ELND Chapter 17

I peeked over the low wall surrounding the training grounds, watching Cedric carefully.

‘Oh no, I hid without even realizing it!’

I had only come out for a night stroll, wanting to see the glow of the “Demon King’s Gift” once more.

But the light spilling from the training hall in the backyard had piqued my curiosity.

So I came without thinking too much about it…

Only to find Cedric, shirtless, swinging a wooden sword alone.

‘Ugh, I shouldn’t have come. Why did I have to be so curious?’

If I got caught here, he might think I had followed him secretly.

And honestly, the original Rebecca would have absolutely done just that.

That would probably send the slightly recovered favorability between us plummeting again…

‘No way, I can’t let that happen!’

Crouching awkwardly, I began inching toward the entrance of the training ground.

I looked ridiculous, but this was the only way to avoid Cedric’s line of sight.

I had barely moved five steps away when—

“…You there.”

Cedric’s deep voice echoed across the vast training field.

‘Don’t tell me I’ve been found out…?’

No way. Even if he noticed someone, he wouldn’t know it was me… right?

Just as I stepped forward again, holding onto that thin hope—

His indifferent voice rang out again.

“Standing up now might save us both some embarrassment.”

“…”

“Rebecca. I can clearly see you, you know.”

I might’ve imagined it, but his tone carried a hint of amusement.

‘Shoot. So he knew it was me all along.’

I smacked my lips, embarrassed, and slowly stood up.

“Heh… haha. You’re still awake?”

As our eyes met, an awkward laugh escaped me.

But Cedric merely stared back with his calm, blue eyes.

“And what brings you here at this hour?”

He slowly walked toward me, pulling on a night robe.

“Oh, well… I was just out for a walk and saw light coming from here…”

“You saw light, and?”

“I just came to check it out. I definitely didn’t follow you or anything, so don’t get the wrong idea.”

Now standing right in front of me, Cedric stared in silence.

I hadn’t often been alone with him like this.

Usually, when we ran into each other by chance, he didn’t bother to hide his suspicion toward me.

That had been the case from our very first meeting—and every one after that.

‘Ugh… He’s probably about to glare and say something sharp again.’

Was all the effort I’d made to win him over going to go to waste like this?

Just as a sigh slipped from my lips—

“…Out on a walk alone tonight?”

Cedric looked toward the entrance of the training field as he asked.

As if he were checking whether someone else might be waiting nearby.

I blinked slowly, thrown off by his unexpected reaction.

“Tonight’s walk? You say that like you’ve seen me out with someone before.”

Cedric fell silent for a moment, as if I’d hit a nerve.

‘This might be my chance.’

I used that moment of silence to slowly start backing away.

“Well, this was a totally ‘coincidental’ meeting, but it was nice seeing you, Cedric.”

“…”

“Then… goodnight.”

I had just turned away when—

“I heard you stirred up some fun in the Orangerie.”

“…”

“Sent all of Bianca’s little friends back to the capital, didn’t you?”

Oh no. Is he going to scold me for that? Of course it wouldn’t be that easy…

“Cedric, before you get mad, let me explain. I had a good reason—”

As I turned back with a sigh—

“Thank you.”

“…What?”

What did I just hear?

I blinked up at Cedric in disbelief.

“Bianca told me. That you stood by her when she was in a tough spot.”

“…”

“I really do appreciate it.”

Words I’d never expected to hear from Cedric.

Surprised by the unfamiliar moment, I stared up at him with wide eyes.

The silence stretched, and Cedric awkwardly cleared his throat.

“If you don’t mind… would you care to join me for a cup of tea?”

.
.
.

The place Cedric took me was the upper floor of the training hall.

An attic space just under the domed roof.

It seemed to be a makeshift lounge where Cedric rested after training.

There was a bed, a sofa, and a table by a small fireplace—and a tea set with some biscuits already laid out.

Cedric sat across from me and began brewing the tea himself.

“I don’t think I’m very good at this. Bianca used to tease me about it.”

He carefully tilted the teapot over my cup.

As I lifted the steaming cup, Cedric looked at me with anticipation.

“Well?”

“It’s… fine. You’re actually not bad at making tea.”

“Honestly?”

“…It’s insanely bitter and hot like molten lava.”

Ack. I confessed quickly, setting the cup far away with a pained expression.

“I guess it’s official—I have no talent for tea-making.”

He scratched his eyebrow sheepishly.

I nodded seriously.

“Yeah. Completely. Just have a servant do it next time.”

“…”

“Someone could literally die from drinking this. No poison needed.”

Cedric burst into quiet laughter as I deadpanned.

To see him laugh like that, right in front of me—

I was so stunned I just stared at him.

‘Wow… When someone that handsome laughs like that, it’s like the whole world lights up.’

Maybe it was because I’d seen this more human side of him, or maybe it was his smile itself…

But for the first time, being with Cedric felt… comfortable.

“I heard you’ve been selling off a lot of art pieces lately.”

“That’s right. How did you know?”

“I saw some of them being carried out of the Shadow Mansion, all wrapped in white cloth. I just assumed.”

Cedric lowered his gaze for a moment and blinked slowly.

“If it’s because the alimony isn’t enough…”

“No, it’s not that.”

I cut him off firmly.

The alimony would probably be taken by the Duke of Bold anyway.

It was essentially worthless.

Cedric looked at me with a thoughtful expression.

“Even if we’re divorced, we’re still living together right now. We could renegotiate the settlement.”

“…”

“You can ask me for help, you know.”

“You’re offering… to help me?”

First a thank-you, and now an offer to help?

His gentle yet aloof kindness stunned me into silence.

After watching me for a moment, Cedric smiled softly.

“We failed as a married couple. You were too intense, and I was too cold.”

“…”

“But that doesn’t mean…”

He paused, then met my eyes with a quiet gaze.

“…that we have to fail as friends, too.”

His blue eyes were as clear as the ocean.

Where there had once been only frost and sarcasm, I now saw a faint warmth.

Just for a moment, I was speechless.

But then I slowly smiled.

“Friends, huh? I like the sound of that.”

Cedric seemed pleased, his handsome face lighting with a subtle smile.

Feeling a flutter of something unfamiliar, I coughed awkwardly.

“Um… Actually, I think being friends would help keep up appearances too.”

“…”

“If you keep treating me like you used to, no one will believe we’re on the verge of splitting up.”

“…That’s true. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Cedric nodded seriously.

“Then, as a new friend, will you tell me why you’re selling off all those art pieces—if it’s not because of the alimony?”

“Oh, that’s actually because…”

“…?”

“I don’t think I’ll get a single coin of the alimony in the end.”

“What do you mean? The Duke of Bold wouldn’t do that, would he?”

Cedric frowned slowly.

“I thought you were close with him… or not?”

Close? Not even a little.

I shook my head at once.

“Not at all. It might look that way, but he never truly cared about me. Same goes for my mother.”

The original story didn’t go into much detail about the Duke of Bold, but it wasn’t hard to guess.

And meeting him in person had confirmed my suspicions.

“That can’t be…”

Cedric muttered.

He looked genuinely shocked.

“You’re that surprised to hear I’m not on good terms with my father?”

He looked like he was finally snapping out of it as he met my eyes again.

I smiled faintly.

“So I plan to increase my personal wealth as much as I can before the divorce becomes public.”

“…”

“Once we’re officially divorced, my father won’t be able to touch any assets I had before that.”

Cedric seemed lost in thought, then spoke slowly.

“If that’s the case, I could help by converting the alimony into personal assets now—”

“That won’t be necessary.”

My firm refusal made Cedric raise an eyebrow.

His offer was generous, but if the Duke of Bold found out later, it would cause trouble for Cedric.

In the Western Empire, the family head was an absolute authority.

No matter how powerful another noble was, it was an unspoken rule not to infringe on another family’s domain.

‘That miser would use it to stir up public criticism and squeeze more out of Cedric.’

I was leaving soon—I didn’t want to cause any more problems.

I shook my head again.

“If you really want to help, just keep the alimony amount and duration as low as possible. That would ease my mind.”

Cedric frowned slightly, looking frustrated that he couldn’t do more.

“…Alright. We’ll handle that in due time. But how are you planning to build personal wealth without my help?”

“I’m going to invest in the demon realm’s futures trading market.”

“The futures market?”

Cedric’s eyes widened.

“I didn’t know you had an interest in finance. I thought I knew everything about you…”

He murmured, almost to himself.

I smiled softly.

“You’ll get used to it. Mina and Adrian were surprised at first too, but they’ve started to adjust.”

At that moment, Cedric’s expression shifted subtly.

“Adrian… is he the one currently staying with you in the Shadow Mansion?”