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Chapter 8
The Heroine of a Regret Novel, Yet Not Sad at All!
Kadin did not deny it.
“It would be an honorable position for a commoner.”
In truth, that was correct.
There were countless people who would gladly become Kadin’s mistress at a moment’s notice.
But Ayla was not one of them.
Looking directly into Kadin’s eyes, she replied,
“No. I can’t do that, Kadin.”
“What?”
A crease formed between Kadin’s brows.
He genuinely could not understand why Ayla kept refusing such a favorable opportunity.
She had lost everything and become penniless, yet she still dared to reject his offer.
For the sake of his fiancée, who clearly wasn’t accepting reality, Ayla continued speaking calmly.
“As you know, sooner or later our engagement will end.”
“…”
“And after that, you’ll become engaged to another woman.”
“…”
“Considering the relationship between your family and mine, it’s obvious that woman will be Rosia.”
“That’s…”
“Rosia grew up suffering while losing everything because of me. I don’t want to hurt her any further.”
Only then did Kadin finally understand what she was thinking.
He opened and closed his mouth several times.
Ayla was asking to end their relationship because she was considering Rosia’s position.
Even though she doesn’t want to break up with me.
For some reason, Kadin felt his heart sink heavily.
“But Rosia isn’t even your blood-related sister. There’s no need for you to concern yourself with—”
“No.”
Ayla shook her head sadly.
“This is where we should end things. I need to learn my place now.”
“Even though it hurts, I no longer have the status to remain by your side.”
“But, Ayla…”
“Then I’ll be going. If I keep listening to you, I think it’ll only make this harder.”
Without hesitation, Ayla turned around.
Ignoring every attempt Kadin made to stop her.
Perfect.
As she steadily walked farther away from him, Ayla smiled inwardly.
She had rejected his proposal while providing a reasonable excuse that wouldn’t provoke his resentment too much.
Even if he tried to stop her again later, she could simply use the same justification.
Well, the Marquis’s family will probably be offended that a commoner publicly broke off an engagement with them. But as long as I find someone who can protect me before then, it’ll be fine.
Besides, Ayla knew very well how frustrating it was to be unable to say what needed to be said.
She sincerely hoped Kadin’s mood would be ruined as much as possible as she briskly walked away.
Unbeknownst to Ayla, there were people watching their conversation from a distance.
Rosia and Kedrick.
The two had come to the Academy because Rosia was taking the transfer examination.
Kedrick frowned as he recalled the expression he had seen on Ayla’s face moments earlier.
Judging by the dark look on her face when she turned away, the conversation had clearly not gone well.
Did that bastard already tell Ayla he wants to break off the engagement?
Kedrick knew how much Ayla loved her fiancé.
That was why he couldn’t stop worrying about her.
She must be deeply hurt.
The Ayla he knew was proud, just like any noble lady.
How shocking must it be to suddenly lose her status overnight, be driven out of her home, and then be abandoned by her fiancé?
Now that I think about it, Ayla must have been confused too. One day she’s the duke’s daughter, and the next she’s told she isn’t.
She had even suggested repeating the bloodline test—something she normally never would have done.
Should he go talk to her now?
That proud girl… wearing such a sad expression…
The thought made him furious at Kadin, who had undoubtedly said cruel things to her.
But the person beside him interrupted his thoughts.
“Brother, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
Rosia looked up at him with innocent eyes.
“It’s nothing, Rosia.”
He couldn’t bring himself to openly worry about Ayla in front of his new sister.
Grinding his teeth, Kedrick forcibly looked away.
After publicly declaring the engagement broken, Ayla immediately locked herself inside her dorm room.
The bomb she had dropped would undoubtedly throw not only House Leight but also House Blanche into confusion for quite some time.
After all, a commoner had committed the grave offense of publicly breaking off an engagement with the heir of a marquis’s family.
No matter how politely I said it, they’ll still be offended. A commoner asking for a breakup first is enough to wound their pride. Rosia, who’s supposed to become Kadin’s new fiancée, will be put in an awkward position too.
The thought of both of them struggling with the aftermath made her smile.
The ducal house is probably in chaos by now too.
Kalios had likely assigned Rosia all kinds of responsibilities under the pretext of establishing her position within the family.
And Rosia, who knew nothing, had probably made a complete mess of everything.
Well, what happens to that family isn’t my problem anymore.
Ayla decided to stop thinking about House Blanche.
They would soon become people completely unrelated to her.
Instead, she focused on the tasks ahead.
First, I need to meet Felix, who entered the Academy as a commoner.
Although he was officially a commoner, Felix wasn’t actually one.
In a story where secret identities appeared as often as daily meals, it would eventually be revealed that he too came from a prestigious family.
Of course, with his outstanding swordsmanship, he would do perfectly well on his own.
But graduating from the Academy and climbing the social ladder as a commoner would take far too much time and effort.
Ayla intended to help him reclaim his rightful position much sooner.
In return, she planned to receive various forms of assistance from him.
Her gaze shifted to the luggage she had brought with her.
Although she had left behind everything the Blanche family had given her, she had carefully packed ingredients for making temporary medicine.
The reason she couldn’t use magic was because she suffered from Mana Insensitivity Syndrome, a disease widely believed to be incurable.
But I know the cure.
To create the perfect treatment, Felix first had to be revealed as the lost child of Duke Azenta.
That family possessed the crucial ingredient required to make the complete cure.
Still, I can make an imitation version with similar effects right now.
Opening her bag, she saw neatly organized medicinal herbs arranged by type.
The medicine I’m making now has only a weak and temporary effect…
With practiced hands, Ayla carefully prepared the ingredients and added them one by one into a pot.
Then she lit the fire beneath it.
Before long, the liquid boiled like molten lava under blue flames, releasing thin wisps of steam into the air.
Watching the magical potion take shape, Ayla smiled with satisfaction.
Even so, it’ll be more than enough to persuade Felix.
The original Ayla and the current Ayla were essentially the same person.
If the Ayla from the original story could create it, there was no reason she couldn’t do the same.
I can’t afford to fail. I need to focus completely.
Holding her breath, Ayla devoted every ounce of her concentration to brewing the potion.
Only a few days after Ayla left House Blanche, a letter arrived from the Marquis of Leight’s family.
The moment Gerat saw it, he frowned.
Lately, he had been suffering from severe headaches.
It’s probably because of that incident.
Ever since what happened recently, everyone in House Blanche had been on high alert.
Ayla, now a commoner, had publicly broken off her engagement and embarrassed the other family.
Gerat was already afraid of what the letter might contain.
What if the Marquis’s family holds a grudge and decides to harm Ayla?
Even though Ayla had been revealed as the false daughter, it wasn’t easy to simply erase all the years they had spent together.
Concerned, Gerat personally took the letter and went to see Kalios.
“A letter has arrived from the Marquis of Leight’s family.”
The duke, who had been reviewing documents, looked up with obvious displeasure.
“Don’t tell me this is about that incident.”
Instead of answering, Gerat merely shrugged his shoulders.
