Chapter 92
“N-nothing special.”
Lucy quickly composed herself and rolled her eyes, looking around for Jessica again.
‘Why on earth is Lord Lucas here?’
The person she had just seen was undoubtedly Lucas. He stood surrounded by people as if he were completely accustomed to such occasions.
It seemed he had only just arrived because people were gradually gathering to catch a glimpse of him.
‘All the attention is on Lord Lucas. It’s a relief that no one seems to be paying attention to me.’
She had expected to be noticed, but being the center of so much attention was still overwhelming.
After confirming that Jessica wasn’t near Lucas, Lucy moved further into the party hall to find her.
“This is so annoying! I sent out so many invitations, but none of the people I wanted to come actually showed up. Only the boring ones came!”
Jessica muttered to herself while touching up her makeup in front of the mirror, throwing down her compact in frustration.
“This isn’t the future I dreamed of!”
She groaned loudly.
She had always dreamed of a noble status that others would admire and a wonderful husband to shine beside her.
But in reality, she had to endure her in-laws’ nagging, scorn from other nobles, and a husband who was far older than her.
Marrying a man eight years her senior was never what she had wished for.
Even if he was wealthy, his title was only that of a marquis, not a high-ranking noble. Her dream of marrying into a prestigious family could only settle for being a marquis’s wife.
‘This is all Lucy’s fault! If she hadn’t run away back then, I wouldn’t have had to marry like I was being sold off!’
Jessica gritted her teeth at the thought of Lucy.
Moreover, even after more than three years of marriage, they had no children.
Her in-laws constantly blamed her for this, but she knew the truth.
‘They should be blaming their old son. Why blame me? Why?! Ugh, it makes me so mad just thinking about it!’
Once her irritation started, her anger kept spiraling.
She tried to think of something positive to calm herself down.
The only small comfort was that her husband was a successful businessman in the capital, and because he cared about appearances, he allowed her to live in luxury.
“Phew… Well, thanks to that, I was able to hold a splendid birthday party without envy today… But what’s the use! I hoped to make connections with at least one high-ranking noble… If only His Grace the Duke had come…!”
Jessica stomped her foot in frustration, then adjusted her outfit after glancing at the mirror again.
Finally done with her makeup, Jessica turned her gaze toward the commotion, curious about the crowd.
‘Who could have arrived to make people gather like that?’
One of the high-ranking nobles she had been eagerly anticipating must have come. Excitedly, she moved to greet them, but someone blocked her path.
“Oh my, Lady Jessica of the Yorgo family! Finally found you! Happy birthday?”
“Oh, thank you sincerely for attending my birthday party today and brightening the occasion…”
Jessica instinctively greeted and lifted her head—and froze in shock.
“Y-you… you are…!”
“Jessica, it’s been a long time!”
Lucy smiled brightly as she greeted her.
“How are you here… you’re alive?”
Jessica’s eyes widened in surprise.
“It’s too harsh to say that to a sister I haven’t seen in years. Did you really wish I were dead?”
Lucy looked genuinely hurt.
Jessica, unsure of how to react, quickly glanced around and then grabbed Lucy by the wrist.
“We shouldn’t talk here. Let’s go somewhere private.”
As Jessica suddenly pulled on Lucy’s wrist, Shan, standing nearby, grabbed her arm to restrain her.
“W-who are you?”
Jessica scowled at Shan, taking him in from head to toe.
She hadn’t noticed at first, but now she saw a man with striking, exotic features. His aura was intimidating.
“It’s okay, Shan.”
Lucy gave him a slight nod, and he released Jessica’s arm.
Immediately, Jessica hurriedly pulled Lucy toward the private lounge she had just exited.
“Why does that man keep following us?”
Jessica asked, looking back anxiously at Shan.
“He’s my partner. He’ll always be with me wherever I go.”
“You’re not planning to follow me into the ladies’ lounge, are you?”
Jessica glared at Shan as she opened the lounge door.
“Shan, wait here.”
Shan nodded slightly at Lucy’s command.
Jessica glared at him once more, then slammed the door shut.
“How did you even get here?”
Jessica roughly pulled on Lucy’s arm as she demanded.
“How do you think? I came by carriage.”
Lucy shrugged.
“Hah! I’m not joking! Does your father know you’re here?”
“He probably doesn’t. But you’ll tell him soon enough when you run off to rat me out.”
Lucy smiled mischievously.
Jessica was dumbfounded by how much Lucy’s tone and expression had changed.
‘Does she have some leverage now? Could that man outside be a high-ranking foreign noble?’
She quickly tried to reason it out.
Perhaps Lucy had married into a powerful foreign family. That would explain her attitude.
“So why exactly did you come here? It looks like you’ve married into a good family and are living comfortably.”
“Is that what you’re most curious about? Not how I’ve been, whether I’m doing well?”
As expected, Lucy nodded slightly, as if anticipating this.
“You’re right. Life’s been a bit easier now. I came to see my family… Did I do something terribly wrong?”
Lucy’s eyes drooped, showing slight disappointment.
“You’re still so selfish and shameless! Do you even know what happened because of you? Our family was ruined because you ran away! And I had to marry into this place like I was being sold!”
Jessica glared at Lucy, venting her resentment.
“Ruined? Oh… but you’re living well now, right? Married into a rich family, you can still restore the family’s reputation!”
Lucy clenched her fist and shook it, mock-cheering Jessica on.
Jessica trembled with rage at her teasing.
“You… you really…”
“Tell Father I’ll come see him soon. And give my regards to Mother too!”
Lucy cheerfully teased Jessica, ignoring her flushed, furious expression.
“Oh! By the way, where’s Lord Yorgo? Now that I’m here, isn’t it polite to greet him?”
Lucy suddenly remembered and asked Jessica.
“No need! Get lost right now! And don’t ever appear in front of me again! If Duke Baron finds out you’ve come to the capital, the Yorgo family might get into trouble too!”
Jessica bit her lip as she spoke.
“Maybe he’s at the party? I’ll just go greet him, sister!”
Lucy’s eyes glinted as she flung open the lounge door.
“You! Stay there! Can’t you hear me?”
Ignoring Jessica shouting behind her, Lucy headed back toward the party hall.
The hall was still crowded with people trying to catch a word with Lucas.
Lucy hesitated briefly.
‘I wanted to see Jessica embarrassed in front of everyone…’
But since Lucas had arrived, attention was on him, and Lucy had already said what she wanted.
Maybe it was better to call it a day.
Her original plan had been to surprise Jessica and embarrass her in front of everyone—or at least subtly irritate her in front of Lord Yorgo.
‘Even this much of a reaction is enough. I still don’t know where Lord Yorgo is…’
As she hesitated, Lucy casually glanced at Lucas—and their eyes met.
