[Chapter 120] Never be that kind of woman

Nerys's eyes sank coldly and sparkled.

"Don't misunderstand, Cledwyn Mainland. I didn't say anything."

The smile on Cledwyn's face gradually disappeared. He looked at her as if trying to see her sincerity.

"But your expression is bad."

Nerys was taken aback. It was the first time she had heard such words despite trying her best to keep her expression calm.

"If my expression is bad... Yes. I didn't like that woman's manipulation, that's why."

Externally, what Catherine experienced today seemed like a series of unexpected coincidences. Nevertheless, her tearful face mourning the horse's death as if it were a family member seemed quite convincing.

However, Nerys could anticipate the fact that Cledwyn had been going out of the castle every day lately, and the fact that he would return around the time it looked like snow was coming. It wasn't difficult to incite him to anger at the right moment.

"And that smiling face."

The smile Catherine recalled while looking in this direction was familiar. It resembled the expressions she often made next to Abelus in her previous life.

'Yes, it's okay to be angry.'

Daring to play such petty tricks in this castle.

Harming the animal that followed her to impress just one man.

To a subject who knew nothing but such petty values, not a good woman.

Trying to get the best man in the world.

Thump, thump.

Her heart raced wildly with anger. Her eyes burned hot. Nerys realized only then that Cledwyn was still holding her hand and quickly pulled away.

Cledwyn clenched his fist with his right hand, which had been holding Nerys's hand.

Deciding that it was okay to be angry regardless of affection, Nerys spoke without hiding her anger.

"Listen, Cledwyn Mainland. You have to get married."

Cledwyn tried to speak, but Nerys raised her hand to stop him.

In the end, Talfryn lost his temper.

"No, isn't it just a slight suspicion that the Counselor might have some interest? Why are you already choosing jewelry?"

"It's not a bad idea to have them pre-made."

One treasure vault was overflowing with jewels, so much so that it was now spilling over into the adjacent vault. Knowing the situation well, Talfryn intervened.

"If the Counselor finds out later, she'll definitely be disgusted. You're already picking out engagement rings without even having made a marriage promise. A man who rushes ahead alone is not popular."

Although his tone was harsh, Talfryn was speaking thoughtfully. Just in case Nerys and Cledwyn's relationship returned to what it was a while ago, everyone would be in trouble.

Cledwyn responded dryly.

"Of course not an engagement ring. I'm just looking at some jewelry to give as a casual gift."

Even at a glance, from a diamond the size of a thumbnail to... Talfryn was about to say something again.

Knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door.

There were designated people who visited this study. Since only a few had the position to come directly to report to the Duke.

However, the knock was different from any of them. It was a cheerful and slightly excited sound.

"Come in."

At Cledwyn's permission, the door creaked open.

The person who appeared with a smile on the other side of the door was Catherine. Talfryn stood stiffly with a soldier-like posture internally, and a perfect mask-like smile appeared on Cledwyn's face.

"What's the matter?"

"Your Grace, would it be okay to bother you for a moment? Oh, Sir Eadan is here too."

Catherine confirmed Eadan's presence and smiled at him. It was a bright smile without any sticky feeling.

Cledwyn crossed his arms.

"I asked what's the matter."

"I said I would come to thank you last time but haven't done so yet. So, as a token of gratitude, I baked some cookies. It might be a bit amusing as a return gift since I used almost castle ingredients."

Indeed, Catherine was holding a plate in her hand.

"Leave it."

Talfryn could immediately tell that Cledwyn found it bothersome. Oh, unverified food for a high-ranking noble who needed to be careful about assassination. Moreover, brought by the Viscount's person...

In that moment of thought.

"It's made from juniper berries."

Eadan muttered slightly with a unique bitter smell. Catherine laughed heartily.

"You know! There are many juniper trees in my hometown. I brought what I had dried to eat as a snack. It tastes good when chewed."

"Isn't the Viscount's estate your hometown?"

"Well, no. The Haricot family..."

Suddenly, Catherine's face turned bitter.

"...I'm from Holcastle, and I've been living with the Viscount's help since my parents passed away a few years ago..."

The people in the room understood how she was drawn to the Viscount for marriage business. Being a parentless minor noble lady was a green-like condition.

And the meaning of her story that she considered horses as good as family became clear. Perhaps her life, which was happy living with her family in the countryside, changed drastically with her parents' death. She became a tool that had to be used for anything for the benefactor.

Eadan debated whether to comfort her. Unable to decide what to say, he closed his mouth. Catherine smiled brightly at him.

"Your Grace, I appreciate it. Oh!"

As Catherine turned her head, her gaze fell on the scattered jewelry catalogs on Cledwyn's desk.

"Oh, how beautiful. Are you choosing jewelry, Your Grace? To give to the Counselor?"

Cledwyn, who had not even glanced at Catherine, now looked at her for the first time.

With eyes that were unreadable, seemingly playful yet cold, Catherine flinched for a moment. But she soon smiled broadly and asked.

"If you ever need a woman's opinion, feel free to ask. My taste may not be as refined as the Counselor's, but surely better than men's, right? I want to express my gratitude in some way."

It was an absurd proposal. Nerys had a sense that even if she brought it to the highest social circles, it would be considered elegant, while Catherine was just a country girl.

However, Cledwyn stroked his chin and asked. Smiling as if her words intrigued him.

"What would be a gift that wouldn't burden a woman?"

---

"Everything is going well."

After spending enough time repeatedly visiting Cledwyn's study for several days, Catherine said enthusiastically.

The Viscount who came to her room clicked his tongue.

"How can you be so sure?"

Catherine explained mockingly and sympathetically in her mind.

"You don't quickly become close to someone like in a love consultation, Your Grace. Moreover, someone as cautious as the Duke."

"If you mess up the consultation, he won't know."

"Who messes up? Of course, you have to say something that reassures the ear. Who wouldn't like the Duke? Surely the Counselor also has a favorable impression of the Duke."

"And if the Counselor and him hit it off?"

"Oh, I'll make sure that doesn't happen."

Catherine asserted as if it were obvious. The Viscount sneaked a sniff.

Catherine's gaze turned cold.

"You seem to be not very interested in my work lately, Your Grace. Why, upon reflection, don't you like it? Your esteemed grandson marrying a woman like me?"

Although she couldn't pinpoint exactly, the Viscount had started to show a sullen attitude towards Catherine tempting Cledwyn. It was an attitude of 'it's your business, you figure it out.'

Catherine was taken aback by this fact. If the Viscount hadn't found her and persuaded her, would she have dared to try to seduce the Duke, knowing full well that he was not welcoming?

"When you were looking for the 'Fox' of Sabenya, you must have been prepared, right? If you were afraid of the blue blood of the nobility mixing with the actress's blood, you should have brought a noble lady. Of course, it would have failed."

The Viscount's face stiffened at the bold words.

"Catherine Haricot was a professional actress. However, her acting skills shone brighter when she targeted the men she seduced rather than the audience.

A few years ago, after her parents passed away, she threw herself into the theater to make ends meet. Even with a decent background that could barely pass for nobility, without money, it was all in vain.

From then on, she greedily sought out sponsors. Kind-hearted colleagues from the Sabenya Theater, the lords of the territories where the theater visited, the sons of local landowners who came after hearing rumors of the pretty actress...

Her face, moderately pretty but not flashy, could cater to the tastes of any man she wanted to captivate. If she found a man she liked, she would gather information about his values and present herself as the ideal woman.

Usually, good men already had mistresses, so there were many women vying for their attention. However, the men Catherine carefully pursued all fell for her alone.

Upon hearing rumors about Catherine, the Tiphian Viscount hired her. Granting her the status of the 'real Catherine Haricot' who lived in Holcastle.