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Chapter : 37
As Edward was leaving, he almost bumped into a maid coming in. He quickly reached out to steady the tray she was holding, giving her a dazzling smile to avoid any commotion. The maid’s face went red, and she stared at him in a daze.
“You’re working hard.”
He spoke softly, his words as sweet as ever. The maid, completely out of it, let him close the parlor door behind him without issue. Edward walked away calmly, feeling all the envious gazes on his back.
When Edward reached the stairs at the edge of the banquet hall, a thunderous voice rang in his ear.
“You’re here!”
He reflexively frowned but wiped away his expression and turned around. Janine Banfield was hurrying toward him, holding up her dress with both hands. She looked at him like a hunter blocking her prey’s escape, her eyes gleaming.
“I have something important to say. Can I have a moment of your time?”
Janine stopped right in front of Edward, placing her hand over her heaving chest, clearly trying to draw his attention to her low-cut dress.
“Something important, you say…”
Edward’s eyes sparkled. He suddenly remembered he almost forgot his real reason for being here while spying on his mother. Looking at Janine, he smiled brightly.
“I should have asked you first.”
“…What?”
“It’s my honor that you would spare time for me, Lady.”
“Oh my…”
Janine looked like she was dreaming. She couldn’t believe that the Baron Raven she had liked for so long wanted to spend time with her.
“Shall we go?”
Edward didn’t let her get lost in her imagination. He grabbed Janine’s arm and walked confidently to the center of the banquet hall. Janine was dragged along, confused.
Just then, the Countess of Haimel was coming out of the sitting room with some people. Edward noticed this from the corner of his eye and his smile deepened.
“I have something to tell you all!”
He raised his voice, looking around. People turned to look at Edward and Janine, who was blushing furiously beside him.
“I have wonderful news to share. Will you celebrate with me?”
“Of course!”
“What is it?”
Everyone laughed and clapped, enjoying the atmosphere. Only the Countess of Haimel felt a chill down her spine. She hurried to instruct a servant, but Edward raised his voice even louder.
“I’m getting married soon!”
Shock spread through the crowd. People whispered to each other with serious expressions.
“If he’s getting married… Is it to Lady Evercline?”
“So what’s his relationship with Miss Banfield…?”
Noticing the glances at his hand holding Janine’s arm, Edward let go of her like shaking off a bug.
“Ah!”
Janine stumbled to the side, looking at Edward in confusion. He bowed deeply to her with perfect manners.
“Thank you to the floor—no, to Lady Banfield for giving us this stage.”
“!”
There were stifled laughs all around. Poor Janine’s face went completely pale. She clutched her dress and trembled, but Edward didn’t even spare her a glance. He was looking elsewhere—at his mother.
When their eyes met, Edward smiled sweetly.
“I’ll let everyone know the date once it’s set. Please share this happy news with everyone.”
He placed a hand on his heart like an actor on stage and bowed. Applause broke out across the hall, and a quick-witted servant brought over a tray of champagne. Edward grabbed a glass and raised it high.
“Let’s toast to a happy marriage between myself and Lady Evercline!”
People cheered and whistled for the happy news.
“Cheers!”
“Congratulations!”
“So you’re finally getting married.”
The young ladies, disappointed to lose the city’s most eligible bachelor, were still excited to witness such a romantic scene.
“They say the Evercline family was almost bankrupt… Maybe he really does love her.”
“Anyone would’ve understood if he broke off the engagement, but… Maybe Haimel paid off their debts.”
“So lucky… I’m jealous.”
Suddenly, loud sobbing rang out.
“Huaaang!”
Everyone turned to see Janine Banfield sitting on the floor, crying like a child. Her two younger sisters stood awkwardly by her side, unable to look up.
People whispered, “There she is, on the floor again…” and giggled.
“Janine!”
The Banfield lady rushed over, shrieking, and dragged her eldest daughter up. Janine kept crying as her mother pulled her away, and her sisters followed, heads down.
Edward watched the scene, sipping his champagne with a smile. Just then, the Countess of Haimel appeared in front of him.
She looked around at the noisy crowd and said as if nothing happened,
“I think we’ve enjoyed the party enough. Let’s go home.”
“Yes, Mother,” Edward replied politely. People watched them leave, thinking they looked every bit the perfect, elegant noble family.
—
Slap!
A sharp sound echoed inside the carriage. Edward slowly turned his head back to its normal position. His mother’s hand was harsher than usual—she was very angry.
“I was a fool to trust you.”
The Countess’s voice trembled with anger. She sighed and covered her eyes with her hand. All her careful arrangements with the Banfield family were ruined.
‘My stupid son ruined everything!’
Edward ignored his mother’s grinding teeth. He ran his tongue along his inner cheek, tasting blood, but it didn’t bother him. He grinned to himself.
‘So, Anna. What will you do now…?’
Raiden paused as he was leaving the underground prison, stopping as a cold wind blew in. After standing still for a moment, he climbed the stairs the rest of the way and stepped outside. The knights waiting there saluted him, but his mind was elsewhere.
“Whew…”
After leaving the prison building and entering the wide yard, Raiden finally stopped walking. He stood in the shadow of a quiet tower and rubbed his face with both hands.
“That man is really stubborn.”
Even though the prisoner looked like he might spill everything, he held out. He had been tortured until he was covered in blood and his flesh was torn, but he didn’t say a word Raiden wanted to hear.
‘So stubborn… Tsk.’
Raiden felt like the damp, dirty air from the prison was still clinging to him. He shook out his clothes harshly, but the feeling of something sticky grabbing his ankle—and something lurking behind him—wouldn’t leave. He suddenly felt sick.
“Ugh…”
He covered his mouth without thinking and was startled to see blood on his hand. He hadn’t wiped it all off.
He clicked his tongue and reached for his handkerchief, but suddenly sensed someone approaching.
“Who’s there…!”
Raiden turned quickly—and froze. Standing a short distance away on the stone path were Shilla and Anna, looking at him.
“…”
Raiden quickly put his hand behind his back and gave Shilla a hard look, demanding an explanation.
“She couldn’t sleep, so we took a walk in the yard,” Shilla answered in her usual flat voice. She glanced over her shoulder, and Raiden saw knights following behind them. Only then did he relax.
“Raiden? Are you hurt…?”
Anna, watching him with worried eyes, spoke softly. Raiden didn’t answer, just stared at her. There was nothing fake in her small, upturned face.
“It’s nothing. I’m just a little tired.”
Thankfully, he sounded just like usual. Raiden quietly squeezed his hands behind his back, relieved Anna and Shilla hadn’t seen him acting so tense and nervous.
He glanced up at the sky.
“It’s still chilly tonight. You should go inside.”
But Anna shook her head and looked at him with determination.
“I have something to say. Can you give me a moment?”
“…Right now?”
“Yes. I mean… yes, right now.” Anna glanced at Shilla and the knights behind her, then added quietly, “I don’t know when I’ll get another chance.”
“…Alright.”
Raiden had no choice but to nod. Anna, with those shining eyes, wouldn’t give up easily. Raiden felt like he’d gone back in time as he offered her his arm. Anna blushed as she took it, looking at his thick arm and then his face. Raiden tried not to think about the warmth he felt as he began walking slowly toward the inner quarters. Shilla and the knights wisely hung back so they couldn’t overhear the conversation.
