🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 51
“What?”
Before Herwin could fully process her words, Lucia continued.
“What are you so curious about? Whether I go on a matchmaking meeting or get engaged, it doesn’t concern you, does it?”
Herwin felt a surge of emotion at Lucia’s cold tone.
“Doesn’t concern me? You’re my…!”
“My… what? You and I are just friends. No matter how close we are, I don’t think it’s right to interfere in each other’s personal matters.”
“That may be true… but at least you could have told me.”
Herwin voiced his disappointment. Yet to Lucia, it seemed his expression held more than just disappointment.
Jealousy. And a tangle of emotions stemming from it twisted across his face.
Lucia couldn’t understand him at all. What right did he have…? Why react like that now…?
‘Because, of course, Herwin likes you.’
Suddenly, Bianca’s words came to mind. She had thought it was a nasty joke, but now it might not have been a joke at all.
“Sorry if I surprised you. But Herwin, even if you had known, it wouldn’t have stopped me from attending the matchmaking meeting.”
Herwin couldn’t protest, his mouth only moving slightly. Everything Lucia said was correct.
What could it matter if he found out first? Lucia would attend the matchmaking meeting and find a fiancé—this was the reality.
Still, something felt lodged in his throat, making him restless.
“Then… why to me…”
He muttered under his breath but quickly covered his mouth.
‘Why did you confess?’
He had a strong intuition that asking that question would mean never facing Lucia again.
Herwin wrinkled his nose. Though he had rejected her confession, asking why she was attending a matchmaking meeting felt selfish even to him.
Eventually, Herwin said nothing, and Lucia let out a faint sigh.
“The matchmaking was my parents’ wish. I’ve reached a proper age for marriage, and someday I must fulfill my family duty and marry someone.”
Lowering her head, Lucia returned to her usual smile.
“It’s about time we face reality too, isn’t it? I’ve just come to terms with it a little sooner than others.”
It was a familiar smile, yet today it felt particularly bittersweet. Herwin wiped his dry face.
“Still… this is too fast.”
Herwin’s face contorted as if about to cry, reflecting what he truly felt.
Lucia stared at him, her expression entirely serious.
“If you really hate the idea of me getting engaged, do you want to become my fiancé?”
Herwin’s crimson eyes trembled. Flustered, he couldn’t speak and hesitated.
It was the reaction she expected, so she wasn’t surprised.
“See? You don’t want that.”
“Lucia.”
“Formally propose to the Lydia family, then. Who knows? It might work out.”
Lucia’s heart no longer raced. With each word, she felt her lingering feelings for Herwin settling.
She spoke more calmly than she had expected.
“You’re the man I’ve liked for thirteen years. That’s how attractive you are. Surely Arista will be charmed by you too, so do your best. If you miss your chance, someone else might take her.”
She joked to lighten the mood, but Herwin didn’t laugh. His face hardened instead.
Lucia smiled even more brightly, unnerved by his stiffness.
“Now let’s really just be close friends. I’m sorry for making things awkward all this time.”
“That means…”
“Lucia! Sorry I’m late. I got a little lost on the way…”
Before Herwin could respond, Vern appeared, having gone to fetch drinks. He apologized for being late and froze upon seeing Herwin.
“Prince Feneus? You two were together? Were you talking?”
“Almost done.”
Unlike the visibly uncomfortable Herwin, Lucia shook her head and approached Vern.
His hair was damp with sweat, some strands sticking to his forehead, showing he had been telling the truth about getting lost.
Sweat dotted his face, and Lucia took out a handkerchief.
“You must have run. You could have come slowly.”
“I couldn’t leave my post too long.”
Vern’s hands held wine glasses, so Lucia helped wipe his sweat.
Initially embarrassed, Vern soon bent slightly, allowing her to clean more comfortably.
“Thank you, Lucia.”
“It’s nothing. This is mine, right?”
Lucia took one of the wine glasses from Vern. The aroma was pleasant.
“I only brought two glasses, didn’t expect the Prince to be here. Would you like this one?”
“…No, thank you.”
Herwin declined Vern’s wine. Vern paused, then casually sipped his own.
“Lucia, is your ankle okay now? If it still hurts, should we head home?”
“My foot? Ah…”
Lucia noticed Vern signaling Herwin and sighed. She had used her ankle as an excuse to avoid Herwin earlier.
Awkwardly pretending to be in pain, she touched her right foot. Both men stepped forward.
“Are you okay?”
“Are you okay?”
Herwin and Vern spoke simultaneously, glancing at each other before returning their gaze to Lucia.
“If it’s a sprain, you need proper treatment. Otherwise, you’ll suffer.”
“It’s nothing serious. Just a little stiff.”
Lucia avoided Herwin’s gaze and held onto Vern’s arm. Vern supported her.
“Then the party is probably over for you. I’ll take you home. Come with me.”
“Yes, please.”
Without a chance for Herwin to intervene, Lucia leaned on Vern. Herwin’s hand, intending to help, felt useless.
Herwin clenched his fists, watching them silently.
“I’ll go now. See you later, Herwin.”
“…Yeah.”
Vern offered a brief greeting and walked off with Lucia, chatting gently, leaving Herwin behind.
Though awkward now, this was a sight Herwin would have to get used to.
Watching Lucia walk away, Herwin looked at his hand. He could no longer reach her.
Lucia’s words about being true friends, and the question he hadn’t asked because Vern appeared, lingered in his mind.
‘…So she doesn’t like me anymore, right?’
Herwin lifted his lowered head.
“Lucia.”
But she was nowhere to be seen. No one would answer him now.
“Looks like Lucia really is getting engaged.”
“You saw it too. They danced and went out together.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen her reject Herwin.”
While Lucia and Herwin were away, their friends continued to discuss her.
No one could understand the situation now that she had brought a fiancé.
The last time they all gathered, things hadn’t seemed so bad. What happened in just a month?
“I don’t know anymore. It’s their business, so they can handle it themselves.”
Ethan threw up his hands in frustration.
“I was sure they were dating. Until she introduced Marquis Casper as her fiancé, I thought they were just pretending.”
Christine muttered that she must still be fooled. Her misunderstanding wasn’t unreasonable.
Given their usual behavior, it seemed stranger that they weren’t dating.
They always used the excuse of childhood friends, but there had been a tension beyond mere friendship.
Whenever they disappeared together, people thought they might be sneaking some romantic moment.
So when they returned, friends joked for them to either reveal a secret relationship or start officially dating…
“I never imagined a situation like this.”
Arista muttered, and the friends nodded in agreement.
Rubbing her arm, Arista looked up, startled by someone.
“Hey, do you guys know anything about Lucia?”
The person who spoke abruptly was Lucas. He, too, seemed confused about Lucia, his pale eyes trembling.
The friends glanced at each other, aware of his devotion over the years.
“Are you talking about Marquis Casper?”
“Yeah, that scoundrel… no, the one Lucia’s a candidate for engagement with. You’re close friends, so I wondered if you knew anything.”
“We don’t know. We only found out today.”
“Yeah, we were shocked to hear about the fiancé,” Brian agreed.
Lucas’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Fiancé! Who’s the fiancé! They haven’t even gotten engaged yet!”
“…Really?”
Everyone recoiled slightly at his anger.
“Shouldn’t you know better than us? You’re family.”
Lucas sighed deeply.
“That’s exactly my point! Why didn’t anyone tell me about this? I only found out today! They’re too young to marry, what’s urgent about the parents…”
Clearly dissatisfied, Lucas clicked his tongue repeatedly.
“Maybe you haven’t gotten engaged yet, so they’re sending Lucia first?”
“What?”
Brian’s suggestion made Lucas raise his eyebrows, and Christine nodded in agreement.
“It’s possible. They’re only two years apart, so parents might feel better if one marries first. Arista also avoided marriage nagging because her brother got engaged, right?”
“Oh, yeah. At least for a year it should be quiet,” Arista answered, a beat late.
“Hmph… is that really it?”
Lucas thought it plausible, folding his arms in serious thought. Arista, observing him, spoke again.
“It seemed she came with another woman… she’s not involved with her?”
“You mean Becky? She’s my girlfriend.”
“Oh, so you have a girlfriend.”
“She’s quite beautiful and capable.”
“Haha, she is pretty, indeed.”
Lucas brightened and laughed. Christine then asked:
“Are you planning to get engaged to your girlfriend?”
“Hmm… we haven’t known each other long, so engagement would be too soon. Engagement is real life, so it requires careful thought. But if Lucia’s forced engagement is because of me, I need to think seriously about marriage too.”
Lucas’s face turned serious, having realized the trouble his actions might have caused Lucia.
Seeing his determination, Arista quietly clenched her fists.
