Chapter 2
Hayden pulled me into his arms with a gentle touch and guided me toward the bed.
“There’s no rule that says a married couple can’t sleep together just because one of them is tired.”
His olive-green eyes met mine as he smiled tenderly—those eyes I loved so dearly.
Like someone entranced, I gazed into them and laid my body down beside him. In the quiet of the night, the soft thump of his heartbeat filled the room.
We talked about the little things in our daily lives. Hayden brushed aside my tousled hair and tucked it behind my ear as he looked at me. His warm hand kept stroking my hair and shoulders, sometimes pressing gentle kisses onto my forehead.
His embrace was as warm and soft as I remembered.
Encouraged by that kindness, I suddenly found the courage to speak. Listening to his slow, steady breathing, I whispered,
“Um… Hayden, are you asleep?”
“…No.”
His drowsy voice came back to me, and I hid the tremor in my heart as I asked,
“Why…?”
Perhaps I hesitated too long, because Hayden asked,
“…Are you free this weekend?”
“……”
“I want to go out with you—before autumn ends.”
My voice came out as a soft murmur. Hayden exhaled slowly, as if thinking it over. My heart thumped nervously as I looked up at him. His breathing was calm and even. For a moment, I thought he’d fallen asleep, and disappointment began to sink in—
“…All right. Let’s do that, Winter.”
His reply came at last.
See? Hayden really does love me.
His affectionate touch left no room for doubt, lasting deep into the night.
Though no passionate fire burned between us in that darkened room, love—true, vivid love—surely filled the space.
…It had to.
“Winter!”
As soon as she stepped into the entryway, Chloe spotted me and beamed. Her clear eyes sparkled with innocent delight.
“Chloe. It’s been so long.”
I hurried down to greet her. Chloe was one of the few people I could truly call a friend.
We had grown close during our academy days, and since graduating, she had been working as an actress. She had just returned from spending two months abroad for a performance tour.
I watched her remove her bonnet, then quickly took her hand and led her to the sitting room.
“Was the trip here difficult?”
“Not at all! I came straight to see you as soon as I dropped off my luggage.”
Chloe spoke playfully, flashing a mischievous grin that I couldn’t help but return.
She settled comfortably on the sofa, and I sat across from her.
“How was the performance? Did you enjoy it?”
“Don’t even get me started, Winter. The world is full of incredible stages! The theater in Kelton is as big as a royal palace, can you believe it? You really feel what it means to be in a nation of culture.”
“Really? As big as a palace?”
“It’s true! You’d be overwhelmed just seeing it. I want to stand on a stage like that someday—as the lead actress.”
Her eyes shone with passion, her flushed cheeks making her look all the more radiant.
“Of course you’ll make it there.”
“Obviously! I just knew that stage was meant for me.”
She clenched her fists enthusiastically. Her long lashes fluttered as her brown eyes gleamed.
“Besides, Winter, if you say I can do it, then I can. You’re my lucky charm, you know that?”
It was blind faith—Chloe’s dependence on me had grown since a certain event years ago.
She giggled brightly, and we exchanged bits of light conversation as tea and dessert were brought out.
“Oh my, Jenna! You remembered my favorite!”
Chloe’s face lit up at the sight of the cheesecake being served. Jenna smiled shyly and nodded. Despite not having seen each other in a while, they seemed remarkably at ease together.
It amused me that my housemaid appeared closer to my friend than to me. Then again, it had been Chloe who first approached me back in the academy days, when I had been too quiet and timid to fit in. Without her, those days might have been unbearable.
The moment the table was set, Chloe eagerly took a bite of her cake and shivered with delight.
“Mmm, I missed this cheesecake so much these past two months. Kelton is wonderful, but their desserts are terrible! Can you believe it? A country that invests so much in the arts can’t get dessert right. Personally, I think desserts are a form of art!”
She spoke with such fervor that I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Eat as much as you want, Chloe.”
I slid my own slice of cake toward her. Her eyes sparkled.
“Thanks! You’re the best, Winter.”
She popped a large bite into her mouth.
“So, what about you, Winter? Have you been well? Nothing bad happened while I was gone?”
At her question—so natural coming from someone close—my mind instantly went to the rumors about Hayden.
A heavy pressure settled on my chest, as though a stone had been placed there. My breath came out tight and uneven. I forced an awkward smile and lowered my gaze. Steam rose gently from the fine porcelain teacup before me.
“Something did happen, didn’t it? You look miserable.”
Chloe, perceptive as ever, set down her dessert plate and moved to sit beside me. The warmth of her presence eased something in my heart. She patted my shoulder gently.
I bit my lip, torn. Could I really tell even my closest friend something like this?
“What is it, Winter? Tell me. You know what they say—sharing a burden makes it lighter.”
She looked me in the eye and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
Maybe… just maybe, Chloe would listen to me seriously. She was my dearest friend, after all.
After a moment’s hesitation, I finally spoke.
“The truth is… I heard a rumor that Hayden’s having an affair.”
“What…?”
Her hand froze mid-pat. She stared at me, her face a mix of disbelief and confusion.
“The servants said they saw him out with another woman last weekend.”
“Another woman…?”
Her brown eyes wavered. Narrowing them slightly, she asked in a low tone,
“Do you have any proof?”
At her question, I thought of Hayden’s shirt button.
Could a misbuttoned shirt really count as proof of infidelity?
The thought seemed absurd even to me.
When I shook my head, Chloe gazed at me intently.
“So… you just overheard the servants talking?”
“Yes. That’s all.”
Saying it out loud made the whole thing sound even more ridiculous. I let out a dry laugh.
“Besides, those weekends, he was away on business trips.”
How foolish—to doubt my husband with no evidence.
“But it’s strange. I can’t get that story out of my head.”
I smiled bitterly and lifted the teacup. The fragrant tea washed the bitterness from my mouth.
“……”
Chloe lifted her own cup in silence, staring down at the tea as if lost in thought. For a while, neither of us spoke.
“So there’s really no other proof?” she asked again.
I nodded.
“Right. It sounds silly now. I’m sorry, Chloe. Pretend you never heard that.”
She forced a faint smile and nodded.
“Of course.”
“I feel embarrassed. I must look pathetic.”
“No, not at all. But… if the man in question is Hayden, it’s hard to take sides, you know? That Hayden, of all people—having an affair? It just doesn’t fit.”
She smiled softly.
Hayden would never do something like that.
Her firm tone reflected the reputation my husband had earned. A kind and devoted man—often praised as the very model of a good husband, especially when compared to the notorious Marquis of Wolfhaze.
“There are only two women around him—you and me. It’s hard to imagine someone like Hayden cheating.”
She shook her head. Her words made me feel a twinge of hurt, but also… relief.
If even Chloe thought the rumor was absurd, maybe I was overthinking it.
The baseless gossip must have just taken root in my mind. I straightened up, trying to brush it off.
“You’re right. It’s nonsense. I thought about it too much.”
“Exactly. I guess you’ve been lonely while I was gone.”
Chloe dropped her gaze and wrapped her arms around me, rubbing my shoulder in gentle circles. It was something her mother used to do for her. I let out a small laugh.
“Winter, you know how I feel, right? It’s a sensitive topic, so I didn’t want to say too much.”
“I know.”
“But if you ever do find real proof that Hayden’s cheating… will you tell me? I can’t imagine it, but if it happens, I’ll be on your side.”
Her eyes met mine, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something strange in them—a flicker of some unspoken emotion.
“Okay, Chloe. If I ever find proof, I’ll tell you.”
(To be continued…)
