Chapter 18

“Ah, okay…”

I looked at him with a bitter expression.

“About the garden—”

“I didn’t do that to the garden!”

As soon as Edward brought up the subject, I spoke first.

Edward nodded.

He wasn’t angry.

“I know. I also know it was my mother’s doing.”

“You believe me?”

“I’m not believing you—I’m trusting my mother’s character and my own judgment.”

Even as a courtesy, Edward never said anything nice to me.

As if to warn me not to hold onto hope.

“Can I ask why you’ve come to see me?”

“For the upcoming banquet, you’d better not attend.”

Edward’s commanding tone left me speechless.

I was his wife, and he was telling me not to go?

“Why not?”

I couldn’t understand.

But Edward seemed annoyed that I was even asking.

“If you go limping around and make a scene, you’ll just disgrace the dignity of Winderton.”

With that, I had no more reason to argue.

“But I’m your wife…”

“I’ve never considered you my wife. And the disgrace you’ve brought to Winderton so far is more than enough.”

I felt miserable.

If it hadn’t been for the order from the Duchess today, my foot would’ve healed in time for the banquet.

It was all because of Edward’s mother, but I was the only one suffering the consequences.

“All this happened because of someone else.”

The words slipped out, words I’d only dared say to myself until now.

“If you want to insult my mother, go ahead. I don’t care. What matters to me is the dignity of Winderton. I simply judged that if you attended the banquet, it would bring shame to Winderton.”

“You’re that sure of it?”

“I am.”

With that, I truly had nothing left to say.

He spoke to me in a way that said no matter what I said, he wouldn’t listen. With an attitude like that, there was no point in arguing.

“No matter what I say, you won’t listen, will you?”

“That’s right.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

“Just stay still and quiet. That’s all.”

I lowered my eyes from Edward, nodding like someone who’d lost all will to keep going.

“All right. I’ll do as you say.”

“I’ll be going, then.”

Without hesitation, Edward left my room. As if possessed, I got up and dragged my injured foot to the dressing room.

“Hic….”

In the middle of the large dressing room, the new dress I’d had made for the banquet was displayed on a mannequin.

The moment I saw the glittering dress, tears began to pour down like rain.

“Hic, hic…”

Afraid that someone might hear, I closed the dressing room door, covered my mouth, and wept in silence.

Not even Betty, who was always by my side, would know about today.

I wanted to disappear from the world.

***

The day of the banquet arrived.

My uncle, His Majesty the Emperor, was so pleased with Edward’s business success that he hosted the banquet himself.

The truly ridiculous thing was that, even though the banquet was being thrown by my own uncle, I couldn’t attend.

From early morning, the staff at Winderton Manor were busy preparing Edward and the Duchess, adorning them for the event.

The whole house was bustling, except for my bedroom, which remained quiet.

Publicly, Edward explained that I wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t attend the banquet.

“My lady, please don’t be too upset. There will always be more banquets, and you’ll be there at the Duke’s side as the mistress of Winderton.”

Betty tried to comfort me as I sat in gloom.

“Yes. It’s just this once.”

I sat on the window seat, quietly watching the people moving busily outside.

Time passed, and I went down to the first floor.

“Have a good time, Your Grace, Mother.”

“It’s a shame you’re not feeling well, Lirie.”

How fake.

“Thank you for your concern.”

The Duchess gave me a perfunctory hug before getting into the carriage with Edward.

I watched until the two of them disappeared from sight.

***

The imperial banquet hall was crowded with nobles.

Edward, always the perfect master of Winderton Manor, had succeeded once again in business.

Most of those attending had come to befriend Edward, hoping to learn about his next venture.

“His Grace the Duke of Winderton and the Duchess Etiel have arrived.”

As the chandelier’s brilliance illuminated Edward and the Duchess Etiel, the nobles in the hall all bowed their heads to them.

The fact that Lirie was absent drew curious glances from the guests.

The emperor hosting the banquet was her uncle, and among the nobles in attendance were members of the House of Scarlett.

Yet Edward boldly and arrogantly appeared without her.

Some looked at him with admiration and respect, others with jealousy and resentment.

“This venture was another perfect success. Congratulations, Duke Winderton.”

“It’s all thanks to His Majesty’s grace.”

“But I don’t see our Lirie.”

The emperor began to show his displeasure at Lirie’s absence.

“She’s not feeling well and couldn’t attend.”

He had forced Edward to marry Lirie to keep him tied to Winderton, and yet here was Edward attending a banquet—hosted by the emperor himself—without her.

‘How arrogant.’

True to his image as the perfect master of Winderton, Edward was proud and self-assured.

Even the emperor found himself uneasy in the face of Edward’s confidence.

“I suppose there’s no helping it. Duke Scarlett, you must be disappointed.”

“…..Not at all, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll have to visit Winderton and see my niece soon. She must be so lonely after the wedding.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

The emperor and the Duke of Scarlett exchanged words as if they’d rehearsed them, right in front of Edward.

Edward clenched his fist at the emperor’s slyness.

To think he was expected to welcome more of the Scarlett bloodline into his perfect Winderton Manor.

‘Enough with this nonsense.’

It wasn’t even worth responding.

“Duke Winderton, is our Lirie very ill?”

The Duke of Scarlett approached Edward with a kindly smile, bringing up Lirie.

“No, she simply has trouble walking and couldn’t attend.”

Edward held back his disgust for the Duke of Scarlett as he answered.

“She’s always been a frail child—maybe because she was the youngest and raised so delicately. I worry for her. I’ll visit Winderton soon. May I see her then?”

“…It’s the Duke of Scarlett’s request. Of course.”

With the emperor watching, Edward couldn’t refuse.

‘So she says she hates the Scarletts.’

Edward let out a short, bitter laugh.

He remembered Lirie saying she hated the Scarletts.

Yet the Duke of Scarlett seemed so fond of her. Did she really hate them?

‘Looks like I’ve been deceived by a Scarlett again.’

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Edward retreated to a quieter spot.

“Edward!”

Sasha, beautifully dressed, approached Edward as he drank champagne alone.

She came to him with a flawless, bright smile.

“What is it?”

Edward replied with a curt voice.

“I heard you came alone, and it’s true? Is Her Grace all right?”

“Do I really need to hear about that woman from you, too?”

He snapped at Sasha, who brought up Lirie so casually.

Still, her expression didn’t change.

“You’re the Duke of Winderton. It’s only natural for people to ask the husband about the Duchess.”

“Don’t even mention that woman.”

Edward growled, warning Sasha.

“Anyway, congratulations, Edward. Another flawless success for your business.”

“I didn’t do it alone. Your help was invaluable.”

To Edward, Sasha was the perfect business partner.

Unlike Lirie, who hid behind the Scarletts and did nothing, Sasha was a proactive woman.

Especially her eloquence, always securing the best conditions, was remarkable.

“Really? My help was that important…?”

“Are you fishing for compliments, even though you already know?”

Sasha paused to think, then let out a soft laugh.

“If my help was so significant, doesn’t that mean I deserve to be your first dance partner?”

As Sasha expressed what she wanted, Edward nodded readily.

There wasn’t a single person at the banquet who didn’t know she was his business partner.

Since the real festivities would begin with Edward, the star of the evening, taking the first dance, choosing Sasha was the obvious choice.

“Shall we, Lady Kidman?”