Bab 119: [Chapter 119] There was no way not to like it
"The horse has gone mad!"
"Watch out!"
Suddenly, the surroundings became chaotic. Catherine, struggling to control her body as if she might fall off the horse at any moment, managed to contain herself while smiling with a hint of regret.
Her whole body was already numb, but it was worth it. If there were eyes, they couldn't miss this commotion.
And wasn't it already determined who was riding around in this area?
From all sides, the sound of the skilled rider's horse hooves rapidly approached. The voice that had suddenly come right behind her spoke softly.
"Release the reins."
"N-No... I..."
Catherine responded with a bewildered voice, as if she didn't understand what was happening. Shortly after, a strong arm grabbed Catherine's waist. Catherine smoothly transitioned to the other person's words as naturally as possible.
"Whoa!"
As she safely transitioned, the rider slowed down the speed of the horse. Bella ran wildly with her lighter body.
"Ahh!"
A kitchen maid who was in Bella's path screamed. Hee-hee-hee! The extended legs of the horse, reaching out, were about to trample the maid to death.
Thud.
With a heavy sound, the chestnut horse fell to the ground. A knight who rushed over drew his sword and slashed the horse's neck.
Only then did the horse that saved Catherine come to a stop. She raised her tear-streaked face.
"T-Thank you."
There was no response. However, Catherine didn't care about such things. She was well aware of the fact that the man who saved her, Eadan Pickering, was gruff.
Now was the crucial moment. Catherine's eyes slowly turned towards Bella. The snow, starting to fall lightly, melted into the gruesome puddles of blood.
"B-Bella..."
She shed tears as if deeply shocked. Eadan silently helped her down.
Creaking. Without caring about her ruined dress, she approached the dead Bella. She covered her face and silently sobbed. It was a heart-wrenching sight, almost pitiful to watch.
"Was she a cherished horse?"
The stablehand approached and offered a handkerchief. Catherine wiped away her tears with a thankful gesture.
"She was my only family left in the world... We've been together since I was a child. Why... all of a sudden..."
It was true that Bella had been with Catherine since childhood. They were closer than anyone else. Seeing Bella dead like this chilled a corner of her heart.
But at the same time, Catherine was convinced that Bella would be happy in the afterlife. Anyway... couldn't she do that much to ensure her family's well-being?
"I see. You must have been very surprised. Let's go inside for now. Your clothes are all soaked with snow."
"Oh... Before that, I must thank Sir Eadan. He saved me."
Catherine wiped away all her tears without energy, then slapped her cheeks as if to regain her composure. With a determined smile, she looked back."
Amidst the commotion, only two men on horseback suddenly rode up through the crowd. One of them was Eadan, and the other was the Duke.
A face as beautiful as a sculpture.
Handsome lips with an enigmatic smile.
Catherine felt as if she were being drawn into the Duke's gray eyes. Thump, thump. For the first time in a long while, her heart raced wildly. Despite calculating and observing, could she be drawn in like this?
The Duke glanced at Catherine briefly before turning his gaze to Eadan.
"You saved her."
It sounded regretful, but even Catherine found his voice charming. Eadan replied gruffly.
"I couldn't let her die right in front of me."
"Understood. Get rid of that."
The Duke gestured towards the lifeless Bella. Servants quickly rushed to attend to the horse's body.
Catherine didn't miss the timing.
"Your Grace!"
The impertinence of a low-born person addressing a nobleman with such familiarity was unacceptable in any social circle. However, Catherine knew that boldness to disregard etiquette when necessary was also required.
As the Duke was about to turn his head, he paused. Even that movement was beautiful and graceful. Catherine quickly approached him and appealed with sincere eyes.
"Um, I've been causing a great inconvenience, and I've always felt heavy-hearted for not being able to express my gratitude. If it's alright, I would like to visit and properly thank you."
She then elegantly curtsied towards Eadan.
"Thank you for saving me, Sir. If it's alright, I would appreciate it if you could make time for me next time. Even though the situation is... right now."
With a tear-stained face, a skirt stained with blood at the hem, Catherine's situation was clearly one that warranted heartfelt gratitude.
Eadan nodded in a knightly manner, but Cledwyn either didn't hear or didn't react to the people's words. Yet, even that lack of response felt alluring.
'If I have him, he'll be entirely mine.'
Even if she were to act out multiple ideal types, would Cledwyn Mainland be the only one out of a hundred men who would fall for it? Catherine felt a surge of determination.
Then it happened.
Cledwyn's gaze fixed somewhere, and his lips curled up slightly. The change in expression was subtle, but the cold impression from before completely disappeared, replaced by a dazzling admiration.
Having received similar gazes many times before, Catherine knew well. That was the face of a man in love.
Concealing her chilly gaze, Catherine looked in the direction Cledwyn's gaze was fixed on. Nearys Trued, who had come down to investigate the disturbance, was watching them from a distance.
'What should I do?'
As their eyes met, Catherine smiled broadly. Being a woman who never failed to attract men, she had never failed to win over a man with a master. Moreover, in a situation that wasn't even a formal engagement...
As Catherine expected, Nearys turned her head and began to enter the building. A woman with such pride and strength wouldn't come running recklessly to interfere, would she?
Turning her head back to Cledwyn, Catherine tried to continue the conversation.
"I..."
But when she opened her mouth, he had already leaped off the horse.
"Just a moment!"
Before the voice could be heard, Nerys had already disappeared. Cledwyn walked briskly after her with his long legs.
'Is he ignoring me now?'
Catherine let out a hollow laugh internally. Cledwyn acted as if she wasn't even visible.
However, she didn't want to show others that she was upset about the treatment. Catherine forced a smile, conscious of the gazes around her. Then she turned to Eadan.
"Um, Your Grace. I want to say it again. Thank you sincerely."
"You already thanked me earlier."
Eadan replied gruffly. Catherine tilted her head in what she thought was the most pitiful angle and pouted.
"Still, I received such great help. If you could spare a moment next time, I would like to express my gratitude. Please. ...Is that possible?"
'If you could spare a moment'... It was difficult to refuse even with such conditions. Eadan, being polite, nodded.
"Understood."
"Good. Thank you. Well then, I'll go see Bella."
Catherine curtsied once again and then ran towards the direction where the servants were clearing the horse's body. She tried to hold back her tears as they poured down.
The stablehand who approached Eadan nudged him.
"She's not an ordinary girl."
Eadan didn't understand the language but nodded.
---
"Don't get angry.
Nerys was running away without even realizing it. From the scene where Catherine Haricot and Cledwyn exchanged greetings, and from her own heart.
It seemed like there were voices calling her from the surroundings, but it was hard to perceive them properly. It was too dizzying.
Don't get angry.
She just murmured that to herself. The sight of the snow falling quickly passed by the snowy garden.
'I have no right to be jealous.'
Anyway, what did Catherine and Cledwyn do?
And even if they did something, where was the reason to get angry?
It was Nerys herself who said, 'I don't like you at all.' Because she no longer liked him and wanted him to be interested in another woman.
But it wasn't true.
There was no way she didn't like him at all. It couldn't be okay. There was no way she wouldn't feel jealous!
"Nerys!"
Someone called her name. Nerys stopped as if her hand was being held.
White snowflakes fell from the sky. Cledwyn was looking at her.
And Nerys wasn't really jealous of Catherine talking to Cledwyn. What she was jealous of was...
'A woman who would stand by his side in the distant future.'
Cledwyn would never toy with the Tiphian Viscount again, so Catherine Haricot could never become the Duchess, no matter what. But someday, a good woman would come into his life.
A lovely, warm, and capable woman.
A woman who would give him many children, as there was no trustworthy heir left in the world for Cledwyn.
The fact that it wasn't her was terribly unpleasant. However, Nerys concealed all those feelings.
Contrary to Cledwyn's judgment, she was good at lying.
At least no one else had ever said such things to her.
Even if she had to bear the blame, she was enough to bear it alone.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone