SMR | Chapter 159

~Chapter 159~

“How is Lady Lauren Marshall’s trial going?”

“The first hearing ended after both sides simply stated their positions. The second hearing, which will be in a month, is when they’ll start tearing into each other.”

“She really is a foolish woman. When she needed to act fast, she hesitated. And when she needed to wait, she rushed in blindly.”

Tez agreed with Bella. Attempting murder right after the strange inheritance situation in the Pellon family had already shocked everyone — doing something so reckless now was too foolish.

“Lady Marshall probably wants to hire the best lawyer she can, even if she has to sell everything she owns. But honestly… who would willingly take a case everyone knows will lose and that the entire noble society condemns?”

“At least the Imperial Court isn’t torturing her or interrogating her directly, right?”

“Since it’s a family matter, the Imperial Court won’t get involved to that extent. But because even His Majesty is watching this case, it won’t be handled lightly.”

Bella’s lips dried completely.

If my name comes out of that woman’s mouth, I’m finished.

Bella was the one who had encouraged Lauren to kill Trisha and had supplied her with everything needed for the murder attempt.

She had kept her identity hidden well — Joseph Alden didn’t know Bella was the one who connected him to Lauren, and Albert didn’t know what his drugs were being used for.

But Lauren… Lauren could confess Bella’s involvement.

I can deny it, but I can’t avoid being summoned to the palace for questioning. And if the investigation reaches Albert Kingsley, I won’t be able to deny it anymore.

Her numb fingertips trembled. Shame and fear welled up inside her — she felt miserable and helpless.

If she had just handled things properly, none of this would’ve touched me!

Accomplices to attempted murder received at least three years in prison — no exceptions.

If that happened, both Cedric and even James would leave her for sure.

“I hope that woman drops dead from a heart attack.”

Tez heard her muttered complaint and sat up halfway.

“You want Lauren Marshall to die? Why? Did something happen?”

“Nothing.”

“Bella.”

“You can’t help me, so why do you want to know? My head is about to explode. Just leave me alone.”

Bella hugged her knees tightly and lowered her head.

She looked so broken and pitiful that Tez couldn’t help thinking that whatever the details were, Lauren must have done something awful to her.

“I don’t know if this will help, but… I know one of the guards at the prison where Lauren Marshall is held.”

At that one sentence, Bella slowly raised her head. Hope flickered faintly in her tearful eyes.

“Really?”

Tez smiled at the emerald eyes once again fixed on him. He believed he had finally gotten his hands on a bait that would allow him to own Bella a little more.

Whether that would truly work… no one could know.

* * *

About a week after Lauren’s first trial ended, Harriet walked to the front gate of the Pellon estate and got into a hired carriage.

Whenever the estate’s carriages were in use or she needed to go somewhere privately, she used a hired carriage, so nothing seemed unusual.

But once she climbed in, Cedric — dressed impeccably in a gentleman’s suit despite the lingering heat — was already inside, waiting for her.

“It’s been a while.”

It had been a while, but his greeting felt as natural as if they had met yesterday. The last time they saw each other was at the opening ceremony of the PelloDeia Theater.

“Yes, it has. Have you been well?”

“Quite well. And you, Miss Harriet?”

“Well… I went to Ainsfora, came back, attended the trial, helped Aunt Roxana prepare evidence…”

Harriet trailed off with a small, awkward smile.

Those weren’t the things she truly wanted to ask. She wanted to know how he had been — whether he had seen Bella again, what they’d talked about.

Of course he saw her. And he’ll just give some formal answer. I know that, so why am I curious?

She let out a quiet, self-mocking smile. There was no reason to ask such questions except for the jealousy buried in her heart.

And what if, by chance, he answered: “Yes, I saw her. Surprisingly, we get along well”?

Idiot. You came here to give a progress report. What are you doing?

She felt acutely aware that she was the only one mixing personal feelings into this meeting. Cedric remained as composed as ever.

To hide her emotions, she asked a generic question.

“So… what should we do next?”

Cedric, who had been observing her quietly, lifted one corner of his mouth in a faint smile.

“Lauren Marshall’s case is actually just the spark of something much bigger. The drug she gave Lady Pellon is what’s now sickening the entire Empire.”

“Angelique, right?”

“Yes. The drug used on the Countess was slightly different, but the main ingredient is the same. And that ingredient is the root of all these problems.”

He briefly looked out the window.

The rented carriage moved slowly down a quiet road, just as he had arranged.

The clattering of hooves felt strangely comforting.

He suddenly remembered the time he and Harriet had passed through the gates of Genoa together in a carriage. Of course, he couldn’t say that out loud.

“…Because of that, Lady Roxana Pellon and you may be called as witnesses.”

“I can testify! Honestly, I’d love for them to call me — I’d beg if I had to.”

Cedric laughed softly at her eagerness.

“How is Countess Pellon doing?”

“Grandmother?”

Harriet looked troubled, unsure how to answer.

“The new medicine seems to work, and the hot springs help too.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“…Yes, but… she isn’t getting noticeably better either.”

Her smile faded.

“She says wanting more improvement is just greed, but I keep wanting to beg with God. To let her stay just until I pay back at least a little of the debt I owe her…”

She sighed.

Trisha Pellon was fearless and strong — a lioness of the Pellon family. But Harriet wasn’t like that.

The thought of losing yet another person she could truly rely on filled her with terror.

She didn’t want to go through that kind of pain a second time.

But she couldn’t show those feelings to Roxana, so she prayed alone every night, clutching her rosary.

Just as she was regretting revealing such personal feelings to someone who didn’t really need to know, Cedric leaned forward and gently placed his hand over hers.

“I understand that feeling very well. And I know… there are no words that can console you.”

Harriet’s eyes instantly filled with tears. He wasn’t lying — she knew that.

Cedric had lost the father he loved and admired on the battlefield. How much despair and fear must he have felt?

Because she could imagine it, she could speak honestly to him.

“I’m scared. I’m so scared Grandmother will die.”

Cedric didn’t lecture her or give empty comfort. He simply held her hand tighter.

That silent understanding soothed her more than anything else.

She breathed deeply several times to calm herself. And all through that time, Cedric didn’t let go of her hand.

“…Thank you.”

“I haven’t done anything worth thanking.”

“You always say that! If you’re too humble, I’m the one who feels awkward.”

Cedric’s gaze lingered on Harriet’s now-softened expression.

The one who is troubled… is me.

Because he kept wanting to test how far this innocent young woman would allow him to go.

Even though the coachman was present, they were alone in a closed space — yet Harriet showed no fear at all.

He should be proud that he had earned such trust as a gentleman… but strangely, he felt disappointed. As if she didn’t see him as a man.

Cedric glanced down at their intertwined hands, and suddenly, impulsively, he asked:

“If I told you I missed you… would you laugh?”

“…What?”

Harriet blinked in shock.

Her mind felt like it was floating. Was he joking? Was this some kind of riddle with a correct answer? What was she supposed to say?

Before she could think properly, her mouth moved on its own.

“What about you? If I said I missed you… would you laugh?”

Harriet herself had no idea why she said that.

But Cedric smiled brightly — as if she had given exactly the answer he wanted.

“I can’t possibly win against you.”

“W-what do you mean?”

Instead of answering directly, Cedric looked into her eyes and said:

“I missed you.”

“…”

“More than I expected. More than even I could understand.”

Harriet couldn’t turn his confession into a joke.

She had once wanted desperately to say those same words — and yet she hadn’t dared.

She never imagined he would speak them first.

How heavy were his words? How sincere?

I missed you so much, but I never had the right to say it. Yet for you… it seems so easy.

So easy.

Her ears rang as if stuffed with wet cotton. The whole world felt muted.