THNW 15

To My Husband’s New Wife Chapter : 15

The slender light-pink dress and the blonde hair elegantly pinned up were truly perfect for summer.

Sasha greeted her, clasping Anita’s hands.
“My.

I never thought we’d meet in a place like this.

How long has it been?

Have you been well?”
Judging by her unfeigned smile, it seemed she hadn’t yet heard word of the Beulroeniya family’s downfall.

It was rather fortunate.

It was far better than making things awkward for each other in a reunion after so long.
“I’ve been well.

You’ve grown so much, Sasha.

You look more and more like Claudnia as time goes on.”
“Hm.

That’s not exactly something I’m happy to hear.

It means I look stupid.”
It was at that moment, as Sasha complained, that a woman approached her side.
“Miss House.

And who is this?”
The first thing that caught the eye was a pale, slender arm.

Then long, glossy platinum hair worn down.

Blue eyes.

A kindly curved gaze.

Sasha introduced Anita to the unfamiliar woman.
“Ah.

This is Anita Beulroeniya, Claudnia unni’s friend.”
“Ah, I thought so.”
With a look that said it was obvious, the woman pulled up the corners of her mouth and gave a slight nod.
“Nice to meet you, Anita Beulroeniya.

I’m Rosa Eburk of House Count Eburk.”
House Count Eburk.

At the name she hadn’t heard in a long time, Anita was inwardly surprised.

There was an unforgettable connection between Eburk and Anita from two years ago.

Strictly speaking, it was a connection with Rosa Eburk’s own sister.
‘To meet the younger sister after the elder sister.’
In truth, it was difficult to call the connection between Eburk and Anita a welcome one.

Not too long ago, as Lancelot’s engagement with the eldest daughter of House Eburk was pursued, the position of “Lancelot’s closest friend, Anita Beulroeniya,” became ambiguous.
[The Dowager Duchess was right.

To think a young girl is shamelessly clinging on, aiming to become a mistress.

If you have any conscience, don’t go around claiming you care for Lancelot.

In truth, because of you, Lancelot is forced to endure unnecessary ridicule!]
So, to Lancelot, I’m nothing but an obstacle.

The Countess Eburk’s abusive words snapped Anita back to her senses.

The engagement itself fell through not long after, but.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Rosa Eburk.”
“You look just as the rumors say.”
Anita’s lips closed quietly.
“Don’t take it strangely.

I mean you’re beautiful.”
With a subtle smile, Rosa quietly asked,
“Miss Beulroeniya may not know me, but I know you quite well.

Aren’t you curious how I know you?”
Of course I’m not curious.
“I’m sorry.

I’m busy right now.

I’ll hear it later.”
“The daughter Count Beulroeniya sold off, mad for money.”
“…….”
“That’s your nickname.

You should know it.

I don’t know who coined it, but isn’t it terribly vulgar?

If we happen to meet again, I’ll give them a piece of my mind, so look forward to it.”
Rosa’s blue eyes moved busily.

As if she meant to check even the movement of a single eyelash, to see Anita’s reaction.

Of course, there was no way Anita—long since calloused to mockery—would break down in tears with a shocked face.

When Anita smiled as if to say, So what, Rosa seemed to lose interest and turned her head.
“Then… I’ll be waiting, so finish your talk and come back, Miss House.”
Rosa Eburk turned away without regret, approached a man who seemed to be with her group, and began laughing and chatting again.

Sasha clicked her tongue briefly as she stared at the back that had grown distant in an instant.
“I’m sorry, unni.

I shouldn’t have tried to act like I knew her.

I didn’t know she’d be such a rude woman.

I met her for the first time today, too.”
“Don’t worry about it.

It happens all the time.”
“It’s definitely because of Lancelot oppa.

She brought him up the moment we met.

I really don’t understand.

What’s so good about a psychopath who only looks decent on the outside?

After spending a few days with him, she’ll lose all affection.

Right?”
Anita smiled without a word.

She couldn’t dare interfere with Rosa Eburk’s interest in Lancelot.

Still less could she criticize that heart.

Because Anita held a similar heart.
“I’ll be staying in the Kingdom of Montevio for a while.

Let’s meet soon, the two of us.

Of course, not including that rude blonde.”
After sharply talking behind her back, Sasha returned to Rosa with a nonchalant face.

Anita stood silently where they had disappeared, then turned her body after a long while.

But an unfamiliar long shadow was blocking Anita’s path.
“Hello, miss.”
It was the silver-haired man who had been laughing with Rosa Eburk.

Anita stiffened with a flinch and stepped three or four paces back from him.

On a clear summer day, the man was wearing a suspicious jeweled butterfly mask at a glance.

The lips beneath the mask formed a neat smile.
“I’m not a strange person.

The lady’s chilly gaze is digging into my fragile heart.”
She thought he was with Sasha’s group.

Was he not?

If so, it was even more of a problem.
“I’m sorry.

Do you have business with me?”
After staring at her silently, the man asked back,
“Is that apology just a habit?”
“What?”
“I’ve been watching for a while— you use apologies like a weapon.

I admired how skillfully you hide inconvenience and irritation.

Thanks to that, I was hurt twice.”
Recalling her conversation with Rosa Eburk, Anita smiled with a face gone cold.

As he said, it was a habitual smile for a habitual apology.
“I’m sorry about that as well.

I’m busy, so if it isn’t something important, I’ll be going first.”
“I have business.

I’m looking for the baggage storage.

I was wondering if you might know where the green storage is.”
Green storage.

Anita’s gaze at the man hardened soundlessly.
‘He’s looking for the old storage that’s about to be discarded?’
Moreover, the man before her was a foreigner.

His Montevio tongue was so fluent it was hard to notice at once, but it was certain.
“I asked around, but everyone says they don’t know, so, really….”
“…I don’t know either.”
Lightly denying it, Anita turned on her heel.

It was not proper to suspect an innocent person, but for some reason, she didn’t want to tell him readily.

Of all the countless people at this hour, on this day—why did it have to be a man asking her where the green storage was?

Even if it was a coincidence, the unease wouldn’t fade.

The man, who naturally followed after her, asked back in a surprised voice.
“You don’t know?

Weren’t you an employee of the amusement park?”
“You look like the employee, actually.

Are you a magician?

I’m not interested in magic.”
The man grinned and touched the tip of her nose.

Before she could recoil in surprise, a blue rose bloomed up between the man’s fingers that had brushed her nose.

It was absurd.
‘What?

Was he really a magician?’
With exaggerated movements, the man bowed and held out the blue rose to Anita.
“It was a joke.

If you were offended, I apologize.

I’m not used to this country’s humor yet.”
“It’s fine.

Now that you know I don’t know, stop following me.”
Ignoring the man’s rose, Anita fled toward the carousel.

When she turned her head again among the laughing children.
The man was gone without a trace.
‘Phew.’
Was it because she had become as sensitive as it gets?

An unknowing sigh of relief escaped her.
‘Was I too cold to him?’
You never know.

He might have been searching for the green storage as desperately as she was.

But it was no use regretting it too late—it was spilled water all the same.

Anita headed straight to the waste disposal facility.

Only after wandering through the space of endless small and large noises for quite a while could she find a warehouse filled with rusted metal lockers.

Green storage.

Though old, every locker was green.

Anita approached the man dozing in the corner chair.
“Hello.

I’m looking for an item.”
Anita handed the ticket to the man, who jolted awake in surprise.

After examining the ticket, he guided her into a narrow, long passage.
“F-f-follow me.”
The discolored ticket vanished into the man’s mouth.

To swallow that stiff paper without a thought.

Startled, Anita averted her eyes and pretended she hadn’t seen it.

Her locker was at the very innermost end of the passage that stretched long like a back alley.

Click.

Click.

After unlocking four firmly fastened padlocks, the man shuffled backward and moved away.
‘Old as it is, it’s locked up tight.

And there are at least thirty lockers like that….’
Wasn’t it a suspicious place to stay long?

In any case, the locker opened.

Anita checked the item inside.