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Chapter 86
While Lucia stared at the cloth in dismay, Herwin quickly bent down and picked it up.
“Sorry. I didn’t have anything to tie it with, so I used a ribbon.”
It seemed that the ribbon he had used to subdue the thief earlier was the same one used to tie this box.
“Fortunately, it didn’t get too dirty.”
He dusted off the dirt clinging to the cloth and folded it neatly. Then, Herwin suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu.
“This… isn’t this cloth used for handkerchiefs?”
One of the cloths was a color he had never seen before, but the other was extremely familiar. It made sense, as he still had a handkerchief made from this cloth in his possession.
“Are you going to make a handkerchief?”
Herwin couldn’t help but swell with anticipation. He had never seen anyone other than him or her family receive a handkerchief from her.
Lucia hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Who are you giving it to?”
“…Bern.”
The excitement drained from him in an instant. Herwin momentarily lost control of his expression, and the corners of his mouth drooped.
“It’s almost the Summer Festival. I’m going to give the handkerchief at the hunting festival.”
“…You mean you’re giving it to the marquis.”
Herwin’s voice was icy enough that anyone could tell. Lucia, like someone caught sneaking around, couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes.
A heavy sigh settled above Lucia’s head as she fidgeted, staring at the ground.
“Then, make me a handkerchief too.”
Her words came out slightly sulky. Surprised, Lucia lifted her head.
Herwin pouted with a petulant face.
“You too?”
“Yeah, make one for me too.”
“…Why me?”
Herwin’s eyebrows twitched. Lucia had no obligation to make him a handkerchief, yet he wanted one.
“I helped you catch a thief. As a reward, make one for me too.”
“That’s ridiculous. And don’t you know what it means for a woman to give a handkerchief at the hunting festival?”
Giving a handkerchief to a man going hunting meant “come back safely,” but it was usually reserved for lovers or family.
Even if it wasn’t a lover, a woman would only give a handkerchief to a man she was interested in.
But a woman with a fiancé openly giving one to another man? Anyone would see that as inappropriate.
Herwin surely knew that too.
“I know. That’s why I want one too.”
“Herwin.”
“I’ll be expecting it, alright?”
“W-wait a minute.”
Herwin turned away without waiting for her reply, already carrying Lucia’s bundles of things.
No matter how much Lucia shouted from behind that she wouldn’t do it, Herwin paid no attention.
The scuffle continued until she climbed into the carriage.
“Herwin! I already told you I’m not making it!”
“Yeah, I’ll make it pretty, okay?”
“Really! Are you going to do that?!”
Fed up with the repeated back-and-forth, Lucia finally snapped. Herwin stiffened his expression. Then, halfway through the carriage door, he leaned close to her face.
“I absolutely cannot watch you give a handkerchief to another man.”
The pressure, so close it was palpable, made Lucia gulp instinctively. After glaring at her for a while, Herwin softened his expression and briefly kissed her cheek.
Lucia clutched her cheek, letting out a silent scream.
“Take care. See you later.”
After Herwin closed the door, the carriage began to move. Lucia quickly turned to look back, and Herwin, feigning casualness, waved.
Only after the carriage had completely left the street did Herwin’s face harden with a chilly expression.
“The Summer Festival, huh…”
He hadn’t even thought about it, but the festival was coming soon. Usually, he wouldn’t attend, but this time he burned with determination to be there.
“Seems like he’s not much of a fighter…”
Thinking of Bern, Herwin chuckled disdainfully. At the hunting festival, he planned to overshadow the marquis and boldly present his game to Lucia.
Feeling pleased at the thought of putting Bern in his place, Herwin hummed a tune happily.
“Really! Sein, do you think this makes sense? What on earth is Herwin thinking?!”
“Yes, it’s absurd.”
“Hmph, just watch. Sein, don’t make a handkerchief for Herwin either.”
Back at the mansion, Lucia pouted as she recounted the day’s events to Sein.
Sein, judging it best to take her words lightly, organized the items Lucia had bought while offering perfunctory responses.
Lucia’s indignation went unnoticed by him.
“Are you going to embroider it right away?”
“No matter how I think about it, Herwin is strange. Why is he so intent on getting a handkerchief from me?”
Lucia muttered to herself, lost in her own world. Sein tidied up the space so she could embroider comfortably.
Muttering to herself, Lucia began drawing patterns with chalk on the cloth she had bought that day.
“Even though I’m still using the one I gave him before, why do I need another…”
“He must be craving your love.”
Sein finally spoke in response to her continued grumbling. Lucia froze, her face turning red like a tomato.
“Isn’t that the answer you wanted?”
“Th-That’s impossible!”
“Really? To me, it sounded like you were being told to admit Lord Feneus likes you.”
“Sein, are you joking?”
“If it sounds like a joke, then think of it as one.”
Lucia puffed her cheeks in frustration. She muttered, feeling misunderstood, yet Sein clearly noticed the redness in her ears.
“Sein, you’ve been too cold to me lately. You used to listen to me better.”
“That was only a few times. And right now, you’re being stubborn.”
“When was I?”
“Now.”
“…Fine. I’m not talking to you.”
Sensing she couldn’t win, Lucia pouted. She picked up a needle, ready to embroider, when Sein suddenly appeared beside her.
“Why? Are you going to say something to me?”
Lucia muttered as usual. But Sein’s expression was peculiar, a mix of surprise and something else.
“You might want to fix this before sewing.”
“Huh? What?”
Following where he pointed, Lucia noticed her chalk drawing. Staring at it for a while, she realized what she had done.
“T-This…!”
“You were talking about Lord Feneus… Didn’t you say you wouldn’t make his handkerchief?”
“T-This is a misunderstanding!”
The cloth bore the emblem of the Feneus family. At the edge, Herwin’s initials were also inscribed.
Her hands had moved instinctively. As Lucia scrambled to explain, she met Sein’s disappointed gaze.
“You really are something, aren’t you?”
Mortified, Lucia could only erase the chalk marks frantically.
“Just make Lord Feneus’ handkerchief too.”
“Sein!”
“From what I can see, you haven’t fully forgotten him yet.”
“B-But… I’m engaged now. I shouldn’t do that.”
“But didn’t you say he confessed to you? And something happened with him today, didn’t it?”
“That… well…”
Lucia hesitated, unable to continue. She was generally private about her affairs, but Sein had heard through rumors among the staff that she had already received Herwin’s confession.
Sein saw that Lucia still harbored feelings for Herwin. She had been trying to settle her heart alone, but his confession had shaken her.
Seeing Lucia constrained by her feelings, Sein felt pity.
“Miss, it’s just an engagement. You haven’t married yet. There’s still room to break it off.”
“……….”
“If you’re going to remain shaken by Lord Feneus while engaged, wouldn’t it be better to break it off? It might be better for both you and Marquis Casper.”
“But I was the one who suggested the engagement first…”
“Forcing an engagement out of guilt while harboring feelings for someone else could hurt the other person even more.”
Lucia pursed her lips, understanding his point. But as she knew, things couldn’t easily resolve as she wished.
With multiple intertwined interests, breaking the engagement wasn’t simple.
“I’ll handle it myself. Give me the chalk.”
Lucia took the chalk Sein handed her, staring at the cloth. The green fabric dulled where she rubbed the chalk, crumpled and uneven.
It felt as if she were looking at her own heart, leaving her melancholy.
Ares’ office.
While Arista assisted the busy Ares, a shadow fell across her.
“Arista.”
“Huh? Brother? What’s up?”
The visitor was Lucas, grinning as he handed her something.
It was a cake from the capital’s most famous bakery. Arista accepted it, bewildered.
“Is this for me?”
“Yeah, you listened to me before. This is a token of my thanks. You like cheesecake, right?”
“Yes… but…”
Though glad, Arista smiled awkwardly.
“I haven’t even finished the cookies you gave me yesterday…”
A week had passed since she helped him with advice, and Lucas continued showering her with gifts.
Though initially happy, the constant small presents had become burdensome.
“Oh, really? Well, I bought it, so eat it. Or shall we have it with tea?”
Checking the time, it was perfect for tea. As Arista got up, Lucas followed her cheerfully.
Watching their odd behavior was someone else—
“Lucas, did you do something wrong with her?”
It was Ares. Frowning at the strange scene, he appraised Lucas from head to toe.
Lucas stiffened, glaring at him.
“What did I do?”
“You’ve been circling Arista like a dog starved for attention. Did something happen behind my back?”
“W-Well, the only thing was that she listened to me last time, right?”
Arista stammered, flustered. Lucas smiled warmly at her.
“Yes, she helped me a lot last time. Thanks to her, I reconciled with my parents and Lucia.”
Though he meant it simply as thanks, Arista couldn’t help but feel special. She hastily opened the cake packaging, blushing.
“Wow, looks delicious. Let’s eat quickly.”
“Wait, I’ll get the tea.”
As Arista diverted the conversation, Lucas cheerfully went to get tea. Ares tilted his head in confusion.
“This is weird…”
“What’s weird? Come on too, or brother and I will eat it all.”
Ares pouted.
“Hey.”
“What?”
“Lucas calls you ‘Brother,’ but why do I get ‘you’?”
Arista blinked, watching Ares fold his arms, displeased at the difference. She laughed at him.
“Do you want me to call you ‘Brother’?”
“Not really, but the difference with Lucas is too big!”
“It’s because he and I are different.”
“Different? I’m way better than that guy who only lives in the flower garden.”
Ares grumbled, sitting beside her. Turning abruptly, he sulked while eating the cheesecake. Arista shook her head.
“If you want me to call you ‘Brother,’ fine. O-ppa!”
“Enough! It’s not like I’m bowing to get respect.”
While Arista and Ares bickered, the office door opened. Arista turned, expecting Lucas.
“Are you here? Tea….”
She couldn’t finish her sentence.
“Oh! Princess, you’re here too.”
Next to Lucas was his girlfriend, Becky.
