101CF 55

Chapter 55

“…Tired?”

“Yes. Think about it. Who wouldn’t get tired if the person they have a crush on clearly knows their feelings, pretends not to, and even if you confess, doesn’t accept it?”

Before Helwin could intervene, Jerome poured out his words like a machine gun.

“So in the end, you gave up your crush and took an engagement. Surely you didn’t get engaged just to provoke jealousy, right?”

Helwin thought of Lucia. Indeed, it didn’t seem like she attended a matchmaking meeting merely to spark jealousy.

“Even if it’s the childhood friend, why is your friend acting like that?”

“What do you mean?”

Helwin, lost in thought, lifted his head. Jerome, exasperated, placed his hands on his waist.

“Why are you suddenly worried about that childhood friend?”

“Well…”

“You don’t mean you’re thinking, ‘I don’t want it, but I don’t want anyone else to have it either,’ that kind of garbage thought, do you?”

Helwin, frustrated at Jerome’s words, shouted.

“Of course not!”

“Ah! Why are you yelling? It’s not like I’m talking to the master.”

Jerome stepped back, and Helwin regained his composure, wiping his face.

“…Anyway, it’s not like that, so don’t say it like that.”

“Yes, I understand. Then tell me exactly what part confuses your friend.”

“Well….”

Helwin listed his thoughts in a weary voice, rambling about everything he’d been thinking: from being displeased with Lucia’s fiancé, to her avoiding him, to not telling him she attended a matchmaking meeting.

As he listed them, Jerome’s expression became uneasy.

“…So that’s why it turned out like this.”

“Hmm… just to be sure, your friend doesn’t like the childhood friend, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Really, no lie, you’re certain?”

“Yes. Why do you keep asking…?”

“From what I see, your friend seems to have feelings for the childhood friend.”

Helwin froze mid-sentence.

Jerome continued as if unaware, though he knew Helwin was the ‘friend’ in question.

“Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense to suddenly worry about a childhood friend now. And you said you don’t like the fiancé the childhood friend brought. Did that person behave rudely? Or do they have a bad reputation?”

“No. That’s not it…”

“Then it’s clear. Your friend has feelings for the childhood friend. 100%!”

“But…”

Helwin, looking unconvinced and confused, drew a faint sigh from Jerome.

“Is it such a strange thing to like a childhood friend? Why can’t you accept it?”

Helwin hesitated, then finally said:

“Well… that person already likes someone else.”

“Huh? The master… likes someone…! Wait! No, no. You mean your friend likes someone else?”

Jerome’s words slipped, but Helwin, lost in thought, didn’t notice the mistake.

“Yeah.”

“So not accepting the childhood friend…”

“It’s because they already like someone else.”

Helwin’s low, murmured voice didn’t feel false. Jerome, shocked by the revelation, slowly closed his gaping mouth.

“Then I understand even less.”

Jerome’s playful, high-pitched tone dropped sharply. He erased his smile and stared seriously at Helwin.

“If you like someone else, why worry about the childhood friend and dislike their fiancé? If you had no interest, it would be normal to support your friend’s engagement with a good person.”

Helwin couldn’t answer immediately, his pupils trembling as if struck.

“If the childhood friend doesn’t seem like a romantic interest, just support them and stay out of it. No matter how confusing, it wouldn’t compare to your childhood friend.”

Jerome, speaking coldly, softened his expression and looked exasperated.

“But are you sure your friend likes someone else? From what I see, it seems like they like the childhood friend.”

“….”

Helwin didn’t answer. Even with a clear explanation, his worries seemed to deepen. Jerome quietly stayed by his side until he returned from his deep thoughts.

Helwin remained in place for a long while.

Lucia forced herself to shake off her tension and followed Lady Raylan ahead.

Currently, Lucia was attending a tea party hosted by Lady Raylan.

Although a viscountess, the Raylan family was a rising noble house, and Lucia had been asked by Bern to attend.

Entering the glass conservatory, filled with luxurious flowers, she also noticed some distinguished guests, more precious than the blooms themselves.

Among the attendees were both influential married women in society and unmarried women, like Lucia, who were engaged.

As Lady Raylan and Lucia arrived, everyone turned to look.

“Everyone, today I’ve invited someone special.”

With Lady Raylan’s introduction, Lucia lifted her skirt slightly to greet.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Lucia Agnes.”

A few clapped politely, some whispered among themselves.

“Agnes… has she already reached the social scene?”

“Didn’t you hear? She’s engaged to Marquis Casper.”

“My goodness, Marquis Casper? Many had their eyes on him, and now he’s engaged to Agnes? Unexpected.”

“Indeed. I heard they met through a matchmaking meeting.”

As expected, people focused more on her engagement than on Lucia herself.

Lucia remained calm, as she had anticipated. She took a seat in the remaining space, hearing the chatter around her.

“I was curious who would win Marquis Casper’s hand, and it seems it’s you, Miss Agnes.”

A lady approached her, exuding charisma and curiosity.

“The woman of victory? That’s flattering,” Lucia said awkwardly.

Having heard of Bern’s reputation from Julian, she realized people truly valued him highly. The reactions confirmed Bern’s popularity.

“Don’t you see other young ladies glaring at you from afar?”

Following the lady’s fan, Lucia saw young women in their early twenties staring with jealousy.

Lucia, flustered, was reassured as the lady laughed.

“Hahaha, you really didn’t notice. You’ll be envied and resented in the future. What will you do then?”

“…I suppose I must accept it as fate. My fiancé being accomplished isn’t my fault, after all.”

“Fate indeed. To marry someone remarkable, such resolve is necessary.”

Pleased, the lady laughed. They continued chatting, and Lucia soon responded adeptly.

It seemed the lady was a key figure in this tea party. People tried to join in their conversation, but the lady protected Lucia from any uncomfortable questions.

After a while, when she grew tired of socializing, Lucia excused herself and walked into the empty garden.

“I’m a little tired.”

Although she had entered society before, this was her first real exposure. She had previously mingled only with close friends.

Rustle—

A presence approached from behind. A woman from the tea party appeared.

With crimson hair, vivid green eyes, and charming freckles, she seemed lively and attractive.

Although Lucia recognized her face, they had never formally introduced themselves. Awkward silence fell.

Should she speak first? Before she could decide, the woman stepped forward.

“You’re Miss Lucia Agnes, right?”

Lucia instinctively stepped back.

“Yes, I am Lucia Agnes… but who are you?”

The woman, anxious, quickly bowed.

“Oh, sorry. I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Celine Jay… no, Romario.”

She corrected her surname mid-introduction and then stepped closer.

“I… I wanted to ask you something…”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Unlike her bold approach, she seemed nervous, her lips trembling.

Closing and opening her eyes, she summoned courage.

“Are you really engaged to Marquis Casper?”

Lucia frowned. Most people already knew she was Bern’s fiancée. Asking directly seemed absurd.

Unlike the jealousy she had faced earlier from other young ladies, Celine appeared anxious, not hostile.

“Not doubting you, I just wanted to know if you’re officially engaged…”

Realizing her question was odd, Celine babbled further.

Lucia understood she meant no harm, so she answered honestly.

“Yes, that’s correct. I promised my engagement to Bern.”

Celine’s green eyes shook with uncertainty. Her unease radiated.

“It’s not formally official yet, but we will have a ceremony someday.”

“….”

“Does that answer your question?”

Celine’s expression twisted as if she might cry. Lucia instantly sensed:

‘She likes Bern.’

Celine reminded Lucia of her past self. When Helwin liked Arista, she had felt the same despair.

For both their sakes, Lucia chose to leave. This encounter would help no one.

As she tried to leave, Celine grabbed her. Her eyes were already glistening with tears, making it hard for her to speak.

After waiting silently, Lucia spoke first.

“Do you have another question?”

“Well… did Bern say anything to me…”

Celine, panicked, trailed off and released Lucia’s arm.

“Oh, never mind. Forget what I said.”

She bowed her head, hiding her face. Droplets fell from her crimson hair, but Lucia pretended not to notice.

Lucia felt uneasy, as if she had unintentionally hurt someone. Seeing herself in Celine made it worse.

She reached out to console her but stopped, fearing it might be misunderstood.

Ultimately, she withdrew her hand and walked away.

From behind came the soft sound of sniffling.