Chapter 71

I wasn’t going to get angry when I was the one who said I’d let him go—but what I had in mind was pairing him with a decent, upright woman like Elena, not handing him over to some sly vixen whose motives I couldn’t even read!

 

“Still… asking Evan directly would be a bit much…”

 

It was embarrassing, no matter how I looked at it. I couldn’t help it. While I was at it, I might as well ask Elena about Piote too. I decided to write her a letter.

 

I hurriedly wrote it, and just as I was settling down to rest, Seban came to tell me that Elena had arrived.

 

“Huh? Already?”

 

Wasn’t that way too fast? Even if the letter reached House Weiss immediately and Elena left at once, she should only just be arriving at House Clies now.

 

Elena carefully opened the door and stepped inside.

 

“You called for me, my lady?”

 

“Yes, come in. I didn’t summon you on a busy day, did I?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

I quickly gestured to the chair across from me.

 

“Please, sit.”

 

Elena sat politely, and tea was set before her.

 

I hesitated, unsure how to begin. Should I ask about Piote first? Or Evan? But Elena already knew that I had handed Evan a letter of annulment. Should I explain that first?

 

Elena spoke before I could decide.

 

“The young master’s daily routine begins at five in the morning, with light training—”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Evan’s private life suddenly spilled out of Elena’s mouth. I hurriedly raised my palm, signaling her to stop.

 

“Weren’t you curious about how the young master has been doing?”

 

“No!”

 

W–well, I was a little curious, sure—but that wasn’t why I called her today. Elena’s calm, innocent delivery left me at a loss. Then her next words shut my mouth completely.

 

“The conflict between you and the young master has been resolved, hasn’t it?”

 

I had never told her anything like that, yet she spoke with certainty.

 

“I can tell from the young master’s condition when he returned late last night. He wasn’t depressed at all. If anything, he seemed happy.”

 

Just how obvious had he been? I dragged my hands down my face. Still, imagining him practically scattering flower petals around after making up with me was both cute and mortifying.

 

But something caught at me.

 

“…Was he depressed?”

 

I asked carefully, guilt creeping in. What came back was a blunt, merciless yes.

 

“Yes.”

 

It pierced straight through my heart.

 

“I… I suppose he would be…”

 

“Looking at his face today, it’s even clearer. He seemed to have shed his worries.”

 

“…Ah…”

 

“It may not have been a big matter, but I never thought you were considering annulment.”

 

I remembered Elena’s shocked expression on the day I handed over the annulment letter.

 

“…I didn’t like it,” Elena continued, “but the affection the young master gave you was undeniable.”

 

As she recalled it, Elena shook her head, her brow furrowing.

 

“I was even more surprised because he told me directly.”

 

That cold smile—

 

This wasn’t the Elena I knew. I shivered. Her anger was palpable.

 

“Now that I think about it, you often hinted at pairing me with the young master. Even though I repeatedly told you I had no interest in Lord Evan—!”

 

She slammed her teacup down. Tea splashed onto the table.

 

She covered her mouth, apologizing, trying to soften her expression into a smile. Her lips curved, but her eyes were icy.

 

“From the start, I had no intention of coveting my lady’s fiancé. Nor is he my type. A fox-like man like that.”

 

“I–I understand. I get your point.”

 

The eyes I once thought resembled warm summer grass now gleamed sharply—colder than a winter’s day. I gestured for her to calm down.

 

‘I thought things might change… the future is unpredictable, after all…’

 

But no. Only now did I truly believe her reaction. Those fleeting rotten expressions she’d shown whenever she praised Evan—those had been genuine.

 

‘I really… caused trouble in so many ways.’

 

After taking a breath, Elena spoke again.

 

“The reason you summoned me in such haste must concern the young master. You were curious about how he’s been lately, weren’t you?”

 

“I–I was curious, yes… but there’s something I need to ask first.”

 

“Please, go ahead.”

 

This was the Elena I knew. I placed a hand over my chest and took a deep breath.

 

“What happened during the festival?”

 

“With Lord Evan?”

 

“No! I heard you met my brother. And that you ran into some ruffians too. Were you all right?”

 

“Ah.”

 

Elena let out a short sigh and cleared her throat.

 

“Yes, I’m unharmed. I was caught in a minor scuffle, but Piote happened to pass by and helped me. For reference, Lord Evan insisted he absolutely would not move, so I had no choice but to go alone.”

 

“I… see.”

 

We didn’t need the rest of that story.

 

Still, it was clear Elena and Piote had met. That meant I couldn’t avoid this question.

 

“Elena. What do you think of Piote—my brother?”

 

I rubbed my eyes in disbelief. I hadn’t imagined it—her cheeks were flushed. The same reaction Piote had shown.

 

I laughed inwardly, sipping my tea to steady myself.

 

“So this really is getting tangled…”

 

“I think well of him…”

 

Yes, I knew that line very well. It was exactly what heroines always said before realizing their feelings.

 

“And what about you, my lady? Are you all right?”

 

“Hm?”

 

“When rumors of discord between you and the young master spread, marriage proposals flooded the ducal house. You can imagine how he must look at banquets, can’t you?”

 

“Yes… more or less…”

 

“For reference, the young master attended another banquet today.”

 

“Were there many…?”

 

“Many.”

 

Even without stating it plainly, Elena understood perfectly. I had plenty to say about that too. How could they swarm him like that just because of a rumor? Weren’t these the same people who’d said he was hopeless, that I should give up, whispering behind my back about severed ties and poisonous blood?

 

Grinding my teeth in anger, I cursed faceless, detestable women.

 

“They ignored him before, and now they’re wagging their tails?!”

 

I barely managed to calm myself.

 

“How did the annulment rumor even spread?”

 

The discord rumor was my fault—I’d practically staged a drama in front of the estate. But how had the annulment itself leaked?

 

“Well, about that…”

 

A maid at the ducal house had let her tongue slip. She’d found torn annulment documents while cleaning, complete with both families’ seals, and secretly tipped off a newspaper for the reward. She was dismissed, of course, but the story had already spread. Everyone reported it indiscriminately, fueled by nobles’ predictable reactions.

 

Elena noticed my irritation and reassured me that no one at the ducal house believed we were truly separated, that the proposals were used as firewood—but I was still furious.

 

‘So many ladies had been lying in wait…’

 

Even now, Evan was attending a banquet. I had unsettled his heart, made him look unwell for a while.

 

‘What an idiot I was. I can’t just sit still! At this very moment, Evan is probably being tempted by women like that!’

 

Of course he’d be troubled. I thanked Elena and immediately called for Mary.

 

“Mary!!”

 

She rushed in, startled.

 

“I need to send a letter right now! Bring stationery and envelopes!”

 

I grabbed a quill and began writing. Normally, I’d choose my words carefully, but not today. My hand raced like a runaway train, the scratching never stopping. I ended by pressing the final dot hard into the page.

 

I decided I wouldn’t run anymore. I might get hurt again, or it might end happily. I didn’t know what path awaited—but I’d give it my all.

 

I always had.

 

For Evan.

 

 

***

 

 

The moment I sent my letter asking him to attend the banquet together as my partner, a reply came back. And now, I was walking through the bustling streets—alone with him.

 

“Evan, really, it’s fine. I have more dresses than I can wear…”

 

Thanks to the duchess, who gifted me dresses every time trends changed and we happened to pass a boutique, I had plenty of formal gowns.

 

“I want to choose your dress myself, Lep.”

 

Evan had insisted on going to the boutique together. I’d refused—I hadn’t planned on ordering a new dress—but he was relentless. Saying he wanted to treat me well, that it’d be a date… and I fell for it.

 

‘What was I thinking, deciding to annul things when he’s like this?’

 

I shook my head at my own foolishness.

 

The lingering unease in my heart had vanished. I decided to stop worrying about the original story or Elena. Evan liked me, and Elena was clearly interested in someone else.

 

“…Do you hate it that much?”

 

Maybe my deep thoughts made me seem displeased. Evan’s shoulders drooped, his expression pitiful. I hurriedly waved my hands in denial.