My Mate Chose My Best Friend, So His Uncle Claimed Me novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Completely Aware

Rosemarie clicked her tongue as she tugged at the measuring tape, circling it around my waist. “Oh, would you look at this?” Her eyes lit up, looking at the measure and at me. “A figure like yours is a tailor’s dream! Not too thin, not too broad, and those curves. Oh, Moon Goddess! You’ll make even silk jealous,” she said while her assistant was writing the measurements. She spread her hands as if something had made her feel delighted. “I swear, when you step into Lord Lucretius‘ birthday ball, half the women will cry, and the other half will faint!”

I scratched the back of my head, heat climbing my neck. “You exaggerate ”

I couldn’t believe that I was having a conversation with someone who was considered the most prominent seamstress in the capital. Only those respected nobles and royals could be able to set an appointment with her, given how she made the clothing so artistic according to her client’s taste.

“Exaggerate? Ha! I am telling you the truth, darling. You’ve got the kind of frame that makes gowns behave. You know… like water over stone and how it falls fluidly.” She winked, turning to her assistant’s ledger as she nodded in approval. Then, she clasped her hands together and turned to face me. “I cannot believe I’m going to be one of the few people who know that Lord Lucretius is engaged!”

Her words caused my gaze to dart involuntarily toward the corner where Lucretius, along with some attendants Rosemarie had called a while ago, was inspecting a dark velvet tuxedo. Rosemarie said that she had finished his suit that he would wear to his birthday party. What he was just lacking was the suits for our engagement party and wedding.

I told myself to look away before anyone noticed my stare at him, but it was too late.

As if sensing me, Lucretius‘ head turned. His eyes found mine across the parlor, locking onto me. It was the same gaze when he held the meeting in the assembly hall, and I could have sworn I felt my legs turning jelly right at that moment. The corner of his lips tugged into a mischief smirk that made my stomach flip.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I hastily averted my gaze to the floor, pretending to be fascinated with the seamstress’s measuring tape

“You must have some kind of spell on him. His Lordship doesn’t bring women here. Ever. The last time I measured someone in this shop under his name was…” She tapped her theatrically. Oh, right…! Never!” she exclaimed.

“Never?” I parroted in disbelief.

That was deemed impossible! I heard his playboy reputation, and he had slept with different women. I could even assume(/ there were some female soldiers whom he managed to

charm in bed.

I wouldn’t be surprised anymore. But hearing what he said that he never brought someone here? It was extremely unbelievable!

Chvate | Commis

‘Never,” she repeated cheerfully, tugging the tape up to measure my bust. “Which means you are very special to him.” She winked one more time.

“How about his mate?” I asked, curiosity ate me.

Rosemarie twitched her lips, caressing her chin. “For serving Lord Lucretius since he was a little, I had never heard of him having a mate. He has been a bachelor since he turned 18, and he never once minded it.” She shrugged as if it were a trivial matter.

That earned me silence. He had never met his mate since he had his coming–of–age. Had he ever felt lonely for all these years? Could that be the reason he had chosen to be married now?

“Ahh,” Rosemarie said, misinterpreting my reaction, “Fret not, darling. I have a feeling that even if he finds his mate now, he wouldn’t turn his back on you.” Her lips stretched into a sheepish smile.

My jaw dropped as I felt my cheeks burning from embarrassment. “I–I am not worried about it…” I replied defensively.

I didn’t feel jealous about it. In fact, I would be more concerned about being freed from the marriage if Lucretius had found his mate when we got married.

It would still better if you ended up with your fated mate. Though mine was unfortunate, I wanted Lucretius to be with the person he loved. I would be willing to divorce him once he told me that he had finally found the person the Moon Goddess had fated him for.

Her smile widened. “Every woman in this capital stares when he walks into a room. The difference is…” She leaned closer, her voice dipping into an intrigued whisper. “…he only stares back at you.”

My heart leaped out of my ribcage at her words, and as if my eyes had a mind of their own, they flickered upward again. Lucretius was still watching, and the smirk on his lips was gone now, enough to make me gulp.

Oh, shit… Why was he looking at me as if I had done something to displease him?

“Oh, my, how romantic!” I jumped to my feet when Rosemarie released a delighted laugh, unaware that he was just adding fuel to the fire.

And just when I thought I could hide behind her chatter, Lucretius murmured something to dismiss the attendants. Then, without breaking eye contact, he began walking toward me.

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