Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 222

“Haa…”

Count Heens let out a deep sigh, while the butler, hesitant to deliver further news, carefully spoke up.

“Um, Your Excellency. There’s… one more thing.”

“What now? Who else is it this time?”

“It’s… not anything too serious, but…”

The butler coughed uneasily before continuing.

“There’s still one person who hasn’t left yet.”

“What? I thought I instructed everyone to be sent away.”

Seeing the butler’s vague smile, a familiar sense of unease spread through Count Heens, prompting him to lean forward in his chair.

“Who is it?”

“The grandson of the Harper Trading Company.”

“Ah.”

At the mention of Harper Trading, the Count’s face brightened for a moment. This was precisely the connection he’d been hoping to establish. Inviting him had felt like a bold and valuable move.

“…Wait a minute.”

But the delight didn’t last.

Who was this grandson of the Harper Trading Company?

“Logan Harper…”

Almost dreading the answer, Count Heens asked the butler,

“Is he… by any chance…”

With a grim, downward twist of his mouth, the butler confirmed,

“Yes, he’s engaged to Lady Cecilia Lasphilla and chose to remain here as a concerned party. He seemed to have already grasped the situation by the time I informed him.”

“Oh… oh, no. Unbelievable.”

Count Heens slumped forward, resting his head in his hands, and muttered almost inaudibly,

“If I knew this would happen, why did I encourage him to attend in the first place?”

“Pardon?”

“It makes no sense… Why? Was it mere amusement? Or… jealousy?”

“Um, Your Excellency, I… don’t quite follow…”

Ignoring the butler, the Count finally looked up.

“No, nothing. …Just ask him to come in if he has something to say.”

“…Please wait a moment.”

The butler returned shortly, empty-handed.

“He’s not in the guest room.”

“Did he leave already?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll instruct the staff to continue looking.”

“All right. He’s my guest, after all, and I wouldn’t want to appear inhospitable.”

“Yes, sir.”

Count Heens exchanged glances with the walls on either side, then squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again.

“Now, let’s gather everyone involved for a discussion.”

“Understood.”

* * *

At the same time, Guinevere, who had heard the whole account from the butler, began to think quickly.

‘Nigel and Cecilia?’

She knew better. He couldn’t fool her—Nigel would never get involved with Cecilia. She knew all too well how much Nigel loathed that girl.

‘If anyone would do something like this, it would be him, not Nigel.’

She glanced over at Ulysses beside her. Though he could have left for home, he remained firmly in place.

He was likely not staying out of concern for his brother or to assist his mother, either.

The only plausible reason for Ulysses to remain was Cecilia.

“Transparent fool.”

Guinevere scoffed at him, rolling her eyes as she looked away. Ulysses sat expressionless, his hands resting primly on his knees, his stiff posture exasperating her.

‘Even if Cecilia harbored one-sided feelings toward Nigel, it would never work between them.’

It had to be either a mutual deception or an agreement of some sort between them, she thought.

Guinevere considered it far more likely that Cecilia had been the one deceived. After all, Cecilia had come to her in tears immediately after the incident, saying,

“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry!”

Holding Cecilia as she cried, Guinevere had asked her to explain. Through her tears, Cecilia had shaken her head and murmured,

“I didn’t know it was Sir Nigel. Truly, I swear, I didn’t know who he was.”

“You didn’t know? But he wasn’t even wearing a mask.”

“It’s true. When we spoke, he was wearing a cloak that covered his face. Maybe he… didn’t know it was me, either.”

Guinevere scoffed. If Nigel hadn’t recognized Cecilia by that unmistakable hair, he’d be a fool—and, unfortunately, Nigel was far from foolish.

Still, it couldn’t be denied that Cecilia had done something indecent while engaged to another man. After this incident, her engagement to the Harper family would certainly be over.

Guinevere didn’t feel even the slightest pity for her young niece. A foolish girl like that deserved what was coming to her.