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Chapter 12
“Really beautiful.”
The woman walking down the street was stunning. Her hair, flowing all the way to her waist, was a deep rose-red, and beneath her softly lowered lashes were eyes as clear as an autumn sky. Her steps were so graceful that if elegance could be given a human form, it would look exactly like her.
The woman stopped in front of the café where Chloe was sitting. A moment later, the cheerful ring of a bell announced her entrance.
“The Viscount’s wife hasn’t arrived yet.”
“That’s fine. I’ll wait here.”
The owner seemed to know her. He guided her to the table opposite Chloe’s and served her a warm milk tea.
She added a sugar cube to the cup, stirred it, and lifted it to her lips—all of it looked so refined that Chloe found herself staring blankly at her. And then, their eyes met.
Chloe quickly lowered her gaze slightly, thinking the woman might be displeased at being stared at for so long.
“……”
But the woman did not look away. Instead, she widened her already large, bead-like eyes even further.
What is it?
Her confusion didn’t last long. She realized the woman’s gaze wasn’t on her—but slightly above her.
What is she looking at?
It didn’t take long for the mystery to be solved. A large hand gently rested on Chloe’s shoulder.
“Chloe.”
“…Kaiden?”
The identity of the person receiving the beautiful woman’s intense gaze was none other than Kaiden.
“Do you two know each other?”
“Pardon?”
Chloe subtly tilted her chin toward the woman. Kaiden’s always-smiling face slowly stiffened.
Then he wiped away the shadow on his expression and smiled again. It was a deceptively casual smile, as if nothing had happened—but Chloe could clearly see it.
The face of someone meeting a person they don’t want to see.
His expression was just like hers when she had first met Duer after the divorce.
Soon, the expected words came.
“It’s been a while.”
“…Rosetta Crimson.”
The woman’s identity was Rosetta Crimson—the woman who had once been Kaiden’s fiancée.
Unbelievable.
Chloe, suddenly wedged between the two, rolled her eyes around.
In situations like this, it was best to quietly leave. She subtly lifted her hips to slip away.
But the moment she did, she was pushed back into her seat. Kaiden’s hand on her shoulder had tightened.
It wasn’t intentional. His body had simply tensed up from hostility toward Rosetta.
You said you had no feelings for her.
Right now, Kaiden was more agitated than anyone.
Strangely, seeing that made Chloe feel a little uneasy, so she obediently sat back down.
“I heard from Viscount Cent. That you suddenly decided to hold a wedding.”
Rosetta tilted her head slightly as she spoke. Her fine hair slipped gently along her cheek.
“I understand how you feel. Of course you must resent me.”
Said by the woman who once betrayed a lifelong promise.
“But you’re being childish. Thinking you’ll ruin my marriage just by marrying before me? Do you really think something like that will work?”
She spoke as if she cared. As if she was worried.
“Kaiden, please do something meaningful. I genuinely want you to be well.”
[“I hope you don’t dwell on the past I’ve left behind either.”]
Over Rosetta’s gentle voice, Duer’s voice overlapped in Chloe’s mind. She knew that tone well.
Deception.
Yes. This was definitely deception.
Kaiden looked just like her in that moment, and Chloe bit her lip.
Then a light, cheerful voice rang above her head.
“Rosetta, there’s no need for you to worry.”
Unlike Chloe expected, Kaiden’s voice was bright and relaxed. He even smiled with ease, showing his teeth.
“‘As you can see,’ I’m doing very well.”
“‘As you can see’…?”
Rosetta’s pale, watery eyes flickered between Chloe and Kaiden.
“That’s right.”
Kaiden removed his hand from Chloe’s shoulder and instead took her hand on the table, interlacing their fingers.
“I’ve been spending very happy days thanks to my lovely lover.”
Chloe tried to pull her hand away. She truly did.
…But only if her hand hadn’t trembled slightly in his grasp.
So his smile was fake. This man wasn’t calm at all.
Realizing that, her lips moved on their own.
“Kaiden, who is she?”
Chloe leaned her cheek against Kaiden’s arm, tightening her fingers around his.
“…!”
At the sudden contact, Kaiden’s arm tensed.
He really hates me clinging to him, doesn’t he.
Still, endure it. If you don’t want to become Chloe Garrett’s fool.
“Hmm? Not going to tell me?”
She swung their intertwined hands lightly. Kaiden’s eyes followed the playful motion.
“That woman is Rosetta Crimson, my former fiancée.”
“Oh, I remember now. She’s marrying Lord Harn, your brother-in-law?”
Rosetta murmured, “Ah… brother-in-law…”
She looked as if she’d just been struck on the head with a large tray.
“Hah.”
At the same time, Kaiden let out a quiet laugh.
He must feel satisfied.
Then I should make him even more satisfied. So he can drink as much of this bitterness as I never got to swallow.
Unaware that Kaiden was laughing because of her, Chloe extended her hand toward Rosetta.
“Nice to meet you.”
Rosetta looked wary and confused, but Chloe didn’t care.
“We’re going to become family, after all. Please take care of me, sister-in-law.”
“Si-sister-in-law…?”
Rosetta looked as if she’d been struck again, even swaying slightly. Her hand gripping the chair had gone pale.
“So then… does that mean the wedding is real…?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Chloe pressed herself closer against Kaiden’s arm.
“It was just a casual look around, but I didn’t expect rumors to spread this fast. People really do talk too much, don’t they?”
“That just means we suit each other very well.”
Kaiden had now fully joined the act.
“Oh my, you…”
Chloe tapped his chest lightly with her fist, just like she had at the Cent Hotel.
“This is the engagement gift Kaiden gave me.”
She opened the jewelry box resting on the table. A pair of blue diamond earrings shimmered brilliantly under the light.
“He said something like, ‘You’ll look beautiful wearing this on your wedding day,’ and went out to get it. Isn’t it gorgeous?”
Her hands trembled so much earlier that she hadn’t even dared to touch them properly.
“Now that I think about it, they’re too modest for a wedding dress. I’ll get you something bigger and more extravagant then, so wear these for everyday use.”
“W-wow, really?”
Chloe prepared to tap his chest again—but Kaiden was faster.
He gently brushed back her hair and personally fastened the earring onto her ear.
“Of course something this dazzling suits someone as beautiful as you.”
“T-thank you.”
Her face felt strangely hot, so she averted her gaze.
“…Hah.”
Rosetta let out a sigh, unable to endure their “lovey-dovey act.” She seemed convinced now that Kaiden’s marriage wasn’t a childish joke.
“Then, Miss Crimson—no, sister-in-law.”
“W-what is it?”
“You don’t need to worry.”
“What do I even have to worry about…”
“My man’s well-being.”
“……”
Chloe lifted her chin proudly and looked Rosetta straight in the eyes. It was the same thing she had once wanted to do to Melvin.
“I take care of my fiancé myself. So you don’t need to concern yourself any further.”
“I was only worried about Kaiden’s sincerity… Surely you’re the one feeling insecure?”
Rosetta said this with a deliberately hurt expression.
“Of course.”
But Chloe wasn’t moved. Compared to Melvin’s dramatic tantrums, Rosetta’s act was nothing.
“I’m quite a jealous person.”
“……”
“You’re Kaiden’s ex-fiancée. Maybe it wouldn’t matter if we were abroad, but I’m just an ordinary Oselte citizen, so your attention is a little… uncomfortable.”
“……”
“You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
Chloe blinked her round eyes twice.
