Chapter 8

The place Harriet went to was a quiet, dimly lit favorite spot of hers.

During the bright daylight, it was an open-air café serving light meals like eggs benedict or pancakes with coffee. But once the sun set, it folded up its terrace seats and turned into a pub selling wine and simple snacks.

Harriet exchanged a familiar nod with the shop manager and sat in her usual corner seat, ordering the wine she always drank. Her plan was to have a few glasses of wine, eat crackers topped with ham and olives, and then leave.

However, as soon as the ordered crackers were placed on the table, an unwanted face appeared.

“Harriet!”

“…Jeremy.”

The second uninvited guest of the day was her ex-boyfriend, whom she hadn’t seen since their breakup.

“I missed you. I came to see you, but you wouldn’t meet me at all…”

Jeremy, who sat across from her without permission, looked at Harriet with a longing face.

“I really missed you, Harriet.”

On the other hand, Harriet faced her ex-boyfriend without even a twitch of her eyebrow. In the past, she might have been swayed by his pleading eyes, but not after she saw him in bed with another woman.

“There’s no reason to meet an ex.”

“Harriet…”

“What do you want? You said you’d give up on the exhibition.”

“I’m really innocent. I have no memory of sleeping with that woman.”

“If you’re going to make excuses, at least be creative. Saying the same thing as last time?”

Harriet pretended to yawn with her arms crossed. Jeremy, feeling a sense of shame, blushed slightly and desperately tried to explain.

“It’s true. I did drink a lot the night before, but I definitely came home alone. I’ve never seen that woman!”

“So, according to your story, a stranger picked your lock, undressed, and lay down beside you during the night?”

“Yes!”

Harriet smirked at Jeremy, who nodded as if he’d been waiting. It was a ridiculous farce. Even a cheap third-rate play would have more plot coherence and be more entertaining.

“I thought you were a painter, but you have a talent for writing fiction too. Why not try that? Though I would never read it.”

“Harriet!”

“Don’t ever show up in front of me again. If you don’t want to die.”

Harriet coldly retorted as she gathered her things and stood up. Jeremy, desperate, grabbed her arm as she turned to leave.

“You can’t just leave like this. Please…!”

“Let go!”

Harriet shook off her ex’s hand like she was brushing off a bug and quickly headed for the exit.

“You promiscuous woman with a bad reputation, I only dated you for your money!”

Jeremy shouted loudly enough for everyone in the pub to hear. The eyes of the patrons shifted to Jeremy and then to Harriet.

“Who is she?”

“Oh, isn’t she that woman? From the Vanetti Earl family…”

The eyes of the patrons turned to Jeremy and then to Harriet. Curious, disdainful, and contemptuous gazes from those who had heard the rumors pierced Harriet’s heart like thumbtacks. Harriet clenched her trembling hands into fists. She had never been openly insulted before, even if people whispered behind her back. With eyes blazing, Harriet spat out each word through clenched teeth.

“What did you just say?”

“Why, want me to say it again?”

Jeremy, having dropped his facade, pointed a finger at her.

“Abandoned by your fiancé, pathetically hopping from man to man… Ugh!”

In the next moment, a man who had been sitting far away approached and punched Jeremy. His mouth, which had been spewing insults, let out a scream instead. Despite having some athletic ability, Jeremy was knocked back against the wall by a powerful blow.

The atmosphere in the shop froze instantly. Harriet stared at the broad back of the man who had blocked her view with wide eyes. He was a man who naturally drew attention. With a height that made her neck stiff and long limbs, his smoothly swept-back blond hair sparkled like a rare gem even in the dim light.

Feeling a sense of déjà vu, Harriet tilted her head in confusion while Jeremy, who had slammed his back against the wall, clutched his rapidly swelling cheek.

“Who… who are you?”

“Disturbing the peace is a nuisance.”

A deep, low voice resonated throughout the shop, where even a breath could be heard. The man approached Jeremy, neither quickly nor slowly, and bent his knee to sit.

“What?”

“Do you need me to repeat it? Didn’t you learn any table manners?”

“You… you bastard!”

Jeremy, staggering to his feet, swung his fist. It was a full-force counterattack, but the opponent dodged swiftly, causing Jeremy to lose his balance. Taking advantage of the opening, the man twisted Jeremy’s arm and subdued him.

“Ahhh!”

At the same time, a blinding pain enveloped Jeremy. It was intense enough to make him think his bones might break.

“Let go! You’re going to kill me! Help!”

Jeremy screamed at the top of his lungs, but everyone just glanced over without stepping in. The shop manager, who came out late from the kitchen and assessed the situation, intervened.

“Please leave. We don’t serve those who hurl verbal abuse at ladies and shout rudely in my establishment.”

“I was going to leave anyway! This lousy shop!”

Jeremy, his face flushed with embarrassment, hurriedly left the shop. As the cause of the commotion exited, the shop’s patrons lost interest in the three people standing there.

In the gradually noisy shop, Harriet quietly faced the man who had just dealt Jeremy a blow. It was a while before she managed to move her lips.

“…Lennox.”

“It’s been a while, Coco.”

The man, who used her nickname without permission again, smiled.

* * *

Gratitude was one thing, but the lack of welcome was another.

Lennox, upon hearing that Harriet had arrived by hired carriage, offered her a ride in his personal carriage. Though it was burdensome, as he had helped her earlier and was now offering to take her home, she couldn’t outright refuse due to the debt she owed him.

Harriet focused on the view outside the rattling carriage, trying not to be conscious of being alone with him.

“Is there something interesting outside?”

“Not really.”

Harriet answered curtly and then couldn’t help but turn her head.

“Are you stalking me or something?”

“Isn’t that a bit self-centered? That phase passed a long time ago.”

Lennox chuckled and returned her question. Feeling embarrassed, Harriet cleared her throat.

The suspicion that had briefly surfaced faded as she looked at the man sitting comfortably with his long legs crossed and leaning against the backrest. The man before her was ‘Lennox Diorne’, the future shipping magnate. Soon, he would inherit the Dukedom from his aging father.

“…Thank you for earlier.”

“A bit late, but I’ll accept your thanks.”

Lennox smiled, his eyes crinkling, and suddenly reached out to her. Harriet was startled and froze as his long fingers brushed over her head.

“A street tree leaf fell on you.”

“Oh.”

Lennox opened the window and let the leaf fly away before closing it again. 

Even in such a simple gesture, there was an elegance down to his fingertips. Harriet unconsciously found herself captivated by his movements. It was an innate grace that couldn’t be compared to a family that had amassed wealth over a few generations by chance. It made her realize that he was indeed the heir of an ancient family with a history spanning hundreds of years.

Sensing her gaze, Lennox, who was closing the curtain, turned his head. His mysterious gray eyes, dark yet enchanting, seemed to scrutinize her thoroughly. 

They were eyes that seemed to draw you in like a whirlpool. Cold and mysterious, with an unfathomable depth. As she realized they were alone, the air in the carriage seemed to tighten around Harriet, making it hard to breathe.

Thinking back, Lennox had been looking at her with such eyes for some time. Like a leisurely predator hiding in the shadows, waiting for the prey it had set its sights on to appear.

When she first met him, he was a boy taller and more mature than his peers, but over time, he transformed into a man. Just before he went abroad, being with him felt like walking a tightrope.

There was a sense of danger that if she took even one step forward, she would be caught by sharp fangs and dragged into a den. 

Even on the night of the nightmare-like wedding, it was the same. It was as if she was bewitched and fell into his arms, and then…

“Neigh!”

Just as the tension stretched like a taut string was about to snap, the carriage stopped with the sound of a horse’s whinny. Harriet, regaining her senses, quickly grabbed the carriage door handle. She tried to push it open, but it wouldn’t budge. A large hand covered her struggling hand.

“This door opens inward.”

Before she could respond, Lennox, who had opened the door easily, stepped out of the carriage first. He then skillfully extended his hand to her, indicating she should take it and step down. Harriet bit her lip inwardly. She didn’t want to avoid him, but she didn’t want to give the impression of avoiding him any further.

“Oh…!”

While she hesitated, Lennox grabbed her wavering hand and courteously escorted her.

Caught off guard, Harriet took his hand and stepped out of the carriage, quickly pulling her hand away. As if he hadn’t been watching her with eyes that seemed ready to catch fire, Lennox stepped back without any reluctance. Harriet, without realizing it, urgently parted her lips at his indifferent back.

“The other day.”

At her words, Lennox turned around. Feeling an inexplicable satisfaction, Harriet brought up her question.

“Why did you visit my father late at night?”

“Why do you think?”

Lennox countered, taking a step back toward her. He stopped just a step away, looking down at her with amber eyes as if he were observing her.

“To use it as an excuse to see your face?”

At his subtle voice, Harriet’s face turned bright red. Seeing this, Lennox silently stretched his lips into a smile. Despite pretending to be experienced and jaded with men, she was an inherently innocent woman. She wasn’t good at lying, unnecessarily honest, and had a lot of affection.

Though drawn to him, she pushed him away because of their relationship as her brother’s friend and an unknown sense of danger. It was a bit annoying, but it wouldn’t last much longer. During the short reprieve, he could wait for her. Just as he had for the past ten years. Having dealt with the bothersome pest, he was quite relaxed.

Unaware of his thoughts, Harriet blushed.

“Speak. Stop with the nonsense.”

“I’m actually planning a business venture with Earl Vanetti.”

“What kind of business?”

“I can’t tell you for free.”

“What?”

“I won’t say it’s for saving you today. Let’s have a date for a day this weekend in exchange for me opening my mouth.”

“Da… what?”

“I’ll come to pick you up early in the morning. Sleep well, Coco.”

Before Harriet could react to the unexpected condition, Lennox turned around and walked away after saying goodbye.