Chapter 38
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The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 38
I chose to express my sympathy by continuing to listen to her story.
"And I met him at my first banquet. Until then, my world consisted only of Father and Aiden Byon, but that was when I encountered a completely different world for the first time."
As she spoke, Adela's expression grew wistful and deeply moved, as if she were reliving that very moment.
I couldn't comprehend how she could wear such an expression while thinking of Cain Maxius, despite having been unilaterally abandoned at the altar.
I'd tried to hold back, but it seemed I couldn't anymore.
"What exactly are you trying to say to me?"
No matter how pitiful she seemed, my heart wasn't generous enough to listen to this.
"I envy your freedom so much. You can do anything without any restrictions, can't you?"
"That's not entirely true."
"But you've traveled abroad... Oh, I'm so sorry. Here I am, shamelessly bringing up travel again..."
She'd mentioned travel before as well—it seemed my journey had made quite an impression on her.
"I wish I could travel too. Does all the sorrow in one's heart wash away when you travel?"
"That depends on how much sorrow there is."
"Then did you resolve everything and return?"
Suspicious of her intent, I stared at her directly.
At that, Adela let out a long sigh and opened her mouth.
"Actually... I saw the two of you together on the Terrace earlier. The curtains were drawn, so I only saw you both entering and leaving..."
The shock of witnessing that alone filled Adela's voice with tears.
And her eyes—a deeper shade of violet than Aiden's—that gazed at me were glistening with unshed tears.
"Do you still have feelings for the Duke of the Maxius Family?"
It seemed Adela had misunderstood after seeing me with Cain Maxius on the Terrace.
"Do you realize how incredibly rude you're being right now?"
"I do. But this is far too important to me... Please, answer me. I'm begging you."
Even as I watched her speak with such desperation, I felt utterly exasperated and nearly burst into bitter laughter.
Both Cain Maxius and Adela—why were they all so shameless?
I'd harbored no particular ill will toward Adela until now, but I sensed it would change after today.
However, that didn't mean I needed to fabricate feelings I didn't possess.
There was no reason for me to complicate matters myself.
So I gave her the answer she wanted.
"No."
"Truly, truly?"
"Yes. So if you wish to win back the Duke's heart, don't do this to me—speak with him instead. Your behavior toward me is deeply unpleasant and leaves a bad taste."
"I'm truly sorry. *sob*. I'm such a fool..."
Suddenly, Adela burst into tears.
What did I even say?
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. *sob*"
Further conversation with her, who shed tears at a single word, was impossible.
I approached her as she wept and offered her a handkerchief.
"Dry your tears quickly. It looks as though I'm the one who made you cry."
Her behavior frustrated and irritated me, so my words came out less than kindly.
"Thank you, my lady. *sob*"
Whatever sorrow weighed upon her, Adela's tears showed no sign of stopping.
Yet I couldn't simply abandon her in her ailing state and leave—who knew what might happen—so I steeled myself and waited for her tears to cease.
After a long while, when Adela's sobs finally fell silent, I turned and took a step forward.
I needed to escape this place.
But then words tumbled from her in urgent haste, stopping me in my tracks.
"My lady, might you stay with me just a little longer? Please."
"Do we have anything more to discuss?"
I turned my head slightly and regarded her with an expressionless face as I spoke.
"It's not that...."
"...."
"It's just that you seem like such a warm and kind-hearted person, my lady. I wanted to talk with you more...."
Warm and kind-hearted....
That man—who was once Aiden and is now Aiden Byon—had said something similar to me before.
"That's not true."
And just as I had answered him, I gave Adela the same response.
"No. You treat even someone like me with such warmth, my lady, so you must be an incredibly kind and gentle person. That's why everyone loves you, isn't it?"
Everyone loves me....
Since I had never sought anyone's affection, hearing such words brought me no joy.
"As I mentioned before, I've only ever looked to my father and Aiden Byon, so I've never had a friend. Though we may have gotten off on the wrong foot when we met, if you could forgive me, I would like to become your friend."
"...."
At Adela's words about wanting to be friends, I stared at her with an expression of utter bewilderment.
"Is it that difficult...."
"Yes."
I gathered myself and answered with firm resolve.
"Ah...."
"As I said before, it's true that I have no feelings for the Duke of the Maxius Family. And whatever happens between you two going forward is no longer any concern of mine. However, separate from that, I have no wish to become entangled with either of you on a personal level."
"I'm sorry...."
"If you still harbor any guilt toward me, please refrain from conversations like this."
"...."
"It seems our conversation has concluded, so I shall take my leave."
This time, Adela did not try to stop me.
I walked straight ahead along the Garden path, eyes fixed forward.
It was just as I was about to leave the Garden.
'Ugh...'
Today I've truly stepped on every conceivable landmine.
I'd just run into Aiden Byon as he was entering the Garden.
After dealing with Cain Maxius and Adela, I felt as though something inside me would explode if I had to face Aiden as well.
So I merely nodded at him and tried to slip past, but he called out to me without reading the room.
"Lady of the Heitz Duchy."
I drew a deep breath internally, then looked at him with what patience I could muster and spoke.
"Is there something you wished to say to me?"
Even to my own ears, my tone was rather sharp.
But given how much I was already restraining myself, I couldn't help it.
Aiden Byon seemed slightly taken aback by my attitude.
"Is something troubling you?"
"No, I'm fine."
I forced the corners of my mouth upward as I answered.
"Then why—"
"If you go straight that way, you'll find the Duke's sister. The Lady of the Byon Family seems to be in worse condition than I am, so wouldn't it be better to check on her quickly?"
It was something I'd said purely to part with him as soon as possible.
And for someone who thought so highly of his sister, it was perfectly effective.
Aiden Byon looked at me with an unreadable expression for a moment, then dashed quickly in the direction I'd indicated.
I watched his figure disappear before finally turning my gaze away.
I resumed walking forward.
But then...
'Why am I like this today?'
As the saying goes, one mountain after another—I'd barely left the Garden before encountering yet another towering obstacle right before the Banquet Hall entrance.
'I should have listened to Father.'
I should have pretended I couldn't come when he told me not to.
Looking at the man before me, I deeply regretted coming here.
"My lady, where have you been?"
Why should I tell you that?
"I don't see any reason to report my whereabouts to you, Duke."
My thoughts spilled out along with a sharp edge to my voice.
"You took a stroll through the Garden?"
He showed almost no change in expression despite my attitude.
"Yes, I took a brief walk."
Just answer and get away.
With that thought, I was about to brush past him.
I felt a hand grip my wrist.
Making no effort to hide my displeasure, I immediately wrenched my wrist from Cain Maxius's grasp.
"Don't touch me!"
The moment Cain Maxius touched me, I raised my voice and snapped at him without even thinking of propriety.
At my refusal, Cain Maxius's expression—which had appeared unyielding until that very moment—contorted for the first time.
"My lady."
"Please don't touch me without my permission. You were the one who found even the slightest contact with me repulsive."
"My lady, that's not it."
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