Chapter 14
“By the way, today Myang got too close to the fireplace and singed his whiskers. Sometimes he seems like such a clever cat, but other times I just can’t understand him.”
“Hehe, yes. That’s what makes Myang so charming.”
Bibi giggled lightly as her hands moved quickly. Before I knew it, she had finished brushing my hair and braided it neatly over one shoulder.
“Thank you, Bibi.”
“Oh, not at all, ma’am. Actually, I enjoy tending to you the most—especially when it’s part of getting you ready for bed.”
With her bright eyes sparkling, Bibi spoke clearly, then tidied the dressing table and left the room.
I picked up Myang and went to the desk.
It had been a long, tiring day. I sat down to write a note to place inside Myang’s pendant. After sitting with the pen poised for a while, I finally wrote a short message:
[It seems the weather’s getting colder. Myang burned his whiskers playing too close to the fire. When I kiss him, he smells faintly of smoke—it’s silly, but it’s endearing.]
I couldn’t bring myself to mention my husband. I hadn’t been able to follow through with the advice she had given me so clearly.
Still, it was all right. Both Hayden and Chloe had told me that “nothing happened.”
Reassured, I folded the note and tucked it inside the pendant.
Just then, my eyes fell on a handkerchief lying on the desk.
Neatly folded, its corner bore Eugene’s name. The bloodstains that had once soaked into it were now washed clean, as if erasing that day from memory.
My fingertips traced his initials, and for some reason, my heart gave a small flutter.
I quickly slipped the handkerchief into my tote bag, where I kept things I often carried with me. I told myself I’d return it to Eugene when I saw him next.
“Good morning, Winter. Did you sleep well?”
Early in the morning, when I came down to the dining room, Hayden folded the newspaper he’d been reading and greeted me warmly.
I liked having breakfast with Hayden. It felt as if we were beginning the day together, and more than anything, I liked how he would share the day’s plans with me in that soft voice of his. It made me feel like I was part of his day.
“There’s a new bill to regulate liquor sales in department stores,” he said. “So, I’ll be meeting some government officials over lunch to discuss it.”
That was one of the things I enjoyed about our breakfasts together — I could hear news that ordinary people rarely knew about.
It wasn’t as if such things affected me directly, but I liked feeling as though I was learning about the world.
However—
“Darling, didn’t you promise to have lunch with Mother today?”
Today was supposed to be a family day.
I had reminded him several times over the past few days that Mother Melinda would be visiting the capital, Edenfail, and that we had already made a lunch reservation at a nice restaurant.
“Oh. Is it that day already?”
He sighed and rubbed his forehead, looking troubled.
“Ah, I’m sorry, Winter. This lunch is quite important… You might have to dine with her alone. Will that be all right?”
I was a little startled but forced myself to smile and nod.
I couldn’t burden him, knowing it was for work.
“Of course. Don’t worry about it. I’ll explain it to Mother.”
“Thank you. I’d really be in trouble without you. I’ll let the department store know to treat you and Mother—maybe you can do some shopping after lunch.”
“Thank you. She’ll be delighted.”
I smiled faintly, pleased that I could be of help to him as a wife. But still, the thought of dining alone with Melinda made me uneasy.
She was a kind mother-in-law, but she did have a sharp, exacting side.
After checking the time, Hayden finished his meal quickly and stood up. I rose as well to see him off.
“I’ll be back later, dear. See you tonight.”
“Take care.”
Hayden kissed me lightly on the forehead, then got into the black sedan and drove off. I stood watching until the car disappeared down the street before turning back into the house. If I wanted to be at the station before Melinda arrived, I didn’t have much time.
When I arrived at Edenfail Station with Victon, it was just past eleven.
Melinda’s train was scheduled to arrive at 11:45, so we still had some time to spare.
“There’s still a bit of time. Victon, shall we have a cup of coffee?”
I pointed to a small café inside the station. Victon smiled gently and nodded, his eyes soft behind his glasses.
The café was much warmer than the station hall. Victon went to the counter and ordered two hot coffees and some small cookies.
We sat where we could see the main concourse, wrapping our hands around the steaming cups. The warmth slowly thawed my cold fingers.
“It’s cold out there. You must be tired, Victon.”
“Not at all, ma’am. It’s only my duty.”
He smiled politely, his expression composed.
“Winter’s coming soon,” he said. “The air’s getting quite cold. Is the estate well prepared for the season?”
“Yes, I’ll have the expenditure report for the winter preparations ready soon.”
We exchanged a few words about work. Every time a new wave of passengers spilled out onto the platform, our gazes drifted toward the crowd, but it still wasn’t time for Melinda’s train yet.
When the small talk ran out, silence settled between us. I turned to watch the people passing by outside the window.
Then I heard the sound of a train arriving, and soon the platform filled with passengers.
“Huh?”
A familiar figure caught my eye.
Without meaning to, my head turned to follow a tall man striding briskly through the station. His face was older, sharper—but still unmistakable from his boyhood days. Black hair, a stoic expression.
“Eugene.”
It was the first time I’d seen him since that evening at the banquet.
He must’ve been returning from a business trip. The man beside him, whose face I also recognized, was carrying a large suitcase. The two walked quickly toward the station exit.
I watched Eugene’s retreating back and suddenly thought of the handkerchief in my bag. I still hadn’t thanked him properly.
Now wouldn’t be the right time… right?
The image of myself chasing after him just to hand him a handkerchief made me chuckle quietly.
“They’ll be here soon, ma’am. Shall we wait outside?” Victon said after checking the time.
“Of course.”
I tore my gaze away from the exit where Eugene had disappeared and nodded.
The train arrived right on schedule. Melinda stepped off with her maid carrying the luggage.
“My dear, it’s been too long. I swear, if I don’t come to see you, I’ll never get to see your face.”
She sighed, looking exhausted from the long journey.
“I’m sorry, Mother. I should have visited more often.”
“Oh, enough of that. Words don’t feed me, do they? Where’s Hayden?”
Her eyes searched the crowd expectantly. I felt a twinge of guilt as I answered.
“He wanted to come, but he’s caught up with work. He asked me to apologize to you.”
“Well, if it’s work, there’s nothing to be done. Poor boy—he’s always working so hard. I just hope he’s eating properly.”
Even as she fretted over her son’s health, her tone carried a trace of disappointment.
She loved him deeply—too deeply, perhaps.
No matter what Hayden did, I knew she would always take his side. That kind of unconditional love was… foreign to me.
“You’ll understand once you have a son of your own,” she said, as if reading my thoughts. “Then you’ll know what it’s like—to think of your child every waking moment.”
“Mother, you must be hungry.” I hurried to change the subject before she could go on.
“Oh, terribly. The food on the train was dreadful.”
She clicked her tongue.
The Wolfhaze family estate was nearly twenty hours away from the capital by train. She must have eaten at least two meals onboard, so her complaint was understandable.
“Hayden reserved a restaurant for us in advance. It’s a new place in the department store—supposed to be quite good.”
“Ah, that thoughtful boy. Always so considerate.”
She smiled, unable to hide her delight.
I smiled faintly too, quietly letting her believe the arrangement was all Hayden’s doing.
We loaded her luggage onto the carriage that had been waiting at the station. Once we were seated, she sighed deeply, clearly fatigued.
“I must be getting old. Traveling wears me out these days. The railway makes things easier, but my body isn’t what it used to be.”
“Oh, don’t say that. You’re still in your prime.”
“Ha! Back in my day, when we came by carriage, I could make the round trip in just two days!”
Our conversation flowed easily, almost familiarly, until she steered it exactly where I expected.
“I suppose my days are numbered. You’d better give me a grandchild soon, my dear.”
As always.
I lowered my eyes and smiled faintly, avoiding her gaze.
(To be continued…)
