WHM | Chapter 31

~Chapter 31~ 

Just thinking about how the young noblemen blushed and tried to talk to Eileen made Cedric feel annoyed.

“Anyway, the grand banquet is held every year. We have dinner, then tea the next day. It’s nothing special—just an excuse to get together and catch up.”

As he said, it was an old tradition, so everything was getting prepared smoothly without them having to do much.

Eileen was satisfied that she didn’t have to take charge—she only had to answer when asked for her opinion.

‘I’m treated like the fiancée, but I don’t have to act like the lady of the house. This is way more comfortable than I expected.’

To be honest, these events were always a hassle to manage.

***

But on the day of the banquet, Eileen deeply regretted not being more involved.

“…Did you prepare a seat for Diana too?”

“Oh. Yeah. We always do.”

As the nobles arrived one by one, a seat had been set for Diana, too.

“But Diana isn’t a noble. Everyone else here is.”

“These are the most loyal noble families to my father and me. It’s never been an issue. If we left her out, she’d be really upset.”

That might’ve been fine during your father’s time, Eileen thought, but didn’t say aloud.

‘It’s not something I need to interfere with.’

The clinking of cutlery followed Cedric’s welcoming speech.

There was just a low hum of conversation, and over where Diana sat with girls her age, things seemed peaceful.

‘Maybe I was worrying too much.’

Eileen didn’t have time to focus on that side anyway—the noble ladies were starting to approach her again for greetings.

“Lady Cassier. So nice to meet you.”

“It’s an honor to meet you as well.”

“Oh my, you know who I am?”

“Of course. How could I not recognize the Baroness of Talon?”

Back in the capital, Eileen had memorized every noble family using a book as thick as an encyclopedia.

Even though the northern noble families were fewer, it was still a lot of work, but now it paid off.

Still, things seemed to be going smoothly—until everything suddenly went wrong.

“…There’s no way he’d throw me out!”

Clang!

A loud crash followed a familiar voice.

Eileen was one of the closest people to the noise.

As soon as she realized it was Diana shouting, she moved quickly without hesitation.

When she got there, Diana was standing angrily, facing a girl with wine spilled all over her dress and a big ribbon on her head.

“What’s going on here?”

Eileen asked calmly, but Diana shouted again.

“You! Take it back!”

She pointed at the girl in front of her.

“Why would Cedric throw me away?! He would never do that!”

Eileen immediately understood what had happened.

‘That girl must’ve teased her, saying now that Cedric has a fiancée, Diana would be kicked out.’

It was such a boring and obvious attempt to provoke her, and unfortunately, Diana had taken the bait.

If it had been Eileen, she wouldn’t have reacted at all.

‘If you were going to spill wine, you should’ve poured it over her head at least.’

Eileen swallowed her sarcastic thoughts and grabbed Diana’s arm just as she looked ready to attack.

“Let go.”

“I can’t. If I do, Cedric might really have to throw you out.”

Her voice was colder than a winter wind.

Diana turned pale and looked at her.

Eileen gave her no time to argue or lash out again.

“Cedric’s position isn’t completely secure yet. He needs strong support from the loyal families. But if someone like you—who’s treated like part of the Lowell family—attacks a noble, what do you think will happen?”

“I didn’t attack anyone. That’s not true…”

But Diana’s words grew weaker under the pressure of Eileen’s icy tone.

Eventually, she gave up and stopped struggling.

Eileen turned to the Baroness, who was rushing over to her daughter in a panic.

“Baroness Talon. Let me apologize on her behalf. I’m sorry, Lady Talon.”

Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and speak first to shut down the other side.

This was clearly one of those times.

Eileen bowed without hesitation, and the baroness looked surprised and flustered.

“Oh no… someone like Lady Cassier shouldn’t be apologizing. Of course it’s fine.”

“I have a brand-new dress you haven’t worn yet. You can change into that. I’ll gift it to you. It was made by the best dressmaker in the capital.”

Eileen had no real influence in the capital anymore.

But being part of the imperial family—even distantly—still carried weight.

“I hope it helps you feel better. I truly apologize again.”

She smiled sweetly, and the baroness couldn’t help but nod.

“Then… we’d be honored.”

“Really?”

Hearing that she would get to wear a dress others could never afford, the young Baroness’s face lit up.

Eileen sighed with relief that the mess was finally over.

***

But the moment she returned to her seat, Cedric said something ridiculous.

“Did you really have to be that harsh?”

He was watching Diana, who had left crying quietly.

“Are you saying I was wrong?”

Naturally, Eileen replied with sarcasm.

“You were too harsh.”

“I handled it as quietly and peacefully as I could.”

“But Diana cried.”

“What…!”

Did she really have to listen to this criticism as if she had done something wrong?

The person who caused all the trouble had run away and taken no responsibility.

Eileen held back her anger.

Raising her voice would only draw more attention.

Still, she had to speak her mind.

“Cedric. Let me be clear. I did nothing wrong.”

Cedric didn’t seem to understand how serious the situation could have become.

Even though she had stopped it, he didn’t get it.

A cold silence fell between them—but only briefly.

“I need to go look for Diana.”

Cedric stood up suddenly with the screech of a chair.

The conversation was over.

***

The real problem happened the next day.

“Mary, what’s going on outside?”

“I’m not sure, my lady. I’ll go find out.”

“Please do.”

Eileen had locked herself in her room ever since finishing morning greetings with the noblewomen.

She didn’t want to see Cedric or Diana at all.

But in the afternoon, the castle suddenly became noisy.

Bang!

“Eileen! Have you seen Diana?”

There was no need to wait for Mary—Cedric barged into the room without knocking.

“No, I haven’t.”

“She’s been missing since yesterday. I thought she came back last night, but this morning, her bed was untouched.”

Hearing that, Eileen felt a headache coming on.

Something bad was bound to happen.

She sighed and gave a logical answer.

“Wherever she is, she’s not here.”

“Yeah. Especially after what you said yesterday.”

His voice was full of blame, as if he were saying it was Eileen’s fault.

Eileen narrowed her eyes, and Cedric stared back without backing down.

“Her coat’s still here. But no one can find her in the castle. And the sun is setting again. It gets cold in the North around this time. If she’s outside for two nights, it could be dangerous.”

“Then you’d better look harder.”

“Eileen!”

It was like he was saying, “Diana’s gone. You said those harsh words. So you should feel responsible too.”

“I’m sorry, but even if I went back in time, I’d say the exact same thing.”