Chapter 28
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The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 28
Adela's health was so poor that she avoided going out at all costs.
So when she attended her first party—the day she first met Cain Maxius—I deliberately made an excuse about being ill and skipped the gathering myself.
'Now that I think about it, I don't recall hearing that the two of them got married.'
They should have by now, but I couldn't bring myself to ask my parents about it, fearing they might think I still harbored feelings for Cain Maxius.
'I'll find out when I go today.'
In any case, since I was meeting Cain Maxius for the first time in so long, I wanted to show him that I was living wonderfully without him.
That's why I had taken special care with my appearance.
But this wasn't truly about showing him I was doing well—it was part of the act from two years ago.
After all, when someone who has been rejected reunites with the person they loved after a long time, they naturally want to present their best self to preserve their pride.
"Let's go, Mary."
"Yes, Miss."
As I passed through the hall and stepped outside the Manor, my parents hadn't arrived yet.
But then....
'Huh?'
It was Lian.
Lian was standing near the carriage, looking at me.
"Lian!"
I approached him with a bright smile, delighted to see him.
This was the first time I'd seen Lian since that day at the Orphanage.
"It's been a while. How have you been?"
"Yes, Miss. Have you been well?"
"Of course I have. The training is still manageable?"
"Yes, it's fine."
I was about to say something else when my parents came out.
So our conversation ended before we could finish.
"Let's talk again next time."
I waved to him.
Lian bowed respectfully to me in response.
I glanced at him once more before boarding the carriage.
But during the ride, my father's expression looked troubled.
"Father, is something wrong?"
"No, no...."
Yet his restless demeanor made it clear something was definitely the matter.
"Father...."
I called out to my father with concern, gauging the atmosphere, but something felt off—not just Father's expression, but Mother's as well seemed strangely tense.
"Is there something you wished to tell me?"
I suddenly recalled that a few days ago during dinner, they hadn't finished what they were trying to say.
I remembered seeing them exchange meaningful glances with each other at that moment.
Then, as if they had finally made a decision, Mother spoke first.
"Belita, there is something we must tell you."
"What is it?"
I couldn't imagine there being anything this grave among the things I needed to hear, yet their expressions were so stern that I found myself growing tense as well.
"The Duke of Maxius, you see...."
The Duke of Maxius—that meant Cain Maxius.
"The Duke?"
"Yes, well... the Duke of Maxius and the Princess of House Byon have broken their engagement."
"What?"
A broken engagement?
But I was the one who broke the engagement.
Who else broke an engagement?
The unexpected revelation left me completely unable to comprehend the situation.
I simply stared at my parents with my mouth agape.
"A broken engagement?"
"Yes, it happened nearly a year ago now."
Not only had they broken the engagement recently—it had been almost a year ago.
What on earth had happened?
What had transpired in my absence?
"D-did the two of them marry?"
"No, they never even reached marriage. They broke the engagement right before the wedding, or so I heard."
"Why?"
Even as I asked my parents for the reason, knowing they likely wouldn't know, my mind was so scattered that the words spilled out unbidden.
Suddenly, something seemed to grip my chest, and I found myself breathless and anxious.
"We don't know the reason either. All we heard was that the Princess of House Byon's health deteriorated rapidly after that, and relations between the Maxius Family and House Byon became strained again."
Why?
How did this happen?
I did nothing, so why has the original story changed?
Could it be because I broke the engagement with him and didn't torment the female lead?
"Belita, are you alright?"
As my face drained of color, Mother looked at me with worried eyes.
'Get a hold of yourself.'
Whether they separated or stayed together—what did it have to do with me?
The original story is already over.
I have nothing to do with them anymore.
Whether they speak of love or heartbreak, it's no longer any concern of mine.
"Ah, I was just startled for a moment hearing something so unexpected."
I offered my parents a gentle smile to reassure them.
"Belita, you're not still...."
Father trailed off as he posed the question to me.
I understood perfectly what he meant.
"No. Absolutely not, Father. I've severed all ties with the Duke. So please, don't worry."
I could see both my parents exhale in relief at my words.
"Still, it's rather bewildering all the same. It seems quite a lot has transpired in the Capital during my absence."
"Of course many things have happened. I'll explain everything to you slowly once we return from the Imperial Palace today."
Mother noticed my deliberate change of subject and graciously accepted it.
After that, we spoke of other matters without mentioning Cain Maxius or Adela again as we made our way toward the Imperial Palace.
* * *
Belita had visited the Imperial Palace before, but this was my first time.
The moment we arrived, the resplendent grandeur of the palace was so dazzling that I had to consciously prevent my eyes from wandering.
'It's incredibly magnificent. I thought the palace would be unremarkable given the weakened imperial authority.'
The ornate exterior adorned with countless precious treasures drew forth involuntary admiration.
"The Duke of House Heitz, Cain Maxius, the Duchess of House Heitz, Reynoa Heitz, and the Princess Belita of House Heitz have arrived."
Shortly after, as we reached the grand doors, the gatekeeper announced our arrival and opened them.
I entered behind my parents.
We appeared to be the first to arrive, as the hall was empty.
"This way, if you please."
An attendant guided us to our seats.
"His Imperial Majesty and the others have not yet arrived."
"Understood."
We had simply arrived early; the others were not late.
My parents and I took our seats and waited for the other guests to arrive.
Then, moments later, I heard the gatekeeper's voice from beyond the doors.
"The Duke of House Maxius, Cain Maxius, has arrived."
Cain had lost the former Duke and Duchess in an accident years ago and had been leading the family alone since then.
So the man with chestnut-brown hair entered the hall as the sole representative of House Maxius.
It was Cain Maxius.
My parents and I rose from our seats to observe proper aristocratic courtesy.
It had been a full two years.
Naturally, I had never once thought of missing him or wanting to see him.
I simply turned my gaze toward the door to see how much he had changed in those two years.
And there appeared a man who looked exactly as he had the day before—utterly unchanged.
"It has been a long time."
Since my parents were his elders, Cain greeted us first.
"It's been a long time."
"It's been a long time, Duke Maxius."
Cain Maxius greeted my father and mother in turn, then approached me.
Uncertain how to greet him, I offered the same words my mother had used.
"It's been a long time, Duke Maxius."
"It's been a long time, Lady Heitz."
"Yes, it truly has been quite some time."
To demonstrate that I was utterly unaffected by his presence, I offered him my brightest smile.
For a moment, I caught a faint crack in his otherwise expressionless face.
'What was that? I must have imagined it.'
There was no reason for Cain Maxius to make such an expression toward me.
Unless—could it be that seeing the woman he'd discarded thriving so visibly had twisted his pride?
If that were truly the case, this man was utterly despicable.
I chose to believe he wasn't quite that contemptible and concluded the greeting.
"I heard that Lady Heitz has recently returned from an extended journey."
Yet this man, who had never shown me the slightest interest before, was now the one to broach the subject of my travels.
"Yes, I even visited Grens, which you so generously provided as my settlement."
I deliberately mentioned the diamond mines.
It was to remind him once more of our broken engagement.
"I see. What did you observe in that place?"
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org