Chapter 45
‘It’d probably be less exhausting to just be honest…’
Rachel might not realize it, but her awkward behavior and flinching movements were a confession in themselves—proof that she was only pretending to be asleep. Her demeanor drew repeated laughter from Stefan.
But as her expression gradually twisted into something troubled, his smile also faded.
‘What could she possibly be thinking to make that face?’
For the first time in his life, he found himself genuinely curious about someone else’s thoughts.
Leaning against the library window, Stefan downed his wine in one gulp, unable to shake the thirst creeping up on him.
At that moment, he spotted a pair of twinkling eyes in the night sky. Opening the window wide, he saw a carrier pigeon sent by Finn.
The letter read as follows:
After reading the letter, Stefan nodded slightly, and the carrier pigeon took flight once more.
Sitting down at his desk, Stefan reread the letter, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
“What an extraordinary friendship. Promoting the very man who rejected her as the perfect groom for her friend…”
Stefan had never given much thought to Ailen Blanche, who seemed as dimwitted as Susan. Since she was Susan’s friend, he had assumed they were simply birds of a feather.
But what could be the reasoning behind passing on a man she couldn’t have to her friend? Whether it stemmed from genuine friendship or veiled malice, it wasn’t a pleasant scenario either way.
‘What does she hope to gain from this?’
Even if Susan Edmond and Elliot Eden ended up together, Ailen Blanche had nothing to gain. They weren’t relatives, so the Blanche family couldn’t leverage the connection. Nor could she expect any monetary benefits for acting as a matchmaker.
Susan wasn’t the type to repay kindness thoroughly, so it was obvious she’d merely be used.
‘And yet she introduced Eden to Susan?’
Stefan drained the rest of his wine. The celebratory mood he’d felt about a productive day had evaporated completely.
***
From the following day, Susan began going out more frequently.
Her efforts to avoid her brother’s watchful eyes by leaving early in the morning seemed almost laughable to Stefan. Finn kept a close eye on Susan and Ailen, reporting back on their activities with Elliot.
The report that amused even the usually indifferent Stefan was about their visit to Finn’s jewelry store to order matching couple rings.
“They really are something else.”
With both Rita and Stefan’s attention focused on Susan, Rachel’s life became remarkably peaceful.
She spent her afternoons sipping chocolate tea with Emily and her evenings encouraging Joanna, who was practicing her dyeing techniques.
Through the Marchioness of Cota, Rachel also learned more about the Marquis of Eden. He was well-prepared to be an excellent marquis, with no scandals to his name—a clean and respectable man.
“At least Ailen seems to have good taste in men.”
The problem, however, was that everything was going according to Rachel’s plans, which seemed to be emboldening Ailen.
It all started with their frequent visits to the jewelry store to order Susan and Elliot’s couple rings.
‘Before Susan gets married and leaves for Herkeni, I should make sure to get a nice gift for myself too.’
While browsing the display cases, her eyes landed on an unfamiliar gemstone. Unlike her usual timid self, she boldly inquired about it with Finn.
“Manager, I’ve never seen that gemstone before. What is it?”
“You have a keen eye, Lady Blanche. That’s a new gemstone not yet released on the market.”
Most noble ladies would close their mouths at the mention of something being a “new release,” as it was code for being exorbitantly expensive.
But for some reason, Aileen’s interest only grew when she heard it was a new release.
“What is its name?”
“…Rhodolite garnet.”
“It’s already set as a ring. Is it reserved?”
“Exactly, Lady Blanche.”
It was only then that she sighed deeply and turned away.
‘Of course. A ring like that is far beyond my reach. It must be meant as a gift for some wealthy noble’s lover or wife.’
A few days ago, she had turned away, barely hiding the longing in her gaze.
But now, she saw that very ring sparkling on Rachel’s finger when they met again at the dress shop for fittings.
“Duchess, that’s such a beautiful ring.”
“Thank you, Lady Ailen.”
“The Duke must have given it to you, I presume?”
“Yes, somehow it ended up that way…”
Susan, standing nearby, shot Rachel a resentful glance, which brought a fleeting smile to Ailen’s lips before it vanished.
‘The Duke cherishes his sister so much, yet it seems he’s never gifted her so much as a pebble of a ring.’
While Ailen found satisfaction in Susan being treated coldly by her brother, the thought that these women would live their lives being called “Duchess” and “Marchioness” thanks to marrying well made her stomach churn.
‘If that’s the case, couldn’t they spare a single gemstone ring for me?’
This peculiar thought soon found its way from her mouth to Susan’s ears.
“Susan, when do you plan to formally introduce the Marquis?”
“I’ve actually arranged a meeting with Mother tomorrow.”
“Oh, how wonderful! Does that mean you’ll marry this fall?”
“If we hurry, it might be possible.”
“You do remember that I played a significant role in introducing the two of you, right?”
“Of course, of course.”
“Traditionally, matchmakers are given a gift, like a set of clothes, but could I ask for something else?”
“Anything you want, Ailen. Just say the word.”
She smiled meaningfully at Susan, who had spoken with such confidence.
“I want the garnet ring your new sister-in-law is wearing.”
“What? But that’s a new release; it’s unavailable anywhere else…”
“No, I don’t want a similar ring—I want the one Rachel is wearing.”
“What? That ring was a direct gift from my brother…”
“Which is exactly why I want it.”
Ailen’s green eyes glinted with an eerie light that Susan found deeply unsettling. They had been friends for years, but she had never seen this chilling expression before.
“…Why does it have to be ‘that’ ring Rachel is wearing?”
“Because it’s a new gemstone. You and Rachel are getting new husbands, so shouldn’t I at least get a new gemstone? Don’t you think that’s fair?”
“…”
Faced with her bizarre logic, Susan pressed her lips together. Yet, a part of her couldn’t help but think she might have entertained such a crazy thought herself if their positions were reversed.
‘Well, Aileen is the one who introduced me to Elliot. She’s a dear friend I might never see again after I leave for Herkeni…’
Having sorted her thoughts, she grasped Ailen’s hands tightly and grinned triumphantly.
“I’ll make sure that ring ends up on your finger. But you must ensure my brother never finds out. Understood?”
“Of course. Thank you so much, Susan. You’re truly the best friend ever.”
“And you’re the most precious friend to me, Ailen!”
Without hesitation, they threw their arms around each other, jumping up and down in giddy excitement. Their twisted reasoning had somehow united them, resulting in a rather ridiculous scene.
***
It was the evening of the day Susan had gone out with Rita and Stella, supposedly to introduce Elliot. Left alone, Rachel found herself having dinner with Stefan when an outrageous suggestion came from him.
“Madam, would you wear the garnet ring tonight?”
“In bed, you mean?”
“…Yes.”
“I never wear any jewelry in bed, Your Grace.”
“…”
Rachel refrained from wearing accessories during intimate moments for fear that they might accidentally harm her partner. Rings, in particular, were dangerous since hands naturally touched and gripped various parts of the body.
But had she perhaps rejected him too firmly? Stefan’s sullen expression tugged at her conscience.
“I’m concerned the ring might accidentally injure you, Your Grace. Please understand.”
“The garnet ring is carefully rounded and won’t harm anyone. So please, just wear it once.”
“Y-Your Grace…”
His childish insistence was so unlike him that it felt strangely unfamiliar.
“All you need to do, Madam, is refrain from using your hands during our time together.”
