Chapter 121

Ariadeline collapsed.

Carlothian was terrified as she suddenly pushed his hand away and crumbled to the ground.

Could it be that something happened to her? He approached her.

“Car, get away, please…!”

She spoke in a strange voice, rejecting him. For some reason, a cold chill spread through his chest. He tried hard to make eye contact with Ariadeline.

But her eyes were staring into the distance, as if she were seeing an illusion.

“Ah, huff…!”

Seeing her struggle to breathe properly, Carlothian’s insides burned with anxiety.

“What’s wrong?”

Thud!

And then she forcefully pushed him away. With wide, surprised eyes, she seemed shocked by her own reaction, as if she hadn’t expected it.

But soon, as she sat down, she spoke in a daze.

“Yeah, Ariadeline, what on earth…?”

“You killed me.”

Thump.

Carlothian froze at those words, unable to move.

His breath caught somewhere, making it hard to breathe.

It was true.

He killed her.

Carlothian could not say a single word.

Yes, he took her life once.

The quiet words that entered his ears felt like a blade scraping through his mind.

As he stood frozen, unable to respond to her words, she began to cry.

“I can’t touch you.”

Coldly stating this, Ariadeline cried for a long time.

He could only stand there like a statue beside her. He can’t touch her. He can’t reach her.

Soon, she stood up with a tear-streaked face and said,

[…I’ll fix my makeup.]

That meant she couldn’t receive even a small comfort from him.

She stared blankly at something in the air, then began to write letters in the void.

[You should not attend this banquet.]

After saying that, Ariadeline pointed to the door.

[Will you leave?]

Her eyes were strangely twisted, as if it was hard to tell whether she was smiling or crying.

[For me.]

Carlothian felt his whole body stiffen. The man who faced her rejection for the first time stood there, dumbfounded.

But he could understand her last words.

For me.

That single phrase forced his rigid body to move.

Carlothian left the room, not understanding anything, knowing there was nothing he could do for her, who had rejected him.

Thud.

Thus, the door closed.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

I sent him away like that and stood alone in front of the banquet hall door.

‘Word will get around that I can’t speak and that Carlothian isn’t attending the banquet.’

I smiled wryly for a moment as I recalled him.

I love him.

It didn’t matter that he killed me.

That’s what I thought, at least until just before I reached him.

As soon as I touched him, fear rushed in, resentment, hatred.

And damnable affection.

All of it surged forth as if to crush me. I barely held back my tears to avoid ruining my carefully done makeup.

Not now. I need to think as the great noblewoman Ariadeline, not as the Ariadeline who loves Carlothian.

‘No matter the situation, I must appear as the perfect duchess.’

Right now, I’m in a state before the banquet, and I must enter soon. I looked up at the ceiling for a moment to dry my tears, then focused straight ahead.

Even as Ahn Hye-in, I would cry endlessly before stepping onto the stage, only to appear with a bright face.

Deceiving my own feelings wasn’t that hard.

[Open the door.]

At my command, the doorkeeper opened the door.

I wore a noble smile.

Soon, the dazzling light from the chandelier in the hall poured down upon me.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

The nobles, each well-prepared, headed to the Denaves mansion with their invitations in hand.

Among them was a woman who was exceedingly nervous. She was the Lady Leoto of the Count Bertoa family.

She fidgeted with the invitation resting on her lap and sighed.

‘Will I fit in?’

It was the famous Ariadeline’s banquet. No matter how many people received invitations, there would surely be outstanding individuals from prestigious families gathered there.

She unconsciously took a deep breath.

Leoto had never been good at mingling with peers her age.

She often avoided people. Her parents were always worried that she might end up alone.

That’s why Leoto mustered up her courage this time.

‘There will be many people. Someone might want to socialize with me.’

With a faint hope, she fiddled with the invitation. The invitation was smooth and soft to the touch.

While Leoto was lost in her worries, the carriage arrived at the Denaves mansion.

The mansion was already overflowing with carriages. The carriage gradually slowed down, allowing Leoto to take in the exterior of the Denaves mansion.

‘There must be a lot of people.’

Leoto’s brow slightly furrowed. This time, she had to avoid just standing against the wall.

Once, she had been invited to a party hosted by a noble family that was close to hers.

She had attended quietly, merely keeping her seat, and returned home by evening.

Then one day, she received a letter from the hosting noble asking why she hadn’t come to the party.

It made her laugh. How insignificant was she? Not even one person noticed.

It was bittersweet, but she sent a letter of apology, saying she couldn’t attend due to a sudden matter.

While writing that letter, she cried so much. She couldn’t bring herself to write that she attended because her pride was hurt.

‘Will it be the same today?’

As she was pondering this, the carriage came to a stop.

Creak—

The door of the carriage opened, and she accepted the knight’s escort as she stepped down. The knight asked,

“Are you alright?”

Concern filled the knight’s face. Leoto smiled. Yes, after all, there are people from her family here. She’s not completely alone.

Thinking this, she tapped her left hand twice with her right.

‘Thank you.’

Leoto had a speech impairment that prevented her from speaking.

She walked slowly into the hall, escorted by the knight. Many nobles had already gathered.

As expected, the host of the party, Ariadeline, was still not in sight. It seemed she would make her appearance last.

She stood against the right wall with the knight. When the knight cautiously looked at her, she smiled as if to say she was fine.

At that moment, she suddenly locked eyes with a person standing next to her. The other person politely greeted her.

“Hello.”

Leoto summoned her courage and moved her hand. Straightening her clenched left arm, she lightly grasped the hem of her dress with both hands.