HBTF 19

Chapter: 19

An Unintended Love Triangle

Merran sipped her coffee half-heartedly, grumbling under her breath. Classie watched with amusement, biting into a pretty checkered cookie.

“I never thought Auntie was that kind of person.”

Unable to hold back any longer, Merran grumbled again.

“What kind of person?”

Classie smirked as she asked.

“A person whose heart changes so easily.”

Classie nearly burst into laughter.

Right now, she was only pretending to be interested in Dernick to tease Merran. But in truth, Classie really was someone whose feelings changed easily. And it was all because of Merran.

Hadn’t Merran always interfered whenever Classie showed interest in a man? After years of experiencing that, Classie had developed the ability to briefly feel sad when rejected before quickly recovering.

And yet, now Merran was saying such things? If Merran weren’t her niece but just a friend, Classie would have had a few sharp words to say.

Instead, she responded lazily.

“What does it matter? You’re not interested in Sir Dernick anyway.”

“I never said that.”

“When I asked if you liked him, you didn’t answer. That means you don’t.”

“No, I never said I wasn’t interested. I just didn’t answer.”

“Then, do you like him?”

Merran’s ears turned red as she struggled to respond. Classie immediately leaned in, eager to hear.

But before Merran could answer, a knock came at the door. Both of them immediately shut their mouths.

The door opened, and in walked Dernick.

“It hasn’t been ten minutes, has it?”

Saying that, Dernick returned to his seat. He had promised to bring a gift, yet his hands were empty.

Classie glanced at the clock—eleven minutes had passed.

‘Where did he go?’

It would be rude to ask. Maybe he had just rushed to the restroom.

Besides, arguing over one minute felt like too much trouble, so Classie decided to let it slide.

But as she lowered her gaze from the clock, she realized Dernick was staring at her. When their eyes met, he suddenly smiled shyly and even covered his mouth with his hand, looking embarrassed.

‘What’s with him?’

That level of bashfulness felt unsettling. It didn’t match the usual sly man who smirked and called her “Miss Weapons Dealer.”

Classie eyed him warily and sipped her coffee. But even as she finished her drink, Dernick kept grinning at her.

“Did something good happen outside?”

Feeling uncomfortable, Classie finally set her cup down and asked.

“I heard some news that was both troubling and amusing.”

Dernick admitted.

“What news?”

Classie was puzzled. Where had he gone in just ten minutes? Had he taken care of some business?

Dernick leaned in and whispered,

“Are you curious? Do you want to hear it?”

Classie nodded.

“Yes.”

“Should I tell you?”

“Yes.”

But after stirring up her curiosity, Dernick teasingly withdrew.

“I’d love to tell you, but I’m too embarrassed to say it.”

‘What’s with this guy?’

Classie gaped at him in disbelief.

Dernick winked at her before calling over a server to order another coffee for himself.

‘He’s seriously weird.’

Classie shook her head. She couldn’t understand what Merran saw in him.

‘His face? There’s nothing else appealing about him, so it must be his face, right?’

Doubting Merran’s taste, Classie glanced at her.

But Merran didn’t look good either. She was smiling, but her lips were stiff—clearly forcing it.

Classie immediately understood her mood.

‘She’s sulking because she’s being left out of the conversation.’

And sure enough, the moment Classie stopped talking to observe Merran, she took the opportunity to speak up.

“Sir Dernick, you said you’d show me the keepsake.”

Dernick finally stopped giving Classie that irritating grin and turned to Merran.

“Oh, right! My dear Lady Mary’s daughter, have you made your decision?”

Merran playfully waved her empty hands.

“Empty-handed? Didn’t you say you’d bring me something?”

Dernick smoothly placed his hands over hers.

“!?”

Merran’s face instantly turned bright red.

Classie stared at Dernick in shock. Was this man insane?

Merran neither pulled her hands away nor held onto his. She just opened and closed her mouth in silent disbelief.

Classie promptly chopped down between their hands with the edge of her own, breaking the connection.

As soon as their hands separated, Merran finally yanked hers under the table, protesting.

“You’re such a fraud. What kind of gift is this? Are you saying you’re my present?”

“Do you like it?”

Dernick shamelessly folded his hands under his cheek like a child and asked.

He was absolutely brazen.

But strangely enough, Merran seemed pleased. Pouting her lips, she stared down at her coffee cup before eventually answering.

“I’ll send someone to invite you to my house later. You can show me the keepsake then.”

“Really?”

Dernick’s face lit up like a blooming flower. He placed a hand over his chest and bowed gracefully to Merran.

“Thank you, Lady Mary’s daughter. You’re just as generous as your mother.”

On the way home in the carriage, Classie asked Merran,

“Are you really going to invite Dernick?”

“Yes.”

Merran removed her gloves and answered nonchalantly.

“When?”

Classie asked again. If Dernick was coming over, she planned to interfere.

Maybe sensing her scheme, Merran, who had been fidgeting with her gloves, suddenly snapped her head up and shot back,

“On a day when you’re not home.”

Classie pointed at herself in exaggerated shock.

“Me? Why?”

“You really don’t know?”

Merran slammed her gloves down beside her with a thud. Her face was full of pent-up frustration.

Classie feigned innocence, trying to suppress her laughter.

“Of course, I don’t know. Our little Merran is a baby who can’t even stay home alone. Don’t I have to take care of you?”

Whenever Classie left Merran at home to go out, Merran would always follow, using that as an excuse. Now Classie was throwing it right back at her.

Merran seemed to catch on and folded her arms, scowling.

“Stop teasing me. It’s not funny.”

“It’s good that you finally realized. It wasn’t funny when the roles were reversed either.”

“When the roles were reversed? That doesn’t count. Our intentions were completely different.”

“If you keep saying things like that, I might just start sticking to you 24/7.”

Classie teased with a sly grin.

Merran’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to contain her anger. Her breathing was so loud that it was almost audible.

Classie didn’t bother to soothe her. Instead, she hummed a little tune and pretended to admire the view outside.

After stewing in silence for a while, it was once again Merran who broke first.

“Auntie, I think I’m interested in Sir Dernick.”

Classie quickly pulled down the carriage blinds and turned to look at her.

“Really?”

“Of course, really. Would I lie about something like this?”

“You’ve shown interest in every guy I liked. But it was all fake.”

“!”

“I’m asking if it’s the same this time or if you really like Sir Dernick.”

Merran avoided eye contact and pouted, as if unable to deny her colorful track record. But she answered in a sullen voice.

“I really do like him. Even before I heard that Aunt had dinner with Sir Dernick twice, I was already interested. Ever since I first met him at the guardhouse.”

The carriage came to a stop.

“Young ladies, we have arrived,” the coachman called from outside.

Normally, Merran would have jumped out immediately, but today, she remained seated. Since she was lingering by the door, Classie had no choice but to stay put as well.

After some hesitation, Merran spoke.

“Aunt, I’m serious. I really like Sir Dernick. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t interfere like you did today.”

Classie couldn’t answer. This time, it wasn’t because she wanted to get back at Merran—it was out of genuine concern as her guardian.

Dernick was too unpredictable. He was reckless, lied a lot, and seemed like a lunatic. But today, he also appeared to be quite skilled at seduction.

Classie wanted Merran to marry a good man and move far away, but she didn’t want her to suffer after meeting the wrong one.

“Do you think Sir Dernick is a good man?”

When Classie asked, Merran shrugged.

“I don’t know. But out of all the men I’ve met, I like him the most so far. He has strong convictions. He doesn’t get swayed by my words and expresses himself clearly. I don’t like people who just go along with whatever I say and cater to me completely. You never know what they’re hiding.”

As she spoke, her expression briefly turned cold before softening again.

Classie rested her chin on the window frame and gazed at Merran seriously.

Merran smiled brightly and took Classie’s hand.

“If Sir Dernick turns out to be a bad person, I’ll just stop seeing him. You have to meet someone a few times to know what they’re really like. So, Aunt, please don’t interfere when I meet Sir Dernick.”

“Hmm.”

“You have to promise! I’ll invite Sir Dernick over on the days you go out.”

Merran crossed her arms, pretending to sulk.

Classie sighed in defeat.

“Alright. Then let’s plan it. When you invite Sir Dernick over, I’ll go out with my friends. But you have to keep Ana with you at all times. Deal?”

* * *

After returning home.

Merran sent someone to the restaurant where she had dined with Dernick, delivering a short message: “Please come to the house at 11 a.m. on December 7th.”

Meanwhile, Classie sent another messenger to Kishin at the guardhouse.

Since Merran and Dernick were meeting on December 7th, Classie decided to meet Kishin that day. That way, neither Merran nor Dernick could interfere!

Classie was almost certain that Kishin would accept her date invitation.

Their second date hadn’t felt like a real date because Dernick had intruded. Besides, from what Classie could tell, Kishin seemed to have developed a bit of a liking for her that day.

However, the response brought back by the messenger three hours later was completely different from what Classie had expected.—Lady Classie Kalashi is a good person, but we are not suited for each other. I must decline your date invitation. Please refrain from sending people in the future, as it puts me in a difficult position.