Chapter 35
As Lilien had guessed, Cairn had been in the library the entire time, quietly watching her retreating figure through the clear window long after she’d left.
After seeing Lilien off, Jeffrey returned to hand Cairn the dessert box she’d brought. When Cairn saw the note on the blue stationery, he couldn’t help but feel his anger melt away.
“It probably won’t be as good as the ones you make, but it should still taste wonderful. I thought a lot about what to say, but in the end, all I can do is apologize. Just like you’ve always done for me, this time I promise I’ll do whatever you want—no matter what it is! So please, forgive me. —From your one and only friend who misses you dearly, Lilien.”
He let out an incredulous laugh at her naivety, yet somehow always managed to provoke him.
“How can you say that, when you don’t even know what it is I want?”
If he saw Lilien’s face right now, he’d probably say something harsh. He might even go so far as to demand why she was meeting Victor behind his back.
The real reason Cairn was upset wasn’t that Lilien had set him up with Miss Frederick; it was that she kept making secrets between them. It chilled him to the bone.
Only a few months ago had he learned of the De Bermore family’s financial troubles. Since Lilien never confided such private matters to him, there was no way for him to know without investigating on his own.
Even as ‘special friends,; money matters were a line one didn’t cross, and that’s what bothered him. Now that he knew everything, even when he tried to coax it out of her, she only responded with an awkward smile and nothing more.
Sitting in the wingback chair, Cairn idly tapped the armrest.
* * *
“Christian!”
As Lilien trudged through her estate’s garden, she spotted a man loitering at the front gate and waved her arms excitedly before running over. The man’s eyes widened beneath his spectacles, and a faint smile appeared on his handsome face.
“It’s been a while, Lilien.”
Usually stoic, Christian’s face lit up as he pulled Lilien into a tight hug. She bounced on her toes, barely able to contain her joy.
“What brings you here? How long are you staying? Did you know how surprised I was when I got your letter? I’ve been so excited ever since you said you’d come. My heart’s still pounding, you know!”
He smoothly took the dessert box from her hands.
“Lili, you haven’t changed a bit. One question at a time—just one.”
“How long will you stay? That’s what I’m most curious about!”
Lilien’s cousin, Christian Grenor, laughed heartily.
“Four days.”
“That’s quite a while! Why are you here?”
“My mother asked me to check on your father’s condition.”
“My father? Why?”
“There are rumors his health isn’t good.”
Lilien’s expression instantly darkened, confirming the rumor was true. Seeing this, Christian awkwardly ran a hand through his light brown hair, shining in the sun.
“But how have you been?”
Lilien quickly forced a smile.
“Oh, I’m fine! And how’s Mrs. Grenor?”
“Mrs. Grenor? You make her sound like a stranger.”
“Was that too formal? Is Aunt still as lively as ever?”
“She is.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“Let’s go inside and talk, Lili.”
“Right! Let’s go in. Father will be home later this afternoon.”
The affectionate cousins walked into the manor hand in hand. After asking Matilda to bring tea and peach pie, Lilien couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Christian.
“Lili, if you keep staring at me, you’ll burn a hole in my face.”
“You never seem to age, Christian.”
Lilien was so excited by her cousin’s visit that she could hardly keep her feet still. With so much gloom in her life lately, seeing him genuinely lifted her spirits.
“I’m only twenty-eight, you know.”
“How is Brsenyu?”
Christian, an eccentric doctor, lived in Brsenyu, a port city. He hadn’t always been there, but was sent as a public physician to Brsenyu, a naval base, at the imperial family’s request.
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