What Remains at the End of Regret - Chapter 35

Varner, seeing Catherine approaching Edmund, bowed his head in greeting and left the room.

Catherine, who had been following Varner with her eyes, made sure he was completely gone before approaching Edmund with a light step. Her comfortable chiffon dress rustled softly as she drew closer.

“Are you very busy?”

“The important matters have been concluded. Is there something you need to see me about?”

Edmund, twisting the cap of his fountain pen closed, placed the pen on the desk and looked up at Catherine. The painfully red hair came into view first, followed by the artificial scent of roses permeating his breath.

“The weather is lovely. I was hoping we could take a tour of Fobert together.”

Catherine anxiously swallowed and watched Edmund’s reaction.

‘Capture the Duke’s heart.’

Before leaving for the Lockberg estate, her father had given Catherine a simple but difficult mission with an indifferent expression.

‘Just enough to not interfere with the grand plan.’

Usurp the throne.

The first day she learned of her father’s intentions, Catherine had jumped up in shock and screamed, trembling with a vague sense of dread. But after several days, after calculating the benefits and losses she would gain from the changes that success would bring, Catherine finally had the will to participate in the plan.

She was confident enough. If she gained the Duke’s trust and made him surely hers, the rebellion would become a revolution.

But more than anything, those things were not what mattered to Catherine.

“For now, that is.”

Edmund Lockberg. A man who sent shivers down her spine from head to toe, a man who should be entirely hers. For that reason, Catherine was determined to perfectly fulfill the mission given to her.

“I think I’ll be free in an hour.”

Edmund glanced at the watch on his wrist and tilted his chin.

“I’ll wait. I need to prepare as well.”

This was enough gain for now.

Catherine, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips, left with a goodbye, retreating to prepare.

In the place where Catherine had stood, a strong perfume scent lingered, almost sickeningly so.

Edmund pushed back his chair, rose, and approached the window at the back, opening it.

He usually used perfume without much hesitation. A weighty yet moderately cool scent was one way to make a good impression on others. Edmund had always placed high value on people who knew how to use such things appropriately.

As the door opened, the now-familiar scent of the sea rushed in, instantly pushing out the air.

Even so, the reason why he felt a sense of rejection towards the strangely unfamiliar scent was probably because he had become accustomed to this terrible countryside.

Edmund put aside the unnecessary thoughts and sat back down in front of the documents. He had a rather tight schedule to review the remaining documents before the time he had promised the Grand Duchess.

After completing all the approvals on the documents and finishing the preparations to pick her up, it was close to the appointed time.

Edmund, escorting Catherine politely, guided her into the car, and they remained quietly in the peaceful silence of the car as it smoothly departed. Catherine was the first to take the lead in the conversation.

“I heard it was a small town, so I didn’t expect much, but at least the scenery is worth seeing. Do you also like the sea, Duke?”

“I do not.”

“Oh, my. Isn’t the Duke the hero who defended the Black Sea front?”

“Not all sailors like the sea.”

Catherine, who had said she wanted to see Fobert, occasionally took in the scenery visible through the window and offered simple impressions.

Just about worth seeing. A trivial comment was the entirety of her description of the scenery.

Before they knew it, they had passed through downtown Fobert and slowly descended to the beach. Catherine and Edmund got out of the car and began walking along the well-groomed stone path next to the sandy beach.

With the sea on one side and Fobert’s shops lined up on the other, the coast made for a good walking path.

“I don’t think you’re unaware. The reason why your grandmother gave me this special opportunity.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

“What are your thoughts, Duke?”

Catherine asked the man, who was quietly watching the surging waves, with anticipation. As the waves continued to ripple for a long time, Catherine also sent a soft smile to the sea, waiting for his answer.

＊ ＊ ＊

“I’m going out for a bit!”

Betty’s patience, who had been trying to read the carefully chosen book several times with concentration, following Vivian who had finished cleaning and picked up a book, had finally reached its limit. Betty, who had repeatedly dozed off and startled awake, twisted her stiff waist from sitting for a long time and said.

“Okay, go ahead.”

“I’ll be back before sunset!”

As Betty left, the quiet bookstore was filled with even deeper silence.

For once, a perfect holiday without any disturbances was complete.

After neatly putting away the scattered books and dusting off the light layer of dust that had accumulated over several days of being empty, it was already a little past noon.

After meticulously cleaning and sharing the sandwiches that Chef Hans had packed with Betty, a subtle drowsiness crept in.

The reason why she was straining her eyes to avoid falling asleep was because she couldn’t bear not seeing the ending of this book.

The book was a collection of mystery novels that had been serialized in a famous monthly magazine, and the plot was very exciting. She couldn’t let her guard down in the parts where the culprit appeared, and only after the culprit was finally revealed by the detective protagonist could Vivian afford to relax her gaze.

Vivian blinked and carefully placed the book she was holding on the desk. She put a bookmark in almost the last chapter of the book and carefully closed it.

The drowsiness she had struggled to endure until the culprit appeared rushed in all at once, unbearably so.

It would be a while before Betty came back.

To estimate the time, Vivian folded her fingers one by one. It seemed like she could afford to be a little lazy now.

There weren’t many people who visited Ren’s bookstore on a regular basis anyway, so Vivian decided to take a nap with peace of mind, placing her arm comfortably on the book and gently resting her head on it.

Surely Grandpa Ren couldn’t resist the drowsy sunlight either.

The gentle scent of water wafted in, and the sunlight was moderately warm. Thanks to eating the sandwich, her stomach was full. It would be hard to find a better environment for taking a nap than this.

The best conditions. After thinking that far, Vivian closed her eyes tightly without hesitation.

Low breaths soon covered the bookstore regularly.

The unexpected commotion broke in the moment Vivian caught the culprit in a dream that continued from the novel.

Just as Vivian swallowed hard to finally confirm the culprit’s face, the sound of the bookstore door’s bell suddenly rang, announcing a visitor.

Ting-a-ling.

Startled by the sound that had crossed the boundary of consciousness, Vivian jumped up. The bustling movement soon created a noisy commotion.

Thump!

A thick book fell to the floor. Vivian quickly picked up the book and came out of the study area, smiling brightly to greet the guest.

“Welcome…”

The words that hadn’t yet flowed out lingered at the end of her lips.

“Oh, welcome.”

“I was just going to look around for a bit.”

Vivian’s confused gaze reached the Duke. But unlike her, Vivian’s heart dropped as she saw the Duke’s face, which was expressionless enough to not feel even a bit of embarrassment.

Why is the Duke here?

Vivian swallowed the question she couldn’t dare to ask and slowly turned her head to look at the beautiful woman standing next to the Duke.

“Is that alright?”

So, beautiful…

It was a lady who seemed to have fully embodied the appearance Vivian had been trying to achieve.

Even to Vivian, who didn’t know much, the woman seemed like a very high-ranking noble. A lady with the noble grace that Mrs. Purin used to talk about. Perhaps the woman’s appearance at the end of that learning pierced Vivian’s blue eyes sharply.

Her hair, piled high, looked as soft as silk, and her glamorous features were refreshingly open, making her a typical Argent beauty to anyone who saw her. Her voice and tone, asking tentatively as if seeking an answer, were very beautiful and elegant.

The Duke and a beautiful woman.

It was a picturesque scene. Like a pair of lovers who couldn’t be more well-matched.

The Duke, who had offered one arm, was treating the woman with an elegant and courteous attitude that he had never shown her. That sight made Vivian feel inexplicably upset and awkward, so she lowered her head deeply.

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