Chapter 54

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 54

Chapter Title: Bern's Reassurance

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Having finished touring the house, the two enjoyed tea time in the garden as they caught up on each other's recent news.

It had been two weeks since the party. They'd tried to make plans several times, but one thing after another had gotten in the way, and today was the first time they'd managed to meet.

"I never dreamed you'd invite me to your home. I figured family would be around, but is it just the Madam here?"

"Father had business outside, and my brother stepped out to meet friends. Even if the whole family were home, I didn't invite you to make you uncomfortable, so relax."

"Hearing that puts my mind at ease. I was already a bit tense, wondering if she didn't quite approve of me."

Bern trailed off sheepishly, and Lucia felt a pang of guilt.

"I'm embarrassed. As the cherished only daughter, I've been spoiled a bit. It's not that she dislikes you— she just doesn't care much for any men connected to me."

"Haha, how endearing. Sounds like your family showers you with love."

Bern chuckled affectionately, but Lucia flushed and looked away in embarrassment.

"Ahem. There's a reason I asked you here today."

Lucia smoothly shifted the topic to the main point. At her gesture, Sein approached, holding the stack of invitations she had sorted through with Julian last time.

Bern's eyes widened at the mountain of invitations.

"Good heavens, are all these invitations?"

"Yes. Announcing the engagement at the party must've had quite the impact. Thanks to that, invitations have been pouring in."

"My, with this many, you'd need ten bodies to handle them all."

"That's why I'm planning to attend only a select few after careful weeding. I showed you these because I wanted your opinion."

"My opinion?"

Most of the invitations weren't addressed to Lucia Agnes, but to the fiancée of Marquis Casper.

Even if it was just a verbal agreement, to the outside world, Lucia was undeniably the Marquis Casper's fiancée.

People would be eager to learn about the woman who might become the future Marchioness Casper, and Lucia had to act accordingly.

Noble society revolved mostly around mutual interests, so there were surely houses friendly to the Casper family and those who weren't.

She couldn't afford to carelessly befriend those hostile to the Caspers, which was why she was being cautious.

Bern nodded quietly, understanding her point. He examined the invitations Lucia had already shortlisted.

"You'd best skip this one. We've had bad blood with them for generations— you wouldn't be welcomed. It's baffling they even sent an invitation."

"You should definitely attend this one. We're pushing a joint venture with them lately, so even a brief appearance would help."

Only after hearing Bern's explanations did Lucia gain more insight into him and his house.

She organized the flood of information in her mind.

"Thank you. I've learned so much thanks to you."

"No need. If you hadn't brought it up, I wouldn't have dreamed of something like this. I'm grateful you told me ahead of time. I get these invitations occasionally too— anything I should watch out for?"

"Hm, nothing in particular for me."

Lucia started to wave it off but paused as something crossed her mind.

She hesitated, then spoke.

"If anything... maybe the rumors about me?"

Bern's eyes widened behind his glasses. Seeing his flustered reaction confirmed he knew about her rumors.

Lucia let out a wry chuckle.

"I'd been wondering when you'd ask about them. Never thought I'd bring it up first."

"Lucia..."

"I assume you know the rumors well enough, so I won't say more."

Bern, who had called her name, clamped his mouth shut. His eyes brimmed with sorrow— not pity, but regret.

"The reason I mentioned it is because of what people might say to you. Given the nature of the rumors, I'm worried they'll say something odd to you."

Lucia lowered her gaze with detached calm.

With her long history of pining for Herwin and the scandals swirling in high society, people would surely question Bern about her.

Some questions might stem from mere curiosity, but mockery was far more likely.

She might be used to it, but Bern wasn't. She didn't want to cause him trouble.

Feeling unnecessarily sorry, Lucia couldn't lift her head. Then, with a soft rustle, a large hand covered hers in her lap.

Looking up, she saw Bern had stood and moved beside her.

His regretful gaze unchanged, he knelt on one knee and looked up at her from his chair.

To Bern, Lucia looked fragile, as if she might scatter away like dandelion seeds. It evoked a familiar image.

He gripped her hand tightly. Contrary to expectation, his hand was quite cold.

"Lucia. Lucia, it's not your fault."

"……"

"So there's no need to apologize or feel sorry. I chose you of my own will. Others' words hold no sway over me."

His golden eyes, visible through his glasses, shone steadfast. They seemed to reflect his upright heart perfectly.

Feeling nothing but his pure sincerity, Lucia smiled faintly.

"You're so upright, Bern."

She glanced down at his hand holding hers.

Compared to Herwin's warm, callused grip, it was smoother with fewer calluses and cold.

His appearance, personality, even body temperature were Herwin's opposites, yet his warm heart mirrored Herwin's so closely it nearly brought tears.

"You've never pried into anything until now, all to spare my feelings, right?"

Bern neither nodded nor replied. But his gentle gaze conveyed affirmation.

"Thank you. You've eased my mind a lot."

Lucia took a deep breath and exhaled. She felt refreshed. With a brighter expression, she continued.

"Last time, you said you chose me because I resemble you, but no matter how I think about it, I can't see what you mean. I still have plenty I haven't opened up about."

Bern pondered for a moment, then stroked her hand.

"I... have a few secrets too. I'm not as upright and honest as you think."

Bern closed his eyes and pressed his lips to her hand. Through the touch, his loneliness seeped in.

It was the opposite of his usual bright, carefree image.

"I hope a day comes when we can bare it all to each other."

She didn't know what he was hiding, but she understood his feelings.

"...Me too."

Instead of words of comfort, Lucia placed her other hand over his.

This was the first moment their hearts truly connected, without pretense.

Whoosh—! Slash! Whoosh— whoosh—!

Fierce winds accompanied sharp blades materializing and vanishing in the air.

The one swinging his sword in a trance was Herwin.

After three straight hours in the same spot swinging nothing but his blade, Jerome grew worried.

Normally, he'd have teased him about what nonsense this was or if he'd lost his mind, but Herwin's mood had been abysmal these past few days.

True to form, he wasn't rampaging or snapping, but the dark aura rippling around him within a one-meter radius kept everyone at bay.

Whoosh—!

Finally, the sword halted in midair.

Herwin wrinkled his nose.

'...I just can't shake this funk.'

Since returning from the party, an inexplicable irritation crawled through his body, and random thoughts cluttered his mind.

He thought of Lucia dozens of times a day— even he found it odd— and recalling her with Bern only amplified his displeasure to unbearable levels.

In the end, he'd swung his sword to clear his head, but it barely helped.

Movement used to refresh him, but now it just exhausted him without satisfaction or fulfillment.

Worse, thoughts of Lucia, which he'd paused, now invaded his mind again, driving him mad.

"...Damn it!"

"Whoa!"

Jerome, who had crept closer, startled as Herwin hurled his sword, and jumped back.

Only then did Herwin notice Jerome and turn to him.

"When did you get here?"

"Since you picked up your sword, Young Master."

Jerome answered curtly as usual but cleared his throat at the sunken gaze.

"Ahem! Young Master, got something bothering you lately?"

"...Nothing."

"If it's nothing, please at least look at us."

As Herwin shot him a baffled look, Jerome vented his pent-up frustrations.

"Your bad mood's cast a gloom over the whole estate. I can hardly breathe. And swinging your sword for hours daily— people are saying you've gone mad... Oops."

Chattering away, Jerome belatedly realized his slip and clamped his mouth.

"I-I mean, that's not what I intended. It's just that you're acting so out of character..."

"...Do I seem that insane?"

Expecting anger, Jerome had squeezed his eyes shut, but he blinked open at the unexpectedly deflated tone. Herwin now wore a detached expression.

"...You're not mad, right?"

"No."

A heavy silence fell. As Jerome sweated bullets in the awkward air, Herwin spoke up.

"I have something to ask you."

"Yes? Ah, sure! What is it?"

"It's not about me— it's about a friend of mine..."

Jerome gave him a baffled look, but Herwin didn't notice and continued.

"He has a childhood friend who's liked him for a long time. But a few days ago, she suddenly showed up with a fiancé."

'This has to be... about the Young Master.'

He'd tried to disguise it, but Jerome knew it was Herwin's story.

"The childhood friend clearly liked my friend but brought her fiancé without a word. Then she told him they should just be close friends now."

"Ahem, I see. Is your friend confused right now?"

"Confused? ...Yeah, confused if that's what you call it."

Herwin muttered, thinking of his own bizarre symptoms.

"So what's your question?"

"My question?"

"Yeah, you're consulting me, right? Tell me what's bugging you so I can answer."

Herwin stood dumbfounded before recalling what he wanted to ask.

But his mind was too tangled to pinpoint what answer he sought.

As Herwin faltered, Jerome sighed softly.

"Let me sum up: Your friend has a childhood friend who liked him for years, but one day she shows up with a fiancé. Now he's confused and flustered."

"Yeah."

"So even knowing she liked him all that time, he never reciprocated?"

"Right?"

"And now that she's brought a fiancé, he's suddenly confused?"

Herwin nodded, and Jerome grimaced in disdain.

Seeing the contemptuous look, Herwin instinctively stepped back.

"The childhood friend got fed up and gave up."