Chapter 9

“Weren’t you on your way out?”

“Oh! Right. Yuri, could you place the flowers somewhere?”

Hugo flinched.

“Maid Yuri, please place them in Catherine’s room.”

“But there are already flowers in my room.”

“The more, the better.”

Catherine almost added that it’s not true for flowers, but she refrained.

Yuri had already taken the bouquet of freesias and was going up the stairs.

Catherine looked up at Hugo.

“What? Is there something on my face?”

Hugo touched his face with his large hand.

“You’re blocking the door.”

His broad shoulders flinched once more. Hugo stepped aside politely.

Catherine passed by him. From Hugo’s body came a scent that Catherine liked.

The woody scent she knew well was from the perfume she had given him before they got married.

‘Is he still using that?’

The bottle was small, and it must have deteriorated over time. Yet, the scent was as fresh as if it had just been made by the perfumer.

‘Could Hugo have bought it?’

While she was thinking this.

“Don’t I smell good?”

As Catherine passed by, Hugo followed and asked.

“Pardon?”

“I put on perfume.”

“Oh…”

Catherine, unable to say she had just been thinking about it, put on the bonnet Joanna had prepared for her.

“Don’t you smell it?”

Hugo brought his wrist under Catherine’s nose. Catherine stepped back and replied.

“I do smell it.”

“How is it?”

Hugo seemed like someone who had already decided on the answer he wanted to hear.

Catherine felt like she knew what he wanted to hear, yet wasn’t sure.

“Well, it’s perfume. A scent is a scent.”

Catherine responded bluntly. The door closed behind Yuri’s farewell. Hugo followed Catherine closely.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“What more do you need?”

“Don’t you really know?”

“What should I know?”

Hugo stopped abruptly. Noticing he wasn’t following, Catherine also stopped.

“Catherine, this perfume… it’s the scent you liked.”

Hugo took off his jacket and waved it.

The scent wafted over on the breeze.

Catherine’s heart fluttered.

Yes, it was the perfume she liked.

But her heart fluttered not because of the perfume.

‘He remembers.’

It felt like the joy of a child who always scored zero finally getting ten on a test.

She was proud of Hugo, who finally showed interest in her.

But Catherine, who didn’t want to ruin things over such trivial matters, snorted.

“I don’t like it anymore.”

And she walked briskly.

“I invested in the perfume company, I guess I should withdraw.”

Oh dear, even boasting.

Catherine let Hugo’s words pass by.

“Catherine, are you going out alone?”

It was a very late question, but Catherine answered sincerely.

“Yes.”

“Where to?”

Catherine shrugged. She had no particular destination.

“Surely you don’t mean to walk the streets alone?”

“I do.”

Hugo’s brows furrowed.

“I thought your mansion was splendid, but it seems the attendants are not.”

Catherine’s mood plummeted. He insulted the people she trusted and relied on!

“Hugo, you have no right to insult my people.”

“But I can’t help but criticize attendants who let a lady walk alone.”

“A lady?”

It was such an amusing remark that it calmed her excitement.

Catherine chuckled. Hugo squinted and waited for her laughter to subside.

“Hugo, I am not a ‘lady’.”

“What do you mean?”

Since the topic came up, Catherine thought she should make things clear.

“Hugo, you seem to have forgotten. I am the one who married you and then divorced.”

At the word divorce, Hugo’s eyebrows twitched.

“People usually don’t call a divorced woman a ‘lady’. ‘Lady’ is a term for pure, cute, and lovely young women.”

Though not legally defined, society didn’t consider a woman who returned after marriage a ‘lady’. Even though she might be called a lady.

Hugo, looking troubled, bit his lower lip gently.

Seeing his thick lip being pulled between his upper teeth made Catherine’s eyelashes tremble slightly.

“Catherine.”

Hugo’s voice lowered endlessly. Catherine’s clear eyes turned to Hugo.

He furrowed and then relaxed his brow as if enduring something.

“I don’t know much, but you are the most lady-like woman I know-”

“Catherine!”

As Catherine listened to Hugo, someone interrupted his words and greeted her.

At the familiar voice, Catherine turned around quickly. A handsome blond man was approaching them.

“Catherine, did you come out to greet me knowing I’d come?”

It was Paul, the first friend Catherine made after moving to the capital post-divorce.

Paul Enderick.

The handsome man from the Earl Endereick’s family was known for his free spirit and curiosity.

Because of his unique nature, he became friends with Catherine, who had stepped into the capital’s social scene after her divorce.

Paul was the first friend Catherine made.

Paul tried to help Catherine in many ways, but she rarely accepted his help.

Partly because Catherine wasn’t used to receiving help from others, and partly because Paul stayed in the kingdom only briefly.

This man, full of curiosity, would leave for foreign lands whenever he had the chance.

Of course, it wasn’t just because of his curiosity and strong desire to explore.

Paul’s father, Earl Enderick, wanted his only son to marry quickly and settle down.

If it were mere encouragement, Paul wouldn’t have run away, but Earl Enderick was also very proactive.

Earl Enderick constantly introduced women to Paul.

The young heir of the Earl’s family, who thought the world was vast with much to see and enjoy, eventually kept running away and returning.

“When did you come back, Paul?”

Catherine greeted Paul warmly, meeting him again after three months.

“I came back yesterday. I wanted to see you as soon as I arrived in the capital, but I got caught by my father.”

“And, did you escort the lady you met yesterday well?”

Much was omitted in the conversation between Catherine and Paul.

For example, it was obvious that Earl Enderick wouldn’t let his son, who had returned from abroad, be idle.

So, he must have hurriedly brought a woman of marriageable age.

After dinner, Paul would have escorted her and told her he had no intention of marrying.

“Catherine, I feel like I’m dying.”

Paul whined with a grim face.

The sight of the big man with drooping eyebrows could have been annoying, but his bright blond hair and cheerful impression made him look rather cute.

“You’ve had a hard time. If you hate marriage so much, why do you keep coming back during the social season?”

“Well, because of you…,”

“Catherine.”

Hugo, who had been quietly watching their reunion, stepped forward.

Only then did Paul, who had been focusing solely on Catherine, notice Hugo.

The smile on Paul’s face slowly faded.

“Catherine, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Hugo stepped slightly in front of Catherine, partially blocking her view.

Catherine briefly wondered if there was any need to introduce the two.

Because how often would Paul and Hugo meet in the future.

“Catherine, the introduction.”

But Hugo requested once more, as if he really wanted to greet Paul.

‘Is he trying to expand his connections now that Brian is debuting in society?’

Catherine tilted her head and moved to Hugo’s side. Her view was blocked, making her feel stuffy.

But each time, Hugo blocked half her view again.

As if there was something she absolutely shouldn’t see in front of her.

“Hugo.”

Catherine tugged at his arm.

Unconsciously, she showed an intimate touch. She didn’t realize it herself.

Paul alternated his gaze between Hugo and Catherine and then chuckled.

“No need for an introduction, Catherine.”

Paul extended his hand to Hugo.

“You must be Sir Hugo Edward, Catherine’s ex-husband. I’m Paul Enderick, Catherine’s friend. A very close friend, her only friend.”

Each time Paul emphasized ‘very close’ and ‘only’, Hugo’s slightly raised left eyebrow arched higher.

Hugo stared at Paul’s hand for a moment before shaking it.

“Friends are good. Friends. No further explanation needed. Since you’re friends with Catherine, I’ll address you respectfully, Sir Paul, though I could speak casually.”

Hugo emphasized the word ‘friend’ deliberately.