Chapter 106
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 106
Edgar snatched the object deftly, approached Cedric, and placed it back where the inkwell had been.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" Cedric asked nonchalantly, loosening his tie. "What are you doing here?"
"Given everything I know about Cedric Kailas, what just happened doesn't make a lick of sense. Let’s just say I came to confirm a few things—information the leader of Cloud really ought to know."
"I have no idea what you’re talking about."
Cedric, feigning ignorance, reached to take off his jacket but paused when his fingers brushed something cold. It was his father’s keepsake, pinned to his lapel.
Edgar grinned. "Didn't I tell you? You'd get it back."
"..."
"I hope it isn't cracked. Some lunatic threw it like a common thug."
Cedric glared at him again, but Edgar lived to provoke him; the look had no effect.
"To be honest, I knew it would come to this ever since Count Laurel's party," Edgar continued. "You should have paid more attention to Miss Harriet sooner."
"Shut up."
"Besides, think of how much you owe her. Not only did she save you from public humiliation, but now she’s even retrieved your late father's keepsake!"
Cedric gave up on replying. He unpinned the brooch from his jacket and placed it in a drawer. Back in its rightful place, the jewelry looked as familiar as if it had never left.
Meanwhile, Edgar’s mouth kept running.
"She really is a fine young lady. Even without parents, her guardian, Lady Fellon, is a woman of high repute. And thanks to your investment, she’s made quite a bit of money. Oh, that’s right! She owns land in Perilas too, doesn't she?"
"Haa. Ed."
"She’s quite easy on the eyes, too. It’s only unfortunate that she’s always compared to the likes of Miss Daphne or Miss Bella. If you look at her on her own, she’s pretty."
"She is beautiful even when standing beside them."
"What? Hahahaha!"
At Cedric’s remark—which didn't even attempt to hide his feelings—Edgar burst into laughter. He never imagined such a sentimental line would come from the mouth of a friend he had long suspected was cold-blooded.
But beneath the laughter, he felt a flicker of genuine concern for Harriet. It wasn't just an empty compliment; he truly believed she was a good person.
"Haa, I haven't laughed this hard in ages. But you won't be able to see her for much longer, will you?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You can't marry her anyway. Miss Harriet is of age now. She’ll have to marry by next year, or the year after at the latest."
"And?"
"If that’s the case, don't string her along. If she stays with you until she’s past marriageable age and then you break it off, it’ll be impossible for her to find another match."
Edgar believed Cedric would eventually choose a partner suited to his title and status for a political marriage. According to every scrap of information he had gathered on Cedric Kailas over the years, that was the only logical path. He brought up Harriet’s need to marry because he hoped Cedric wouldn't be cruel enough to make her a mere mistress.
Cedric sat down, pulled out a velvet cloth, and meticulously wiped the inkwell Edgar had touched before returning it to its spot.
Then, belatedly, he replied.
"It’s too early for such talk. We aren't even in a relationship yet."
"That’s true."
"And Harriet won't accept me easily. She isn't oblivious to the things you're thinking."
"Right. She’s bold, but she doesn't seem like the type to lose herself in fantasies."
"So..."
So, I must set the trap with care and wait. Until she falls into his grasp, unaware she has even been caught, he would slowly and meticulously melt away her suspicions. And one day, when Harriet finally came to her senses, she would find herself in a comfortable bedroom within Kailas Mansion.
"Cedric? Why are you so quiet?"
When Edgar asked, Cedric let out a short, sharp laugh.
"If I’d known following my heart was this much fun, I would've tried it sooner."
"...Is it just me? You look a little terrifying right now."
A slight shiver ran down Edgar’s spine at the bright smile spreading across Cedric’s lips. It was the first time he had ever seen his friend look so genuinely delighted.
* * *
"Hmm..."
The doctor examining Trisha put down his stethoscope and offered a strained, ambiguous smile.
Good news rarely followed an expression like that. Both Roxana and Harriet tensed. Sure enough, he shook his head slightly and delivered the unwelcome verdict.
"It seems she has developed a resistance; the medication is no longer as effective as it once was. The disease’s progression hasn't slowed, and managing the pain is becoming more difficult..."
Roxana let out a soft, pained sigh. Harriet cast a worried glance at Trisha.
Trisha herself, however, seemed unfazed.
"Why are you all looking so glum? It’s only natural to depart when one gets old."
"Grandmother, you’re still young," Harriet protested.
"What’s gotten into you, making jokes? A young person with this many wrinkles? Don't be ridiculous!"
She waved a hand to silence Harriet, then turned her attention back to the doctor.
"So, Lord Atworth. How much time do I have left?"
"If you preserve your health by taking hot spring baths at a resort with a favorable climate, you will feel much better."
"And how much longer would I live then? I’m not asking out of fear. I need to know how much time I have to put my affairs in order, so please, answer without exaggeration."
The doctor hesitated, his voice uncertain. "At the shortest... a year. With exceptional care, I believe up to three years is possible."
Because "a year" was mentioned first, Roxana gasped in shock, and Harriet instinctively covered her mouth. The blow was immense; they had recently been told she would easily last another decade.
But Trisha’s expression remained calm.
"Roxy."
"Yes, Madam."
"I suppose I’ll have to start settling things quickly. Look into finding a trustworthy lawyer and a notary."
"Yes..." Roxana’s voice was thick with reluctance.
After settling the fatigued Trisha back into bed, the doctor, Roxana, and Harriet stepped out of the bedroom to speak in hushed, somber tones.
"Are there no other painkillers?" Roxana asked. "It would be a blessing if we could slow the disease, but if not, I’d at least like to reduce the coughing and the chest pain."
"I am searching everywhere myself," the doctor replied. "I’ve seen a few products I could recommend to the Madam, but they are still under review by the Imperial Family... Please, wait just a little longer."
"I know it’s a burden, but please keep checking."
"And it was no empty suggestion that a hot spring resort would help. The springs in Einspora or Kerkesa are especially potent. Please, try to persuade her."
Roxana thanked him repeatedly for the sincere recommendation. Doctor Jasper Atworth responded with a polite bow, donned his hat, and departed the Fellon Estate.
There was a fair distance from the estate gates to the boulevard where the hired carriages ran, but he always refused the Fellon family’s offer of a ride. He believed that walking was the best medicine for his own health.
As he walked toward the boulevard today, his expression was far from cheerful. Even if it was just his profession, he couldn't be happy about Trisha’s worsening condition given their long history.
If only the new medicine would get approved quickly, I could try it for her... I should stop by the pharmacy and buy some cough suppressants at the very least.
Lost in thought, he pulled out his pocket watch to check the time when a carriage speeding from the opposite direction narrowly brushed past him.
"Whoa!"
He was nearly struck. Though he escaped with his life, he tumbled hard to the ground, his medical bag spilling and his hat rolling away.
As the frantic whinnying of the horses subsided, a man jumped down from the carriage and rushed over.
"Are you alright!"
"Ugh, hey! How can you drive so recklessly when people are walking!"
"I apologize. Truly. If you’re injured, I’ll take you to the hospital at once."
The man, looking flustered, helped Jasper sit on the curb and checked him for injuries. His demeanor was so polite and genuinely distressed that Jasper’s anger cooled.
"I am a doctor. I bruised my knee in the fall, but there are no serious injuries. However, you need to caution your coachman."
"Understood. If you won't go to the hospital, at least let me pay for your treatment or to have your clothes repaired...!"
"It’s fine. Oh, my bag..."
As he looked for his belongings, a woman who had followed the man out of the carriage handed him his bag and hat, which she had already retrieved.
"I am truly sorry," she said. "Please, let us escort you home."
"It’s fine. I have a stop to make on the way."
Jasper stood up, brushed the dust from his clothes, and adjusted his hat. His bag felt strangely light, but in his flustered state, he didn't give it a second thought.
It wasn't until he had trudged all the way to the pharmacy that he realized the truth: his bag had been swapped.