Chapter 30
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 30
To begin with, Cain Maxius and I had maintained an engagement for over ten years before breaking it off two years ago.
And Cain Maxius and Adela became engaged two years ago, then broke off their engagement about a year ago.
Finally, Aiden and I had met by chance without knowing each other's true identities.
"Sister, your health still isn't good, so traveling would be inadvisable."
It was then that Aiden suddenly interjected into my conversation with Adela.
The warmth in his voice when speaking to his blood relative was similar to how he addressed me—or perhaps even softer and more tender.
"Then you should just go with her."
"If Sister wishes it, I will make time."
Yes, that was how it had been.
Why, of all people, had Aiden killed Belita with his own hands?
It was because he cherished his sister Adela so deeply.
Whenever Belita, blinded by jealousy, tormented Adela, Cain Maxius would repeatedly rescue her from danger—fulfilling only that much of the male lead's role.
Thinking back on it now, it was so characteristic of him.
But one day, Belita planted a bomb in the carriage Adela was riding in, intending to kill her.
And as a result of the explosion, Adela, whose health was already fragile, suffered grave injuries.
He could not forgive Belita for what she had done to his only sister.
So he killed her with his own hands.
I had left on this journey wanting to avoid entanglement with the original story's characters any further, yet instead everything had become even more twisted.
Of all people, I had become entangled with the man who was supposed to kill me.
My luck couldn't possibly be worse than this.
I wanted to comfort myself by thinking the original story had already ended and the possibility of my death had vanished, but looking at the situation, I simply couldn't.
'Why did they break up?'
Why?
How could the protagonists possibly break up?
How could the male and female leads separate?
I even cleanly arranged their engagement dissolution so they could love each other for eternity...
Of course, ninety-nine percent of that was done for my sake.
Now the story I knew has ended.
I have become completely transformed, and now I am just like them—a character in a novel who no longer knows what the future holds.
'I need to get my head on straight.'
With that thought, what I needed to do going forward became crystal clear before my eyes.
I remained lost in thought for quite some time before lifting my head slightly.
My eyes met Aiden's once again.
'Why does he keep staring at me?'
That gaze no longer felt welcome to me.
Yet to my surprise, Aiden Byon—whom I hadn't expected to speak first—posed a question to me.
"Lady Heitze, which of the places you visited left the deepest impression on you?"
Though the question was quite formal, it was difficult to hide my bewilderment given who was asking it.
But I quickly composed myself and answered his question.
"A place that left an impression?"
"Yes."
I paused briefly to consider his question.
What answer was he seeking? Why had he asked me this?
'No, stop.'
I shook my head inwardly, forcing myself to refocus.
Whatever this man wanted, whatever he was thinking—it had nothing to do with me.
Perhaps he harbored no particular thoughts at all.
He might simply be making meaningless conversation to fill the time.
Though truthfully, I didn't believe that for a moment.
But as long as I kept my own mind sharp and steady, it didn't matter. The thought brought clarity.
So I offered him a deliberately brighter smile as I replied.
"Grens impressed me most. As you likely know, it is now my property."
"...Grens, you say?"
"Yes. Grens has excellent air and is wonderfully quiet—perfect for a retreat. I've even considered spending one or two months there each year once I marry and have children."
I gave Aiden Byon the same answer I had given Cain Maxius earlier.
"I see."
"Yes."
Among nobility, it was customary to ask and answer questions of one another, but I deliberately kept my responses brief, unwilling to continue this exchange.
Yet he seemed disinclined to let the conversation end, pressing forward with another question.
"I myself travel frequently for work, and the place that impressed me most was Peorat, located near the Capital."
I could not conceal my shock at his answer.
I struggled to maintain composure, keeping my expression carefully neutral as I deliberated how to respond.
Peorat—the place where we had first met two years ago.
He had deliberately mentioned it. There was no doubt.
"Ah, yes."
I answered curtly once more.
It was a stubborn declaration that I wished to speak no further.
I wanted nothing more to do with him, or rather, with anyone in this space except my parents—whether pleasant or unpleasant.
Cain Maxius, Adela, and Aiden Byon were now people with whom entanglement would bring nothing but harm, people beneath my concern. Continuing this conversation held no appeal for me.
A perceptive person would have recognized my reluctance to continue, but Aiden Byon pressed on undeterred.
"Have you ever visited Peorat, Lady Heitze?"
Another question laden with intent.
"No, I have not."
And I answered concisely.
I meant that we were strangers from the beginning, and I had no intention of ever becoming entangled with you in the future.
At my response, his face contorted slightly.
"...I see."
It took quite a long time for that answer to leave his lips.
Still, this time my intentional response seemed to have gotten through to him, and he finally closed his mouth.
Yet as if to make me feel the discomfort in his heart, he merely stared at me with a rigid expression.
* * *
At last, the gatekeeper's voice announced that the Emperor had arrived.
"The most radiant sun of Balteus and the noble Christian Winston, Emperor of Balteus, has arrived. Everyone, rise and pay your respects to His Majesty."
Everyone inside rose to greet the Emperor of Balteus.
"We greet the most radiant sun of Balteus and the noble Christian Winston, Emperor of Balteus, Your Majesty."
And all at once, everyone bowed respectfully to the Emperor.
The Emperor, having received the greeting, took his seat at the head of the table and opened his mouth.
"Haha, please, everyone be seated."
At the Emperor's words, we returned to our respective seats.
I glanced sideways at the Emperor.
He appeared to be about the same age as my father, and for an emperor of a nation, he had a surprisingly pleasant demeanor.
'Perhaps I've read too many novels and naturally found myself thinking of tyrants.'
In truth, a tyrant could never exist in this world.
"It warms my heart to see the three Duke Families gathered together like this after so long."
The Emperor seemed quite skilled at saying things he didn't mean.
Throughout history, emperors, unlike the members of the Duke Families, felt the sorrow of lacking their own unique and formidable power, merely clinging to their position by a thread.
Especially in this generation, since relations between the three families were poor and they rarely wished to see one another, the Emperor had no choice but to periodically arrange such gatherings in pursuit of harmony for the safety of the Empire.
So even now, though the Emperor sat at the head of the table, he was the one who had to be most careful here, making it clear that such occasions were unwelcome to him.
"Indeed, Your Majesty. I too am delighted to see these two Dukes after so long."
"That is correct. Thank you for arranging such an occasion, Your Majesty."
As expected, the two seasoned middle-aged Dukes answered the Emperor in turn.
The first to answer was Byon Duke, and the one who chimed in next was my father.
"Thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty."
And finally, Cain Maxius also expressed his gratitude to the Emperor.
With those greetings and inquiries about each other's well-being, the Emperor's role came to an end.
From then on, the conversation proceeded centered around the three Dukes.
Everyone else focused on their meal and said almost nothing.
After we had finished every last bit of dessert, everyone except the Emperor and the three Dukes rose from their seats.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org