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Chapter 29
Left alone, Cardin read Harna’s invitation again. Then, murmuring that he didn’t even know what he was doing right now, he set it down.
When he saw Harna, he would turn into a fool in love, so why had he accepted the invitation? He couldn’t understand himself.
For a moment, Cardin considered taking back his decision, then returned to his work with a blank expression. It was a secret that he soon opened the invitation again, just because he wanted to see Harna’s handwriting.
“Great!”
I shouted after checking the positive replies from May and Cardin.
I expected May to attend of course, but I’d been worried Cardin would refuse, so it was a relief he was coming.
“Alright, since I’ve got their confirmations, it’s time for me to start moving too.”
Tea time was tomorrow, so I had a lot to prepare.
“Let’s go, everyone.”
Standing proudly before Vera, Nana, and Darin, I wore a confident expression.
Operation: Blind Date for Male Lead and Female Lead! I would make it succeed no matter what.
Time passed, and tea time approached.
The tea party would be held in the garden I’d been carefully decorating ever since I came here. I finished my preparations early and looked around the garden.
What started as a hobby had turned into a beautiful garden.
Where there had once only been empty trees, colorful flowers now bloomed in clusters, and between the large trees hung a wooden swing crafted by a masterful hand.
On the wooden table and chairs I’d matched to the garden, I spread the elegant tablecloth and cushions I’d bought yesterday. I placed a vase filled with flowers I’d personally chosen, prepared delicious cookies, and several types of tea.
This was a better date spot than most cafés. I waited for Cardin and May, my heart fluttering at the thought of them falling for each other.
Soon after, I saw Cardin and May approaching in the distance, guided by a servant, and smiled brightly.
‘Of course the main characters would arrive together, right?’
Smiling warmly, I welcomed them.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation, Your Grace, Lady Porco.”
I gave a greeting befitting a noble host, smiling sweetly.
“My love, you are beautiful today as always.”
“Thank you for inviting me. I’m so happy!”
“Please, come this way.”
Ignoring each other completely, the main characters looked only at me as I led them.
Well, it wasn’t time yet. If love bloomed the moment they met, they would’ve fallen for each other already last time.
I dragged up my deeply buried patience and guided them to their seats. At the round table, I seated Cardin and May side-by-side, while I deliberately sat a bit apart, smiling calmly.
“Harna, I’d rather sit next to you.”
“I want to sit next to Sister too.”
Without needing to say who went first, both Cardin and May sprang up and changed seats.
Cardin sat to my right. May sat to my left.
I felt a sense of crisis.
I’d prepared extra chairs so the table wouldn’t look empty, but maybe I should’ve put out only three.
But I wasn’t someone who gave up easily over something like this. Smiling as if this were completely fine, I gestured to Vera.
Delicious desserts and the special teacups I’d prepared for today were set on the table.
“The garden is pretty, the teacups are pretty, and Sister is pretty. I’m so happy! I could die here and have no regrets!”
“Thanks for the compliment, hahaha.”
Her green eyes sparkled as she complimented me, but please don’t die, May.
“My love Harna. My heart is pounding with joy to be invited to your perfectly prepared tea time. If you wanted, I’d even take out my heart to show you.”
“Thank you for the compliment, hahaha.”
‘I really don’t want to see the Duke’s heart. That’s terrifying.’
Awkwardly laughing at Cardin’s sharp glare toward May, as if refusing to lose to her, I secretly swallowed tears.
No. Don’t give up yet. Tea time was only just beginning.
The sweet fragrance of tea drifted through the garden, and pleasant conversation flowed.
Cardin spoke to me, and I replied.
May spoke to me, and I replied.
Meaning: Cardin and May did not talk to each other. They only spoke to me, wanting only my answers.
The main characters were indifferent to each other. No—indifferent would have been better. Instead, they were burning with competitive spirit so they wouldn’t “lose” me.
I had been too naïve. I assumed once they met again, destiny would make their hearts flutter and they’d fall in love.
But what was this situation? Instead of falling for each other, they were obsessing over the villainess—me.
‘In that case, let’s move to the next step quickly.’
Operation: Leave Them Alone!
A brilliant plan where I would step away so the leads could focus on each other.
I subtly signaled to Nana, who was waiting where she could see me. As planned, she approached and whispered into my ear as if something serious had happened.
I nodded seriously, and Nana left. Then I turned to Cardin and May with an apologetic expression.
“Oh no… it seems I have to step away for a bit. I’ll be right back.”
Before they could say anything, I stood up, grabbed my dress skirt, and briskly left the garden like an alarm had gone off.
Looking back slightly, I saw the two main characters staring at each other across my empty chair.
Yes. They’d stare, then speak, then maybe hold hands…
‘Then I’ll just pop to my room for a while.’
I was mentally exhausted from how things weren’t going my way, so I needed a little break.
Wishing them a pleasant time, I headed back towards the mansion.
Silence filled the garden Harna had left.
After taking a sip of tea, May set down her cup and looked at Cardin. Cardin, who had already been watching her with an unreadable gaze, met her eyes.
Of the two who didn’t avoid eye contact, Cardin spoke first.
“If you have any sense, you’ll excuse yourself, Lady Porco.”
“You’re saying exactly what I was about to say, Duke Retourno.”
Their gazes clashed again.
One thing was certain: Harna’s plan for a romantic mood had failed miserably.
A chilly breeze drifted between the two.
After staring at Cardin for a long while, May spoke sharply, completely opposite of her gentle smile.
“It’s a famous rumor that you mistreat your fiancée. Am I allowed to ask why you suddenly changed your attitude toward Sister?”
“Why do I need to explain myself to you? I don’t, especially not needlessly.”
Gone was the foolish smile he always showed Harna. Instead, Cardin answered May with a mocking smirk.
“Was that too difficult? If your feelings are genuine, you could simply say so. Or… are you hiding something?”
Cardin looked at May for a moment, then decided she wasn’t worth engaging with and turned away.
‘If you have any strange intentions toward Sister, I won’t let you get away with it!’
May swore that she would never forgive anyone who tried to harm Harna, who had saved her, accepted her, and taken her in as a younger sister—even if that person was a duke.
Cardin, uninterested in what May was thinking, simply felt bored without Harna there. He felt pathetic for delaying his work to have tea at the marquess’ estate.
But what was even more pathetic… was that he didn’t regret coming. Even now, perfectly sane, he still wanted to see Harna’s face.
“She’s late.”
Cardin muttered, looking toward where Harna had disappeared.
After resting for about thirty minutes, I returned to the garden where the main characters waited.
I had a small hope that if there was a warm atmosphere, I’d give them more time alone.
But my steps slowed to a stop.
The leads were sitting with their backs turned to each other like they couldn’t stand to look the same direction. A cold air lingered between them.
An uneasy feeling crept into my heart, but I forced myself to deny it and walked forward.
As soon as they saw me, both of them shot up from their seats at the exact same time. The desolate air suddenly vanished at my appearance, which gave me a strange feeling.
They approached in large strides, smiling brightly. I pretended to act normally.
“Sorry about that, something came up in the house. Did you talk a bit while I was gone?”
Smile naturally. Don’t panic.
‘Maybe I’m just overthinking. They might’ve had a nice conversation and just stopped when I arrived.’
Their eyes briefly met at my question—and sparks flew.
No. Absolutely not. Even if they didn’t fall in love at first sight, disliking each other for no reason made no sense.
“Sister, come here! These cookies are amazing!”
May grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the seats. As we walked hand in hand, another large, firm hand grabbed my other hand.
“This way. My goddess will prefer the cake.”
…Excuse me? What are you two doing?
My right hand was held by the male lead, my left by the female lead. I was basically the rope in a game of tug-of-war.
Unfortunately, I was the rope.
“Sister will eat cookies with me, right?”
“My goddess will surely want the soft cake.”
I looked up at the ridiculous scene of both leads saying nearly the same thing at the same time.
‘Wow, the sky is pretty. Oh, I’ve never seen that bird before.’
I tried to escape reality but my arms being tugged back down brought me back.
My plan was completely ruined.
Stuck between the leads, the villainess’ mouth could not stop moving.
As soon as the cookie in my mouth disappeared, a fork with cake was pushed toward me. Once I swallowed the cake, a perfectly cut cookie appeared from the other side.
‘Is this magic?’
Frustrated, I rubbed my forehead.
I’d wanted to help the destined leads fall in love and then peacefully step out of their story. But the cakes and cookies constantly being shoved at me told me otherwise—they were obsessed.
After a while of forcing myself to keep the mood alive as the host by eating what they offered, I finally couldn’t take it anymore and slammed the table.
The leads froze mid-movement.
“That’s enough. I don’t like sweets.”
“Sister, you ate only sweets at the ball last time.”
“Be quiet!”
Don’t push me right now. If things keep going wrong, I might really bite someone! Even if I’ve tried to live kindly, my character is still “Psychopath Harna,” after all.
