~Chapter 15~
Arwin was located at the far northern edge of the continent, known for its extreme hostility toward outsiders and its deeply closed-off nature.
The only household that had managed to maintain any consistent relationship with them was the House of Lowell.
No one knew how he’d found out, but at the last banquet, Viscount Rotner had casually mentioned his interest in the high-quality lumber that grew in Arwin.
Cedric, recalling what he’d heard about the personality of Arwin’s First Prince, promised he’d try to arrange a meeting.
“Viscount Rotner seemed quite impressed that the Lowell family volunteered to mediate. It looks like he thought trade with Arwin was impossible due to their silence. He’s very grateful for this opportunity.”
“That’s good.”
This, too, was something that had originally proceeded from Eileen’s advice.
So of course, thoughts of her followed immediately.
Cedric barely listened to the rest of the report. Instead, he idly tapped his pen against the desk—until he suddenly stood up.
“…My lord, where are you going?”
“I’ve been stuck in this bedroom and office for days. I need some air. I’m going to train.”
Cassel quickly followed, his expression serious.
“You’re ignoring the physician’s advice, aren’t you? You still need to rest.”
“I know my own condition better than anyone.”
“Lady Eileen would’ve scolded you for this.”
“Eileen probably doesn’t even care that I’m injured.”
He regretted saying it as soon as the words left his mouth.
Was that really what Eileen Cassier thought? That no matter what happened to him, he was nothing more than a stranger?
Cassel responded as if it were obvious.
“She probably thinks it’s just a light bruise. After all, we only told her your arm was hurt.”
“Then go back and tell her it’s worse than that.”
Cassel gave him a look that clearly asked, “Are you really being this childish?”
The moment they stepped outside, Cedric could see his breath in the cold air.
Still, the chill was oddly refreshing.
He took a deep breath—and let it out again in a long, heavy sigh.
“…Also tell her, I want to talk. In person.”
He wasn’t quite ready to say he was sorry. He didn’t think the situation called for that much.
But the longer Eileen said nothing, the more his guilt built up.
Maybe it was serious enough for an apology after all.
“…Understood.”
Cedric figured that, with that much of a message, Eileen would surely come see him—if only to mock him for pretending to apologize first.
After all, Eileen often acted like the world was something she could look down on from the palm of her hand.
She always seemed to see through everything with perfect clarity.
But what Cassel brought back this time was… completely unexpected.
“…She’s sick?”
“Yes. Apparently, the knight we sent last time didn’t speak to her directly. She was out, so he left the message with the butler.”
Cassel’s tone was cautious as he continued.
“This time, I made it clear the message had to be delivered to her face-to-face. But they claimed she’s too ill to meet with anyone.”
“How sick? Why?”
Cedric forgot about pretending to read documents—he was listening fully now.
The paperwork he’d been working on after dinner was instantly pushed aside.
Cassel looked slightly troubled as he explained.
“They said… she’s come down with a very serious, contagious illness.”
“Contagious? What kind of vague explanation is that?”
“I asked the same. But the butler just brushed it off and said he was busy. We couldn’t get any more details.”
But Cedric had seen Eileen just a few days ago—she’d looked completely fine.
How could she suddenly come down with something so bad she couldn’t even meet people?
“…Last time we went, they said she was out. Now she’s suddenly bedridden with some mystery disease?”
“Not everyone has the monster-like strength and healing speed of you, my lord.”
“Still, it’s suspicious.”
Cedric genuinely thought it was strange.
It felt like they were trying to cover something up—but doing a poor job of it.
If Eileen really were deathly ill, she would’ve at least sent a letter telling him not to bother, or to stop wasting his time.
“She would’ve sent something. Even if just to scold me for being annoying.”
Cassel nodded slightly.
“Then… should I arrange a visit? You can go yourself.”
“What?”
“The butler might turn away a knight, but surely he wouldn’t dare turn away the heir of House Lowell.”
Cedric couldn’t immediately say yes to that.
Going that far to visit her felt… pathetic somehow.
What exactly was he hoping for by marching over to the Cassier estate?
“…Forget it. If she really is sick like you said, then it’ll take time to recover.”
He tried to suppress his growing doubts.
But that didn’t mean he could completely stop thinking about it.
That night, Cedric tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
‘…Should I go anyway?’
It was stupid. His pride wouldn’t allow it. But if she was truly sick, shouldn’t he at least check on her?
After all, he was her fiancé in the public eye. That gave him some obligation, didn’t it?
Even Eileen, who seemed like she didn’t care about anything, always paid attention to public perception.
“Right. I’m just doing the right thing.”
He told himself he simply wanted to make sure she really was too sick to respond.
It definitely wasn’t because he suspected she might be faking it to avoid seeing him.
The moment that thought crossed his mind, his mood soured all over again.
‘No way. She wouldn’t use something so obvious. Does she really think I wouldn’t notice?’
In the end, Cedric stayed up the entire night.
Before the sun even rose, he shot up from bed and got dressed.
“I’m going to the Cassier estate.”
“At this hour?”
He practically flew down the stairs, startling the staff.
“If he’s going alone…”
“Quick, someone fetch the lord’s aide—”
But Cedric had already mounted his horse.
“I’ll come with you. Two’s better than one, isn’t it?”
“Fine.”
As always, Eden was quick to act.
While Cassel gave advice, Eden simply followed. That, too, gave Cedric some peace of mind.
If something happened, Eden would stand firm, no matter what nonsense the Count spouted.
Because…
Today, Cedric Lowell had one clear goal: to see Eileen Cassier with his own eyes.
He entered the Cassier estate without a single hesitation.
“I’m here to see Lady Eileen Cassier.”
Immediately, the butler rushed out to block his way.
“My lord! At this hour and without warning… the young lady is likely still asleep. She’s also terribly ill—something contagious!”
“If she’s sick, I’ll deal with it. I have a right to see how my fiancée is doing.”
“You can’t just force your way in like this!”
At a glance from Cedric, Eden moved. He quietly restrained the butler without a word.
“I’ll take care of things here.”
Cedric then turned to a nearby maid—her eyes wide with fear—and asked plainly:
“Where’s her room?”
“…Top… floor… very end of the hall.”
Her voice shrank to a whisper, and her words didn’t sit right.
Why would someone like Eileen, the central figure of the family, be staying there—all the way at the end?
‘Could they really be mistreating her?’
He hadn’t wanted to believe Eileen was being abused in her own home.
Dismissed, maybe. Disregarded. But hurt?
Now, though, something about this place—the tension, the fear—set off every warning bell in his gut.
He wasn’t even holding a weapon, and yet the servants looked like they were afraid of being cut down.
“Lord Lowell. I am honored to see you again, but this behavior—”
Even Count Cassier, now appearing disheveled and recently awakened, was visibly sweating.
“I think I have every right to see my fiancée.”
“Eileen has refused all visitors.”
“Then I’ll hear that from her myself.”
Without waiting for permission, Cedric strode up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
When he reached in front of her room, someone was standing guard in front of the door.
As if keeping her in. Like a jailer.
His heart thundered in his chest.
🧡🤗
❤️