CH 51

“What?”

Lucia spoke up before Herwin could process her words.

“What are you so curious about? It’s none of your business whether I fight or have a fiancé.”

Herwin was choked up at Lucia’s cold tone.

“Why should it matter? You’re my……!”

“Your what? You and I are just friends, and even if we were, I don’t think I’d stick my nose into your personal affairs.”

“That’s true, but… you could have at least told me.”

Herwin swallowed hard, but Lucia could see that he was harboring another emotion as well.

Jealousy. And a whole host of other emotions that were derived from it, all tangled up in his face.

So she couldn’t understand him anymore. What right did he have to do that? No, why was he reacting like that now….…

‘Because he likes you.’

Suddenly, she remembered what Bianca had said. She thought it was a bad joke, but now she realizes it might not have been a joke.

“I’m sorry if I freaked you out, Herwin, but just because you knew, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be on a date.”

Herwin’s mouth dropped open, unable to retort. Lucia was right about everything.

So what if he knew about it first? Lucia’s going to get married anyway, and she’s going to get a fiance. That was the truth.

Still, it felt like a lump in his throat.

“Then why did you ask me…….”

Herwin, who was muttering without realizing it, closed his mouth.

‘Why did you confess?’

He had a strong feeling that if he asked this question, he would never see Lucia again.

Herwin wrinkled the bridge of his nose. He was the one who refused the confession, and the question of why he was going to confront Lucia was quite selfish even when he thought about it.

When Herwin finally said nothing, Lucia sighed softly.

“It was my parents’ will, after all, I’m of marriageable age, and one day I’ll have to fulfill my family duty and marry someone.”

Lucia lowered her head and smiled her usual smile.

“We all have to come to terms with that, don’t we? I just happen to have come to terms with it a little sooner than the others.”

It was a familiar smile, but today it felt especially bittersweet. Herwin swiped at his dry face.

“Still… this is too fast.”

Herwin’s expression, contorted as if he were about to cry, seemed to take over her mind.

Lucia stared at him, her face devoid of any hint of mischief.

“If you don’t want me to get engaged, will you be my fiancé?”

Herwin’s red eyes darted around, and he stood there speechless, clearly flustered.

It was a reaction she had expected, so Lucia wasn’t surprised.

“Look at that. You don’t want to do that.”

“Lucia.”

“Why don’t you put in a formal offer of marriage to the Lydia family, and see if they’ll take it?”

Lucia’s heart was no longer beating wildly. With each word she spoke, it was as if a little bit of her resentment toward Herwin was cleared away.

So she was able to speak bolder than she had thought possible.

“You’re the man I’ve had a crush on for thirteen years, and you’re that attractive. I’m sure your charms will work on Arista, so good luck with that. If you don’t, you might lose her to someone else?”

She cracked a joke to lighten the mood, but Herwin didn’t laugh at all. Instead, his face was stony.

It was so awkward that Lucia smiled even wider.

“Let’s be real best friends now, and I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you.”

“That means…….”

“Lucia, I’m sorry I’m late, I just got lost for a while…….”

As Herwin was speaking, Bern, who had gone to get something to drink, appeared. He apologized for being late and stopped when he spotted Herwin.

“Phoenaeus, I see you two are together. Were you in the middle of a conversation?”

“Almost done.”

Unlike Herwin, who looked uncomfortable, Lucia shook her head and moved to Bern’s side.

A few strands of his sweaty hair fell across his forehead as if he’d gotten lost.

His face was beaded with sweat, and Lucia pulled out a handkerchief.

“You must have run, you could have taken your time.”

“I’ve been gone too long to take it easy.”

Bern’s hands held wine glasses, so Lucia wiped his sweat off herself.

At first, he was embarrassed, but then he bent down to make it easier for her.

“Thank you, Lucia.”

“What? This is nothing. Is this mine?”

Lucia took the wine glass from Bern. It didn’t smell bad.

“I didn’t know you were with Phoenaeus, so I only brought two glasses. Would you like some of this?”

“……No, thank you.”

Herwin declined the wine offered by Bern. Bern stared down at the rejected glass for a moment, then sipped the wine cheerfully.

“Lucia, is your ankle better now? If it still hurts, shall we return home?”

“My ankle? Ahhh…….”

Lucia, suddenly wondering what he meant, glanced at Bern, who was looking at Herwin and sighed.

She had used the excuse of a sore ankle to avoid Herwin before coming there.

She’d forgotten about it. She wonder if he saw through her lie.

Lucia bent over awkwardly, feigning pain, and fiddled with her right foot. The two men approached at the same time.

“Are you okay?”

“Are you okay?”

Their words overlapping, Herwin and Bern looked at each other, then back at Lucia.

“Let’s see. If it’s a sprain, you need to get medical attention in time. Otherwise, you’re in trouble.”

“It’s not that bad, just a little stiff?”

Lucia slipped under Herwin’s gaze and grabbed Bern’s arm. Bern leaned in, supporting her.

“Well, no more partying, then. I’ll take you home, and you’re coming with me.”

“Yes, please.”

Lucia leaned into Bern’s arms, with no time for Herwin to intervene. Herwin’s hand, which was meant to help her, fell limp.

He stared at them, his fists clenched, unable to speak.

“We have to go. See you later, Herwin.”

“……Yes.”

Bern said a quick goodbye, then turned to Lucia. The two chatted affectionately and moved away from Herwin.

It was an awkward sight now, but one he would have to get used to.

Herwin watched the back of Lucia’s head as she walked away, then looked down at his hand. He couldn’t reach her anymore.

Lucia’s words about being real friends. The question Herwin hadn’t gotten around to asking before Bern showed up flashed through his mind.

‘Does this mean …… you don’t like me anymore?’

Herwin looked up from his bowed head.

“Lucia.”

Lucia was no longer in sight. There was no one there to answer his words.

* * *

“So, Lucia, she’s really getting engaged, right?”

“You saw them, dancing, going out.”

“I’ve never seen Lucia say no to Herwin before.”

While Lucia and Herwin were away, their friends were still talking about Lucia.

No matter how much they thought about it, the whole situation didn’t make sense now that she had brought her fiancé.

Surely the mood hadn’t been so bad the last time they were all together, so what the hell had happened in the past month?

“Oh, I don’t know anymore. It’s between those two, I guess.”

Ethan threw his hands up in the air, running a hand through his hair.

“I swear I thought they were dating until Lucia introduced Marquis Casper as her fiancé.”

Christine was dumbfounded, still feeling duped.

Her misunderstanding wasn’t so strange.

For her, it was even stranger that they weren’t in a relationship, given their usual behavior.

They’d always tried to dismiss everything by saying they were childhood friends, but there was more to their relationship than that.

Sometimes, when they would disappear at the same time, she thought they were having a love affair to avoid prying eyes.

She joked with them that when they reappeared, they would have to do something, whether it was revealed their secret relationship or make it official..…

“I never thought this would happen.”

Arista muttered, and her friends nodded in agreement.

Stroking her arm, Arista looked up. Her body jerked as she spotted someone.

“Hey, guys, do any of you know anything about Lucia?”

It was Lucas, who spoke without greeting, but with a straightforward purpose. The walls were shaking like an earthquake, as if he, too, was confused about Lucia’s affairs.

Friends looked at each other because they knew his love for her sister well over the years.

“You mean the Marquis of Casper, by any chance?”

“Yes, that unscrupulous… well, not that, but Lucia’s fiancé, and since you’re best friends with her, I thought you might know something.”

“We don’t know, we just found out today.”

“Yeah, I can’t tell you how surprised I was when I heard she was engaged.”

Christine agreed with Brian, and Lucas’s eyes widened.

“Fiancé, who’s fiancé, they’re not engaged yet!”

“……really?”

Everyone faltered back in more surprise than expected.

“Shouldn’t you know better than us, you two are family.”

Lucas sighed heavily at Ethan’s question.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying, why the hell they didn’t tell me something this important? I just found out today! She’s too young to get married, and what’s the hurry with our parents…….”

Lucas clicked his tongue in frustration.

“Maybe they’re trying to send Lucia away first because you’re not engaged?”

“What?”

Behind Lucas, who raised an eyebrow at Brian’s comment, Christine nodded in agreement.

“Certainly, there is a possibility. You’re only two years older than Lucia, it’d be easier on your parents if they got one of your married first. This time, Arista also said that when her brother got engaged, she broke away from marriage nagging, right?”

“Huh? Uh, yeah, I’m thinking it’ll be quiet for at least a year.”

Arista replied a beat late.

“Grrr… is that really true?”

Lucas crossed his arms, seriously considering the possibility. Arista stole a glance at Lucas and spoke up.

“I noticed that you were with a woman today… Are you not related to her?”

“You mean Becky, she’s my girlfriend.”

“Oh, so you had a girlfriend.”

“She’s quite beautiful, and she’s very talented.”

“Haha, your girlfriend is pretty.”

Lucas laughed out loud, instantly feeling better. This time it was Christine who asked.

“Are you and your girlfriend ever going to get engaged?”

“Well… we’ve only just gotten to know each other, so I think it’s a little early to get engaged. Engagements are real, and you have to be careful. But if I’m causing Lucia to get engaged to someone she doesn’t want to be engaged to, then I’m going to have to start thinking seriously about marriage.”

Lucas wiped the smile off his face as if he thought he’d caused Lucia any damage.

Arista clenched her fists against the wall of resolve.