CHAPTER~27
The Annoying Woman
“Let’s go that way, Yvonne.”
Nadia appeared before Derrick could approach, and at this moment Yvonne was sincerely grateful for her.
Nadia naturally took Yvonne toward the table where the noble ladies and young women were gathered.
Lady Lopez, Nadia’s mother, was also there.
Those who had only been sneaking glances at Yvonne — an unfamiliar face who rarely appeared in high society — greeted her naturally once she arrived with Nadia.
“Hello, Lady Yvonne. This is our first time meeting since the Duke’s banquet, yes?”
“I hesitated to approach you in case it burdened you, but had I known, I would’ve greeted you first.”
“Not at all. I was too distracted filling my stomach and didn’t think to greet you first.”
Once Yvonne began speaking, the topic naturally shifted to the food served at the banquet.
The noble ladies praised the dishes of House Lopez, as well as Countess Lopez who had prepared them.
It was around then that Countess Lopez noticed Yvonne’s empty hands.
“But Lady Yvonne, does wine not suit your taste?”
Startled, Yvonne quickly explained.
“No, that’s not it… I just can’t drink alcohol well.”
“Oh my, not even a single glass?”
“Not being able to drink means you’re missing out on one of life’s great pleasures. How unfortunate.”
“What a shame. His Grace is quite knowledgeable about wine, so I had hoped to hear his daughter’s opinion of this one.”
As it became harder to refuse wine any further, Nadia handed Yvonne a wine glass and whispered.
“Please drink just one glass. For my mother’s sake.”
It would be rude to spoil the atmosphere of the banquet.
In the end, Yvonne accepted the glass.
The crimson wine inside shimmered unsettledly.
Alcohol only ever brought Yvonne terrible memories.
Her father always demanded money for drink, using violence.
Whenever he returned drunk, he hurled abusive words at her.
No… perhaps the problem wasn’t the alcohol, but her father.
She closed her eyes then opened them, suppressing the rising memories.
Then she took a sip of wine.
Just how sweet could it be to have bewitched her father so thoroughly?
Yet that vague imagination shattered instantly.
The taste was far more bitter than expected.
And strangely, she found her lips moving toward that bitterness.
“I don’t know much about wine, but it’s deep and rich in aroma. I can tell how much thought you put into choosing it.”
“My, how delightful to hear Lady Yvonne praise it so.”
The surrounding ladies nodded and praised Countess Lopez even more, and at last she smiled in satisfaction.
Having fulfilled her duty as a guest, Yvonne wanted to set the glass down, but doing so immediately might disrupt the atmosphere again.
So she decided to finish the one glass.
But that was her mistake.
The wine was stronger than expected.
Even though she drank slowly on purpose, by the time she emptied the glass her mind was hazy.
‘…At this rate, I might make a mistake.’
Noticing her own condition, Yvonne quietly slipped away.
She thought she did so quietly enough, but Nadia followed right after her.
“Yvonne, are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I just need to rest a little.”
“Then I’ll take you.”
Nadia naturally grabbed her arm.
That touch sent a strange chill through Yvonne.
Instinctively, she pulled her arm away.
Her head was foggy from the alcohol, but she couldn’t ignore the instinct that had protected her all her life.
“What’s wrong?”
Yvonne forced a smile.
“I’m fine, really. Go back inside. You’re the hostess of this banquet. You need to stay.”
Nadia’s expression seemed to freeze for a moment, but it passed too quickly for Yvonne to be sure.
“You’re no longer a country girl. You truly look like a noble lady now. All right. Go rest.”
Nadia let her go without hesitation.
Yvonne walked away, leaving her behind.
Nadia watched her disappearing figure for a moment, then stopped a passing maid.
“You there. Go fetch Sir Derrick Glaston.”
Her gaze never left the direction Yvonne had gone.
Derrick, having been told Yvonne’s location by the maid, immediately left the banquet hall.
The second-floor balcony of the west annex.
His steps toward the place where Yvonne supposedly waited were leisurely, like a hunter strolling to collect prey caught in his trap.
He recalled the letter from the accomplice helping him.
[I believe what happened at the opera house was a mistake on your part.
Love often makes people foolish.
But I don’t think your feelings were wrong.
Even if Yvonne avoids you, avoiding isn’t the best solution.
You two are destined to spend your whole lives together, aren’t you?
I’ll create an opportunity at the banquet, so I hope you can talk with her properly.]
The letter arrived just as he had been wondering how to win Yvonne over.
It saved him a great deal of trouble.
Once this was all settled, he thought he should repay the favor.
Perhaps by helping with his side’s relationship with Cedric.
The west annex was quiet.
It was a perfect place for guests tired of the lively banquet to rest — and also perfect for soothing a sulking fiancée.
Derrick reached the balcony the maid had mentioned and knocked on the glass door.
No response.
Thinking she might not have heard, he knocked again.
Still nothing.
Perhaps she had fallen asleep from the alcohol.
If so, that worked out even better for him.
Smirking, he announced:
“Lady Yvonne. I’ll come in for a moment.”
He opened the glass door and stepped inside.
“…Yvonne?”
But only the cool night breeze greeted him.
Because this was the first banquet after being selected as a representative entrepreneur for the World Exposition, far more people than usual flocked to Cedric today.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Judging that he had mingled enough, Cedric excused himself.
Leaving a bit of longing was the best way to keep people wanting more.
As he exited the banquet hall, he scanned the crowd without thinking.
Among them, Yvonne was nowhere to be seen.
Realizing this, Cedric paused.
‘Well, it’s not my concern anymore.’
Yvonne Leroy was no longer his prey, but an ally.
Once she found her mother and left quietly, they would have no further dealings.
Any more interaction would only raise unnecessary suspicion among those who needed her.
After handling Derrick’s broken engagement, he would choose a suitable woman and marry.
His plans were clear.
And just as clear was his victory.
Cedric loosened his perfectly tied cravat, which felt uncomfortably tight.
He decided he should go home for the day.
There was no rush to search for a bride.
Just as he turned to leave for the Glaston residence, he noticed a familiar figure down the hall.
The man knocked on a balcony door, stepped inside, stepped out again, moved to the next balcony, then to the next.
Cedric looked at his half brother rummaging through every balcony with disdain.
Derrick changed women like he ate meals.
Sometimes two at once.
Even being engaged hadn’t cured him of that bad habit.
Cedric turned away, disgusted by the resemblance Derrick bore to their father.
The man’s private life wasn’t Cedric’s concern.
At least, until he heard Derrick’s voice asking a passing servant:
“Hey, have you seen Lady Yvonne?”
The image of a terrified woman desperately resisting being alone with Derrick flashed in Cedric’s mind.
Alongside those green eyes trembling with fear yet boldly proposing a deal to him.
…A troublesome woman in many ways.
Cedric immediately stepped outside the mansion.
If Derrick was searching around the balconies, it meant Yvonne was supposed to be nearby.
So she likely hadn’t gone far.
But if he checked the balconies himself, he would surely run into Derrick.
That would not benefit Yvonne at all.
Cedric walked toward the direction of the balconies.
All the balconies of the mansion came into view.
And just as he expected, Yvonne was there — though in a rather unexpected position.
Cedric spotted her and let out a short laugh.
She was hanging off the second-floor balcony.
“…Sir Cedric?”
Yvonne’s green eyes, wide with shock, shimmered in the moonlight.
A breeze blew at that moment.
On a fully blossomed spring night, the woman fluttered in the wind.
Like a dream.
