Chapter 2
Golden hair that shone brilliantly.
Eyes as blue and clear as a tranquil lake.
The woman standing before her was slender and pale, with delicate features that looked as though they had been sculpted by an artist.
I’ve never seen her before…
Emilia blinked as their eyes met.
Is she one of Mrs. Romans’ guests?
Judging by her elegant clothing, it seemed likely.
Ever since Cedric had passed the examination, Mrs. Romans had occasionally invited visitors over for afternoon tea.
Looking at Cedric expectantly, Emilia asked,
“Who is she?”
“W-Well… that’s…”
Cedric stammered, then instinctively stepped in front of the woman, blocking Emilia’s view of her.
Just then—
“Sed, may I introduce myself?”
The woman stepped around him again and gently rested a hand on Cedric’s arm.
Emilia’s eyes naturally fell upon the fair, delicate hand.
‘Sed?’
It was a nickname even she had never used.
An unpleasant feeling she couldn’t explain tightened her chest.
The woman continued with a warm smile.
“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Reyna Illake.”
“Ah, I’m Emilia—”
Emilia stopped in the middle of introducing herself.
The woman’s name sounded strangely familiar.
A moment later, her eyes widened.
Reyna Illake?
That was unmistakably the name of the heroine of this novel.
The illegitimate daughter of a count’s family.
The woman who entered into a contract engagement with the male lead in order to escape her household.
Don’t tell me…
Emilia looked the woman over once more.
Now that she thought about it, Reyna’s appearance matched the novel’s description perfectly.
Why is she here?
And why is she at my fiancé’s house?
Just like Emilia herself, Cedric had never appeared anywhere in the original story.
Besides, until Reyna met the male lead, Kaiden, she had remained confined to the count’s estate.
Why would she suddenly be here?
Perhaps noticing Emilia’s confusion, Reyna began to explain.
“Cedric and I were childhood friends. We happened to run into each other in the capital. Isn’t that right, Sed?”
“Y-Yeah…”
Cedric forced an awkward laugh.
“We just happened to meet while I was on my way back to the inn.”
“It felt like such incredible luck to see you again in that lonely city.”
Reyna smiled shyly, as though recalling that happy reunion.
They were childhood friends?
Emilia had never heard such a thing before.
She quickly searched through her memories of the novel.
Come to think of it…
Before it was revealed that Reyna was the count’s illegitimate daughter, the story had mentioned that she had spent her childhood living in the countryside.
So they met back then…
But even that didn’t answer everything.
Even if they were old friends… would she really follow him all the way to this remote village?
Just then, Mrs. Romans approached the front entrance with a puzzled expression.
“Why are you all still standing out here… Emilia? What brings you here at this hour?”
Reyna smiled brightly and gestured toward the house.
“Rather than standing outside, why don’t you come in first?”
She spoke as naturally as though she were the lady of the house.
Emilia glanced between Cedric and Mrs. Romans.
Neither of them seemed to find Reyna’s behavior strange in the slightest.
Am I… the only one who thinks something is wrong?
A strange feeling settled inside her.
Oblivious to Emilia’s thoughts, Reyna urged her again.
“Please, come in.”
“…All right.”
Emilia slowly nodded.
Whatever was happening, she couldn’t simply turn around and leave without understanding it.
* * *
Dinner was surprisingly cheerful.
Mrs. Romans asked Reyna about the life she had lived all these years.
Cedric happily shared memories from their childhood together.
Clink. Clink.
Only Emilia remained silent.
Despite sitting at the same table, she felt like she was stranded on a lonely island, completely separated from everyone else.
Yet more than that feeling of isolation…
Cedric’s behavior bothered her.
It was as if Reyna was the only person he could see.
It’s true… seeing an old friend after so many years must be exciting.
But…
She had come all this way because she’d been worried sick about him.
And yet he was treating her like she didn’t even exist.
“Ce—”
She started to call his name, then stopped herself.
No matter what, this wasn’t something to discuss in front of an unrelated guest.
Instead—
Clack.
She deliberately set her chopsticks down loud enough for everyone to hear.
Only then did the others finally turn to look at her.
“I’m not feeling well.”
She stood from her seat.
“I’ll excuse myself for a while. I’ll be in the guest room.”
“What?”
Before Cedric could respond—
Scrape.
Emilia had already walked away.
Truthfully, she wanted nothing more than to go straight home.
But she stayed for one reason.
She needed to speak with Cedric.
Why didn’t he contact me even once?
And what exactly had kept him away for so long?
* * *
Inside the guest room, Emilia frowned.
Did I actually upset my stomach?
She had only claimed to feel sick as an excuse to leave the table.
But now it genuinely felt as though the food she’d eaten was sitting like a stone in her chest.
She lightly pounded her chest with her fist.
Knock. Knock.
A soft voice came from outside the door.
“May we talk for a moment?”
“Come in.”
After receiving permission, the door slowly opened.
Reyna stepped quietly into the room.
“What is it?”
“Well…”
But Reyna hesitated without saying another word.
“Have a seat first.”
“Thank you.”
At Emilia’s gesture, Reyna sat in the chair across from her.
Even then, she remained silent for a long time.
Emilia simply waited.
What could she possibly want to say that she’s hesitating this much?
Is she worried about what happened at dinner?
As Emilia silently considered the possibilities—
“I actually came here to ask you for a favor.”
“A favor?”
The unexpected words left Emilia confused.
She’s asking me? Not Cedric? We’ve never even met before.
“What kind of favor?”
At last, Reyna lifted her head.
Her beautiful blue eyes met Emilia’s directly.
There was unmistakable determination in them.
“Please break off your engagement with Cedric.”
“…What?”
The request was so absurd that Emilia instinctively questioned whether she’d heard correctly.
“Did you just ask me… to break up with Cedric?”
Reyna quietly nodded.
“I know this is sudden. But if you truly care about Cedric…”
She reached across the table and firmly grasped Emilia’s hand.
“…then please be the one to end things with him.”
“Cedric’s future is only going to rise from here.”
“But if you stay by his side… it’ll only make things harder for him.”
For a moment, Emilia was speechless.
Is she saying… I’m holding Cedric back?
Objectively speaking…
Reyna wasn’t entirely wrong.
The higher one wished to climb within the Imperial government, the more valuable connections with powerful noble families became.
The easiest way to gain those connections is by marrying a noblewoman.
On the other hand…
Emilia was only a commoner.
She had no influential family, no noble title, and no powerful connections she could offer Cedric.
But still…
This had crossed far beyond the line.
For someone who had only just reunited with an old friend…
To say something like this to his fiancée was unbelievably rude.
“Whether I become an obstacle to Cedric’s future…”
Emilia answered firmly.
“…is something only time can decide.”
“B-But—”
“And more importantly…”
Her voice grew colder.
“…I don’t see any reason to hear something like this from a third party.”
Reyna bit her lip.
For a brief moment, she fell silent.
Then she hurriedly spoke again.
“But I can help him!”
“If it were me, I could introduce Cedric to the sons of influential noble families. I could also—”
“That’s enough, Reyna.”
Emilia cut her off.
“What are you trying to say?”
“That you’ll become Cedric’s fiancée instead of me?”
“…”
Reyna lowered her head without saying a word.
Her silence…
Was answer enough.
So… that’s really what this is about?
