No way — is he seriously trying to attack me with his face?!
My jaw dropped.
He was already the kind of man who turned heads without trying, but today he’d swept one side of his hair back with pomade, leaving his handsome forehead completely exposed.
It was infuriating. He knew exactly how good-looking he was, and he’d shown up like this on purpose — trying to score points with his face.
“Oh my.”
“Good heavens.”
Just as I’d expected, Kate and Dorothy reacted with a start, their expressions perfectly capturing the essence of a photograph titled Women Upon Encountering a Handsome Man. This was probably their first time seeing Kael up close, so I understood their reaction well enough. I’d been just as startled the first time I’d seen him — waking up in that bed.
Neither Dorothy nor Kate could tear their eyes away from him, not even as he settled into his seat. I watched them in silence, their eyes wide and mouths hanging open.
Seriously?! You’re already being won over by his face! Weren’t you two supposed to be channeling the spirit of a wicked mother-in-law?!
The entire atmosphere of the table was shifting — and all because of that one man’s face. I couldn’t let that happen.
“My, my. You’ve come looking even more handsome than usual today.”
I let the comment slip out, laced with just enough irritation to serve as a warning.
“I was told you’re very dear to her,” Kael replied, his eyes meeting mine as a small smile curved his lips. “Naturally, I wanted to make an effort.”
The corners of my mouth twitched involuntarily.
What is wrong with you?! This isn’t who you are! This is not your character at all!
“Oh my goodness…”
“Holy—”
Kate and Dorothy were gazing at him with the reverent, awestruck eyes of a desert traveler who had just stumbled upon an oasis.
Stop being amazed, you two!
“Ahem. Ahem!”
I cleared my throat loudly and shot them both a pointed glare. Fortunately, Kael was seated beside me rather than across from us, and couldn’t see my expression.
Kate and Dorothy flinched. They gave their heads a series of small, rapid shakes, visibly attempting to recollect themselves.
Then, quite abruptly, all traces of delight vanished from their faces. They went perfectly blank.
“How do you do, Your Grace. I am Kate Furel, Eveline’s friend.”
“How do you do. I am Dorothy Millan.”
Kael acknowledged their greetings with a single nod. As Kate was the daughter of a baron and Dorothy of a viscount household, it was only proper that they greet him first.
“I am Kael Hardeон, head of the Hardeон Ducal House.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Oh, formal speech and everything.
You are not this kind of person! This is so underhanded!
The awkward round of introductions came to a close. Kate cleared her throat and composed her expression, visibly preparing to get down to business.
“Eveline is truly precious to me,” she began, her voice crisp and measured, her expression prim. “To be perfectly honest, no man she could ever bring to meet me would be good enough. The reason I asked to meet you, Your Grace, was simply because I wanted to see you for myself.”
Dorothy, who had been listening quietly, chimed in to second her.
“That’s right. Eveline has absolutely no experience with men, so she doesn’t know how to read them. Of course, the decision to marry is ultimately hers — but if we don’t approve, it will be quite difficult for you, Your Grace. Frankly speaking, you’ve only known Eveline for a matter of days, whereas we have known her for ten years, so—”
She stopped mid-sentence.
Hugo?
There he was again — Hugo, his face flushed red, making his way toward our table.
“Your Grace. The items you requested are ready.”
“Well done.”
He arrived barely visible behind two enormous bouquets that seemed almost larger than he was — great overflowing masses of yellow, pink, and white blooms.
Hugo presented them, one by one, to Kate and Dorothy.
“A gift, from His Grace.”
Kate and Dorothy received them with eyes gone wide. Enormous bouquets — filled with more flowers than either of them could probably name — were pressed into their arms.
“Oh my goodness. How beautiful.”
“Oh wow, the smell is absolutely insane.”
Their eyes practically turned into hearts on the spot, both of them overcome with that primitive, unguarded kind of wonder.
Hugo beamed at them with the satisfied warmth of a man whose work had gone exactly as planned.
“And these as well — specially commissioned by His Grace, as gifts for the two young ladies.”
What Hugo set on the table before them were jewel cases. One was a glossy brown, the other glossy black — each shade a quiet echo of the hair colors of the woman it was meant for.
When neither Kate nor Dorothy dared open theirs, only glancing at them from side to side, Hugo smiled warmly and said, “Please, go ahead and open them. I am quite confident they will be to your liking.”
Kate and Dorothy snuck a brief glance in my direction, then opened the cases simultaneously.
“Holy —”
“Dorothy! Watch your language! In front of the Duke!”
Their mouths fell open at exactly the same moment. Dorothy let out a shudder and an oath. Kate jabbed her elbow sharply into Dorothy’s side.
“S-sorry! I was just so shocked — but oh my God, it’s so gorgeous—!”
Dorothy clapped both hands over her mouth, her face flooding with undisguised joy. Kate fared little better; though she was clearly trying to tamp down the corners of her mouth, her cheeks had already risen so high they were practically touching her ears.
“Miss Kate’s are amethyst, and Miss Dorothy’s are garnet,” Hugo announced with quiet pride. “Earrings, custom-made from each lady’s birthstone.”
“My goodness, how thoughtful! I’ve never received anything like this — not even from my own boyfriend! Oh, they’re so beautiful. I’ve never seen gems this clear and vivid in my life!”
Kate…
“I know! And even my own father doesn’t know my birthstone! Look at how they sparkle! They must have cost an absolute fortune!”
Dorothy…
Tee-hee. Ha ha ha.
The mood at the table had become thoroughly, impossibly warm.
Kate and Dorothy laughed at Kael’s every move — even when he barely said a word — as if they were already utterly charmed. The cool, guarded looks they’d worn at the start had melted away without a trace, as though that reserve had never existed at all.
I stared into the middle distance with hollow eyes.
I’m uneasy.
Surely they hadn’t been completely won over by a few gifts. My friends of ten years weren’t people without backbone. I had to believe that. One meaningful look from me, and they’d snap back to the role of the wicked mother-in-law. I was sure of it.
“A-hem! Don’t you two have any questions for the Duke?”
“I do!” Dorothy clapped her hands together, practically bouncing as she turned to Kael. “Your Grace, what is it about our Eveline that you like so much?”
Kate, who had already put on her new earrings, clasped both hands together and watched him with bright, shining eyes.
“It’s impossible to name just one thing,” Kael said. “She’s adorable from head to toe.”
“Oh! Oh! That means he finds her very existence adorable!”
“Kyaaah! That’s so sweet!”
Tee-hee. Ha ha ha.
The laughter didn’t stop. Kate and Dorothy grabbed each other’s hands and carried on with great enthusiasm.
And there I was, going cold and flat in the middle of it all.
Just then, Hugo leaned in to murmur something in Kael’s ear.
“Eveline,” Kael said, “it seems I must be going.”
“Oh, of course — you must be busy! Please, do go ahead!”
Yes. Go. Please.
“Aww. What a shame. I hope we get to see you again!”
“Your Grace, you’re the absolute best! The two of you are such a perfect match!”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
His voice was perfectly flat, his smile entirely for form — both of which were plain to see. And yet Kate and Dorothy threw themselves into another round of delighted squealing, swaying back and forth as if they were at a concert.
“Eveline, I’ve already paid the bill, so eat as much as you like. Enjoy yourselves.”
Then Kael reached over and smoothed a strand of hair from my face — and pressed his lips briefly, lightly, to my forehead.
The touch of his warm mouth against my skin sent heat blooming across my cheeks before I’d had a chance to stop it.
The audience across from me descended into chaos once more.
“It’s like a film.”
“The couple of the century! An absolutely dashing pair!”
After Kael left, the three of us were alone.
“Approved.”
Dorothy pointed at me with one finger and delivered her verdict without a moment’s hesitation.
My blood boiled.
“What do you mean, approved?! Are you two joking with me right now?! Where did the wicked mother-in-law go?!”
“Eveline, he is genuinely wonderful,” Kate said, ignoring me entirely, grabbing Dorothy by the shoulders and shaking her. “Wouldn’t you say so, Dorothy?”
“Absolutely! His thoughtfulness alone is off the charts. And I think he made a point of leaving early so we could enjoy ourselves together — wasn’t that considerate of him?”
Kate gasped and gushed, and Dorothy kept interspersing her praises with increasingly colorful language.
“How is that an ‘overinterpretation’? He was probably just busy.”
“The way he looks at you — honestly, it was like honey dripping from his eyes. I thought we were sitting next to a beekeeper.”
“Didn’t you once say the rumors about him were terrible, that he was dangerous?”
“That’s exactly what makes it exciting. A man like that — when he turns soft for you and only you? That’s the dream. A man who’s gentle with everyone isn’t interesting at all.”
I exhaled slowly.
These two. They’d been completely and utterly won over by a handsome face and a few lavish gifts.
“You both told me to trust you. What happened to that?”
“That was when we didn’t know what kind of person he was! Don’t let go of this one, Eveline — you’ll regret it if you do. We said goodbye to a hired carriage and hello to a private one. Edwin walked out, and a Duke walked in!”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake!”
In the end, only one approach remained to me.
