“Milord!”
“Lord Noah!”
“Milord, what’s wrong?”
Servants rushed in. Noah, pushing their hands away, staggered forward.
“Milord! You shouldn’t be walking around like this!”
“The doctor said you need rest―!”
It’s so noisy.
I concentrated on walking with all my might. I almost fell several times and had to lean on the wall. But I couldn’t stop.
Where am I going?
I don’t know.
I don’t know, but…
“…”
I found myself in front of her room.
I killed the sound of my footsteps and opened the door. And then… I saw.
I saw her laughing like a blooming flower.
“Did something like that happen? You’ve had a hard time.”
And then I saw more. She stretched out her fair hand onto the man’s shoulder. Gently grasping it. His flesh…
So disgusting.
“It must’ve been tough bringing that thing. But thanks to you, Lethe.”
At that moment, her words stopped abruptly. Through the narrowly opened door, her eyes met mine, which fiercely burning.
“Noah? Why are you here…”
Dizzy. I don’t even know what I’m thinking.
“Filthy.”
But I didn’t regret saying that.
“Can’t you live without a man? You’re dirty, disgusting, and vulgar.”
After saying that, I was sure that those were my true feelings.
You shouldn’t be flirting with a man now. You should be somewhere else. How obsessed with men you must be to forget what’s most important to you?
“Don’t dirty my sister’s body.”
Yes. That’s my sister’s body. You shouldn’t be there. Better yet, better…
“Just die.”
Then her eyes shook violently. As if it hurt. As if in pain. Only then did I smile.
Ah, look at that. How she’s in pain over just my words, that foolish face.
Thud!
“Lord Noah!”
“Milord!”
I collapsed right there. Closing my eyes weakly, thick tears fell.
It’s because of the fever.
Because my fever is too severe. I’ve been suffering from nightmares…
* * *
Dana’s POV
“Are you alright?”
It was after Noah was carried away by the servants.
“Milady, are you okay?”
My secretary asked again.
Am I okay?
I placed my hand on my chest and nodded silently. “Yeah.”
I was alright. But for a moment, it hurt. The sharp pain in my heart from being told to die. Fortunately, it quickly disappeared. I probably won’t ever hurt because of Noah again.
“Now I’m fine.” I smiled with relief. “Lethe, deliver the scripture to His Majesty.”
Even if it’s fake, it’s fine. To hell with Windsor. It’s none of my business if they got annihilated or not.
The next day, a letter from the emperor arrived. It stated he would further investigate the original scripture and had left the imperial palace again.
So even His Majesty thinks it looks real.
He must be starting a formal investigation with other theologians.
* * *
“Smile a bit.”
And finally, the Night of the Sponsorship― the banquet hosted by me arrived.
Inside the carriage, Raios said discontentedly, “Are you going to keep that deadpan face even at the banquet?”
“We’re not at the banquet yet, are we?”
So I retorted bluntly. “I’ll play my part at the banquet. So don’t mind what expression I have here.”
The deal with the emperor made me realize this again. Raios Geranze, this man, truly ruined my life.
What a bad guy. If he was going to change his feelings so easily, he shouldn’t have held onto me. Such a transient love of only three years! I was foolish to be swayed by him too.
After acting like he’d love me forever, he changed, betrayed me, and didn’t even apologize.
An unworthy son of a b*tch.
I loathed him.
I wish he could just die.
So much to the point I thought like that.
* * *
“Your Highness Raios Geranze and Lady Danae Windsor are entering!”
I entered the banquet hall with Raios and faced the expected reactions.
“This time, it’s not Lady Allice?”
“Didn’t they say the relationship between the two soured?”
“She must have chosen him as her partner because she’s hosting tonight’s banquet.”
Already tired, I sighed softly as I sat in the designated place. Then Raios muttered beside me, “You’re not smiling here either.”
“I am smiling.”
“Smile more. To me, you look miserable.”
“That’s because you’re looking at me closely.”
“So make it look like you’re smiling to me too.”
“…”
“Smile.”
Really annoying. What nonsensical request is he making? I glared at him.
Is he picking a fight? But surprisingly, Raios looked serious.
“How should I smile?”
“What?”
“Don’t you know how painful it is for me to be with you, Your Highness?”
Then Raios frowned and glared at me.
What do you want me to do? Did he think I’d be happy?
Seeing my reaction, Raios clicked his tongue. “You don’t know how to receive kindness.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you think I was considerate of you today?”
What is he talking about?
Ah. Perhaps. He brought me as a partner to save my face? After all, if he insisted, regardless of the host, he could have chosen Allice as his partner.
I almost burst into laughter at the absurdity. That would have been like that if there weren’t many watching eyes.
Unbelievable. But I could somewhat understand Raios’s train of thought.
Why didn’t he do that?
“However, the two of them really match well.”
“After all, the one who suits His Highness is Lady Danae.”
“She even recently found and purified another dormant rotten land!”
It was because such talk was already circulating.
In fact, Allice was drinking champagne in a corner of the banquet hall with a gloomy face, along with Sandra.
So, he saved me from becoming like that, from almost being so? It sounded like he had bestowed me a favor, so I should be grateful, right?
“Your needless consideration is really something.” I stared straight into Raios’s black eyes. “I don’t need Your Highness’s favor.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Keep that in mind,” Raios responded emotionlessly. He didn’t seem greatly bothered by my answer. He just indifferently sipped his whiskey.
But I soon realized that was a mistake.
Raios gestured to someone.
What is he doing?
The nobles’ eyes followed Raios’s gesture, and everyone turned their heads in that direction. There…
“M-Me?”
Allice was blinking with a confused look on her face.
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wow I don’t even know what to say
Pls shut the f up what you’re about to say raios