The Reason Why She Can’t Get Married - Chapter 76

Schedule: Thurs and Sun

Chapter 76

“If you don’t want to be more embarrassed, let her go and leave.”

“Huh, seriously? This is unbelievable. Who does she think she is, ordering us around?”

One of the men strode towards Selena. “You little—”

He raised his hand as if to strike her. But Selena, unflinching, stared right at him. The man hesitated, meeting her steady gaze from beneath the brim of her hat. Selena then swept her hat off and declared, “I am Selena Irving of the Irving Marquisate. If you lay a finger on me, you’ll regret it for the rest of your lives.”

The men flinched at her weighty declaration, exchanging uneasy glances. “W-what? A noble lady?”

“Hey, what are you doing! Put your hand down…! Don’t you know you can’t touch nobles?!”

“Damn it, I didn’t know she was a noble! Why is a noble in a place like this…?”

The men, so bold moments before, paled at the mention of nobility. They cautiously edged towards the door, keeping a wary eye on Selena.

“Hey, Isabella! You’re lucky today.”

“Tell your father to pay up if you’re feeling wronged!” They didn’t forget to hurl petty threats at the woman as they scurried past Selena. Upon seeing Maximilian standing at the doorway, their fear intensified.

Despite his hooded robe, an unmistakable aura of authority emanated from him. “L-let’s go!”

The men fled, practically tripping over themselves. Selena approached the woman, who was half-collapsed on the floor. “Are you alright?”

“…Yes.” The woman, with long, jet-black hair that reached her shoulder blades, slowly raised her head. Her eyes, as dark as her hair, met Selena’s. Freckles dusted her nose. “Thank you for helping me.”

“Are you Belle?” I overheard one of the men call her Isabella earlier, but Selena wanted to be certain, so she asked directly. The woman blinked slowly, then nodded. “Ah, yes… My name is Isabella. Most people call me Belle, though.”

It seemed it wasn’t just Prince Rio who hadn’t revealed his true name back then. Belle, too, had given him a nickname, not her real name.

Looking at the cameo necklace Isabella clutched protectively, a glimpse of it visible between her fingers, Selena was sure. This Isabella was Rio’s first love, Belle.

“Um, but why are you looking for me, my lady…?”

“Oh? Ah, I—”

“Did my father borrow money from you, too?” Isabella’s eyes trembled with anxiety. She bit her lower lip, her voice laced with sorrow. “I’m truly grateful for your help earlier, but I really don’t have any money to repay you. I’m so sorry. Please go to my father for his debts.”

Suddenly cast as a debt collector, Selena was taken aback. She patted Isabella’s shoulder and shook her head. “No, I didn’t come here because of money.”

“Then…?”

“Here’s my card.” Selena pulled the Serenade business card from her pocket. Isabella accepted it carefully, her eyes widening as she read. “A couple matching specialist…?”

“Yes. It’s been in the papers sometimes. Perhaps you haven’t seen it?”

“Oh, no. I’ve heard of it. It’s famous for being available to commoners, too…”

Serenade didn’t discriminate based on social status, accepting commissions even from commoners, as long as it was for love.

It was simply that the fees were high and the business was run by nobles, so commoners rarely came. Selena watched Isabella, who was looking back and forth between the card and her with curiosity, then asked cautiously, “Those men earlier… were they here because of your father’s debts?”

“Yes, my father has incurred a lot of debt through gambling… That’s why I misunderstood you, my lady. I’m so sorry.”

“No, it’s alright. You don’t need to apologize.”

Selena smiled gently. She felt sorry for Isabella, who had mistaken a stranger for another debt collector.

‘Just how much has she been through to assume I was here for money?’

Objectively, Selena didn’t look like someone who would be involved in such matters, making Isabella’s situation all the more pitiful. “Do these men come often and cause trouble?”

“Yes, but it wasn’t this bad before. They started acting like this after I declared I wouldn’t pay my father’s debts anymore.”

Isabella looked around the room and sighed deeply. The few dishes and pieces of furniture they had were all smashed.

“If you hadn’t helped me, my lady, they would have taken this precious necklace.”

Isabella opened her tightly clenched hand, revealing an ivory cameo necklace that looked undeniably expensive. “It’s the last gift from someone very dear to me. But when I said I had no money, they tried to take this.”

“Those awful people. Who gave you the necklace?”

“A friend I met briefly when I was young, named Jacob.”

Isabella’s cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke. At that moment, Selena had a flash of intuition. “Your first love?”

“Oh, yes.” As Isabella laughed shyly, Selena was about to reveal the reason for her visit. “Actually, I’m looking for you—”

“You’ve come to the wrong place. Forget we were here today.”

Maximilian, who had been leaning against the doorway silently observing the situation, finally spoke.