DSFL | Chapter 26

~Chapter 26~

I might not look like it, but I’m actually shy and awkward with strangers—more than people think.

 So this situation? It was a nightmare.

And what were these people even crying about?

Why were they embarrassed?

Just as I tilted my head in confusion—trying to figure it out—someone suddenly said:

 “Duke Hessen was too much! Even if you don’t like your fiancée, you should at least care about someone’s life! Don’t you agree?”

Ah. Don’t tell me they’re talking about that incident at the lake…

It was the worst situation.

It made it look like my fiancé saved the woman he loved instead of me. Like I was some tragic heroine!

 Even though I wasn’t actually sad about it, everything started to go black in front of my eyes.

Is that really how people saw me?

Maybe Allen was right—I should have marched over and thrown the breakup letter in Ricardo’s face.

Of course, these relatives didn’t come because they cared about me.

They weren’t here out of concern.

Proof?

 My great-aunt Elizabeth dabbed at fake tears with her handkerchief.

“The whole Empire is gossiping. I never thought a lady of House Roygin would be called the ‘hated fiancée’ in my lifetime.”

You’ve only seen me three times in your life, and now you act like we’re close?

Still, I had a more important question.

“Why are you here?”

We’re not even close.

Elizabeth gave a sweet smile.

“Well, Cedric is inheriting the title. I had to be here for that, don’t you think?”

We never even sent her an invitation.

“Aren’t you happy to see us?”

 Bailey looked at me with watery eyes.

Ugh. As annoying as they were, I couldn’t exactly kick them out.

Just then, someone else arrived—it was Grandfather.

He must’ve heard the news from the butler.

 His eyes met Elizabeth’s and briefly wavered, but they quickly turned sharp and cold.

I had never thought of my grandfather as scary before, but…

‘He’s terrifying right now!’

While I stayed frozen, Bailey casually ran up to Grandfather.

“Have you been well?”

 She clung to his arm like it was nothing, smiling sweetly.

…Ugh, I kind of envied her personality.

I wished I could act cute like that with Grandfather too—but that just wasn’t who I was.

 Even now, I am being way more expressive than I used to be.

Honestly, if I ever acted like Bailey, Grandfather might be so shocked he’d fall over.

Grandfather didn’t respond right away.

 Then, finally, with his eyes closed, he said:

“Prepare a room.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Elizabeth grabbed Bailey’s hand and led her away.

 Bailey just waved at us like nothing had happened.

“See you tomorrow!”

Once the chaos was over, I let out a breath and looked at Grandfather.

 He was still standing there, deep in thought—like he didn’t even realize I was watching him.

***

Later that day—

“Brother, do you have a minute?”

 I stopped Cedric just as he was about to go out.

He nodded slightly.

 “Let’s talk on the way.”

I followed him and brought up the topic.

“I heard you’re going to Dremokan Forest after the coronation.”

“…Did I tell you that?”

“Nope. I eavesdropped on you and Grandfather.”

Cedric gave a short, baffled laugh at my comment.

 He was planning to visit Dremokan Forest with the priests, probably to talk about the forest’s history—or to warn people not to get involved in any heretical beliefs about the forest heaven.

“I want to go too,” I said.

“Why?”

I calmly explained the reason I had prepared in advance.

“I’ve been thinking… Maybe Grandfather’s illness is somehow connected to that forest.”

I expected him to brush it off or scold me.

 But Cedric actually listened.

“If we study the Divine Era, we might find something. After all, magic—”

“There’s no way.”

Cedric suddenly cut me off.

“Bailey, if anything goes wrong, people could accuse you of treason.”

Maybe I should’ve just said I wanted to tag along out of curiosity.

Or maybe I should tell him about Peril, the Tower Master?

… No. If anyone found out I spoke about Peril waking up, I might not survive long enough to regret it. That man doesn’t forgive easily.

Thinking about it gave me chills.

So I smiled and shrugged.

 “Come on, I cause trouble sometimes, sure—but not that much. I promise I’ll just stay by your side and take a peek at the World Tree. That’s it.”

Cedric let out a deep sigh.

“…Fine. It’s not like you’d listen if I said no.”

“Haha, when have I ever not listened to you?”

As soon as I said it, Cedric shot me a look that basically said: ‘Seriously?’

…Okay, never mind.

I just smiled awkwardly.

 Then he changed the subject.

“Did the Duke reply yet?”

“Hmm, no.”

Cedric seemed a little annoyed.

 Worried about his blood pressure, I answered cheerfully.

“He’ll reply soon, probably.”

“How long are you going to let him waste your time?”

“Well… he wanted the breakup too, right? So it’ll come any day—”

CRASH!

We suddenly heard something break in the hallway.

“Ah!”

It was Bailey—my cousin—with her eyes wide as saucers.

“You okay?”

 I rushed to her and checked for injuries. Cedric followed and lightly scolded her.

“You could’ve had a maid do that.”

I was about to call for the doctor when something caught my eye—

Inside her coat pocket, I caught a glimpse of a shiny, expensive-looking accessory. It disappeared quickly, but…

…Wasn’t that my necklace?

“I’m fine, sister!” Bailey said brightly, as if nothing had happened.

Now that I think about it, the last time she visited, a few items from the house had gone missing, too.

“You’re busy, brother. You should get going.”

Cedric glanced once at the broken porcelain doll on the floor, then nodded.

“Have a maid clean it up. It’s dangerous.”

“I was about to move it!” Bailey said cheerfully.

“I was going to ask Grandfather if I could have it as a gift!”

Sure, whatever.

 There were so many decorations in the mansion—he probably wouldn’t even notice.

But what about the necklace? Was she planning to ask for that too?

As I stood there wondering, Bailey suddenly asked with sparkling eyes,

 “By the way, sister… are you really breaking off the engagement?”

So she knew.

 I nodded. It wasn’t a secret I planned to keep forever.

Her face lit up instantly.

…Why are you so happy?

Something about her expression irritated me, and I snapped before I could stop myself.

“Bailey, maybe try controlling your facial expressions better.”

“Oops, sorry! But sister, don’t worry! These days, breakups aren’t a big deal. Everyone goes through them!”

Her smile was warm, like she was genuinely comforting me.

But this was Bailey. She had a talent for irritating people just by talking.

So I waited to hear the rest of it.

“So—who’s the girl the Duke fell for? I mean, he left someone as beautiful as you! That must’ve been some woman!”

She sounded way too excited talking about Idette, so I guess she’s not into Ricardo.

That means she’s just here to mess with me.

“Could you help clean the hallway?”

“Yes, Miss!”

Still, I didn’t get it.

 Surely she didn’t come all the way here just to annoy me, right?

While I was deep in thought, Bailey kept chatting.

“This time, sister, you should find someone who really likes you. I bet the Duke suffered a lot too—being forced into an engagement with someone he didn’t even love.”

She even shuddered dramatically, like it was a tragedy.

“Oh, but don’t just marry anyone either! You can’t live without a man, so I really worry about you.”

I turned to look at her, wondering if I’d heard wrong.

 But no—she was still smiling that same innocent, bright smile.