Chapter 58
Kayente quickly shook off his daze and forced his mind to recall what he had instructed Mark to do. That very task had been the basis of his certainty that Baron Luper wouldn’t be able to gather the money to stop this wedding.
The completion of revenge.
Leaving his beloved daughter with a man who would never love her back could hardly be considered proper revenge…
Kayente had planned to make Baron Luper a fugitive, unable to even watch his dear daughter’s wedding to the end.
“If you don’t want this, it’s still not too late to withdraw.”
But whenever he thought of who would suffer the most if that happened, it was inevitably Yulia who came to mind. Though he hesitated, Kayente eventually shook his head slowly.
“Proceed as planned.”
There was no turning back now.
* * *
“It would’ve been terrible if it were too hot even without rain, but thankfully the weather’s perfect, Madam!”
At last, the morning of Yulia’s wedding had dawned. It was also the last day she would be called by the name “Luper.” Lucy, having resumed the title she used when she first met Yulia, must have woken up incredibly early. Even before Yulia—who had risen earlier than usual—could check the window, Lucy had already surveyed the weather and reported on the rest of the family.
“Lady Lorina took the Baron and Young Master Ian to the tailor. I guess she wasn’t satisfied with their outfits. She said they’ll head straight to the Clu mansion for a final check after that. I’ll escort you separately, Madam. The Count sent an extra carriage, so we can take the Clu family’s one.”
“Thank you, Lucy.”
Since the wedding was outdoors, the weather mattered. Fortunately, just as Lucy said, it was perfect—partly cloudy with a pleasant breeze and not overly hot.
“The wedding dress will arrive at the Clu mansion, so please wear something comfortable for now. If you take off your nightgown, I’ll pack it right away.”
Yulia stood by the window and took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. Though a tightness still lingered in her chest at the thought of taking Kayente’s hand and becoming the Countess of Clu, her mood wasn’t all bad. At least she could bring the cello she thought she’d have to leave behind.
As Lucy packed the rest of Yulia’s things, Yulia stepped outside to gently place her precious cello into its case.
“You can keep playing the cello.”
That permission had filled her with joy. It wasn’t just that she didn’t have to give it up—it was that Kayente had changed his mind on his own. Yulia hadn’t cried or begged. He had simply come to that decision himself. Maybe he didn’t truly mean it when he said he wanted her to be miserable.
“I fell for you all over again at first sight.”
He was someone who could say something so impossible, yet sound sincere.
There was probably no clearer way to make her unhappy than to forbid the cello. But he had chosen to forgo that certainty. And in that, Yulia found a glimmer of something like hope in this marriage. She even began to believe, just a little, that he might not actually hate her.
She still didn’t know if his words about wanting her to be unhappy had some deeper meaning beyond their literal form.
“Sit down, Madam. I’ll brush your hair.”
“Okay.”
“I already packed the dress you wore yesterday, your robe… hmm, what else should I pack?”
“Probably just this nightgown I’m wearing.”
“I’ll need to check everything before we leave, just in case.”
If anything were forgotten, they could always come back—but Lucy acted like she’d never return. As Yulia sat at her vanity, letting Lucy do her hair, she gazed at her room through the mirror—now barren of books or scattered belongings.
She used to think she didn’t own much, but now that her things had been moved out, the room felt hollow. Seeing the empty space, like a room that had suddenly lost its owner, it truly hit her—she was no longer a member of House Luper.
“Do you think I could bring the blanket I always sleep with?”
“Your blanket? Hmm… I didn’t think of it—it’s so old.”
“It might feel strange sleeping somewhere new. Maybe I’ll sleep better with something familiar.”
“Well… it’s not like you’ll be sleeping alone for a while, right?”
That was true. After the wedding, they’d be going on their honeymoon. Lugging around an old blanket from home might be unreasonable.
She had always focused on how she’d manage with Kayente in that new house, never realizing how sad it would be to leave the home and family she’d grown up with.
“Still, please pack it, Lucy. I want to take it with me.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“This hairbrush too… I want to take everything I used.”
“You’re feeling off because you’re suddenly staying in a new house, right? Got it. I’ll pack your slippers, your hand mirror—everything.”
Even if she wouldn’t end up using them, Yulia wanted to bring them. She didn’t want to leave behind even the smallest things from this house.
Though she would become Countess of Clu today, only her last name would change—not her first name. Reminding herself of that, Yulia resolved not to be too heartbroken about leaving. A new day was beginning, after all. She wasn’t becoming a different person.
* * *
The manor’s garden had been bustling with people preparing for the wedding since early morning. But Kayente didn’t need to get involved. For all her chatter, the Baroness had handled the preparations flawlessly with the money she spent. The calm garden had transformed into a vibrant space filled with flowers and lights.
“Good morning, Count. Did you sleep well… ah, I see you didn’t. Well, I suppose it would be stranger if you had.”
Unlike usual, Henry entered the bedroom carrying a tray of sandwiches—thin slices of ham and butter—and coffee. Spotting the shadows under Kayente’s eyes as he stood by the window, Henry grinned good-naturedly.
“You’ve already changed? You should eat first.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“It’d be better to eat now. Even if there’s a meal during the event, you’ll be too distracted to eat properly.”
Kayente looked far from the joyous groom. Tense and slightly on edge, his mood had grown prickly. Still, his appearance was enough to draw admiration.
“You look incredible today. I bet Miss Yulia will fall for you all over again.”
His white formal uniform matched the bride’s white dress beautifully. The navy accents at the collar and cuffs highlighted the hidden violet hues in his gray eyes, giving him an almost mystical aura. The sharp shoulder line and fitted waist emphasized his broad, masculine frame.
“It’s a shame your family isn’t here to see this. If Lord Bain were alive, he would be so proud to see what a strong man you’ve become.”
Even Kayente’s perfectly slicked-back hair looked stunning. Henry, deeply moved, even mentioned the late Earl of Clu, his eyes glistening.
Kayente didn’t respond. He turned silently and picked up a gossip magazine from his desk.
“I wondered what she was scribbling when she disappeared—turns out it was this.”
“What’s that? …Oh, a ‘Tabl.’”
Henry frowned, wondering how the gossip magazine had ended up in Kayente’s hands without passing through him, and began to read.
<Love of the Century! Who is the Woman Who Melted the Cold Heart of the Count of Clu?>
From the cheesy headline alone, the article focused mainly on Kayente and Yulia’s past. But it was oddly detailed—too specific to have been made up based on vague rumors. It mentioned how Yulia had once fallen from a tree in Kayente’s garden and he had caught her with his whole body, as well as how the two families became close.
“Where could they have heard all this? It couldn’t be the young lady…”
“The Baroness, most likely.”
Henry didn’t deny it. Among those familiar with the past, she was the only one who’d blab like this.
“She must’ve had a great time running her mouth. I don’t even remember some of this.”
“I’ve never heard the story about you carrying Miss Yulia back to the mansion after she twisted her ankle playing with a ball by the lake.”
Henry, finding no falsehoods in the article, felt a bit relieved. But Kayente’s expression remained unchanged. Henry set the magazine down and asked:
“Is there a problem if this gets out?”
Kayente stared at the tabloid and murmured under his breath, barely audible—
“…It sounds like love.”
