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Chapter 41
Lydia trembled as she ran down the stairs. How dare Sereret—someone like you!
She didn’t know exactly what had happened, but one thing was certain: Sereret had humiliated her. Had the maid she planted in the duke’s residence confessed everything?
“Lady Elliot.”
From behind, Yuan’s voice called out to her.
Her throat tightened at the sound of his voice, but Lydia didn’t look back. She kept descending the stairs.
“Lydia.”
He called her by name.
Hearing her name—something so rare—Lydia finally turned to face him. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Yuan came quickly down the stairs and stopped in front of her. Seeing Lydia’s tears, his expression became troubled.
Don’t doubt me, Yuan. You can’t do that to me. Tears continued to flow down Lydia’s face.
“You didn’t even bring a carriage.”
Yuan gestured to a nearby coachman to ready one.
Seeing him take care of her like that, Lydia’s sorrow swelled. Yuan is always so kind to me, but Sereret—how dare she!
From the moment Sereret arrived at the imperial party so beautifully dressed, Lydia had felt she was cunning—but this was beyond imagination. What if Sereret blinded Yuan’s eyes and closed his ears, driving a wedge between them?
I hate her. Sereret Innohater is truly vile.
“You think I stole it too, don’t you?”
Sobbing, Lydia rested her head on Yuan’s shoulder. She needed his warmth, his comfort.
But Yuan stood silently, without a word. He didn’t deny it, nor did he gently pat her back as he used to.
When they were children, he would have rushed to soothe her tears. So you doubt me too? You believe Sereret Innohater over me? Betrayal welled in her chest, and Lydia stepped back from him.
“You think I stole Sereret’s ring, don’t you? Do you really? Really think that? It wasn’t me. I didn’t do it.”
“……”
“I don’t know why Sereret is doing this to me. She framed me. We’re supposed to be friends.”
Tears fell relentlessly as Lydia spoke.
“Sereret said this was all a mistake, a misunderstanding. I intend to believe her.”
Yuan’s tone was stiff.
He meant to say he wasn’t suspicious of Lydia, yet somehow it sounded as though he was siding with Sereret. Lydia wanted to burst into loud sobs.
“Something awful has happened to me.”
She wept.
“Lady Elliot.”
“How could Sereret do this to me…?”
Anger made her dizzy. To be humiliated like this—in front of Yuan, no less. Lydia trembled from a rage she had never experienced before.
“Lady Elliot, it’s over now. I do not believe you stole the ring.”
Yuan spoke calmly, as if to comfort her.
Lydia lifted her head to look at him. So you believe me? You trust me, not Sereret?
Of course. Yuan would never doubt her. He must know Sereret had orchestrated this. Naturally—because Yuan liked her more than that woman.
Relieved, Lydia nestled into his arms. It was enough that he believed her. That was all that mattered.
Now that I’ve cried like this, Yuan will surely be angry with Sereret. A satisfied smile touched her lips.
But then, Yuan pushed her away—roughly enough to sting. The gesture left her uneasy, but just then the carriage arrived.
She dismissed the feeling, assuming Yuan had only pushed her aside because of the carriage.
“As long as you believe in me, that’s enough.”
She gazed up at him as she spoke.
Without a word, Yuan walked to the carriage, opened the door, and looked back at her.
“Please, get in.”
At his nod, Lydia extended her hand. Yuan silently took it, helping her climb aboard.
Lightly, Lydia stepped into the carriage and looked back at him.
“I won’t tell anyone about this. I don’t want Sereret being ridiculed by the young ladies and noblewomen. I still like her, even if she did this to me.”
She sniffled, staring at Yuan.
It wasn’t that she wouldn’t tell—it was that she couldn’t. If her plan had succeeded, she would have shouted it to the world.
Yuan’s expression hardened. He rested his hand on the carriage roof and leaned down to meet her eyes.
His familiar scent tickled Lydia’s nose. For a moment, she hoped he might kiss her in comfort.
But her hopes were crushed.
“Sereret will soon bear my family name.”
His low voice fell like a hammer.
He disliked scandals. Lydia said she wouldn’t speak of it, but he couldn’t trust her completely. Words could twist once they left her mouth. He had to make it clear.
Sereret was now of House Frextuster. Its honor could never be tarnished.
“She is no longer Sereret Innohater. She is Sereret Frextuster.”
“Yuan…”
Lydia’s pupils shook. His words sounded like a warning—Don’t touch her.
“Then, travel safely.”
Before Lydia could respond, Yuan bid her farewell and closed the carriage door.
As it rolled away, Lydia sat inside gripping her skirts, her face blank.
“Yuan has changed.”
Her pale blue eyes grew cold.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Inside the case, the sapphire ring glimmered beautifully. With so many twists surrounding this wedding ring, its ending seemed all too obvious.
“A doomed marriage.”
Sereret murmured as she shut the case.
Then came a knock, and Yuan’s voice.
“Sereret.”
At the sound of him outside, Sereret recalled the sight of him earlier—holding and comforting Lydia at the stairs. No doubt his heart ached, seeing the woman he loved disgraced.
“But I feel so good.”
She meant it—she was pleased to have taught Lydia a lesson. Yet somewhere in her heart lingered bitterness.
Watching Yuan and Lydia’s closeness had been unpleasant, even if she no longer loved him.
Pushing aside that bitterness, Sereret rose and went to the door.
When she opened it, Yuan entered with a blank expression.
“Did Lydia leave safely?”
Walking toward the table where the ring case lay, Sereret asked.
“Yes.”
He followed behind her.
“Your aunt was greatly alarmed. You should see her.”
“Are you all right?”
At his words, Sereret turned back.
With his hands in his pockets, Yuan gazed at her with an unreadable face. It made her genuinely curious—whose side was he on?
“Who do you believe? Me, or Lydia?”
“I believe in Frextuster.”
His reply came without the slightest hesitation.
Sereret laughed softly at his self-assured words. Very much like Yuan Frextuster.
He meant he trusted only himself. Naturally, that meant he’d side with Lydia. She hadn’t expected otherwise.
“I believe in myself, too.”
Sereret smiled faintly at him.
Yuan stepped closer. He opened the ring case on the table and took out the ring.
Sereret watched in silence.
Taking her hand, he slid the ring onto her fourth finger. For a moment, he held her hand, then pressed a kiss to the jewel.
“It’s not a ring you’ll wear for long.”
He lifted his lips and looked into her eyes.
Not for long? Puzzled at first, Sereret quickly understood. Once she bore a child, he meant to kill her. Of course the ring wouldn’t stay on her finger long.
“Even if you don’t like it…”
“How could I not? I do like it.”
This ring would help her secure a divorce one day—how could she dislike it? With an elegant smile, she met his gaze.
“You don’t have to give in to every tantrum.”
“…What?”
His cryptic words made her tilt her head slightly.
“Learn how to refuse. You are a Frextuster now.”
“I’ll remember that.”
Whether advice or reproach for her handling of things, she nodded.
Yuan studied her quietly, then told her to rest and left the room.
When he was gone, Sereret looked down at the ring on her finger. It felt like a shackle. Quickly, she pulled it off and shut it back in its case.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
“What a ridiculous spectacle. On the eve of such a joyous day, no less.”
Madam Oxenbury sighed heavily.
Yuan only smiled faintly, offering no reply.
His aunt was right—it was absurd. And the root cause was Lydia. The fact she had suddenly visited his office was strange to begin with.
Whatever Lydia had been plotting, Sereret clearly hadn’t simply endured it.
Where did that naïve girl from Mosely go? Yuan let out a small laugh.
But he was relieved. At least Sereret wasn’t a fool who let herself be trampled. To live as a Frextuster, she needed that much backbone.
“I’ve never heard of someone trying on another’s wedding ring. Sereret was kind to cover it up, but it really did seem like Lydia stole it. Sereret is far too soft.”
“Sereret was wise.”
Yuan defended her.
If she had pressed the matter, humiliating Lydia, Lydia would never have let it go. He knew Lydia’s nature well—backed by the emperor, she would have punished even Sereret’s maid.
“To manage a household as great as Frextuster’s, one must have a harder edge.”
His aunt clicked her tongue with worry.
“She’ll do well.”
“Will a simple girl from Mosely really manage? Yuan, don’t focus only on affairs outside the house—pay attention at home too.”
“Yes, Aunt.”
“The greatest strength a woman can have is her husband’s love. A wife cherished by her husband can never be disregarded.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t just say yes. After marriage, even if it’s uncomfortable, spend at least a few months sharing a room. Nothing upholds a wife’s dignity better.”
“Please tell Sereret that as well, Aunt.”
Yuan smiled.
He might be willing, but Sereret would likely refuse. Not long ago, she had shouted for annulment, and now she was entering marriage already planning divorce.
“Of course, of course. I’ll tell her.”
Madam Oxenbury nodded.
Yuan wondered how Sereret would react to those words. The thought curved his lips.
“You must be shaken. Shall I have dinner sent to your room?”
“Just something simple. My heart is fluttering so, I don’t know if I can eat.”
“Yes, Aunt.”
Yuan rose to his feet.
The House of Frextuster spent a restless night after the ring incident. Hearing the murmurs among the servants, Yuan ordered the butler to silence them.
If rumors spread, nothing good would come of it. Already troubled by whispers, they didn’t need more.
That night, Yuan went to bed earlier than usual. Lying in the dark, he thought of his aunt’s advice: once married, he and Sereret should share a bed. With that thought, he drifted into deep sleep.
That night, Yuan dreamed.
He dreamed of Sereret lying inside a coffin.
