Chapter~36
The Price
For some reason, Logan found the gaze strange, but he dismissed it.
The tedious dinner was gradually coming to an end. It was around this time that Cedric spoke to Logan.
“Your Grace, the Duke.”
At that address, not only Logan but also Robert 5th, Derrick, and everyone else around focused their attention.
“I have something important to discuss regarding the upcoming exhibition. If it’s convenient, may I invite you to my residence?”
Even as a commoner, he was a guest of the king. To refuse in front of him would have been unthinkable. Cedric seemed to have calculated this as well.
Logan eventually replied reluctantly.
“We’ll set a date soon.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Cedric’s lips at the answer.
“Hmm……”
Yvonne woke up with a start.
‘Huh, when did I fall asleep?’
The last thing she remembered was sitting on the sofa, looking through the exhibition booklet. She must have leaned back for a moment, too tired, and fallen asleep.
Outside, the sunset had begun. She had probably slept for at least two hours.
She should have felt refreshed, but her mind was still foggy. She realized she had been sleeping more than usual lately.
‘Maybe I haven’t fully recovered yet.’
Still, she couldn’t spend the whole day sleeping, so it was time to pull herself together.
She approached the kettle on the table, intending to drink some water and wake up. But the kettle was empty.
Yvonne paused as she instinctively reached for the kettle handle. She decided it was better to go fill it herself to shake off the drowsiness.
She carried the empty kettle and left the room.
Rubbing her heavy eyelids, she headed toward the dining hall, where she saw the maids whispering together. For some reason, the atmosphere seemed excited.
At that moment, Cindy came up the stairs and noticed Yvonne, approaching her.
“You’re awake, Miss! I was wondering if I should wake you up.”
“Cindy, what’s going on? The atmosphere feels a bit tense.”
“Ah! I forgot to tell you. Sir Cedric has arrived. The Duke invited him to tonight’s dinner.”
Why him?
The unexpected news made Yvonne’s gaze waver. She barely managed to hold onto the kettle she almost dropped.
“Where is he now…?”
Yvonne’s voice trembled as she asked about Cedric’s whereabouts. Cindy, unaware of her agitation, replied.
“He arrived earlier than planned and went out to look around the garden. The Duke hasn’t returned yet.”
“Ah……”
“Will you attend the dinner as well, Miss? Shall I prepare you?”
It was proper etiquette to attend a dinner when a guest was invited. Logan, who valued noble manners, would certainly insist on her attendance.
“Ah, no. This is fine for now. I’ll wait in my room.”
Yvonne turned away as if to escape. Cindy stopped her.
“Miss, were you going to get water?”
Cindy’s eyes went to the kettle Yvonne was holding. Only then did Yvonne realize she had been fetching water.
“I’ll take it. Stay in your room.”
Cindy took the kettle naturally, and Yvonne, in a daze, returned to her room.
Cedric was in the mansion.
The thought made her heart pound painfully.
She wasn’t ready to face him yet.
‘But… I can’t avoid him forever.’
Better to settle that day’s matters before dinner.
After a brief pause, Yvonne returned to the garden. The servants were busy preparing for dinner and paid her no attention.
The crimson sunset cast the garden in a fiery glow like the last flame of a candle.
Yvonne frowned as she searched the garden for Cedric. As the sunset quickly dimmed, her pace quickened.
Suddenly, an arm shot out, pulling her into a corner of the garden.
“It’s hard to see your face, Lady Yvonne.”
The first thing she noticed was his blue eyes.
At the sight of them, memories of that day resurfaced.
His lips pressing as if to swallow hers, the heat forcefully penetrating, his low voice ringing in her ears, and the unrelenting gaze she could not escape.
Her heart raced uncontrollably. She pressed her hands to her chest, avoiding his eyes, running from the memory and the emotions.
“Why are you here?”
“I think we need to talk about that day. You didn’t show your face at all.”
“I don’t know what else there is to discuss. You said you would find my mother, I paid the price, and I thought that was the end of it.”
“…Price?”
Cedric’s sharp laughter cut through her words, chilling enough to make her flinch.
“Then you’ll have to pay even more.”
“One attempt alone is far too cheap a price to move me.”
His gaze, cold as a dagger, stabbed down at her, making her tremble. The contrast to the gaze he had that day made it even worse.
Even knowing she was the one who first mentioned the price, she could not suppress her emotions.
Snap!
With a sharp sound, Cedric turned his face. In the tense silence, only Yvonne’s restrained breaths echoed.
Cedric swallowed the emotion building to his jaw, his sharp feelings scraping down his throat.
When he turned back, Yvonne was crying. Both the one who struck and the one who cried was her.
She glared at Cedric, swallowing her tears, hands trembling as she held them together and passed him.
Then, a voice came from nearby.
“Sir Cedric?”
It was the butler’s voice.
Yvonne’s heart plummeted, and her steps froze. Her mind went blank.
At that moment, Cedric’s arm shot out from behind, pulling her close. Before she could react, his lips devoured hers. His hot tongue mercilessly pried open her mouth.
“The Duke has returned.”
Cedric’s tongue ravaged the delicate membranes inside her mouth. Meanwhile, the butler’s steps drew closer.
Yvonne desperately tried to push Cedric away, but he did not budge. The tighter she resisted, the stronger his arms around her waist became.
Through their tightly pressed clothing, she could feel the heat of his body. The raw desire made her shiver.
“Ugh……”
She barely escaped, gasping for air.
“Sir Cedric?”
As the butler’s voice made her hold her breath, Cedric didn’t miss the moment and pressed his lips to hers again. Hot breath and saliva mixed between them.
No. No…
Worse than the flood of his desire was the pounding of her own heart.
Her strength left her hands pushing against his chest. Yvonne closed her eyes.
“Haah, ha……”
Cedric released Yvonne long after the butler’s steps had faded.
Technically, Yvonne only moved him away after struggling several times, and he finally let go.
But the fierce desire in his eyes remained, even as his cravat twisted and lips gleamed with unknown saliva.
Cedric, staring at Yvonne’s heavy breaths, cupped her cheek. Then he lowered his head, closing the distance.
Yvonne shrank back. Cedric’s lips stopped just short of touching her.
So close she could feel his breath, Cedric sighed at her averted gaze.
Finally, his hand released her cheek, but his gaze remained fixed, as if ready to devour her.
Yvonne glanced at him briefly, then fled. She did not hear footsteps behind her.
Still, her steps toward the room quickened as if she were being chased.
