Chapter 37

A man with good sense knew that Catherine was trying to connect Baron Dictron and Riena and willingly joined in this matchmaking effort.

Baron Dictron wasn’t someone who could easily refuse the Duke’s suggestion.

However, he also wasn’t the type to drink all night with Hugo, whom he had just met, calling each other brothers.

Baron Dictron, who was sharing drinks with Hugo at an appropriate level, checked the time and stood up.

“I should get going now.”

“Oh, that’s too bad. I was delighted to have made a friend in the capital.”

“I am also disappointed, Duke. Let’s meet again if we have the chance.”

“Few people actually follow through when they say that. Let’s make a promise. I’ll see you at the ball tomorrow.”

“Ah, the ball…”

Baron Dictron looked troubled. Hugo glanced at Catherine.

He was asking whether to push further or let him go.

Catherine subtly poked Hugo’s side. It was a signal to push further.

“If you have no other plans, would you join me tomorrow, Lord Dictron? I don’t have anyone to smoke cigars with.”

Hugo sealed the deal. Though Baron Dictron left with an awkward smile, he would surely come to the ball tomorrow.

‘But I didn’t get to ask why Lord Dictron is so reluctant about social events this year.’

Watching Hugo re-enter Catherine House after seeing Baron Dictron off, Catherine fell into thought.

And then another question arose.

‘Why is that man coming here instead of going home?’

“Lady Catherine, are you not coming in?”

Brooke and the others, who were ahead, turned to look at Catherine.

Catherine, who was a few steps behind them, gestured for them to go in first.

Then she turned to face Hugo.

“Catherine, do you have something to say?”

“It seems like you have something to say, not me.”

Hugo seriously pondered whether he had something to say to Catherine.

Of course, he always had things he wanted to say to Catherine.

Like how beautiful she was, or proposing marriage. He held back because such words would shock her, but his heart was always full of things he wanted to say to Catherine.

But what Catherine was asking was if he had any business to follow her into the house.

Of course, he didn’t. So he decided to make one.

“I left something behind.”

Catherine’s eyes narrowed. It was a clear look of suspicion, but Hugo avoided her gaze without revealing the truth.

“Alright then. Go in and find it. I’m leaving.”

Catherine walked away in a direction other than the house.

Hugo, who had lied just to be with Catherine, hurriedly followed her and asked.

“Where are you going?”

“For a walk. I overate.”

“I’ll walk with you.”

“Hmm, didn’t you leave something behind?”

“It’s not polite to enter a house without the owner. I’m very particular about manners.”

Catherine shook her head, watching Hugo who wouldn’t admit he was lying until the end.

Why was he lying just to enter my house? And why was he following me now?

“The food was so delicious. I ate more than usual. Look at this, Catherine. Isn’t my stomach sticking out?”

“You didn’t seem to eat much.”

“You saw? You were watching me eat?”

Hugo’s voice suddenly rose.

“Were you watching me eat, Catherine? To see if I was eating well or not?”

Catherine closed her mouth.

Honestly, yes. Because it was the first time she was serving Hugo Catherine House’s food, and the first time she saw him eat properly since they met again.

During their past married life, they rarely had meals together, and even when they did, he ate as if drinking food rather than chewing.

He was always busy. So Catherine knew many things about Hugo but not his eating habits.

Since she had invited him, she thought she should serve him properly, so she kept observing his reactions.

Naturally, she noticed that he ate less compared to Baron Dictron.

Was it because the food didn’t suit his taste, or was he uncomfortable?

“Because you were a guest.”

“Oh, you were watching me because I was a guest?”

“I was just checking if you finished your plate.”

“Then you must have seen me push the beans to the right side.”

“Not beans, asparagus. And not to the right, to the left.”

Catherine realized she had said too much! She felt embarrassed for noticing and remembering such trivial things.

She expected Hugo to tease her. But Hugo was silent.

This made Catherine even more embarrassed, and she quickly walked ahead.

“I’ll find the lost item for you. And picky eating is bad, Hugo!”

Hugo didn’t chase after Catherine, who disappeared like the wind. No, he couldn’t think of chasing her.

Knowing that she had been watching him throughout the meal.

Whether it was out of guilt, interest, or discomfort, Hugo was so happy that his legs felt weak.

***

As befits the social season, the capital was bustling with parties and concerts. Catherine House was no different.

“Shall we go now?”

The second ball for the residents of Catherine House was about to begin.

Unlike the first time, the residents of Catherine House naturally blended into the party.

After helping them mingle with people, Catherine moved to another spot.

Sticking around like a mother bird wouldn’t do any good.

The ball, as always, was lively.

Returning from dancing a waltz, Catherine leaned against a wall and drank orange juice.

Brooke approached her.

“Brooke, you’re not dancing anymore?”

Catherine looked at Brooke’s dance card. It was filled with names.

“No, I just want to rest a bit.”

Brooke complained that her legs hurt after dancing four times, making Catherine laugh.

Brooke was a woman who climbed mountains and rooftops from dawn. She wouldn’t be tired from this much.

Catherine realized that Brooke had no one she wanted to dance with and looked around.

Since it was the second ball, she wanted to find a man who suited her better than the first time.

Was there no man who could handle Brooke’s energy?

It would be great if good men registered as her husband candidates, taking advantage of the future Duchess’s support.

But no man caught Catherine’s eye. The only one she saw was Hugo.

‘Isn’t there a man as tall, energetic, righteous, and with a suitable title as Hugo?’

It would be nice if he had wealth too, but Catherine left that part out.

‘No, there isn’t.’

Catherine gave up looking for Brooke’s partner and stared at Hugo, who was entering with Brian.

Catherine wasn’t the only one looking at him. Every woman at the ball was staring at Hugo, regardless of marital status.

Noticing the stares, Hugo’s gaze wandered.

Though his words had become bolder, his shy nature remained. When Catherine smiled slightly, Brooke turned to her.

“Why, is there something on my face?”

Catherine, who wasn’t thick-skinned enough to ignore obvious stares, asked Brooke.

“You really like the Duke.”

“What?”

Catherine was quite taken aback.

Catherine realized that her feelings for Hugo were transitioning from guilt to concern, from concern to fondness, and now to love.

But she had no intention of showing her feelings. 

Had I shown them enough for even Brooke, who was insensitive to romantic matters, to notice?

“No.”

She denied it first.

“You’re lying if you say you don’t like him. You can’t take your eyes off him.”

“Hugo is an excellent husband material. I respect him.”

“Not as a romantic partner?”

Not as a romantic partner?

She wished it wasn’t. She tried to calm her heart, but it was maddening because her heart raced whenever he got close.

But Catherine had no intention of speaking her feelings aloud.

The moment she spoke, she would become greedy. Greed was not an emotion allowed for her.

“I see. Then you wouldn’t mind seeing that scene?”

Brooke pointed her lemonade glass towards the inside of the ball.

Hugo and Brian, who had entered unnoticed, were surrounded by unfamiliar women.

Among them, someone stood out. Madame Smith’s daughter, Annie, was practically shoving her face towards Hugo.

Catherine’s gaze was fixed there. Unable to look away, she turned towards Brooke.

The engagement was a business deal, and Hugo was free.

The engagement witnessed by Queen Regencia was a stronger bond than a typical engagement but weaker than a marriage.

Nevertheless, Hugo had the freedom to meet and choose women other than Catherine.

Catherine tried to understand and accept the situation rationally.

But her efforts soon became futile.

“Someone might push from behind, and their lips could touch.”

It was Brooke, who was casually narrating the situation, that ruined her efforts.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? What do they know about the Duke to look at him with such love-struck eyes, Catherine? I can’t understand falling for someone based on appearance alone.”

Brooke continued to express her negative views on meeting people at such balls.

Catherine missed most of her words. Her thoughts were stuck on Brooke’s comment about their lips touching.

If it were Madame Smith, she wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

Madame Smith, who hated Catherine and showed great interest in the new Duke, wouldn’t miss this opportunity!

And Catherine couldn’t let Hugo fall into the hands of Annie, Madame Smith’s daughter.

‘I can’t send Hugo, who suffered because of his mother-in-law, to a place where he’d suffer again because of another mother-in-law!’

Catherine judged that now was the right time for her, as his fiancée, to intervene.

“Brooke, sorry to interrupt, but since we’re at the ball, you should dance more. Oh, look, someone is coming to ask you for a dance!”

Catherine pushed Brooke towards the approaching man and turned around. Her timing was perfect.

“Oh my.”

At that moment, with a deliberate sound, Annie fell towards Hugo.