Chapter 101
Julia, who had been half in disbelief even after hearing the guest’s name from Lucy, quickened her pace the moment she stepped onto the second-floor railing overlooking the lobby.
“Isabella! Ayla!”
Near the entrance, in the lobby, the guests were standing with large suitcases at their feet. They were Isabella and Ayla, the twin sisters of Cayente. Lucy had informed them of the guests despite Cayente’s instructions not to let anyone in for the time being—this was the reason.
As Julia confirmed their identities, she lifted the hem of her dress with both hands and hurried down the stairs, almost running. Two faces, uncannily resembling Cayente, turned toward her.
“How did you get here? Without even contacting me!”
“Julia! I missed you!”
Ayla, the younger of the twins, responded first to Julia’s delighted voice. Even as a child, she had loved pink, and now the hem of her pale pink dress fluttered as she ran down the stairs and hugged Julia tightly.
The twins were a year younger than Julia. In their childhood, Julia had always been the one to hug them, but now the roles had reversed, and Julia found herself leaning into Ayla’s embrace. Julia lifted her head in Ayla’s arms, making eye contact and smiling warmly.
“Welcome. I’m so glad you came. I was just wondering how you’ve been.”
“Me too! I’ve always wanted to see you!”
“I hope you’ve been well. It’s so good to see you again, Isabella.”
Unlike the time with Cayente, when they already seemed fully grown, the twins had matured into adults now. Julia worried it might feel awkward after such a long time apart, but it didn’t. Seeing them after so long felt as joyful as if she had seen them just yesterday. Still holding Ayla by the waist, she turned to greet Isabella, but…
“Yes.”
Isabella, standing as if rooted to the spot, looked displeased as she observed them, showing no joy at seeing Julia. In contrast to Ayla, whose dress radiated a cheerful vibe, Isabella’s dark navy dress and gloomy expression exuded a somber atmosphere.
Naturally, Julia couldn’t help but worry. Isabella had always been calmer than Ayla, but she was never naturally gloomy.
“Did something happen on your way here?”
“No.”
Julia released her hold on Ayla and slowly approached Isabella, asking with concern, but Isabella avoided eye contact and glanced toward the stairs leading to the second floor as if she didn’t want to acknowledge Julia.
It wasn’t that something had made her upset en route; her attitude suggested she was angry at Julia herself. Julia laughed awkwardly.
But it couldn’t be possible for her to have done anything wrong within just ten minutes. At that moment, Ayla approached and gently nudged Julia with her shoulder, shooting her a reproachful look without malice.
“Julia, I’m disappointed.”
“Huh? Disappointed?”
“How could you get married to our brother and not invite us!”
Ah, that’s why.
Relieved, Julia alternated her apologetic gaze between Ayla and Isabella, offering a sort of excuse. She hadn’t known they were living in Casad, and she hadn’t realized Cayente hadn’t contacted them at all.
“Maybe he kept it a secret because he worried you’d get hurt by others?”
“No matter what, getting married in secret from your only sisters… Where’s he now? I need to go scold him immediately.”
Ayla, guessing that Cayente must have had a reason, laughed in agreement, but Isabella’s expression remained unchanged. Julia tried again to speak to Isabella, but Isabella refused to give her the opportunity, instead summoning a passing servant with a gesture, deliberately ignoring Julia.
“Move these bags to the guest room. And Ayla, stop calling Julia ‘Yuri’ or ‘Unnie’ like when we were kids and speaking so casually. That was ages ago; she’s no longer ‘Yuri Unnie.’”
Even as she gave Ayla advice, Isabella glanced at Julia with a piercing look. Taller than Julia, she looked down at her in a way that gave Julia an uncanny sense of déjà vu as she directed the servants where to move the luggage.
It was the same look Cayente had given her when they first reunited.
The Empire, with seas to the west and south, had long thrived on trade. Cargo ships mostly came and went from the western coast; unlike the southern seas that seemed endless, the eastern continent could be reached in just seven hours by ship.
The main port happened to be in the Welton area, where Julia had once been kidnapped.
Cayente ordered large cargo ships while also purchasing three smaller ones that Ian had identified as immediately available. Today was the first day these smaller ships would carry goods across the sea. Although Welton wasn’t a place he wanted to visit, Cayente had to be there—at least for the first voyage.
“This was the only building immediately available… Is it alright, Count?”
It wasn’t just a coincidence. Cayente stood in the very warehouse where Julia had been held. He needed a warehouse for his new trading company, and this was the only vacant one.
So he bought it. With time already lost due to disruptions, he couldn’t afford to waste it building a new warehouse. In fact, the unfortunate events had made the price lower, saving him money.
People might call Cayente a ruthless man upon learning this, but he never cared for such opinions.
“Let’s go check it out.”
“Yes, Count.”
If it meant earning more money…
Julia would never come back here. He alone would have to endure recalling past bitter memories in this place.
Watching the crates of fabric being stacked in the warehouse, Cayente left and walked toward the docked ships. Besides the cost, the location was perfect. Just across a busy cart-filled street, the sea stretched out behind similar warehouses.
“I hope it all goes smoothly… I’m so nervous.”
Feeling the briny sea air just one block away, Cayente prayed for a successful voyage. Success had always been necessary, but lately, it felt even more crucial.
Yes. Cayente wanted more success and more wealth. He wanted Julia to never even consider leaving him, no matter what she learned about his actions. He wanted no one to even comprehend the possibility of her leaving.
Amid the constant anxiety, he intensely pondered: was there any way to keep Julia by his side?
He realized what he held far above others… money. It was because of this wealth that he could prevent Julia from being taken by another man and keep her near him.
He purchased not only the Rufer estate he had once sold but also nearby potato fields, turning them into Rufer family property. Although the deed was in Julia’s name, the profits would go directly to the Rufer family. He had also found another mansion, twice the size of the one the Baroness had complained about.
Ian was given the new Clue Trading assignment with an unnecessary managerial title and an excessively high salary. The Baroness received blank checks signed by Cayente himself. The limits were high, exceeding the average living expenses when the Rufer family was intact.
He even commissioned a cello from a master instrument maker in Casad, spending an astronomical sum that would shock Julia. Cayente would do anything money could achieve—and more importantly, anything to keep Julia bound to him. Just like at the start of their marriage.
Yes, just like at the start of this marriage.
Even though he had heard Julia didn’t want unhappiness before marriage, he could not annul it. Now, he hoped that no matter how difficult it got, she wouldn’t leave him because of family obligations. It was the most he could do, and holding someone with money was never easy.
“Sir! Almost all the cargo is loaded!”
Upon reaching the ship under Clue Trading, Ian, who had been checking the loading, ran up, excitedly reporting. Seeing his enthusiasm reminded Cayente of Julia when she was happily chatting alone. He cast a wary glance at Henry.
“Report on Julia? Why hasn’t it come yet?”
“She must be late coming here. But Count, how long will you keep this up…?”
“What?”
Henry, glancing at Ian, whispered near Cayente.
“You must feel frustrated staying at home. Not to mention, you keep checking repeatedly… I understand your anxiety after last time, but you’ll drive yourself crazy.”
Henry meant it lightly, but Cayente couldn’t laugh at the word “drive.” The idea that a woman running away from a man was common crossed his mind—an utterly irrational thought.
If she runs, he would catch her by any means necessary. While inwardly fuming at a hypothetical, a servant arrived with news of Julia.
“Where are you going?”
Cayente had hoped to hear that she was staying home quietly, but instead learned she had gone out to the shopping district with visiting guests.
