The Duke’s Fake First Love - Chapter 11

Chapter 6.1

Louis’s gaze slowly scanned Alice as she introduced herself. His calm, searching gaze seemed as if he was trying to read her thoughts, and I found myself holding my breath without realizing it.

“So, what brings you here? As you can see, Lady Leonia already had plans with me.”

He was smiling faintly, but there was an unmistakable chill beneath the surface.

Alice seemed to notice, too, because she went straight to the point.

“I apologize, but our father is urgently looking for Leonia.”

“Is it important enough to disregard her prior engagement with me?”

“…Well—”

Alice peered at me with an awkward expression.

“It’s okay, just tell him.”

Louis wasn’t going to let us leave unless we explained the situation anyway. Alice must have been thinking the same thing because she let out a sigh and continued.

“…Our father is furious. He thinks Leonia disobeyed his orders.”

“Count Bellasi?”

“Yes. If we don’t hurry back, I’m afraid Leonia will be in even more trouble.”

If that were the case, going back now probably wouldn’t make things any better.

Louis seemed to share my thoughts as he met my gaze as if asking what I wanted to do.

“I’m sorry, but I think it’s time for me to leave.”

If I stayed any longer, Alice would remain here too.

‘I couldn’t let the two of them stay together.’

I had to separate them before Louis started to suspect anything about Alice.

“If that’s what Lady Leonia wants, then I suppose I have no choice. It’s a shame, but I’ll just have to look forward to next time.”

Thankfully, he complied amiably. After expressing my gratitude, I headed toward the carriage.

“Thank you for today. Let’s meet again soon.”

“Are you sure you don’t need my help?”

I was about to step into the carriage after the usual polite goodbye when Louis suddenly threw out that question.

“I could help you, if you wish.”

I hesitated for a second. It really was a tempting offer. I wouldn’t even need grand assistance since just claiming to be engaged to Louis would be enough to calm the Count down.

But even so…

“I’ll have to decline. I’d rather not trouble you over such a matter, Your Grace.”

It wouldn’t be smart to depend on Louis and drag him into my problems so soon.

“Well, how touching.”

Louis didn’t insist a second time.

It just meant the offer hadn’t been serious in the first place.

‘…Should I have just asked for his help after all?’

Regret almost hit me for a second, but I brushed it aside and stepped into the carriage after a quick farewell.

‘It’s not the right time yet.’

If I were going to announce my relationship with Louis, it had to be at a moment when I could attract the most attention.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

Just as I expected, coming back a bit early didn’t make the Count any less angry. Still, maybe because the imperial banquet was coming up, he didn’t slap me again this time. Instead, except for when they needed to check my dress for the banquet, I wasn’t allowed to set foot outside my room at all.

Honestly, that part didn’t bother me much.

The real issue was that today was the day of the imperial banquet, and I hadn’t even been able to exchange one letter with Louis. I knew I would be confined to my room for reflection, but I didn’t expect the surveillance to be this intense.

“Leonia.”

Alice, who had just been called away by the Emperor, hurried over to me as soon as the attendant relaying the message left.

“I need to step out for a bit. So please, I’m begging you, don’t get into trouble and stay put quietly, okay?”

“Don’t worry about me, just go.”

Even though I answered calmly, Alice still looked worried sick as she hesitated before slipping out of the hall.

The moment she was out of sight, my expression went cold.

‘If they pulled Alice away right now, there’s only one reason for it.’

It was basically an invitation for everyone to publicly humiliate me. And sure enough, it didn’t take long before the whispers started.

“Isn’t that Lady Leonia?”

“Goodness, you’re right. I don’t think I’ve seen her at any official events since her engagement to Marquis Regen was called off.”

“Perhaps she’s been too ashamed to show her face until now?”

At their barely concealed murmurs, I fixed them with a sharp stare. The noble ladies who made eye contact with me visibly flinched and scurried away.

Not that I could blame them.

Everyone knew today’s banquet was held to announce the engagement between Diego and the daughter of Marquis Branto.

If the rumors even made it to my ears while I was confined, that said it all. For the sake of their dignified union, the blame for the prior broken engagement had to fall entirely on me. The Emperor probably orchestrated it all by pulling Alice away to set the stage.