Chapter 8 (Part 7)

When she set the teacup down with a faint clink, Hernes finally spoke.  

“The engagement with Cardin will not be broken and will continue as planned.”  

Foyne’s eyes widened. It was already common knowledge that Cardin had brought Brienne to the estate he had prepared for her. On top of that, Cardin and Brienne had attended an exclusive exhibition together, an event where only those personally invited by him could attend.  

Foyne had been furious about not being invited to that exhibition. Her family, no matter how one looked at it, could not compare to Brienne’s. They weren’t even in the same league.  

“Mother, is that true?”  

To Hernes, Foyne was already family, even if Cardin refused to acknowledge it.  

Hernes nodded indifferently as she lifted her teacup. Her movements were flawless, in stark contrast to Foyne’s slightly trembling hands.  

She brought the cup to her lips without spilling a drop, the angle of the teacup and the speed at which she set it down creating not even the faintest sound.  

In the brief, heavy silence, Foyne realized she had made a small mistake. She hadn’t been careful enough to avoid making noise when setting her cup down.  

But Hernes, being her future family, would surely overlook such a minor slip-up, just as she had earlier. With a bright smile, Foyne continued.  

“So, I can continue with the engagement to Cardin?”  

“Do as you’ve been doing.”  

Hernes’ tone was detached, but Foyne wasn’t hurt in the slightest.  

Within her heart, the dying embers of hope had reignited, and she saw nothing else around her.  

Ever since Cardin had shown indifference toward her, people had subtly mocked or consoled her in a patronizing way. They had once spoken as if it were a given that she would become the Duchess of Messerode, but now that assumption had unraveled.  

Foyne dismissed their sly jabs as mere jealousy.  

‘They’re just bitter because I’m about to marry into such a prestigious family.’  

The Messerode name alone was enough to make others envious, so it was only natural they would twist their mouths in resentment.  

Now, with the engagement back on track, Foyne felt an overwhelming sense of joy.  

But then, a particularly irritating and loathsome thought crossed her mind.  

“Mother, what about Brienne? Rumors are already circulating that she’s returned to Devok.”  

If only Brienne weren’t in the picture, Foyne’s happiness would have been complete.  

Hernes lifted her teacup, her graceful hand movements captivating to watch.  

Foyne nervously observed her every move.  

Hernes, however, spoke as if it were of no consequence.  

“What could that girl possibly do?”  

Then, she took a sip of her tea, as if dismissing Brienne as easily as drinking that one sip.  

Foyne smiled. It was a radiant smile born from her unwavering trust in Hernes.  

“That’s true. With her insignificant family and a criminal for a relative, what could she possibly achieve?”  

“So, don’t concern yourself with her and focus on your own matters. Do you remember what I told you before?”  

“Of course. It was the special request you made to my father.”  

For once, Hernes allowed herself a rare smile.  

***

Before heading out to see the play, she managed to finish sorting and weighing all the herbs by evening.  

The maid had helped quite a bit, making it possible to finish before leaving for the play with Cardin. 

She first distributed the medicine she had made—one that had once healed Cardin’s wounds—to the nearby staff. Most of them were surprised to receive it, but they were all grateful, which made the effort worthwhile.  

Finally, as she was packing the herbs that Cardin liked, the maid came rushing into the room.  

“Madam, the Duke is here.”  

She immediately left the room. She had never given Cardin a gift before, so she was secretly excited to see his reaction.  

She had carefully chosen only the highest-quality herbs, and their scent was particularly strong.  

As she descended the stairs, she spotted Cardin. He was engaged in a serious conversation with Damon.  

Curious about their discussion, she approached, only for Cardin to turn and notice her.  

The moment their eyes met, he came toward her.  

“I heard you’ve been busy all day.”  

She held out the herbs in her hand.  

Cardin smiled as he looked at her.  

“Is this for me?”  

When she nodded, he slowly took the herbs and smelled them.  

The herbs looked much smaller in his large hands than they had in hers.  

He exhaled deeply, seemingly pleased, and looked up at her.  

“It feels like I’m breathing the same air as you.”  

His slightly upturned lips caught her attention.  

Whenever Cardin said things like this, her mind seemed to malfunction, unable to process his words properly.  

Cardin appeared to be in a good mood. His smile was brighter than before, as if he had received the perfect birthday gift.  

Now that she thought about it, she had never properly celebrated Cardin’s birthday, even though she knew the date well.  

It was easy to remember—July 7th. She had met Cardin during the summer, after his birthday had already passed.  

She felt a pang of guilt for having overlooked his birthday so casually in the past.  

Lost in thought, she glanced at him repeatedly, which didn’t go unnoticed.  

“What’s wrong?”  

Cardin asked with a soft smile as he opened the carriage door for her, gazing at her intently.  

She decided that seeing the play was more important for now and replied, 

“It’s nothing.”  

She quickly climbed into the carriage, which began moving immediately.  

She fell into thought for a moment.  

She had made more herbal pills than expected with the herbs Cardin had given her.  

Distributing them to the staff seemed like a hassle, so she wanted to do something more meaningful.  

“Cardin, I’d like to donate them under your name.”  

“Donate?”  

“I ended up making more herbal pills than I thought.”  

“Did you also make a lot of those herbal bundles?”  

“Not too many. I made those specifically for you.”  

Cardin, though it seemed like a small gesture, appeared genuinely pleased.  

He carefully set the herbal bundle aside and looked at her.  

“If you want to donate, I’ll arrange something. Our family is hosting a charity event soon.”  

Her face lit up.  

“Then I’ll donate them there.”  

Cardin nodded with a leisurely smile.  

A brief silence followed. She felt like she had said everything she needed to and was searching for something else to talk about when Cardin spoke again.  

“My mother won’t be attending the event. She doesn’t usually show up to things like that.”  

Thinking about Hernes made her chest feel tight, as if something were blocking her.  

Not thinking about Hernes had felt like living in a different world, even for a moment.  

Noticing her darkened expression, Cardin asked, 

“Was sorting the herbs today tiring?”  

That question led to a long conversation. Fortunately, the atmosphere became much softer and more pleasant than before.  

***

The carriage gradually slowed.  

Looking out the window, she saw the massive building she had glimpsed before—the Orsium Grand Theater.  

There were already many carriages gathered around.  

Oddly, their carriage didn’t stop at the grand entrance but instead drove to the back and came to a halt.  

Unlike the main entrance, this area was quiet, with few carriages or people.  

“Is it okay to stop here? There’s hardly anyone around.”  

Cardin smiled and nodded.  

“I thought you might get tired. Plus, we can go straight to our seats from here.”  

“Our seats?”  

Cardin held her hand as he helped her step down from the carriage. As he lightly tugged her hand, he spoke.  

“There’s a private seating area reserved for the Messerode family.”  

She had heard about it a few times while attending Stern Academy. Especially for the Messerode family, they didn’t even need to try to secure good seats.  

It was a space permanently reserved for the family, and no one else could ever sit there. Come to think of it, the Orsium Grand Theater itself had been built by the Messerode family.  

The thought felt strange—coming to this theater as part of Cardin’s family.  

As they walked down the hallway lined with red carpets, the walls grew taller, and soon, stairs appeared.  

Cardin gently raised her arm and spoke carefully.  

“Be careful. The stairs are narrow.”  

It was her first time watching a play with Cardin, and being alone with him like this made her heart pound even more than before.  

The surroundings were well-lit, the walls so high that even spiders wouldn’t dare crawl on them, and the soft lighting created a romantic atmosphere.  

Their seats were in a box area, offering a clear view of the stage. Although it was somewhat distant, the view was perfect—not too far to see clearly, but not too close either.  

Below, the crowd bustled with activity. Murmurs and quiet laughter echoed against the walls.  

In contrast, the area where she and Cardin sat was utterly silent, almost uncomfortably so.  

Unsure of what to say, she hesitated before glancing at Cardin. At that moment, their eyes met.  

It was as if he had already been looking at her, as he didn’t avert his gaze.  

He smiled softly, his eyes curving. She tried to smile back, but it felt awkward. Even as she smiled, Cardin’s gaze didn’t waver.