HTNSA 6

Chapter 6

 

Supporting Eila when Rosia was present was wrong.

That’s what Jeratt thought, yet he couldn’t shake a faint unease.

Cedric felt the same. He tried to rationalize:

“It’s fine, brother. This is for both Rosia and Eila’s sake. Everyone needs to accept that Rosia has returned.”

“Right. You’re correct.”

Jeratt nodded with a troubled expression.

Walking in silence, the two soon arrived at the study. Jeratt knocked first.

“Come in.”

At the permission, they entered to find Callios rubbing his temples while reviewing documents.

Jeratt cautiously broke the silence.

“Is Mother alright?”

“She collapsed. Told me not to visit for a while—seems furious with me.”

Callios’s face darkened as he spoke.

“But it couldn’t be helped. As long as Eila remained, Rosia could never fully become a Blanche.”

“Eila was deeply involved in household affairs…”

“Many servants still followed her too. They complained she was strict, but…”

Eila’s long management of the family meant her influence wasn’t negligible.

A heavy silence fell over the three men.

Cedric was the first to speak.

“So… Eila’s really gone?”

Through the window, a carriage could be seen leisurely departing the estate.

Callios sighed and nodded.

“Yes. She bid farewell earlier and left with her dormitory application.”

Jeratt exhaled quietly—the image of Eila’s sorrowful expression lingering in his mind.

“She’ll understand our stance someday. Once Rosia solidifies her position, Eila may return.”

“Right. She won’t last long anyway. Where could a disgraced commoner go?”

Cedric grimaced.

“And once her fiancé Cadin hears the news? He’ll surely demand to break off their engagement.”

He’d always disliked Eila’s fiancé. Now he worried Eila might seek comfort from Cadin only to be hurt again.

Seeing his younger brother’s lingering attachment, Callios coldly interjected:

“Regardless, that’s Eila’s burden now. She’s no longer our blood.”

Both brothers flinched at their father’s words.

Sometimes, despite living together for over a decade, their father’s ruthlessness chilled them.

Even if not by blood, Eila had been family for years—had he already discarded all sentiment?

“So stop concerning yourselves with Eila. Focus on helping Rosia adapt.”

“…Understood.”
“Yes, Father.”

They bowed obediently and quietly exited.

 

Eila reached the academy in a single day.

Thanks to the Duke’s signed application, her dorm assignment proceeded swiftly.

Her eyes widened upon entering—the room exceeded all expectations in size and luxury.

‘Wow, it’s as nice as my old room! Typical of the elite Reiod Academy—only the best for nobility.’

The imperial academy catered primarily to royals and aristocrats, famous for its exorbitant tuition.

Accordingly, the dormitory rivaled a mansion in grandeur, with top-tier furnishings throughout.

The Blanche family had been wrong—Eila wouldn’t struggle outside the ducal household.

A grin split her face.

‘Compared to juggling acting gigs while living in a basement studio, this is paradise!’

She flopped onto the plush bed, sighing in bliss.

‘Graduating alone guarantees success. With my novel knowledge, earning money will be easy.’

Her goal was complete independence from House Blanche—the academy was her stepping stone.

Eila closed her eyes, organizing her priorities.

‘First order of business.’

She needed to break off her engagement with Cadin.

The reason was simple:

‘Soon, he’ll send me divorce papers—then pursue Rosia instead.’

So she resolved to strike first—publicly demanding the annulment before he could act.

‘Term starts in a week.’

As a swordsmanship major, Cadin should already be at the academy dormitory.

By original plot, he’d soon coincidentally meet Rosia during her transfer exams.

‘That’s when he’ll plan to discard me for her.’

Eila smirked at the thought.

‘In the novel, I only sought him out after hearing rumors of the annulment.’

 

The heroine grovels for love from men who never loved her.

Clueless, she’d desperately clung to Cadin—her last “remaining” connection.

His subsequent humiliation had shattered her.

With closed eyes, the original scenes replayed vividly:

 

“Eila, what brings you here?”

Jet-black hair like the night sky, smoldering crimson eyes like lava—

Even his swordsman’s physique remained impeccably toned.

Cadin was as breathtaking as ever.

Anyone seeing him would inevitably fall in love—just as Eila had.

“Cadin… are you planning to break our engagement? Now that I’m a commoner?”

“I still love you.”

Eila exhaled in relief.

Having lost everything, at least Cadin remained.

‘Yes… you’re all I have left.’

While even family rejected her, he’d stayed.

Then the unbelievable words came:

“But as a Marquis’s heir, I can’t marry a commoner. I’ve decided to engage Rosia instead. You were nobility once—you’ll understand.”

Eila’s ears rang as she stared blankly.

Her chest constricted, choking her voice.

What… did I just hear?

Cadin reached out, toying with the necklace he’d gifted her.

“Still wearing my present, I see.”

His beauty now seemed grotesque.

“Eila, how about becoming my mistress once I’m Marquis? Not a bad deal for a commoner.”

Their friends burst into mocking laughter.

“Pfft—look at her shocked face!”
“Did she really think he’d keep the engagement?”
“How shameless.”

Their jeers stabbed her heart. Enraged, Eila shoved Cadin away.

He merely smirked.

‘Better to have never said “I love you.”‘

Had he outright rejected her, she might have accepted it.

Instead, he shattered her completely.

 

Eila’s eyes snapped open, fists clenched.

‘Not this time.’

She’d humiliate Cadin first—publicly, brutally—before he could betray her.

The Tragic Heroine’s script?

She’d burn it to ashes.