Chapter 17

There was a sharp edge hidden beneath Cedric’s blunt reply.

Eileen shot him an incredulous look, then paused. Instead, she softened her voice as if trying to calm him down.

“Count Cassier cut off all contact with the outside world.”

“You could have told me about your family situation before it got this bad.”

But if she had confided in him…

Would he really have listened? Would he have understood?

Eileen wasn’t sure.

When she remained silent for a long moment, Cedric turned his gaze toward the carriage window, his displeasure obvious.

“Cedric, I couldn’t ask someone else to carry my burdens for me. Especially not someone I barely knew.”

“We’re not complete strangers.”

“Maybe not. But we’re not exactly close, either.”

Knowing someone meant feeling responsible for them. And Eileen didn’t have the courage to take responsibility for Cedric’s life.

That was why she didn’t want his responsibility, either—whether half of it or all of it.

“I already have enough people I need to protect. Including Diana. Adding one more person won’t change anything.”

The moment Diana’s name came up, Eileen’s heart sank.

That single name carried far too much weight.

“…You said she’s important to you.”

“She is. Protecting Diana and House Lowell—that’s the most important thing in my life.”

But Eileen knew that Diana would eventually part ways with the Lowell family.

It would drive Cedric into despair and ultimately lead to his downfall.

The Cedric Lowell of today possessed a strong pride in his family, a deep sense of responsibility, and an unwavering vision of his role.

Eileen hoped he would never lose those values.

Watching someone so bright and steadfast collapse because of a single person would be unbearably cruel.

“Don’t forget what matters most. Protecting House Lowell.”

Cedric looked at her as if he didn’t understand what she meant, but that was all she could say for now.

She wanted him to remember who he was at this moment—the man who honored his father’s wishes and had vowed to protect his family.

The moment they arrived at the ducal estate, Cedric jumped out of the carriage—

And promptly collapsed.

“Cedric!”

To be precise, he leaped down with complete confidence, staggered two steps, dropped to one knee, and then toppled sideways.

Fortunately, none of his subordinates witnessed him in a more pathetic state than that.

“Young Master! Are you all right?”

“Get him inside! Call a physician!”

Eileen nearly blurted out, Move that idiot inside already, but managed to suppress the urge for the sake of her dignity.

“I’ll help support him.”

The veil covering her face restricted her vision, forcing her to turn her head.

That was when she noticed a young brown-haired knight helping the half-conscious Cedric.

That man...

His face seemed familiar.

Then she remembered.

He was the knight Cedric had assigned to guard her room.

Several other knights had joined them during their escape from Cassier territory, but Cedric had personally given orders to him first and instructed the others through him.

If Cedric trusted him enough for that—enough to take over Cassel’s role when necessary—

Then he must be someone Cedric trusted deeply.

Eileen stared at him for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

What kind of stubbornness made you follow him all the way to Cassier territory...?

Once the commotion settled, only Eileen and a handful of ducal knights remained outside.

Through the thin veil, her sharp green eyes were faintly visible, making it difficult for anyone to approach her.

Eileen simply stared in the direction Cedric had disappeared, lost in thought and unaware of the knights around her.

“Um...”

The knights honestly had little idea what was going on.

All they had been told was that Cedric would be returning to the duchy with Eileen.

And even as ducal knights, they couldn’t treat the duke’s fiancée carelessly.

Still, even from a distance, Eileen projected an aura that discouraged conversation. Unlike the noble ladies of the capital, she carried a cold and intimidating presence.

“Where is Sir Cassel?”

The moment she turned her gaze toward them, the knights panicked.

The question sounded almost like a reprimand.

Why did you leave her alone?

“Where’s the vice-captain?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? That’s your answer?”

“Go find him! Hurry!”

They tried to whisper among themselves, but Eileen heard every word.

There was no hiding it.

Even that much gave her a rough idea of the atmosphere within House Lowell.

Perhaps Cedric’s unusually approachable nature came from growing up in such an environment.

Just as Eileen seriously considered going inside and searching for Cassel herself, he came running toward them, looking exhausted.

“My apologies. I didn’t realize the Young Master would leave so early.”

“No, I should be the one apologizing. I keep giving you more work.”

“Not at all. I’ve spent my entire life cleaning up after the Young Master’s messes. Ah, though I certainly don’t mean to imply that Lady Eileen is a problem.”

His words clearly suggested that Cedric had caused plenty of trouble growing up.

With a deep sigh, Cassel gestured toward the mansion.

“Please come inside.”

He led her through the estate.

Everything was neat and orderly, yet strangely devoid of warmth or signs of daily life.

“...I understand. You don’t have to explain. This isn’t Cedric’s fault.”

Eileen’s voice gradually faded.

Cassel was probably wondering why she had arrived at the ducal estate so early in the morning.

An explanation was necessary.

Yet the words refused to come easily.

“How much have you heard? About why I’m here.”

“I heard that the Young Master left without saying anything and later collapsed. The other knights only know that you’ll be staying here for the time being, my lady.”

“I see...”

She let out a deep sigh, causing her veil to flutter slightly.

If recklessly throwing himself into danger was a talent, then Cedric unquestionably possessed it.

If someone asked whether she disliked that trait...

Honestly, she didn’t.

In fact, she almost wanted to defend him, to argue that his actions had meaning—

At least to her.

Eileen stopped walking and, without hesitation, lifted her veil.

“Well then...”

Cassel’s reaction was not much different from Cedric’s earlier.

His eyes lingered on her bruised cheek before dropping to her split lip.

Then he hurriedly looked away, visibly shaken.

His mouth opened and closed several times, but no words came out.

“Who... Who did this to you...?”

“Count Cassier.”

Eileen answered the question he couldn’t bring himself to ask.

Her hand trembled slightly as she lowered the veil once more.

Pretending to be fine didn’t mean she actually was.

She was simply too exhausted—

Too exhausted even to grieve properly.

“...This must be reported.”

“To whom?”

Where would they report it?

And how?

Even Cedric, furious as he had been, had ultimately remained silent.

At worst, news of the incident would spread as little more than rumors about Count Cassier.

Cedric could be careless at times, but when it mattered, he saw reality more clearly than anyone.

That was what made him so difficult to understand.

“His Majesty will take action if he learns of this.”

“His Majesty hasn’t appeared in public for a very long time.”

“But the Crown Prince is still here, isn’t he?”

“The Crown Prince considers the Cassier family an important source of investment. Count Cassier spends mountains of gold to strengthen the legitimacy of his status and maintain his noble standing.”

Count Cassier was no fool.

He squeezed every coin possible from the family’s gold mines, using wealth on a scale no other house could rival to purchase influence.

“Even if the duchy protested using my future position as leverage, they’d dismiss it as a family matter and tell us to settle it privately.”

As was often the case among noble families, matters like these would ultimately be reduced to a dispute over money.