Chapter 10: What It Means to Become Real
“Yes. I went too far that day. I shouldn’t have done that to you in front of so many people, Miss Norris. I’m sure it must have felt insulting.”
Her meticulously articulated words carried a hint of regret. But why did her apology not sound like an actual apology?
Lyra frowned as she watched Davira lightly bite her lip. It wasn’t just her imagination—she caught a glimpse of emotion that flashed in those blue eyes.
Not only the strangely embedded barb, but also perhaps the regret that it hadn’t happened somewhere away from prying eyes. That seemed likely, considering she had brought Lyra out to this secluded part of the garden.
‘As I thought, I really dislike this woman.’
A selfish, self-centered woman who casually throws stones at others while maintaining an innocent face, pretending to know nothing.
‘You should have just said you never intended to apologize from the start. Had you done that, I might have left some pity for you.’
Just as a faint sneer formed at the corners of Lyra’s lips, the woman’s unleashed mouth once again revealed the aggression of that day.
“But even if I could go back to that moment, I’d have to say the same thing. I was quite shocked that day, and my feelings haven’t changed.”
Those blue eyes looked as resolute as a warrior’s.
“Lyra Norris, you don’t suit Kaylon.”
She seemed to have completely erased from her mind the apology she had just uttered.
“I expected as much, but you’re more shameless than I thought, Princess.”
Perhaps that’s why Lyra’s lips moved of their own accord. Suddenly, she wondered what would happen if she stripped away this woman’s mask of innocence.
“What… do you mean?”
Was she shocked? By just these words? Compared to all the things Lyra had heard countless times before, this was nothing.
“Is this the first time you’ve heard such words? Are you surprised?”
“…”
Seeing Davira’s tightly closed lips, Lyra pulled up the corners of her mouth.
“I suppose everyone has only ever said nice things to you, making you believe you might actually be the incarnation of a saint?”
“Miss Norris, your words…”
“What? Am I wrong?”
Looking at those uncontrollably trembling eyes, a sadistic impulse she’d never felt before boiled up inside her. She wanted to pour out all the contempt, all the disdain, all the slander she’d received in her life onto this woman.
Everything—including all the wounds inflicted by society and her family.
“I’m just as shocked as you are. Why should I need your permission to make love to my man?”
Call me twisted if you want. Right now, I just want to release these long-harbored emotions.
And in that moment, she genuinely pitied Kaylon Blaske, enough to momentarily forget the pain he had caused her.
How terrible it must have been for him all this time, with this woman who believed only she was flawless, who thought only the love she gave was complete.
“Don’t you find it strange? I think I’m quite suitable.”
Davira’s face contorted as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
Lyra tried to gauge how much sincerity was in that expression. A face put on simply to show she was hurt—perhaps that was all it was?
Ah, now she thought she understood what kind of person Davira Claudia was.
The mistake on the first day was merely a mishap caused by excessive tension. This woman must have been accustomed to everyone fawning over her at the slightest gesture or word.
Her doll-like appearance, combined with the behavior learned and observed under her virtuous mother, must have created Davira Claudia’s perfect background.
The sad part was that the worship of Davira was normal in Brikna’s social circles, and that Lyra couldn’t easily break through the barrier surrounding her.
The more Lyra Norris opposed Davira Claudia, the more united they would become against her.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she suddenly felt the misery of her position.
Just then, Davira, having composed her expression that had been colored with bewilderment, opened her lips. Though she had somehow been backed into a corner, it seemed she was now ready to reveal her true purpose.
“I heard you had someone you were supposed to marry.”
Lyra raised her eyes to look at Davira.
“A marriage arranged between families, they say.”
“…”
“I heard you had run away before meeting Duke Lianton. Is that true?”
At this interrogative question, Lyra narrowed her eyes. The fake love story they had prepared never had a chance to be properly told before being rejected by the nobles.
According to the original plan, by now, the beautiful romance between him and herself should have been greatly exaggerated, creating yet another story.
But what was this? Why did she get the feeling that Davira Claudia knew so much about her?
“I had my suspicions, but to think it was really…”
The Duke despised this woman, so he wouldn’t have told her anything.
“You two… how much of it is real?”
Then who could it be? Who could have told this woman?
“The Kaylon I know would never genuinely care for a liar like you. That’s not the kind of person he is. I know him.”
At that moment, forgotten scenes flashed through Lyra’s mind: Lindia’s words demanding she kneel and beg Davira Claudia for forgiveness, and the image of Davira approaching Lindia with a gentle greeting.
“So please leave Kaylon’s side immediately.”
“…”
“To my eyes, you two look like nothing more than fake lovers.”
The woman with the determined expression came into focus in her previously blurred vision. Lyra met those blue eyes staring directly at her and gently curved her rouge-stained lips upward.
* * *
Hearty laughter and loud voices buzzed in his ears. Business, hunting, women, art, auctions, and various other topics circulated like a round song, yet nothing stuck in his mind.
Kaylon stared at the wide-open entrance while absently swirling the wine glass in his hand.
Why hadn’t she returned yet? Davira Claudia, who had gone out with her, had long since come back and was keeping to her seat.
Was she being held up by someone like Cody Ferret again? There were too many eyes darting toward the door to deny it. Like predators waiting for their chance.
What had she been wearing today? Was she holding her fan? With her hair up, her white skin would be fully exposed… Sigh. Why did she have to dance in the first place?
Today might have been better if she’d stayed by the wall or beside him, but after dancing across the floor with Leona Vuitton, ironically, the way people looked at her had changed considerably. Especially among the men.
He recalled her face, beaming brightly as her dress swirled around her, then suddenly gripped his wine glass so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The transparent glass trembled as if it might shatter and spill the red liquid at any moment.
“That man has terrible skills. I don’t know how such false rumors started, but he’s all talk. If it were me, I’d look for another lawyer.”
“I thought as much. I’d hate to pay more alimony than necessary… Wait, Duke Lianton, why are you suddenly standing?”
As Kaylon rose to his feet, puzzled gazes immediately followed him. But having only belatedly realized he’d stood up, Kaylon was at a loss for words and could only stare back at the nobles looking up at him.
At that moment, Max, who had been sitting next to him, snapped his fingers to draw the nobles’ attention. He’d noticed Kaylon had been distracted all evening, perhaps suspecting his lover of infidelity.
“Haha, Duke Lianton has always been a busy man, hasn’t he? Speaking of divorce lawyers, I know someone I could recommend. His skills are excellent, and his fees quite reasonable—you’d be very satisfied.”
Max kindly explained about the lawyer he knew while winking at Kaylon. His expression said “go ahead,” accompanied by a mischievous smile.
Kaylon responded with a belated smirk and escaped the tedious gathering. After learning Lyra’s whereabouts from someone dressed as a servant, he headed straight outside.
As he entered the inner garden, he saw a pale figure standing, gazing at the moon. After watching for a moment, Kaylon quietly approached and softly called her name.
“Lyra.”
Lost in thought and oblivious to his approach from behind, she turned to face him.
Kaylon stopped one step away from Lyra, who seemed deep in thought.
“What are you doing?”
Her shoulders, with skin fully exposed, trembled slightly, having been out here for some time. Yet she seemed unaware that her body temperature was dropping in the cool breeze.
His gaze traveled along her gentle curves to her face, shrouded in darkness. The soft light from the gas lamps placed throughout the garden made it easy enough to discern her expression, though unlike before, he couldn’t read her thoughts.
“I was just about to go back inside.”
