IAYA 43

chapter 43

“What?”

I froze as if someone had doused me with cold water, while everyone else—except me—burst into laughter, teasing and giggling.

I couldn’t understand what they were talking about at all.

With a puzzled look, I stared at Laejenie. Naturally, everyone else’s attention had shifted to her as well.

Laejenie forced an awkward smile and spoke.

“It’s true. You all must know that I recently informed Duke Acruze that I wanted to cancel our engagement. I did it because I realized his… manly abilities were lacking. Honestly, while the Acruze family is appealing, I can’t spend my whole life alone.”

Everyone erupted in laughter, agreeing with her.

“Well, that’s true. Even if it’s the Acruze family, that’s a bit much.”

“I didn’t expect the Duke to be like that—he’s all show and no substance.”

“Is that why he always wears gloves?”

“Ugh, that’s so gross.”

Listening to each of their comments, my heart turned cold.

I hated hearing Teansys being slandered in front of me, but more fundamentally, I couldn’t believe Laejenie’s words. Why would she say such absurd things?

“How would Miss Anox even know that?”

My voice was low and calm. I could hear the other ladies whispering, but I ignored them.

One young lady, who had consistently sided with Laejenie, spoke up.

“Of course she knows, since she and the Duke tried to… spend the night together.”

“Do you have proof?”

“Proof? Why would you need proof? Any man would naturally be attracted to a young lady as beautiful as Miss Anox.”

They kept insisting it was obvious, but I didn’t see it that way.

Teansys broke out in hives when he touched people. For reasons unknown, he couldn’t have easily had contact with Laejenie.

“If that were the reason, wouldn’t there be countless other beautiful women following the Duke around? Miss Anox isn’t the only one, is she?”

The young lady who had been confidently speaking bit her lip. Judging by the reactions around her, she seemed to realize I was right.

Only Laejenie’s face flushed red—she clearly didn’t like what I said.

But I didn’t care. I was the one feeling worse.

The real Teansys was far more wonderful than the one I had imagined.

Though he had a cold personality, he didn’t always wear a stiff expression like in photos. Sometimes, he smiled at me, displaying a range of expressions.

Teansys had always been kind to me, even before I became Miss Fredof.

It was truly delightful.

I genuinely wanted Teansys to find a wonderful woman and be happier than anyone else.

A woman from a wealthy family, beautiful, deeply loving Teansys, family-oriented, wise, intelligent—someone who had all the things I lacked. Seeing them happy together would make me happy too.

But that woman…

It clearly wasn’t Laejenie.

Her constant lying and contradictory personality didn’t suit Teansys. I couldn’t give him to someone like her.

If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have told Laejenie the date location. And I definitely wouldn’t have yielded the wish candle to her.

Laejenie clenched her teeth and protested.

“How dare you say such things when Duke Acruze followed me everywhere? What does Miss Fredof know?”

Teansys followed her?

From what I saw, it was Laejenie who had been following him. She was the one who came to the apothecary and left warnings to stay away from him.

I met her gaze without flinching.

For the first time, I was glad to be Miss Fredof. This allowed me to say what I wanted.

“How was the date with Duke Acruze that I let you have?”

Laejenie looked shocked as if she hadn’t expected that question. Her face soon turned crimson with shame.

The other ladies nearby began whispering among themselves.

“Oh, judging by how the Duke came to see me again that evening, you couldn’t have enjoyed the date properly.”

Laejenie’s face grew even redder as she spoke.

“That’s…!”

“Then will you give me back the wish candle? Since it was a gift from Duke Acruze.”

It was a huge deal that Laejenie had been yielded the date by me and ignored by Teansys.

Her claims about Teansys following her and his supposed manly inadequacies were now completely disproven.

Until now, being Miss Fredof felt like a heavy responsibility, but in this moment, I fully intended to use it.

Nearby, the other young ladies looked on with fascination, whispering even louder.

“What nonsense. When did I ever get a date with Duke Acruze from Miss Fredof? That’s a lie—she really is an intolerable person.”

Laejenie stared at me, demanding proof.

Proof… I didn’t have any.

But I had the name of Miss Fredof.

“Did you forget? Miss Anox asked me to prove I had nothing going on with Duke Acruze, so I told her the date location… but thinking back, I regret it a little. It turns out we weren’t exactly ‘nothing’ after all.”

She seemed to sense something meaningful in my words and asked nervously.

“Then what kind of relationship do you have?”

“I like him. I like Duke Acruze.”

The sudden confession caused the nearby ladies to whisper excitedly. I didn’t care—it was true.

It was just that a common apothecary’s assistant confessing was different from Miss Fredof publicly declaring her feelings.

I wasn’t even involved in an engagement; I was simply confessing my one-sided love for Teansys.

For high-ranking nobles, that could be a disadvantage—it could interfere with arranged marriages with other families.

But I didn’t care. I wasn’t really Miss Fredof.

“No proof, but now my words carry more weight.”

My prediction was correct. The nearby ladies began spreading the news that I liked Teansys.

For now, only a few knew, but by tomorrow, the rumor would spread throughout the Valkanus Empire.

Thus, Laejenie became the girl who had been yielded a date by me. She would now be inseparable from the story about me.

As a result, the absurd rumors about Teansys were completely erased.

I hadn’t been very active in social circles, but I was still a noble lady. And no matter how cunning Laejenie was, age was not to be underestimated.

Laejenie glared at me with frustration.

“To openly confess that you love the Duke… you have no sense of shame. Even as Miss Fredof, this rumor will follow you to your grave.”

The difference between unofficial and official mattered greatly.

Until I married and had children, my past confession of loving Teansys would linger like a tag.

That was the weight of officially declaring love for Teansys.

Even though I wasn’t really Miss Fredof, it didn’t matter—I would have acted the same if it were my real name.

“Miss Anox, you don’t need to worry about me. It’s you whose broken engagement will follow you for a long time. And the fact that you tried to spread false rumors about the Duke.”

Laejenie clenched her lips. In the crowded room, she barely restrained her anger, her whole body trembling.

For someone like Laejenie who valued honor, this humiliation must have been unbearable.

“So, don’t touch the Duke again.”

Even a worm wriggles when stepped on, and a cornered mouse bites the cat.

Teansys was the same for me. If anyone touched him, I couldn’t help but strike back, no matter what.

“Because… he’s the man I like.”

I left Laejenie, flushed with anger, with that final warning.

There was no reason for me to stay any longer.

On my way back to my old lodging, I sat down to rest several times. The fiery courage from earlier had vanished.

“How did I even say that?”

I felt embarrassed and dazed. I had never imagined I could snap at someone like that.

It seemed that anything involving Teansys made me lose my composure.

But I didn’t regret it. I was proud that I had calmly said everything I needed to say to Laejenie without hesitation.

When I finally reached the old lodging, I turned the door handle, and it opened smoothly—there were no locks.

It seemed the owner had left and left the room vacant.

“What about Lulu?”

I hurried inside, worried.

The room, stripped of all belongings, was still very simple. Compared to my new lodging, it was quite humble.

“Lulu!”

I called out urgently.

I expected her to appear, saying, “Why are you late, Your Majesty?” but she was nowhere to be seen.

A pang of worry struck me.

“Lulu…!”

Then it happened.

Squeak—the sound of the door opening behind me. I turned my head.

Standing at the entrance as if by magic was someone I hadn’t expected.

With a lean, inverted-triangle build and an even more perfect face, it was Teansys. He was holding Lulu in his arms.

“I thought I’d be the first to come looking, but the cat beat me here?”

“D-Duke.”

As I alternated my gaze between Teansys and Lulu, the little cat wriggled free and dashed toward me.

“Yeeaaahh!”

I bent down quickly, arms outstretched toward Lulu.

I had missed her so much. I hadn’t been able to visit before coming to the Kamar Academy, worried someone might catch me.

“Lulu, look at me. Did anything happen while I was gone?”

“Are you the problem? Do you know how worried I was when the queen was dragged away by humans?”

“I’m fine.”

“What happened? What’s with this dress, and your right hand…”

Lulu’s deep blue eyes fixed on my right hand, bandaged.

I quickly hid it behind me.

“I… I hurt it while cooking.”

“Lies! Do you think I’d believe that? Humans did this, didn’t they? Humans hurt the queen!”

Sparks seemed to fly from Lulu’s intense gaze as she clawed at the bandages.

“Give me the blood. I’ll kill them all.”

“Stop…!”

Teansys grabbed the back of Lulu’s neck, separating her from me.

“I don’t know the full situation, but I think the welcoming greetings have been sufficient.”

“Let go! You Acruze!”

Lulu struggled to escape, but it was no use.

I calmly addressed Lulu while she was held by Teansys.

“I’m really fine. So calm down. I was worried you might get hurt instead.”

At last, Lulu seemed to calm down a little, stopping her struggles.

“I’m… fine too…”

But Teansys spoke faster than her.

“Don’t worry about the cat. I’ve been keeping her safe.”

“The Duke?”

“Yes. She came to find me. I think she wanted to warn me about the day the lady was taken to the interrogation room.”

“Oh… I see.”

I looked at Lulu proudly, and Teansys concealed her behind his broad back.

In an instant, Lulu vanished from sight, and I stared at Teansys in surprise.

“Now…”

“I said the greetings with the cat are sufficient. Look at me now.”

I hadn’t expected that. My heart fluttered unexpectedly.

As I stared at Teansys, he gave a faint smile and continued.

“If you keep staring at the cat, the lady might worry. I’d regret bringing her here for nothing.”

“Duke…”

“Why, did you not want me to look?”

Teansys’ subtle violet eyes curved gently, a smile playing on them. It was like magic.

I had vowed countless times not to give in to desire for him.

I had cut away the growing selfish feelings overnight, convinced there would be a lady more suitable for him.

Yet, no matter how much I cut them down, my desire kept growing.

Laejenie was not the perfect woman I imagined. Perhaps other ladies had hidden sides like hers.

Then…

If that’s true…

Couldn’t I just indulge a little?

Couldn’t I stand here next to Teansys instead of another woman?

I looked up at Teansys with a firm expression. He looked at me with curiosity and said softly,

“Rey…!”

But his words didn’t finish. I pressed my lips against his.

I felt the vivid, tangible touch of our lips meeting.