Chapter 6.3

“I didn’t mean to surprise you. I just wanted to clarify before the engagement.”

“…”

“Having a lover is something I can consider. But I refuse to be caught up in unnecessary gossip, especially before having an heir. The nobles in the capital are sharper than those in the North. They talk a lot.”

“Do you also feel that way about Wendy?”

“It seems silly to argue about things from childhood.”

Seira’s face turned red.

He was equating Seira with the nobles who belittled Wendy by bringing up childish incidents.

Seira knew this too. She just wanted to confirm Lucas’s ambiguous stance.

“Even so, if my future wife is uncomfortable, I’m willing to comply. But what if I make the same request?”

At that time, Seira couldn’t say anything.

She was shocked that Lucas, who seemed uninterested in her, had noticed her relationship with Joel. Moreover, Lucas’s request was as justified as hers. And it was fair.

So the issue that had been brushed aside resurfaced with Lucas’s words today.

“It seems we need to finish the conversation we didn’t conclude back then.”

“What?”

“What to do about Wendy and Sir Joel.”

“I didn’t expect you to bring that up. It’s sudden.”

“Sudden? Didn’t you ask first, Lady Seira?”

Like at the villa, Lucas handed the choice to Seira and remained at ease alone. That made her angry. His indifferent, relaxed demeanor.

Seira’s expression turned cold with sudden defiance.

“Is it okay for you not to see Wendy?”

“Ah, if you thought to use Wendy as an excuse to bargain with me, put it aside.”

Lucas tilted his head against the armrest.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding, Lady Seira. Wendy and I aren’t on the same level as you and Joel.”

“…”

“I care for Wendy, but it’s not love. Even without your request, once Wendy marries, it will naturally be that way. But it’s not the same for you and Sir Joel, is it?”

“…”

“Even Wendy has noticed, and it seems only a matter of time before the nobles in society catch on. So I thought it would be uncomfortable to leave it as is.”

“Then you…”

“Since you hesitated, Lady Seira, I made the decision. After today, send Sir Joel to the North.”

Lucas left Seira, who had her lips tightly shut, for a moment, then stood up. He glanced at her tightly clenched, pale fists and smiled softly.

“I’ve been considerate enough. So handle it well.”

Lucas turned to leave but then turned back.

Seira still had her pale face lowered. She was so confused that she didn’t even hear the sound of Lucas leaving and closing the door. Even when the maids came in to finish her preparations, she was lost in thoughts of Joel.

When Wendy came in and greeted her brightly, how did she feel? Seeing her genuinely happy made Seira feel foolish for momentarily considering using her as a bargaining chip, and she felt newly sorry for her.

“Wendy. You asked if there was anything you could help with, right?”

“Yes.”

“I actually have a favor to ask. You must do it.”

There was no one else to ask but Wendy. She had no close friends near the capital, and no one else knew the situation. Only Wendy.

After taking a deep breath, Seira confided everything to Wendy.

***

“Is this the right thing to do?”

Muttering to herself, Wendy wandered the Devon Ducal Household looking for Joel.

She was still conflicted about whether this was okay, whether it would harm Lucas’s engagement.

But it was a request Seira had made after much deliberation. Regardless of the outcome, she had promised, so she had to convey Seira’s request to Joel.

“Sir Joel!”

She found Joel standing idly in the small backyard connected to the manor’s rear. He turned around in surprise and calmly waited as Wendy ran over, catching her breath.

“What brings you here, Miss Wendy? So urgently.”

“I was looking for you…”

Wendy touched her flushed cheeks from running. Once her breathing steadied, she stood upright before Joel.

“What for?”

“Seira, Seira is looking for you.”

“…”

But Joel said nothing.

Looking for him. So what if he goes? What would change?

He smiled faintly, but his feet stayed rooted to the ground as if nailed down. Just as Seira had said, he wouldn’t come.

But Seira had begged Wendy to persuade him and bring him, no matter what. Wendy wanted to help because Seira seemed so desperate.

Though they had spent time together, it was the first time Seira had shown her emotions, making Wendy even more concerned.

“I know it’s hard, Sir Joel.”

“…”

“It might be the last time. Go, so you won’t regret it later.”

“What if I regret it even more?”

The last always comes with regrets. Wendy knew that too. How many times had she repeated and regretted actions she thought were her last resort?

But it wasn’t just regrets that remained. Because the last truly became the last, Wendy could accept the outcome. Joel and Seira could do the same.

Joel would go to the North, and Seira would stay in the capital, and as they became distant, they could gradually sort out their feelings.

“Have courage.”

“Courage?”

“It takes courage to try for the last time and to accept it.”

“…”

Wendy held Joel’s hand. His hand was ice-cold, having stood outside for so long.

“Even if you regret it, it’s not so bad. It allows you to prepare for what’s next.”

Wendy’s gentle smile, comforting Joel, blossomed into a somewhat playful, bright one.

“You might want to live well and be happy, so you might try harder than before.”

Haha. Joel looked quietly at Wendy’s hand holding his.

A small but significant warmth from her white hand. Having avoided the long, arduous time, thanks to this warmth, he felt a budding courage to face the true last.

***

The banquet began.

As usual, Wendy enjoyed a few dances with gentlemen who asked and chatted with other ladies and young ladies beside the Countess.

She didn’t know what Seira and Joel talked about. After bringing Joel, Wendy left immediately. Her mind was entirely on those two, but she couldn’t openly ask or show her curiosity.

“Oh?”

Returning from a dance with a man introduced by the Countess, Seira was gone.

Before going to the dance floor, she had seen her with the Dowager Duchess. She looked around but still couldn’t find Seira.

She thought Seira might have gone to the lounge, but she wasn’t there either. Suddenly, her mind was filled with countless thoughts.

Wendy suddenly left the banquet hall and went outside. The servant waiting in the drop-off area in front of the ducal mansion stood up as Wendy approached from where he had been sitting by the heater.

“The carriage from the Brighton Marquis Household. Is it still here?”

“Pardon?”

“For Seira.”

“Oh, she left a little while ago.”

“Left?”

Then what about the engagement announcement? What did she talk about with Joel to leave so suddenly?

No way. 

Wendy’s face turned pale. Her bewildered gaze fixed on the tightly closed iron gates of the ducal mansion. Since the banquet was in full swing, there was no one coming or going, leaving the surroundings quiet.

‘What should I do? Should I tell Lucas?’

If she tells him, how should she do it? How could she say that she fulfilled Seira’s request because she loves Joel, and it seems the engagement is broken because of it? But Lucas doesn’t know about their relationship.

Her head throbbed with worry and heat rose. She had been standing there without a coat or robe for a long time, not even noticing the cold.

“Miss. It’s cold. You should go inside.”

“Huh?”

The servant’s concern snapped Wendy back to her senses.

She smiled at him and turned back weakly. Her footsteps were heavy as she trudged over the black stone path of the garden back to the banquet hall.

“It’s been a while, Miss Wendy.”

At that moment, a voice from behind made Wendy turn around.

It was a familiar face. Kevin from the Earl Avon Household, one of the important partners of the Earl Rosewood’s Household. He was someone Jayden despised and Lucas consciously kept his distance from.

“Hello.”

Wendy stepped back and curtsied.

Kevin also bowed courteously. However, as he straightened up, his gaze seemed somehow chilling.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me. Have a good time.”

Kevin caught Wendy’s arm as she tried to pass by. His grip was stronger than she expected, making Wendy wince involuntarily.

“What…”

“Could we talk for a moment?”

“Talk?”

“It seems you have some misunderstandings about me, Miss Wendy.”

“Misunderstandings? What misunderstandings could I have about you?”

Wendy awkwardly smiled and tried to pull her arm free. But he held firm, gripping even tighter.

“The rumors about me aren’t true.”

“Sir, please let go of me.”

“Meeting that opera singer is true, but it wasn’t to the extent of tarnishing my or my family’s honor. You know, having a lover is common in noble society.”

“Lord Kevin Avon. Let me go.”

“An illegitimate child? That’s nonsense. That woman slept around for sponsorship, and there’s no proof the child is mine…”

Kevin suddenly stared at Wendy. Seeing her pale face staring back in shock, a hollow laugh spread across Kevin’s face.

“Damn it.”

He didn’t expect she wouldn’t know.