Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 195

The day after the party at the Pierce Duchy’s residence, the Lasphilla County’s townhouse was quiet. There were no men holding bouquets lined up at the front door, waiting to enter, nor were there any wreaths or flower deliveries.

However, Caroline was not discouraged. On the contrary, she arrogantly lifted her chin as if it was only natural and gazed out at the peaceful scene below the window.

‘They sure know their place quickly.’

She had danced with Christian Pierce. She stayed close to him, conversing until the very end, and even shared the party’s finale, the cotillion, with him.

When the party ended, they left hand in hand. Christian escorted Caroline to her carriage, promising to meet again.

‘I’ll invite you again soon. Next time, I hope we can spend some more enjoyable time together, just the two of us.’

Caroline didn’t quite understand what he meant by “enjoyable time together, just the two of us.” No one had ever tried to do such things with her, nor had anyone tried to teach her.

She assumed he meant meeting somewhere quieter, like an opera house or a tea party, not a noisy party. Interpreting his words by her own standards, she smiled brightly and responded.

‘Yes, I’d love that! Let’s definitely meet again, Chris!’

Louise, who had been waiting in the carriage, overheard their conversation and smiled enigmatically.

When Caroline entered with a flushed face, she asked Louise about Christian.

‘What do you think?’

‘About what?’

‘About Christian Pierce! Does he seem interested in me?’

‘No doubt about it. He seemed completely smitten with you, unable to think straight.’

Caroline blushed shyly.

‘Actually, he asked me to meet him again. Just the two of us…!’

‘Just the two…’

Louise repeated the words, considering their implications. She knew all too well how debauched and womanizing Christian was.

But there was no need for her lady to know that. Caroline had spent her entire life like a sheltered flower in a greenhouse. To a woman who thought her greatest hardship had been her broken engagement, there was no point in revealing the truth.

As Caroline savored her excitement, touching her flushed cheeks, Louise’s smiling lips twitched momentarily. But she quickly managed her expression, gently patting Caroline’s shoulder in her usual kind voice.

‘To meet just the two of you… That’s a very positive proposal. I truly hope you can forget the pain of the past and spend eternity with a good partner.’

Caroline nodded eagerly. The excitement was evident on her face, making her look like a young girl in the throes of first love.

An innocent girl, pure beyond her years, naive, and confident that everyone would love her. A girl who wouldn’t be satisfied until she was adored by all.

Louise was the one who had made her that way.

Louise felt a sense of satisfaction, like a sculptor admiring their masterpiece.

But she couldn’t have felt as proud and elated as Caroline, who had been the star of the party.

Ever since the party at the ducal mansion, Caroline had been walking on air.

Just a few days ago, she had been shedding tears of blood from shame and self-loathing after her broken engagement and being rejected by Ulysses twice. But now, it all felt like a distant past.

‘Ulysses? I wouldn’t take that man even if he were offered to me now.’

Caroline wrinkled her nose.

Even though the reason she glanced outside, knowing there would be no visitors, was because of Ulysses Rosencrantz, that man.

Ulysses had been at the Pierce residence that night as well. He must have seen her dancing with another man the entire time, staying close to him.

And yet, he hadn’t once asked her to dance. Of course, even if he had, she would’ve snorted and rejected him.

But she hadn’t expected that the opportunity to reject him wouldn’t even come.

‘The man I’m seeing now isn’t just any ordinary man. He’s the heir to the Pierce Duchy! Ulysses, you lost a woman worthy of attracting such a man’s attention. Don’t you regret it?’

If she were in Ulysses’ shoes, watching her ex-fiancée in that position, she would have been wrought with regret. The person next to you reflects your own worth. And now, she had become a woman of that caliber!