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Chapter : 11
The moment she entered the reception room, Elisia almost collapsed on the spot. She had expected it, but facing Gustavo filled her with despair.
‘Is this something I can’t avoid even in this life?’
The moment she saw his face, anger surged inside her.
“Come over here and sit.”
Zetio gestured for her to sit beside him.
With every step she took, it felt as if her feet were sinking into a deep swamp.
Avoiding Gustavo’s gaze, she sat directly across from him.
Her heartbeat was so fast and strong that she worried others might notice.
“I’ve brought tea.”
Before Zetio could even introduce Gustavo and Elisia, Letisa arrived carrying tea.
Elisia gave a bitter smile, remembering that Letisa had acted the same way in the past.
She had once asked why a maid was personally bringing tea, and Letisa later excused herself by saying she had prepared it specially because they were important guests.
“This is Sir Gustavo Berato.”
“Hello, young lady of Mares. Please call me Gustavo. I will also comfortably call you Elisia.”
As Gustavo introduced himself, Letisa’s hands trembled slightly while pouring the tea.
“I have decided on your marriage. The wedding will be in three months.”
Crash!
The teacup in Letisa’s hand fell to the floor and shattered.
“I-I’m sorry. My hand slipped…”
Panicking, Letisa knelt down and tried to pick up the broken pieces.
Seeing this, Gustavo leaned forward from his seat and reached for her hand.
“Oh dear, a beautiful lady shouldn’t handle dangerous objects with her bare hands.”
“I’ve caused trouble during your conversation.”
“It’s nothing serious. Please send a maid so your delicate hands don’t get hurt.”
“Yes, I will do that.”
Elisia felt nauseous watching them.
In the past, she had thought Gustavo was kind because of moments like this. But now she saw it for what it truly was—an act.
His gaze was not on Letisa’s hands.
It was fixed on her chest.
He wasn’t worried about her at all—he was simply trying to get a closer look.
After leaving the reception room, Letisa leaned against the door. She placed the hand Gustavo had touched over her chest and tried to steady her breathing.
Hearing that he was Elisia’s fiancé had shocked her so much she dropped the cup. The shattered teacup had looked like herself—broken and miserable—and tears had nearly fallen.
When she tried to clean up the sharp fragments, Gustavo had taken her hand, and her heart had pounded as if it would burst.
When she lifted her head slightly and met his gaze, she clearly saw desire blooming in his eyes.
“He’s interested in me! Not Elisia.”
It wasn’t an illusion—it was certainty from what she had seen and felt.
Meanwhile, back in her room, Elisia collapsed face-first onto her bed.
It felt like the stress of the past few days had multiplied and was crushing her whole body.
“If this miserable life is just repeating itself, then there’s no point in being reborn!”
Frustrated, she hit the bed with her fist.
“Should I run away?”
It was the easiest way to avoid marrying Gustavo. But if she did that, she would uncover nothing.
She couldn’t leave without discovering the truth about her adoptive parents.
Only Elisia could make the fake uncle and aunt—who had disguised themselves, stolen the family, and taken its wealth—pay the price.
“Theus, please come back quickly. I need you. If I had known this would happen, I should’ve talked to you before you went to the Kan Kingdom…”
She was full of regret.
* * *
The news of Elisia’s marriage quickly reached the imperial palace, thanks in part to a small role played by Shiton.
When the Empress heard it, she jumped up in shock.
“Marriage to Gustavo Berato? That makes no sense!”
“Whether it makes sense or not, it was decided by Duke Mares.”
It was unthinkable for a duke’s daughter to marry a bastard.
Although Gustavo had inherited his father’s name and held noble status, he could hardly be considered worthy of becoming the son-in-law of a ducal family.
“His reputation isn’t bad. People praise him for being gentle in character.”
“Even so, if Duke Mares were in his right mind, he would never arrange such a match.”
“The date is already set. We cannot interfere, Your Majesty.”
“I should have found her a better match sooner…”
The Empress had hoped Elisia would find true love on her own and had refrained from interfering.
Now she could only regret her negligence.
There was another person troubled by the announcement, aside from Empress Asta.
“What is Duke Mares thinking, marrying his daughter to a bastard?”
Kais rushed to the Berato ducal residence immediately after hearing the news.
“It’s completely absurd.”
“Is the balance of power collapsing, or was it unbalanced from the beginning?”
“What are you talking about?”
Kais couldn’t understand Tirtshen’s muttered words.
To him, it sounded irrelevant to the situation.
“Duke Mares and Duke Shiton have never once stood close to each other at any gathering.”
“That’s just because they don’t get along.”
Kais gave a simple explanation based on what he saw.
Even in the same room, Zetio and Shiton always sat as far apart as possible.
In noble society, it was well known that the two families were on bad terms.
“I met Lady Mares in the palace recently.”
“You? Why?”
“It was a coincidence.”
“Does that matter?”
“Shortly after that, her marriage was suddenly announced. And to a completely unsuitable partner.”
Kais finally understood.
Two ladies who had been considered candidates for the crown princess—suddenly one side had been removed, as if purged.
“It seems Duke Mares doesn’t value his daughter as much as the rumors say.”
“I felt that too. If she were truly precious, he would’ve launched a search immediately after the accident.”
“There might be something between Duke Mares and Duke Shiton that we don’t know.”
Kais nodded in agreement.
If his daughter was truly a candidate for crown princess, he should be doing everything possible—but Zetio’s actions were moving in a completely different direction.
* * *
With Elisia’s marriage confirmed and rumors spreading quickly, Gustavo held a drinking party with his friend Barus.
“I knew this day would come. My world is finally opening up.”
“Cheers—to the bright future of Gustavo Berato!”
“Cheers!”
Clink!
Their glasses collided with a clear sound.
The strong liquor slid down his throat, spreading warmth through his body.
“If things go like this, even the crown prince seat won’t be out of reach.”
“If you become crown prince, you’ll give me a position too, right?”
“Of course. We should even change the law so bastards can receive titles.”
“Haha, that alone makes me happy!”
They clinked glasses again.
Barus, Gustavo’s closest friend, was also a bastard.
Their shared status of being looked down upon made their friendship strong.
“How’s your fiancée?”
“Face, body—which one?”
“Both, obviously. Is she pretty?”
“Her face is pale. Skinny.”
Gustavo recalled Elisia’s expressionless face.
Even in a loose dress that hid her figure, it was clear she was extremely thin.
Compared to that, Letisa had such a sensual body.
Her lips, as if asking to be kissed, and her full chest made his mouth water.
“It’s a political marriage anyway. What does appearance matter?”
“Exactly. Just marry for conditions and keep a pretty mistress on the side.”
“Power, honor, and a pretty mistress! That’s the way to live!”
“Let’s toast again—to the future crown prince!”
“Crown prince… I like the sound of that. Barus, you really are my friend.”
They laughed and clinked glasses again.
* * *
The peaceful Kingdom of Kan.
Theus was playing with his cousin Marina’s newborn baby in the garden.
The child, only three months old, could only express itself through babbling and crying.
Theus easily understood even those sounds. Because of that, the baby adored him.
“Theus! Theus!”
Marina came running toward him, calling his name.
Theus waved happily while still responding to the baby’s babbling.
When she reached him, Marina was out of breath.
“Why are you running like that?”
“A letter came from the Neto Empire.”
“Is it important?”
“I think it’s important for you.”
Marina handed him the letter.
The moment he saw the name on the envelope, Theus stood up abruptly.
[Elisia Mares]
He gently traced the name with his fingers.
“It’s the first time.”
Even though he had traveled countless times with merchant caravans over the past few years, Elisia had never sent him a letter.
He had always met her whenever he returned home, so he never expected letters.
Carefully, Theus opened the envelope.
“I have something to tell you. Contact me as soon as you return.”
It was just one simple line.
‘What does Elisia want to say? If she sent a letter, it must be important.’
His heart was already flying toward the Neto Empire, toward Elisia.
“There’s more news.”
“What news?”
Theus, his mood lifted by Elisia’s letter, smiled brightly.
Marina hesitated, biting her lips several times before speaking.
“Did something happen at home?”
“No.”
“Then why do you look so serious?”
“They say the wedding date between Elisia and Gustavo Berato has been set.”
“…!”
The strength left Theus’s hand.
The letter fluttered away, caught by a light breeze.
His legs gave out and he knelt down, staggering.
“Was that what you were trying to tell me?”
He covered his eyes with his palm.
‘Did she send a letter just to tell me this nightmare—that she’s marrying another man?’
His heart sank into darkness, just like his eyes hidden from the light.
Theus’s slumped shoulders trembled.
