Chapter 4
“Yeah… On a day like today, it would be disappointing if that man didn’t show up.”
Despite my dissatisfaction, the atmosphere in the ballroom quickly changed.
People who had been chatting in groups, and even those who had been quietly observing the atmosphere from the corners, including the palace servants, all subtly glanced at Reus, pretending not to notice him, even Roshan and Emily.
And then, each of them started talking about Reus, one after another.
“Oh my, the Duke really came…! I’m so glad I came to the ball today.”
“Shall we go and greet him?”
“Did you hear? Not long ago, the Duke…”
This was evidence of how powerful the Duke of Rochester was at the moment.
Of course, that didn’t mean everyone’s interest was solely about his power.
“My goodness…! The Duke is perfect as always. Just look at his nose. How is it carved so finely…?”
“I wish I had married someone like the Duke.”
“I don’t know who the Duke’s partner will be, but I really envy her.”
It wasn’t just the young ladies closest to me at the table who were mentioning the Duke’s appearance. Most people, when they saw Reus, couldn’t help but comment on his face.
Honestly, if they were praising someone else like that, I would have found it ridiculous.
But considering he was the one responsible for my death, Reus…
‘Yeah, he’s handsome. Extremely so.’
I really didn’t want to admit it, but objectively, that was the case.
The line from his brow to his nose was not only straight but elegant, and his neatly styled silver hair enhanced the sophisticated atmosphere he gave off.
Especially the young ladies adored Reus’s piercing eyes. They said his cold aura was somehow sexy…
‘And they don’t even know he’s plotting treason…’
Reus couldn’t help but attract attention, whether he wanted it or not. With his height, he stood a head or two above others, making him impossible to ignore.
As it happened, the young ladies at the next table began complimenting his physique.
“The Duke really knows how to wear both military and formal attire. Ah, my eyes are blessed.”
“Exactly. He’s not called a war hero for nothing.”
“His face is one thing, but how is his body so perfect…?”
‘But he’s still planning a rebellion, though?’
I wanted to explain to each of them, but since I couldn’t, I had to settle for glaring at Reus with discontented eyes, hoping no one would notice.
‘If he’s going to die, he should die alone. Why drag me into it…?’
He was truly a man with not a single redeeming quality.
As I kept silently cursing him in my mind, Roshan suddenly grabbed my arms.
“So? What did he say?”
“What?”
“The bastard. What did he say?”
“Uh… Well… nothing much. We just broke up on good terms.”
“Ugh, this is frustrating… I knew you’d say that! You should’ve at least cursed him out! Ugh, so frustrating.”
Roshan shook me back and forth before letting go of my arms with a big sigh.
Emily, who had been looking at me with understanding eyes, patted my back and said, “Good job.”
Meanwhile, it seemed most of the invited guests had entered, and the doorman was about to close the door when suddenly, it swung open again, and a man entered the ballroom.
The man who drew all eyes to him was none other than the male lead of this world, Cassien.
People, as if on cue, glanced at Cassien and then looked at me.
I was sure they were wondering if today, too, Cassien would ignore me and flirt with another woman.
Normally, I would have felt a little awkward and paced around the terrace or stayed in the lounge, but today, there was no need for that.
‘I don’t have to care. We’ve broken up.’
After all, whether we were together or apart, people would probably just think, “Of course.”
However, the atmosphere in the ballroom went differently than I expected.
“Wow…! Why is Sir Cassien here?”
“Yeah, I heard he completely cut ties with Lady Verodica not long ago…”
“I guess that was true after all?”
It was because Cassien, with a nonchalant attitude, approached me and grabbed my arm.
“Loelle.”
‘Why does he keep doing this? Didn’t we end things completely that day…?!’
Now that all eyes were on us, I couldn’t act harshly toward Cassien. If I did, it would surely reach Peria ears.
“Loelle. Please, just talk to me once…”
Trying to keep it discreet, I quickly grabbed Cassien wrist.
“Follow me.”
I led Cassien to a terrace away from the ballroom.
“Cassien…! Didn’t we already end things?”
“What are you talking about?”
“What do you mean…! Ugh… Why are you doing this?”
“Why are you acting like this, Loelle?”
I had asked him again and again to break off the engagement, so why was he doing this?
“I clearly told you I wanted to break the engagement—”
“But the Countess…”
“She doesn’t seem to know anything.”
I stayed silent, and Cassien stepped closer.
“Actually, she still looks like she’s convinced we’re getting married.”
“Cassien, that’s…”
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell the Countess you asked to break off the engagement.”
Cassien gently touched below my ear, brushing my cheek with his thumb. He chuckled softly and then smiled brightly.
“You know I understand what you want. Right, Loelle?”
He hadn’t said I wasn’t her real daughter, but Cassien knew I was afraid of Peria.
That made me even angrier.
‘He knew that, but still acted like he wanted to marry me in front of everyone?’
This was the guy who’d soon forget his fiancée and fall for the heroine.
He had no real feelings behind his actions. Cassien was mocking and deceiving me.
I spoke in a trembling voice, angry now.
“You weren’t going to marry me anyway. Why go this far as a joke?”
But Cassien laughed loudly, like it was the funniest thing in the world.
“Who says that? No matter what, I’m going to marry you.”
“Stop making me feel like an idiot, Cassien.”
Cassien stared down at me with unreadable eyes. Then he smirked.
“Hearing you say that feels… different somehow.”
“What does that even mean…”
“Loelle. Seeing you act like this, I can really tell how badly you want to break off the engagement.”
“Then—”
Cassien suddenly pulled me into a tight hug, strong enough to take my breath away. Then he whispered softly into my ear.
“That’s why I can’t let you go. What should we do?”
“Even now, you’re…”
Maybe today would be the last time I ever spoke to Cassien.
Once I left this terrace and went back to the ballroom, he’d fall for Iris. And after that, he’d completely forget about me.
But Cassien still didn’t care about how I really felt.
“I thought… that if I went this far, you’d treat me seriously. Just once.”
Even if it wasn’t love, even if it was just respect between people—after four years together, this was not okay.
But it was like he was proving that I was just someone meant to be caught up in his story.
If he really wanted to keep me, he wouldn’t have acted like this.
He wouldn’t have let me walk in alone today. He would have picked me up from the mansion before the royal ball.
Yeah. If he truly meant it, he wouldn’t just leave when I told him to go, then suddenly show up and mess with my emotions.
We’d been engaged for four years, but Cassien had never loved me. Not even once.
That was a fact that wouldn’t change.
‘I’m so stupid…’
Tears welled up, but I forced myself not to cry.
“If we’re going to break up anyway… there’s no reason for you to go this far.”
Cassien frowned, clearly annoyed by everything.
Like he had any right to be upset. Seeing his irritated face made me even more upset, and I struggled to get out of his arms.
“You’re the worst, Cassien.”
Just like at Countess Ivelle’s a few days ago, I quickly left the terrace in case he tried to stop me again. But it was pointless.
Cassien didn’t come after me. He just stood there, watching my back.
I ran, trying to get as far away from Cassien as I could. I only stopped once everything around me felt quiet.
Only then did the tears I’d been holding in front of him start to fall.
I knew he wasn’t serious about our relationship. But I didn’t think he’d treat me this cruelly. I tried to calm down, but the tears wouldn’t stop.
“You jerk…”
I was the fool for thinking we could end things nicely.
Wiping my tears, I turned a corner—and bumped hard into someone.
“Ow—!”
It hurt so much, my nose started to sting.
‘Why is this person so solid…?’
I held my aching nose and closed my eyes, waiting for the pain to pass.
When I finally opened them, all I saw was a man’s chest. I looked up at his face, and a dumb sound came out of my mouth.
“Ah.”
The person I ran into was none other than Reus.
