Chapter 54

Countess Bedwig wanted to immediately chase after and convince Earl Tigris that Catherine’s words were wrong.

However, Catherine had acted swiftly, leaving her unable to do even that.

Countess Bedwig continued to bite her lips under the fan, struggling to find the right words to counter the shock of Catherine’s actions.

The vast wealth she was supposed to receive through Rael’s marriage seemed to float away like bubbles bursting in the air.

To Countess Bedwig, Rael was the best card.

Now that it was gone, she needed to look for the next option, but Catherine didn’t seem to be someone who would be easily swayed next time either.

When did that child change so much?

Countess Bedwig confirmed the large, strong hand holding Catherine’s.

‘Hugo.’

That’s the problem.

Countess Bedwig’s eyes glinted ominously.

“It seems the conversation has concluded. Let’s return to the banquet hall, Catherine. And Countess, please contact separately.”

Hugo, subtly telling her not to show up unannounced next time, turned Catherine around, holding her hand.

His steps towards the banquet hall were quite brisk.

“Hugo, slow down.”

“At this rate, the banquet will end.”

“You really like dancing. I thought you preferred holding a sword.”

“I used to. I still do, actually. But dancing with you is different.”

Catherine decided it was best to stop the conversation there.

In the past, Hugo might have been disappointed when Catherine stopped talking, but today, he was grateful.

He feared Catherine might ask why he met with Countess Bedwig and what they discussed.

In such cases, it’s best to keep her from speaking at all.

It would be nice if it were a sweet method only allowed for adults, but since it wasn’t, Hugo had to use another method.

“Hugo.”

“The starlight is lovely tonight. But it doesn’t compare to the stars in your eyes.”

He showered Catherine with compliments.

Though sincere, she always closed her mouth when he complimented her, with eyes that clearly didn’t believe him.

“I have something I’m curious about.”

“Your voice is always a pleasure to hear. Didn’t I say it’s better than the music played by Eliona’s orchestra? If I haven’t, I must be a truly lazy person.”

After a couple of attempts to converse, Catherine gave up and closed her mouth.

Silently led by Hugo to the floor, Catherine’s ears, face, and neck turned red.

People saw this and imagined all sorts of things.

A couple returning from the garden with flushed faces!

It was a scene that fueled imaginations.

***

“Ah!”

By the time Catherine spotted Countess Bedwig, Brooke, who had almost dozed off at the banquet, collided with a stranger as she exited.

“Oh dear, are you hurt?”

The man, who didn’t even think to catch the flailing Brooke, watched her regain her balance before offering a formal greeting.

Brooke, already in a bad mood, was subtly angry at the unchivalrous gentleman.

“I’m ready to hear it, so go on.”

Brooke straightened her back and looked directly at the man.

The man’s light brown eyes filled with confusion.

“What?”

“An apology.”

What Brooke confidently demanded, as if she had left it with him, was none other than an apology.

“Do you mean I should apologize, not receive one?”

Calvino was quite taken aback.

He had merely opened the door, and a woman had suddenly popped out, nearly colliding with him.

There was nothing good to be gained by getting tangled up with a stranger, so he stepped aside.

He hated getting dirt on his clothes.

The woman flailed wildly. Just as he was wondering if he should catch her, she regained her balance on her own.

Thus, there was no problem.

But the woman demanded an apology with eyes that seemed ready to spit fire.

Calvino couldn’t find a reason to apologize after thinking it over twice, thrice.

Instead, he found reasons to receive an apology.

First, she had startled him by suddenly appearing at the door, second, she had unreasonably picked a fight, and third, she was wasting his precious time.

“Excuse me, Mister Nameless.”

The woman brushed back her hair and took a step closer to Calvino.

Then she grabbed Calvino’s arm and pulled it.

Just as Calvino was about to scold her for what she was doing, the door swung open with a burst of laughter, and a group of women spilled out.

“The music was so wonderful today.”

Calvino lowered his raised eyebrows.

Thanks to the woman pulling him, he avoided the misfortune of being hit by the door.

“I appreciate that. But I won’t apologize. I have no reason to.”

But what’s wrong is wrong, so Calvino drew a line.

“Mister Nameless.”

The woman called Calvino irritably.

Calvino decided to give his name to the woman he didn’t expect to meet again.

“Calvino Strain.”

“Oh, I see. Sir Calvino.”

“I’d appreciate it if you called me Strain.”

“Sir Calvino, who doesn’t know how to apologize.”

The woman seemed like the type who hated losing.

Calvino pondered briefly why he had to argue with this woman at the banquet hall door and realized.

He had given his name, but she hadn’t given hers!

“Miss Nameless.”

So Calvino returned the favor.

If she had any sense, she’d give her name.

“I’m Brooke Sillons.”

“That’s a nice name. Miss Brooke.”

“Did you need to know my name to apologize? Now that we’ve introduced ourselves, let’s hear the apology.”

Brooke tilted her chin up. The top of her head reached Calvino’s eyebrows.

Calvino, thinking Brooke was quite tall, tilted his head.

I still think I should be the one receiving an apology.

As Calvino showed no sign of opening his mouth, Brooke stepped closer.

Under the amber lights by the door, her face was clearly visible.

Calvino looked curiously at her healthy brown skin and the freckles scattered across her nose bridge beneath her light makeup.

Brooke exuded a very different vibe from the women in the banquet hall.

As Calvino’s gaze slowly moved downwards, Brooke clicked her tongue.

Clicking her tongue in front of a man!

Calvino, shocked by the novelty, raised his head, and his brows furrowed at her eyes that seemed to scold him.

“When talking, you should look into the eyes, Sir Calvino.”

“Are you a dormitory warden?”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re strict to no end.”

Having never attended an academy, Brooke couldn’t quickly conjure up an image of a dormitory warden.

So it was hard to judge whether it was a compliment or an insult.

However, from Calvino’s explanation and his smirk, she could tell it wasn’t a compliment.

“Are you picking a fight with me?”

“How could I? With a beautiful lady? And even if I were, would I honestly admit it?”

“You’re mocking me.”

“Hmm, I think it’s you who’s mocking and scolding me.”

Calvino confidently argued that he was the one being wronged, as she had suddenly appeared, demanded an apology, called him Mister Nameless, and nagged at him.

Brooke let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

If I keep talking to this man, I’ll end up clutching my neck in frustration.

Brooke gave up on receiving an apology.

An apology can only be received when communication is possible.

“Have a good time, Sir Calvino.”

“You’re not going to retrieve the apology you left?”

“It seems the person who took it has no intention of returning it.”

Brooke spoke coldly as she brushed past Calvino.

At that moment, Calvino let out a chuckle.

It was clear he was laughing at Brooke. Brooke turned to point out his rudeness.

He was covering his mouth, doing his best to suppress his laughter.

But whether due to lack of effort, or because she was genuinely amusing him, laughter leaked out of him.

His shoulders shook, and the corners of his eyes crinkled. His soft, curly brown hair shook with his shoulders.

Now that I see, this man is breathtakingly handsome.

No wonder he was so overly confident; he was relying on his looks.

Calvino’s evaluation plummeted because of his handsome appearance.

“Stop laughing.”

She should have ignored him and walked away, but perhaps there was a warden’s habit somewhere inside her, as she ended up nagging.

“I’m trying not to, hmm, but.”

“Am I that funny?”

“No, hmm. Not funny. It’s a bit different.”

Seeing Brooke genuinely about to get angry, Calvino abruptly stopped laughing.

“Different? From what?”

“Are you suggesting we continue this conversation here? Blocking the door.”

“Does location matter when having a conversation? Should we go to an academy classroom?”

“That’s not it, but I feel like something unfortunate might happen.”

“What kind of unfortunate event?”

“For example, something like this!”

Calvino grabbed Brooke’s shoulder and pulled her.