CHAPTER 4 – Escape at Night (Part 2)

An ominous feeling instantly struck her. Jeremy ripped off the ‘Cedric Edelgard’ plaque proudly displayed on the silver door.

“What… What are you doing?”

“Lord Edelgard resigned.”

“What?! When?”

“Two days ago.”

It’s the day after the Masquerade Ball. What in the world was happening?

She felt blood draining from her entire body. Seeing her shocked face, Jeremy sighed softly.

“You really didn’t know, huh? I thought you and Lord Edelgard were quite close…… Seems he kept it a secret from you too. Well, we were all surprised.”

The priestly ordination ceremony is just around the corner. Once formally ordained, Cedric would be promoted to the rank of deputy priest commander of the Knights of the Silver Cross. Lord Fernandez, the order’s longtime leader, had been gravely wounded in the crusade, making Cedric the de facto commander.

‘But why?’

Why all of a sudden?!

Lillian glared at the door where the plaque was missing.

‘This… must be my fault.’

Because she threatened Cedric that she would go to the bishop, detailing everything that had happened.

Looking back, everything seemed strange, starting from the moment the seemingly devout man kissed her.

Even though it was at a battlefield, and even though she had coerced him with her vile threats…… he was not one to respond so eagerly!

He must have felt remorseful for his actions, for forsaking God and compromising injustice.

However, in a twist of fate, she had used that kiss as leverage to blackmail him again. Even though he accepted the proposal as a way out, Cedric ended up feeling immense guilt for his actions.

He threw away his hard-earned career and eventually resigned……!

“Rumor has it that the Duke of Edelgard used his influence to secure a lottery ticket.”

Lillian raised her head in surprise. The rumors she heard at the ball flashed through her mind.

“Everyone is saying it’s because of the engagement.”

“…!”

Shock flashed across her face at the unwanted confirmation. Jeremy continued with the brutal truth regardless.

“Even if he wasn’t the heir, I don’t think the Duke Edelgard would have left Lord Cedric alone as it is. He is not an adopted son but a biological son. And he’s made a name for himself across the continent.”

Cedric becoming a priest was a huge loss to everyone. Except for the Holy Court.

“There must have been some deal with the royal palace. Something even the Holy Court would find acceptable.”

Lillian’s lips moved stutteringly at the conviction in his tone.

“So… are you saying he’s getting engaged to Lady Melverin, the flower girl of Toulouse?”

“Flower girl?”

Jeremy chuckled lightly.

“That’s a rumor the Melverin Duchy spread unilaterally. The engagement with Lady Melverin was a story from before Lord Edelgard made a name for himself on the expedition.”

Lillian’s complexion grew paler as Jeremy spoke proudly as if he were Cedric himself.

“Lady Melverin is such an accomplished beauty, so wouldn’t it be a waste in the Duchy? Especially for someone like Lord Edelgard.”

Marriage was a matter between families. It was the duke’s ministry that decided on the marriage partner.

“For a profitable match, you have to be a lioness, not a deer.”

The lion was a symbol of the imperial family. Cedric’s wife should at least be worthy of the imperial family.

Lillian also agrees. She nodded, but her eyes looked sullenly downward.

“My father is also going crazy, urging me to quickly remove my military boots. Since our parents’ minds are likely the same, I should also hurry up and get married to a beautiful lady like Lady Melverin…”

His subtle bragging continued. Even though he was not on par with Cedric Edelgard, Jeremy was also given a title. It was thanks to his contributions on the battlefield.

As the conversation continued without a word of congratulations from her, Lillian left the Holy Court, her steps heavy with uncertainty.

‘So, Cedric is really getting engaged.’

The fact that he was becoming another woman’s man hit her anew.

In reality, it was an expected event. A person of such exceptional talent wouldn’t stay confined to the Holy Court forever. The imperial court would have coveted him, and the duchy would have tried to keep him under the radar.

She had already reconciled with it many times. That someday, Cedric would enter the marriage market of the Toulouse social circle.

But now that the matter was right in front of her, it felt like a boulder was lodged in her heart.

Just the thought of Cedric having a wedding made tears well up in Lillian’s eyes.

He’d be dressed in his finery, walking down the aisle, taking a stranger’s hand, pledging his eternal love, slipping a ring on it, and kissing her proudly in front of everyone.

Perhaps it would be the wedding of the century. Poets would sing about his marriage everywhere, and Toulouse would turn into a grand festival.

Fortunately, she wouldn’t have a seat among the guests. Only guests of appropriate status would be invited.

Though the wedding had yet to take place, that day wasn’t far off…

“Sob..”

“Viscountess Primrose, are you all right?”

As tears unexpectedly burst forth, a maid handed her a worn handkerchief. Lillian nodded through her tears.

Even if by some miracle she had become a noblewoman, Cedric was still a distant man.

‘Lillian Primrose.’

When she received her title, she was immensely proud.

Even though it was a solitary elevation in status, even if she was called a parvenu aristocrat, it was still splendid. There was no greater achievement in the world.