From the day of the banquet, Angelina and Brody’s relationship was completely exposed.
There were still overwhelmingly many people who viewed their relationship unfavorably. However, since Angelina didn’t care about the negative reactions, it was all in vain.
Nevertheless, there were also quite a few people who marveled at their relationship and held favorable opinions about it.
Moreover, as the two became the center of attention, the café “Angela” also gained explosive interest.
It became a place that anyone dreaming of exciting romance or longing for it had to visit.
In addition, the dessert that Princess Angelina used to enjoy at the cafe, unbeknownst to it, became famous through word of mouth.
Along with that, it achieved tremendous success in business.
Another dessert that captured people’s hearts was a cake in the shape of a heart that stimulated the emotions of the young.
“Was this specially made for Her Highness, the princess?” The young ones gathered at the café ‘Angela’, ordering various kinds of desserts, and then cut a slice of cake with a fork and put it in their mouths.
“….Oh my. It’s so delicious. I can feel a poignant heart in it.” The sweet taste that melted as soon as it touched the tongue, filling the mouth, was enchanting.
The children emphasized the meaning of dessert at the same time as its taste.
“I’m envious. They make something like this exclusively for Her Highness, the princess, right?”
“I envy Brody even more. He met Her Highness, and she overflowed with elegance. Yet, he is the one who captured her heart.”
“I also… want to love someone like Her Highness.”
The children honestly expressed their feelings, and the younger ones in particular had fantasies and admiration towards Angelina and Brody.
As they admired and envied while eating desserts, the children were unaware of one fact—Angelina and Brody, the center of attention, were listening to all the children’s conversations from behind a wall.
Erin, who first became aware of this situation, went to inform Angelina and Brody.
However, as the two couldn’t easily comprehend the situation, Erin had to come herself to hear what people were saying right next to them.
Whenever Brody heard the excited conversations from the children beyond the wall, he struggled and wanted to leave.
It was when Erin thought that she had heard enough that she could have stood up.
The voices of the children, who had been taking a break while enjoying their dessert, became audible again.
“Did you hear that story by any chance?”
“What story?”
“They say that if you eat this cake, you’ll find your first love.”
From that moment on, Erin and the other two became focused on the other side of the wall.
“Princess Angelina’s first love is Brody, right? Since the two of them are together, it’s a somewhat convincing superstition, isn’t it?”
“I guess so.”
The children seemed to completely believe the rumor.
It was truly a craze that created rumors out of thin air.
Brody felt embarrassed and awkward.
But by his side, Angelina just smiled without any particular reaction. It meant she enjoyed those responses.
Recalling a conversation at the café “Angela,” Erin spoke to Aiden about the recent interesting developments.
“Yeah. They really looked good together.”
So it’s understandable how people who saw them in person would react.
Erin now fully understood the current craze.
Aiden’s lips slowly parted as he listened quietly to the conversation.
“They… looked alike.”
“Do you think so?”
Erin remembered the two of them standing side by side.
Their smiling faces seemed somewhat similar.
“That’s probably why they looked even better together.”
Erin nodded slightly as she spoke.
But Aiden was lost in thought, gazing intently at Erin.
“Aiden, what are you thinking while looking at me like that?”
Erin looked at Aiden as if finding him cute, tilting her head slightly.
“It’s been 10 years since we’ve been together.”
Aiden murmured with an expression that was hard to interpret.
“Has it?”
Erin nodded as she looked at Aiden.
Aiden reached out and gently touched Erin’s face.
He carefully stroked her eyes, then moved down slowly to her nose and lips.
“Perhaps we look alike too.”
Aiden murmured to himself.
“…”
Erin’s eyes softened with contentment.
So that was it.
The reason she couldn’t help but look at Aiden with such intensity.
There were many similarities between Erin and Aiden.
Erin had already felt that.
As they always looked at each other, it was only natural for them to influence each other.
And at that moment, she was struck by an indescribable emotion as she re-realized this fact.
“I can see myself in Aiden’s face.”
Aiden’s expression resembled Erin’s.
And when they looked at each other, the expressions they made seemed like looking into a mirror.
“Really?”
Expectation glimmered in Aiden’s eyes.
Erin smiled broadly and nodded.
“Well then, we are family, aren’t we?”
Aiden seemed pleased with Erin’s response, yet also seemed curious at the same time.
“Let’s paint a portrait to keep for ourselves instead of sending it to our parents later.”
So Erin suggested.
“I’m sure you would be amazed by how much we resemble each other, right?”
“Yeah, I’m curious.”
A smile played on Aiden’s lips.
Looking at him, Erin reached out and gently placed her palm on the back of Aiden’s hand, then returned it to her face.
When Aiden looked at her in puzzlement, Erin grinned, reaching out her hand towards Aiden’s face.
“Let’s stay like this until we fall asleep tonight.”
Finally, they both caressed each other’s faces for a while before drifting off to sleep.
It was midnight.
Erin felt a gentle touch, shaking her while she was asleep.
“…?”
As Erin opened her eyes, even though her vision was still blurry, she immediately recognized the situation upon seeing Mona.
Erin had told Mona in advance that if there were any issues with Zahard, even in the early hours of the morning, she should come into the bedroom and inform her.
Normally, entering the bedroom without permission was not allowed, but Erin had made it clear that she must be informed no matter what.
So, just by seeing Mona in front of her, it was clear that something had happened or was still unfolding.
After giving a brief nod to Mona, Erin glanced at Aiden sleeping beside her and carefully got out of bed.
I felt like I knew what was going on.
Not long ago, Erin had entrusted Gael and Helena with an anonymous letter, which was why she had a feeling about what was happening.
As soon as she left the bedroom, Mona spoke up.
“I think you should go to the boutique right away.”
Listening to Mona’s brief explanation, Erin quickly changed her clothes.
***
Erin, who had come straight to the boutique, entered through the back door and went down the stairs leading to the basement.
“Actually, I didn’t expect to use this place.”
Just in case, when she built the boutique, she made a basement. It had never been used before, but today it was finally being used.
In a corner of the basement, a swindler lay sprawled out, badly injured. Even though they had been treated, their face was beyond recognition.
“It’s horrible. How did it come to this?”
Erin asked Madame.
“Gael Zahard tried to kill the swindler to prevent any evidence. He lured the swindler and then the bodyguard tried to kill him. I think he wanted to silence him personally to cover his tracks.”
Madame calmly began to explain the situation.
As she heard this, Erin’s face darkened. It meant that both Helena and Gael were deeply involved in this situation.
“It seems like the swindler was also trying to escape, but before he could, the bodyguard was quicker,” Madame added.
It seemed that she was trying to handle the anxiety brought by an anonymous letter she had received not too long ago.
“We thought the con artist had died and left the place,” Madame spoke.
“But he didn’t die, did he?”
“No. Luckily, we managed to save his life when he was barely hanging on,” Madame’s words were not an exaggeration.
He was pulled through by a thread in an almost lifeless state.
“It’s still fortunate that he’s alive,” Erin mumbled to herself.
Then, she asked Madame in a casual manner, “How long will it take for him to come to his senses?”
“He’ll wake up soon. He’s been repeatedly drifting in and out of consciousness due to the intense pain,” Erin peered down at the con artist silently, and soon his eyelids started to flutter.
“Looks like he’s coming to his senses now,” Erin thought, surprised.
As soon as the con artist opened his eyes, he looked bewildered. Gradually, terror crept into his face.
Even though his face was hardly recognizable due to his injuries, his actions were enough to indicate his fear.
He tried to say something, but all that came out of his mouth was incoherent mumbling.
“Can you get me some water?” He tried to gulp down the lukewarm water but winced in pain as he felt the discomfort in his lips and throat.
After the pain subsided a little, he cautiously sipped the water.
Erin silently watched him swallowing the water.
“Do you recognize me?” The swindler looked at Erin with eyes that were so swollen it was hard to tell if he was squinting or trying to focus.
“…because you are Lady Erinz Lienstawer.” His pronunciation was muddled due to the swelling in his mouth.
TL/N: The name is pronounced that way cuz his injured.
Erin’s expression tightened involuntarily. ‘He recognizes me.’ Erin’s lips parted again.
“I am the one who saved your life. Do you understand that?”
“…,” the swindler nervously shifted his gaze, his eyes betraying his anxiety.
It was hard to tell without a close look. “And I didn’t save you out of goodwill, either.”
Erin firmly drew a line, warning him not to expect any favor from her.
“I went through all this trouble because there’s something I want to find out from you.”
Erin spoke to the swindler with a stern face.
“I need you to tell me everything that has happened so far, from the beginning to the end, without leaving anything out.”
Even though his pronunciation was muddled and he struggled with each word, he continued speaking slowly. When he stopped talking, Erin’s expression became grim.
“There is something that should be told before what you just mentioned. The person who instructed you to approach Helen.”
Erin had suspected this from the beginning. Seeing and hearing it directly from him confirmed her conviction.
This wasn’t a plan devised by the swindler alone from the beginning. Someone behind the scenes had been using him as a pawn.
However, she couldn’t guess who it was. Zahard had made enemies in many places and had accumulated a lot of resentment, but she couldn’t imagine anyone going as far as to try to bring her down using such methods.
He seemed reluctant to speak up easily. But then, at that moment…
“Sir, it’s you who told me to do this.”
“What?”
“The one who instructed me to do this is you, Sir.”
The swindler seemed to be unsure, but then rapidly uttered his words. Unlike his previous muddled pronunciation, his speech was accurate and couldn’t be misheard. Erin’s expression grew increasingly strange.
“The Duke, who?”
Erin’s voice trembled softly. Staring intently at the swindler, she found herself making an expression she didn’t realize she was making.
“Duke Lienster.”
He said while tightly closing his eyes. If Erin hadn’t misheard, it meant that Aiden was the one behind the instructions to approach Helen and his actions.
“Aiden?”
Erin blinked slowly.
“Why Aiden?”
Erin murmured absentmindedly. Although the swindler seemed to be saying something, his words didn’t register in her ears.
“Keep him from leaving this place for now.”
Erin said, looking at the swindler with an expressionless gaze. Then she turned and headed to the underground chamber.
