As always, the woman had visited him today.
Jennan, who was about to pass the pink-haired lady hanging around in front of the waiting room, glanced back when she called his name.
âHi, Jennan.â
The instant he saw her, he realized it was Yernia.
The future Duchess of Lecardo.
âDid you wait for me?â
Jennan gave her a swoon-worthy smile.
The woman in front of her had no idea how much he had practiced to perfect this smile.
He even let out a lovely chuckle.
âYes, I did last time.â
âI was thinking about you, too. Come on in.â
He opened the door to the waiting room and clutched the end of Yerniaâs sleeve.
Yernia faltered and glanced at her surroundings.
A lot of noblewomen like her had lined up to meet Jennan.
âJennan! I enjoyed your performance today.â
âCan you make time for me today, Jennan? Why donât we go to a nice little restaurant and eat dinner together?â
âMy husband is currently on a business trip. Do you want to e with me?â
His female patrons had exclaimed in unison.
These shameless women tried to seduce Jennan with their curvy bodies.
Jennan pulled Yernia, who stood next to him awkwardly, into the waiting room and shut the door.
Behind their backs, the noblewomen watched the closed door with displeasure, disapproval, and envy.
âPlease wait for a moment.â He told Yernia before he faced the ladies one last time.
âI apologize but I had an engagement at the moment, ladies.â
âIâll give you more money, Jennan.â
The noblewoman looked like she was ready to give him a check at any moment and Jennan gave her an obnoxious frown.
Contrary to his appearance, he wasnât in a bad mood but he still felt the need to show them.
âThatâs too much, My Lady. I do appreciate it but why are you doing this?â
âWhat do you mean?â
âIâm upset that youâre trying to buy my time with money.â
It was easy for Jennan to act so kind and caring as he returned her money back.
As he put up an exhausted front, he suddenly recalled that Yernia was still in the waiting room.
Jennan opened the door and went inside.
âHave you been waiting long?â
âNo. Itâs alright. I thought you already had an appointment?â
âNo, Iâm just kidding, but I have quite a few of them.â
âOh, are you alright with me being here?â
âWhat?â
Yernia was worried about these women bullying her.
Meanwhile, Jennan could barely suppress the urge to snort but he still feigned ignorance.
âNo. Never mind. Rather, I came here today because I wanted to apologize properly to you.â
âApologize?â
âI didnât think about how you feel, and you assumed I am on Cassianâs side.â
âOh, at least you are aware of it.â
âIâm sorry. Iâm sure Cassian feels sorry for you, too.â
âThatâs all right, and thank you. Thatâs a relief. I was worried that you wouldnât see me anymore.â
He said, pretending to be a little disappointed.
Before Yernia could say anything, he rummaged through the clothes he had taken off at the corner of the waiting room and pulled a crumpled check from one of its pockets.
âPlease give this to Marquis Lecardo, my lady.â
âWhy?â
Jennan stopped the urge to smirk at the girlâs naivete who still hadnât realized what her own husband had done.
He tried to look pitiful when he added, âHe gave it to me.â
âWho? Cassian?â
âI think he misunderstood something.â
Despite saying that, Yernia still couldnât understand what he was talking about.
Silly girl~
âItâs about you and me. He assumed that you are having an affair with me.â
âWhat?â
âItâs alright. People misunderstood opera singers like this. I just donât want your husband to see his wifeâs character in a bad light. I donât want this money either.â
He looked at Yerniaâs wide-eyed stare.
Judging from her slow reaction, he thought it would take him a long time to bee deeply acquainted with her.
But it wasnât that impossible because she adored her and her stage.
It was easy to own the heart of a woman who liked him.
***
After opening the carriage window, Yernia rested her chin on one hand as she observed the noise outside.
She still couldnât believe that Cassian misunderstood her for cheating on him with Jennan.
âDonât you trust me, Cassian?â
Yernia took out the crumpled check that Jennan had given her from her bag.
She couldnât imagine Cassian slapping the opera singerâs cheek with this.
Jennanâs confession drove her mind into a loop.
There was no way that Cassian would do such a thing just because he didnât trust her.
Did Jennan lie to him?
He wouldnât dare.
Neither an aristocrat nor a Lecardo would lie to him.
Yernia was in a bad mood.
She was dissatisfied with the fact that Cassian misunderstood them by himself and went to Jennan to insult him.
Cassian must have thought she was similar to the other people he couldnât standâsuch as people who cheat and smoke.
Of course, their marriage was no different than an arranged marriage.
Theirs was a marriage with no love.
Yes.
But how can he betray her loyalty without thinking?
âWeâll see.â
Yernia gritted her teeth and turned her back.
Then, she opened the window covering the footmanâs seat and said, âLetâs go to the market for a moment. I have something to buy.â
She had no idea why Cassian thought of her like that but first of all, she must resolve this misunderstanding at once.
Cassian must have assumed many bad things about her enough to visit Jnenan.
It appeared like Cassian had regained his ferociousness back.
To correct this, she should start buying a gift to relax his mind a little.
If she started this discussion by challenging him, a fight couldnât be helped.
Yernia stopped by a boutique dealing with menâs clothes.
She planned to give Cassian a cuff button as a present.
âWell, what would be good?â
Yernia heard a familiar voice while choosing a gift in all seriousness.
âWhat?â