Chapter 37
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The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 37
"How easy this is for you. And how utterly selfish."
"...."
"Whether you cast me aside back then or now, you never once consider my feelings, do you, Duke?"
"That's not true."
"Not true? So you expected me to leap with joy the moment you said you wanted to start over? Why don't you just admit it was for the diamond mines instead? That would be far more honest, at least."
How lightly he must regard me to think this way.
The anger from moments ago was steadily transforming into something far darker.
"I understand perfectly why you're upset. But things will be different from now on. From now on, I will see only you and look at no one else."
"No, please don't. I'm begging you, don't do this."
"You don't dislike me. I know your feelings for me haven't simply vanished away."
Unbelievable. This man's audacity knows no bounds.
"What can I say? Those feelings ended two years ago. My heart for you died then. And you know exactly who made that happen."
"I was foolish then. So if you'll allow me to start anew—"
"Please, Duke."
What future could there possibly be for us? What good would tomorrow bring?
I never had feelings for him to begin with, and he was always Adela's from the start.
I don't understand how the story's aftermath became this.
Was that fairy tale ending everyone dreamed of—"and they lived happily ever after"—all a lie?
Are all the conclusions to happy fairy tales and stories truly like this?
Most of all, I've done nothing to him, so why is he acting this way now?
I never tried to change Cain Maxius like the heroines in other novels do.
I simply mirrored Belita's actions, behaving in ways that would bore him, and successfully achieved the result of a broken engagement.
So where exactly did things go wrong?
When and where did Cain Maxius's heart begin to change?
'Sigh.'
Now that I'm experiencing the very thing I'd been so careful to avoid, a sigh escaped me unbidden, my mind clouded with confusion and frustration.
'Should I have simply died?'
I arrived at the thought that the small, seemingly trivial actions I'd changed to avoid my death had ultimately altered the original story itself.
But who in this world, knowing their own death awaited them, could simply accept it without trying to escape?
I was justified.
I only did what I could do.
Even as I tried to comfort myself with these thoughts, the sight of the man before me made them all dissolve away.
'No, get a grip.'
I needed to clear my head and act with purpose.
The original story had already ended long ago.
From this point forward, the narrative was entirely new—a story I had no knowledge of.
Yet despite that, while the original story had concluded, its characters remained.
Cain Maxius existed. Adela existed. And...
Aiden existed.
He was the man who had willingly killed Belita for Adela's sake.
Given the current circumstances, Adela still harbored feelings for Cain Maxius.
And for reasons I couldn't fathom, Cain Maxius's affections were directed toward me.
Ultimately, this meant Adela could be wounded and consumed by despair.
Would Aiden simply stand by and watch such a situation unfold?
While his beloved sister suffered through heartbreak and drowning in profound pain?
"I have no desire to discuss this matter further with you, Duke. I believe you understand perfectly well what I mean. I shall take my leave now."
I couldn't fathom why he was gazing at me with such a wounded expression, but I turned away from him.
Without waiting for his response, I simply withdrew from the Terrace.
After barely escaping the Terrace, I cautiously surveyed my surroundings.
The center of the Banquet Hall was filled with people dancing.
Perhaps because I had disappeared and reappeared, some cast fleeting glances in my direction.
Ignoring their gazes, I quietly slipped out of the Banquet Hall.
After exiting the Banquet Hall and walking a short distance, I spotted a Garden.
It was different from the Garden I had seen during dinner.
The Garden where I had conversed with Aiden then was filled with all manner of trees, creating the sensation of being deep within a forest.
In contrast, the Garden now before my eyes was resplendent and beautiful, brimming with fragrant and diverse flowers.
Peering into the Garden, I observed several couples strolling together in pairs.
I passed them and walked toward the deepest reaches of the Garden.
As I ventured deeper, only the songs of birds filled the air—no human voices could be heard.
Spotting a bench, I collapsed onto it.
Then, closing my eyes briefly, I attempted to clear my mind of everything that had just transpired.
But it was not easy.
The future I had envisioned upon returning from my journey had become completely opaque.
Judging from Cain Maxius's expression before I left the Terrace, it was certain this was far from over.
'Why on earth is he doing this?'
What could have changed that man so profoundly?
What on earth could have transpired during those two years?
I had thought I neither wanted nor needed to know the reason, yet my chest felt unbearably suffocated.
It seemed I could no longer evade the situation through continued indifference and avoidance, which only deepened my sighs.
'I need a method.'
I needed a way to make Cain Maxius withdraw of his own accord.
But the problem was that no such method came to mind.
I was lost in thought, searching for a suitable approach, when—
I heard footsteps approaching the area where I sat.
'Who is it?'
Not again?
The thought that Cain Maxius might have followed me here to the Terrace just as he had before sent a wave of irritation crashing over me.
I rose from the bench.
I needed to be ready to leave this place at a moment's notice, regardless of who arrived.
I kept my gaze fixed on the corner of the path, trying to catch a glimpse of who was approaching.
And finally, an unexpected figure emerged from around the bend.
It was Adela.
The moment I saw Adela, I barely managed to compose my widened eyes before greeting her.
Yet when I examined her expression, she showed no sign of surprise whatsoever—unlike me.
It seemed she had come looking for me, knowing I would be here.
But I had no desire to exchange words with Adela either.
"I'll vacate this space for you."
So I offered her my seat and prepared to leave.
"Just a moment, please. I'd like to speak with you."
Before I could take a step, Adela stopped me.
Why does everyone want to talk to me today?
I planted my feet back in place.
Looking at Adela with a puzzled expression, I spoke.
"With me?"
"Yes, so could you spare me some time?"
I couldn't refuse without reason, so I reluctantly nodded.
"Thank you, Duchess Belita."
Adela answered with a bright smile.
Yet somehow that smile seemed forlorn, and it unsettled me.
But the person who had wanted to talk first seemed strangely silent.
Though I didn't know what she wished to say, she appeared to be gathering her thoughts, so I waited for her.
After a moment, Adela opened her mouth.
"It's truly wonderful."
An unexpected statement tumbled from her lips.
"Pardon?"
"As you well know, my health has never been robust. Attending an event like this Banquet Hall was my lifelong dream."
"Ah, yes."
"My father said that if I could just become a little healthier, a little stronger than I am now, he would allow it. So I desperately wanted to improve my health."
"...."
I didn't understand why I had to listen to this, but seeing the expression on her face as she spoke to me, I couldn't bring myself to interrupt.
She looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
So I found myself unable to stop her words.
"But health was never on my side. I couldn't have a debutante ball like everyone else, and even as an adult, I never had a proper coming-of-age ceremony."
Adela was not someone I felt compelled to pity.
Yet the moment I recognized him as someone in pain, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org