The Reason Why She Can’t Get Married - Chapter 6

Schedule: Thurs and Sun

Chapter 6

* * *

Noel Ratliffe watched the woman’s retreating figure with a subtle expression, the woman who ran as if she were escaping. Her slender neck peeked out from beneath her neatly tied brown hair, adorned with a white ribbon. Clad in a sky-blue chiffon dress, her delicate frame with straight shoulders and slender limbs moved gracefully.

Lady Selena.

He silently repeated the name of the woman who had disappeared, like a rabbit encountering a hunter. From her surname, he could deduce that she was a member of the bride’s family at today’s wedding ceremony.

“I was about to tell her to take the bag,” Noel muttered as he looked down at the pure white bag lying under the tree. Noblewomen commonly favored the small and simple design that the bag before him had. Even so, she must have put something important inside and carried it around.

He wondered how urgent it was for her to leave the bag behind. He bent down to pick up the bag. Something fell out of the slightly open bag. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a folded card. The front of the card read ‘Serenade’, and inside were the following words:

[Are you struggling with love? Thirsty for romance? Spending sleepless nights worrying about love?! Then don’t hesitate and come find Serenade, the best couple matching specialist in the Carlton Empire! Whether it’s unrequited love, a budding romance, or first love, we can make it happen. We’re passionate about love, after all.

※ Note: Counseling fee is 10 gold per hour. (Boss only)]

Noel carefully examined the address and the name of the owner, noticing that the handwriting for Lady Selena, the owner of Serenade, differed from the rest. He smirked at the discrepancy in handwriting between the name and the rest.

“She’s involved in interesting work,” he murmured to himself. He put the card back into the bag and momentarily pondered, holding the bag, which felt too light in his hand. Should he leave the bag here or take it with him?

“Your Excellency, you’re here?” At that moment, someone rushed over to him, who was standing still like a painting. Noel slowly turned his head to look at his subordinate.

“Jake.”

“It seems like the meal is about to start. Shall we return to our seats?”

“Ah, yes.” Noel nodded and turned his body. Jake naturally went behind him and, upon seeing the bag in his hand, widened his eyes.

“What’s with that bag? It looks like a woman’s bag.”

“Someone left it behind.”

“Huh? Who?”

“Well, a deer-like rabbit?”

“…Pardon?” Noel walked leisurely, leaving his bewildered subordinate behind. He thought it would be best to personally deliver the bag since leaving it behind might allow someone else to take it.

* * *

Just 10 minutes before the reception, Selena realized that she had left her bag behind. She hastily sent Lucy to retrieve it, but her maid returned empty-handed, shaking her head.

“It’s okay; there’s nothing important in it anyway.”

The bag, which she had cherished despite its insignificance, contained only promotional cards. There were no valuables inside, so even though she felt a twinge of regret for losing the somewhat precious bag, it wasn’t a big deal. She decided to forget about the bag and focus on her younger sister’s wedding instead.

Standing next to her husband in front of the altar, Dahlia looked beautiful. Her smile, hidden beneath the wedding veil, radiated happiness.

‘You. If you ever make Dahlia cry, you’d better watch out for the rest of your life.’

Selena clenched her fists, glaring at Ian Petron, whom she had personally introduced to her sister. As she did, she took out a handkerchief and pressed it against her eyes. It was to prevent her tears from welling up as she watched her sister get married.

Trying to bury her emotions, Selena casually turned her head and, in doing so, locked eyes with someone in the groom’s side seating. It was Noel Ratliffe. He slowly moved his lips, mouthing, ‘Are you crying?’

Selena pretended not to notice and turned her head directly away from Noel, as if she hadn’t seen him.

‘Don’t meddle, don’t meddle…’

Throughout the day, Selena steadfastly avoided Noel’s gaze, who was looking at her as if he had something to say.

“Lady, there’s a handsome gentleman who has been looking at you every ten seconds,” Lucy whispered in her ear, but Selena responded firmly, “Ignore him, Lucy. He’s a rose. If you interact with him carelessly, you’ll get pricked by thorns and suffer from the poison.”

“But rose thorns don’t have poison.”

“He’s a rose with poisonous thorns. A poisonous rose.”

Lucy glanced briefly at Noel. He had a pure and innocent appearance that was too far from being a poisonous rose, but she understood. People who looked like that were usually really bad guys.

“Understood, lady. I’ll make sure he never gets close to you.”

“Good, Lucy. You’re the only one I can rely on.”

Lucy kept her word. Every time Noel approached Selena’s vicinity, she blocked their path and made sure he couldn’t get close. Thanks to that, Selena was able to safely finish the wedding and send off her newlywed sister on her honeymoon.

“Have fun and come back, Dahlia. Don’t forget the strawberry cake when you return.”

“Okay, sis. I’ll have a good time. Take care.”

Selena waved her hand for a long time as her sister, who used to follow her like a little bird, boarded the carriage with her husband and left on their honeymoon. When did she grow up so quickly to the point that she’s now leaving with someone for their honeymoon?

Selena was immersed in sentimental feelings, as if she had given birth to her younger sister herself. The Marchioness looked at her eldest daughter with eyes that seemed to say she was utterly hopeless.

“If you’re going to look at someone else’s daughter like that, you might as well get married yourself…”

“Oh, my, I’m so busy! Mom, I have urgent matters to attend to. Please take care. Dad too!”

Selena quickly said her goodbyes and tidied herself up. She had to leave before her mother’s full-fledged scolding began.

“Selena, are you really not going to get married?!” The Marchioness shouted behind her daughter, who was swiftly heading towards the carriage. Selena, leaning out of the carriage window, smiled brightly and replied, “Don’t worry! I absolutely won’t!”

“Then at least date someone!”

“I won’t do that either, so don’t worry!” Selena vigorously waved her hand for the last time and then entered the carriage. It was no secret that Selena Irving, the owner of Serenade, known as the love cupid, had no dating experience whatsoever. Read ahead here.