Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 204
He was under a complete and utter misunderstanding. He believed he had to take responsibility for touching a woman’s bare body in the middle of the night.
‘So old-fashioned.’
Cecilia scoffed inwardly.
For someone else, this might have been a golden opportunity. After all, his looks and status far outweighed all the men standing outside with bouquets.
But this was Ulysses Rosencrantz.
The man who had scarred her.
Perhaps that was why, despite him treating her so blatantly like a woman, she felt no emotion.
Just as he had been indifferent to her for so long, she had gradually grown indifferent to him.
‘It’s just… funny.’
The fact that he could feel such a heavy sense of responsibility just for undressing her once—it was almost admirable.
Cecilia lowered her head, stifling the laughter that threatened to burst out.
In conclusion, he was making an irrational proposal, completely out of character, just to pull her away from those other men.
For someone as cold and rational as Ulysses to become so emotional because of her? It was almost touching.
‘Perhaps even something to thank the heavens for.’
Ulysses Rosencrantz was someone she could use.
She had this instinct of never letting an opportunity slip by when it presented itself. If she mocked him and trampled on his feelings now, it would grand her only brief satisfaction.
But if she left some room, he could be a useful knight for a long time to come.
She decided to leave him be. To give him hope but not enough to let him come too close.
She would treat this ice-cold man like fire—keeping him at a distance that could warm her, but not burn her.
Having come to her decision, she spoke to his hardened face.
“I’m not running away. And there’s no need to. This is just one of those common traditions that follow a debut, isn’t it?”
Her tone softened.
“Besides, none of them actually have any intention of proposing to me. They’re just here to gawk at a strange-looking monkey.”
She made it clear that she had no interest in forming serious connections with any of them.
“And you, by the way. Did you forget? I’m engaged. It’s not finalized, but still.”
She didn’t forget to remind him of the harsh reality, one that might scrape at his heart.
“Engaged.”
He repeated the word.
“Engaged…”
“Yes.”
“I heard there’s been talk of breaking it off.”
“You’re really keeping tabs on me, aren’t you?”
When Cecilia looked at him in surprise, Ulysses shifted the conversation.
“Is that why you danced with so many men at the party?”
“Where did you hear that…?”
“Your chatty maid told me. She said all those men fell head over heels for you at the party.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
“Because of your dancing.”
“…”
“That can’t be true, can it?”
Cecilia felt her pride stung by his sudden criticism.
Did he think she was just frantically searching for a replacement because she didn’t want Logan anymore?
The truth was that she had been avoiding Christian Pierce. He was just too much of a bother that it led to her dancing with many others.
But there was no need to explain that to him now.
“I was just enjoying the party.”
“I didn’t know you liked such things. If I had, I would’ve asked you for a dance too.”
“I’m sure there wouldn’t have been room on my dance card.”
“Then I suppose I made the right choice staying in the library that night.”
“…?”
He smiled coldly and changed the subject.
“You said you were going to change clothes, right? If it’s too hard, I can help.”
His gaze swept over her slowly.
“…Now that I know how.”
This kind of teasing was unlike him. Cecilia collected herself and shook her head.
“No, thanks. I don’t need your help in broad daylight.”
“What a shame.”
He frowned playfully. If anyone saw him, they might think he was genuinely disappointed.
“I’ll be going then. The sun’s coming up. If I keep them waiting too long, I’ll end up getting scolded.”
As she turned to leave, he grabbed her arm. His breath was close, and his lips brushed against her ear as he whispered something familiar.
“When you want to call off the engagement, let me know. I can help with that too.”
Cecilia glanced around. A few servants were coming up the stairs. She pushed his forehead away and replied.
“That’s fine.”
She already had someone lined up to help her break off the engagement.
