WHM | Chapter 06

~Chapter 06~

Cedric watched Eileen nervously, trying to read her reaction.

 Eileen gave a bitter smile inwardly.

 ‘Right. The original Eileen would’ve been incredibly jealous of Diana.’

In the original story, after losing her family and having no one left to rely on, Eileen had become obsessed with her fiancé, Cedric. Her obsession led her to try to kill Diana, but the plan failed. Instead, Cedric was seriously injured.

Of course, the Lowell family asked the emperor to break off the engagement.

 That’s how “Eileen Cassiar” became known as the disgracefully discarded fiancée.

 Eventually, just as her parents wanted, she ended up marrying an old noble known for chasing women—her miserable end.

But the Eileen of now had no intention of relying on anyone emotionally or letting things end in disaster.

 If she were to break off the engagement, it would be on her own terms and in her own way.

“…If Diana comes, then she comes. You’re the master of this mansion. I have no right to stop your decisions.”

Cedric replied, “If it were you, I feel like you’d still find a way to do whatever you wanted, regardless of my authority.”

Eileen didn’t understand what Cedric thought of her. She raised an eyebrow and answered coldly,

“You really like jumping to conclusions about me.”

In truth, Cedric had imagined Eileen finding out Diana was a commoner and ordering her to be thrown out without even giving her a glance.

 He awkwardly turned his gaze and shook the water from his wet hair before muttering,

“Well… it’s true your personality isn’t exactly nice.”

As soon as he said it, he regretted it. Cassel had warned him many times—being so blunt like that wasn’t appropriate in the capital. He’d always been careful in formal situations, but around Eileen, he slipped back into his Northern habits.

He couldn’t tell whether it was because he felt comfortable around her—or the opposite, uncomfortable.

“…It’s hard to survive in this world if your personality is just ‘nice.’” Aileen said, her expression blank.

 ‘Maybe Diana can afford to stay kind no matter what,’ she thought.

After all, not just Cedric but also the male lead, who would appear in the future, would do everything to protect her.

But Eileen wasn’t like Diana. Her life was full of misfortune no matter what choices she made. For her, staying calm and making smart decisions was essential.

“And I don’t care who you like or dislike, or what kind of life you choose to live. I just hope you fulfill your duties as my fiancé in public. That’s all.”

It wasn’t much to ask, yet it always seemed like a difficult task for Cedric.

He didn’t respond.

***

They were now sitting across from each other in the drawing room.

 For a while, Cedric didn’t even glance at her, as if he was lost in thought.

The silence stretched until the butler came in and placed tea and snacks between them.

‘Please stay just a little longer.’

It was Cassel, the aide, who had asked Eileen not to leave the duke’s estate right away. He seemed to believe her presence would help Cedric.

 Or maybe he simply misunderstood their relationship and made the request out of politeness.

In the end, Eileen found herself doing the same thing she did at home—reading a book.

“…I’m not peeking, so stop twisting yourself into weird positions.”

Eileen casually said as she flipped through the pages of her book.

“No, it’s not like that… I mean, I…”

Cedric had been trying to quietly read his letter, hidden inside his coat. Startled by her comment, he sat up straight as if he’d been caught.

“You could just read it later. Or go upstairs.”

“Cassel said it’d be rude to send my fiancée away the moment she arrived.”

Cedric grumbled, and Eileen replied with a bored tone,

“You don’t listen to me, but you listen to your aide, huh?”

This time, Cedric stayed silent for a while.

It was right when Eileen had started getting absorbed in her book, which was about the ice forests in the North.

“He was the closest person to my father.”

She looked up when she heard Cedric’s sudden voice. He had apparently finished reading the letter.

His usual youthful expression replaced by a serious one filled with deep sorrow.

“I want to do my best to follow in my father’s footsteps, even if it’s just the tip of his shoes.”

He couldn’t help but remember the moment the news of his father’s death reached the capital.

Back then, sadness and anxiety had spread through the entire territory.

 Everyone looked to Cedric. Everyone had expectations.

Without any time to prepare, responsibilities came crashing down on him.

 Even Diana was someone he had to protect—his home, his people, and now her as well.

 He had wanted to reassure her, especially when he saw the worry in her eyes.

‘But…’

In front of Eileen, Cedric’s fragile side was showing so easily.

 Maybe it was because she didn’t act like others who blindly believed he could solve everything.

 He was sometimes annoyed by her calm, pale green eyes that seemed to judge him, but maybe that was why he felt oddly relieved around her.

“You can do it. No, I think one day, you’ll surpass your father,” she said.

It wasn’t something she said expecting a response.

 Eileen glanced at him, then turned back to her book, saying it as casually as if she were talking about tomorrow’s weather.

“How would you know?” Cedric asked.

“Try believing in yourself a little more.”

“You don’t seem to trust me.”

A bitter smile tugged at Eileen’s lips.

 It wasn’t the bright smile Cedric was used to seeing from Diana, but strangely, it held his attention more.

“I don’t doubt you—I doubt your choices. So don’t fall apart so easily, Cedric Lowell.”

If someone else had said this, Cedric might have argued or dismissed it as nonsense.

 But even though they hadn’t known each other long, he already understood that Eileen didn’t say things carelessly.

Realizing she meant every word, Cedric was overwhelmed by an emotion he couldn’t explain.

***

It was the day of the ball at the Duke’s residence.

 Eileen had finished getting ready and was bending down under her bed to find a suitable accessory.

 She was looking for a small jewelry box—a keepsake from her mother. But her hands only brushed against empty air.

‘No way…’

Just then, Mary entered the room. Eileen asked her,

 “Mary, did you take out the jewelry box from under my bed?”

“No, Miss. You told me to never touch it, so I didn’t.”

“…It’s gone.”

Ignoring the risk of wrinkling her expensive dress, Eileen bent down again to look, then suddenly stood up.

“Mia and Sadina… Haven’t they been unusually quiet lately?”

“Well, you’re the young master’s fiancée. They wouldn’t dare…”

“That’s something the Count and Countess should worry about. Those two don’t really understand boundaries. And yet they’ve been too quiet.”

Mary looked a little flustered by Eileen’s sharp tone today.

“Let’s go.”

Eileen had already reached a conclusion.

 She left the room quickly and began walking down the stairs.

When she arrived in front of Sadina and Mia’s rooms—which were next to each other—her expression turned cold.

 Sadina’s door, the older one’s, was slightly open. Voices could be heard from inside.

“…Sis, I think that one suits you better…”

“…You think so too?”

Without hesitation, Eileen pushed the door open.

 She immediately saw her familiar jewelry box sitting on the table. Her green eyes flared with rage.

“You…”

Sadina, who had been holding up the earrings Eileen had planned to wear, froze on the spot.

“…What do you think you’re doing?”

Eileen’s voice was so low it gave off a chilling feeling.

 Unlike Eileen’s jet-black hair from the imperial bloodline, Sadina and Mia had dull brown hair with a hint of orange. Both flinched at her tone.

Until now, they had been secretly bullying Eileen, acting however they pleased.

 They got away with it because Eileen had never raised her voice.

‘I didn’t bother with them because it was pointless and tiring…’

 ‘But to think they dared to touch something that wasn’t theirs and can’t even say a word in response.’

“Give it back.”

Eileen didn’t think they were worth having a conversation with.

 She just wanted to take her jewelry box and leave.

“No.”

“What?”

It wasn’t Mia, but Sadina, who stood there gripping the earrings tightly, refusing to let go.