Villainous Lady, The Obsession Begins

【Chapter 40】

‘It’s just that suddenly it looks better when a boring toy disappears right before your eyes.’

Or maybe he just wants to grab me and Lafesch with both hands. It might be sad from Esadien’s perspective, but I’m not a toy.

“Hopefully, he’ll be able to express himself honestly when the next relationship comes around. I also hope for the prince’s happiness.”

Listening to my words, which I now recited with no soul at all, the Crown Princess pressed his temples firmly for a moment. She had realized that my heart was also resolute.

“Yes…. Eddie is too late.”

The Crown Princess, sighing deeply, tightly grasped my hand.

“Minuelle, you’re my dear friend’s sister, and aside from this engagement issue, I truly care about you.”

No, this…

‘Are you going to ask for something….?’

“I’m ashamed, but I have no choice but to ask you this because Esadien’s my younger brother.”

‘As expected.’

The second “as expected.” Slowly blinking my eyes, I finally heard the main point.

“Please break up as gently as you can.”

It was more considerate than insisting like Esadien, but still, it was a selfish request.

However, I could understand.

Even though I didn’t have a younger sibling, if I had one whom I loved as much as my sisters, I might have put aside my pride and made such a request. 

Yet, understanding and giving a definite answer were different matters. My instincts might have sensed something, considering I couldn’t confidently respond.

“…..I’ll try my best.”

Just that alone made the Crown Princess grateful. In her demeanor, I found myself speaking without even realizing it.

“Your Highness, no, Sister Lumiere. This might be the last time I address you like this.”

“No, didn’t I say it? I care about you. Elga’s sibling is like my own.”

“Then, Sister.”

I wonder how good Esadien’s hearing is outside. Can he hear this conversation right now? I almost wish he could, so he could feel betrayed and let me go.

“I promised to keep it a secret, but I am no longer the Third Prince’s fiancée… And it seems like this is the way to help him.”

“A secret?”

“The Second Prince is sending assassins to the Third Prince.”

I’ll remove one reason for not letting me go, Esadien.

💧

‘Was he always this persistent?’

I asked the Crown Princess for a favor, and when I entered the Imperial Library, I couldn’t concentrate on the books at all, feeling bewildered.

Well, it was natural, considering I kept receiving piercing gazes as if someone was staring through the back of my head.

‘Why is he following me around like this?’

I expressed my reluctance to ride in the carriage with Esadien, but the Crown Princess coolly replied.

 

“Then just leave him here and go. If Eddie has the will, he’ll figure it out whether to walk or not.”

 

She must have asked me for a favor and indicated that she wouldn’t interfere further, which briefly lightened my heart.

How long had I been searching for the book? Suddenly feeling a gaze on me, I turned to find Esadien standing there.

‘Yikes!’

Startled, the books I had tucked under my arm slipped out and fell to the ground.

I hurriedly bent down to pick them up, but before I could, Esadien’s hand reached the books before mine did.

‘I’ll do it.’

There was a little sweat on Esadien’s forehead. And it seemed like his chest was rising and falling quite noticeably too…

‘Did you run here?’

Even though it took twenty minutes by carriage? Can a person run at that distance?

‘Is he really in his right mind?’

I was seriously suspicious, but I thought I didn’t need to worry about that. 

I should have stopped myself from thinking that way.

‘Such absurdity…’

As a result, I’m silently screaming inside.

Somehow, I had a feeling that if I sat in a regular seat, Esadien would just plonk himself opposite me like a mountain and continue to watch over me while standing like a guardian at my back.

And the people passing by seem completely oblivious! 

It’s not my fault, but for some reason, my face is turning red for no good reason.

‘I should just skim through this book and go back.’

It was at that moment of determination. As if he could read my mind, he approached and asked.

“What are you looking for?”

“…”

“It would be much better if we looked together.”

“Haa.”

I rose from my seat with a short sigh.

‘This book and that book. That’s it! I give up!’

“Minuelle.”

Ignoring the call, I loaded all the books onto the book cart. But just as I was about to head for the exit, Esadien urgently grabbed my arm and turned me around.

“Can’t you at least listen to my story?”

“What story…!”

For a split second, I almost let out a scream of frustration. Luckily, a faint thread of reason reminded me that this was a library along with the request of the Crown Princess.

 

“Break up as gently as you can.”

 

Softly, gently… I repeated these words in my mind, clenching my teeth tightly. I always thought of myself as a kind person, but I never realized how difficult it could be to maintain a “soft and gentle” demeanor.

“First….”

Prince, this is for the best.

Esadien’s startled response, meeting my stern gaze, seemed to confirm my words.

“First…. Are you suggesting we leave for now?”

I nodded. He understood my intention perfectly, so I figured I should at least listen to him for a moment.

Just for a minute or so. 

Thinking that way, my heart eased a bit. When I glanced discreetly, Esadien was following closely behind me with a brightened expression.

 

“Alright. Now, tell me.”

We arrived at the secluded corner of the library’s backyard, where few people ventured, and stood firmly with our arms crossed. But Esadien didn’t start speaking right away; instead, he seemed to be looking around nervously.

“What are you doing?”

“There’s nowhere to sit. You must be tired, Minuelle…”

“It’s fine. I’m okay. Just get to the point.”

“But…”

“Just get to the point!”

My tightly held composure finally cracked a bit. 

Sensing a faint whiff of blood, Esadien, trembling, hesitated before speaking.

“So, Minuelle… I have nothing to do with Celeste. Absolutely nothing. I never did anything remotely dishonorable.”

“…”

“Our interactions were solely at the Emperor’s behest.”

Esadien lowered his voice and bowed slightly to me. The cool scent emanating from him seemed to erase the smell of blood. His next words halted my reflexive step backward.

The Emperor instructed me to investigate the Viscount.”

I raised my head in surprise.

‘The Emperor… instructed you to investigate Viscount Celeste?’

With no straw to grasp, I furrowed my brows, but Esadien continued his explanation.

“Because of that, I shadowed Celeste and monitored her every move. There was much to investigate.”

“I see. I misunderstood.”

“Yeah. I… saw you and Celeste in an embrace, with her wearing nothing but her undergarments.”

“That…!”

Our eyes met, now filled with a fierce intensity. Seeing Esadien contort his expression in such a way for the first time, I involuntarily flinched and stepped back.

It seemed that Esadien, too, became aware of his demeanor, as he covered his eyes with his hand and let out a long sigh.

“Ugh… At that time, Minuelle. I… with Celeste…”

He opened and closed his mouth several times, unable to continue.

After a brief pause, I couldn’t stand it any longer.

“If you can’t bring yourself to say it, let’s leave it at that.”

“MInuelle!”

As I attempted to turn away, Esadien swiftly grabbed my arm. Peering down at me with a stern expression, his hand trembled slightly as it hovered over mine.

“Or you could just tell me.”

“Minuelle, I… I’m scared.”

My name echoed, wearing thin.

“What for?”

My question, tinged with impatience, elicited an unexpected response.

“Because you might see me as less than human.”

“What? Did you try to kill Lady Celeste?” 

I blurted out, shocked by the possibility.

To my surprise, his response was even more unexpected.

“…….”

“……?”

Wha- what’s… What’s wrong? Why avoid eye contact? Why not just say no?

I was so flustered that my own eyes trembled, a sensation I could feel as Esadien firmly grasped the hem of my garment, as if sensing my unease.

“I can’t go into details, but I discovered funds from the playwright were being redirected somewhere. I went to investigate and unintentionally witnessed that scene.”

Esadien said “unintentionally,” but it was undeniable that Lafesch’s intentions were not entirely innocent.

On the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, Lafesch oddly called me to her private chamber.

‘It’s quite mischievous of you.’

While I was huffing, Esadien continued his apology slowly.

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Then, Minuelle… Will you forgive me?”

I responded bluntly.

“No.”

Esadien’s eyes widened. His perfectly shaped lips trembled slightly, and after a moment, he managed to speak.

“Why?”

This situation seems to be unexpected—poor thing.

The scene witnessed in Lafeche’s waiting room was undoubtedly a fatal blow to me, akin to a last punch.

However, our breakup wasn’t solely due to that one incident.

“They say there’s a time for everything. Your Highness missed that ‘time’.”

There were clearly opportunities to set things right.

When I still loved Esadien.

When I demanded an explanation from him.

When Esadien should have denied his relationship with Lafeche Celeste, at least to me.

And when I asked him about my feelings for him, for the last time.

“Your Highness, there is no turning back for the relationship that has passed like time.”

Esadien denied his feelings for me three times and hid many things.

Before, my feelings for him were so strong that I didn’t realize, but now I do. I can’t spend my life with someone like that.

“So, please let me go.”

Esadien stared at me for a long time, a very long time. Like someone contemplating a stain on the wallpaper that they always casually overlooked.

I waited willingly. Hoping that Esadien would erase the image of the Mihael who loved him from his mind.

If I could finish it like this, I could wait indefinitely.

‘No, wait. My leg is starting to hurt.‘

I can wait indefinitely, but I wish he’d hurry up.

However, despite my wishes, Esadien remained standing like a statue, even as his leg began to ache and tingle.

‘Is this why you’re standing there like a statue?!’

I was on the verge of losing my patience. Finally, Esadien slowly reached into his pocket. What he pulled out was a break-up letter, or more precisely, an engagement annulment letter.

💧

Thank you for reading!