Hush Now, Saintess! - Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Translator: Yonnee
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‘Instead of fanning the flames of Roella’s infamy, it only created unearned sympathy.’
And that wasn’t all.
It had inadvertently damaged Demos’s reputation, and Roella had even declared she was giving him up.
The duke, increasingly infuriated by this unexpected outcome, threw a book and yelled.
“If you had properly made her yours, none of this would have happened!”
“I’m the victim here. Roella was clearly smitten with me.”
“And you’re saying this is the result of that?! Hah…”
The duke sighed heavily and slumped into his chair.
The heavy atmosphere made Demos cautiously observe his father.
‘Why did Roella suddenly act out like that?’
Truth be told, Demos was just as infuriated.
It took him nearly two years to tame Roella.
Yet now, in a single instant, she had turned him into a laughingstock.
‘Such insolence for a mere act of defiance.’
In fact, Demos still didn’t believe she had truly given up on him.
He was convinced it was nothing more than a small act of rebellion.
Was it even possible for the devotion she had shown him so far to disappear so easily?
Demos was absolutely certain that it wouldn’t.
Regaining a bit of composure, he said with a sly smile.
“Don’t be too agitated, Father. It’s clear that she’s just playing hard to get. She’ll come crawling back soon enough.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“I’m certain, this time. I’ll take extra care to tame her, so don’t worry.”
The duke’s expression was troubled by Demos’s confident demeanor.
Should he really trust him?
But at the moment, he had no other choice.
They couldn’t afford to lose Roella.
“Fine. I’ll trust you one more time. Do not disappoint me again.”
“Of course. You won’t be disappointed.”
Demos nodded, his eyes gleaming with resolve.
He was truly confident.
* * *
“Good grief, does he have nothing better to do? How many letters is this now?”
Since that day, I had already received five letters from Demos.
The gist of the letters was…
‘I know you’re just pushing me away because you’re shocked. Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused me? If you come forward now to manage public opinion and cling to me, I’ll consider ending things with Helena and take our relationship more seriously.’
Something like that.
Clearly, Demos considered my recent actions as a coy, feeble attempt at playing hard to get.
Was it that he couldn’t accept that ‘Roella’ had given up on him, or he simply didn’t believe it?
To be honest, I couldn’t help but find him ludicrous.
Did he think he was the most handsome man of the era and the world’s most charming character?
‘Even so, Hildeon’s face is the best.’
I caught myself thinking of Hildeon’s face and hesitated for a moment.
…Crazy.
Ever since seeing him in person, his stunning appearance hadn’t left my mind.
It’s as if Hildeon had permanently etched himself on my mind, becoming the very dictionary definition of a handsome man.
Honestly, shouldn’t such looks be illegal?
He’s single-handedly raising the average attractiveness of the entire empire’s male population.
Now, any man of average looks couldn’t even register as handsome to me.
As I was lost in my stream of consciousness, Mary approached me and spoke gruffly.
“I don’t understand why he keeps sending letters, Milady. You’re already trying so hard to move on…!”
Clearly, she thought I was upset because I hadn’t said anything.
I deliberately shook my head with feigned cheerfulness.
“It’s fine. I’m not even bothered by it.”
“Miss, you don’t have to pretend to be cheerful for my sake…”
Was that how she’s interpreting it?
‘This won’t do.’
I rolled my eyes and nonchalantly shrugged.
“I’m really fine. Giving up has actually been quite liberating.”
“…Milady, forcing yourself to be calm… haa.”
What does she want me to do?
I glanced at Mary with feigned annoyance and then chuckled, shaking my head.
‘She’s beyond help.’
In fact, since that day, the rumor had spread so far that all the servants at the ducal residence were looking at me with pity.
Even if I just breathed, they would lament, ‘See! She’s sighing from the wounds of unrequited love!’
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