3.
However, Cedric continued to stroke the corner of his lip, saying nothing. His expression remained visibly displeased.
One quick-witted man lowered his voice, offering a cautious apology.
“I apologize for bringing up that incident. You must still be upset…”
“No, that is not it. It is just… I had clearly stated that the incident back then was settled, so I wonder why they felt the need to go as far as sending her to a convent.”
The man who had raised the topic answered hurriedly.
“That day’s incident was merely the straw that broke Viscount Listerwell’s patience; in truth, Harriet had been a source of trouble long before that. Sending her to a convent for a year is hardly an excessive punishment.”
Cedric’s brow twitched at the mention of ‘a year.’
“It would hardly be easy for a noble young lady to endure that length of time in a convent. Or perhaps, was she deeply religious?”
“Hardly! It just goes to show she’s a woman who wouldn’t come to her senses unless driven to that point.”
The group chimed in with jeers and clicks of their tongues. Cedric, the supposed ‘victim’ of the incident, remained unconvinced.
“It seems my overreaction made things difficult for her.”
“An overreaction? On the contrary, Your Grace, you were incredibly generous. If it were me, I would have tossed aside the manners of a gentleman and slapped that young lady across the face.”
“Exactly! A frivolous woman who chases after men, how dare she…!”
When one man mimicked the motion of striking someone, the group erupted in laughter.
Cedric found none of it amusing: the unilateral condemnation, the casual talk of violence toward a woman, or the lighthearted way they treated the matter. What bothered him most was that he was the catalyst for this entire affair.
*I absolutely hate being entangled in vulgar rumors.*
Suddenly, the face of Harriet as he had last seen her flickered in his mind.
“I did not steal Your Grace’s brooch. I never even wished for it in the first place.”
She was a woman who had insisted on her innocence while surrounded by a mob of critics. She had carried herself with a subtle, haughty air, as if the very idea of desiring such a trinket was beneath her.
*She wasn’t bad-looking, I suppose.*
While Bella was a noticeably dazzling beauty, her cousin Harriet possessed clear, well-proportioned features; she was certainly not ugly. It was merely that her attire and hairstyle did not suit her, and her face and chest were marred by small hives and acne-like bumps.
In truth, what he hadn’t liked back then wasn’t Harriet, but the atmosphere that clung to her. The cowardly sycophants who flattered others while tearing a young girl apart were nothing short of repulsive. That realization was enough to dull the sense of insult he had felt the moment he saw his brooch pinned to her chest.
*So, I let it go, but why did they send her to a convent? Is Viscount Listerwell trying to garner sympathy through that incident?*
The suspicion that even strangers were using him as a pawn turned his stomach. Cedric picked up his glass and downed the contents in one gulp. The refreshing carbonation of the sparkling wine helped settle his nerves.
“It seems the break is over. The players are coming back onto the field.”
As he steered the conversation toward the resumed polo match, the men’s lewd chatter finally ceased. They began to raise their voices, arguing heatedly over their bets and which team might emerge victorious.
To Cedric, this behavior was just as distasteful, but he was relieved that the rumors involving his name had finally been put to rest.
“Which team did you bet on, Your Grace?”
At the question from the man beside him, Cedric pointed toward the team in green vests and flashed a smooth, practiced smile. In truth, he had chosen at random, but the outcome was of little consequence to him.
* * *
“The house becomes so pleasant just because one person is gone. Ah, it feels good.”
Bella muttered, enjoying the breeze of early summer. Miriam, who was embroidering beside her, set down her hoop and offered a sharp look.
“Bella. I have told you before: from now on, you must be truly careful with your conduct. As you said, Harriet is gone now, after all.”
“But Mother! I was born with such a pretty face; it’s too much of a pity to live for only one husband. I’ve gained plenty from those men, too.”
There was a reason the Viscount and Viscountess Listerwell condoned Bella’s habits; she didn’t just seek amusement—she extracted all manner of favors, from small personal gifts to sensitive business information related to their family.
“I know. Thanks to that, even your father, who has no talent, has been making decent money. But now, we must prepare for something bigger.”
“Marriage, you mean?”
As Bella chuckled, Miriam continued her lecture.
“Bella. What did I tell you is most important to a man?”
“Family status and wealth.”
“And what kind of daughter-in-law does a prestigious and wealthy family desire?”
“They want a pretty, kind, and pure woman.”
“Exactly. You know it well.”
That was why they had spent so long crafting the image of the ‘pretty, kind, and pure Bella Listerwell.’ But that was not Bella’s true self. Having basked in the praise of others—especially men—due to her striking appearance, she found it thrilling to toy with those who were hung up on her. Since she was young, she had enjoyed manipulating boys her age and making them fight over her. Now, at eighteen, expecting her to act like a demure lady was a tall order.
“Right now, you are the bride-to-be that the matchmakers in high society are most interested in. What would happen if a rumor spread that such a girl is loose?”
“My reputation is excellent, isn’t it? That’s why the House of Levin sent a marriage proposal, isn’t it?”
The House of Levin was famous for its extreme piety and immense wealth. Their eldest son was head over heels for Bella, captivated not just by her beauty, but by the saintly, angelic aura she projected.
“Are you going to be satisfied with just the House of Levin? Shouldn’t you aim for at least a Count’s family?”
“Of course!”
“A Count’s family will verify their prospective daughter-in-law much more thoroughly. A single mistake could cause the proposal to fall through.”
“I haven’t been caught so far. Isn’t that enough?”
Miriam let out a deep sigh.
“That was when Harriet was still here to take the blame!”
At those words, Bella burst into laughter.
“Aha, it was really fun toying with her. It’s nice that she’s gone, but it’s a bit of a shame that I can’t see Harriet fussing about in frustration.”
The scandal maker of high society, Harriet Listerwell.
In truth, all those scandals were Bella’s own. She had simply pinned them on her cousin. Because of that, Harriet—who had never even held a man’s hand—was rumored to be a woman of ill repute.
*Since they always make sure to bring up such issues when discussing marriage, even if she comes out of the convent, she won’t be able to secure a normal match.*
One corner of Bella’s mouth curled upward.
Perhaps misinterpreting that smile, Miriam called her out in a stern voice.
“Bella.”
“I know, Mother.”
Just then, Aston entered the room, holding a bouquet of flowers the gardener had prepared. He kissed Miriam on the cheek and held out the offering.
“What is this for, Aston?”
“Does there have to be a reason to give flowers to my mother?”
“Oh my! Our son is so affectionate.”
Miriam was moved and inhaled the scent of the flowers, but Bella smirked at him.
“He must have run out of pocket money.”
Aston’s face flushed red immediately.
“W-what do you mean! Don’t try to sow discord between me and Mother. By the way, what were you talking about?”
To Aston, who quickly changed the subject, Miriam relayed their conversation without suspicion. Aston asked with a silly grin.
“But why do you hate Harriet so much, Sister? I agree that she’s an eyesore, but you seem like you want to destroy her completely.”
Had Aston hit the nail on the head? Bella’s smile turned slightly cold.
“If there is no reason for you to give flowers to Mother, then there is no reason for me to hate Harriet either.”
“What? I don’t understand.”
“Don’t bother trying. It’s just that I hate her. Literally, ‘just’.”
Bella giggled again. There was no need to reveal her darker side to her mother and brother, after all.