Let’s Just Make a Child, Your Grace - Chapter 10 Part 7

Yet he didn’t want to say no. He was the more foolish one.

“And I want to correct this one thing. My engagement with Kale was the Duchess’s wish, not mine. Whatever your feelings are, I’m going to stop my engagement with Kale.”

Cedric’s eyes sharpened again. He grabbed Arne’s white ribbon.

“It doesn’t seem right to say that while wearing this kind of dress and coming here.”

Arne gasped at Cedric’s fierce gaze. She knew well that the dress didn’t suit her and that she looked ridiculous, but wasn’t this what Cedric had given her?

Cedric gripped the ribbon more roughly, as if he wanted to tear it off.

“My gift of the dress to you was just kindness and a return gesture. It wasn’t anything special, just a responsibility for a promise I made. So it’s okay for you to wear the dress I gave you.”

“…That’s why I wore it and came.”

Arne said, pressing her trembling lips.

“You invited me, so I came here.”

Cedric’s eyes narrowed. Why would I invite you here when it’s obvious what kind of things you’ll hear if you come?

“I wish you’d stop being so stubborn. Saying such things while wearing that dress doesn’t feel sincere at all. At least don’t lie about me inviting you.”

Arne felt frustrated. Who was being stubborn after sending an invitation so blatantly? She reached for her handbag, intending to show the invitation right away.

But she couldn’t find it, perhaps having dropped it while entering the balcony. She could see the dropped handbag through the stained glass decorated door.

As Arne pulled the door without hesitation, Cedric turned his body without time to think. Cedric’s thick knuckles pulled Arne’s waist, and his large hand was suddenly placed on the door, blocking her.

As his hand slowly pushed the door, it closed with a thud. His low voice, sounding as if it was boiling, flowed into Arne’s ear, who was trapped by his arms and body.

“Don’t go.”

Cedric’s fist on the door tightened to the point of turning white.

“I’m not done talking yet.”

* * *

Amelia found Kale arguing with a servant in front of the main gate of the mansion.

“Why can’t I enter!”

“Well, Lady Amelia has forbidden it.”

“That can’t be. Check again!”

Amelia burst into laughter as she watched Kale, still unable to control his temper, slap the servant’s cheek.

“Let him in.”

The servant retreated, holding his cheek. Kale, seemingly angry, even kicked at the servant.

“Amelia, dismiss that servant immediately! How dare he spout such nonsense about me not being allowed to enter.”

“I told him to do that.”

“What did you just say?”

“Did you think you could just walk in here after announcing your engagement to Lady Ronia?”

Amelia smiled coldly and turned her back, walking towards the garden.

“Amel!”

Kale followed Amelia into the garden. Although Amelia was just walking quickly, Kale couldn’t easily catch up with her because she knew every nook and cranny of this mansion and garden.

As Amelia slowed her pace after reaching deep into the garden where outsiders couldn’t easily find, Kale grabbed her wrist to stop her.

“Amelia, listen to me! You know you’re the only one for me!”

Kale’s voice rang out as if it was about to burst. Amelia glared at Kale and replied.

“The person who says I’m the only one suddenly announces an engagement with Lady Ronia? I’ve been making all sorts of excuses to avoid engagement talks with Lord Cedric because of you.”

“You know I’m going to break off the engagement with the snow rabbit. This is just a means to an end. Your father opposes it because he’s not satisfied with the Wayne family, what am I supposed to do! Mother said this was the only way!”

“Are you shouting at me right now?”

Kale hesitated and spoke to Amelia in a softer voice.

“How could I do that to you, Amelia. Amelia, once the Wayne family prospers through business with the Ronia Duchy, your father will change his mind. Then I’ll break off the engagement with the snow rabbit immediately, and we can truly be happy.”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. There’s no reason for me to choose the snow rabbit over you. All my senses are focused on you. There’s no one more beautiful than you. So why would I choose the snow rabbit? I’m also struggling with this forced engagement.”

Watching Kale act as if he was wrapped around her finger, Amelia’s lips curved up smoothly.

Unlike Cedric, who was hard to approach, being with Kale, who seemed willing to do anything for Amelia, made her feel alive.

Kale pressed his lips onto Amelia’s. Her lips finally parted under his gaze that seemed to see only her.

Amidst the moist breaths, Amelia whispered to Kale.

“Then prove it. How can I believe the words of a man who’s already announced his engagement?”

“As you said, I even sent that dress to the snow rabbit.”

Amelia held back a smirk.

Thanks to that, today was really enjoyable. Cedric must have lost his affection for Arne, who came wearing the dress Kale sent. Usually, people would think the fiancé sent the dress.

‘Of course, Lady Ronia must have been hurt that the dress she thought Cedric sent was the same as mine. It’s as though he deliberately tried to humiliate her, taking revenge on Arne who left Cedric.’

It was a really amusing expression. A small act of spite towards Cedric who doesn’t look at her, and a twisted punishment for that woman who got engaged to Kale.

Amelia suddenly pushed Kale away and her eyes sparkled.

“Don’t tell me you thought sending just one dress would make up for announcing the engagement?”

Kale’s heated gaze persistently followed Amelia.

“I also did the cufflinks. My heart is always with you, Amel. I can do anything for you.”

Amelia hesitated for a moment upon discovering the cufflinks. It was because Cedric had seen the cufflinks that fell from Amelia’s bag.

“Why don’t you take those off today?”

“I will never take them off. Because I’m going to prove my feelings for you.”

“……”

Kale devoured Amelia’s lips as she was at a loss for words. Kale knew all too well how to stimulate Amelia, who was as impulsive and spontaneous as himself.

“Just a moment, ah.”

Amelia had clearly intended to vent her anger by showing Kale, who had announced his engagement to Lady Ronia, her being with Cedric at today’s party.

But her resolve weakened under Kale’s shower of kisses. Besides, he had even complied with her request to send the same dress as hers to Lady Ronia, as if to prove he truly had no feelings for her.

A request to shatter Lady Ronia’s heart if he didn’t love her.

Amelia gently pushed Kale’s shoulders and whined with a touch of aegyo.

“Prove that heart at today’s party. So that I can believe you.”

“Alright, Amelia. Alright, so…”

Kale once again parted and savored Amelia’s lips. Amelia then firmly pushed Kale’s face away and glared at him coyly.

“Prove it first. Not until then.”

Kale swallowed the saliva that had formed at the corner of his mouth and his eyes flashed. The more impatient he became, the more fierce and ominous Kale’s gaze grew.

“Haa, alright, Amelia.”

Amelia watched Kale, who was craving for her, with satisfaction as she moved away. However, Amelia’s steps halted at Kale’s following words.

“But if I prove it, you won’t get engaged to Cedric, right?”

* * *

The loose strands of hair on Arne’s nape fluttered with each of Cedric’s words. Cedric’s distorted face was reflected in the stained glass.

“…I wasn’t trying to leave. I was going to show you the invitation you sent me. I dropped my bag outside the door.”

Cedric’s Adam’s apple moved slowly. Blood returned to his whitened fist. He gradually loosened his grip on Arne’s waist.

Cedric pushed the door open just enough to retrieve the bag. Arne picked up the bag she had dropped and turned to Cedric.

“It’s the invitation. Look.”

Cedric’s gaze fell on the invitation card taken out of the bag. Still, it was an invitation he had never seen before.

As he slowly took and opened the invitation, he exhaled deeply and pressed his temple.

“Cedric Schopendha de Renigrad and Amelia de Leverun…”

Only then did he recall telling Amelia to handle the party preparations as she saw fit.

“…I didn’t send it, but I guess I did send it.”

Arne furrowed her brow as she watched Cedric speak incomprehensibly.

“This morning, this invitation and a box containing a dress arrived. Didn’t you want me to wear this dress and come to this party?”

Cedric’s lips twisted.

“There’s no way I would send such a dress. It’s neither my taste nor yours, with all these frills and ribbons haphazardly attached. Besides, you have beautiful lines, so the more fitted the dress, the more elegant you look. How many times have I held you, and you think I wouldn’t know your measurements?”

Arne, with her face flushed red, blinked slowly. Was Cedric so angry that he wasn’t even aware of what he was saying?

Cedric often said embarrassing things nonchalantly. Arne mumbled while looking at Cedric.

“You know better than I thought. I didn’t know you had held me enough to gauge my measurements.”

“……”

Cedric opened his mouth and then closed it.