Chapter 61

“Do you happen to know the painter, Master Gilbert?”

The countess slowly nodded.

“I actually heard there was an exhibition held under the Cloud family’s name.”

“You probably didn’t see my husband and me there. Catherine was still very ill at the time.”

“I see. By any chance… does Lady Catherine want to study painting more seriously?”

“In our hearts, yes, we’d love to let her. But most capable masters charge very high tutoring fees.”

I could feel the parents’ worry—they didn’t want their daughter’s talent to wither, but outrageous fees would go against their upright nature.

A conviction sparked inside me.

“I can connect you.”

“My lady.”
I felt Martin trying to stop me. I spoke on anyway.

“If Baron Gilbert sees Lady Catherine’s work, his passion for teaching will ignite.”

I was sure of it. If the count and countess were knowledgeable enough to bring up the exhibition, they must already admire Gilbert’s paintings.

By building this bridge, we could grow closer and earn their trust.

“Would you let Catherine meet him?”

I dabbed my lips with a napkin and smiled confidently. Martin was probably sweating over my unpredictable moves, but—

This is for us, so hush, dear husband.

“Hello, Your Grace, Your Grace the Duchess.”

Catherine soon appeared, unable to hide her delight when she saw me.

Maybe it was because we’d wandered around the royal garden together last time—we were comrades-in-misadventure, after all.

I was just as happy to see her.

“Have you been well?”

Catherine lifted the sides of her dress and greeted us with perfect manners.

The two married couples at the table looked at her with fond smiles.

“She’s been well. We should have invited you sooner, but other matters kept getting in the way.”

“Oh, no, please don’t worry. Is Lady Erica doing well? I hope she isn’t still upset with me.”

“Of course not. She even wanted to come today.”

She probably never imagined Catherine would be at a ‘couples’ gathering.’

“Speaking of which, we’ll be inviting Lady Catherine to our manor soon.”

“Wow—truly?”

Catherine’s eyes sparkled, though she folded her hands and waited for her parents’ permission.

Once she saw the warm look in the Melion couple’s eyes, she let herself rejoice fully.

“I’ll come anytime you invite me. It would be an honor, Your Grace.”

After Catherine’s thanks and once tea time wound down, the two husbands stood.

They left together to go riding, and in the drawing room the countess and Catherine stayed behind, chatting away.

‘For people who’ve barely had contact, this is a pretty friendly atmosphere.’

If the Duchess of Cloud had opened ties with the Melions sooner, maybe the original story would’ve had a few more lines about it.

“Education has gotten quite demanding these days. May I ask what you do for Lady Erica, Your Grace?”

“Education?”

Honestly, I’ve always believed it’s enough if a child grows up strong and healthy.

Back when I was a student, no one ever told me that. Those were gloomy days—
the pressure, and the feeling of walking a path without any light ahead.

I looked at Catherine and smiled.

“Being healthy is the most important thing, don’t you think?”

At that simple remark, Catherine looked deeply moved.

The conversation drifted to other topics.

I couldn’t help admiring how smoothly the countess guided the flow of talk—more than I’d expected.

“Oh—by the way, how is Viscountess Harold doing?”

My fingers tightened slightly around my fan.

Because she’s tied to Gemma, it’s the kind of question I hear everywhere.

I needed to get more flexible with this tag-along query.

“She seems… well enough.”

“I know it’s an old venture, but I heard there was a mining business pushed under the Cloud name.”

Was she talking about the Delmant region?

But Delmant was relatively recent.

“Mining is one of our family’s main businesses.”

“Seeing you in person today, you seem quite far from the ugly rumors. Still, something has left me uneasy.”

The countess sent Catherine out of the room for a bit—probably deciding it wasn’t something a young lady should hear.

Thankfully, Catherine only tilted her head and, without protest, went up to her room.

Once Catherine was gone, I steadied my voice and asked:

“A rumor… meaning?”

“Well… I heard talk that young boys are being hired and mistreated.”

“…”

“The more we talk, the more I’m sure this has nothing to do with you, Your Grace. But I thought it best that you know.”

I don’t know what my face looked like hearing this for the first time.

But I knew one thing for certain: I couldn’t just brush it off.

She called it a rumor, but I could tell the countess suspected it wasn’t just that.

If it were mere gossip, she wouldn’t have brought it up with me.

“Thank you for telling me, Countess Melion. Perhaps this means we’ll be growing even closer.”

“It would be my honor. I truly hope nothing harms the Cloud name.”

Having Countess Melion felt like gaining a whole army.

With unfailing grace and tact, she’d warned me about something dangerous without making a fuss.

It was a weapon to keep me from being cornered the next time I faced Viscountess Harold.

As soon as I returned to the ducal manor, I sat at my desk and picked up my quill.

Mary fretted the moment we got back, saying I hadn’t even taken a break.

“Don’t look at me like that, Mary.”

“But you started working the moment you came in, my lady.”

Doing nothing wasn’t an option. The moves coming from the Harold family were far from normal.

It was also very likely these strange rumors swirling around Cloud were connected to them.

And if they realized we were trailing them, how would they react?

“Are you sending all of these?”

Watching from the side, Mary couldn’t hold back her curiosity at the unusually large number of letters.

I nodded lightly and handed her three envelopes.

To Viscountess Harold: that I would be visiting her soon.

To Catherine: that I would like to invite her to our residence.

To Baron Gilbert: that there’s a talented young girl worth meeting, and he should visit the address I’d written.

“Mary, please.”

“I’ll be off.”

“Thank you, as always.”

“Of course. This is my job, my lady.”

Mary tucked the letters deep inside her inner pocket and gave a bashful smile.

“Oh, right. Where’s the young lady?”

“Lady Erica? I think she went for a walk.”

“In this weather?”

“Yes. So she said.”

Mary and I both glanced toward the window.

A fine drizzle was falling outside.

‘Who takes a walk in this weather?’

Was she using it as an excuse to slip off somewhere else?

That thought lasted only a moment before worry took over.

It had already started drizzling when we left the Melion estate, so it must have been raining for a while.

She must be cold—what if she catches a chill?

“Are you going out as well, my lady?”

As I gathered up my shawl again, Mary chimed in.

“I’m worried about her.”

I grabbed another shawl for Erica and left the room with Mary.

We split up on the first floor, and I headed straight for the training yard.

To get there, I had to pass through the garden. There was a covered passage between buildings, but for some reason, I felt like walking while watching the rain today.

Maybe that was the problem.

‘It’s chilly.’

Thanks to the drizzle, the once warm day had turned a bit cold. I pulled my shawl tighter around me.

And then, when I reached the training yard—

I was so startled I dropped my umbrella.

There, in the rain, Erica was shyly kissing Aaron on the cheek.

The moment her lips touched him, the flush on Aaron’s cheeks deepened.

It was the moment their feelings, which I’d been trying to ignore, became crystal clear.

Luckily—or unluckily—the two of them didn’t hear the umbrella hit the ground.

I took a few steps back and had no choice but to quietly turn away.

I was so shocked I didn’t even realize I’d left the umbrella there.

I had sensed, faintly, that their hearts leaned toward each other…

‘Maybe I wanted to pretend I didn’t know.’

I hadn’t expected they’d come this far already.

But now I had to admit it: the little matchmaking plan I’d made for my sister-in-law had hit a snag.

The cracks created by changing the original story were slowly affecting the romance plans, too.

‘Where is this story headed?’

An image of Erica’s bright smile flashed through my mind.

Erica, who had learned to share her heart while being with Aaron.

Erica, prickly at times, but passionate once she started something.

Erica, who tried to keep her word.

Thinking of this Erica—someone I’d never seen in the original—I felt a faint smile tug at my lips.

Where was this sense of relief coming from?

At first, I was simply trying to survive and prevent our family’s downfall.

But now… somehow…

I just wanted Erica to be happy.

As long as she didn’t lose that smile, I had nothing more to wish for.

No one knows better than I do how hard it is for two people who like each other to truly connect.

Once I grasped what really mattered, a deep peace settled in my heart.

It seems I caught a cold while I was out yesterday. I shivered all day and burrowed under the blankets.

Mary, worried, brewed some quince tea.

“They say it’s good for colds, my lady. Please try some.”

“Thank you, Mary.”

“It did get quite chilly yesterday.”

“I know. Who would’ve thought I’d catch a cold.”

Who could have guessed? Still, because I went out, I witnessed Erica’s happy moment—so maybe it was worth it.

‘That’s enough, isn’t it?’

I was about to take a sip of tea when someone hesitantly stepped into my room.

I could tell who it was just from the sound of the footsteps.

My lovely sister-in-law, Erica.