RR 15

 Chapter 15

Seamus’s voice tore at Aella’s heart. The words saying he had abandoned her because she was disgusting felt like claws shredding her heart, leaving blood gushing out.

“A lie.”

Aella murmured, her voice trembling.

There was no way Ther had abandoned her again. He had promised to keep his word this time. Last night, that moment had been a vow between them.

Surely the Crown Prince was lying to hurt her.

*I won’t believe it. Not until I see it with my own eyes.*

At Aella’s response, Seamus let out a short laugh.

“Whether it’s a lie or not, you can check for yourself. Whether that bastard is here in the capital or not.”

Seamus released Aella’s wrists and flopped down beside her.

Though freed from Seamus, Aella didn’t have the strength to sit up. Even though she didn’t believe his words, anxiety gnawed at a corner of her heart. The days when she had believed herself abandoned had been too long.

“You’ve been abandoned, Aella. That bastard left you. He just wanted to try you out. He just wanted to roll around with Seamus Miden’s wife.”

Lying on the bed, Seamus murmured to Aella as if brainwashing her.

Aella wanted to cover her ears, but her hands wouldn’t move. As a result, Seamus’s words continued to flow into her ears.

“He’s the one who abandoned his fiancée on the Emperor’s orders. He already has a track record, so what makes you go on about divorce, Aella? Are you that stupid? That bastard used you to piss me off. And the Crown Princess foolishly fell for it.”

Seamus’s voice, continuously flowing in, bound Aella like a curse. Aella felt as if she might never get out of that bed forever.

“He’s already abandoned you once. He’s abandoned you again this time. You’ve been abandoned again, Aella. How pitiful.”

Seamus’s chuckling laughter continued to scratch at Aella’s heart. Her heart, becoming tattered, hurt so much that Aella closed her eyes.

Seamus’s laughter lingered in Aella’s ears like a ghost for a long time.

—

***

Morning sunlight poured into Aella’s bedroom. Morning had inevitably arrived, but Aella felt as if she were trapped in an eternal night.

“No. Nothing is certain yet.”

Having stayed awake all night with her eyes open, Aella hugged her knees and shook her head.

Afraid that everything Seamus had said might be true, Aella had trembled in fear throughout the dark night. If it was true, could she endure that sense of betrayal and despair?

*Please, Ther. Don’t push me back into the abyss of hell again.* Aella bit her lip, suppressing her tears.

“Hmm.”

At the sight of Seamus stirring, Aella glanced beside her with a tense face. Her expression twisted at the sight of Seamus asleep.

Last night, Seamus had tormented Aella by saying over and over that Ther Motita had abandoned her. He had kept saying she had been abandoned until just before falling asleep.

As if his curses had been sown throughout her body, Aella bit her lip.

Just then, a knock came at the door. Wiping her tear-filled eyes with the back of her hand, Aella answered.

“Yes.”

“Aella.”

It was Media who opened the door and entered. Media’s gaze, once inside, went not to Aella but to Seamus asleep on the bed. Media’s eyes momentarily flashed cold.

“Morning has come.”

Only at Media’s appearance did Aella realize that the dark night had passed and morning had arrived.

“Did His Highness the Crown Prince sleep here?”

Media asked Aella without taking her eyes off Seamus. Though she tried not to show her emotions, Media’s hand gripping her skirt was tense.

“Yeah.”

Aella answered with a listless expression, glancing at Seamus.

She hadn’t had the energy to wake Seamus and send him away, so she had just left him there. She also didn’t want his mouth, which had finally fallen silent, to open again.

Media turned her gaze to Aella.

“Why did he sleep here?”

“I don’t know.”

Aella answered with a gaunt face, getting out of bed and heading toward the door connected to the dressing room.

Media, frowning, followed Aella and asked persistently.

“Aella, what happened with His Highness the Crown Prince yesterday? …Did you consummate your marriage?”

Media was anxious and nervous, wondering if Seamus had taken Aella.

*He said she was disgusting and horrible, so why is he sleeping here? Is it because the Grand Duke Motita said he would take Aella away?*

Knowing well the extent of Seamus’s inferiority complex toward the Grand Duke Motita, Media thought it was entirely possible. Had Seamus taken Aella to prevent the Grand Duke Motita from taking her away?

“I’m going out. Please prepare my外出 clothes.”

Aella let Media’s question go in one ear and out the other, then entered the dressing room.

Following Aella into the dressing room with a stiff face, Media’s expression instantly twisted. Red marks were left here and there on Aella’s body as she took off her négligée.

*Those are…*

Media’s eyes turned fierce. It seemed the Crown Prince had indeed taken Aella last night. Given Aella’s personality, she probably hadn’t spent the night with Ther Motita.

It was impossible for a well-bred noble lady to commit adultery. Media knew well how upright and rigid Aella was.

Those marks on Aella’s body were surely left by Seamus. Media stood before Aella, trembling.

“Aella, you…”

Media, about to demand an answer, trailed off. Asking whether she had slept with Seamus was too strange.

“Hmm?”

“What exactly happened? Do you know how worried I’ve been?”

Media quickly changed tack.

“I’m sorry. Something happened.”

Aella answered with a complicated expression.

“I’ve been so worried.”

Media went to the wardrobe, took out外出 clothes, and returned to Aella. While helping Aella dress, Media continued in a hurt tone.

“Lady Dioudis won’t even let you be seen, you’ve been holed up in your room, and His Highness the Crown Prince is sleeping here.”

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you after I return.”

Aella said, looking at Media with an apologetic expression.

“Where are you—”

Before Media could finish asking where she was going, Seamus’s voice cut her off.

“It seems you won’t be satisfied unless you see with your own two eyes that you’ve been abandoned by that bastard. How dull.”

Leaning crookedly against the doorframe of the dressing room, Seamus let out a short laugh.

At the sound of Seamus’s voice, Aella and Media turned around. Their eyes wavered with different emotions.

“Stop your foolishness, Aella. I’m telling you to maintain the dignity of the Crown Princess.”

Seamus strode over to Aella and grabbed her wrist.

Aella pried Seamus’s hand off her wrist and spoke.

“I only believe what I see and hear with my own eyes. I’m going to check with my own eyes.”

“You really don’t see it’s a waste of time? How stupid you are.”

With the hand Aella had pushed away, Seamus grabbed her chin.

Aella glared at Seamus with fierce eyes and pushed his hand away from her chin.

“Fine, if that’s your wish, do it. Go and see with your own eyes. Your abandoned self.”

Seamus stepped aside from Aella readily.

Biting her lip, Aella passed him and headed for the door. As she left the dressing room, Aella instructed Media.

“Media, have the carriage prepared. I’m going to the lake castle.”

“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

Media, who had been watching Aella and Seamus, answered with a reluctant expression.

As Media passed by Seamus, he grabbed her arm. Media flinched and looked up at Seamus.

“Leave Media here.”

Seamus said to Aella.

Aella frowned and turned around. She saw Seamus holding Media’s arm.

Angry at Seamus for treating even Media so roughly, Aella approached with quick steps.

“Take your hand off her. Don’t treat Media badly. Media is my precious friend.”

At Aella’s words, Seamus chuckled and turned around. Then, as if to show off, he wrapped his arm around Media’s waist.

“She certainly is a precious friend. So precious that you share your husband with her.”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Media, unable to hide her embarrassment at Seamus’s actions, glanced at Aella’s reaction.

*What am I supposed to do if he says this to Aella all of a sudden?*

Aella’s face showed she was struggling to understand what was happening.

Seeing that face, Seamus let out a short laugh and continued.

“You look like you don’t understand, you stupid Aella. The mistress I said I wanted to openly keep—it’s Media.”

“What are you saying…”

Aella’s eyes, unable to properly comprehend Seamus’s words, became clouded with confusion.