Chapter 28
Henry told the reason why Cayente had changed — a reason Yulia was so curious about but never dared to ask, and which no one else knew.
“Have you heard that the previous Count passed away in an accident?”
“Yes, I have.”
“That was four years ago. It was shortly after the Count’s twentieth birthday. Coincidentally, the same age as you are now.”
“He passed away so young?”
“Yes. Because of that, the Count had to endure many hardships that no one his age should face. After the previous Count’s death, many tried to seize his position all at once.”
“Seize it?”
Since it was an unexpected accident, no one had foreseen the previous Count’s death. Cayente was diligently undergoing succession training, but there was simply no preparation for his father suddenly disappearing.
“Business partners and suppliers altered their ledgers as they wished. Some came with dubious debt documents demanding money. Others, pretending to offer condolences, visited the estate and ran off with property deeds. Luckily, property deeds can’t be sold so easily just because someone takes them.”
Everyone seemed to have been waiting for this moment to target the Clue family’s assets.
“Even the loyal staff turned their backs. Friends became enemies, rushing to claim factories, lands, or shares during the chaos. At the time, even I saw enemies everywhere.”
Because of this, Cayente and his family had no time to mourn the late Count. Especially as the heir who inherited his father’s title and wealth, Cayente had to become even tougher for the sake of his trembling mother and younger sister.
“At that time, many said the Clue Textile Company would collapse within a year. That twenty-year-old who hadn’t even started a family couldn’t possibly manage. But the Count never gave up on any of it.”
Since ledgers weren’t only kept by partners and suppliers, Cayente personally checked dozens of books, comparing handwriting to catch any tampering. He hired an expert to verify forged debt documents and meticulously removed every threat. Henry stayed by his side to help, doing whatever he could as Cayente slowly withered under the pressure.
“Still, one factory building they were constructing was eventually taken from us. We even had to stack goods that were scheduled to be shipped because a longtime partner’s deal fell through. I thought then it was truly hopeless.”
Yet Cayente found new channels where none had existed, accelerated wool production by importing new machines, and hired new workers—expanding aggressively rather than just defending.
“Now, he earns even more than the late Count once did. But his personality has completely changed; he seems unwilling to return to how he was. I thought the upcoming marriage to Miss Yulia might bring back the old him, but it seems escaping that trauma isn’t so easy.”
Henry’s voice was full of sympathy as he added that Cayente still couldn’t sleep peacefully.
“Treating everyone like an enemy stems from those wounds. After the previous Count died, there was literally no one left by his side. That’s why he’s harsh with you, Miss. His true feelings aren’t like that.”
If his true feelings weren’t what they seemed, then what were they?
“Now that he loves someone, perhaps he’s afraid of growing soft, so he acts tougher. I say this hoping you understand a little and get hurt less.”
When Yulia asked what Cayente gained from tormenting her, he didn’t even try to deny it wasn’t intentional. Though the situation was sad, Yulia felt uncertain if Cayente’s past justified treating her like this.
“Surely, if you love and protect him by your side, he will regain his true self. It pains me that I’m not enough to be that to the Count, but how lucky you are to be with him.”
At Henry’s sincere smile, Yulia tilted her head slightly.
“Don’t you know something?”
“Huh? What would I not know?”
“I thought it was strange from the beginning.”
However, the idea that it was love was something Henry believed consistently, which puzzled Yulia. At first, she thought maybe they just hoped for love to grow because of their past ties and the forced marriage.
“You don’t know we first met again at the ball just a day before our marriage was decided, do you?”
“What do you mean? You mean the Count decided to marry in just one day?”
“Yes.”
That explained why Cayente was alone at the party where they met again, and why Henry was busy organizing the mansion since it wasn’t ready.
“Ha ha, how could this be? I thought you two had secretly exchanged letters to build love.”
“Letters?”
“For about two years, there were regular letters coming from the Ruesikan Empire. I thought they were personal because they didn’t pass through me, so I forgot about them. When I heard about your marriage, I assumed those letters were from you. But that wasn’t the case?”
“I never sent letters. I didn’t even know my brother’s address in the duchy.”
“So then… ah, it seems the Count fell in love at first sight when he saw you again at the ball.”
Impossible, Yulia denied in her heart.
From her short courtship experience, she had learned one thing clearly: how a man looks at a woman he has fallen for. Every man who asked her to dance looked at her with wide eyes, as if drawn helplessly toward her.
“That’s natural. You’re so beautiful; who wouldn’t fall?”
She could not believe that Cayente, who had always looked at her coldly as if she were a stranger, felt that way. But Henry then revealed something Yulia didn’t know.
“Besides, Miss, you were the Count’s first love. Meeting you again might have reignited those old feelings.”
“First love?”
“You didn’t know? You were the Count’s first love.”
Cayente tried to quickly drive the Ruper Baron family out of the mansion and return to work, but he ultimately failed. People like them were harder to deal with than those with clear intentions.
“Mother, please, let’s go. You’ve looked around enough.”
“Still, we came all this way; we should taste the mansion chef’s cooking.”
“I don’t see why you must sample my chef’s food. You’ve seen what you came to see. Please leave.”
“The Count is always so firm.”
They seemed to live in the same world, yet it felt like they alone lived in eternal spring. They laughed off any harsh words as if they didn’t hear, ignoring everything with easy smiles.
“Our Yulia couldn’t eat all day preparing to come here. It’s dinner time. Isn’t it cruel to send her away now? When would she eat? There are plenty of kitchen maids; they can prepare food quickly.”
“I’m fine, Mother. It’s rude to expect a meal without notice.”
“What does it matter? We’re family… well, not exactly, but if you ever have a child, you’ll understand.”
“Mother…”
Cayente didn’t know if this woman’s behavior had worsened over time or if his own refusal to tolerate it made it seem worse. He felt sorry that Yulia had given up her dream and rushed into marriage because of her mother’s conduct.
She was so kind-hearted that she must still be shocked by his words and actions.
Just as he was about to order a servant to fetch a carriage or shoo them away, Yulia’s stomach loudly growled. Her face flushed, but Baroness Mullen seized the moment.
“See? She looks half dead from wedding prep. Is it right to send her off like this? What if she collapses on the way?”
“Count, do you have urgent business at the company? If you tell me, I’ll go handle it.”
Henry assured them a simple meal could be ready in under 30 minutes, but Cayente had no choice but to endure the scene.
“I don’t need a meal. Just bring me something quick.”
“Not eating with us, Count?”
“No intention.”
Cayente could have lost his mind right then, but he didn’t. He thought Yulia’s heart was already gone from this marriage. While there was no way she could escape his grasp, he worried she might run away for good.
Yulia still had a definite use to him.
