Chapter 28

Since it was a small wedding, the reception was skipped. Harriet returned to the waiting room, changed clothes, and with a few farewells, immediately boarded the carriage heading to the honeymoon destination. Lennox, as if it was his rightful place, helped her in and sat across from her, knocking on the carriage ceiling with his cane before they departed.

“Harriet!”

Margaret, who had only offered a formal farewell to her stiff daughter, suddenly approached the carriage with quick steps and tapped on the window. Startled, Harriet opened the carriage door, and Margaret, eyes glistening with tears, took her hand.

“Have a good trip. Congratulations on your marriage.”

“You said that earlier.”

“I felt I didn’t say it properly. Have a safe trip. Make lots of happy memories.”

Margaret, wiping her tears, stepped back. Seeing her retreat, something welled up in Harriet’s throat, and she turned her head to the other side.

“Alright. Thank you, Mother.”

She wanted to say more, but it felt like something was choking her, and no words came out. Instead, Lennox spoke up.

“We’ll be back safely. Don’t worry, Countess.”

“Yes… Please take care of Harriet. She seems strong, but she’s a delicate child.”

He was her son’s close friend when they were young. Now, as her son-in-law, the Young Master was still a difficult presence. Margaret waved her handkerchief, sending off the receding carriage.

Harriet, looking back through the carriage window without realizing it, met her gaze. Startled as if burned, she quickly averted her eyes from the window.

Only the rattling sound of the carriage wheels echoed in the spacious area. An awkward silence lingered, uncharacteristic of a carriage setting off on a honeymoon. It was Lennox who first broke the silence.

“The Countess seems to have recovered her health quite a bit lately.”

“…That’s right.”

However, there was no room for complacency. Her mother’s illness fluctuated between better and worse. Sometimes she seemed almost recovered, only to collapse and spend days bedridden shortly after.

“I hope nothing happens while we’re away on our trip.”

Murmuring, Harriet rested her elbow on the window sill and propped her chin on her hand. Both she and Lennox had wrapped up urgent matters in advance, as they couldn’t be away for long due to business. They planned to take a cruise, with their honeymoon destination being an island owned by the Diorne Ducal family. As she imagined what it might be like, a small incident from the ceremony flashed in Harriet’s mind. She turned her head sharply and demanded,

“Right, why did you just stand there when the officiant told us to kiss at the ceremony?”

“I felt wronged.”

“Wronged? How?”

“Because for a long time, I’ve always been the one longing for you and waiting. I wanted you to stand on the opposite side for once.”

Lennox, naturally abandoning formal speech, smiled brightly. Harriet, narrowing her brows, pressed him incredulously.

“Waiting for me? Since when?”

“From a long time ago.”

“There’s no need to pretend to be in love when it’s just the two of us.”

It was a ridiculous story. Who would tease and provoke someone they loved like that? Unless they had an extremely strange taste, no one behaved like Lennox Diorne.

“Well, we have plenty of time.”

As if expecting her reaction, Lennox shrugged lightly and picked up the documents he had set aside.

“What’s that?”

“Work. I intended not to bring any, but it’s a time-sensitive matter.”

“I understand. Feel free to look at it.”

Harriet replied generously, casting her gaze out the window. She planned to catch some sleep during the journey. Recently, she’d been exhausted from bridal lessons, dress fittings, and selecting jewelry, leaving her sleep-deprived.

As her heavy eyelids began to close, a hand reached out to draw the curtain over the window. Startled, Harriet sat up straight, only to be met with a bemused smile.

“What are you expecting? If it’s what I’m thinking, I’m all for it.”

“I wasn’t thinking anything. Just…”

Feeling as if her thoughts had been exposed, Harriet’s face flushed with heat. A dark place, an enclosed space. Although the coachman was seated right outside, this was the first time sitting so close, knees nearly touching, facing each other. It felt as if she had willingly walked into a cave where a sinister beast lay coiled, waiting. Her mouth went dry, and her palms grew damp.

“Harriet.”

It wasn’t the nickname he habitually used. At the low call, Harriet, who had been avoiding his gaze, looked up. Lennox, having moved to her side without her noticing, gently laid her head on his lap. Caught off guard by his touch, Harriet lay sideways.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Weren’t you trying to take a nap?”

“That was…”

“If so, it’s better to rest fully.”

His warm breath brushed her ear. Harriet, tensing her shoulders, attempted to sit up.

“There’s a cushion, so I don’t need your lap pillow.”

“Just sleep, Coco.”

His low, soft voice stopped her. As he gently smoothed her long hair, strangely, all tension drained away, and sleep washed over her.

“Sleep well.”

His hand, tracing the curve of her ear and then patting her shoulder, was like a lullaby for a child. Harriet succumbed to the embrace of sleep without resistance. Once her breathing became even and she was fully asleep, the carriage, which had been proceeding smoothly, came to a halt.

The coachman, who had reined in the four horses, dismounted and knocked on the carriage door.

“Young Master, we’ve stopped at the place you mentioned.”

“Thank you. Take a short break nearby.”

Handing over a few gold coins, the coachman disappeared with a beaming smile. In his place appeared Anton, Lennox’s confidant. Having waited for the carriage on a secluded path, Anton respectfully presented the documents he held.

“Here is the information on Mikhail Chasselot’s whereabouts, as you requested. He plans to return today.”

“What a peculiar timing. You’ve made the necessary arrangements, I assume?”

Receiving the documents, Lennox scanned the report with an unreadable expression. The densely written pages detailed Mikhail Chasselot’s activities over the past three years, up to the present. From workplace colleagues to personal acquaintances, the final page covered recent developments.

As Lennox’s indifferent gray eyes swiftly read through the report, Anton continued his briefing.

“Yes, of course. We’ve secured all the port inspectors and prepared prohibited items for import. We plan to secretly place them in Chasselot’s luggage during the customs inspection.”

“If we add some highly illegal contraband, he should be sent back immediately.”

“Yes. If he’s unlucky, he might be barred from entering the country for up to a year. Though, given his family’s wealth, they might find a way to shorten that period with bribes.”

“As long as we can keep him tied up for now, it doesn’t matter.”

Concluding curtly, Lennox lowered his voice to avoid waking Harriet.

“By the way, what about Marianne Chasselot?”

“She returned home immediately after the wedding. There were no unusual movements. However…”

“However?”

“She was seen meeting a suspicious man. It turns out he was a reporter for a cheap tabloid.”

“I thought we had everything sealed up tight, but a rat managed to sneak in.”

“He didn’t enter the venue. He seemed to have caught a whiff of prey while loitering outside.”

“Continue monitoring Marianne Chasselot, and assign someone to that reporter as well. Don’t overlook even the smallest detail.”

“As you command.”

Bowing politely, Anton subtly changed the subject.

“By the way, it seems Earl Eiden is about to take action. He’s already scheduled a dinner with two major shareholders for tonight.”

“So he’s not even bothering to hide his intentions anymore.”

His uncle was now fully revealing his ambitions. Since Lennox had announced his marriage to the Vanetti family’s daughter without the approval of the family’s elders, his uncle had been subtly slandering him, even skipping the wedding.

Not only his uncle but also the Duke, due to health issues, had not attended his only son’s wedding, naturally drawing attention and whispers. Harriet, who understood the circumstances, paid no mind.

“Shouldn’t we retaliate somehow? Before the will is disclosed, do something.”

“For now, let’s stay put.”

Cutting off Anton’s excited words, Lennox returned the report on Mikhail Chasselot’s activities. Anton, awkwardly accepting the documents again, froze on the spot.

“What? Stay put? If things continue like this…”

“It’s not that I haven’t thought about it.”

The will stated that, although Lennox was an adult and had completed his studies, his uncle Eiden would temporarily take over the position of representative in his stead. While the title clearly belonged to Lennox as a direct descendant, his uncle’s intention to seize control of the company was evident.

“I don’t know how he persuaded my father, whose strength and awareness are unclear, to write such a will, but it’s true that it bears my father’s seal. The lawyer who notarized and witnessed the will is also known for his fairness.”

“Young Master.”

Sighing as if in resignation, Anton wore a worried expression. The sudden illness had clouded the Duke’s judgment. Initially, he hadn’t even recognized his son, who had returned after studying abroad for several years. Lennox’s position was precarious.

Meanwhile, Earl Eiden had long been preparing a stepping stone for his ambitions. Compared to him, young and inexperienced Lennox becoming a mere puppet Duke, swayed by his uncle, seemed only a matter of time.

Though the situation seemed bleak, the person involved remained composed. Lennox’s expression was not just calm but even exuded an air of leisure, leaving Anton at a loss. Should he, though it felt disrespectful, question his master’s intentions? While contemplating, Lennox handed him something.

“Psychiatrist… Eugene Gray?”

“Have him discreetly diagnose my father. No one must know.”

The name of the doctor was familiar to him. Remembering that Eugene was Lennox’s schoolmate, Anton widened his eyes and then nodded, suddenly realizing something.

“Ah… Yes, understood!”

“Then.”

With a slight nod, Lennox closed the window again. Anton disappeared as if he had never been there. Soon the coachman returned, and the resting horses began to trot, their hooves beating rhythmically.