Chapter 11:
At the Opera House (1)
My fingertips trembled slightly as I opened the cover. Watching my reaction, Jeremy gave a faint smile and put on his glasses.
I only meant to skim the beginning—but before I knew it, I was completely absorbed.
As I turned the pages eagerly, I noticed someone placing tea beside me and looked up. A steaming cup, and in the center of the table, delicate cookies, madeleines, and tarts.
Spring rain tapped softly against the tightly shut windows. Jeremy, wearing a white shirt with the top button undone, sat reading with his glasses on.
It was a peaceful, drowsy afternoon.
Without a sound, I reached out and picked up a cookie.
Crunch.
The sound was inevitable. The bear-shaped cookie, rich with butter and sugar, tasted wonderful.
“Sorry… was that loud?”
As I swallowed and took a sip of tea, I noticed Jeremy staring at me. Embarrassed, I covered my mouth and asked. He hesitated, then looked away.
“N-not at all. But…”
Perhaps because of the rain, his hair looked curlier than before—like a golden lamb. I felt an odd urge to touch it.
Jeremy awkwardly removed his glasses, wiped them on his shirt, and spoke hesitantly.
“A-about yesterday… at the auction.”
“Yes?”
“Why… when you saw Duke Valliere… did you say you were relieved…?”
“Um… I’m not sure what you mean.”
I set down my teacup and folded my hands. His blue eyes fixed on me again.
“N-no… you do know.”
“……”
“I-I may seem foolish… but I know things too. About you… and Duke Histein Valliere… what kind of relationship you had…”
“That’s true. There probably isn’t a noblewoman with a more disgraceful scandal than mine.”
“Th-that’s not what I meant!”
Jeremy raised his voice.
I widened my eyes, waiting.
Would even he condemn me?
Even if he did—I had no excuse. I still hadn’t forgotten Histein.
“D-disgraceful…? You’re not disgraceful.”
“But I abandoned my family and tried to run away with a man of unknown background. That’s a fact that hasn’t been forgotten in ten years.”
I had always thought I would have to say this eventually. The timing was sudden—but perhaps it was better this way.
Strangely, I felt relieved.
I thought I wouldn’t be hurt no matter what he said.
But Jeremy only shrank back, as if startled by his own outburst.
“Th-that’s not it… I mean…”
His voice dropped again, just like when we first met. Between his messy blond hair, I could see his sharp nose and trembling lashes.
Like a child, he muttered:
“I thought… it didn’t matter… since my mother forced this arrangement anyway. I thought… whoever it was… didn’t matter…”
We had expected nothing from each other.
His mother wanted him to marry. I wanted to repay my family’s growing debts.
That was all.
But then—
“…I feel upset.”
“…About what?”
“Th-the way you looked at him… back then.”
Silence fell.
I didn’t know what to say.
He had noticed. That I still loved Histein.
And yet… he felt hurt because of it.
“W-why did Duke Valliere return to Rodin now… of all times?”
“I heard… it’s to find a wife.”
I forced the words out. I noticed Jeremy’s grip tightening on the sofa arm.
I couldn’t help but ask:
“…Does he bother you?”
“…Yes.”
He answered honestly, unable to meet my eyes.
Instead, he kept glancing toward the window, as if the growing sound of rain was what troubled him.
“I-I’m sorry… I’m not good enough. If I were a proper groom… I could at least stand proudly…”
“No, what are you saying? I’m the one who should be sorry. I shouldn’t have made you feel this way.”
This was my fault.
The atmosphere had grown heavy. I stood up.
I was making him uncomfortable—in his own home.
“W-where are you going?”
“I should leave. It’s getting late.”
“Ah… w-wait.”
As I smoothed my skirt and turned, Jeremy suddenly reached out and grabbed my shawl.
“N-next time…”
“Yes?”
“W-would you… like to go see an opera…?”
“…Are you asking me on a date?”
So suddenly?
I asked in surprise.
Jeremy nodded, his face red as an apple.
“I-I am asking you on a date.”
That afternoon, when I expected only scorn, Jeremy insisted on escorting me home despite his aching leg.
And two days later, he actually sent opera tickets—shocking both Gerard and Angela.
“…Ugh…”
“You’re thinking you shouldn’t have come, aren’t you?”
I chuckled softly, adjusting my necklace.
That morning, Angela and I had rushed to a boutique to get a pearl-colored dress and imitation jewelry. I only hoped no one here would notice.
At least one thing was fortunate—Jeremy had secured VIP seats, separated by partitions on both sides.
I hadn’t expected him to care about such things. Though, perhaps it was his servants who arranged it.
From the moment we entered the theater, Jeremy’s face had turned pale. Only after settling into the enclosed space, where nothing but the stage was visible, did he seem to relax.
He finally set down the cane he had been gripping so tightly his hands had gone white.
He hated crowds that much… yet he came here.
For me?
The thought filled me with both gratitude and guilt.
“N-not at all! Th-this looks f-fun!”
Despite looking like a wax figure, he forced a smile.
Seeing that, I felt I should try harder too.
I needed to let go of my lingering attachment to Histein… and face Jeremy properly.
That would make everyone happier.
“I think it’s about to start.”
The lights dimmed one by one.
Pushing aside my tangled thoughts, I focused on the stage.
The curtain was rising.
After the first act ended, the audience was given a break.
Excusing myself, I headed to the powder room.
It was already crowded with women like me.
“Don’t these suit my hair? He said so—and gave them to me as a gift. What do you think?”
Then—I froze.
Ines.
Her red hair was styled elegantly, and she deliberately showed off her sparkling earrings.
“Duke Valliere has excellent taste. They suit you so well—it’s as if they were always yours.”
“I agree. You know I don’t give empty compliments.”
Praise followed praise.
I considered fixing my makeup—but stepping into that group felt impossible.
Quietly, I began to step back toward the exit.
“Oh my—Miss Rosalie?”
Damn.
Swallowing my frustration, I turned—and met Ines’s confident gaze.
She looked surprised to see me.
The Duchess of Brezé, who had called out, bit her lip as if realizing her mistake.
Forcing a smile, I approached and greeted her.
“…I actually wanted to thank you earlier, so this is a good opportunity. Thank you for inviting me to the charity auction.”
Sharp gazes pricked at me—but I was used to it.
“The children’s performance was so lovely, I couldn’t look away. It was a wonderful day, thanks to you.”
“But you weren’t there when the performance started, were you?”
The duchess tilted her head.
The surrounding noblewomen exchanged knowing looks.
