Chapter 59

Catherine’s hands trembled.

Yuri moved the newspaper, folded so the article wasn’t visible, far away and sat Catherine in a chair.

“Master, what should we do?”

“Think, Yuri, I need time to think.”

Catherine muttered, staring blankly into space.

“What about the banquet?”

“Ah… the banquet.”

Catherine closed her eyes tightly.

The impact of the newspaper article would be significant.

Yet the banquet was tomorrow.

Would people come?

What would they say?

Catherine’s mind was completely frozen.

There were two options.

To avoid or not to avoid.

Choosing one of the two wasn’t that difficult.

Catherine took a deep breath and made her choice.

“We must hold the banquet, Yuri. It’s a promise.”

She chose not to avoid it.

***

The atmosphere at Catherine House was as gloomy as a rainy, overcast forest.

Even making the sound of footsteps was something to be cautious about. All because of the article in the Daily News.

“Is the protagonist of the article really the Duke?”

Riena peeked out the door, looked around, then closed the door and turned back.

Brooke, who was sitting on the bed with her legs stretched out, nodded.

“Was Lady Catherine really sold off?”

“Riena, watch your words. There’s no proof the article is true.”

“Why isn’t there proof? The contract was even published. And if it weren’t true, the Duke’s side would have immediately raised an issue. But there’s been no reaction until this morning. I took a walk and checked next door; it was very quiet.”

Brooke clicked her tongue at Riena’s words, indicating she had already gone snooping.

“Riena, things in the world aren’t that simple.”

“Brooke, then do you think the article is false? Who would fabricate a false article against the Duke?”

Brooke exhaled deeply and rested her chin on the cushion she was hugging.

“I don’t think it’s false.”

“Then?”

“I just don’t think the article is the whole story. There must be some other reason.”

“When did you become so close with the Duke?”

Riena asked, sitting next to Brooke.

“Me, close with His Grace the Duke?”

“You’re taking the Duke’s side right now.”

Brooke burst into laughter.

She tousled Riena’s hair as if she found her cute for jumping to conclusions.

Riena, feeling annoyed, pushed her hand away.

“I believe in Lady Catherine. If the article were true, would Lady Catherine have met the Duke again?”

Listening to Brooke’s words, it made sense.

Catherine was a wise person. Yet there was still something bothering her.

“Maybe she didn’t know.”

Hugo might have completely deceived Catherine.

Brooke fell silent at Riena’s rebuttal.

“So, Riena, what do you want to do by doubting the Duke?”

Riena moved closer to Brooke.

When Brooke reflexively covered her nose from the sweet scent wafting from her, Riena pinched her side and said,

“Focus, Brooke. We’ve received help from Lady Catherine so far, and we will continue to do so.”

Brooke nodded while rubbing her side.

“This time, we help Lady Catherine. If the Duke deceived Lady Catherine and got engaged, if he really treated Lady Catherine like an object.”

“Then?”

“We can’t let the Duke and Lady Catherine get married!”

Was she saying she intended to interfere with them?

Brooke’s eyes widened at Riena’s incredible idea.

Riena felt pleased to have surprised the usually sharp Brooke but soon grew somber.

She was worried about Catherine.

***

Unaware that the number of people opposing his marriage to Catherine had increased, Hugo prepared to attend Catherine’s banquet.

“Are you really going? How about just holding back today?”

“Isn’t it Countess Bedwig’s intention to keep me from meeting her? I can’t play into her hands.”

What Hugo feared most was Catherine finding out about the contract details.

But that had happened.

When he first saw the article, his heart sank.

However, this also meant that Hugo no longer had anything to fear.

It was time to face Catherine directly instead of being anxious about the past being revealed.

“You’re absolutely right.”

“How’s Catherine?”

“Are you asking me?”

John, who was handing over the clothes Hugo had picked out, opened his eyes wide.

“You made a friend at Catherine House.”

To assist Hugo, John did many things.

One of them was becoming friends with the servants at Catherine House.

Since he couldn’t put Catherine under surveillance, John chose this method, and that friend often provided quite useful information.

“A friend…”

A dark shadow fell over John’s face.

“Did you have a fight? You were getting along well until recently. Even sneaking gifts to her.”

“You knew about that too.”

“There’s nothing I don’t know.”

Hugo fastened the last button of his shirt and turned to John.

John showed a satisfied smile at his master, who looked dazzlingly handsome today as well.

“Ask your friend. How’s Catherine?”

“Not a friend anymore.”

John’s answer lacked any energy.

Among the people Hugo knew, John had the best social skills.

He could become friends with anyone if he set his mind to it and was naturally good at maintaining relationships.

Had John ever fallen out with a friend?

Hugo tilted his head in curiosity, and John explained the situation.

“I’ve been cut off. You should brace yourself, Your Grace. The staff at Catherine House have all read the article.”

“What?”

“In summary, your reputation has hit rock bottom, Your Grace.”

Hugo groaned as he tied his cravat.

He silently put on the vest tailored to fit his body and then donned a jacket over it.

He had resolved to stand proudly before Catherine, but now that he was about to go, he was afraid.

What if she turned me away at the door?

“Let’s cheer up, Your Grace.”

John encouraged Hugo with a fighting spirit.

Hugo took a handkerchief and stepped out of the room.

Knowing the atmosphere at Catherine House wasn’t good made him anxious.

He had to meet her before Catherine’s misunderstanding deepened and before the people around her started badmouthing him.

“Brother.”

As Hugo hurriedly turned the corner, Brian popped out.

“Brian, are you ready?”

Hugo asked, and Brian nodded. But his expression wasn’t very bright.

“Brian, I told you to attend the banquet today. You can’t stay alone forever. It’s only natural to start a family when you become an adult. It may be burdensome, but you’re an adult now, and you know you can’t just avoid it.”

With every moment precious, Hugo rambled on without even asking what Brian wanted.

Brian listened quietly to Hugo’s lecture.

Since losing their parents at a young age, Hugo had been like a parent to Brian.

Brian couldn’t even imagine the enormous responsibility Hugo bore without even having a proper coming-of-age ceremony.

Brian knew how hard Hugo worked to ensure he wouldn’t get hurt.

So even if Hugo sometimes ignored his words or made decisions about family matters without consulting him, he never held a grudge.

But today, he felt a little angry.

“Brother, I haven’t said I won’t attend the banquet yet.”

“What?”

Hugo, who was about to move after finishing his words, stood still.

Brian was looking straight at him with eyes full of dissatisfaction.

“Brian, if you have something else to say, it would be better later.”

Hugo glanced at his watch.

John waved his hand behind Hugo, signaling Brian to wait until later, but Brian ignored it.

“It’s something I must say now, Brother.”

When Brian defied him twice, Hugo couldn’t just ignore him.

Hugo crossed his arms and looked at Brian.

His once very young brother had grown to reach just below his eyebrows.

He was much taller than the average adult male, but to Hugo, he still looked like a child.

It might be because, unlike Hugo, Brian had lived without taking on significant responsibilities and avoided physical work.

But now, Hugo couldn’t just dismiss him as a child.

With eyes filled with a firm resolve, Hugo nodded.

“If it’s important, let’s go into the study.”

“No. We can do it here. I’m short on time too, Brother.”

Now Hugo was curious about what Brian was going to say.