He surveyed the interior of Jane’s room. Unlike his slow movements, his gaze was quite sharp.
Cain suspected she might have been up to something.
For example, writing a letter to send to the Rose Faction, or secretly inviting someone from the Rose Faction into the house.
While the former was plausible, the latter was an impossible speculation. The security of the Hastings family was extremely thorough. If an uninvited guest had sneaked in and out, Cain would have known.
However, strong suspicion interfered with rational thinking.
Fortunately or unfortunately, there was no sign of anything suspicious in Jane’s room. Considering that he opened the door right away, it couldn’t be said that she had hidden anything.
“It’s obvious who would come looking for me.”
Jane, startled by his sudden visit, rubbed her arms.
Standing in the middle of Jane’s room, Cain stated his business.
“Go on a date.”
Jane only blinked her eyes.
“A date?”
“We danced together. So we should. How about tomorrow?”
“That’s alright. I’ll just accept your intentions, Cain.”
Cain snorted.
“Jane, how can you accept intentions I haven’t given? Just go on the date.”
Jane’s face turned red. Not because she was thrilled by the date proposal, but because she was embarrassed for misinterpreting his suggestion on her own.
“You’re busy, so don’t worry about it. We’re just in a contract relationship anyway, so it’s meaningless. Instead, let me go out with Joseph tomorrow.”
For Cain, it was a proposal he should have welcomed with open arms, but instead, he felt a slight annoyance.
Why?
For once, Cain tried to find the reason for his feelings. Fortunately, unlike in the past, he could find the answer quickly.
“We’ll have our date the day after tomorrow then.”
“It’s okay…”
“I’ve told you several times that it’s not a suggestion but an order, Jane. You don’t have the right to refuse.”
It was because Jane ignored his words and acted foolishly.
She seemed quite smart seven years ago, but something must have happened in between to make her repeat the same things over and over.
Come to think of it, did she throw away the dress she wore on her debutante day, blatantly defying his words? And those shabby pearl earrings?
“What did you do with the dress and pearl earrings you wore at your debutante?”
The question burst out impulsively.
“…I put them away.”
Jane hesitated before answering.
‘So those earrings were indeed meaningless objects to you.’
Cain’s lower eyelid twitched. He clicked his tongue and continued.
“If there’s anything you want to do or any place you want to visit on our date, tell Mary.”
“I don’t have anything like that.”
“Not even one?”
“No, I don’t really know. I’ve never done it before.”
“Not even once?”
Jane’s eyes narrowed. Strangely, Cain’s attitude had softened. And he was inquiring about something unimportant.
Is this a new form of torment?
For Jane, not having been on a date even at 25 was a very embarrassing thing.
Is he going to mock that again? That’s a bit unpleasant.
Jane decided to tell him everything before he could ask more and send him away.
“I didn’t have the circumstances to date. I was too busy just trying to make ends meet.”
“It’s not like you’d be paying for the date.”
Jane let out a faint sigh.
“I suppose you pay for everything when you go on dates?”
“As a gentleman, of course I should.”
Is he bragging? About having been on many dates, or about having a lot of money?
“This doesn’t seem like a necessary conversation. It’s getting late. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave now.”
It had been too long since he’d heard such a request to leave. Since becoming a duke, he hadn’t been asked to leave, so it was fair to say it had been 5 years.
Perhaps because he was always the one giving orders, he didn’t want to leave.
But given what grown adults could do in a bedroom late at night was obvious, Cain turned around.
“It’s in two days, don’t forget.”
“Alright. But Cain.”
Jane held him back just as he was about to leave the room. Jane lowered her gaze and fidgeted with her hands.
Was she about to make a very difficult request? Perhaps…
Why did that phrase, additionally written in the contract, come to mind at the end of those words?
“If you have something to say, say it.”
Never been on a date before, yet she’s the one grabbing a man first. Jane was indeed an unpredictable woman.
“Can I go out with Joseph? Tomorrow, I mean.”
At Jane’s request, painfully repeated, the corners of Cain’s mouth tightened.
“Do as you please.”
Cain, who answered after a long while, disappeared, leaving a cold breeze in his wake.
Jane placed both hands on her chest and let out a sigh of relief. Her pounding heart thumped against her palms.
She was looking forward to tomorrow. And the day after as well.
Although she had told Cain it was okay, she was secretly happy that he had asked her on a date.
Forgetting all about the questions that had troubled her, Jane foolishly concluded once again that Cain was actually a kind person.
* * *
As they came out after lunch, there was a dazzlingly splendid carriage in front of the entrance.
“This way, please, young lady. And young master.”
Norbert personally opened the carriage door. Jane tightly held Joseph’s hand and approached the carriage.
“We’re to ride in this carriage?”
Jane pointed at the four-wheeled carriage of the Hastings family.
Normally, nobles preferred two-wheeled carriages. It was much more economical.
Even Cain rarely used the four-wheeled carriage, not wanting to attract troublesome attention. Of course, even the two-wheeled carriages of the Hastings family were very flashy and eye-catching.
“The Duke gave special instructions before he left.”
Was it an attempt to tease Jane, who usually preferred not to attract attention from others?
“It’s really fine, though.”
As Jane trailed off, Joseph entered her field of vision.
“Wh-wh-what is this?”
“It’s a decoration made of ivory.”
“And this string?”
“If you pull it, a bell rings next to the coachman’s seat.”
“It’s so, so, so spacious inside! I’d believe it if you said it was a room!”
Joseph was completely smitten with the luxurious carriage.
“Fo-fo-four… four horses!”
And he was also completely taken with the black horses that must have cost a fortune.
“C-c-can I touch them?”
“Of course, young master. Would you like to give them some sugar cubes?”
“Is that really okay?”
“Of course. Come this way.”
Joseph approached the black horses under the coachman’s guidance. He was so excited that his face was full of smiles.
“I’ll get in and wait first.”
Jane’s mind, which had been set on switching to a two-wheeled carriage, changed after seeing how much Joseph liked it.
Jane spoke to Norbert. Then she took her eyes off Joseph and got into the carriage.
After feeding sugar cubes to the horses, Joseph entered the carriage. Jane patted the seat next to her.
Joseph sat down next to Jane, awkward but unable to hide his joy.
A small window connected to the coachman’s seat opened.
“Where shall I take you?”
“To Hausten Street, please.”
The window closed and the carriage set off.
Hausten was the street frequented by the wealthiest people in Kelsos, the capital of the Emblun Kingdom.
It was a place Jane had frequented like her own home 7 years ago, and a place she hadn’t been able to visit once in 7 years.
How might it have changed?
Jane’s palms grew sweaty.
* * *
If you want to know the trends in the Emblun Kingdom, go to Hausten Street.
That saying was no exaggeration.
The various high-end shops concentrated on Hausten Street led the trends in the Emblun Kingdom.
That’s why Hausten Street was bustling with people day after day.
Tourists coming to see the glamorous shops, nobles out to make purchases, and industry professionals coming to copy Hausten’s trends.
“Come closer and look, Joseph.”
Jane lifted Joseph, who was sitting in the middle with his neck stretched towards the window, and sat him by the window.
“It-it-it’s fine.”
Though he said that, Joseph was practically hanging on the window to see the street.
Jewelry stores, fur specialty shops, handicraft stores, galleries, dress shops, toy stores, and souvenir shops.
Everything looked fascinating to Joseph.
Jane smiled.
“The street is sparkling.”
Joseph mumbled with a dazed face. Jane looked outside to see what Joseph was talking about and let out an exclamation of admiration.
In 7 years, Hausten Street had become even more splendid. Glass crafts placed throughout the street sparkled in the sunlight, and flags of all nations fluttered between buildings.
“You’re right, it really sparkles. Joseph, you have good eyes.”
Jane stroked the back of Joseph’s head. Joseph grinned at Jane’s compliment. He couldn’t take his eyes off the street. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he moved away from the window and sat down quietly.
“I-I-I got too excited, didn’t I? Sh-sh-she said that’s not allowed, that it makes me look like a beggar…”
Jane’s brow immediately furrowed.
“Who?”
“M-m-mom.”
It was the first time Joseph had mentioned his mother. As Jane, who knew nothing about his birth mother, was choosing her words, Joseph hung his head low.
“I-I’m sorry. I-I-I shouldn’t talk about mom.”
Jane looked at Joseph with pity.
To hear nothing but apologies from the mouth of a mere 6-year-old child. What kind of environment had Joseph grown up in?
Her chest felt tight.
“Joseph, when you’re with me, you can do anything. If you like something, make a fuss about how much you like it, and if you want to talk about your mom, talk all you want. I prefer that.”
“Really?”
Joseph’s eyes widened. Jane’s image was clearly reflected in his eyes, which had grown as big as a rabbit’s.
“Yes!”
Jane nodded vigorously. Joseph hesitated, unable to believe it readily.
“Shall I tell you my story? When I first came to Hausten Street…”
Jane’s gaze grew distant.
__________
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
