The Devil's Betrothed-Chapter 746: Jealousy

Everyone was invited to lunch at the Rainiers’ estate, where Gwen had prepared a grand feast. Aaron and the others arrived, welcomed warmly by the sight of a well-prepared table.

Erin entered the foyer, descending the grand staircase, and spotted her brothers who had just arrived with the rest of the guests.

Rowan smiled at her, giving her a gentle pat on the head. "Did you rest well?"

She nodded, noticing his gaze shifting to someone behind her. She knew he must be looking at Lucian, who was also coming down the stairs.

"I hope no one troubled you," Rowan added, a hint of protectiveness in his tone.

Worried her brother might say more, Erin quickly said, "I’m starving. Shall we eat?"

Rowan nodded in agreement just as Lucian reached them. Lucian greeted everyone politely, and together, they made their way toward the dining room. As they walked through the corridor, they noticed a middle-aged man and a young woman in a simple dress being led by a servant toward the guest area.

Lucian noticed them too but didn’t pay much attention—it was his father’s responsibility to attend to any new arrivals at the estate.

At the dining table, before Erin could sit next to Aaron, Lucian gently held her hand and guided her to the chair on his right, while he took the seat at the head of the table.

Erin shot him a glare, only for him to respond, "This is the most comfortable seat for you."

She glanced at Aaron, who gave her an understanding smile. "Please, make yourself comfortable," he said.

Reluctantly, Erin took the seat Lucian had chosen for her, knowing it was traditionally reserved for the lady of the household. She kept quiet, realizing that if she argued now, Lucian might announce in front of everyone what he’d told her privately upstairs.

She could almost hear him saying, ’You’re sitting in the right place, as you will be the lady of this estate.’

Just then, Gwen entered, having instructed the servants to bring in the food. She didn’t seem surprised to see Erin seated beside Lucian.

"I hope you all enjoy the meal," Gwen said warmly, smiling at everyone.

"Where’s Father?" Lucian asked.

"We have a guest, so your father and I will dine later with them," Gwen explained. "The guest is someone who worked for your father and managed to survive Luis’s actions twenty years ago. He’s here with his brother’s daughter. His brother was the estate’s treasurer and was killed by Luis. Though the other family members were killed, the girl was saved by her uncle, and they’ve been in hiding ever since. Now they’ve returned, knowing you’re in charge of the estate. Your father believes we should help those who suffered back then."

Lucian nodded thoughtfully as the servants began serving the food. Wishing them a good meal, Gwen excused herself to attend to the guests.

"Returned with a young woman?" Rowan remarked with a smirk. "Seems like our Lord Rainier may soon start receiving marriage proposals. Won’t it be exciting to be a Lord of those lost families and now they come offering their daughters to the great Lord, their saviour."

Lucian met his gaze steadily. "Everyone will receive the help they need, but they don’t need to be anything more to me than people I’m responsible for protecting."

"Who knows," Rowan teased. "Lord Rainier might change his mind."

"I’ve made up my mind..."

"Could you both start eating instead of arguing?" Erin interrupted, her tone displeased. "Or I’m leaving." She was worried about what might Lucian end up saying as he always said what’s on his mind.

The two men exchanged a look and fell silent. Others at the table hid their smiles, pretending not to notice the exchange.

Lucian quietly added food to Erin’s plate. "This will help you fend off the cold."

"I can serve myself," she replied curtly. "Focus on your own meal."

"I don’t want you getting sick," he replied evenly.

"It doesn’t concern you."

"You’re living in my home, so it certainly does," Lucian responded calmly. "But, I’m used to taking care of people when they’re ill, so you don’t need to worry."

Erin shot him a glare. "That won’t be necessary. If I fall sick, my brothers and Aaron are here to take care of me." She looked over at Aaron, who returned her gaze. "Aaron, you’d take care of me, right?"

Aaron glanced between his brother and Erin before nodding, feeling caught between them as usual. He wished Lucian would handle things directly soon.

Lucian held his silence, while Erin continued, "Aaron, I’d like to see your residence and the Wynter estate. I was hoping you could show me around."

Aaron felt trapped once again but had to decline for a reason. "I’d love to, but I have to leave the estate for some urgent matters today. Lucian is here, though, and he knows the estate well. He can show you around."

With Aaron’s polite suggestion, Erin could only sigh and stay quiet.

Rowan, seated next to her, spoke up. "Don’t worry, Erin. Once you’re married, your husband will have all the time in the world to show you around."

Erin looked at Aaron, assuming Rowan meant him. "I don’t want to be a bother. You should focus on your work."

Aaron nodded, his expression slightly strained, while Rowan shot Lucian a smirk. Lucian, however, remained as calm as ever.

After the meal, Aaron departed for his work, with Imbert accompanying him. The others stayed, as Lucian had offered to show them around.

On the way back to the Winter’s residence, Imbert asked, "Aaron, you really didn’t have any urgent work to attend."

"I didn’t, but now I have to turn everything Into an urgent work," Aaron replied.

"Because of Lucian?" Imbert asked.

"And because of Erin as well," Aaron replied with a sigh. "At Nathaniel’s estate it was fine for her to walk around with me, but here everyone from Rainiers and Wynters will see her. It won’t make a good impression of her in the eyes of people when she would be marrying Lucian instead of me. She can’t lose respect in other’s eyes."

Imbert hummed. "Nobility comes with lots of rules and restrictions, especially for the women."

Aaron agreed as well. "It can only become a burden, but we can’t avoid it."

---

Meanwhile, Just as they reached the side garden of Rainier estate, a servant approached Lucian.

"My Lord, your father has requested your presence," the servant informed him, gesturing toward where Paul, Gwen, and a middle-aged man and young woman were coming from Paul’s study.

Lucian nodded. "I’ll join you all shortly. Arthur can show you around in the meantime."

"Don’t worry about us," Rafal assured, and Lucian headed off.

As Erin watched Lucian walk toward the group, so did others.

As Lucian approached them, Rowan commented, "Looks like we might be seeing another wedding here soon, Lord Rainier’s this time."

The others picked up on Rowan’s implication. Arthur added, "I saw them this morning. The girl is quite beautiful. She’d suit Lucian well."

"There’s probably a bit of sympathy involved, too," Rafal suggested. "If her family sought help, Paul might encourage Lucian to marry her."

"Judging by the way they’re talking and smiling at him, it’s clear they’re open to it," Rowan added. "She looks like the obedient type who’d make a gentle, accommodating wife."

Erin clenched her teeth, her gaze fixed on Lucian. "Are we going to look around or stand here analyzing his marriage prospects?"

"Oh, my apologies," Rowan said lightly. "I forgot my sister might be feeling a little disappointed."

"Why would I be upset?" she snapped. "He can marry anyone he wants—it has nothing to do with me."

"I was actually referring to Aaron leaving without showing you around," Rowan replied, feigning innocence.

Erin hesitated, caught off guard. She quickly looked away, determined to avoid her brother’s scrutiny, and strode forward. "I’ll look around on my own," she said sharply.

Rowan and the others chuckled, following her. It was clear to them that Erin was feeling a touch of jealousy.

"Did Lucian confess his feelings or something?" Arthur murmured.

"Knowing him, he probably hinted at something or said just enough to unsettle her," Rowan replied.

"Don’t tease her too much, Rowan," Rafal advised. "Let her be. Her temper can be fierce."

"That’s exactly what I’m hoping for," Rowan grinned. "I want her to get riled up enough to strangle Lucian. The man deserves it for being so stubbornly oblivious." freewёbnoνel.com