Chapter 19
Certainly, he did not like messy things like background investigations.
However, that was literally just a matter of dislike. If necessary, he was willing to use them without hesitation, regardless of preference. Even if they were underhanded means that Ines could not even imagine.
Cedric was originally that kind of man, and the position of the Duke of Angel was one that required such a nature. Fortunately, his fiancée—who “had not done a background check but knew suspiciously much about the House of Angel”—seemed not to know well about this unmerciful side of him.
“Is that not so?”
To Ines, who asked back as if she did not understand his words, Cedric replied with a smile.
“That is correct.”
It was not a lie. At least to her, he would always be a good person.
Cedric thought so and continued speaking. He hoped the naturally flowing conversation with Ines would not be interrupted.
“I thought so when we went to buy the teacup as well, but a smiling face suits Miss Ines very well.”
A smiling face suits her well.
Cedric spoke to Ines with a serious expression.
“I thought you looked good when you wore a smile, but I like it even better when you laugh out loud. Even more so when I think it is because of me.”
“Ah…”
“If I can make Miss Ines laugh, becoming a bit childish doesn’t seem so bad.”
Ines fidgeted with her fingers.
This was not the situation she had hoped for.
There was still quite a lot of time left until the engagement ceremony. In her previous life, she had never spent time with Cedric like this before the engagement. He had never felt this kind of friendliness toward her either. Their married life had started somewhat dryly and only eventually flowed toward a peaceful tenderness.
Pondering this, Ines finally could not hold back and asked Cedric.
It had only been about an hour since they met today, but she was so flustered that she could not endure it without asking.
“Just why are you being so good to me?”
The deep greenery within her eyes wavered greatly, like sunlight passing through stained glass.
“Well… Why am I being good to you? That question is a bit strange.”
Because I like you.
Cedric, who almost said those words, narrowly avoided the crisis by asking back. He knew well that a premature confession in this situation would only have the opposite effect.
“Is it not natural to treat one’s fiancée well?”
“But strictly speaking, we are not in an engagement relationship yet.”
At Ines’s point, Cedric fell silent for a moment. As she said, strictly speaking, an “engagement relationship” had not been established between him and Ines yet.
It was merely a scheduled plan.
“If you are doing this out of a sense of responsibility…”
She was about to say that it was fine not to do so.
However, Ines could not finish her sentence. This was because Cedric intercepted her words midway.
“Is a reason… absolutely necessary?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked if there must be a reason. I see. Certainly, Miss Ines is not my fiancée yet.”
“Ah… Yes. That’s right.”
“I want to be good to you not because you are my fiancée, but simply because it is Miss Ines. Is that not allowed?”
“It’s not that it’s not allowed, but rather that there is no need…”
To Ines, who stammered in her embarrassment, Cedric replied in a firm tone.
“It is not because of a sense of responsibility or anything like that.”
He did not want to give Ines unnecessary burden. Cedric continued speaking lightly, pretending to be as casual as possible.
“We are not fiancés yet, but a pair awaiting an engagement ceremony is also a very important relationship. I believe this much intimacy is necessary.”
“Intimacy…”
“Speaking of which, we have known each other for a long time, but we don’t know much about each other. So I think an effort in the dimension of getting to know each other more is needed for the future. What do you think, Miss Ines?”
For an improvisation, fairly smooth words flowed from Cedric’s mouth. Thanking his ability developed through dealing with many seasoned politicians, Cedric looked at Ines with a serious expression.
“I usually go out to ride horses when I have time.”
She already knew the fact that his hobby was horse riding, but Ines nodded as if she didn’t know. She had to be careful with her actions since she was already under strange suspicion due to the talk about the teacup and lemon tea. However, while nodding, Ines could not understand the reason why Cedric suddenly brought up this story.
“How about Miss Ines?”
Cedric brought up the main point.
“Since we only ran into each other occasionally at social events, I do not know what Miss Ines usually does.”
“I…”
Because the burden of the conversation topic passing to her was heavy, Ines dragged out her words.
She did not have any grand hobbies like horse riding or playing musical instruments.
She had a personality that disliked standing in front of other people. People were more interested in the surname ‘Greenwood’ than the name ‘Ines.’ Shrinking under such gazes, Ines rarely made an appearance unless it was a gathering her father strongly encouraged.
If there was anything she could call a hobby, it was all a result of what she had built together with Cedric. Her happy married life had gifted her many things.
But it was a story she could never tell Cedric. Because the current Ines Greenwood is a timid and old-fashioned woman who knows how to do nothing. Because she must be that kind of woman.
‘What use is it to look good to the current Cedric?’
Thinking that way, her mind felt more at ease instead.
“I don’t have a hobby.”
“Still, a day is given equally to everyone. How do you usually spend your time?”
Even at a response that could have been empty, Cedric skillfully led the conversation.
“Um. I write in a diary.”
“A diary?”
Ines nodded.
“Yes. If there is one thing I have done consistently since childhood, that would be the only one.”
“I see.”
A boring woman whose only hobby is writing in a diary.
Thinking to herself that he wouldn’t be able to feel even a fingernail’s worth of charm, Ines wore a slight, self-mocking smile.
However, this time too, Cedric’s reaction went against Ines’s expectations.
“You are diligent.”
Old-fashioned. A boring personality.
Instead of such words, Cedric, who evaluated her as diligent, smiled faintly.
It was quite different from the gossip-filled evaluations made by those who had approached and then distanced themselves from Ines with a prejudice against the four syllables of Greenwood.
“Come to think of it, I have never properly written in a diary until now. I think I might try writing one starting from today.”
The gaze of Cedric as he spoke was warm. It was like looking at the Cedric from the time when he was her husband.
“There haven’t been many pleasant things until now. But if every day is like today, it will be worth recording, yes. I think it will be quite worth it.”
Not knowing how to respond, Ines only looked down at the innocent table.
As if noticing the atmosphere between the two, the server appeared at the right time with the dessert and tea.
“I will prepare the lemon tea, milk tea, and dessert you ordered.”
It was a great relief for Ines, who had been in a difficult situation. Cedric’s smile deepened as he watched Ines, whose expression brightened rapidly.
* * *
The conversation continued.
Favorite color. Favorite book. Favorite animal.
Questions and answers on ordinary and trivial topics went back and forth without a break. In the end, Ines spent a much longer time with Cedric than she had thought.
The wall that had been stained entirely green as the sunset outside the window seeped through the stained glass turned into a warm orange light. Only then did Ines realize that she had spent too much time with him than expected.
Days are short in the winter. Soon after the sunset, the sun will drop. Because the conversation was so enjoyable, she hadn’t even realized time was passing like this.
With a flustered face, Ines stood up abruptly from her seat.
“Miss Ines?”
“I must return. Too much time has been delayed.”
At this rate, her plan to appear as a boring woman to Cedric was as good as failed.
At Ines’s sudden action, Cedric also only then gauged that a lot of time had passed.
From the moment they left the shop, he had coaxed Ines—who was stubborn about going home—and finally brought her here. He no longer had a pretext to hold Ines back.
There were still many things he wanted to do. Feeling a sense of regret, Cedric only traced the rim of the innocent teacup with his finger.
He wanted to stay together a little longer and buy her flowers as well. He wanted to present a perfect date as planned. However, the time spent in the tearoom was long, and Ines was unable to hide her look of discomfort. Though it was a pity, it seemed he had to conclude the meeting here for today.
‘To think time would pass so quickly.’
Even though he had practically monopolized almost all of Ines’s day, it was hard to hide his regret at the thought of parting. At that moment, Cedric recalled one story that had flashed by during their conversation.
“Come to think of it, you said you didn’t have the Greenwood family’s groom waiting.”
Cedric requested the tearoom owner to call for the House of Angel’s carriage. Since the owner had passed the message to an errand boy, the carriage that was waiting nearby would soon arrive here.
“Please return in my carriage.”
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