Chapter 31
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The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 31
Mother said she had come to the Imperial Palace after a long time and wanted to briefly visit the Empress, an old friend from childhood, so she left.
Since I had nothing particular to do, I considered waiting in the carriage for my parents, but then thought I might as well take a stroll through the Imperial Palace's Garden since I was already here.
'I'm quite exhausted.'
Spending several hours in the same space with people I didn't care for was mentally and physically draining.
Perhaps because my seat was uncomfortable, I couldn't even remember what the food tasted like.
The man sitting across from me kept staring at me throughout the meal, and the man sitting diagonally didn't look openly, but stole glances at me whenever he had the chance.
I pretended not to notice their gazes and simply busied myself putting food in my mouth without tasting it.
'I don't want to come back here again.'
Especially if those two men were present—I never wanted to attend another meal like this.
But I would have to come again.
It was my duty and responsibility, after all.
Yet something felt terribly wrong.
Aiden Byon was one thing, but why was Cain Maxius acting that way too?
'Something has gone awry.'
I couldn't pinpoint exactly where things had gone wrong or what had gone wrong, but I could sense that matters had become thoroughly tangled.
As I racked my brain trying to figure out the reason, I heard footsteps approaching nearby.
I stood still and gazed toward the source of the sound.
The footsteps drew closer and closer, and finally someone came into view.
It was Aiden Byon.
'Why again...?'
Of all people to encounter when I wanted to avoid everyone, it had to be this man.
I exhaled a deep sigh inwardly, gave him a slight nod, and tried to pass by him.
But just as I was about to brush past him, he spoke to me.
"I never imagined that you were the Young Lady of the Heitz Family."
The feeling was mutual.
"I feel the same way."
"It's been about a year since we saw each other in Ulita. Have you been traveling continuously since then?"
"Yes, well, something like that."
I wanted to answer quickly and leave, but Aiden Byon showed no sign of letting me go, continuing to speak to me just as before.
"I heard you visited the Orphanage."
The fact that he knew I had visited suggested that the children must have told him about seeing me.
"Yes, I went with Lian. I wanted to show him that the children were doing well."
"You truly are a kind and gentle person, aren't you?"
"That child was raised by me, so I simply want to do what I can for him."
I deliberately spoke as though the matter were of little consequence.
"That child—the boy named Lian—is he doing well?"
"Yes, he's doing very well."
With that answer, silence settled between us for a moment.
Then Aiden Byon suddenly began staring at me intently.
"Why... why are you looking at me like that?"
"Am I making you uncomfortable?"
Could that even be called a question?
Of course I was uncomfortable.
"Tell me, you do know who I am, don't you?"
I let out an incredulous laugh and questioned him pointedly.
"Yes, I do."
"Then you must understand why I find Prince Byon so difficult to be around."
"..."
"I'm sure you're aware of why I left on my travels. I broke my engagement with Duke Cain Maxius, and I fled the Capital in haste to forget him."
"..."
Yet Aiden's expression seemed oddly strange, as though he were hearing this for the first time.
Surely not...
"You didn't know?"
"...No, I didn't."
How could he not know?
Surely the moment I broke my engagement, unfiltered rumors must have spread through high society like wildfire.
Yet he claimed ignorance?
"I spend only a handful of days each year in the Capital due to my duties. This time, I was away for quite a long while before returning. That's why I wasn't aware of what happened with you, your sister, and Duke Cain Maxius. I sincerely apologize."
Aiden Byon bowed his head respectfully as he offered his apology.
'Ah, so that's why his expression was like that.'
I had been bewildered by how warmly he looked at me the moment we met, but now I finally understood the reason.
"I responded far too harshly to someone who knew nothing. I owe you an apology as well."
"No, it's quite alright."
"For the details, you should speak with your sister. But as I mentioned, I was once engaged to Duke Cain Maxius. I've heard that he and Adela Byon have since broken their engagement, but I am the one who was cast aside because of them."
After my travels ended and I returned to the Capital, I had resolved to step out of Cain's shadow and live an entirely new life.
The broken engagement, my former feelings for Cain—I intended to treat such things as though they had never happened and never speak of them again.
To be honest, since I had never truly cared for Cain in the first place, I harbored no particular feelings toward Adela or Aiden Byon either.
Yet I could not deny that this was the most effective way to prevent myself from becoming further entangled with this man who seemed so pleased to see me.
So I donned the mask once more—that of a pitiful, jilted former fiancée.
"Of course, you must understand that their separation had nothing to do with me. I was traveling during that entire time."
I spoke to him with emphasis, making clear that their broken engagement was not my doing.
"But regardless, when my own engagement was broken, the world I knew crumbled to dust, and I fell into such despair that I no longer wished to live. How could someone like me possibly be at ease with you, the brother of Adela Byon?"
He listened to my words in silence.
"So I hope you'll understand that I cannot be comfortable in your presence."
If, after I've explained myself this clearly, he still couldn't understand why I found him uncomfortable to be around, then that was his problem, not mine.
I marveled slightly at my acting skills, which hadn't grown rusty, offered him a polite farewell, and turned to leave.
But suddenly, I heard his voice from behind me—heavy and subdued.
"Why?"
"I'm sorry?"
I thought I'd explained myself clearly enough, but Aiden Byon suddenly questioned me back.
When he asked why, I was so taken aback that words momentarily failed me.
Just as I was about to open my mouth and respond, a familiar voice called out to me.
"Miss."
"Lian?"
"Miss Belita, the Duke and Duchess have returned."
It seemed Lian had come to find me so we could return home together now that my parents had finished their business.
"My parents are back? Understood. We should go. I need to head out now."
I bid Aiden Byon farewell and, leaving him alone, took my first steps toward the Garden's exit with Lian.
But Lian's gaze remained fixed somewhere beyond my back.
"Lian?"
"Yes, Miss. Let us depart."
When I called out to him, his attention returned to me.
In that fleeting moment, I thought I glimpsed a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.
But it vanished so quickly that I wondered if I'd imagined it as we left the Garden.
"That person—was that the one from back then?"
As we walked together toward the carriage, Lian suddenly asked me.
"Hmm?"
"The one who rescued the younger children."
"Oh, right. That's him. It was Prince Aiden Byon. I was so surprised to run into him here, you know? Would you like to go back and greet him?"
After all, since Aiden Byon had rescued the children from the Circus Troupe, it seemed only right that Lian express his gratitude to him.
So despite my reluctance to see him again, I suggested to Lian that we turn back for a moment.
"No, thank you. And it was you who saved me, Miss—not him."
Lian, who always responded positively to what I said, firmly refused in a rare display of resolve.
I looked up at him with a puzzled expression for a moment, then nodded in acknowledgment.
"You're right. I was the one who saved you."
"Yes, Miss. You saved me."
Charmed by the way he echoed my words, I smiled warmly at him.
"You must never forget that. Do you understand?"
I playfully made a show of impressing this upon him with a mock-serious expression.
"I shall never forget."
His face looked so solemn in response to what I'd meant as a joke that I felt a wave of embarrassment and changed the subject.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org