IVGC09

CHAPTER 09…………………………………………..

So I decided to ignore them and walk past.

They were people who hadn’t contacted me even once after I was disowned.

There was no way anyone among them truly cared about Adelheid.

In fact, it felt like no one in this world did.

“Adelheid Sittain!”

The moment I passed them, a harsher voice called out to me.

I turned around and looked at the group of nobles.

Three men, one woman.

Among them, a tall and handsome man stood out.

He had deep red hair and striking light green eyes, glaring at me sharply.

The others had plain, forgettable faces—true background characters.

“What is it?”

I asked, trying not to sound sarcastic.

I didn’t want to worsen Adelheid’s already ruined social relationships.

Even if I couldn’t make friends, I didn’t need to make enemies.

But my effort was wasted.

“So it really is you.”

The handsome man openly sneered at me.

“Adelheid, Adelheid… I wondered what you were doing. Turns out you’ve dirtied your hands with some filthy job.”

“Did you stop me just to say that?”

I remained calm.

Honestly, I was just irritated—not angry.

All I wanted was to go back and eat my abalone butter grill on the sofa.

I could have snapped back with insults, but that would only make it harder to escape this situation.

And then I’d be delayed from eating my abalone butter grill.

Just as the handsome man was about to respond, an older-looking man grabbed his arm.

“Eli, why not just let her go? Looking at her… even speaking to her seems like it would tarnish you.”

“…Eli?”

My body froze.

Eli.

There was only one character in the story with that rare name.

Eli Gannet, viscount’s heir.

My ex-fiancé.

I scoffed.

The reason I had tried to pass them by peacefully was because I didn’t want enemies.

Adelheid had already accumulated plenty of them due to her loyalty to her family and villainous behavior.

But now that things were already over between us—why should I be polite?

Even if I ate my abalone butter grill a little late, it would still taste good.

I smiled coldly and spoke.

“I’m curious how all of you can associate with someone who was once engaged to this ‘filthy woman.’ I wonder if even my ex-fiancé has been tainted by it.”

“…Adelheid.”

Eli growled.

“Do you want to be sent to an asylum?”

“And on what authority would my ex-fiancé send me there?”

I emphasized ex-fiancé.

“What authority?”

Surprisingly, Eli didn’t falter.

Instead, his confidence only grew.

“What is it you still don’t understand? You’re a commoner now, Adelheid.”

He stepped toward me. His companions followed.

“And I am a viscount’s heir. Surely you understand the difference?”

I could almost hear something snap inside me.

No matter his rank, no one had the right to commit someone to an asylum.

I slowly opened my mouth, preparing the harshest insult I could think of.

But—

A cold voice cut through the air.

“Haide.”

My eyes widened.

I quickly turned around.

Kylos Obern was staring at me with an unreadable expression.

“What are you doing right now?”

“…Pardon?”

I blinked, dumbfounded.

Honorifics?

He had never once used polite speech with me since revealing his identity.

Kylos Obern had always been someone who wielded power as naturally as breathing.

“Let me ask again. What are you doing here?”

“Uh…”

I blinked slowly.

Eli and his group, startled by the sudden appearance of the prince, quickly knelt and mumbled greetings—but Kylos didn’t even glance at them.

“I was gathering materials for cooking at the library and heading back to my room.”

Kylos’s voice softened slightly.

“So you were preparing the banquet ordered by His Majesty.”

One of Eli’s companions suddenly sneezed loudly.

“Yes.”

Whether they caught a cold or not wasn’t my concern.

“Prince Kylos!”

Eli raised his voice.

“We had no idea about this. If Adelheid had told us earlier—”

“You would have known she’s working as an imperial chef.”

Kylos cut him off coldly.

“Interrupting someone who is working hard is nothing but idle behavior. It’s not illegal, but it’s certainly unbecoming.”

“…!”

Eli bit his lip hard.

I looked at Kylos in surprise.

“Idle noble” was a known insult in the novel—Eli’s sore spot.

Eli Gannet was essentially a man with nothing but his noble birth.

His younger brother, however, was talented and capable. The Gannet family had already chosen the younger son as heir.

If the younger brother hadn’t died in a sudden accident, Eli would never have become the viscount’s heir.

It definitely looked like Eli had something to do with it…

That was what readers—and even the viscount’s family—suspected.

But there was no proof.

So Eli remained in his position, and reacted viciously whenever his inferiority was touched.

Of course, not when his opponent was a prince.

“…I apologize.”

Eli gave in quickly.

I suppressed the urge to laugh.

How pathetic.

Seeing him in person, he was even more irritating and foolish than in the novel.

“Then I’d appreciate it if you moved. You’re blocking the hallway.”

“Yes…!”

Eli and his group vanished instantly.

I smiled brightly at Kylos.

“Thank you very much.”

“Haide.”

His voice lowered.

“What were you thinking about just now?”

Surprisingly, he looked irritated.

“About eating abalone butter grill.”

“…Hah.”

He let out a dry laugh.

“And also that Eli was annoying,” I added.

“That’s normal.”

I looked up at him.

Kylos shook his head slightly, as if swallowing a dozen things he wanted to say.

I pointed down the empty hallway.

“Now that they’re gone, you don’t need to speak formally to me anymore.”

I didn’t exactly enjoy being spoken down to—but sudden changes like this usually had a reason.

A reason I didn’t know.

Silence fell.

Kylos covered his eyes with one hand.

“Why are you like this?”

“…Haide.”

He spoke in disbelief.

“In the Sittain household, did they not even teach the basic etiquette to their only daughter?”

“What do you mean?”

I frowned.

Adelheid’s lack of refinement had been mentioned in the novel, yes—but she must have received at least basic education…

Or… did she?

“The viscount’s group openly mocked and harassed you.”