Chapter 63
“Yeah. She’s getting engaged. It’s not set in stone yet, but…”
Herwin trailed off, but that wasn’t what mattered to Henry right now.
“If my sister hadn’t told me today, I wouldn’t have known anything and would’ve had to watch her get engaged to some other guy! What the hell are you even doing?”
Herwin remembered how Henry had always been especially fond of Lucia since they were kids.
“Don’t tell me… you still like Lucia?”
“Yes! I like her! She’s basically family to me!”
Henry’s feelings for Lucia weren’t romantic.
Herwin let out a small sigh of relief without realizing it.
“But what are you doing now? Aren’t you going to stop her?”
But then the next words made Herwin lift his gaze.
“At this rate, she’ll end up with another man! She’ll get married! Are you really going to just sit back and watch that happen?!”
“…What are you even talking about?”
“What do you mean, what?! Go out there right now—!”
Henry stopped mid-yell at the sight of Herwin’s bewildered expression.
Then he remembered what Lucia had told him.
‘Herwin doesn’t like me.’
Shock slowly spread across Henry’s face before it twisted into a look of contempt.
“…Hyung. You don’t like her?”
Herwin stiffened, avoiding Henry’s gaze.
“I… I have someone else I like.”
Throb—
Even though he was the one who said it, his chest felt strangely heavy. A dull ache spread through his heart, and Herwin frowned.
It was the first time he had ever said he liked someone.
Henry’s face turned cold.
“Come to think of it… you’ve never once said you liked her.”
He muttered. True—Herwin had never said he liked Lucia.
But whenever the two were together, anyone could see that they cared for each other, even without saying it out loud. Which was why—
“Why do you think I gave up on her…?”
After the hollow laughter came anger. Henry clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles went white.
“Don’t tell me… you said that in front of Lucia too?”
Herwin’s silence gave Henry all the confirmation he needed.
Henry let out a cold, bitter laugh and glared at Herwin.
“You have no idea how I felt giving up on her for you, do you?”
Herwin slowly looked up.
“I’ve liked her since we were kids. But I gave up because I thought you two liked each other. I figured if it was you, she wouldn’t be wasted at all. But it turns out I was being stupid.”
“You… you said you didn’t like Lucia—”
“Yeah, I tried to give up. But I don’t have to anymore. You go live happily forever with that girl you like. I’m not going to sit and watch Lucia get engaged to another man.”
After saying the harsh words, Henry narrowed his eyes.
‘Said he doesn’t like her, my ass.’
A faint despair spread over Herwin’s face.
How could that expression belong to someone who just sees her as a friend? Anyone could see it—this was the face of someone losing the person they love.
Everything he was feeling was plain on his face, yet he didn’t seem to realize his own heart.
Hmph. Let him suffer alone.
The carriage left. Whatever happened next was his problem alone.
As Henry turned to leave Herwin, he remembered something.
“Do your parents know she’s getting engaged?”
“No.”
“I knew it. If they knew, they wouldn’t be sitting still like this.”
Henry shook his head, saying it was obvious.
Their parents had been waiting for Herwin and Lucia’s engagement ever since Herwin graduated from the academy.
“They’ll flip out when they hear this.”
Thinking of his parents rushing to the capital made Henry feel oddly satisfied.
After Henry left, Herwin ruffled his hair in frustration.
“What the hell am I supposed to do…?”
Was he supposed to go to Lucia and ask her to get engaged to him?
She doesn’t like me.
Right. He didn’t like Lucia. The person he liked was Arista.
It’s not like she’d marry me anyway.
If he recklessly got married to Lucia while not loving her, she would instantly realize it—and distance herself from him.
The thought of Lucia no longer looking his way made his chest tighten.
He felt like he was wandering in a maze with no exit. He had no idea how to resolve this.
In the end, Herwin buried his face in his hands and closed his eyes. He felt like he was left alone in pitch-black darkness.
* * *
“Sigh… Mother, how long do I have to keep doing this?”
“Oh my, what’s with that weak attitude? We’re just getting started! Bring the other outfits too.”
“Yes, please wait a moment.”
They had come to pick out her clothes, yet Arista’s mother was the one most excited. Arista shook her head helplessly.
She had been feeling restless these days, staying cooped up at the training grounds. Her mother had cried, saying she might as well not have a daughter. Arista had no choice but to follow her out.
She planned on indulging her mother just for today, because she was weak to her mother’s tears. But she was already regretting it.
After trying on five outfits already, Arista stared with annoyance at her mother’s sparkling eyes.
“Oh my! You’re so beautiful, my daughter! You look like an angel.”
“You said that earlier too.”
“Oh dear, did I? Ah! Arista, try this one too. I think it’ll look perfect on you.”
Her face went pale as she looked at the endless line of clothes hanging on the rack. Arista began inching backward, searching for an excuse.
“I’m just going to use the restroom really quick.”
“All right. Make sure you come back soon, okay?”
The duchess smiled sweetly—though the warning underneath was clear: If you run, you’ll regret it.
Arista, who had been considering escape, shrank her shoulders and savored the little freedom she got.
“Sigh… what time is it?”
It had only been 30 minutes since she entered. Shopping with her mother usually lasted at least two hours. Realizing how much suffering was left, she sighed deeply.
“…Let’s go to the restroom first.”
Dragging her feet, Arista headed toward the restroom. She was walking as slowly as possible when she heard familiar voices.
“Sweetheart, so the Countess of Remario used to date that man in the past?”
“That’s what I’m telling you. It’s true. Anyone who knew the circles back then knew about it.”
The deliberately sweetened voice belonged to Becky—Lucas’s lover.
Arista wondered if Lucas was here too and turned toward the voices.
“Hm, I see. Thanks, sweetheart! There’s no one like you.”
“If you’re that thankful… how about tonight?”
“Oh my, stop it. You can’t talk like that here.”
Hearing the suggestive conversation, Arista frowned. Then she realized something strange.
The man Becky was speaking to sounded nothing like Lucas. Even if Lucas disguised his voice, the tone was completely different.
Don’t tell me…
Arista entered the room with a frown.
The Becky who had glared at her from Lucas’s arms was now giggling in the arms of some man she didn’t know.
Arista froze, unable to process what she was seeing.
Becky sensed someone at the door and turned her head.
The moment she saw Arista, her body stiffened. Meanwhile, the man with her looked Arista up and down and cleared his throat.
“Ahem, we have a guest.”
“…Ah. I’m sorry. I must have mistaken the room.”
“No, it’s all right. If you’re lost, I can show you the wa—”
The man’s snake-like gaze made Arista narrow her eyes and look down at them with cold arrogance.
“No need. I see you’re enjoying yourselves. Sorry for interrupting.”
As soon as she left, the man scoffed.
“Pretty face, bad personality. Well, not as pretty as you, sweetheart.”
Becky, who had been glaring at the doorway Arista disappeared through, snapped back to her senses.
“Ah… yeah, of course. I’m prettier.”
“You don’t need to ask anything else?”
“No, that’s enough. Thanks.”
The man slowly slid his hand around her waist and whispered.
“If you ever need my help again, just say the word. But why is Lady Agnes curious about such things?”
“Her little sister is getting engaged to Marquis Casper. She’s curious what kind of man he is.”
“Hm, makes sense then.”
When he asked her to keep playing with him, Becky wrapped her arms around his neck with a seductive smile.
But her mind drifted back to Arista.
She’s not going to tell Lucas, right?
No—she’d only seen Arista once before. Arista might not even recognize her.
Arista hadn’t reacted at all, so she must not have remembered her.
Reassured, Becky wiped Arista from her mind.
* * *
“That’s all the information I found.”
A few days after running into Arista, Becky visited Lucas’s office and reported everything she learned.
Lucas’s expression darkened as she spoke, until his face twisted with a fury Becky had never seen before.
She felt a chill and cautiously took his hand.
“Sweetheart, are you angry?”
“Huh? Ah… no. I was just surprised. Thanks, Becky. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have found out this much.”
“Oh, it was nothing.”
Lucas pressed a quick kiss to her cheek, and Becky giggled sweetly.
“So, what are you going to do now? Are you going to tell your sister?”
“Of course. She probably doesn’t know anything yet, so I have to tell her right away. If this ends up breaking the engagement, that’d be even better…”
Becky smiled as he muttered.
A total sister-obsessed fool.
She had heard the rumors even before they started dating.
She’d worried about his strong family devotion, but he turned out to be a better man than expected.
To the point she didn’t understand why he’d been dumped by women before.
Seeing how completely he adored and supported her, Becky thought those women had been idiots.
Where else would you find a guy like this?
Becoming the future countess was practically guaranteed—and he loved her as if he’d give her everything he had.
Of course, seeing other men wasn’t a prob—
