CHAPTER~26
Our Eyes Met
“Shall we stop here for today?”
Once again, Yvonne safely finished her bridal lessons.
She swallowed a sigh of relief and set down the embroidery she had been holding.
Fortunately, today’s lesson had only been about flower arranging and embroidery, so there had been nothing too troublesome or difficult.
That was until Catherine suddenly threw an unexpected question at her.
“By the way, you’re taking your medicine properly, yes?”
Realizing what kind of “medicine” she meant, Yvonne froze for a moment, but soon answered with her usual practiced smile.
“Yes. Thank you, I’m taking it well, Madam.”
“I’ll send more before you run out, so don’t try to save it. Take it properly.”
Satisfied, Catherine rose from her seat and accompanied Yvonne downstairs to the first floor.
“Come to think of it, you haven’t met Derrick since the opera, right?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“He liked you so much and yet he’s terrible at expressing anything. I’ll tell Derrick to visit the mansion soon. The weather is nice these days, so you two could at least take a walk.”
Yvonne answered only with a vague smile. Catherine still seemed unaware of anything that had happened at the opera house. Of course she wouldn’t know.
As the memories of that day resurfaced, Yvonne wanted to return to the ducal estate quickly. Before she ran into Derrick Glaston.
But it seemed fate wasn’t on her side.
Derrick had just returned and was entering the mansion.
“You’re home early, Derrick.”
Derrick greeted Catherine lightly, but soon his gaze landed on Yvonne.
Yvonne bit her lip. Ever since they parted that day at the opera house, this was their first time facing each other.
How was she supposed to face her fiancé, who had tried to force himself on her?
Unable to find an answer, she hesitated—until Derrick spoke first.
“Are you feeling better now?”
He smiled as he asked. As if nothing had happened.
“That day, you said you weren’t feeling well. I worried a lot after we parted like that.”
“Ah…”
“If you’re free, how about having dinner with me? You can also see my room since we didn’t get to last time.”
“Oh my, that sounds lovely. You two should eat together tonight, Yvonne.”
The calm expression on Derrick’s face was the answer to everything Yvonne couldn’t understand, but she couldn’t bring herself to accept it.
Her fiancé, who tried to coerce her, now acting as if nothing had happened.
Her future mother-in-law, completely unaware and encouraging it.
And herself—unable to say even a single word.
Everything about this situation made her feel sick.
“…I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can today. I promised to have dinner with my father.”
It was a gentle refusal.
A small crack appeared in Derrick’s smiling face, but Yvonne bowed her head, ignoring it.
“Then I’ll see you again.”
Catherine showed visible disappointment as she saw Yvonne off. Derrick remained where he stood, but his eyes grew cold as he watched the carriage move away.
Catherine clicked her tongue, no longer acting as kindly as before.
“She’s so stiff and aloof. Just like a country girl.”
“But that’s what makes her cute. It’ll be fun to tame her.”
“Oh? Already taking your fiancée’s side?”
Derrick smiled faintly at his mother’s teasing and headed upstairs. But annoyance simmered in his eyes.
She was such a bothersome woman.
He thought all she could do was tremble and cry, but she had more stubbornness than expected. Not that it mattered—she would eventually marry him anyway.
This impatience he felt toward a predetermined ending probably came from his half-brother’s strange reaction to her.
The unsettling fear that Cedric Glaston might steal Yvonne from him.
And the twisted curiosity of what Cedric’s expression would be once the woman became his.
He wanted to claim her as soon as possible, but she kept avoiding him, making persuasion difficult.
What should he do?
As he entered his room, pondering, an invitation on the table caught his eye.
It was an invitation from the House of Lopez.
He almost passed by it, but then noticed another letter beside it. Also from the Lopez family.
‘…Nadia Lopez?’
Seeing the sender’s name made Derrick narrow his eyes.
Why would she send him a letter?
Curious, he opened it and slowly read through. The corner of his mouth twisted upward.
***
On the evening of the banquet, the Lopez estate was bustling with guests.
Yvonne sat inside the carriage, waiting for her turn to enter, and looked around the garden.
The estate was beautifully decorated with various spring flowers—likely reflecting Nadia’s taste.
Seeing all the flowers and pots reminded her of the potted plant she had sent as a gift. And of Cedric, who had received it.
He probably had more than enough of everything, so she chose something she knew well, even if simple. But now she wondered if she had ignored his preferences.
‘If I get the chance today, I should ask him.’
As she thought this, the carriage stopped.
Yvonne stepped down with Logan escorting her. Ahead of them, noblewomen and young ladies were entering.
Logan spoke while watching them.
“Isabella has been quiet lately.”
The sudden subject made Yvonne flinch.
Logan was one of the few who knew Duchess Isabella wasn’t actually mad.
If he learned Yvonne offered her a way out, he wouldn’t sit still.
“You’d better not do anything foolish. For your mother’s sake.”
Fear gripped her—what if her hand trembled in his grasp, what if he noticed what she was hiding?
Yvonne lowered her gaze as if conscious of the people around her, avoiding the question. Thankfully, the entrance into the mansion cut the conversation short.
The mansion was already filled with people.
It was Yvonne’s first time attending as a guest, and the crowd and noise overwhelmed her.
While trying to gather her bearings, she spotted someone.
Cedric Glaston.
He stood out not only because of his height or his unnaturally handsome face, but also because of his perfect, unwavering posture.
But more than his appearance, he carried an inexplicable aura that drew attention.
As she found herself staring at him, their eyes met.
Precisely—through the countless eyes moving in all directions.
She blinked, startled, when suddenly a voice interrupted.
Nadia’s voice was unusually bright today. Yvonne smiled back.
“Thank you for inviting me. The garden is beautiful.”
But before she could say more, other guests flooded in.
Nadia followed her parents to greet them, whispering:
“Have fun for a bit. The banquet will start soon.”
After exchanging brief greetings with the Count and Countess Lopez, Logan left her with another warning not to act rashly and went to mingle with other nobles.
Left alone in the crowd, Yvonne moved to a less crowded table and began picking at the finger foods.
She wasn’t particularly hungry, but standing alone felt awkward.
The first thing she picked up was a chocolate dusted with white powder. As she bit into it, vanilla cream spilled into her mouth, coating it with sweetness.
The sweetness reminded her of someone.
‘Mother liked sweet things too.’
When her mother had to constantly take bitter medicine, Yvonne once brought her candy from an herb shop out of pity.
Her mother had smiled like a child the moment she tasted it. Watching her, Yvonne realized something for the first time.
That her mother—who always seemed so strong and adult—had a childlike innocence that blossomed from something as small as a sweet candy.
‘I promised I’d buy her chocolate when I grew up…’
Where was her mother now?
The dreamy sweetness vanished from her mouth, leaving only bitterness. At that moment, she felt someone’s gaze.
Instinctively turning her head, Yvonne froze.
Derrick was staring at her.
Yvonne hurriedly looked away. At the same time, she saw the mansion’s entrance doors close.
The banquet was officially beginning.
