Chapter 69
I felt confused, as if a fireball were blazing inside me.
To think they’d have such a splendid reunion without me even arranging it.
Did that mean their connection was destined to work out on its own, without my intervention?
Perhaps my role had ended with just breaking off the engagement with Nanael.
‘Could you pretend to be my girlfriend for a while? Just until I find someone good, like you said.’
Accepting that proposal so readily had been sheer recklessness.
Because he was someone I’d known for a long time.
I was confident I wouldn’t waver.
That I’d cleanly break it off once Summer arrived.
‘This is seriously ridiculous.’
I burst into laughter at my own foolishness.
I’d wedged myself between the two of them with the most absurd excuses.
Under the pretense of helping Alferen, I’d crossed the line.
And as if that weren’t enough, using the excuse of doing it for Summer, I’d frequented the Ainluk ducal residence and even stolen her role.
No matter how it started or what my intentions were, in the end, I’d essentially stepped into Nanael’s shoes myself.
Realizing that tore my heart apart with pain.
‘From an extra to a villainess. That’s the absolute worst ending.’
Yes. It was fortunate I’d snapped out of it now, at least.
I’d end once and for all what I’d been hesitating over all this time.
While Summer and Alferen conversed, I quietly waited in the carriage.
If I went out there unnecessarily and she mistook me for his girlfriend, it would be troublesome.
I deliberately avoided listening to their conversation.
A short while later, Alferen climbed into the carriage.
“Sorry, did I keep you waiting long? I ran into someone I know.”
He smiled nonchalantly. He didn’t even explain who it was.
Of course, there was no reason for him to explain.
We were in a fake relationship, after all.
Knowing that fact brought an astonishing calm to my heart.
There was no need to drag it out any longer.
Summer had already arrived in the capital, and it was right for me to bow out at this point.
Before he could silence me again, I blurted it out.
“Oppa, let’s end this fake relationship. I can’t do it anymore.”
* * *
The teatime Nanael had prepared was lavish.
Contrary to my worries about what mischief she might pull, it proceeded as peacefully as the orchestra’s performance.
That made my mood even worse. If only Nanael had picked a fight, I could have used that as an excuse to vent my frustrations.
Ever since I’d declared we should end the fake relationship, Alferen hadn’t said a word.
I would have understood if he’d just left me there and gone.
But Alferen stubbornly accompanied me to the teatime, sitting like a lifeless statue.
At this rate, it was no different from advertising to everyone at the teatime that we’d had a fight.
Normally, I’d have struck up a conversation with Alferen and pretended everything was fine.
But right now, even looking at his face was too hard.
Having already sent my mind off to Andromeda, I was just silently shredding the cake into pieces.
Simply wishing for this time to end quickly.
It was around then that people approaching us with conversation had noticeably dwindled, perhaps sensing the atmosphere.
“I have gifts for everyone who came to my teatime today. My maid prepared them specially.”
As Nanael’s words fell, gifts were placed in front of the tables.
The presents, wrapped in elegant boxes, looked quite impressive.
“Oh my, you shouldn’t have.”
At the mention of gifts, the young ladies’ and gentlemen’s expressions brightened.
In the meantime, one young lady who had unwrapped hers exclaimed in admiration.
“Goodness! The bottle is so pretty. Is what’s inside handmade? The scent is wonderful.”
Contained in a glass bottle that looked like it had been crafted stitch by stitch by an artisan was honey.
Judging by the color, it seemed to be natural honey.
“It’s natural honey that only comes from the estate of the new maid I’ve just hired. It’s good for applying to the skin or drinking in tea, so feel free to use it as you like.”
“Oh my, could this honey be from Miranda Mountain?”
“You recognized it right away, as expected.”
“Wow, this is really hard to get. How could I possibly eat something so precious?”
The young lady who identified the Miranda Mountain honey sparkled with excitement.
The estate name sounded somewhat familiar, but I wasn’t in a good enough mental state to praise honey right now.
“I’ll enjoy it well.”
As I offered the perfunctory thanks and handed it to Mei behind me without even unwrapping it.
“Mei?”
For some reason, Mei’s expression looked off.
It was the first time she’d looked so pale today, when she usually grinned through anything and turned things upside down.
“What’s wrong? Are you sick somewhere?”
“Ah, miss…”
Mei stared at me blankly, clutching the gift.
It seemed like she was gauging my reaction, which left me bewildered.
“What’s the matter, I said?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Mei hurriedly bowed her head and gripped the gift box tightly in her hands.
It didn’t seem like nothing at all.
It was then, as I stared persistently at the suspicious Mei.
“So, where is this maid? We’ve received such a precious gift; she should at least show her face.”
“I was just about to introduce her.”
When Nanael rang the bell, the waiting maid entered the room.
She kept her head deeply bowed, perhaps a bit nervous.
Whoever Nanael’s maid was, it had nothing to do with me.
I was just starting to feel like I wanted to go home soon, as I pulverized the last remaining piece of cake into crumbs.
“Hello, I’m Jessica Miranda. I’ll do my best to serve Her Highness Nanael without shortcomings, so I hope the ladies and gentlemen here will help me a lot.”
Her voice was sociable and clear.
It was clearly a perfectly normal, unproblematic greeting.
Thud.
Strangely, though, my heart raced wildly. I lifted my head to look at Jessica Miranda.
A face and name that were oddly familiar.
As soon as our eyes met, she hurriedly turned her head away.
As if she knew me.
But I didn’t know the woman in front of me.
‘Who is she? Why does she make me feel so uneasy?’
Cold sweat formed on my hands. As if showing signs of abnormality, dizziness set in, and my hands even trembled.
It was an unknown fear.
No, was it really unknown?
In a normal situation, I should have asked if she knew me, but for some reason, my lips wouldn’t part.
It felt like my mind was screaming at me to run away from here immediately.
It was at that moment.
“We’ll be taking our leave now.”
Alferen, who hadn’t uttered a word the whole time, stood up from his seat and supported me.
Pulled up abruptly, I leaned on Alferen’s hand, trying not to tremble.
“You’re leaving? Without enjoying it a bit more?”
Then Nanael spoke with a radiant face.
“Jessica was just introduced, and leaving like this would make her sad, wouldn’t it?”
“Hah!”
At that, Mei behind me let out a scoffing breath before clamping her mouth shut.
Sensing the odd atmosphere, the young ladies and gentlemen exchanged bewildered glances.
Alferen responded coldly.
“Do I have to concern myself with that?”
At his arrogant reply, Nanael frowned, and the embarrassed Jessica Miranda’s face turned bright red.
Whatever Nanael’s true intentions, nominally, this gathering was for her and my reconciliation. Leaving like this would render it meaningless.
I detached my hand that had been leaning on Alferen and said.
“It seems the duke is concerned about my health. I’ve been feeling unwell since this morning.”
“Is that so?”
“I’ll take the liberty of excusing myself. I enjoyed today’s meeting.”
After curtsying properly, Nanael didn’t press further.
“I see. Your complexion doesn’t look good, so it must not be a lie. The honey my maid gifted should be good for stabilizing body and mind.”
She appeared concerned at a glance, but the subtly upturned corners of her mouth grated on me.
I placed my trembling hand on Alferen’s forearm.
Just as we were about to exit the drawing room, pretending everything was fine.
“Gasp.”
As the tension released, my breath caught in my throat as if it had been waiting, and my body swayed.
