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Chapter : 21
To Valentis’ eyes, Sophie really did seem “fine.”
But she still looked unsettled.
“It’s something I’m used to hearing,” she said.
Sophie had never been one to show her emotions easily.
That was why Valentis always found her to be an intriguing person.
Even when he wanted to get to know her better, she remained shrouded in mystery.
“…Used to it?” he asked.
“Well…”
Sophie paused, choosing her words carefully.
“I’ve heard it before. A lot.”
Valentis watched as her lips moved slightly. It was just a fleeting moment, her pale lips twitching slightly, but to him, it felt endless—like time had stopped.
“So there’s really no need to worry about me.”
Her eyes, the color of the sky—clear and brilliant blue—did not waver. No matter how he looked, there was no sign of hurt in those calm eyes. Yet, for some reason, Valentis’s heart ached as though she had been deeply wounded.
“I already knew about Kevin.”
Hearing Sophie mumble so casually made Valentis’ chest tighten.
He wanted to draw his sword and confront Kevin immediately.
Kevin had spoken of Sophie as though she were insignificant and worthless. But she wasn’t.
To Valentis, Sophie was the most decent person he knew. He wanted to shout that out.
So he said to her,
“If you don’t want him coming around here anymore, I’ll make sure he doesn’t.”
In truth, Valentis hoped she would accept his offer.
“If you want, I’ll even make him get on his knees and apologize.”
The very thought that someone so meaningless had dared to insult Sophie infuriated him.
To Valentis, Sophie was the most complex and difficult person in the world.
He found himself watching her every move, reacting even to her murmurs.
Unexpected things always seemed to happen around her. That’s why she was so hard for him—he never quite knew how to treat her.
“A guy like that dared to…”
“There’s no need for that, Lord Valentis.”
Sophie spoke more coldly than ever before.
“I’m more ruthless than you think. I don’t want to force someone to kneel through intimidation.”
“…”
“And I want this to be quietly buried.”
Sophie lowered her head as she spoke her mind.
“I don’t want other people to know my secret.”
Now he understood why she had hidden her surname, Shericas, all this time. She didn’t want to reveal it at all.
Still, Valentis remained curious about her, and that made him feel guilty.
“I hope you’ll stop being curious about me, Lord Valentis.”
“…”
“And I hope you’ll stop getting involved, too.”
Somehow, her expression stayed with him.
“…You can do that for me, can’t you, Lord Valentis?”
“…”
“Please keep the secret.”
I’m really fine. Sophie earnestly pleaded with Valentis.
Now that he thought about it, both Arthur and Arabelle had told him not to pry either.
Setting aside his uneasy feelings, Valentis slowly nodded.
“That’s the first time you’ve called me by my name.”
“…”
“Then I’ll grant you that request.”
She usually called him something like “Your Highness.” Valentis never stopped watching her for even a moment.
Because of the fog that had rolled down from the mountains, Sophie looked like a watercolor—blurred and delicate. As the temperature dropped, she rubbed her arms.
“Ah… It’s cold.”
Sophie acted as if nothing had happened.
“Let’s go inside. Let’s have another cup of tea.”
* * *
Kevin continued to rush into Sophie’s pharmacy often.
“Kevin, you came again.”
“You’ll make me a nice cup of tea, won’t you, Sophie?”
“Of course.”
Even knowing that Kevin had insulted her behind her back, Sophie acted as she always did.
Because that’s how she was used to living.
And because she didn’t want to stir up a pointless fight with someone who barely counted as human.
She’d rather tend to her herbs than waste time arguing. After all, she had many customers to serve.
Kevin came the next day, and the next, often bringing his coworkers with him as if to show off.
“These are my colleagues. We work in the Imperial Treasury.”
Kevin spoke as if he were bragging.
“You could say we manage all the money that flows through the palace.”
“Really? That’s impressive.”
They even had casual conversations.
“Sophie seems to be braver and bolder than we thought.”
“Still, it must be hard seeing your ex again.”
Maybe it’s because she’s from the Shericas family. Arthur and Arabelle whispered behind Sophie’s back.
“Still, why does her ex keep coming to the pharmacy?”
Could it be that he still has feelings for her? While Arabelle let her imagination run wild, Valentis kept his lips tightly sealed.
“No way…”
Arthur smiled nervously at Arabelle’s words. Surely Sophie and Kevin weren’t going to get back together? He quickly looked away.
Normally, Valentis would be glaring at Kevin along with him, but now, he was surprisingly silent.
“It’s just Arabelle’s imagination, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Neither of them knew about Kevin’s rude remarks the night before. Valentis kept that secret, just as he had promised.
He held it alone, almost as a form of penance for having once tried to dig into Sophie’s past.
“Maybe they’ll even get back together. Imagine—former lovers reunited in this quiet place… So romantic.”
“Maybe they’re just happy to see each other again after so long.”
Kevin came again, just as Arabelle had predicted.
“He’s definitely here because he missed Sophie!”
Arabelle exclaimed excitedly.
“He probably feels like he’ll go crazy if he doesn’t see her face every day!”
Having only read about romance in novels, Arabelle let her imagination run wild.
“Maybe he’ll even propose soon!”
Just then, her face hardened as she saw the woman walking in behind Kevin.
“Here it is, Melissa.”
“This is it? It looks so shabby and rundown.”
The woman had her arm locked with Kevin’s—clearly his lover.
“Yeah, it’s a bit like that.”
The mocking tone in her voice made Arabelle scowl. Now she realized what was going on.
Kevin had brought his colleagues—and Melissa—with him.
For whom? For Sophie, of course.
“Hah!”
Even Arabelle, well-known in high society, didn’t recognize this woman.
She looked around the old pharmacy with a curled lip.
“Looks like bugs could crawl out at any minute.”
“They just might.”
“Sophie! Bring me some tea!” Kevin shouted, like he was ordering drinks at a bar.
Don’t get involved. That was Sophie’s first and only request.
Valentis clenched his teeth and forced himself to stay seated, sipping tea.
“…Damn.”
Arthur, sensing the situation, also wore an uncomfortable expression.
“Here’s your tea.”
“Sophie. This is my girlfriend—Melissa Shailov.”
Daughter of Count Shailov.
“Nice to meet you,” Sophie said calmly.
Kevin had always liked to show off. Greedy, he enjoyed flaunting what he had.
Having found success, Kevin had landed a decent job. For someone like him, the hidden existence of Sophie from the Shericas family was an eyesore.
Kevin had promptly dumped her, and Sophie had accepted it.
“I told you, she’s from the Shericas family…”
“Oh, then she’s the Marchioness’s…?”
“No, the mistress’s daughter.”
And this time, Kevin had brought Melissa because Sophie hadn’t shown even the slightest interest in him.
A mere mistress’s child, yet she had such pride.
“Oh my.”
The two of them spoke loudly, so others could hear what they already knew.
They were deliberately broadcasting the secret Sophie had worked so hard to hide.
“Mistress’s child? That’s the perfect position for a pharmacy owner.”
Melissa snickered.
Arthur and Arabelle froze, unsure what to do before Sophie spoke.
They hadn’t known she carried such a secret.
“So, the fact that I’m a mistress’s child is amusing to you, Lady?” Sophie finally said.
“You—do you know who I am? I’m the daughter of the Shailov family!”
Melissa accused her of being rude.
“And as you said, I belong to the Shericas family,” Sophie replied.
“You care so much about status, so let’s be clear. Not many people know, but I did inherit the Shericas name.”
“…”
“So now, do you understand who’s actually being rude?”
Melissa couldn’t find a response to Sophie’s sharp retort.
“Sophie! That was too much.”
“…Really? Too much?”
Even Kevin jumped in to defend Melissa.
That was when Valentis could no longer hold back and stood up.
“Your Highness!”
For safety, Arthur, Arabelle, and Valentis had been sitting at the back where few people came.
“…Your Highness?”
Sophie’s eyes widened as Valentis suddenly approached.
“Sorry about this.”
“…What?”
“I don’t think I can keep that first promise you asked of me.”
What does he mean?
As Sophie tilted her head in confusion, Valentis strode up to Kevin with his hands behind his back.
With the heart of a dragon, Valentis radiated power and dignity.
Raised as royalty, he stood proudly before Kevin—and Kevin turned pale.
“Who are you? State your name.”
