Chapter 1: The Crack (6)

Officially, Celia had two younger brothers.

Among them, Evandor, who was two years younger than her, was the future heir of House Brickwell and a handsome young man with the same white hair as Celia.

Countless people chased after him because of the beauty mark beneath his eye and his charming dimples.

Just two days ago, he had been involved in a scandal with a widow. Yet nobody was surprised. He was famous for never turning away those who came to him and never stopping those who left.

He was, without question, the most notorious playboy in high society.

In Celia’s opinion, he was unbearably vulgar.

Still, his popularity was undeniable.

The problem was that Evandor was an unwelcome guest in Windmere.

“Why are you here?”

At her cold question, he rolled his eyes before shrugging.

“That’s the first thing you say to a brother you haven’t seen in so long?”

“I’m not in the mood for jokes. Why did you come to Windmere?”

Her hand grabbed his arm tightly.

The smile that had been hanging comfortably on Evandor’s face vanished instantly.

He sharply raised his arm and shook her hand off.

The forceful motion sent her hand flying away.

Celia bit her lip and glared at him.

Evandor frowned as well.

“I obviously came because I had business here. Why are you interrogating me?”

His voice carried a growl.

He tapped her shoulder with his hand.

His fingers pressed against her shoulder bone as he looked down at her coolly.

“…”

“…”

A brief silence followed.

Eventually, Celia clicked her tongue and turned her head away.

A sigh escaped from above her.

“We haven’t seen each other in a while, and you start grilling me immediately. I’m not angry, Sister.”

As if he had never frowned at all, Evandor smiled lazily.

“I came to Windmere to see you, and Father also asked me to deliver a message to the young duke.”

“Father asked you to deliver a message to Lucius?”

At the mention of the person who had completely ruined her peace of mind, Celia immediately stopped trying to leave.

“You think I’m lying? Since they won’t let me meet the young duke right now, I was looking for you instead.”

His relaxed attitude made Celia uneasy.

The two families had joined hands under the name of reconciliation.

But only on the surface.

Just as Celia was still treated as an outsider here, Windmere was enemy territory to Evandor.

Their father knew that better than anyone.

Yet he had sent his favorite child directly into the heart of Windmere’s main estate.

Celia couldn’t understand it.

What message could possibly be so important that Father sent Evandor himself?

Or maybe…

Just as she started turning toward Lucius’s room, Evandor spread his legs slightly, blocking her path.

“Did something happen to Lucius Windmere?”

Celia cautiously looked up at him.

“He’s definitely in the estate. So why won’t they let me see him?”

He didn’t reach for her.

He didn’t bend down.

Instead, he leaned forward slightly, almost trapping her within his shadow.

His broad shoulders blocked half the light from the ceiling.

Darkness spread across her collarbone and chest.

It felt as though his presence was pressing against her skin.

“Sister. I’m asking you.”

His voice was sweet as honey.

His eyes were not.

The air suddenly felt heavy.

“…Lucius was attacked.”

“Attacked?”

“Yes. Right now everyone is focused on treating him. You won’t be able to meet him.”

A faintly mocking laugh escaped him.

“So he didn’t die.”

“He’s very much alive.”

Should she mention the memory loss?

Or stay quiet until they knew whether it was temporary?

As hesitation crossed her face, Evandor narrowed his eyes.

“That’s unfortunate.”

Celia let out a dry laugh.

He wasn’t shocked by the attack at all.

If anything, he genuinely sounded disappointed.

Looking at that reaction… could the duchess actually be right?

Was Brickwell behind the attack?

But why?

It wasn’t impossible.

Yet now that Celia was part of Windmere, there were too many things that didn’t make sense.

Her father had chosen reconciliation because it was necessary.

Why start another conflict now?

“Well, it can’t be helped. I suppose I’ll stay a few more days until the young duke recovers.”

“…What?”

Celia stared at him.

“Wait. Evandor. You’re staying here for several more days?”

That sounded completely insane.

“Why are you reacting like that? You’ll get to spend time with your favorite brother. Don’t tell me you dislike that?”

“That’s not what I mean. The duchess is already trying to blame Brickwell for Lucius’s attack. In a situation like this, what do you think will happen if you stay here?”

With Lucius unable to do much of anything right now, Evandor would be watched constantly.

Celia immediately tried to send him away.

Evandor seemed to notice.

His smile slowly disappeared.

The cheerful mask dropped.

He folded his arms.

“Father has already decided.”

His voice turned cold.

“You’re not planning to tell me no, are you?”

“Evandor—”

“Or are you trying to oppose Father’s decision? My decision?”

…Damn it.

Celia bit the inside of her mouth hard.

Otherwise she might have slapped him.

“Of… course not.”

Evandor clearly knew she was lying.

But he let it go.

“More importantly, I’m happy to see you. This is the first time since the Imperial award ceremony sixty-two days ago.”

You damned brat.

Now there were two completely hopeless bastards living under this roof whom she despised.

“Aren’t you happy to see me too?”

He tapped the marble floor with the tip of his shoe and tilted his head.

The way he kept forcing eye contact felt exhausting.

When she refused to answer and rubbed her forehead instead, a large hand suddenly wrapped around her arm.

The pressure hurt slightly.

The kind of fool who would wash Father’s feet if ordered to, and now he’s acting like this again…

The hand gripping her dress trembled.

“I’m really happy to see you. Are you not happy to see me?”

His voice was smooth, but heavy, like unsweetened black tea.

She tried not to answer.

Tried not to look at him.

But his persistent gaze eventually forced words from her mouth.

“Of course I’m happy.”

“Really? I knew it.”

The hand holding her arm immediately released her.

A warm breath escaped from between his slightly curved lips.

“I missed you too.”

*

That evening, when everyone was preparing for bed, Celia finally sent the overly excited maids away.

After finishing her bath, she emerged from the bathroom looking like a drenched mouse and dropped into an armchair by the window.

Moonlight filtered through the curtains and painted the room in soft blue shadows.

“Why is Evandor here?”

He had said Father sent him.

But he hadn’t explained why.

She didn’t even know how long he planned to stay.

The situation, which had already become complicated, only seemed to grow worse.

Then suddenly, the room went dark.

“Ah.”

The candle that had been flickering pleasantly finally burned out.

Now that she thought about it, one of the maids had been about to replace it earlier.

Celia had chased everyone out before it happened.

Startled, she looked around the dark room.

A creaking sound came from somewhere.

She instinctively stepped backward.

Her foot caught the edge of the carpet.

Her balance tilted.

With no one there to catch her, she began falling.

A small groan escaped her lips.

Then a faint light spread across her body.

It brushed her ankle before gradually growing brighter.

“Celia?”

A shadow swallowed the light.

The heavy door opened.

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice filled the room.

They locked eyes immediately.

“…Lucius.”

Holding a small lantern glowing with amber light, Lucius stood in her doorway.

Celia slowly lifted her head.

The lantern cast soft shadows across his cheekbones, jawline, and straight nose.

A droplet of water slid from the tip of her hair and down her collarbone.

Her robe had loosened slightly when she stumbled.

Wet strands of hair clung to her exposed shoulder.

The tie around her waist had been fastened carelessly, revealing glimpses of pale skin.

Lucius’s eyes slowly moved over her, taking in the scene.

The sound of wind outside barely disturbed the silence.

Celia slowly clenched and unclenched her fingers against the floor.

Her wet hands felt cold.

Lucius remained silent for a long moment.

He had never been the type to look away first.

That hadn’t changed.

Then he finally stepped forward.

His foot pressed softly against the carpet.

“Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?”

His long strides quickly closed the distance.

Celia had been more surprised than injured.

She could only stare at him blankly as he approached.

A hand suddenly appeared before her.

“Can you stand?”

His voice was surprisingly gentle.

Celia avoided his hand.

“Why are you here?”

The lantern he carried illuminated the room around them.

Seeing Lucius standing inside her bedroom felt so strange that it was almost unsettling.

The room had been decorated entirely to her taste.

He looked out of place in it.

“Ah. Did I surprise you by coming here suddenly?”

Lucius had always spoken politely.

Normally, the cold edge he reserved for her balanced out that softness.

But now his gentle voice was paired with genuinely kind words.

It was unbearable.

“As if you could surprise me!”

She snapped at him.

For some reason, his smile deepened.

The arm holding the lantern slowly lowered.

The room sank into dim light.

Now that both his hands were free, Lucius slid the hand she had avoided around her waist.

A shiver ran through her.

She immediately tried to pull away.

Then she froze.

His chest was suddenly right in front of her.

The muscles that hadn’t disappeared despite fifteen days in bed felt dangerously close.

Just as she raised her hand to push him away, Lucius leaned toward the exposed nape of her neck and whispered:

“I thought so.”

“…What?”

“There’s no reason for a wife to be surprised when her husband visits her bedroom.”

“…What?”

He lifted his head.

“I’ve forgotten many things, but I’ll do my best, Celia.”

A soft laugh escaped him.

His teeth briefly showed as he smiled.

He brushed her wet hair aside.

His long fingers settled against the back of her neck.

His laughter seemed to send a shiver down her spine.

“Even if my memories are gone…”

His voice lowered.

“Wouldn’t my body still remember how we’re supposed to spend nights like this?”

Celia froze completely.