Chapter 36

“Thank you for escorting me, Baron.”

Riena smiled shyly.

Baron Dictron, whom Riena met when she was lost, had saved her from a crisis.

Just like a prince saving a princess trapped by a witch’s trick!

In front of Catherine House, Riena kept glancing at Baron Dictron.

“Not at all. It’s an honor for me to help a lady in distress. Rather, thank you for giving me the opportunity, Riena.”

Riena bowed her head, and Dictron looked at Riena’s blushing side profile.

The two were supposed to part ways but couldn’t. Just then, Catherine burst out through the front door.

“Riena! You’re safe!”

Her voice was full of concern.

Riena felt guilty realizing she had forgotten about Catherine while spending time with Baron Dictron.

“I’m sorry, Catherine. I got lost. Did you search for me a lot?”

“No need to apologize, Riena. Are you hurt anywhere? How did you get here? I was about to go back to the forest with some people after dropping off Brooke and Lillie.”

In Catherine’s plan, there was no scenario where Riena got lost. And she never thought she wouldn’t be able to find Riena herself.

Catherine was so shocked and flustered that she even resented Hugo for leaving them.

If Hugo had been there, they would have searched for Riena until evening, but they couldn’t, which made her upset.

That’s how shocked Catherine was, and she couldn’t hide her feelings.

Riena had never seen Catherine speak so incoherently. She couldn’t even imagine how shocked she must have been.

Riena was really fine.

Rather, she thought it was fortunate that she got lost.

“Catherine, calm down. I’m fine. Look, I’m not hurt anywhere. And this gentleman here safely escorted me here.”

“Oh, a gentleman?”

Only then did Catherine’s gaze turn to the man standing next to Riena.

‘Baron Dictron!’

Could her getting lost have been a blessing in disguise?

“Hello, Lady Catherine. It’s an honor to see the famous Catherine House in person. I’m Aaron Dictron.”

“You’re Riena’s savior!”

Catherine’s eyes sparkled. Confirming that Dictron was with Riena made her feel much lighter.

“It’s not as grand as being a savior…”

“Have you had dinner?”

“Not yet.”

“In that case, would you give me the honor of serving you dinner, Sir Dictron?”

“Such an abrupt visit might be impolite. Moreover, dining at a place where only ladies live is a bit…”

Catherine recalled that Dictron was not as brazen as other gentlemen.

But she couldn’t let this good opportunity slip by. She was worried that he might not come out again after returning home.

‘He might refuse the invitation and not come out again.’

I have to seize the opportunity!

“Who said there are only ladies? Haven’t you heard the rumors?”

To not miss this chance, Catherine came up with a brilliant idea.

“My fiancé will be joining us for dinner. So please, don’t hesitate and come in, Sir Dictron.”

Baron Dictron, with a troubled smile, followed Catherine’s lead and entered.

It goes without saying that Riena’s face brightened like the sun as she followed him in.

***

If you cause an accident, you must handle it.

Who? The person responsible.

Thus, Catherine informed the kitchen about the esteemed guest and immediately went to find Hugo.

Since Hugo had said he would return home after finishing his promised work when he left them in the park, there was no need to search the entire town for him.

“Who is it?”

When she rang the doorbell, John’s voice came through the magically operated speaker.

“It’s Catherine.”

“Ca, what? Lady Catherine?”

John was so surprised, as if he had seen a ghost, that he stuttered.

“Yes, it’s Catherine. Nice to see you too, John.”

As soon as Catherine replied to ease his embarrassment, the door opened. Catherine entered without hesitation.

In the Dalton Kingdom, there were many who wanted a capital mansion.

Because of that, the land prices skyrocketed, and fights broke out, prompting the king to change the law.

He banned owning gardens above a certain size. Thanks to that, many mansions, though still insufficient, were built in the capital.

Nobles who used to flaunt their wealth through the size of their land started showing off their wealth by decorating their gardens lavishly.

Luxury was like a balloon that expanded when pressed on one side.

In that sense, Hugo’s garden was unique.

His garden was far from being lavish.

As she crossed the garden with seasonal flowers in full bloom, Catherine recalled the extravagant display Hugo had recently arranged.

‘How did he get so many fresh flowers?’

It was for their engagement ceremony. Catherine couldn’t help but worry about Hugo’s financial status, wondering if he had gone into debt because of it.

Even though she knew he had become a Duke and received a new estate. Before she knew it, she was at the mansion’s entrance.

Catherine knew that an unexpected visit was impolite. But Hugo had clearly said:

• Come by anytime, Catherine. My door is always open for you.

As if to prove his words, Hugo welcomed her with a bright smile.

He was holding a pen, probably having come down hurriedly from work.

“Catherine, what brings you here?”

Catherine, who had been looking at the pen in his hand, raised her head.

“Hugo, have you had dinner yet?”

Catherine immediately brought up her business.

“Why?”

“Are you hungry by any chance?”

Hugo was not hungry at all. Because he had been snacking on what John had prepared while working.

He planned to read and process the financial report of the newly granted estate by today.

Since he had a banquet to attend with Catherine tomorrow, he had to finish his work today.

To save time for eating, Hugo had asked John to prepare snacks.

But Catherine wouldn’t have come for no reason. She wouldn’t ask pointless questions.

Hugo guessed that Catherine was going to invite him for dinner.

So, even though he was full, he decided to be hungry.

“I’m very hungry.”

“That’s a relief. Our cook made plenty of food today. It’s a sin to waste food. Would you help me avoid being a sinner, Hugo?”

She had a hard time asking him to have dinner. But Hugo was pleased.

“Of course, I should help. I can’t let my fiancée become a sinner. I don’t want to have a date in jail. Although it would be a unique experience with you. Shall we go now?”

“Leave the pen.”

Catherine pointed to Hugo’s hand. Hugo, who didn’t even realize he was holding the pen, laughed and handed it to John.

“John, I’ll be back after dinner.”

“Dinner? But you just ate a lot of dried deer meat…”

“I was debating whether to eat it or not. If Catherine hadn’t come, I would have been gnawing on dried deer meat.”

Hugo grabbed John’s shoulder firmly. John tried hard to keep his expression from breaking, clenching his lips tightly.

***

Hugo decided to commemorate today when Catherine asked him out on a date.

The Catherine who had turned cold, asking for a divorce,

The Catherine who had frowned when she found out he moved next door,

The Catherine who countered his marriage proposal with an engagement card when she was cornered,

Was now asking him out for dinner first.

What else should he commemorate if not this?

Hugo’s heart fluttered like cherry blossoms in the spring breeze.

But, really, just as it was, the moment he saw Baron Dictron already in the dining room, the spring breeze stopped.

“Duke Edward!”

Baron Dictron stood up.

Dictron knew about Hugo.

A war hero who rose from a Viscouncy to Duke in an instant, the Queen’s closest confidant, and Catherine’s ex-husband and current fiancé.

In many ways, he was a man of great interest, and thanks to his mother, who was very interested in social circles, Dictron knew as much about him as others.

“You know me, but it’s our first meeting.”

Hugo pulled out a chair and sat down, responding coldly. He didn’t even extend his hand first.

“It is indeed our first meeting. I’m Aaron Dictron.”

“He’s a Baron, Hugo.”

Catherine whispered information about Baron Dictron into Hugo’s ear.

Her breath softened Hugo’s sharp mood.

“Sorry for not recognizing you. I’ve only been in the capital for a short time. Nice to meet you.”

Thus, Hugo was able to greet Baron Dictron very gentlemanly. And also the other residents of Catherine House.

As Catherine had boasted, the food at Catherine House was excellent.

The conversation flowed smoothly from compliments on the cook’s skills, to the latest trends in the social circles, and to the attendance at the banquet to be held tomorrow.

In between, Hugo asked Baron Dictron a few questions, remaining cautious. And soon, he felt relieved.

Baron Dictron’s gaze was directed at Riena, not Catherine.

‘He was Riena’s match. This was for her.’

Hugo realized through the conversation that Catherine had asked for his help because she couldn’t invite a man into a house where only women lived.

Although he was disappointed that Catherine hadn’t asked him out on a date, he was satisfied that he could solve her dilemma.

Anyway, Hugo’s heart was as vast as the ocean when it came to Catherine.

The meal extended into a drinking session. Baron Dictron tried to leave immediately, but Hugo stopped him.