was better now than before.

Lucas’s small words and gestures carried great meaning, causing excitement, anticipation, and disappointment. It was nice not to constantly repeat the same emotions like a squirrel running on a wheel.

“What?”

“Hmm?”

“What is better?”

It seemed Wendy’s thoughts had slipped out. She just smiled at Helen, who was waiting for an answer.

Bestie, who had been watching Wendy closely, asked cautiously.

“Have you forgotten about the Duke of Devon?”

“Why are you asking that?”

“Well, you know. Can you forget six years in half a year?”

Bestie mumbled defensively in response to Helen’s reproach.

“The heart is messier than you think.”

After a moment’s pause, Wendy’s voice flowed out calmly.

She snapped the cookie she was holding in half. Crumbs scattered beneath the broken cookie. She brushed them away with her hand, but a few small pieces remained on the table.

Wendy continued, staring at them blankly.

“No matter how much you sweep, remnants keep remaining. You can’t dispose of them cleanly. So you just endure it, even if it bothers you.”

“True. Even if you sweep thoroughly with a broom, a few specks of dust remain.”

“Helen, must you compare someone’s sincere feelings to dust?”

Bestie glared, and Helen shrugged her shoulders.

Wendy gave a gentle smile to her friends.

Helen’s metaphor wasn’t entirely wrong. Whether cookie crumbs that remain after sweeping, a few specks of dust, or remnants of scattered emotions, they were all the same.

The only bitter part was that the once brilliant and precious feelings were now being compared to cookie crumbs or dust.