SMR | Chapter 173

~Chapter 173~

It was a natural question for her to ask, but Cedric didn’t know how to answer.

What was the best possible response to that question?

No—before that, how was he supposed to interpret the fact that Harriet hadn’t avoided the kiss or run away? He had thought that what held her in place wasn’t Cedric Kailas himself, but the word revenge. But was that not the case after all?

His thoughts were tangled, and the words wouldn’t come easily. But if he just stood there like an idiot, that would surely hurt Harriet too.

“It wasn’t… part of a plan.”

Saying I did it because I like you felt too sudden. It might make him sound like the kind of man who kissed any woman he felt attracted to.

But he couldn’t just babble something foolish either.

He wanted to say something that wouldn’t humiliate Harriet and wouldn’t cause her to misunderstand his sincerity—but his mind felt completely blank. It had never been like this in his life, and even Cedric was flustered.

Then Harriet answered, half-smiling, half-not.

“So even things don’t go the way you want sometimes, Duke?”

“They do. Especially with you—you always go against my expectations.”

Even as he said it, he thought he sounded stupid. But for some reason, Harriet liked the answer and smiled faintly.

“It’s unfortunate that I don’t turn out the way you expect… but I like that.”

He could only look at her, unable to respond. Was it his imagination, or did Harriet’s eyes look especially clear and moist as she met his gaze?

If there were even the slightest sign, he wanted to rush forward and take her again—but it felt as though a thin crack had formed between them, stopping him from moving carelessly. All he could do was suppress his desire and regret, and keep looking at her.

Then, at the end of that silent exchange, Harriet spoke.

“If you don’t want me to misunderstand, tell me now.”

“And if I do?”

“I’ll rewind time to just before that accident.”

Cedric let out a small laugh, then shook his head again.

“It won’t be a misunderstanding.”

He felt love and gratitude toward Harriet for guiding the situation when he couldn’t. The constant impatience he felt around her seemed like it might finally ease—if only she hadn’t added one more thing.

“Don’t worry. I won’t get ahead of myself and wish for too much. I know how these things usually go.”

“…What?”

“So this means we’re dating, right?”

“If you allow it.”

It felt slightly off somehow—but it wasn’t wrong either. When he accepted it, Harriet nodded with a satisfied look and added,

“Should I assume the duration is until this plan ends?”

“…What?”

“Well, we’ll have to see how things go. We don’t know what’ll happen in the future. Anyway!”

The squirrel-like young lady, happy all on her own, smiled shyly.

“This is my first time dating.”

“It’s my first time too.”

“I’m honored to be the Duke’s first partner. Then…”

She rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.

“I should get going. I think the alcohol is catching up with me. If I stay any longer, I’ll definitely do something stupid.”

“Harriet.”

“I guess I’ll see you at Vanderbilt’s party next time. You’ll smile when we meet, right?”

“…Of course.”

Harriet took a step back with an awkward smile, as if pressing something down—then suddenly darted forward and lightly kissed Cedric’s cheek.

“I’m really going now. Bye.”

She fled the study as if embarrassed.

Only after her presence completely disappeared did Cedric’s lips twist crookedly.

‘I never thought I’d end up with someone who believes in free love. Talking about breaking up on the very first day of dating.’

He kept letting out incredulous laughs.

Hadn’t they just confirmed their feelings with that kiss? Even if it wasn’t love yet, it was clearly more than simple interest.

If both people had feelings, wasn’t it natural to think about marriage? Even if he compromised and stopped short of that, who in the world decided the end date of a relationship on the day they started dating?

The more he thought about it, the more irritated he felt.

‘Planning to have me and then throw me away—she really isn’t an ordinary woman.’

Of course, Harriet hadn’t meant it that way. Even Edgar—the embodiment of free-spirited living—had never imagined Cedric marrying a common noblewoman.

But that didn’t mean Cedric had to think the same way. He was a man who had always gotten what he wanted. A man who decided what was possible and what wasn’t.

‘The plan can proceed as it is, without changes.’

Something enormous had happened—yet almost nothing had changed.

“Heaven is so close… and yet it won’t let itself be grasped so easily.”

As he laughed hollowly, he felt a gaze on him.

Thinking Edgar might be spying again, Cedric turned sharply—only to find his father’s portrait staring back at him.

Was it his imagination, or did the corner of his father’s stern mouth look slightly raised?

“…Don’t laugh.”

Embarrassed at having his flushed face seen by his father, Cedric muttered to himself.

* * *

“Albert! Albert Kingsley!”

Bella, who had been standing guard in front of the Kingsley estate, spotted Albert as the gate—closed all morning—finally opened. She ran toward him.

“Miss Listerwell?”

He looked surprised by her appearance, which only made Bella angrier.

“Why didn’t you reply to my letters? You wouldn’t even see the people I sent! Did I really have to come here myself?”

Rather than responding to Bella’s accusations, Albert seemed more concerned about who might be watching. He pulled his hat low and whispered sharply,

“What are you doing? What if someone sees?”

“If you were worried about that, you should’ve at least replied! Why aren’t you keeping your promise?”

Albert clenched his teeth.

Ever since he was released on bail, Bella had been demanding a public announcement—that she had never purchased Anghelic, had never boarded the Kingdom, and that the woman rumored to be her was actually Harriet Listerwell.

But Albert couldn’t keep that promise.

“If Harriet Listerwell’s name comes out of your mouth, this deal never happened.”

Cedric’s words had locked Albert’s mouth shut.

Standing at the edge of a cliff made his survival instinct kick in. If he crossed Cedric again, it wouldn’t be money or title he’d lose—it would be his life.

Albert frowned irritably.

“Miss Listerwell, do you really think I’m in a position to announce something like that right now? I should be lying low, not making statements about Anghelic or the Kingdom!”

“No matter your situation, a deal is a deal!”

“That deal was with my father, not me! And my father is in prison right now!”

As he spoke, his anger only grew.

“And that promise was made on the assumption that you would save me! Do you think I’ve been saved? Huh? Have you no shame?”

“Shame? You wouldn’t even know the Duke of Kailas’ intentions without me, and you’re talking to me like this?”

“Hah! Everyone in Genoa knows our company’s fate depends entirely on Cedric’s mood. Don’t flatter yourself into thinking you did something impressive!”

Albert ground his teeth, then lowered his voice threateningly.

“You should be grateful that I’m not spreading rumors about your true nature. Understood?”

With that, he turned his collar up and walked toward the hired carriage waiting nearby.

Watching his retreating figure, Bella clenched her fists.

“You cowardly little rat! That’s why you ended up like this.”

Cursing Albert changed nothing. The easiest way to destroy Harriet and escape her own crisis was gone.

‘That leaves only Cedric Kailas.’

She had pretended not to need his help because she didn’t want to look pitiful—but now there was no other option. Time was ticking, and rumors about her were spreading even now.

As soon as she returned home, Bella wrote to Cedric.

[“…I heard that you uncovered the injustice behind the former Duke’s tragic death and punished those responsible. I believe the late Duke would be very proud of his son.

And please do not misunderstand my involvement with Sir Albert Kingsley. I was almost threatened into helping by his father, and had no choice…”]

The letter sounded a bit pathetic, but she didn’t have time to refine it.

She saved the most important words for the end.

[“…Next time, I would truly like to meet without any particular business. Would you be willing to make time for me?”]

Bella reread the letter with cold eyes, then sent it off with a messenger. She was certain he wouldn’t refuse.

‘That man wants something from me. I don’t know exactly what—but he does.’

Her initial goal—escaping an annoying engagement—had already been achieved. Since rumors about her and Cedric spread, no families had dared propose to the Kailas ducal house.

And yet, Cedric still hadn’t pushed her away, maintaining a subtle tension.

Then what he wanted wasn’t hard to guess.

Even if it turned out to be something different from what she desired, it didn’t matter—as long as she could meet him. This time, she would definitely use the Anghelic still hidden in her drawer.

‘Once he sleeps with me under the influence, everything will fall into place.’

If she got pregnant in one go, that would be ideal—but she knew that wasn’t likely. Still, it didn’t matter. She planned to spread rumors of the night they spent together so he couldn’t deny it.

In the end, Cedric would be unable to punish everyone involved with Anghelic, and once Albert was saved, he would have to honor the promise he made to her.