Chapter 36
“Yes, she’s someone I wanted to get closer to,” Ella nodded, adding more to her response.
“It’s surprising that the wife of the Marquis of Mayer became friends with the Duchess. After all, she can’t stand seeing someone in need without offering help.”
Ella took a sip of water and blinked innocently.
“But why bring this up?”
“No reason. It just came to mind,” Kaiden replied casually.
“I see…” Ella smiled brightly, as if unbothered.
However, the hand gripping her knife turned pale, and the silver blade trembled faintly.
After parting ways with Kaiden, Ella returned to the Garcia Count’s residence.
“Miss, you’re back. Shall I prepare your bathwater immediately?”
“No, that’s fine. I just want to rest for a bit.”
“Understood. Oh, a letter from Baron Limoner is on your desk. Let me know if you need anything.”
After ending the brief conversation with the butler, Ella went straight to her room and tore the letter apart.
“Why send me a letter after deciding to cut ties?” her voice lashed out bitterly.
She was no longer the pitiable daughter of Baron Limoner. Now, she was a lady of the great Garcia Count family, destined to walk a path of flowers as a future duchess.
I should just order them to throw away any future letters.
As Ella fumed, tears began to fall, seemingly out of nowhere. The memory of her meal with Kaiden came to mind.
“Ugh.”
At first, she felt happy—She had enjoyed dining at a restaurant others envied, receiving admiring glances as she ate with Kaiden.
But Kaiden’s lack of attention and sudden mention of the friendship between the Marchioness and Diana crushed her happiness.
“…Why?”
When she was younger, she had accidentally seen the wife of the Marquis of Mayer and been captivated by her elegance.
Looking into her golden eyes, she had dreamed of having her as her family.
If she couldn’t become her family, she wanted to form a close bond with the wife of the Marquis of Mayer.
“How am I any less than Diana, who married a dying duke?”
Both of her parents were from noble families, and her reputation in high society was excellent. Furthermore, there was no one more beautiful than her in the entire empire. Her fiancé, Kaiden, was set to become the Duke of Vaisen after the current Duke passed away.
So why Diana? Why was Diana able to achieve what she could not?
The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth as she bit down hard on her lip.
It should’ve been me forming ties with the Marchioness, she thought bitterly, feeling as though Diana had stolen her rightful place.
Did Diana steal it from me?
Once that thought formed, it exploded into layers of stress and anxiety.
What if I lose Kaiden, my status as the Garcia Count’s daughter, and my position as a duchess…?
With trembling hands, Ella bit her nails.
The mere thought of losing what she had fought so hard to achieve suffocated her.
“…I won’t let that happen.”
Ella murmured coldly and called for a maid. She quickly prepared for an outing and headed to a certain place. This was the mansion of Amanda, Kaiden’s biological mother, who secretly entertained men behind Kaiden’s back.
Kaiden despised his mother for not maintaining her dignity and mingling with men, which was why Ella was the only one who knew about this place. The mansion was full of young, handsome male servants and was decorated with extravagant luxury items.
Amanda was sipping wine in the most lavish room while her favorite servant attended to her. She was just about to retreat to her chambers with them when the unexpected visitor arrived.
Clicking her tongue in irritation, Amanda noticed how some of the servants were staring at Ella with fascination.
They’re supposed to only look at me, she thought grimly, deciding to punish and dismiss them later. For now, she focused on the intruder.
“What’s with the furrowed brows? You’re going to get wrinkles. If you’re to stand beside my son, you should maintain your value,” Amanda scolded, her words reflecting her obsession with beauty as the ultimate virtue.
“Yes, Mother, I’ll be careful.” Ella responded in a subdued voice, glad to hear the compliment about her beauty, which had always been recognized even when she was insignificant.
She then quickly approached Amanda, clasped her hand, and looked up at her with pleading eyes.
“Mother, could you help me?”
Amanda, startled by the sudden touch, replied hesitantly, “Help you…? Why not just talk to Kaiden instead?”
“I can’t, Mother. You’re the only one who can help me. You don’t want Diana to become Kaiden’s wife, do you? Please?”
“Diana, Kaiden’s wife? What nonsense are you spouting?” Amanda scoffed, pulling her hand away.
“Get a grip. Kaiden has been busy lately, so stop worrying.”
“Mother, no. I wish it was just a baseless worry,” Ella muttered.
“My son isn’t foolish enough to be involved with someone as unremarkable as Diana.”
Amanda trusted her son, even though it was a bit odd for Ella to be acting like this.
“Mother…”
Amanda grew increasingly annoyed with Ella, who couldn’t seem to understand no matter how much she explained. Before the alcohol-induced excitement wore off completely, Amanda wanted to get rid of Ella and head to her bedroom. She hesitated for a moment, debating whether to reveal something she had kept quiet about.
“Go ahead to the bedroom first,” she said to the servants.
“Yes, ma’am.”
The servants filed out, leaving just the two of them. Amanda swirled her wine glass and began to speak.
“Ella, you don’t need to worry about Diana ending up with Kaiden. Diana can’t get pregnant. I made her take medicine disguised as birth control, but it actually made her infertile.”
“What…?” Ella’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Really?”
“Do you think I’d lie about something like that?”
Ella covered her face with her hands.
Diana was infertile…
If Kaiden knew this, he wouldn’t give Diana any more attention, would he?
Even if he couldn’t let her go, she’d only ever be a concubine at best.
And what would happen if Duke Harold found out the truth about Diana?
As these thoughts raced through her mind, Ella’s trembling lips curved into a sly smile. She felt like laughing out loud with relief and excitement.
“Mother, you should’ve told me about this earlier! Then I wouldn’t have wasted time worrying.”
“It’s not the kind of information you just go around sharing, is it?”
“Still, I feel a bit upset. I went out of my way to get this mansion for you without Kaiden knowing, after all.”
Amanda caught the subtle annoyance in Ella’s words and downed her wine in frustration.
“Alright, I’ve told you now, haven’t I? Let go of my hand and leave. You’re making my hand sweaty.”
“Understood, I’ll leave now. Sorry for interrupting your time. I’ll visit again, Mother.”
Ella gladly accepted the dismissal and left Amanda’s mansion. Her steps felt much lighter than when she arrived. Thinking about Diana no longer brought her frustration or sadness.
I’ll make sure Diana never dares to show up in front of me again.
Her golden eyes sparkled with excitement.
At noon, under a bright sun, I visited the Marquis of Mayer’s residence with Harold. This meeting was arranged to celebrate the successful collaboration between the Vaisen and Mayer families and to discuss future plans. The Marquis and his wife greeted us as we stepped out of the carriage.
“Thank you for inviting us to lunch,” Harold said.
“It’s my pleasure. I’m grateful you agreed to visit,”the Marquis replied, shaking Harold’s hand.
The Marquis then turned to me, his eyebrows raising slightly in surprise. His lips moved faintly, and I blinked.
Did he just say I look like someone…?
Who do I look like?
