Chapter 21

“I apologize once again, Ermei. I made you go to the bank for nothing.”

“Don’t mention it. I went to take care of other things as well, so don’t worry about it.”

Ermei waved her hand dismissively and approached the residents of Catherine House.

Riena, Brooke, and Lillie came out after changing into their dresses.

“Oh my, they look really good on you.”

Catherine, forgetting about the check issue, showered the three women with enthusiastic praise for their beauty.

Riena and Brooke blushed.

“You’re flattering us.”

The two were overly modest, which Catherine didn’t think was a particularly admirable attitude.

“I just said you are beautiful because you are. You both need to have more confidence in yourselves.”

“That’s right, Catherine is correct.”

Lillie agreed with Catherine’s words.

“Brooke, I noticed you don’t smile freely. You quickly close your mouth even when you laugh.”

“But my mouth is too big…”

“Having a big mouth is charming, Brooke. The way your lips and the space between your teeth form a cavern when you smile widely! That’s so attractive. Brooke, make sure to smile broadly, wherever you are.”

Catherine gave a long speech about how beautiful Brooke’s lips were.

Meanwhile, Ermei was making the final adjustments to Lillie and Riena’s dresses.

“Catherine, sorry to interrupt, but can I borrow Brooke for a moment?”

Brooke, who had been receiving a shower of compliments from Catherine, looked like she was about to burst from blushing.

Ermei rescued her.

“Oh, I haven’t even mentioned 10 out of the 100 charms Brooke has yet.”

Catherine joked as if she didn’t want to let Brooke go, and Ermei skillfully played along.

“Let’s save that for next time. Her charms will only increase, and it will be an endless conversation. My time is limited.”

Ermei adjusted Brooke’s dress. There wasn’t much to fix, so it was done quickly.

“Catherine, we need to check your dress too. Please change and come out.”

During her last visit, Catherine had hesitantly ordered a new dress.

Catherine went into the fitting room with Ermei’s assistant.

Although the dress was still unfinished, it was perfect without needing any adjustments.

Ermei had made Catherine’s clothes for years, so it fit perfectly without needing a re-fitting.

“Ermei put a lot of effort into this one.”

Ermei’s assistant added, seeing Catherine’s satisfied expression.

“She always puts in a lot of effort.”

“But especially this time.”

“Is there a special reason?”

“There’s a rumor that a great person is appearing.”

At the mention of a great person, Hugo came to mind. And she wasn’t wrong.

“The young Duke, you’ve heard the news, right? Whoever becomes his partner, wearing a dress by Designer Ermei, will be the best advertisement. And I think it will be you.”

Ermei’s assistant giggled. She was a young girl who had just turned 15.

At an age where gossip is of great interest.

Instead of scolding the assistant, Catherine thought of Hugo.

‘Hugo has indeed become a great person.’

She felt happy yet bittersweet about Hugo’s rising status.

It felt like when others discovered a musician she had secretly listened to alone.

“It’s done.”

“Thank you.”

It was a complicated day. And what awaited at the end of the eventful day was even more complicated.

“Catherine…”

When she came out after changing, Ermei had a dark expression.

“Ermei, is it not good?”

Catherine asked if the dress didn’t suit her.

“No, the dress is perfect. No, you and the dress are perfect together. That’s not the problem. Catherine, are you really okay?”

“What? Me? I’m fine.”

Ermei looked around and approached Catherine. She was very cautious.

“Catherine, the check you gave me this time is also blocked.”

***

Catherine sent her party back to Catherine House and went to the bank.

d*ck, the banker at Horseshoe Bank, greeted her warmly.

“Lady Catherine, it’s been a while.”

“Yes, it’s been a long time, d*ck.”

Catherine’s face, which always wore a kind smile, was unusual.

d*ck widened his eyes and offered her a seat.

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes, a big problem.”

“Oh dear, what happened? I’ll help you.”

As soon as Catherine sat down, she placed the check on d*ck’s desk.

“Hmm, did the check get torn? It looks fine.”

d*ck picked up the check Catherine handed over and examined it closely.

“d*ck, my check is blocked.”

“What? That can’t be.”

d*ck was shocked.

He took a magnifying glass and examined the check. It wasn’t a counterfeit.

Catherine was surprised that even d*ck, who had long dealt with her, didn’t know about it.

“I’ll check it immediately.”

d*ck took the two checks Catherine gave him and headed to the inner office.

He didn’t keep Catherine waiting long.

But it wasn’t the bright expression she had hoped for.

d*ck, looking very troubled, bit his lip and placed the two checks in front of Catherine.

“Lady Catherine, you need to see a lawyer immediately.”

“A lawyer? Why?”

“A seizure application has been filed on your property.”

“A seizure? By whom? Who put a seizure on my property?”

d*ck frowned as if he had eaten a sour persimmon. His lips moved several times.

“d*ck, tell me quickly. I need to know to take action.”

“Please don’t be surprised.”

It was Catherine who shouldn’t be surprised, but d*ck took a deep breath.

At the end of his deep sigh, Catherine finally heard the name of the person who had seized her property.

“Earl Bedwig.”

Oh, Father.

Catherine pressed her cold hand to her forehead.

***

• It’s not impossible. The moment you divorced, you regained the Bedwig name, and as you know, unmarried women cannot own personal assets. The alimony should also rightfully belong to Earl Bedwig.

Useless lawyer.

Catherine recalled the consultation with her lawyer and scoffed.

The lawyer she visited after confirming the situation at the bank only told her unfavorable things.

• My father told me to handle the alimony myself.

• Did you get it notarized?

• No, but I have a letter.

• Letters have no legal effect.

• Are you saying I can’t use or protect my property as I wish?

The lawyer nodded. Catherine resented the lawyer for being right.

‘I was foolish.’

When she first returned, Catherine was in a daze, thinking only of getting away from Hugo quickly.

So, in her haste, she handled the legal matters sloppily.

Perhaps she had some expectation from Earl Bedwig.

The expectation that he would at least fulfill his duty as a father.

And until now, Earl Bedwig had lived up to that expectation.

He didn’t care what Catherine did in the capital.

But why now?

The answer became clear as soon as she arrived at Catherine House.

***

“Where have you been, Catherine?”

A bad morning seemed to indicate a bad end to the day.

There was an uninvited guest at Catherine House.

Countess Bedwig, whom she had never invited and had no intention of inviting, came out to greet Catherine as if it were her own home.

Catherine forgot to greet and looked at Elbert.

Elbert cleared his throat and explained the situation with his eyes.

Countess Bedwig had barged in, was told Catherine wasn’t home, but insisted it was her daughter’s house, causing a scene until she was let in to avoid more commotion.

Catherine took her eyes off Elbert and nodded at Countess Bedwig.

“Your father will be very disappointed in your attitude.”

Catherine stopped and looked at Countess Bedwig.

“A greeting, Catherine. You should greet your elders with respect.”

Countess Bedwig pressed down on Catherine’s shoulder.

She meant for her to bow.

Countess Bedwig had quite a grip.

Catherine’s shoulder hurt, but she stood firm.

She had held back all day. She couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Father taught me to discern who deserves respect and who does not.”

Countess Bedwig glared at Catherine fiercely.

“He also told me not to submit to outward power. My father was quite a good teacher until he met someone.”