64. Scandalous Rumors

The next day, a newspaper known for its social gossip featured a sensational story.

[The Return of A: Is It Because of the Red Hair?

Whether it’s swordsmanship, lineage, or charisma, A has captivated many women with his exceptional looks and physique.

While many women were excited by A’s arrival, it turns out, unfortunately, that he already has a lover.

However, there are rumors that A has found a new partner.

The person in question is none other than Miss C, who has become the flower of high society!

They are said to be completely in love, and an engagement is being positively considered.

And… according to rumors, the decisive reason A met his current lover is because she resembles C!

Could it be that A was longing for Miss C by having someone who looks like her?]

I folded the newspaper.

Suren, who had been reading over my shoulder, looked horrified.

At first, she had just glanced curiously, but by the time she read the last sentence, her face was flushed with anger. She threw down the rag she was holding.

“This is ridiculous!”

Suren stomped her feet.

“This third-rate newspaper should be burned! A? C? Who do they think they are, acting like they’re B-list? They should be dragged out and hanged! Don’t read this trash. I’ll burn it. It’s not good for your mental health.”

Suren snatched the newspaper and tossed it into the fireplace. She carefully used it as kindling, ensuring it burned completely. The thin paper was quickly consumed by the flames.

“Well… A might not be Deon. And Isella might not be C.”

“Do you really think that?”

“No.”

I had a headache.

It was like a third-rate novel. I knew this newspaper thrived on sensational social news.

But the fact that such provocative stories sold like hotcakes. Everyone pretended to dislike them, but secretly had their servants collect them. And any noble featured in these stories would notice a change in the way they were viewed at the next ball.

“This is a headache. Isella’s luggage arrived just a few days ago, and she’s already caught up in gossip.”

“You are above the rumors, my lady. The prince brought you here. You have to take that into account.”

This damned high society. How can rumors spread faster than social media?

I was exhausted.

Feeling worn out, I collapsed onto the bed.

“Where did this information leak from? I already made sure the staff kept their mouths shut. We even had a special meeting at night to educate them.”

“Well… since the luggage was brought into the prince’s residence, someone must have seen it and reported it.”

It was clear they had no intention of hiding it.

They didn’t bother sneaking in through the back door or transporting the luggage at dawn.

It was as if they wanted to flaunt the union of these two people.

The moving happened in two waves, both early in the morning.

Even the wrapping and the clothes of the coachmen were emblazoned with the Snowa crest, embroidered with their colors and symbols.

The prince’s residence, not far from the palace, was certainly noticeable. It might not even be a deliberate leak that landed it in the newspaper.

And there was one fact not mentioned in the newspaper.

I still hadn’t left this house.

It was a bizarre cohabitation.

The prince’s mistress and his future fiancée living under one roof. It was perfect fodder for society gossip.

If there were to be follow-up articles…

I looked around the room.

The room was lavishly luxurious. A large window along one wall offered a fantastic view. In the fall, you could see the leaves turning colors and falling, in the winter, the snowfall.

This space was made by taking over the mansion owner’s room. Everything brought in was new and even the smallest hairpins were high-quality items.

It was beautiful and fitting as the room of a lavish mistress.

I looked up at the ceiling. Snowa’s bedroom was directly above mine.

The maids were still organizing her belongings. There were a lot of things for someone who was supposed to stay for a short time.

The ceiling thudded. The candles hanging above wobbled unstably.

The walls of the prince’s residence were thick, but footsteps could still be heard. No one dared stomp around here except those eavesdropping on noble conversations.

The maids cleaned on tiptoes, but everyday noises still seeped through. Soon, I might hear her lying in bed, moving around, and opening doors.

Perhaps even the sounds of someone else entering her room.

“Is this vase also part of Isella’s belongings?”

I noticed an unfamiliar vase on the table.

“No, this is something you ordered, my lady.”

Suren picked up the vase and removed the wrapping paper.

I thought of the vase I had broken, the one belonging to Isella. This vase was much more ornate.

“There’s no proper place to put it. Shall I place it in the hallway?”

I shook my head.

“No. Let’s put it away.”

The true owner would be here soon.

Displaying my belongings wasn’t polite to her.

* * *

The mansion was quiet for several days. The silence was unsettling.

Isella arrived early in the morning by carriage. There was no welcoming party, which was common for guests.

It felt awkward.

Skipping the proper reception for her seemed like it was my fault.

After hearing that Isella had arrived, I stayed locked in my room. I only stepped out at night when everyone else was asleep.

I could bear the suffocating atmosphere, but the birds needed to be fed.

I cautiously stepped out and walked down the hallway.

But I had to stop after a few steps.

In the distance, I saw an unfamiliar dress. A flowing, blue-tinged dress swayed gently.

Isella was walking with the head butler down the hallway. She seemed to be receiving a tour, pointing at paintings on the walls and the ceiling’s murals.

As soon as I saw her, I instinctively took a step back and slipped into the opposite hallway.

I was startled to run into her suddenly, but it felt like a natural, fluid movement.

Or so I thought. But a few steps later, her voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Lady Leonie.”

Isella called out to me and dismissed the servants standing beside her.

She walked toward me slowly.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you since arriving at the mansion, isn’t it? You’re hard to find.”

“…The prince’s mansion is quite large.”

“My sister told me you love the greenhouse, so I’ve been waiting around there. But you’re never there.”

She had been persistently tracking me.

When she checked the greenhouse, I would flee. I would either tend to the birds at dawn or secretly ask a servant to do it for me.

I thought I was discreet, but that was just my illusion.

“Why were you looking for me?”

Even as I started speaking, I dreaded her response.

Please tell me to stay out of sight. Tell me to stay in my room.

If she said that, I couldn’t argue.

“Lady Leonie, there’s no need to feel uncomfortable around me.”

Breaking the brief silence, she began to speak. Her voice was kind, yet her words were unsettling.

Her bold voice echoed clearly through the wide hallway.

“I don’t know how much the prince has told you, but… I won’t harm you. You can feel at ease within the mansion.”

“What?”

“I’m saying there’s no need to avoid me. The master of this castle is the prince, and we are all equal guests here. It seems like you’re uncomfortable around me.”

Her violet eyes looked directly at me. I was at a loss for words.

Even without looking in a mirror, I knew my face must be beet red. My cheeks felt hot.

“…Have I ever avoided you, Lady Isella? I’ve been living my life as usual.”

I pretended not to know. It was my last shred of pride.

She stared at me for a moment before quietly stepping back.

“…It seems I was mistaken.”

I felt deflated.

I had expected a bit more confrontation, but she retreated without a fuss.

The matter ended without much commotion, but I felt uneasy.

Was this the virtue bestowed upon a mistress? Ultimately, she would become the mistress of the prince’s mansion.

“Next time, let’s have a meal together.”

Isella briefly greeted me and turned around. The sound of her shoes echoed through the quiet hallway.

I watched her retreating figure.

Was I the one making her uncomfortable? I reflected on the past days.

What I felt towards her wasn’t discomfort but… displeasure.

I turned around and walked down the hallway. The long corridor felt as precarious as walking on glass.

* * *

I entered Deon’s office while he was away seeking permission from the palace.

The office was empty.

I needed confirmation.

I wasn’t sure about my relationship with Deon, but I wanted to clearly understand his relationship with Isella.

I opened the drawer.

I didn’t need to search hard. What I was looking for was right on top.

In the top drawer, a single letter was prominently placed.

It was the only selected marriage proposal sent to the mansion by Viter.

The only remaining letter in the prince’s mansion.

The Snowa family.

She was still by Deon’s side.

The sealed letter had not yet been opened by Deon.

The seal was stamped on the folding part, so it would be obvious if opened. I couldn’t open it carelessly.

I pressed the letter onto the desk, making sure it was perfectly aligned. The thin paper allowed some of the words to show through when pressed hard.

Although faint, I could read the bold parts of the text.

With my finger, I pressed down on the letter and read scattered words.

Engagement, red hair, protection.

There weren’t many words I could read clearly, but the context was enough.

And at the end of the letter, there was a bold, concise sentence.

“We need a strong shield.”