Chapter 178
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 178
‘Back then, my greatest fear was that you’d see through me and run away…’
Now, he resented her for not knowing at all. To think the first words out of her mouth, right after they had finally confirmed their feelings for one another, were: "Let’s change our contract relationship to a fixed-term one."
And yet, the most frustrating thing about this woman was that she remained so utterly lovely.
Cedric looked down at Harriet, who offered a shy smile after a small misstep on the dance floor. He clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to show just how much he adored her.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered clearing up the misunderstanding the moment he realized Harriet was misinterpreting his intentions. But if he had, he might have lost even this 'fixed-term' arrangement—or the original 'contract' they had planned.
‘Harriet’s past is nothing like mine.’
Since birth, Cedric had always been able to obtain anything he desired. Harriet, however, had lived a life where everything she possessed was snatched away, and everything she wanted was burned before her eyes. She had fallen into an abyss and clung to a single stroke of luck, painstakingly clawing her way up that cliff to reach the heights where she stood now.
A person who had lived such a life was bound to be defensive. She had to be, simply to survive.
He had known the moment they met to attend the party today that Harriet regarded their feelings as nothing more than a passing breeze. He saw it in her natural, smiling face—as if nothing life-changing had happened between them.
Confessing "I love you, I want to marry you" to a woman like that would only lead to a wall. She would surely say something like, "We can't be together anyway."
‘I can’t let her slip away.’
Cedric pulled Harriet into a closer embrace under the guise of leading her through the dance. Her cheeks were pleasantly flushed. He loved this unpredictable lady who seemed a little surprised by his touch but didn't struggle to pull away. He couldn't let her go now.
‘Don't be hasty. I need to put every ounce of effort into this until she truly trusts me.’
It wouldn't be too late to confess once he had earned that trust. By then, Harriet wouldn't doubt their future together, and she wouldn't easily give up on this love, no matter what trials came their way.
And he would make sure that day wasn't far off.
* * *
That night, as rumors of her passionate affair with Cedric set the capital ablaze, Harriet was summoned by Trisha. Despite the late hour, the older woman was still very much awake.
Feeling like a criminal caught in the act, Harriet entered Trisha’s room to find her sipping tea, wrapped in a thick, elegant shawl.
“You're here? Sit.”
Harriet had worried she might be scolded for keeping the secret, but Trisha’s expression was far from stern. Rather, it was a peculiar mix of anticipation and keen interest.
“I just heard the news.”
“Great-aunt. That, um…”
“My friends truly have nothing better to do, I swear. Spreading rumors before the sun is even up.”
“Ha… haha…”
Harriet didn't know how to respond and could only manage an awkward laugh. Trisha, meanwhile, remained utterly relaxed. She seemed genuinely excited by the news of her grandniece's first romance—a real one, not a manufactured scandal.
“Are you two truly serious?”
Harriet caught the subtle weight behind the question. For a moment, she hesitated, unsure which 'truth' to provide, but she eventually nodded.
A genuine blush, not a feigned one, rose to her cheeks—the natural result of starting a real romance. At that, Trisha let out a hearty laugh.
“Ahahaha! Heavens. It seems my instincts haven't dulled yet. I’ve had a feeling that fellow was fond of you for quite some time.”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, don't look so surprised! Honestly, if it weren't for that, the things Duke Kailas did for you wouldn't make a lick of sense.”
“Ah, r-right… Haha…”
Trisha looked positively thrilled now.
“When you first came to my house from the convent, that fellow asked me about you. It seemed odd even then. I wondered why he'd inquire about a girl he had no particular connection to.”
“We weren't anything to each other back then. In fact, we were more like… avoiding each other.”
“Cautious people often find it hard to admit they've fallen in love at first sight. Sometimes they even mistake it for dislike.”
Harriet thought Trisha was jumping to conclusions, and the thought made her deeply uncomfortable. She hated the idea of eventually disappointing her great-aunt, who was so clearly delighted.
‘How upset will Great-aunt be when this short romance ends?’
Imagining the older woman sighing over her grandniece’s 'failed' marriage prospects left a bitter taste in Harriet's mouth. Still, she couldn't confess the truth. If Trisha knew this was a romance born of a contract, she wouldn't stand idly by. She might go straight to the Duke and grab him by the collar.
Fortunately, Trisha’s excitement was tempered by wisdom.
“You and Duke Kailas are quite well-suited. You share certain traits, and you complement each other in others.”
“Hmm, I don't think the rest of the world sees it that way.”
“Of course, if you only consider status and circumstances, it's absurd. Everyone knows that.” Her teasing smile faded slightly. “He's the one who accepted the conditions, and I'm not interested in his motives. What worries me more are the things you will have to face.”
“What kind of things?”
“Cedric Kailas is not an easy man to handle. He is a deep thinker, and his relationships are a tangled web. The biggest problem is that I have no idea what his true intentions are.”
Harriet couldn't help but agree. If only she could peek inside his head, she might finally find some peace of mind.
“And such a man chose you. Of course, you made a choice as well, but objectively speaking, Duke Kailas's will played the significant role in this matter.”
At those words, Harriet felt a prick of conscience. Indeed, a seasoned veteran of high society was not to be underestimated.
“I still cannot guess what price you'll have to pay for this.”
“Don't worry too much. I intend to take it lightly.”
“Lightly?”
“It's just… a romance like any other. Even if we break up, it'll just be a breakup. There will be other people.”
Trisha let out a long sigh.
“It won't be that simple. If he were just the eldest son of an ordinary family, I might have let it be. But Cedric is the Duke of Kailas.”
“…”
“Moreover, all the recent major events have passed through his hands. National interest in him has peaked. Not long ago, I even heard talk that Duke Kailas's marriage was more important to the state than the Imperial Prince's.”
Harriet's head began to ache. Listening to Trisha, she started to wonder if she hadn't done something incredibly foolish.
But her great-aunt wasn't finished.
“Even without all that, this is the first romance for the Empire's most eligible bachelor at the prime age for marriage. And the object of his affection is you—someone who, in the eyes of the world, is 'insufficient' to be a Duchess.”
“Yes… I understand what you're saying, Great-aunt.”
“Nonsense. You don't understand at all.” As wrinkles formed between her brows, Trisha’s expression shifted into that of a stern matriarch. “When people around you disparage you, you'll just laugh it off and say, ‘Yes, I suppose so.’ If Cedric breaks up with you, you'll accept it and say, ‘Yes, of course.’ And even if your reputation plummets in the process, you'll just shrug it off.”
“Isn't that… unavoidable?”
“You foolish girl. What I mean is: don't do that!” Trisha slapped the tea table lightly with her palm. “You'll face a mountain of opposition while you're with him. Honestly, I want to stop you. The only reason I don't is because this could also be a massive opportunity for you.”
“An opportunity?”
“Even if it doesn't lead to marriage, hold your head high and live with dignity. Act as if everything Cedric owns is yours. No matter what situation arises, do not back down. If you do that, people will be forced to treat you differently.”
Harriet chewed her lip, slowly organizing her thoughts. She understood what Trisha was saying. She realized now that Cedric had prepared another gift for her, beyond Bella's downfall.
‘He thought of even this.’
Becoming the lover of a man at the pinnacle of power was an event significant enough to completely erase her previous image as a 'scandal maker.' Even if they broke up, no one would associate her with her past petty rumors. The label 'Former Lover of Duke Kailas' would be a badge of honor, a shield against the ton.
It felt like a luxury—and a bit bitter—that she had to borrow his name to fix her own. Cedric would surely hear remarks like, 'After all that picking and choosing, he ended up with Harriet Listerwell?' He had taken her hand knowing his own reputation would take a hit.
One wrong move could lead to ruin, but Cedric had promised. He wouldn't let her get hurt. He would protect her.
If so, all that remained was to properly play the part of his lover and help Cedric achieve whatever benefits he desired from this arrangement. To achieve her revenge and restore her reputation in exchange for dreaming a sweet, brief dream—wasn't that a profitable deal?
‘So, I’ll enjoy this unbelievable stroke of luck, but I won't get lost in sentiment. Once the goal is achieved, the relationship ends. I mustn't forget that.’
Harriet vowed this to herself repeatedly, as if soothing the frustrated knot in her stomach. For now, she would focus on her revenge against Bella and John. She wouldn't let herself think too much about Cedric.