Chapter 62

“Miss.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Elena turned her body toward me, her expression unusually serious. With a resolute look in her eyes, she pleaded, “May I move to the House of Count Clies now?”

 

“Uh…? No? You can stay with House Weiss. You can work perfectly fine here, you know?”

 

Startled, I even waved my hands.

 

Why all of a sudden?! You’ll regret it later! The Ducal House of Weiss is a much better job than the Clies estate—and it’s where you’re going to live someday!

 

“Elena, I ask the same. Will you stay here?”

 

“I owe the young lady a great debt. The reason I remained here was because you asked it of me. Now that the task is complete, I no longer see a reason to stay. I wish to show my talents by your side.”

 

I glanced sideways at Evan. If he was trying to keep Elena here, he was definitely interested in her…

 

But the moment the two of them met each other’s eyes, I started thinking.

 

“Ah! Is this because of me?”

 

“…Lep?”

 

“Young lady?”

 

I slapped a hand over my mouth. The words had slipped out too fast. Awkwardly scratching my head, I forced a laugh.

 

I’d assumed they weren’t interested in each other because nothing ever progressed. But that was stupid. I was Elena’s benefactor—her grandmother’s cure, her dream, her support.

 

Elena was a kind girl. Even if she liked Evan, would she ever show that in front of me, her benefactor and his fiancée? Maybe she was forcing those feelings down.

 

Same for Evan. Maybe because of me, he hadn’t allowed himself to think of Elena romantically.

 

A sudden guilt hit me.

 

And I’d brought something to talk about today.

 

“Evan, I have something to tell you. Can I say it now?”

 

“Of course, Lep.”

 

“You’re fully recovered, right? Elena?”

 

“Yes. Completely recovered. All the poison inside him has been neutralized, and because we halted its spread early, there’s no severe organ damage. He still needs rest, but his life is no longer at risk.”

 

I nodded repeatedly at Elena’s explanation. Then I grabbed Evan’s hand, tightly.

 

“Evan… now that you’re healthy, you can do anything.”

 

“Anything…”

 

“Yes! So you can be engaged to someone else—someone suited for the Ducal House of Weiss! Do you… like anyone? For your happiness, I’m fine with breaking off the engagement at once.”

 

I pulled out the annulment papers from my bag. I had already stamped them. All Evan had to do was decide.

 

“…Lep…?”

 

I was too busy talking to notice the way Evan clenched his teeth, or how cold and sharp his voice became when he said my name.

 

“You’ve suffered so much because of me. It would be shameless to cling to your future. So—Evan?”

 

The air around him had always been warm. But now there was frost in it.

 

My shoulders trembled. I slowly looked up—and froze.

 

His expression was iced over. The room, warm only moments ago, felt like winter.

 

“Evan…”

 

I whispered, trembling. And at that moment, he smiled—radiantly, beautifully.

 

But despite that smile, a chill crawled down my spine. His lips curled in a way that was… frightening.

 

“Lep?”

 

“Y-yes?”

 

“There’s no way I could have someone else. I’ve only ever seen you.”

 

Oh… he’s mad. For sure.

 

But why? My whole plan was for him to pause, think, and suggest breaking the engagement. Who would willingly marry the person who had dragged their entire life into suffering?

 

And didn’t he just try to keep Elena? I thought I was stepping aside so they could live happily!

 

“Lep. You said you’d take responsibility for me, right?”

 

I nodded on instinct. Evan read the paper, then smiled brightly—and ripped the annulment documents without the slightest hesitation. The crisp tearing echoed through the room.

 

‘My annulment papers…’

 

I reached out helplessly, but shredded pieces fluttered down into my hands.

 

“Then you’ll take responsibility.”

 

He held my hand. Gentle voice, but the pressure and tone pinned me in place. His intense eyes swallowed me whole.

 

 

***

 

 

“Why…? Why did that happen…?”

 

I retraced what happened moments ago.

 

I’d rushed to the Weiss ducal estate the moment I heard he’d recovered. I’d purposely stayed away recently, giving Evan and Elena time alone. They seemed closer—sweet, even.

 

Wanting to support them, I offered the annulment papers. But Evan grew furious.

 

I told him he could spread his wings, that he didn’t need to marry me… but he brought up our old promise instead.

 

“Then you’ll take responsibility.”

 

The way he said it was chilling. In a warm room, I’d shivered.

 

I fled the room before I could stop myself. I should’ve acted normal. Idiot.

 

I wandered the estate in a daze, biting my nails like a dog with separation anxiety.

 

Counting on my fingers, I listed everything I’d done to him—he’d drunk poison because of me, lived as if he had a time limit, risked losing his successor position, been looked down on by nobles, even fallen out of favor with the royal family.

 

‘Letting him go would be the right choice. For his future. For his happiness…’

 

He was too good for me. A man destined to shine.

 

“Evan is too kind…”

 

In the end, the only conclusion I reached was: he rejected the annulment because he’s kind.

 

If someone suffered years because of me, I’d feel sorry too.

 

Just as I’d been his fiancée for years, he was my fiancé. Maybe he felt indebted because I nursed him with everything I had.

 

But something inside me whispered: you’re wrong.

 

You’re completely mistaken.

 

You’ve believed something for so long you’ve stopped questioning it.

 

But I had no alternative explanation.

 

“Engagements between houses can be annulled once, at least…”

 

Then someone called my name from afar—Perio. Running. At his age, he shouldn’t be running like that!

 

He stumbled to a stop, panting, unable to speak.

 

“A-a— I heard something unbelievable—an-an-an—”

 

“About the annulment?”

 

“It was real?!”

 

“Why would I fake an annulment? Though my papers are now confetti.”

 

Perio stared at me, stunned. His eyes rolled as he demanded, “Why on earth?”

 

“Why are you confused? Everyone asks that. I ruined Evan’s life.”

 

“No, no, that’s not—”

 

“I think so! And Evan and I were only engaged for a short while anyway. He should find someone who suits him. We don’t love each other.”

 

His face? I like it. Evan is my favorite. But beyond that…

 

‘He and Elena…’

 

I swallowed that last part and shook my head. Perio didn’t stop me.

 

I trudged home. Mary sighed as if she’d expected this.

 

“You were rejected, weren’t you?”

 

Why does everyone seem so certain of things I never anticipated?

 

“Yes… Mary, why was I rejected? I thought he’d be shocked, but not that shocked.”

 

“I don’t understand why you were so confident in the first place.”

 

“Why not? I’ve told you the reason many times.”

 

“And I’ve told you I’m not convinced.”

 

“Mary… does Evan just feel guilty toward me?”

 

“…Maybe. But that’s not why he rejected the annulment. I’m sure of it.”

 

“How can you be sure?”

 

I squinted at her. I didn’t know Evan’s heart after all these years, but Mary claimed certainty.

 

And then, because a servant saw me waving the papers before I left, father heard immediately and came to find me.