The Duke’s Fake First Love - Chapter 7

Chapter 4.1

After exchanging a few formal pleasantries, I stepped out of the audience chamber. Maybe it was because I had waited the entire day, but my body felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton.

“Young Lady, did the conversation go well?”

“Yeah.”

As exhausted as I was, Ase, who had spent the whole day waiting in the corridor, didn’t look to be in good shape either, to put it mildly.

“Are you very tired? Your complexion seems off.”

Ase tried to insist she was fine, but I didn’t listen to her.

“You should get to the carriage and rest quickly.”

Moreover, I had to figure out what to say to the count. He would surely be curious whether I had succeeded in seducing Diego.

While we hurried through the palace gardens, Ase spoke up hesitantly.

“…Would it be rude if I asked what the meeting was about?”

Now that she was officially my maid, it wasn’t possible to hide everything from her. Still, that didn’t mean I needed to tell her everything, so it was better to summarize and explain just enough.

“His Majesty has given his permission, so the wedding will be held soon.”

“…Pardon?! Don’t tell me… with that baron…?”

“Ase, that man’s rumored to have killed both his previous wives.”

I replied with a hollow laugh.

“And to make it worse, he’s an unscrupulous old man in his seventies, trying to marry me when I’ve barely turned twenty.”

I’d rather die than marry someone like that.

“Th-then… who are you supposed to marry…?”

With a wry smile, I watched Ase dart her eyes nervously, her face flushed with panic.

Being forced to choose the lesser of two murderers was harrowing, but I didn’t have any other options.. Ever since the emperor started forcing this ridiculous marriage on me, my options had dwindled. And now, with him saying I couldn’t even leave the country, it wasn’t like I had any options left anyway.

‘I’ll take Louis’s hand and help him get revenge on the emperor.’

I would deal with Diego along the way, and when everything’s finally settled, I would just get a divorce and live my own life.

Rustle. Snap.

At that moment, a shadow moved beyond the bushes, and a man I recognized stepped into view.

‘…What, is today some kind of special day?’

Lustrous red hair, inscrutable violet eyes, cheeks faintly flushed, and features sharp and striking. No matter the circumstances, his appearance remained impeccably composed.

I forced my weary face into neutrality and bowed slightly to the man I hadn’t seen in a while.

“Marquis Regen, it’s been a while.”

He was my former fiancé and the emperor’s illegitimate son, Diego Regen.

“Lord Diego? What are you doing here… Oh my!”

The woman trailing behind him startled when our eyes met. It was because traces of a passionate encounter just moments ago were still plainly lingering on her.

Yet Diego and I continued our conversation with composed expressions.

“What brings you here?”

“I’m just heading back after an audience with His Majesty.”

Diego’s brow furrowed in response. He hated being asked the same thing twice, so when someone asked him something, he expected a detailed answer the first time.

Maybe I would’ve humored him before, but now? I didn’t see the point.

“You seem well. Well then, I’ll be on my way.”

I tried to brush past him, but he grabbed my wrist.

“I’m not done talking to you yet.”

Before I could even say anything, he turned to the woman who had accompanied him.

“You, go. Now.”

“…Pardon?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said leave.”

“Ah, y-yes!”

She looked flustered by the abrupt order, darted her eyes around, and hurried out.

‘He’s still as rude as ever.’

I used to be terrified that he would toss me aside like that someday as well.

‘Though in reality, I was destined to be discarded in a far more horrific way.’

While that woman just got dismissed, I was going to be killed. At the thought, I let out a sigh and told Ase to go wait for me in the carriage.

“Hey, Leonia Bellasi.”

At Diego’s call, I lifted my head and met his gaze.

“Don’t tell me you’re jealous?”

“I thought I made my intentions perfectly clear the day I showed you the annulment papers.”

That day, I told him I was done with this wretched relationship. I didn’t think he would be dense enough not to get it.

“Whatever. What do I have to do to make you come back?”

…I already told you, I’m not coming back.

But since it seemed like he wouldn’t understand even if I said that, I casually pointed to the tallest tower in the palace.

“Jump from up there. Then maybe I’ll think about it.”

Of course, I was only ever going to think about it.

“…Are you insane? What kind of demand is that?”

Unfortunately, Diego didn’t grant my request.

“If you don’t even have that kind of courage, then don’t try to hold on to me.”

“You really think you matter just because I haven’t let you go?”

Diego always acted like I should be grateful to be engaged to such an incredible guy like him. Once, his words might have cowed me, but now they just made me laugh.

“Yeah. I have to say, it’s pretty amusing to see someone so ‘great’ desperately trying not to let me go.”