HBL 11

Chapter 11

“…You want to have tea with me?”

For a moment, Saronne let out a dry laugh, unable to hide her disbelief. She couldn’t tell what sort of wind had blown for him to act like this. A man who was likely with Vivian just last night.

As the servant barged in without permission and he followed suit, her expression gradually turned cold. There had to be a limit to being disrespectful.

“I have something to talk to you about.”

When she heard his words, Saronne realised why he had come. Clearly, he was there to confront her about embarrassing Vivian at the gathering. But the reason why he felt the need to go to such lengths was beyond her.

Maybe he intended to throw tea in her face.

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“Really? That’s a problem. You don’t have the right to refuse.”

“…Take what you brought and leave while I’m still being polite. You should know this isn’t the time for word games.”

With a faint sneer, Diego glanced at the fully prepared tea and refreshments on the table and gave a curt order.

“Everyone, leave.”

As the servants exited and they were left alone, Diego sat at the tea table first. Saronne narrowed her eyes at the sight of him settling in as if he owned the place.

“When I said leave, I meant you too. Did Lady Benit send you to scold me? You’re no better than a dog following its master.”

“……”

Despite the sharp insult, Diego only raised an eyebrow, unmoving.

Feeling nothing but contempt, Saronne turned her back to him.

“If you like this place so much, then I’ll be the one to leave. Enjoy your tea alone.”

Just then, the sound of a chair scraping against the floor was heard. She glanced back, thinking he had finally decided to leave but in that very moment, Diego strode toward her and abruptly grabbed her wrist, yanking her forward.

Before she had a chance to resist, she was pulled right up to his face.

“Saronne Lois.”

The sneer and nonchalance had disappeared. His face was fierce as he glared down at her. After staring at her for a moment, he spat his words out like venom.

“What’s going on between you and that Duke Hethrian?”

Saronne couldn’t believe what she had just heard. She’d assumed he was there to reprimand her for humiliating Vivian.

Caught off guard, she furrowed her brows and shot him a sharp glare.

“What does it matter to you? It’s none of your business.”

When she tried to pull her hand away, Diego gripped her wrist even tighter.

“Let go of me.”

“No.”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Saronne struggled to push him away with all her strength, but it was no use. Having recently suffered a miscarriage and still in recovery, there was no way she could overpower a grown man.

“What am I doing? That’s exactly what I want to ask you.”

His amethyst eyes, tinged with cold mockery, locked onto her.

“You really teamed up with that reckless prince just to get my attention?”

Saronne, who had been trying to push him away, froze mid-motion. Her eyes glinted with disbelief and utter absurdity.

Did he truly think he was that important?

“Stop talking nonsense and let go of me.”

“No. Not until you answer me.”

“I already told you. You don’t need to know. The only thing I’ll give you is that your delusions are downright laughable.”

Diego let out a short scoff and suddenly grabbed her chin, forcing her face up. Saronne’s brows snapped together instantly.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“You went so far as to drag another man into this, so shouldn’t I at least respond in kind? Who knows what you’ll try next?”

For a moment, Diego leaned in as if to press his lips to hers. Up close, his violet eyes churned with agitation and twisted emotions.

And in the next instant, his dark lashes lowered, as if trying to hide that storm.

Smack!
A sharp sound rang out as his head snapped to the side.

Saronne slapped him. She took a step back, stunned and disbelieving. Perhaps he was caught off guard by the impact, but she broke free from his grip more easily than she had expected.

Her eyes flared with rage and humiliation as she glared at him.

“You must be insane. Keep your filthy hands off me, especially after crawling out of another woman’s bed this morning.”

Still frozen from the blow, Diego looked at her with an incredulous expression.

Unfortunately, her nails had grazed his cheek, leaving a thin scratch. Diego, gently touching the wounded area, suddenly narrowed his eyes with a vicious glint.

“So this is how you want to play it? Interesting.”

“You find this amusing? You really don’t feel even a shred of guilt, do you?”

“…You made a mistake. I came all the way here, putting in the effort, and this is how you repay someone trying to show goodwill—with violence.”

Saronne let out a mocking laugh.

“You didn’t make a mistake by showing up to apologise. Your real mistake was giving anyone a reason to expect it.”

“……”

“Get out. Before I scream and destroy what little reputation you have left.”

His brows furrowed. Diego, staring at her with cold, sharp eyes, finally turned away.

“If you’re trying to get my attention, then behave. Make sure Vivian doesn’t get hurt.”

As he reached the door, he threw a final warning over his shoulder, face twisted in irritation.

“If you carry on like this, you’ll end up divorced. Stop spending time with unsavoury people.”

Without waiting for her response, Diego flung the door open and stormed out.

“…Ha.”

After the whirlwind had passed, Saronne let out a bitter laugh.

She pulled the service cord several times until a servant came in, then ordered them to clear out all the refreshments he had brought.

‘Disgusting…’

Just the thought of him touching her chin and hand made her feel sick to her stomach.

It seemed that ever since he barged into the gathering yesterday, Diego’s actions had begun to deviate from what she remembered of the past.
But instead of welcoming it as a sign of change, Saronne felt only a deeper, more bitter wave of contempt.

‘To do something so shameless to a woman who only recently lost her child in an accident…Just how little does he think of me?’

A fierce urge surged within her—to tear Diego and Vivian Benit apart with her own hands.

But she mustn’t do that.

‘You don’t get to go that easily. You should suffer—squirm in agony while alive, and die amid screams and despair.’

Saronne sat down at the small table by the window. Fortunately, it seemed Diego hadn’t noticed the letter from Leobint she had laid out earlier.

‘Still… it wasn’t completely fruitless.’

He would come to regret every word he had spoken to her.

Picking up a fresh sheet of stationery, Saronne began writing her reply.

***

The time she was meant to meet Leobint was quickly approaching. Glancing at the clock, Saronne rang the bell on her vanity several times, calling for the servants.

“You called, my lady?”

“Get me ready to go out. I’m planning to visit the dress shop.”

“…Yes, my lady.”

Two or three maids stepped forward and began helping her get ready for her outing.

‘They never come all at once anymore.’

Just half a month ago, the servants would rush to her side in an instant. Now, their sluggish response was a clear sign—her influence within the ducal household had waned.

‘More precisely, it was because while I was lost in a daze, Vivian Benit was slowly chipping away at my reputation and stealing the people around me.’

Saronne sat at her dressing table with her eyes closed, glancing discreetly to the side.

The servants dressed her with mechanical precision. Not a single word was exchanged.

These were the same servants who used to chat cheerfully to keep her company, but now they were silent, as if they had swallowed stones.

Even their expressions lacked the slightest hint of sincerity.

Saronne gave a faint, scoffing smile and closed her eyes again.

‘Still… this is better than how it was on this day in my previous life.’

Back then, she spent every day in a state of torment, convinced that no one believed her when she said that Vivian had pushed her down the stairs.

Since Diego always took Vivian’s side unquestioningly, Saronne was branded a liar time and time again.

Just a few days ago, Vivian started spreading ridiculous rumours at social gatherings, and now they had made their way into the servants’ gossip circles as well.

Her reputation had crumbled in an instant.

‘The grief of losing a child, combined with every other shock, had left me unable to think straight.’

Looking back now, how foolish she had been.

“This will do.”

After checking her reflection in the mirror, Saronne raised her hand to signal to the maids to stop. With her light makeup and modest dress, she rose from her seat.

Turning around, she swept her gaze over the maids standing behind her, one by one. Some flinched and lowered their heads, looking guilty.

‘As foolish as I was in my past life, I see now—they weren’t any different.’

What kind of stories would they whisper once she left the room?

Changing her approach, Saronne smiled sweetly at them.

“There are fewer of you than usual. It seems quite a number of those who once attended to me have been reassigned while I was bedridden.”

“…We wouldn’t know, my lady. It was the master’s orders.”

“Is that so? They must have been moved to Lady Benit’s side. I suppose he thought someone who lies in bed all day doesn’t need that many attendants.”

The servants only opened and closed their mouths silently, lowering their eyes with uneasy expressions.

‘I plan to divorce and leave anyway—so there’s no real need for this. But there’s also no reason to put up with this discomfort any longer.’

Still smiling, Saronne opened a drawer in her vanity and took out a few pairs of her cherished earrings.

These were the pieces that she had treasured most during her time living in this household. Jewellery that she only wore on special occasions.

Days when she wanted to look her best for her husband.

Days when she wanted to be seen as the perfect duchess.

Saronne held out one of these cherished pieces to one of her four silent maids.

“I should at least show some gratitude to those who’ve stayed by my side. Luckily, the ones I’ve always favoured are the ones standing before me.”

“Pardon? My lady, this is…”

She gently pressed the earring into the flustered maid’s hand and distributed her other treasured pieces to the others so that none of them would feel left out.

These were filthy remnants of memories that she would discard the moment she left the Ducal House of Lois.

“Before I go, I have just one favour to ask.”

“What kind of favour?”