Chapter 8

“Lillie, wait a moment.”

Catherine detached herself from Lillie, who was clinging to her.

“Catherine! I really missed you. We debuted in society together. I’ve spent several social seasons without you, and it was so boring. We’re going to parties together this year, right?”

Lillie acted as if she and Catherine were the best of friends.

“Lillie, there are other people around.”

When Catherine forcibly pushed Lillie away, a fine crack appeared on Lillie’s face.

“…Catherine, what’s wrong?”

When Catherine drew a line, Lillie hesitated and asked cautiously. Her dejected appearance, like a rabbit caught in the rain, made the people around them flinch.

‘Am I becoming the villain?’

Lillie grabbed Catherine’s hand. Her soft hand patted the back of Catherine’s hand.

A similar thing had happened in the past.

Even without doing anything special, Lillie would become the victim, and Catherine the perpetrator.

“Is it because I didn’t come to see you when you were having a hard time? I’m sorry. I wanted to meet you, but my father kept preventing me…”

If they were true friends, Lillie should have come to see Catherine when she was struggling after settling in the capital post-divorce.

Even if Lillie had come, Catherine wouldn’t have welcomed her.

Anyway, given Lillie’s current attitude, she should have come. But Lillie didn’t.

She missed the timing.

Still, Catherine didn’t feel any resentment. She had forgotten about her. Looking back, she felt happier not having met her.

‘Why are you coming now to stir up my emotions?’

Catherine felt uncomfortable with the situation flowing against her will. Especially with so many eyes watching.

Catherine forced a smile.

She didn’t want to unintentionally become the perpetrator or the villain.

“Lillie, I’m glad to see you too. It’s nice to chat as friends, but there are guests here. Let’s talk later.”

Catherine turned her body before Lillie could respond.

She felt Lillie’s glances but ignored them.

Catherine looked at Riena and Brooke, and the two, who made eye contact with her, smiled brightly.

“It is an honor to move into the Catherine House, Lady Catherine.”

Seeing the many pairs of eyes filled with infinite trust, Catherine felt much more at ease.

‘This is business. Don’t be swayed by Lillie. Treat her as a business partner.’

Catherine was confident in maintaining distance as a business partner.

***

Catherine sat in the study, pressing her temples to overcome a heavy headache.

Ever since finishing the explanation of the house rules and guiding the new residents to their rooms, Lillie’s persistent gaze had constantly followed Catherine.

Whenever there was a brief moment, Lillie would fidget and try to talk.

Naturally, Catherine pretended to respect her but ignored her.

The phrase ‘later’ was a magical word that made Lillie quiet.

After forcibly detaching herself from Lillie and coming to the study, Catherine still didn’t feel at ease.

‘Was I being narrow-minded?’

Lillie would only have good memories with Catherine this time, so it seemed like she was at fault.

However, it was hard to be comfortable with Lillie, who came and said she would marry ‘Edward’ right away.

‘I need some time.’

Catherine recalled the time she decided to let Lillie move in.

‘I decided to complete the pendant by matching difficult loves.’

She intended to find a match for Lillie other than Hugo.

‘But it’s Hugo again.’

Moreover, Hugo had even moved next door.

Catherine’s mind was complicated.

At times like this, the best thing to do was to think quietly while walking.

Catherine stood up and grabbed her coat.

“Where are you going, Madam?”

“Just for a walk.”

“Wait a moment, I’ll prepare quickly.”

Catherine stopped Yuri, who was hastily preparing for an outing.

“It’s fine. I’ll just go out for a moment.”

“But you shouldn’t go alone, it’s dangerous.”

“The world is safe for a divorcee like me.”

Yuri made a sad face.

“I’m joking, Yuri. I’m really just going out for a moment. I have something to think about.”

Catherine comforted Yuri and went for a walk alone. Or rather, she tried to.

‘Trying to clear my head and then the real thing appears.’

If only that man hadn’t been in front of the door.

The man who still unsettled her, the one she was trying to clear from her mind, had come to find her.

What kind of trick is this?

“Where are you going, Catherine?”

Hugo, dressed handsomely, was at the front door.

“What brings you here?”

Having met Lillie and feeling sensitive, Catherine retorted sharply.

Her insides were in turmoil, and Hugo, with his carefree face, seemed annoying.

Despite Catherine’s prickly attitude, Hugo, with a gentle smile, handed her a bouquet he had tucked under his arm.

Yellow freesia.

The lovely scent wafted from the lush flower buds.

It was the same size and type of flower as the bouquet she had received from the unknown person last time.

“What is this?”

“It’s flowers.”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“You’ve become quite inquisitive since I last saw you, Catherine.”

“Is that a compliment?”

Of course, Hugo replied softly and extended the bouquet once more.

Catherine looked around her.

‘Maybe he brought it to give to someone else.’

But her thoughts were just a misunderstanding.

Hugo’s gaze was fixed on Catherine, and there was only Elbert around her.

In the old-fashioned society, it was rare for a man to give flowers to another man.

If a man had given flowers to another man during the courtship season, it would have caused a huge stir.

So, it was safe to say it wasn’t for him.

‘If it’s not for Elbert, then it’s only me around here. Did he bring that bouquet for me?’

During their ten-year marriage in the past life, Hugo hadn’t even picked a single wildflower for her on special days.

“My arm is getting tired, Catherine.”

When she didn’t accept the flowers and just stood there, Hugo exaggeratedly complained.

Honestly speaking, the exaggerated complaints of the big man were… cute.

Catherine cleared her throat and looked away.

“Have you been neglecting your exercise?”

“If you’re worried about me, I’d like to say I’m fine. I exercise diligently every day. Please accept it.”

Hugo gently shook the bouquet. The scent of flowers spread around where he stood.

One by one, she felt the gazes of the attendants. Catherine reluctantly accepted the flowers.

What should I say after receiving the flowers?

Whenever she stood in front of Hugo, Catherine felt like a broken wooden doll. Every move felt awkward and clumsy.

She didn’t intend to be friendly with him, but Hugo kept showing kindness, making things awkward.

While thinking about this, Catherine felt embarrassed that she was blaming Hugo for her own feelings and actions.

“Is this something I left behind?”

So her voice came out harshly.

“Catherine, I’m not a magician who can make flowers bloom again after four years.”

Yet Hugo responded kindly, as if they were having an amusing conversation. Although he didn’t smile, his voice was warm.

“Then why the flowers? It’s not something I left behind. Especially in this season.”

“What season is this?”

“How can someone who wants to marry off his brother not know? It’s the courting season.”

“Ah.”

Hugo nodded as if he really didn’t know and didn’t care.

“Don’t misunderstand, Catherine. I gave you the flowers because I heard that’s what neighbors do.”

“Who said that?”

“It’s in the etiquette book.”

Catherine, who had never seen such content in an etiquette book, looked at Elbert and Joanna for help.

“When someone moves in, it’s polite to greet each other and exchange small gifts.”

Joanna explained.

‘So these flowers are meaningless gifts given to a neighbor.’

She almost misunderstood.

Catherine’s eyes slowly cooled as she looked at the bouquet.

“Thank you. Since we’re exchanging gifts, I’ll have to prepare one soon.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

Catherine stuttered, taken aback by his immediate response to her polite remark.

“I thought you’d refuse.”

“Who dislikes receiving gifts?”

Catherine regretted her words about keeping up appearances.

‘If I’m going to give a gift, I’ll have to meet him again.’

It was uncomfortable to keep making promises with him.

“I’ll contact you when it’s ready.”

Still, she couldn’t take back her words, so Catherine reluctantly responded.

“If possible, give me something I want.”

Catherine’s eyes widened slightly.

A gift is something the giver decides. After receiving it, it’s up to the recipient, but before that, it’s the giver’s choice.

Hugo had just made a request that could be considered rude.

‘Did he experience something significant during the war?’

The Hugo she met again felt very unfamiliar.