SMR | Chapter 04
by Luna~Chapter 04~479402201d40301c
Aston asked Bella with a face full of curiosity as if he was dying to know. At his words, the expressions of the Viscount Listerwell and his wife mirrored Aston’s curiosity.981badefbd0b505b
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When they first heard Bella’s plan to “pin a brooch on Harriet’s dress, a brooch that she couldn’t even dream of owning,” they thought Bella would handle it well and didn’t ask many questions. But if the brooch’s owner was the Duke of Kailas, it became a different story.d45181d0860cc5d7
“I’m curious too, Bella,” said John.5433a54f949ac665
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“Pffft!” Bella burst into laughter as if remembering something amusing.1e0b6786c126c665
“Originally, I planned to use the brooch of the eldest son of the Cheslow Count family. Lambert Jr. had stolen it for me, specifically for this purpose.”a5c7bc8d4afbeff6
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Even with a 58f95cbb5d brooch from the 3e0d2c81e0 Cheslow family, Harriet c07b636e73 would have been 17d3eda6c1 scorned. After all, the 6c472a4a8e owner of the 1f52a115b7 brooch, James Cheslow, 4ea483f20d was the long-time 10bf2e1b5c fiancé of Daphne 88e362f48a Laurel, another well-known 57444c0c0c beauty of the 016451c611 social scene.2fde93379016674a
“But then I got lucky! I was trying to get the Duke of Kailas’s attention, you know, to make an impression.”436784b37fb522af
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Bella had been hovering eb69cef518 around Cedric, mingling with 227033f2f5 people trying to shake bfb189421c hands with the star 068db8816a of the party.0bb09c4a3bc5badc
‘Why won’t anyone step f926bccd9a aside and let me f6b9020be6 through?’ab76b6affbcbe1a5
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She stared daggers f4ae1d85f3 at the backs ad5e0d506c of the old 70daf94a42 nobles, who showed 90395d4a5e no intention of eea1e3ee6f giving up their 8407702f89 spots. Just then, someone called 925f7f1f70 out to Cedric from ec55009b40 behind, and as he a4f5d6052b twisted his body to 4be2a87053 turn, Bella saw something e638f99809 glittering fall from his 1ee3cef57b chest.547d8f976d131603
Neither Cedric, who had 35e8665962 turned his gaze, nor 0cabe4587a the people in front 1af0677ae7 of him noticed that f761662444 something had dropped, as d3f0ecfa6c they were too busy 4ef789c0bb trying to see who 993a56791e had called Cedric.3ea617f736d1efbf
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“It was a bit tricky picking it up without getting caught, but I pretended my shoes were hurting and bent down to grab it.”9f52f10ce62b6e95
“Wow, you’re amazing, Bella Listerwell!” Aston exclaimed.2ee6f545677f5d47
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“Don’t get cheeky with your sister, Aston,” Bella teased, wrinkling her nose at her brother. But she didn’t look the least bit upset.90e50238f7043df9
“Then, when the lights went out at the party, I quickly pinned the brooch onto Harriet and waited nearby, acting like I knew nothing.”a28a50797afde90d
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“You were the one who told the Duke, weren’t you?” Aston asked.94c5cd3305f322d5
“Who else could it have been? I was the only one who knew Harriet had the brooch.”c00be4a53714eaa3
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But Bella’s 7dd39d26f6 expression stiffened 4422c5c3f9 slightly as a1b7cd3dda she recalled fff225e37c that moment.f9b0dbc2d220bea1
“I heard you lost a brooch. I’m sorry, but could you describe it?” Bella had approached Cedric, but despite her youthful beauty, which any man would find appealing, he didn’t smile at her. However, it seemed he was in a hurry to find the brooch, so he calmly described its appearance.476ba327b829ca4a
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“It’s a 50-carat emerald-cut ruby brooch, surrounded by diamonds.”3c7120f3ed49a634
Of course, 8ed0eca7a6 Bella already 115c958218 knew. It wasn’t e12c8dda7e her style, 02da307418 but the a2b14ef49e gem was feeac1bda0 so dazzling 7c39f92f92 that her 87feb5b19e heart raced 9fa64bb8a9 when she 40d40077b5 saw it.b6927971b87dbb20
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Bella, feigning uncertainty, said awkwardly, “Um… earlier, my cousin was showing off a brooch she received, and it looked similar to the one you described. It might not be yours, but…”afe6f08349707ba6
“And why would you suspect your cousin?” Cedric had asked.a80ce0dc8d97e479
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“Oh, it’s not that I’m suspecting her exactly…” Bella hesitated, struggling to find the right words. Luckily, Carolyn, who was standing nearby, kindly stepped in.650068ad76ebd056
She explained 19679640de that Harriet a048b2f2aa was infamous 20d4d8d5fe for chasing 48c229e236 after men 2e2af42236 who liked 3a4d4024de Bella, sending c9653e8536 love letters, 54751280a9 or flirting 795807f168 with them. It was d571bd22bd a well-known 5717a85f5e scandal in cacb138c3d social circles. No man would eb340bce5c confess his love 3288bdea68 to Harriet, and fc398cbc4a even if someone b869c87ffa did, they wouldn’t 97740c6ca2 openly pin their 935cac8fc8 brooch on her 5e87164cd7 like that.9a207cde9415c099
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“And after that, well, everyone knows what happened.”40aa6663edfdcef6
When Bella found out 9b87cb0f72 the brooch was a 7a319c6936 keepsake from the late a95e4de4da Duke, even she had 38373f32a0 been shocked. But as 36168bba1f expected, Cedric fc977f2de9 didn’t make 10fd5d57af a big 0aa1c77942 deal out dcfa1f11c7 of it.07b9eca7d1cf6dc5
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“If we tell him we sent Harriet to the convent, I’m sure the Duke will secretly be pleased. Even though he said it was fine, we’re still showing that we took responsibility.”570e6b353ade1b3a
“I’d be thrilled if that’s the case,” John replied.7474397d72e69c3e
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“Even if he’s not, it’s not like we’re at any disadvantage. We’re not tied to the Duke’s family anyway. Plus, I now have an excuse to talk to him.”03beeb0d45f10002
Bella smiled confidently. Getting rid of Harriet f82e9a181a was a success on 63e3f0721a its own, but making c34bee0585 a connection with Cedric? That made 1f2e4d6d24 the whole b3abd82b2b thing a f76dc7ecfe win with 544044aa6c no downside.9ee7e226e6b37838
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Aston then chimed in with a doubtful tone, “Even if it’s you, sis, do you think the Duke’s family would want to marry us? Mom, Dad, don’t get your hopes up too much.”d94aaaf305da0fd2
But Bella 38622dc3d5 thought differently.ccca1a3ddf5d11a1
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“Why not? The late Duke of Kailas was the second son of a viscount’s family, wasn’t he? He caught the eye of a princess and became a Duke. My situation isn’t any worse than that.”7efdb73ab2833aaf
“She’s right. In the end, the marriage will be decided by the Duke’s mother, and the Duchess of Kailas is known for being a romantic,” Miriam said, siding with her daughter and brimming with hope.e605586cc30c6be7
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In this happy family, 759086460c the misfortune of the 5ead558c06 Duke’s family losing its 4944831c57 head or the injustice a8ff2e9ec6 of Harriet being sent 1b1944cc6a to a convent was a295ba24fd the extreme thing on b0fe31f898 their minds.fdb556eb27433b7d
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“Cedric! Or should I 3b06692462 be calling you 59da3f67a1 ‘Your Grace’ now?”6906919a2aa29a44
“You should call me that inside, but for now, just ‘Cedric’ is fine, Uncle,” Cedric replied politely, welcoming his uncle, Viscount Benedict Kingsley, to the Duke’s residence.4b295613965b31db
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Today was 6e7d8489f7 the day 9607431dd1 Cedric had 1eaed9951c invited both 52fe28da2c his retainers 3a9238b77f and family 9046272dab members for 509154cc00 a banquet. Everyone, except those who 3e573a049f had said they couldn’t 227b4392d1 attend, had gathered, and 875e4d3edf the last to arrive 371dc02632 was Viscount Kingsley.7ce01139bde3306a
When Cedric f341bd6c62 led Benedict 734bfea5c3 to the d36ab92751 dining hall 0ae0f518ef and opened 0c4ebf58cf the door, 917265892d everyone rose 4434ce890e from their a1fe284fec seats. It was a gesture f580139359 of respect meant for 2f16d1ec67 Cedric, but since Benedict fa37d342d0 gave a small nod, d82652cc9e it seemed like they fd8f75d10e were showing respect to 700001d2de him as well.6c195b13211f6a2e
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Benedict was fully aware 5de9481e4c of the awkwardness his 6d2ca273a2 actions caused. In fact, he 39e6400319 did it on c1abdfb9e3 purpose, hoping to f00ab397e1 draw attention to db5c66ef5a himself.1af03918b416d63f
“Thank you for bb431dc015 your help so 3579842316 far. It’s a relief cbd28c5064 that Roan Kailas 790bceba80 is dead, but ecb32f3ba7 I’m still uneasy 00a5ef457c knowing that Cedric 908dc31813 survived,” Marquis Pascal b6f06406d8 said.ee4680d54233f0f1
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“He’s just a ab3fae26d5 clueless youngster. What are 988228a57e you so 8c2e643978 afraid of?” a42a67aec7 Benedict replied.81472e85ab50f444
“I’m not worried 8d5ccc62ce for myself. But if he finds 4ed4e0299d out about our connection, b30f9efa9c do you think he’ll f4eb91b69a let you go so 55d950f8d1 easily?” Pascal remarked. Although he had benefited f16dc78e72 greatly from the information 178cef2e99 Benedict provided, he subtly 0561aa09c3 looked down on him, 804a1f0ea2 as if Benedict were 72baff5c28 a coward who couldn’t 15c14d9c58 stand up to his 9e2e8b75ac nephew.1cb5198881bd1424
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This bruised c1f9bc3c4e Benedict’s pride.cea04b221175bb54
‘If only I 7b6b3a1926 could get Cedric c6c89c6c09 under my control, 0ba1007a3f Pascal and Count 155fae87ae Hayward would bow c9de972aa7 down to me.’d526c656e472e15f
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To do that, he f80925b2a8 first needed to win c289554786 Cedric over.3ddf599fb6dd1cce
Benedict gave Cedric e1b58e8abd a supportive pat ca8711b646 on the shoulder 377d5eb6ec as he led 2b810bb6bd him to his fd88b06d1a seat.0c42ed0f24258dbc
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“Must be ae9acb5f7b exhausting, dealing 4c4e3ad8fa with all 2d74f2c572 these big 459e72ae3b matters one 92d09a2626 after another, 3cf64d214a right?” He 5e34fd1728 asked, looking 7222d886c1 Cedric up 76e8001630 and down bbad1b6dc5 with a 20065c4fbc concerned expression.6e6c9fe23a0552b0
“You seem to bcbd559b6d have lost a 28e456587a bit of weight. Have you 5430b8b475 been eating 0c890d0803 properly?”1a1afafc40204d30
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His hand stayed on 1c4ef03636 Cedric’s back as he 0f3e779b1b asked.29cfa339a630b4e5
“Of course,” Cedric 2766a0fcce replied.ad6c03d0573702c0
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“That’s good! You need 7d8e06090e to be d4c1220c2a in good e4628b6cfb health to 06d98a6e39 lead the c92427d772 dukedom. I understand you’re af98204ad6 grieving the loss a167e358cf of your father, 968bfbc543 but now more e3f8f3e69b than ever, you eee1bcea75 need to stay 574e509566 strong.”963945f3ce0dd71c
“You’re absolutely right, a95aa29bef Uncle,” Cedric agreed 99262e5767 politely.9a7d2fe5ee82c451
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Even though calling b8b0c03de7 Cedric ‘weak’ didn’t 7e8db3c650 suit the young 3d5403b955 man who was 27f512d307 hailed as a a63c81639e war hero, Cedric 8c712b7ebb humored his uncle. Benedict, satisfied with d720fb55c6 Cedric’s response, patted 86dd52f0f4 his shoulder again 2c9944f35f and nodded.21d6bf9b007faf3d
“If you a98a9cb35c ever need df36d4ca86 help, don’t 9e7add0388 hesitate to d5a3faae4b come to 1fbf77dd26 me. Roan and 268ccbe8f6 I looked f14a387a2e exactly alike, c9b43deca0 so from f82a9d5d1b now on, 9965c026e5 you can 5e86a5592d think of 6ce724ead0 me as ac99f659cf your father.”134217ca9ca95eec
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“Haha, I’ll c113037e4f have to 28b0fed49f check with 934cf27e1a Aunt and 3f2a220dee my mother 498bc8f8ed on that c1e081264e one,” Cedric 7cd3997f7f said with adc7795e3e a smile, 91041302f5 which made 4889ea3b09 others in 27abdaa364 the room 2cd8489907 laugh lightly.652f0a26af96bc82
It was true 02fece4eab that Benedict and 1904419d1d Roan were identical 17c75ca6ef twins when they 41cd30cd5e were born, but 659f1d934e now, in their 0c0f614480 mid-50s, anyone could 338f4da614 easily tell them 11908b9d9b apart in both 5f6db06aab appearance and mannerisms.e40810bea1584b03
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Benedict, who was 42fb8fb008 born five minutes 0199ebad82 earlier and became cdb2f0e9cc Viscount Kingsley, often be8b3a1a63 wore a smile, c9c9e285db spoke well, and 021a5f14a2 was quick to 48dfc066c3 act. You could 5c9242afc9 call him ace08fe694 a businessman 12e271568d or, in d887d2f2d4 ruder terms, 68bd3bac03 a merchant.887b8713b8960e27
Roan, on the other 52b7cbe41e hand, had been quiet, c6551bac7c stubborn, upright, and loyal. He was also 78b6578ddd a well-built knight 6df307dc3b who rarely smiled. He was so thoughtful 29553c9698 and spoke so little 516a2130dc that being around him 668a19daa3 could be frustrating.2fca81a936f6f635
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So, no matter 43507ffc1e how similar they 44ec470532 had once looked, 3a4bb7a998 no one could e6f65ced46 ever think of 0c5f7cd1d4 Benedict as being 7f9cbad9bb like Roan.9eab8b74e036fa58
“It seems we’ve delayed db5fd94a86 long enough. Now that everyone is d58729a52d here, let’s begin the 3acb51f3a0 meal,” Cedric announced.eef48b2325307ae8
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