Chapter 89

Logan took a long drag from his cigar. The ash-gray smoke, reminiscent of Eleanor’s gaze, scattered into the air. Logan’s eyes followed the trail of smoke as though tracing its path.  

“I know.”  

Logan replied curtly, as if he had already been aware of it. It wasn’t something that surprised or shocked him.  

“But that’s just my personal sense of betrayal.”  

He muttered with a self-deprecating smile.  

“She allowed me to kiss her, accepted my love, and then ultimately left me.”  

Logan stood up from his chair and moved to the large window leading to the terrace. From there, he could see the path Eleanor often strolled along.  

“Is it wrong for me to feel betrayed?”  

Logan asked.  

“…”  

Usher couldn’t answer. If he were in Logan’s position, would he not feel betrayed? No, he would. Giving a woman who was said to be waiting for someone presumed dead three years without coercion was not an easy thing to do.  

Logan must have silently hoped that Eleanor would choose him, waiting for her with patience. When she finally said she would accept his feelings, Logan must have trembled with uncontrollable joy.  

But then Usher appeared, and Eleanor changed her mind and left him. Logan’s sense of betrayal was the kind born from futility.  

“But.”  

It was a feeling Usher could understand.  

“The original promise was three years after the war ended.”  

“…”  

“And that day was one day before the three years were up.”  

Usher spoke firmly. Even so, he couldn’t yield Eleanor to Logan.  

“So isn’t it right to honor the first promise Eleanor made?”  

At Usher’s question, Logan smiled bitterly.  

“I know.”  

That’s why he tried to honor it. He let Eleanor go peacefully and didn’t cling to her pathetically.  

“That’s the plan.”  

He had no intention of scheming to keep Eleanor tied to him. How could he hold on to a woman who left of her own will and desire?  

“But as I said earlier.”  

“…”  

“There are more matters tied to Miss Hudson than expected. She handled Cindy Claven’s affairs, and the foundation’s work is also economically intertwined.”  

Especially the foundation’s work, which extended beyond the Claven Foundation to projects under Eleanor Hudson’s name. If the person leading these initiatives suddenly disappeared, it could unsettle donors and those who had pledged to support the projects.  

“As you might expect, business-related issues can’t be resolved immediately.”  

“Then until when…”  

“By the royal event in summer, everything will be settled, and the truth will be revealed. So don’t worry.”  

Before Usher could finish his question, Logan answered decisively. Dragging out this relationship, constantly recalling Eleanor, was not pleasant for Logan either.  

“Just as you want to move on from me.”  

“…”  

“I want to move on from you and Miss Hudson.”  

So don’t rush me. 

Logan’s response was clean and left Usher, who had stormed over in anger, with no room to press further.  

“It must be nice to be so rational on your own.”  

Usher said sarcastically. His frustration remained unresolved, and being forced to accept Logan’s reasoning only made him angrier.  

“It’s better than being swayed by emotions.”  

“…”  

“If you’ve finished your business, you should leave.”  

Logan spoke with only a slight turn of his head. Usher let out a dry laugh and left the office without hesitation.  

“…Ah.”  

Long after Usher left, Logan remained standing in the same spot, letting out a short sigh. The cigar, now reduced to a stub, burned his fingers. Logan tossed it carelessly into the ashtray and looked down at his stinging hand. Between his index and middle fingers, the skin was red and inflamed.  

‘Eleanor has never once wavered for you.’

That single remark. He kept replaying it in his mind. It was laughable how he was still shaken by Eleanor’s words. He thought he had accepted that it was over, but perhaps he hadn’t.  

Logan’s face twisted.  

“Then when…”  

When would he finally be able to let go of these feelings?  

* * *

As Usher left Logan’s office and walked toward the mansion’s entrance, a young girl’s voice reached his ears.  

“Olivia?”  

The only girl he could think of in this mansion was Olivia, whom he hadn’t seen in over four years. Forgetting his strained relationship with Logan, Usher instinctively stopped in his tracks and looked toward the direction of the voice.  

“Bring Ellie here!”  

“She’s resting in her hometown because she’s unwell.”  

It was a sulky voice. Olivia was looking for Eleanor.  

“…”  

Ah. Usher let out a faint sigh. Even before Eleanor left, Olivia had relied on her more than her own mother. To Olivia, Eleanor was more than just a governess.  

“You’re lying! Then I’ll go bring her back myself!”  

“You can’t do that, Miss Olivia.”  

As Olivia whined, the maid sighed deeply and tried to dissuade her. Listening to their exchange, Usher gave up on seeing Olivia and resumed walking.  

Eleanor was his woman, and it was only natural for her to be by his side. But strangely…  

“Bring her back!”  

“Don’t cry, please. If you keep this up, I’ll get scolded by His Grace.”  

He felt as though he had stolen Eleanor from everyone in this mansion.  

“I really feel like crying too…”  

Usher heard Olivia’s tearful voice and the maid’s muttering as he stepped out of the Claven mansion’s entrance.  

Something was falling apart.  

* * *

“What did he say when he came?”  

Shortly after Usher left, Jeffrey returned to the office and asked. He muttered under his breath about how brazen Usher was, even going so far as to criticize him. It was understandable, as Jeffrey didn’t yet know the full details of Eleanor and Logan’s agreement.  

“Don’t criticize Usher, Jeffrey.”  

Jeffrey frowned, as if asking how that was possible. His gaze toward Logan was insolent, as though he regarded him as a fool.  

“Usher hasn’t done anything wrong. He merely asked me to keep the promise.”  

Logan’s response left Jeffrey dumbfounded. His eyes now fully regarded Logan as a complete idiot.  

“Miss Hudson was never truly my lover.”  

“…”  

“And she was never truly my fiancée either.”  

So there was no need to hide it anymore. 

Logan shared the entire story honestly, leaving Jeffrey blinking in disbelief.  

“So you’re saying you made a promise that if Usher didn’t return by the end of three years, you’d become her actual fiancé?”  

“…”  

“And then Usher returned, and everything ended?”  

Jeffrey let out a dry laugh and rubbed his face, trying to process the information. His hair was already a mess.  

“But. Still, it was three years.”  

Jeffrey, deep in thought, finally spoke.  

“During those lonely years without Usher, it was you who stayed by her side and supported her, Your Grace.”  

For such a long time, how could she not waver even a little? Human weakness was loneliness. Falling for someone who appeared during a time of pain and isolation was such a common occurrence that it didn’t even need to be mentioned.  

“Even if she didn’t waver, though…”  

Jeffrey now ground his teeth.  

“How could she just take advantage of your kindness and then leave, Your Grace? How could a person…”  

He was furious, as though he had encountered a mortal enemy. Logan, forgetting his earlier gloom, smiled faintly.  

“That was the promise.”  

Still, knowing there was at least one person on his side brought him some comfort.  

“Her heart is still with Usher.”  

“Your Grace, people don’t have to be good all the time.”  

Jeffrey looked exasperated.  

“Of course, it’s guilt over having feelings for your friend’s lover. But still…”  

Trailing off, Jeffrey sighed heavily and shook his head.  

“I suppose it’s ridiculous to argue when you have already made up your mind, Your Grace. I’ll stop here.”  

It was the attitude of a sharp secretary who knew when to draw the line.  

“Let’s start with a clarification article.”  

Jeffrey adjusted his glasses as he spoke.  

“Not yet.”  

Logan’s firm refusal made Jeffrey frown. His expression asked why not. Perhaps he wanted to determine whether Logan was still clinging to Eleanor out of lingering affection.  

“Recently, the increased donations to the Claven Foundation and the special programs for children with disabilities were all projects Miss Hudson personally spearheaded under her name.”  

“There might be some hiccups with the donations, but surely the Claven Foundation can cover them.”  

Jeffrey spoke firmly, and it was true.  

“After revealing the truth and breaking off the engagement, I don’t plan to keep Miss Hudson involved with the foundation in any capacity.”  

Jeffrey pursed his lips and nodded. The foundation’s work was only possible when Eleanor was considered its hostess. Even if Logan explained that their relationship wasn’t bad, if Eleanor completely disappeared from the foundation, it would raise doubts about its credibility and the truth of the explanation.  

“But, Jeffrey. I’m also just an ordinary brother with a disabled sibling.”  

“…”  

“Even if it’s belated, I want to change the world for her.”  

Whether it was eliminating prejudice or ensuring such children went to special facilities instead of mental institutions.  

“It’s something I realized thanks to Miss Hudson, but I want to do what I can.”  

Logan firmly stated that it wasn’t lingering feelings for Eleanor. It was hard to oppose him further. Jeffrey sighed.  

“When do you plan to announce it?”  

“I’ve already told Usher. After the center is established, everything will be revealed at the summer royal event.”  

Logan’s clear answer made Jeffrey nod. As a secretary, he couldn’t override his superior’s decision. And at least, in Jeffrey’s eyes, Logan didn’t seem like someone who had gone mad over lost love. So he decided to trust him.