Chapter 7

“…Wait, what do you mean?”

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know.”

“Pretending not to know. Don’t pretend not to know?!”

“You’re aware that I see Apollyon as a thorn so you deliberately…”

Even without hearing the rest, I had a headache.

“Hah, wait a moment. Let’s not do this in the middle of the road, stop blocking the way then talk.”

I grabbed Sonot’s wrist and led him to a remote place. I smiled at Serena, who is stomping her feet to the ground stressfully, signaling that it’s alright. His quick-witted driver began to move the carriage to the side of the road.

I looked back and got goosebumps when I saw Sonot’s grin as he stared at my hand grabbing his wrist. I quickly took my hands off him.

“Sonot, I won’t take long. I told you not to be mistaken. Why do you keep doing this?”

“What’s wrong with you? That’s what I wanted to say. Why are you doing this even though you’ve never done such a thing before?”

“What do you mean with something I’ve never done?”

“How can you act so differently from usual?”

“How did you expect me to react?”

“…”

“Crying and begging like how you used to be in old times? Isn’t it enough to play cool?”

Sonot grinned as if he was full of spirit. He was acting like a mad man.

“How long has it been since you broke up with me, yet you’re marrying someone else?”

“It’s none of your business, who or when I marry.”

“You were my fiancée.”

“Right now I’m not.”

The nobles had to obtain imperial consent for all marriages. It was the same with the breakups, and our relationship ended neatly by submitting my signed annulment papers to the imperial court.

“Don’t you have any manners? It’s been less than a month since our engagement got annulled. It’s always a virtue for a noble to have a self-reflection period.”

What did he mean with self-reflection? I wasn’t a celebrity who got caught driving drunk.

Did he mean I had to be like them writing an apology letter before facing society once again? One would think I committed a severe crime.

“And it’s no other than Apollyon Theavritte. I don’t know what your intentions are… But Inkledov families’ manners are a mess.”

“What did you just say?”

Even in a street fight, one wouldn’t mess with the other’s family. Of course, I had nothing to do with the Inkledov family besides my body, but I had an affection that came from staying with them for nearly two months.

I wouldn’t be able to adapt to this world if it weren’t for the Count Family’s kind people. I couldn’t just stay still and listen to people putting the shade on the whole family when I was indebted to them.

“You learned your manners at Quinton Household? Seeing how sarcastic you are, you must have gotten quite the etiquette lessons. Unfortunately, it’s only suffocating.”

“…”

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Sonot frowned as he was displeased by my sarcastic remark for Quinton. Would someone who is sad about a breakup say something like this?

I took a step closer to him before I spoke.

“Sonot, I apologize but I no longer have feelings for you. No feelings, no regret, and most importantly no sense of revenge which you’re severely mistaken for.”

“Then why are you marrying the Grand Duke…”

“Because I like him.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would you want to marry that monster unless you’re crazy?”

Again, monster rumor. 

“He’s a hideous man with a rotten face. Oh, he might not even be human. That face and power are more of a demon thing than a human.”

What did he know about him when he didn’t even see under his mask?

“Aren’t you scared? What if the disgusting curse is infectious?”

Oh, this is the nonsense people made up. It was a world without television or the internet, how could such rumors spread so quickly?

“Watch your mouth. Don’t spread groundless rumors.”

“Did I say something wrong? How do you know if it’s only false rumors?”

Sonot wasn’t wrong. There was no way to prove Apollyon wasn’t a monster and the curse wasn’t infectious. I was only sure of it since I read the novel.

After all, there was only one answer to give.

“We’ll know if it was a false rumor once I start living with him.”

Sonot’s face hardened. Rather than angry, he looked troubled by my unexpected answer.

“Are you really this greedy for power?”

This time, he seemed to think I was coveting the seat of the Grand Duchess.

“Sonot, I’m not interested in taking revenge from you nor the power of the Grand Duchess title. So don’t spread ridiculous rumors like I’ve gone mad because of a broken heart, and joined hands with him to get back at you. Because it’s unpleasant.”

“…”

“I’ll go learn the etiquette I didn’t learn in Inkledov, at Theavritte. I have a schedule right now, so bye.”

“…Wait.”

Sonot, who was foolishly standing, suddenly blocked my path. Even though I had departed earlier than scheduled there was no time to delay now.

“If you have anything more to say, could you send a servant to the mansion? I’m quite busy right now.”

“The wedding is just around the corner.”

With my words, Sonot’s expression suddenly got cold.

I took out my watch from my pocket and checked the time. If I didn’t want to be late to the boutique I had to depart now.

“I’ll ask you one last time.”

Why again. Why!

“You really… don’t have any feelings for me? Not even the slightest regret?”

“…Did you even listen to me for all this time?”

If he couldn’t hear, he had to go clean his ears. Seeing how he didn’t understand anything, I felt like cleaning them for him. I was sure lots of earwax would come out.

“How can someone suddenly…”

“Suddenly you say. Sonot put your hand on your heart and think about it.”

I grabbed Sonot’s hand and put it on his heart myself.

“Remember the things you’ve done to me. You got caught cheating and took your anger out on me when your elders scolded you for it. You yelled until I cried even though I had nothing to do with it.”

“…”

“Why would I like you when I’ve been through all that?”

I let go of Sonot’s hand and walked past him. Then he turned around with an exaggerated gesture as if he had something to say.

I got closer to Sonot and whispered in his ear.

“That plan of yours… seems it will strongly fail.”

“…!”

Sonot’s eyes grew wide to the point of popping out. As if someone knew about his important secret.

Of course, I knew his intentions since I’ve read the novel 19 times.

“In the future, don’t try to use your family to overthrow Theavritte Family. Well, I won’t see you anymore.”

I stared at him with ice-cold eyes before turning towards my carriage.

Sonot’s eyes, which I briefly saw, were shaking aimlessly.

I got on the carriage with the horseman’s escort. Perhaps because time was running out, the horseman drove rather faster than usual.

“My lady, you must be tired, you can lean on this.”

Serena said as she put a cushion under my head.

“Thank you.”

She was quite sensible. I rested my head on the cushion as I admired Serena’s consideration.

It hasn’t been long since I got out yet I already had fatigue. I had a feeling that today would be a very long day. I closed my eyes for a moment, ignoring the thoughts that came to mind one by one.

***

“My lady, we’ve been waiting for you.”

When I got out of the carriage, I found all the employees of the boutique standing in front of the store waiting for me.

“Yes. It’s nice to meet you all.”

I greeted them in exchange pretending everything was alright yet it wasn’t at all. This wasn’t the second lead’s appearance in a drama. Being treated like an important person was quite troublesome.

As the staff guided me inside I noticed that the boutique was empty. I heard only the upper class could use this shop. It seemed no other client was accepted today.

The Grand Duke Theavritte. The sense of power which came through his title was very sweet.

Madame Vienese, the head designer and the owner of the boutique, sat in front of me and chatted for a long time. Honestly, I was tired but I chose not to show it. Wasn’t this just showing kindness to attract customers?

Fully aware that this talk was going to make me re-debut for society; I gave proper answers at the right times. My answers seemed quite soulless to me, but Madam Vienese looked satisfied with them.

“Oh my, I’ve had such a great time. Would you like to check the dress now?”

“Yes.”

Please. Please just let me check. 

The long-awaited moment finally came after the painful moments. Since Sonot had already drained her energy, her stamina was on the verge of depletion.

Madame clapped twice and the curtains rolled to the sides. There was a mannequin in the middle which was bearing a dazzlingly beautiful wedding dress.

“Woah…”

I admired it, forgetting how exhausted I was because of the Madame.

My order was a strapless dress with its skirt starting from the belly line spreading down gaining volume. The dress, in which organza silk was used, looked rich yet light.

Dozens of clear diamonds were delicately crafted on the chest part, and with the angle of the light, their colors varied which look beautiful.

If I were to be honest, because of this beauty, I would get married three more times. The dress even cost no money.

“Would you like to try it on?”

“Ah, yes.”

I came to my senses as the Madame led me to the changing room. I was thinking of three more ceremonies without even having the first one. What a ridiculous idea it was as a new bride.

Come on. That meant four marriages, three divorces.

I stepped into the dressing room repeatedly thinking about the same words in my mind.