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Chapter 43
“Lily, no!”
Eve, who had just returned from clearing the dining room table, rushed over to Sereret and her youngest sister.
Afraid that her little sister Lily might soil Sereret’s dress, Eve quickly scooped her up into her arms.
“Sorry, it’s so chaotic.”
“You look happy, though.”
Sereret wiped away the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes and smiled.
“It’s hell… with angels.”
Eve laughed wearily, handed Lily over to a maid, and guided Sereret and Hanna into the dining room.
Eve’s house was small, with no separate parlor or tea room. She was about to seat them at the table and bring out tea.
“Tea isn’t necessary, Eve. Let’s go out for lunch.”
“Really?”
The suggestion delighted Eve. She said she had been counting the days until she could move into the duke’s mansion, which made Sereret laugh.
After Sereret’s marriage, Eve was to stay by her side at the ducal residence as a dressing maid. The more allies, the better, so Sereret was glad to have Eve with her.
“Before we head out for lunch, there’s something I should tell you. There’s a reason we’re eating out today.”
Sereret glanced at Eve and Hanna as she spoke.
“A reason?”
Eve blinked.
Sereret briefly explained what had happened the previous day. Eve’s mouth hung open in shock.
“Oh my goodness.”
“Thanks to Hanna’s quick thinking, we got through it safely.”
Sereret cast Hanna a sideways glance. Beaming with pride at the praise, Hanna smiled.
“We did manage to get through it… but I don’t want to leave it at that.”
“What are you planning to do?”
In response to Eve’s question, Sereret smiled softly.
“I think it’s time to spread some rumors.”
Though Yuan had ordered the servants to keep quiet, Sereret had no intention of letting it end there.
In her past life, rumors had spread far and wide that Sereret, blinded by jealousy, had slandered Lydia. Since it happened inside the ducal residence, the gossip reached even the commoners of the territory. She had been branded as a venomous duchess who knew only jealousy. It was bitterly unfair. This time, she intended to pay Lydia back in full.
And besides, such rumors would work in her favor when it came time for divorce.
“Rumors?”
“If the words pass through Madame Barne’s lips, they’ll reach nearly everyone before the wedding.”
Sereret explained to Eve.
“You’re going to dine with her?”
Hanna asked in surprise.
“No, that would be far too obvious. We’ll make sure Madame Barne overhears us.”
At that, Hanna and Eve exchanged confused looks.
Sereret led the two of them to Madame Barne’s dress shop but didn’t go inside, instead waiting nearby for Madame Barne and her staff to come out.
Around lunchtime, Madame Barne emerged with her employees. The three quietly followed them.
The group entered a restaurant that served Rua cuisine. After a short wait, Sereret and her companions also went in.
Conveniently, the table directly behind Madame Barne was empty, so they quickly sat down.
After ordering food, Sereret began her performance.
“Yesterday was utter chaos. There was quite the commotion at the Duke of Prekthuster’s estate.”
She deliberately spoke a little louder than usual, putting emphasis on “Duke of Prekthuster.”
Across the table, Hanna gave a little wink—the signal that Madame Barne had reacted.
Hanna was seated where she could watch Madame Barne closely, keeping track of her every move.
“Why, Lady Oxenbury was so shocked she couldn’t even eat dinner. And the servants wouldn’t stop talking about it either.”
Hanna chimed in naturally, proving herself a true acting prodigy.
But then came the problem: Eve.
“W-w-what hap…pened, ex-act-ly?”
With her stiff face and stilted delivery, Eve spoke.
Hanna’s eyes went wide at the awkward performance.
Sereret had to bite back laughter, carefully enunciating as she recounted the incident in full detail so Madame Barne could hear every word.
Hanna also backed her up with seamless acting.
“Our lady was willing to cover it up as Miss Elliot’s mistake, but absolutely not. She put her wedding ring away properly in the drawer. One of the maids even saw Miss Elliot walking off with it.”
“Hanna, that’s enough. Lydia just made a mistake. She’s my friend.”
Sereret scolded softly, her tone gentle.
“You’re far too softhearted, my lady. Even Lady Oxenbury said she was worried.”
Hanna spoke while noticing Madame Barne leaning almost fully backward in her seat, straining to listen.
“Th-th-the heir of the E-ele… Elephant house… to do such a th-th-thing… s-so… s-surpr…ising!”
Eve’s “acting” was astonishing in its own way. Not a single one of her sentences came out properly.
Sereret pressed her lips together to stifle her laughter.
“It’s true Yuan’s first love was Lydia, and it does weigh on me. But that was in the past, so I’m trying not to dwell on it.”
“Don’t cry, my lady.”
Hanna looked at Sereret with genuine worry.
Huh? Cry? Am I crying?
Prompted by Hanna’s line, Sereret covered her face with her hands and made sobbing noises.
“O-ohh… Sereret. Don’t cr-cryhaaa.”
Eve’s broken speech slipped even further off-key, making it impossible for Sereret to hold back her laughter.
She pressed both hands against her face, forcing herself not to laugh, which only made it look like she was crying harder.
“There, there, my lady…”
Hanna comforted her in a pained voice.
Madame Barne, curiosity written all over her face, finally stood up. Even as she slowly gathered her things, she kept sneaking glances at Sereret.
Sereret, noticing this, continued her act of sorrow.
Once Madame Barne and her party had fully left, Hanna whispered,
“My lady! They’re gone.”
At that, Sereret pulled her hands from her face and burst into laughter.
“Eve, your acting was terrible.”
She laughed so hard that tears welled in her eyes.
“This was my first time…”
Eve gave a sheepish smile.
“Eve, that was too much. You weren’t immersed in the role at all.”
Hanna pouted.
“Sorry, Hanna.”
Eve looked at her with genuine apology.
Watching them, Sereret’s lips curled upward. Now that Madame Barne had heard, it was only a matter of time before the rumor spread.
With a cigar between his lips, Regan frowned at his hand of cards. Wrong again. How could he lose every single time?
“Did you hear the news?”
It was just as Regan set his cards down in defeat. Viscount Chesterfield, his card-playing companion, leaned across the table.
Chesterfield, who always had the latest gossip from high society, looked positively thrilled. He must have brought something juicy again.
“What now?”
Regan set down his cigar and looked at him.
“Well… I don’t know if I should say it, not with His Grace here.”
Chesterfield eyed him nervously.
“When have you ever been shy about gossiping? The only one you ever watch your mouth around is Yuan.”
“Well, one has to be cautious with the Duke of Prekthuster.”
“Fine, just tell me already. What’s the rumor this time?”
Regan urged impatiently.
“Yes, stop dragging it out,” another chimed in.
Everyone at the table turned to watch Chesterfield.
“Our society’s flower has caused quite the scandal.”
Chesterfield’s eyes gleamed.
“Lydia?”
Regan frowned.
“Well, you see…”
Chesterfield quickly recounted the rumor he had just heard.
The listeners were stunned. The Lydia they knew wasn’t the type to do such a thing.
“Where’d you hear this?”
Regan asked grimly.
“At the racetrack. Mr. Hans said Miss Elliot stole the future duchess’s wedding ring.”
The moment Regan heard that, he shot to his feet.
“Where are you going? To see Miss Elliot? Let me come with you.”
Chesterfield grabbed his arm. He wanted to hear the details from Lydia herself—it was too incredible to believe otherwise.
But Regan shook him off and strode away. The thought that Lydia might have taken the wedding ring filled him with dread.
He couldn’t just sit still. He worried for Lydia, knowing how blind her feelings for Yuan could be.
And he worried for Sereret too, the future duchess who had suffered such an ordeal.
So he headed straight for the imperial palace.
Lydia’s face was flushed red when he met her in the tea room. Clearly, the rumors had already reached her ears.
That made it easy for Regan to ask directly: had she really touched their wedding rings?
“Brother Regan!”
Lydia’s eyes welled with tears as she raised her voice.
“There’s no need to shout. I just want to confirm.”
Regan spoke sternly.
“No! You don’t believe me, do you? Sereret is framing me!”
“Lady Inohater has no reason to do that.”
“Of course she does! She’s jealous. She hates me because I was Yuan’s first love. But I don’t want her to hate me. I want to get along with her—she’s going to be Yuan’s wife.”
“Lydia, please. Yuan isn’t your plaything. He’s not someone you can throw a tantrum to possess.”
Regan’s voice softened, almost pleading.
If not for Yuan, Lydia was a sweet, angelic girl. But when it came to him, she refused to yield an inch.
Since childhood, she had taken it for granted that Yuan belonged to her. His marriage to another woman must have been a severe blow. Regan could understand that much.
He had thought time would ease her feelings, but instead her obsession only seemed to grow.
She could only be happy if she had Yuan. Regan couldn’t help but resent him—if Yuan had just married Lydia, everything would have been simpler. For her. For Lady Inohater.
Lydia’s face darkened. She didn’t like the look in Regan’s eyes, full of pity.
“Brother, why are you looking at me like that?”
“Lydia…”
“You think I’m crazy, don’t you? Just because our grandmother had madness, you think I’ll have it too?”
“I never thought that. I’m just… worried.”
“There’s no need to worry. In the end, I’ll be by Yuan’s side.”
She smiled brightly.
But Regan saw it clearly—the murderous glint in her eyes. What was to be done with this girl? His head ached.
He said no more, only rose and left the tea room.
As he trudged through the palace halls, a cat padded lazily across his path.
Regan froze, remembering a cat he had once found dead in a horrific state. It had been a cat that especially liked Yuan.
A chill spread through him. He knew very well whose hand had done it—and why.
That cat had been killed for one reason only: because it had stayed by Yuan’s side.
Sereret Inohater, the woman destined to stand at Yuan’s side…
The image of her bright smile flashed in Regan’s mind. His face went pale, all color drained away.
