Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 223
Cecilia could be excused for her actions, but Nigel’s behavior remained inexplicable.
Did he really fail to recognize her? No, that was impossible. Hair that deep shade of crimson-tinted purple wasn’t exactly common…
‘Did he lose his senses after drinking?’
Perhaps some latent trait from his father had finally surfaced, proving that old habits truly die hard. Men in that family often had a particular taste—women who were blunt and prickly, indifferent or disdainful toward them.
Marquis Rosencrantz had only become interested in Guinevere after she’d been forced to swallow her pride and remain silent. Ulysses, too, had inherited his father’s eyes and set his heart on a woman he’d never have.
‘But both sons falling for the same woman…’
Guinevere let out a hollow laugh.
“Does she have some kind of exceptional charm? I’d love to know what it is, truly.”
She idly directed her question at her son, who sat quietly, hands clasped in front of him, staring down. When he didn’t answer, she gazed indifferently toward the door.
Footsteps, brisk and unhesitating, echoed before the door swung open. It was Nigel.
“Oh my, Nigel! Are you all right?”
“Keep your hands off me, before I break them.”
As Guinevere approached him with feigned warmth, Nigel’s gaze turned icy, making her draw back, fingers tapping the air as if playing a silent piano.
“Still as sharp as ever, I see.”
Guinevere, unlike other mothers, neither scolded nor sought to discipline Nigel for his antics. She had no reason to. This incident would infuriate Marquis Rosencrantz and only further estrange him from Nigel.
Guinevere had nothing to lose from this. In fact, it might benefit her stoic son as well.
Still, she had a question. Watching Nigel keenly, she asked,
“So, why her? And in a place like this?”
Nigel’s sharp eyes fixed on her, and for a moment, Guinevere felt herself shrink, though she didn’t reveal it. She just curled her lips.
“There are plenty of women in the capital. If you were in need of ‘experience’, you could have come to me for a better match!”
“Coming to you? I might as well prepare to get stabbed.”
Brushing past her with a dismissive wave, Nigel walked straight to where Ulysses sat and taunted him,
“Why are you still here? It would make sense for her to stay, but you have no reason to remain.”
“……”
Ulysses stayed silent. Nigel scoffed.
“Ah, are you here as that half-breed’s protector? For a second, I thought this family suddenly developed a collective sense of affection.”
At last, Ulysses looked up.
“Half-breed…?”
“Pathetic for you, isn’t it? No matter how many times you shield her from the shadows, she’ll never know.”
“Enough, Nigel.”
Guinevere stepped in to mediate, though not with any real intention. She finally understood what was going on.
Nigel had sensed Ulysses’ feelings for Cecilia and used her to both break off his engagement and mock his brother.
Their animosity had been building for some time. Nigel had always been unusually callous toward Ulysses, and Ulysses, in turn, had grown used to Nigel’s cutting remarks.
If Nigel’s primary goal was to annul his engagement and he had also sought to mock his brother, his plan had half-succeeded, half-failed.
Ulysses sat quietly, unfazed.
Of course. He was calm and rational to an almost daunting degree and had long grown indifferent to Nigel’s outbursts. Ulysses would suffer no loss from this situation; only Nigel would face trouble ahead.
‘I always knew your temper would come back to bite you one day, Nigel Rosencrantz.’
Guinevere stifled a smirk, thinking,
‘At least now you’re digging your own grave.’
She even felt a pang of gratitude for bringing that girl, Cecilia, into their lives.
The thought had barely crossed her mind when Nigel sneered,
“Fine, keep on living your bland life. I’ll enjoy myself enough for the both of us.”
The instant he made that remark, likely with Cecilia in mind, Ulysses, who had been sitting still as a statue, rose abruptly.
He lunged at Nigel, and in the blink of an eye, they had each other by the collar, fists flying.
