JustPeachyNovels

I was dumbfounded by the sudden confession of love.

I even forgot to point out the nonsense he was spouting. I stared at Duval, at a loss for words.

Duval arrogantly lifted his chin.

“Are you satisfied now?”

“You’re insane.”

The words weren’t mine. They came from Raynous.

Duval’s expression hardened at the unexpected interference.

“What?”

“I said, you’re insane.”

Raynous’s face was also cold as he spoke.

It was nice that he was getting angry on my behalf, but it looked like a fight was about to break out. I grabbed Raynous’s wrist, signaling that I would handle it.

But Duval’s harsh words stopped me in my tracks.

“I don’t know where you crawled out from.”

Duval glared at Raynous from head to toe. Despite his menacing expression, he wasn’t threatening, being half a head shorter and less built.

“It would be wise to leave while I’m still being nice.”

“Are you picking a fight?”

An icy chill emanated from Raynous. Even Duval, who seemed ready to grab him by the collar, took a step back.

“Not a bad idea.”

Raynous, with one corner of his mouth lifted, ran a rough hand through his hair. It was a gesture he rarely made, one reserved for moments of true anger.

Just like when the heroine was kidnapped in the original story. He completely lost it and killed the kidnappers brutally.

Judging by his eyes, he seemed to be in a similar state now.

‘Why is he like this?’

Is he so into this act of having an affair?

I didn’t know what was going on, but I felt I had to stop it before it escalated.

“Wait a minute, I- no, Ray.”

I was trying to get between the two of them to create some distance when a soprano voice rang out in the waiting room.

“Siella!”

The sharp, icy atmosphere shattered instantly.

I turned toward the voice. Tirielle,  who had just come out of the fitting room was standing there with wide eyes.

As expected of the novel’s heroine, Tirielle looked stunning today.

Her sparkling blonde hair, green eyes reminiscent of lush greenery, white skin, and delicate frame. She moved with an elegance that would make anyone turn their head.

And her outfit—

‘A wedding dress?’

No, I had seen wrong.

Tirielle was wearing a pure white dress that looked like a wedding dress.

The hem was dragging on the floor, so it wasn’t for everyday wear. Maybe she came to get a dress for a banquet.

“What are you doing here…”

Muttering to herself, Tirielle’s expression gradually crumbled, as if she were struggling to hold back tears.

Then, lifting the hem of her voluminous dress, she hurriedly ran toward me.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Me?”

“Yes. You said you were very sick.”

Ah. She must be talking about how May turned her away, saying I was sick whenever she came to visit me recently.

You fool, did you actually believe that?

I replied curtly.

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“Thank goodness. I was worried.”

Tirielle’s face was still full of concern. She kept glancing at me, as if there was more she wanted to say.

Judging by her usual behavior, I could guess what she wanted to say, but I pretended not to know.

“Do you have something to say?”

At my blunt tone, Tirielle’s shoulders slumped, as if she might cry if nudged. She bit her lip, then whispered so softly I had to strain to hear her.

“Siella… We’re still friends, right?”

“Sure.”

“….! That’s a relief!”

Tirielle’s face brightened with a wide smile at my immediate answer.

She must have been worried since I had been ignoring her everywhere recently. If she was so concerned, she shouldn’t have had an affair in the first place.

With her tension completely gone, Tirielle grabbed Duval’s arm. She then shook it energetically, showing off her dress.

“Essite, what do you think of this?”

After letting go of Duval’s arm, Tirielle twirled around in place.

Duval, who had been stiff as a board, moved his lips soundlessly. Urged by her repeated calls of ‘Essite,’ he finally managed to speak.

“It looks good. It’s beautiful.”

“What do you think, Siella?”

“It’s pretty.”

“Right? Hehe. I’m going to wear it at the engagement ceremony.”

Oh… So, she’s asking me that?

What on earth is she thinking? Is her head full of flowers?

I felt an urge to peek inside Tirielle’s mind. Raynous sighed as if he felt the same.

Duval glared fiercely at Raynous, apparently not liking his girlfriend being criticized.

Tirielle, too, was looking at Raynous with wide eyes. She seemed to realize only then that Raynous was there.

Blushing like a girl in love for the first time, Tirielle shyly spoke.

“Who…?”

Oh, I thought they knew each other.

I assumed they did, since she always blushed when she saw him. Was it just because he was handsome?

I looked up at Raynous. His indifferent expression as he looked at Tirielle indicated he didn’t recognize her either.

Well, high-ranking engagements were often political. It wasn’t unusual for couples to see each other for the first time at their engagement ceremony.

Without mutual affection, ending the political relationship should be simple.

Just as I thought this affair might end quickly, Raynous suddenly wrapped his arm around my waist.

My head touched his firm chest, and his fresh citrus scent lingered at my nose.

With his other hand wrapping around my upper body, I was instantly pulled into his embrace.

Duval’s face hardened.

Raynous, with a provocative tone, smirked and declared.

“Me? I’m the lady’s lover.”

“…!”

Tirielle’s eyes widened in shock. Duval, on the other hand, gritted his teeth, furious to the core.

Why is he like this?

“Can we talk for a moment?”

Duval reached out as if to pull me out of Raynous’s arms.

But with just a slight turn of his body, Raynous thwarted his attempt effortlessly.

Holding me tighter, Raynous scoffed.

“Where did you learn such rudeness as to reach for someone else’s lover?”

“That’s my line. Where did you learn to flirt with someone else’s fiancée?”

“Hey, I’m the one who flirted.”

I raised my hand slightly as I spoke.

For a brief moment, I clearly saw Duval’s aqua eyes shake like an earthquake.

Quickly regaining his composure, he called my name, implying I was lying.

“Siella, let’s talk for a moment.”

“Let’s talk here.”

“Just for a moment.”

Duval reached out again, asking to speak privately.

Raynous, still holding me, whispered.

“Are you going to go?”

“No.”

Why would I?

I furrowed my brows. Then, noticing Tirielle looking between us with a confused expression, I decided to explain the situation.

“He says he still loves me.”

“…!”

“And I was just telling him not to do this because he has you, Tirielle.”

Tirielle’s eyes widened in surprise. Duval, even more shocked, was beside himself.

Adding fuel to the fire, Raynous chimed in.

“I heard it too. He said no matter who he meets, he loves Lady Labyrinth the most.”

“E-Essite…”

“That’s a lie, my lady!”

“Why would I lie? We’re friends.”

With a gentle smile, I spoke, making Tirielle even more confused.

Seizing the moment, I turned to Madame, who was standing in the corner like an ornament.

“Did you hear that? He said he loves me.”

“Well, that…”

Madame’s eyes trembled, caught in an awkward situation.

If she sided with me, she’d incur Duval’s wrath. If she sided with him, she’d incur mine.

The Marquis of Labyrinth had greater influence, but the Count of Essite had more wealth. Both were valuable customers she couldn’t afford to lose.

I didn’t wait for Madame’s answer and turned to Duval, who was scowling.

“Why don’t you relax your face? She can’t speak because of you. Got something to hide?”

“Is that true, Essite?”

“Of course not.”

Duval hurriedly denied it, but once a seed of doubt is sown, it’s hard to uproot. Tirielle didn’t seem to believe him.

“You said you only loved me. You said you didn’t love Siella anymore!”

“Let’s talk outside.”

“No, let’s talk here! Did you really say that?”

“I said I didn’t. Siella must have misunderstood.”

“My hearing is just fine.”

Duval glared at me, telling me to shut up, but soon found himself busy calming his crying fiancée.

“Let’s talk outside.”

“No. I don’t want to!”

Seeming to realize it was futile, Duval paid for the dress Tirielle was wearing. Then, almost dragging the tearful Tirielle, he began to leave.

Before leaving, he mouthed angrily at me.

‘See you later.’

‘No, thanks.’

Furious, Duval bit his lip and tried to say something again, but Tirielle’s sobs grew louder.

‘See you tomorrow. I’ll come to your house.’

With a final scowl, he left the waiting room.

The sound of Tirielle’s sobs and Duval’s soothing words faded away.

It was a complete mess.

Episode 9 – Episode 11