What I Gained by Giving My Body - Chapter1.18

* * *

‘……What a dream to have.’

That was Caitlyn’s first thought as soon as she woke up. To dream of becoming some pagan princess and being pressured into marriage. She must have been under a lot of psychological pressure from her brother’s talk of marriage without realizing it.

‘They were names I’ve never heard before.’

It was surely an imaginary country created by her own mind. Caitlyn decided to stop worrying about the strange dream, got out of bed, and changed her clothes. It would be a mealtime filled with silence again today, but she had to cook for her brother and herself.

Sizzle. The sound of frying bacon and eggs echoed pleasantly. The salty smell made her mouth water, and her stomach growled. Caitlyn placed the bacon, eggs, and exactly one spoonful of boiled beans onto a plate and waited quietly for her brother.

It was because she knew her brother was making his way there with difficulty without her having to call him. Edward appeared just as the bacon was almost cold. With disheveled hair and the top button of his shirt improperly fastened, Edward sat silently in the chair and picked up his fork and knife.

Clink. The ordinary and simple breakfast was over in an instant. While chewing over a meal that lacked even a single fruit for health, Caitlyn thought.

‘Would Archduke Akbar be angry if I sold that dress……?’

Even if she wanted to ask, the Archduke would have already led all his retainers back to the North. Caitlyn thought it over and concluded it was better not to give him any excuse to pick a fight. Since she had lived without any particular side income until now, things wouldn’t be much different in the future.

“……Cathy.”

Caitlyn snapped her head up. Edward was looking at her with serious eyes.

“Let’s talk.”

“Fine.”

Caitlyn replied as if she were calm, but internally she was extremely tense. It was because she had been in a cold war with her brother ever since the Archduke had openly blurted out the truth to Edward. If Edward tried to persuade her in any way, this conversation would lead to a situation even worse than a cold war.

“……I know you’re the one having the hardest time, Noona. So I won’t blame you.”

Caitlyn’s eyes widened. It was a statement she had never expected to hear from Edward.

“I just…… want you to be happy.”

With a trembling hand, Edward took hold of Caitlyn’s right hand.

“Only then will my insignificant life have some meaning.”

“Ed.”

Since when was it? Her throat felt so tight she couldn’t let proper words out of her mouth.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.”

Edward shook his head.

“What did you do wrong, Noona? I’m the one who did wrong. I pushed you into this pit…….”

“You’re going to live.”

For the first time, Caitlyn told a lie that defied her own foresight. Though the future of Edward she still saw in her eyes was a corpse, she believed firmly…… that it could surely be changed.

“For a very long time, in good health.”

Edward laughed weakly.

“Sure, think whatever you want to believe.”

Caitlyn hugged Edward tightly. The scent of death clung to her brother. For the first time, she regretted it. She thought it would have been better to follow Archduke Akbar, even if it meant pretending to be a prostitute.

* * *

The Hardick household, where the conflict between its only members had been resolved, returned to a peaceful atmosphere, but that quiet tranquility did not last long.

“Our Lady Leslie has invited Miss Hardick to a tea party being held this weekend.”

“……An invitation?”

Caitlyn blankly repeated the words she had just heard.

“The daughter of Count Sufferd invited me…… and to a tea party, no less.”

Apparently, despite her gentle and soft appearance, Leslie was thoroughly out of her mind. Or she was truly as stupid as she herself had claimed.

“Yes.”

The servant of the Count’s family was much more polite than the Archduke’s chamberlain.

“If it is alright, we will send a carriage at this time four days from now.”

“It’s not alright.”

Caitlyn tried to speak as politely as possible, but because she was so flabbergasted, sharp words flew out.

“Please tell the Lady. For her own sake, she should not invite me.”

“Yes, I will relay that.”

However, Leslie was not as easygoing as she looked. To the point that the person who appeared at the Hardick’s front gate four days later was not the Count’s servant, but her herself.

“Cathy!”

Leslie shouted with a face full of sorrow.

“Did my servant relay it correctly? To not invite Cathy for my sake…… how can there be such a thing?”

Caitlyn let out a sigh. If anyone saw this immature side of Leslie, her near-perfect social reputation would come crashing down.

“Come inside for now. Don’t do that at the doorway.”

“Okay…….”

The area around Leslie’s eyes had turned entirely red. It was truly mind-boggling. It was only natural for her to refuse the invitation. Yet she was this upset?

“If we want to meet, we can meet anywhere. It doesn’t necessarily have to be at Leslie’s house.”

“Why can’t I invite Cathy to my house?”

“Leslie.”

Caitlyn replied as she put tea water on the fire.

“Think about it. After I left like that that day, everyone must have talked about me.”