Chapter 26
. A Show Window Couple
October 26, 2023
Inside the carriage, with only Cedric and me.
The moment the door closed, I shot him a side glance.
“You didn’t have to go that far with your words.”
But Cedric only returned with a sly expression.
“What words?”
“……”
“Hm? Which words are you talking about, Rebecca?”
He even prodded me on with that lazy tone.
Then, the corners of his lips curved up in a relaxed smile.
‘Ugh, so annoying.’
Did he think I’d let it slide?
But saying it out loud myself was embarrassing.
“You said something about how I looked the most beautiful you’ve ever seen me… or something along those lines.”
Cedric bit his lip slightly, as though suppressing a laugh.
Then, arching his long brows, he turned his head toward the window.
“Ah, and who was it that wanted us to play the role of a show window couple?”
His characteristic composure was usually charming, but at times, unbearably irritating.
Just like now.
I pursed my lips before speaking again.
“I only meant we should act close enough not to get caught. But right now… it’s too much. Besides… Bianca might get the wrong idea.”
“The wrong idea?”
I nodded slowly.
“Yes. That we’re actually a happy couple who’ll stay together for a long time.”
“……”
“We both know that’s a wish we can’t grant anymore.”
Cedric was silent for a while.
He kept his gaze on the scenery outside before finally turning back to me.
“…I didn’t say those words just for the sake of our little act.”
“……”
“They were the truth.”
His languid baritone resonated pleasantly in my ears.
For a while, I found myself locked in the piercing blue of his eyes.
A peculiar heat crept up my neck, and I quickly pushed open the carriage window.
‘Because the truth is, today really is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen you.’
Such a simple statement, along with that unwavering gaze directed at me—
Together, they made a mess of my mind.
Around the same time, at the Dmitry Count’s estate.
Count Dmitry stood with his wife, Camilla, at the entrance of the ballroom, ready to receive their guests.
‘Still in a sour mood, it seems.’
The count kept glancing at Camilla, who was fixated on her hand mirror.
Since returning from their long trip, Camilla had abruptly quit her position as lady-in-waiting to the duchess.
She had refused to explain why, but the count had a strong suspicion that she’d fallen out of the duchess’s favor.
That suspicion grew stronger by the day, given how hysterical Camilla had become since.
“My dear, if you’re unwell, you needn’t attend. I can simply tell everyone you were indisposed.”
The count spoke gently, coaxingly.
But Camilla suddenly widened her eyes and hurled the mirror to the ground.
Crash!
“I know that much! That’s not the point! Don’t you get it yet?”
The servants rushed to clean up the shards of glass, but Camilla only stood there, glaring daggers at her husband.
‘To think I’m stuck with such a clueless man!’
Count Dmitry was a considerate, reliable husband—an ideal man in many ways.
But Camilla couldn’t help comparing him to her secret lover, Henry, and finding him lacking.
‘If only Henry had a bit more wealth, I would’ve divorced this dull man and gone to him long ago!’
She clenched her teeth so hard her jaw ached.
Henry Bart, the husband of her friend Lovelia—and Camilla’s secret paramour.
Together, they had been steadily carrying out plans to build a life of their own.
The scheme was simple but ambitious: amass wealth through gift exchanges, divorce their spouses, and remarry officially within three years.
But all of it had collapsed in an instant.
‘Because of that stupid duchess, Rebecca.’
The dream of a happy new start now felt hopelessly out of reach.
What Camilla had left were her fragile reputation as a northern socialite star—and a burning desire for revenge against Rebecca.
‘I’m still so furious I could lose my mind… but I’ll have to greet her with a smile.’
Camilla steadied her expression.
News of her sudden resignation as the duchess’s lady-in-waiting had already spread across the northern social scene.
Rumors said she must have committed some grave offense and been dismissed.
That gossip alone had done irreparable damage to Camilla’s proud image.
‘All of this disgrace is because of her.’
Grinding her teeth, a chilling sound slipped from her lips.
‘I need to redirect those gossipmongers’ eyes onto the duchess instead.’
If she could humiliate Rebecca in public, perhaps her boiling rage would finally subside.
And that was why Camilla had invited every influential lady in northern society to tonight’s banquet.
‘When they hear about the duke and duchess’s supposed separation… I wonder how they’ll react.’
The corners of her lips curled in a sly, sinister smile.
The Dmitry estate wasn’t far from the city center.
By the time our carriage arrived—about forty minutes into the banquet—it was already dark.
Of course, the later a high-ranking noble arrived, the more fashionable it was considered, so we’d set out leisurely on purpose.
The glow of lanterns, music, and laughter spilled out of the grand estate, filling the night air with festivity.
“Adrian and Bianca aren’t here yet, are they?”
Their carriage was nowhere in sight, so it seemed they hadn’t arrived.
As I glanced around, Cedric extended his arm toward me.
Perplexed, I looked up, only for him to gently guide me forward.
“A married couple can’t enter a banquet walking apart from one another, can they?”
“Ah… true.”
When I slipped my hand through his arm, his muscles subtly tensed beneath my touch.
I could feel the familiar scent of Cedric so much closer than usual.
Pushing down the faint flutter of nerves, I walked with him into the manor.
The lavishly decorated corridor stretched long before us until we finally reached the entrance to the ballroom, where Count Dmitry and his wife awaited us.
“Oh! At last, Your Grace and the Duchess! Thank you so much for coming!”
The count beamed warmly as he approached.
“Thank you for inviting us, Count Dmitry.”
While Cedric exchanged pleasantries with him, Camilla stepped up to me with an overly familiar smile.
“Your Grace, it’s such a pleasure to see you again.”
‘Ah… So she intends to act as if nothing happened?’
Masking my derision, I forced a polite smile, which she readily mirrored before turning to her husband.
“Darling, I’ll take Her Grace inside first.”
“Very well, Camilla.”
I wanted nothing more than to shake off her hand, but refusing the hostess’s gesture in public would’ve been unforgivably rude.
‘I’ll just have to bear with it.’
I started to release Cedric’s arm, but he tightened his hold, leaning close to whisper by my ear.
“How about we leave the banquet together tonight?”
Normally, even married couples often departed such events separately, and Cedric and Rebecca more so than others.
His unexpected suggestion caught me off guard—until I realized it was part of our ‘show window couple’ act.
‘…I hadn’t thought that far.’
Impressed by his thoroughness, I nodded.
“All right. Then enjoy yourself, Cedric.”
“You too.”
After exchanging farewells, I let Camilla lead me into the ballroom.
Not long after, she raised a hand to wave energetically at someone.
At a large table nearby, about a dozen noble ladies were chatting together.
They noticed me at once and offered polite bows from a distance.
“They’ve all been waiting for you, Your Grace. There are even some new faces tonight.”
I was only willing to entertain Camilla’s company out of courtesy to the hosts—nothing more.
‘I’ll be leaving the northern society in a few months anyway. No reason to go out of my way to please anyone now.’
So I stopped in my tracks.
“Forgive me, but I’d rather not join new gatherings tonight. I also need to look after Lady Bianca.”
“Lady… Bianca?”
“Yes. She’s only just returned from the capital and might feel out of place in northern society.”
“Oh my, so you’ve grown close with Lady Bianca?”
Camilla forced a stiff smile, her forehead taut as if pinned in place.
“But Lady Bianca isn’t here yet. Just stay with us until she arrives.”
“No, Camilla—”
“Everyone! Her Grace has arrived!”
She called out to the group of ladies before I could refuse, practically pinning me in place.
‘Why is she so desperate to drag me into this circle? Something’s off.’
My unease deepened as two ladies quickly approached with warm smiles.
“Your Grace! It’s been so long! How have you been?”
“We were disappointed not to receive any tea invitations lately!”
Before I knew it, I was being ushered toward their table.
The gathered ladies all rose to their feet and bowed to me.
“Such an honor to meet you.”
I returned the greeting and took the seat of honor, feeling their eyes fixated on me.
Unfamiliar faces, an unfamiliar atmosphere.
I couldn’t help but feel a little tense.
‘Ah, right. The highest-ranking noble should speak first.’
Realizing belatedly, I hurried to open my mouth.
“What were you discussing?”
Just then, Camilla slid gracefully into the seat beside me.
“We were talking about the latest rumors about us, of course.”
“Rumors? What kind?”
“Oh, about how I must have committed some offense, and that’s why you dismissed me from your service!”
Her feigned smile never faltered as she stared straight at me.
“Your Grace, isn’t that just absurd?”
It was all I could do to keep from laughing.
‘So this is why she insisted on dragging me here?’
A promise was a promise, but I had no intention of helping her save face.
Yet Camilla clearly wanted to twist my silence into tacit agreement.
“See? Didn’t I say so, everyone?”
Her smug smile was met with nods of agreement from the others.
Bolstered by their reaction, she let out a coy laugh.
“Thank you, truly. If not for certain personal circumstances, I’d never have resigned.”
“……”
“And especially not now, of all times…”
Her voice rose theatrically, drawing everyone’s attention.
She sighed softly, as though pained, before delivering her next line.
“At a time when Their Graces are separated, I simply couldn’t…”
She gasped, quickly covering her mouth as if she’d spoken too much.
With wide, innocent eyes, she blinked rapidly in feigned embarrassment.
