CHAPTER~15
Trying Not to Waver
His gaze, which had been fixed on Yvonne, naturally shifted to her pale, outstretched foot.
Yvonne gasped in surprise and quickly hid her foot beneath her dress.
Showing her ankle to a man outside her family was not proper behavior for a lady.
The man who had witnessed a lady’s private moment simply approached with an indifferent expression and dipped his hand into the valley water.
Yvonne pretended not to notice him and pressed her lips together.
Then she quietly shifted her body toward the edge of the rock where she was sitting.
But all her attention was still focused on the man beside her.
Cedric Glaston was a man she could not understand.
At times he became a savior who helped her, and at other times he turned into a ruthless businessman who seized her secret and used it to negotiate.
What kind of face would he approach her with this time?
That was why she feared him and intended to wait silently until he passed by.
At least until she saw the blood spreading through the water where he dipped his hand.
“Are you hurt?”
Cedric looked at Yvonne with baffled eyes.
Just moments ago, she had acted as if she would not even acknowledge his presence, yet now she was standing close to him with worried eyes.
Suddenly, the rabbit he had killed came to mind.
A woman with hair the same color as that rabbit’s fur was now worrying about the hunter.
Foolishly and innocently, without fear.
“And if I am hurt?”
“Then you must be treated immediately—”
Instead of answering, Cedric plunged his hand deeper into the valley water and rubbed it.
The remaining blood washed away cleanly.
Seeing his uninjured hand, Yvonne finally realized where the blood on him had come from.
“It is common when hunting.”
“You killed it… with your hands?”
“When the bullet misses, ending its breath quickly is a mercy.”
The woman’s eyes trembled like a leaf caught in the wind.
The concern that had filled her gaze was replaced by fear.
It was the reaction he expected.
Cedric’s lips curved smoothly upward.
As if nothing were wrong, he rose to his feet and looked at Yvonne.
The droplets clinging to her trembling lashes looked almost like tears.
Cedric stared at them for a moment, then reached out his hand.
Startled by the movement, Yvonne reflexively closed her eyes.
A moment later, the precariously hanging droplet slid down her smooth cheek.
“So next time…”
As his fingers flicked away the droplet, they brushed against Yvonne’s lips.
Feeling the touch, Yvonne pressed her lips together.
For a split second, his fingertips hesitated.
“I’m trying not to waver.”
And then, as if nothing had happened, he withdrew his hand.
It sounded strangely like a vow.
Yvonne slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Cedric.
Despite his seemingly gentle gesture, his gaze was chillingly cold.
She still did not understand this man.
And things she could not understand frightened her.
But running away was not always the answer.
Some things, no matter how hard one tried to avoid, had to be faced.
Like this man.
At that moment, someone else’s voice wedged itself between them.
“You two were together?”
Yvonne jumped in surprise and turned toward Derrick.
His eyes looked colder than usual.
Perhaps it was just her imagination.
Her heart pounded like a child caught playing a prank.
With long strides, Derrick approached the two of them.
He looked at Yvonne briefly before turning his gaze to Cedric.
“Lady Lopez seems to be looking for you. Shouldn’t you go?”
At Derrick’s words, a ripple passed through Yvonne’s eyes.
“So, Derrick. When are you going to sleep with the lady? Saving the wedding night doesn’t suit your personality, does it?”
“Well. I’ll see depending on the situation.”
If Cedric left now, she would be left alone with Derrick.
Even though they were outdoors and nothing terrible would happen, she still did not want to be alone with that man.
“Then let’s return together, Sir Derrick.”
“It’s a picnic for all of us. It wouldn’t be polite to keep the others waiting.”
Yvonne smiled innocently.
But her hands, clasped neatly over her dress, were trembling faintly.
Cedric watched her with narrowed eyes.
This woman had enough composure to act like a polite fiancée even in front of a scoundrel who harassed her, yet she was also easily frightened.
And that irritated him.
Why was she so desperate to cling to this engagement?
In the end, Cedric spoke up in support of her desperate attempt.
“Card games are more fun with four than with two.”
At that, Derrick’s gaze shifted from Yvonne to Cedric.
There was a strange twist in his eyes.
“When I’m told to come along after seeing you two together… why do I feel like the uninvited one?”
Cedric only let out a short laugh and did not reply, as if Derrick was not worth responding to.
But despite his relaxed smile, he still stayed by Yvonne’s side.
That, in turn, irritated Derrick.
However, he had no grounds to press further.
“Of course, it must just be my imagination.”
Derrick offered a smoothing smile, but only for a moment.
“Then shall we go, My Lady?”
When he asked to escort her, all warmth was gone from his eyes.
Perhaps that was why his polite words felt threatening.
After hesitating for a moment, Yvonne took the hand of her fiancé and stood up.
At that moment, the back of her hand brushed against Cedric’s firm hand.
“……”
Cedric stared at his half-brother leading away his fiancée.
Her small and delicate hands could be held in his one hand alone.
Yet the sensation of that brief contact lingered stubbornly.
And that irritated him even more.
Cedric narrowed his brows, shoved his hand into his pocket, and followed them.
The hand inside his pocket felt strangely itchy.
***
The three of them ran into Nadia long before they reached the table.
Nadia, spotting Cedric first, brightened with joy but froze when she noticed Yvonne and Derrick with him.
“We met by chance when I went to wash my hands. It seems Lady Lopez went for a walk.”
Cedric naturally shifted the topic when he saw the bouquet Nadia held, likely one she had picked herself.
Nadia’s cheeks flushed shyly.
“I was feeling a bit lonely waiting alone. I saw these flowers nearby and picked a few to show everyone. Aren’t they pretty?”
“They are pretty flowers. Though no match for the ladies here, of course.”
Derrick smoothly accepted her words and complimented both women.
But Yvonne frowned deeply at the flowers in Nadia’s hand.
The skin between Nadia’s fingers had become red and blotchy.
It was a symptom Yvonne knew well from her time working at an herb shop.
“Nadia. I appreciate the thought, but you should throw those flowers away.”
“Why? I picked them to show everyone.”
“That flower is ranunculus. It’s poisonous. May I see your hand?”
Yvonne took the bouquet from Nadia instead of explaining further.
Nadia’s reddened hand was revealed.
Nadia’s face turned pale.
“W-what is this…?”
“It isn’t severe yet. Wash your hands first, then see a doctor.”
Yvonne calmly soothed the frightened girl.
Nadia hurried toward the valley where they had come from.
About to follow her, Yvonne suddenly remembered the two men behind her.
“Could the two of you go ahead and bring the doctor?”
“Of course.”
Still flustered, Derrick turned and headed toward the gathering place.
Just as Yvonne was about to follow Nadia, Cedric’s voice came from behind.
“It seems you are quite knowledgeable in medicine, My Lady.”
His words struck like a blade.
Yvonne realized too late that her behavior was not befitting a noble lady and bit her lip.
A noblewoman knowing so much about poisonous plants growing in the forest was indeed suspicious.
‘I should have been more careful.’
Habits were frightening things.
Her instincts as a former healer had surfaced before she could stop them.
