IWSC CHAPTER 15 & 16, EPI 76

I asked the gondolier to row us to the center of the lake, far enough from the other boats so that no one could overhear our conversation. Without a word, the gondolier complied and rowed swiftly.
As the distance between us and the other boats grew, I finally turned to face Leia directly.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? To be having a conversation face to face with Lady Saturnos like this,” I said, my voice smooth.
“…What exactly are you trying to say to me?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Oh, she’s shaking. If she keeps this up, I’ll come off as too much of a villain.
Well, I suppose that’s what I am. I am the villainess in this story after all.
“Goodness, surely you aren’t pretending not to know?” I asked with a smile.
“What…?” Leia stammered.
“You went to see Ares the other day, didn’t you? I was curious about what business you had with him,” I continued, watching her carefully.
“Lady Uranos, that’s…”
“I do hope you didn’t make the same mistake and visit him at some ungodly hour again. You haven’t forgotten that you went to request him as your partner before the imperial banquet, have you?” I asked, my voice laced with mock sweetness.
“…”
“Well, Ares must have reminded you several times to familiarize yourself with proper etiquette, so I suppose there’s no need to harp on it any longer,” I added, pressing my point further.
“Lady Uranos, I don’t owe you an explanation about what I spoke to Ares about,” Leia retorted, now a little more composed.
Oh? She’s starting to talk back. This could be interesting.
Leia’s expression had become resolute, almost as if she was trying to reprimand me for daring to ask about matters I had no right to.
“Oh? Is that so?” I asked, stepping back slightly, my tone teasing.
Leia immediately seized the opportunity to launch into her defense.
“Ares and I are still friends, even if he’s seeing you. And it’s because of you that things between us have become strained. Why is it that you can’t seem to leave me and Ares alone?” she demanded, her voice rising.
I couldn’t help but laugh, genuinely amused by her indignation.
“Who’s the one causing trouble here? If anyone, it’s you who’s been clinging to my man!” I shot back, my voice sharp.
“Clinging? How can you say something like that? I’ve been friends with Ares long before you two even started dating!” she exclaimed.
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice as if sharing a secret with her.
“Are you sure you’re just friends? Or is it unrequited love you’re hiding?” I whispered, the words dripping with accusation.
“!” Leia’s face went pale at my words.
“I’m sure you’ll be the only one claiming that. Ask anyone you meet. Everyone knows that Lady Leia Saturnos is in love with Lord Ares Stanley,” I added, a smirk curling at the corner of my lips.
“That…!”
“So, what did you say to Ares when you visited him the other day? Probably some nonsense, right?”
“I don’t do shameless things like you, stealing Ares away from someone!”
Ah, finally, you’re showing your true colors, Leia Saturnos. Well then, it’s my turn now.
“Of course, you think that, don’t you? That I stole your man right out from under you,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Ugh…”
“I’ll ask you again, what exactly did you say to Ares? Did you accuse me of intentionally ignoring the assassination attempt on Princess Ariel?”
“!”
Leia’s face went ashen. Her complexion fluctuated from red to white in an instant, her mind clearly spinning.
I smiled to myself, watching her unravel.
“Did you really think I didn’t know what was going on in this high society? Don’t worry, Leia. You and your friends will pay for your loose tongues. But before that, tell me everything you said to Ares. Not a word left out!”
I wiped the smile off my face, letting my eyes turn cold and piercing. If I meant it, it would be impossible for anyone with a shred of courage to meet my gaze.
Leia opened her mouth and then shut it again, like a fish gasping for air. After a few moments of hesitation, she finally spoke.
“What… what happened with Ares?”
“Answer my question first,” I snapped.
“Did you two have a fight?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“Yes, because of your one careless remark. Ares cornered me like never before. So, do you feel better now? You’ve probably been thrilled to drive a wedge between us, haven’t you?”
My words came out like a rapid-fire assault. Leia’s expression was completely blank, as though she couldn’t process what was happening.
“Because of me… it broke, you’re saying?” she asked, her voice faltering.
“Yes. Ares and I broke up. Last night.”
“Ah…”
“I see, now we’re both in the same position. I’ve meddled in a friendship, and you’ve torn apart a romance. So, how does it feel to be the villain?”
Ah, Leia, did you really think you’d always play the sweet, innocent heroine? That’s just what was in your head. Now, there’s no running from the fact that you’ve become the villain. What are you going to say now?
Leia froze at my blunt accusations. Her hands fumbled for words, clearly struggling to respond.
The words were a blur as Leia stammered, desperately trying to explain herself. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
“I-I only asked Ares if… if he truly knew everything about you…!”
I kept my gaze fixed on her, silently demanding more. The weight of my stare pushed her to continue.
“Did you not notice any suspicious behavior from Lady Urano? Was there anyone strange she met…?”
Hah, a “strange person.” The first person that must’ve come to Ares’s mind would be the “writer,” of course.
“…And… did you really think about Ares? Or was there something else in your mind…?”
I could barely contain the anger that swelled up inside me. Leia’s words were like daggers aimed at Ares’s heart, each one piercing a wound that had festered within him for so long.
She had no idea just how deeply those words had cut. Ares had always been so uncertain, so full of doubt about my intentions. He was always worried that I was hiding something from him, even when I hadn’t. I could never reassure him enough. His mind, burdened with the truth of this world, led him to question everything.
And Leia was now ripping that wound wide open.
Ares… I’m sorry. I really am. I couldn’t give you the certainty you needed.
The pain I felt in my chest only intensified as I imagined how much my words must have hurt Ares. Tears stung my eyes, threatening to spill over.
Before I could stop myself, Leia suddenly raised her voice, furious.
“If you were truly innocent, Ares wouldn’t have questioned you like that! Everything is your fault! I…!”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. As tears flowed down my face, I raised my hand and slapped Leia across the face with all the force I could muster.
The sound of the slap echoed sharply, and Leia’s body jerked violently to the side. The gondola, thrown off-balance, began to rock uncontrollably. The boatman, frantically trying to regain control, was too late.
With a loud splash, Leia Saturnos fell into the icy waters below. Her screams rang out, muffled by the sound of the water crashing around her.
“Ahhh! Lady Saturnos has fallen into the water!”
“What should we do? She can’t swim!”
What?!
In an instant, I turned to see Leia flailing in the water, gasping for breath. The boatman was too preoccupied with the boat’s instability to help, and the other gondolas were too far away to reach us in time.
I had no choice.
Without hesitation, I threw my hat aside and dove into the cold lake.
The water engulfed me, chilling me to the bone, but I didn’t hesitate. I swam to where Leia was struggling and, using all my strength, pushed her up to the surface.
I gasped for air, my breath already growing shallow. But I was a skilled swimmer, so I knew I could manage.
Leia’s weight gradually lightened in my arms as she grasped onto something. I had to hold on, just a little longer…
But then, without warning, a sharp pain shot through my legs. The sudden, intense cold of the water caused my muscles to lock up, and my limbs became stiff, unresponsive.
My body, no longer under my control, began to sink.
I couldn’t breathe. I had to reach the surface… but everything was growing darker.
The panic and despair clawed at my chest. My vision blurred as I struggled to stay afloat, to help Leia, to save myself. The lake was cold, too cold, and everything around me faded into the abyss.
Ah… This is… mine…
…Father, Mother…
I’m sorry…
And Ares…
I’m sorry… I love you…
I hope everyone is happy…
Goodbye…
Chapter 16. There Is No Perfect Author (1)
Ares returned to the Duke of Stanly ‘s mansion in a state of near madness. Bianca’s cold voice still rang in his ears.
“Ares Stanly, it was a pleasure and happiness. I hope your journey back is safe.”
The thing he had always feared becoming reality had truly come to pass.
“She left me!”
His vision went dark, and his chest tightened so much that he could barely breathe. His whole body went limp, and as he stumbled, the butler of the duke’s house was startled and quickly grabbed him.
“Ares, young master!”
Ares instinctively swatted his hand away. Despite feeling like he was about to collapse, he refused any help and staggered to his room on his own.
As soon as he entered the pitch-black room, he collapsed onto the floor.
Where did it all go wrong? His mind kept trying to stop, but he forced himself to recall what had happened.
****
The beginning was the evening he returned from his trip with Bianca. The butler of the Duke’s house approached Ares, who was resting in his room, with an awkward expression.
“Young master, we have a guest.”
Ares frowned slightly. Unless it was something urgent, he had decided not to deal with business affairs until today.
“Is it from the business?”
“No, it is Lady Saturnus.”
Ares let out a small sigh.
“Hah, I understand. Show her to the drawing room.”
When the butler left, Ares shook his head.
Even Ares, who had learned a fair amount of social skills when it came to relationships, found it difficult to maintain the right distance with Leah Saturnus. If he said something even slightly harsh, she would look terribly hurt and awkwardly distant, but the moment he showed even the slightest kindness, she would instantly close the gap, as if they were the best of friends.
People like her were often motivated by some kind of gain, so Ares had no qualms about keeping a distant, somewhat cold relationship with her. However, Leah was different. She had an exceptionally delicate heart and was truly full of pure goodwill, making it hard to push her away harshly.
Ares knew well that Bianca was particularly concerned about Leah. That was why, when Leah committed a serious social faux pas that could not be overlooked, Ares had, unlike before, gotten angry with her.
When Leah covered her mouth with one hand, tears streaming down her large eyes as she looked at him sorrowfully, Ares felt a twinge of guilt. However, he also didn’t want Bianca to build an invisible wall between them, unable to fully open up to him because of Leah.
For a time, Leah distanced herself from Ares. There was noticeable peace in his relationship with Bianca. Both sets of parents recognized Bianca and Ares as each other’s prospective partners. Ares believed that, at this rate, he and Bianca would soon become formally engaged.
During the hunting competition, he had saved Leah’s life. It would have been the same even if it hadn’t been Leah. But it seemed Leah had interpreted it differently.
As the bullet grazed him, causing him to bleed, Leah wept bitterly, as though Ares were about to die at any moment, covering his wound. His response to her was a bit bewildering, but that was just how Leah was—when someone around her was in trouble or pain, she took it very seriously, as if it were her own.
He had thought they’d kept their distance, but here she was again, coming back to him. It wasn’t as late as last time, but as always, it was typical of Leah to show up unexpectedly without any notice.
Ares put on a formal smile and entered the drawing room.
“Leah. What brings you here at this hour?”
Leah’s expression brightened immediately. She hesitated, a little shy, before finally speaking up.
“Ah… well, I wanted to tell you something. Ares.”