Chapter 7
“It’s only natural for you to misunderstand, my lady. You’ve never been there. I completely understand. But I swear I’ve done nothing wrong. Nothing serious enough to warrant breaking off an engagement. All I did was share a drink and play cards with some close friends. That’s hardly a crime, is it? You need to trust me.”
The more Rodrigo spoke, the tighter Ayla’s lips pressed together. She couldn’t believe how easily he spouted excuses like that.
Just how little did he think of her, to assume she would believe something so shallow?
Ayla was tempted to lash out, but instead, she took a deep breath and calmly opened her mouth.
“You’re quite popular, aren’t you?”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“They say any woman can spend a night with you if she just waits her turn. That the line never ends because your skills in bed are so impressive. Did I get that wrong?”
Rodrigo’s jaw dropped in shock.
He knew people said such things behind his back, but no one had ever dared to say it to his face. And for it to come from Ayla Everett of all people?
He had assumed she was too noble and innocent to even understand such things.
While he struggled to close his mouth, Ayla reached into her handbag and pulled out a document.
“I’ve already told my father that I want to end our engagement. For those exact reasons. So…”
Her pale fingers calmly placed the paper in front of him.
“Please sign.”
“…What is this?”
“A formal letter of annulment.”
Ayla met Rodrigo’s widening eyes with an indifferent shrug.
“If you quietly accept and sign this, I’m willing to keep the reason for the breakup to myself.”
Once she had his signature, she planned to leak the story to the newspapers. If the matter became public, her father would have no choice but to accept it, if only to protect his pride as a high-ranking noble.
While she waited in silence, hiding her true thoughts, Rodrigo’s eyes slowly filled with rage.
“This is quite disappointing, my lady. To bring something like this up… in a place like this?”
Even as his voice sharpened, Ayla responded with cool detachment.
“I clearly wrote in the letter that I had something important to discuss. I also mentioned we should meet somewhere quiet. You chose the location, remember?”
“That’s because…”
Rodrigo raised his voice in frustration but quickly lowered it again, aware of the curious eyes around them.
“…I didn’t know you meant something like this.”
He may not have realized it, but Ayla had.
He always chose busy, public places to meet her. She wasn’t often seen in society, so whenever she appeared in public, she drew attention. Every time she had suggested a quieter location, he had refused with various excuses.
“No matter the place, the outcome would be the same. All you need to do is sign the annulment letter.”
“You think it’s that simple? Do you know what this engagement means? It’s a political marriage arranged between two noble families. There were benefits exchanged.”
“Exactly. Which is why you’re better off signing now, while I’m still willing to stay quiet about the reasons. If this turns into a scandal, you’ll be held responsible, and you’ll be expected to pay for the damage.”
Ayla’s voice grew firm.
Firm enough to shake the composure Rodrigo had tried to maintain until now.
By then, many people in the restaurant had started to watch them openly. A few were no longer even pretending to hide their interest.
Rodrigo cursed inwardly. He couldn’t afford to escalate things here.
“We’ll discuss this another time, my lady,” he said through gritted teeth. “Unfortunately, I won’t be escorting you back.”
Before Ayla could reply, Rodrigo stood up and stormed out of the restaurant. His exit was loud and full of anger.
“…This won’t be easy,” Ayla muttered to herself.
Only then did she unclench her trembling fists. Her lips curved into a bitter smile, and her face looked pale and exhausted.
She had failed to get his signature.
She had hoped to end things here and now.
Still, it would not be long before word of this spread. That was inevitable.
Ayla was already aware of the many eyes glancing her way.
Trying to maintain her composure, she stood from her seat and made her way toward the counter. Rodrigo had left without paying for their tea.
“I guess I should head back now…”
Ayla muttered reluctantly, lifting her eyes to the sky.
She wasn’t sure whether having a place to return to was a blessing or a curse.
As she stood still at the edge of the road, lost in thought, she began to make her way toward the street to find a carriage.
Just then, a small cry reached her ears.
“Mew…”
Startled by the faint sound, Ayla turned her head in its direction.
In a corner of the street, where garbage had piled up, something was making a faint whimpering sound.
Curious, Ayla took a few steps toward the noise. Only then did she realize the trembling creature was a black cat.
“Oh no… you’re hurt.”
As Ayla stood frozen, not knowing what to do, a passerby who noticed the cat spat on the ground with disgust.
“Tch. Just my luck. A black cat?”
Ayla watched the back of the stranger’s head in disbelief.
It was clearly still a young kitten. Looking closer, she saw a scab on its forehead, as if it had been hit by a stone. One of its hind legs dangled limply, possibly broken.
Ayla’s delicate brows furrowed.
“Who did this to you?”
There was no doubt a person was responsible. It was not hard to guess why.
In the Descartes Empire, black cats were considered cursed beings that brought disaster.
This one was being left to die simply because of the color of its fur.
Despite its weakness, the kitten struggled to lift its head and looked up at her with vivid green eyes, as if asking for help. Ayla felt her heart clench.
“What should I do with you?”
It was a black cat, an animal believed to bring calamity.
For someone like Ayla, whose future was already uncertain, saving it out of pity was not a simple decision. Even if she managed to hide it, she had no idea what kind of consequences might follow if someone found out.
But if she left it there, it would surely die.
As her trembling hand reached out, the kitten purred and gently rubbed its face against her fingers. As if it had no doubt, she would be the one to save it.
Ayla remained silent for a moment. Then, in a voice that sounded strangely choked, she murmured,
“I’m glad that even someone like me has the power to save at least one life.”
She crouched down and gently extended her hands toward the kitten. It didn’t hiss or resist, only looked up at her with tired but trusting eyes.
“Come with me, little one. I don’t know if I’ll be able to care for you forever, but I won’t let you die here.”
Just then, a carriage-for-hire happened to come down the road.
Once Ayla arrived at her room, she quickly placed the kitten, hidden beneath her cloak, onto the bed.
Its tiny chest rose and fell rapidly. It looked like it might stop breathing at any moment.
Not even bothering to remove her coat, she hurried to her vanity. Pulling open the lowest drawer, she reached all the way to the back.
A small round potion bottle rolled forward and came into view.
“This should work…”
Staring down at it with sunken eyes, she grabbed the bottle and turned back toward the bed.
It was a top-grade potion, the kind only available at the Magic Tower. As long as a limb hadn’t been completely severed, it could heal even severe injuries instantly.
Without hesitation, Ayla uncorked the bottle.
A soft pop sounded as the blue liquid inside released a fresh, clean scent.
“This will save you, little one.”
Ayla gently supported the kitten’s head and poured the potion into its mouth. Then she poured the remaining drops over its limp leg.
The effect was immediate.
The kitten shook its leg, which moments ago must have been throbbing in pain, then repositioned itself as if it had never been hurt.
Its body, once weak and motionless, regained strength. It lifted its head and met her eyes with those same green irises.
“That’s a relief. Are you feeling better now?”
A smile bloomed on Ayla’s face. She had saved a life that had nearly slipped away.
“Mew.”
The kitten let out a soft sound as if responding to her, then began licking the back of her hand.
“Huh? Is that your way of saying thank you?”
The rough texture of its little tongue tickled her skin, and Ayla laughed quietly. It really did feel like the cat understood that she had saved it.
“What do I do with you now…”
Now that the immediate crisis had passed, the weight of reality returned all at once.
