PESS Ch 5

Chapter 5

As I walked through the imperial palace, I tried to sort out the situation in my head.

There’s only one reason Damon is acting this way.

The existence of Princess Sasha, who had miraculously returned not long ago. A powerful contender had appeared in a race Damon had been running alone, without a single competitor.

He must have realized he needed the name of the Duke of Bellua.

The problem was that maintaining my relationship with Damon any longer was unnecessary. No, calling it unnecessary didn’t quite cover it. The longer I stayed with him, the more I stood to lose.

The evidence is right here.

On the front page of Trouble Love, which had been published every day for the past three days, the same three people had appeared as though we had made some sort of agreement.

Me, that guy, and this guy.

I trusted that I didn’t need to explain who was who. Just look at today’s headline.

WilltheLegendaryCoupleReunite?Will the Legendary Couple Reunite?

If I let things continue like this, by next week there might be an article claiming that the two of them were going to duel over me.

That was how gossip worked, wasn’t it? Take something this small, blow it up to this size, and then shrug and say, “Well, what if it isn’t true?”

Before that happens, I need to end things with this guy.

Noah seemed to think that the problem was that I had inherited the ducal title while still maintaining my romantic relationship with Damon. But I saw things a little differently.

My father had started embezzling Damon’s private funds five years ago. Whether I broke up with Damon now or not, I was already entangled in the whole affair.

Even if I ended things with Damon at this point, the moment the embezzlement came to light, people would undoubtedly start claiming that I had deliberately approached him with a plan in mind.

Well, in a way, they wouldn’t be entirely wrong.

That left me with only one reason to end my relationship with Damon.

I have to put an end to this before this ridiculous love triangle gets officially cemented into high society gossip.

Before some lady came up to me with a giggle and asked, “Your Grace, is it true that you have a flower in each hand?”

With that single thought driving me forward, I entered the imperial palace.

And before long, I regretted it.

I should never have gotten out of bed.

I should have listened to Noah with one ear and let his words go straight out the other.

I should never have opened the invitation sent by that damned Damon.

Then none of this would have happened!

How could I run into him at this exact moment, as though he had been waiting for me?!

I hadn’t even had time to prepare myself mentally. The moment I turned the corner, I came face-to-face with that guy, who looked as though he had just come from somewhere in a hurry.

Perhaps he had ridden here on horseback, because Richard stood at the opposite end of the corridor, his hair lightly tousled by the wind.

The imperial palace had been a meeting place for men and women of all kinds for ages, but this was taking things too far.

Why?

Because this was the central hall. In other words, it was crawling with nobles who were so bored that they spent their days hunting for gossip.

And to them, that guy and I were undoubtedly two delicious pieces of meat.

Ah, yes. I could feel it.

The sharp gazes glinting from every direction. The soft frrt of fans opening. The rumors spreading through exchanged glances and subtle nods.

Everyone was fascinated, yet no one dared to speak up first. Watching from within the crowd was one thing, but taking the initiative was another.

Thank goodness. If things continued like this, perhaps we could quietly—

“Is this what they mean when they say that enemies are bound to meet on a narrow bridge?”

At that moment, a familiar voice broke the silence and echoed through the corridor.

I immediately turned toward the sound to see who had spoken.

Lady Kindel.

A woman who genuinely loved Damon and wanted to become the Crown Princess. Naturally, she despised me with a passion.

I hadn’t expected to find her here.

Even when I met her gaze, Natalie didn’t avert her eyes. Instead, she raised her chin. Judging by the twist of her lips, she was thoroughly enjoying the situation.

I’m glad you’re having fun, Natalie, but could you at least get your facts straight before you start talking?

We weren’t enemies. We were ex-lovers.

Encouraged by Natalie’s opening remark, a few ladies began whispering among themselves.

“Oh, my! It looks as though sparks are about to fly between those two again. Anyone care to make a bet?”

Will you people stop betting on other people’s love lives already? Is high society a gambling den or something? Why is everyone so desperate to put money on everything?

“I’m betting on the princess. It’s so romantic! A knight who saved a princess from monsters! It’s just like a fairy tale!”

Who said that?

Bring me that fairy tale, Lady Milton. I’ll tear it to pieces myself.

When Lady Milton caught my eye, she gave an awkward smile and hid her face behind her fan. Yet she made no move to leave. Apparently, everyone found this situation absolutely fascinating. Their eyes practically screamed that they were dying of excitement and anticipation.

What is wrong with all of you?

Surely you weren’t expecting me to put on some melodramatic romance with Richard right here in the corridor, were you?

We just happened to run into each other while walking down the hall!

Grinding my teeth inwardly, I looked at the man who had stopped across from me, just as I had.

I couldn’t help it. There was nowhere else to look.

And when I finally got a proper look at Richard, my first thought was surprisingly simple.

Looks like he had some new clothes made in the past few days.

Ah. This man no longer resembled the person I remembered.

He no longer wore the worn-out shirts or the distinctive leather clothing of the North that he had worn ten years ago. Instead, he was dressed in what was clearly a custom-made shirt and cravat, along with a jacket that fell neatly along the line of his shoulders.

Wearing clothes that looked as though they had been taken straight from the latest imperial fashion, Richard gave off a strangely austere air.

His body was well-proportioned, and his fine clothes fit him perfectly. Everything about him felt unfamiliar, and before I knew it, I had taken a small step backward.

Richard, who had been quietly watching me, narrowed his red eyes. A sharp edge suddenly entered his gaze.

W-What did I do?!

I had no idea why, but I found myself watching his expression nervously. I cautiously stepped forward again, closing the distance I had just put between us.

Richard’s expression immediately settled back into indifference, as though nothing had happened.

Before I could even begin to figure out what was going on, the noblewomen started whispering again.

“Either way, that commoner knight certainly made something of himself.”

“Oh, my! A commoner? Madam, how long ago was that? He’s Count Winston now. Just look at the vast northern territory he owns! I heard he’s still unmarried, too. I’m already curious about who will manage to win that man over!”

They were right. Richard had built everything with his own hands.

His title, his territory, even the name Winston.

All I had to my name was Bellua, and for a moment, I felt terribly ashamed. Especially since I had acquired even that by accident, thanks to my father’s death.

I wanted to turn around and run away right then and there. I wanted to bury my face in a mouse hole and pretend none of this was happening.

The realization that, after treating him so cruelly, this was all I had managed to obtain made my face burn with shame.

“Count Winston. It’s been a long time.”

But this was no time to let my emotions get the better of me.

I took a step toward him and spoke first. I could feel the fascinated gazes surrounding us from every direction. If I wanted to keep them from getting the wrong idea, I needed to make this nothing more than a casual greeting between former lovers who had happened to meet after a long time apart.

“Have you been well?”

As though we had parted on reasonably good terms and had since become a little distant, but nothing more.

Just play along, Richard. You don’t want to become a spectacle either, do you?

With that message conveyed through every desperate glance I could manage, I continued.

“I should have contacted you first. Perhaps we could have tea together sometime, if we get the chance? You helped me the other day, after all, and I’ve been feeling guilty that I haven’t properly thanked you yet.”

Say something. I know you hate me, so just play along enough to get us through this.

“Is that a promise you actually intend to keep, Duchess of Bellua?”

Not like that!

An icy silence suddenly swept through the corridor.

I had no idea when I had supposedly broken a promise, but this was definitely not going in the right direction.

“……Look around you.”

I moved closer to Richard and pressed firmly against his arm.

Contrary to my expectations, Richard bent down toward me.

When his face suddenly came so close that it filled my field of vision, I froze. Richard’s eyes narrowed.

“Why? Don’t you have something to say?”

“No, I… um…”

“Go ahead, Duchess of Bellua.”

His hair tickled my forehead.

He was close. Much too close.

My mind went completely blank, and when I failed to say anything, Richard narrowed his eyes even further.

He hesitated for a moment before parting his lips again.

“Bella?”

The moment he called me by my nickname in a voice that was even lower than I remembered, I felt my throat go completely dry.

“Those two… surely they aren’t about to kiss, are they?”

And it was Natalie’s voice that finally snapped me back to my senses.