Chapter 67

…Ah.

Melissa blinked.

So that’s what this was.

The slight tremor of her lashes sent the water clinging to them sliding down her cheek.

It wasn’t a greeting.

It was a mistake.

Her hands trembled faintly.

“Oh my, you look like a drowned rat!”

Laughter broke out among the guests as they looked at Melissa, drenched in tea.

One man quickly added,

“A rat? Wouldn’t a sewer rat be more fitting?”

“As expected, Lord Arben has such a rich vocabulary.”

Ahahaha!

The garden burst into laughter.

Then Ines spoke again, still smiling.

“You should change your clothes. Would you like to use my dressing room?”

“I…”

Her lips quivered, and another drop of water rolled from her cheek to her skirt.

“I don’t have any other clothes.”

“My goodness.”

The crowd gasped as if they had been waiting for that moment.

“What were her servants doing, then? How could they not bring a change of clothes for their mistress?”

“Perhaps it’s not the servants’ fault. The failings of the lower always reflect the failings of the upper, don’t they?”

“How true.”

Ahahaha!

Their laughter carried tones of mockery and disdain.

“If it’s clothes you need,” Ines said softly, smiling still, “I’ll lend you one of mine.”

“…!”

The guests’ expressions shifted at once.

As they tried to hide their alarm behind fans or teacups, a quick-witted man spoke up.

“As expected of Lady Valenstein. To show such kindness even to your rival.”

“Rival? What are you saying?”

A sharp rebuke cut him off, and the man hastily apologized.

“My mistake. You’re right. Who in the Empire could ever compare to Lady Valenstein?”

“Of course. Just as His Grace the Duke always says, there’s no one like her.”

Laughter rippled again.

…Rival.

Melissa’s trembling hands curled into fists.

A rival? That wasn’t true.

Ines was his true fiancée. She was only a temporary stand-in, bound by a contract.

A false wife.

So then, she…

‘I came here to apologize.’

Melissa lifted her head, her eyes trembling but determined.

The pair of pale blue eyes across from her met her gaze directly.

Melissa held that gaze and opened her mouth.

“About that, I actually—”

“Follow me. I’ll take you to the dressing room.”

Ah.

Melissa stared at Ines’s back as she turned away mid-sentence.

The woman was already several steps ahead, her movements graceful and unhurried.

Melissa blinked, then quickly nodded.

“Yes.”

When she rose, the tea clinging to her dress dripped down, darkening the ground beneath her.

People laughed again, but she didn’t stop walking.

Right.

She had come here only to apologize.

To explain everything, to clear any misunderstanding Ines might have.

That was all.

Her green eyes steadied on the figure walking ahead.

If Ines wished, she would leave Eisenhart right away and return to her village.

After all, she hadn’t brought much with her.

Even the clothes she wore on her first day were gone.

There was nothing left for her to take from the Eisenhart estate.

‘Ah.’

Melissa paused as a thought flashed in her mind.

There was something.

Her little treasure box.

The one she made after arriving at Eisenhart.

Filled with the pretty stones and beads that old Manhwito had given her, along with bits of star coral and other small treasures.

Remembering that box brought other memories with it.

Right. There was the box she found in the garden with Shilen. And also…

‘Everyone.’

Sweet little Shilen, kind Lady Natalianne, the majestic Madam who reminded her of a hero, gentle Linburton, and all the warm-hearted servants of the estate.

And

‘Lili.’

That low, gentle voice echoed faintly in her mind.

Deep, calm, and steady.

Melissa murmured under her breath.

“I haven’t even said goodbye yet.”

Her step faltered.

There was something she still needed to say.

Something she wanted to say.

Then a calm voice broke the silence.

“Is something wrong?”

She looked up. Ines was turned slightly toward her, watching.

“N-no.”

Melissa hurried forward again.

No, she could say goodbye later.

Right now, the one who must be hurting most was Ines, the woman who had lost her fiancé overnight.

She could write to everyone else later, after she had explained and apologized to Ines.

Once the truth came out, they would be sad but not heartbroken.

Maybe even angry for being deceived.

But she had accepted that risk from the moment she agreed to the contract.

Besides, Demius would be fine.

His fiancée, Lady Ines, was beautiful and elegant.

So she…

…Ow.

‘Huh?’

Melissa flinched slightly. Her foot throbbed as though pricked by needles.

But she kept walking until Ines stopped before a door and opened it herself.

“This way.”

Melissa bowed her head slightly and stepped inside.

Ines cast a quick glance down the corridor.

‘No one’s here.’

Of course. She had ordered the entire floor cleared beforehand.

Still, it was best to make sure.

Her lowered eyes glimmered coldly before she turned back toward the room.

The sound of the latch sliding into place echoed softly, and only then did Ines speak.

“Sit down.”

She walked to the sofa between the window and the center of the room.

For a dressing room, the space was far too large, and the furniture sat oddly far from the door and windows, almost as if to keep anyone from overhearing.

Melissa didn’t notice. Her mind was preoccupied with something else.

‘If I sit, the sofa will get wet.’

After a brief hesitation, she carefully gathered her skirts and brushed the water from her sleeves.

Then she swept her damp hair forward so the water would drip onto the fabric instead of the furniture.

When she finally looked up, Ines was already seated across from her, eyes fixed on her.

The woman before her no longer resembled the gentle beauty from the garden.

The soft smile was gone, leaving behind a cold face carved in ice.

“I have questions,” Ines said.

“Yes.”

Melissa braced herself.

She planned to say it all, that she didn’t need the dress, that she’d leave if Ines wished, that she only wanted to write one letter before going.

It was a simple request, and even if Ines refused, she would understand.

She’d explain that it was a contract marriage, that nothing had ever happened between her and Demius.

And then…

‘What else should I say?’

As she tried to gather her thoughts, Ines’s voice cut through her silence, cool and sharp.

“You.”

Melissa blinked as their eyes met.

“Do you love Lord Demius?”

“…What?”

Melissa stared, wide-eyed at the sudden question.

Ines repeated calmly,

“I asked if you love Demius, second son of House Eisenhart.”

“N-no.”

The words escaped like a stab to her chest.

It hurt. Deeply.

Yet Ines’s expression only grew colder.

After a long, assessing silence, she spoke again.

“How strange. I thought you married him for love.”

“No, it was a contract.”

“…!?”

Her sky-blue eyes widened.

Melissa rushed to explain.

“It’s not what you think. It happened because—”

“Wait.”

Ines lifted a hand, silencing her.

Her sharp gaze shifted toward the window.

She stared there for a long moment before lowering her voice.

“Fine. Let’s talk.”

Her tone was quick, almost whispering.

“Please answer in a quiet voice.”

“Yes.”

Melissa nodded, bewildered.

Ines’s eyes narrowed slightly before she regained her usual composure.

“How did you first meet him?”

“It was an accident.”

Melissa recalled that day vividly.

“My hometown is near the Kaintes Mountain Range in the south. I found him after he fell from a cliff.”

“So you saved the Second Prince of Eisenhart’s life. Did affection grow from there?”

“Yes, a kind friendship did.”

“…Friendship.”

Ines’s lips curved faintly.

“Very well. When was this?”

“About a year and two months ago.”

“And who suggested the contract marriage?”

“He did.”

Melissa quickly added before misunderstanding could form.

“He said he needed help finding his brother and couldn’t do it alone. That was all. There was no other reason.”

“He asked for help?”

That man, Demius?