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CHAPTER 69
By the time I returned to the mansion, it was already later than my usual dinner hour.
After hurrying through a bath, I came downstairs to find Idris waiting in the dining room.
Feeling a bit guilty, I offered him an awkward smile and said,
“Sorry, Idris. You must’ve waited long. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Don’t mention it. Waiting for a lady is a gentleman’s joy.”
As soon as I sat down, the food began arriving, almost as if it had been waiting for me.
The table was always filled with rich and plentiful dishes, but tonight’s meal looked especially exquisite.
‘Maybe it just feels that way because I’m really hungry…’
As I sat there, keeping my composure while waiting for the food to be fully laid out, a knock sounded at the door, and the butler entered.
In his hands was a bottle of wine, elegantly packaged.
‘That’s… an incredibly expensive wine.’
It was Rembarsan wine, famous for its exceptional flavor.
Of course, the wines I’d had at the ducal estate were all rare and costly, since they were supplied to the Duke’s household—but this wine, the one right in front of me now, was even more valuable and prestigious than any of those.
It wasn’t just expensive—it was the kind of wine you couldn’t easily get your hands on, even if you had the money.
Collectors even fought over it in auctions.
As I watched the butler skillfully uncork the bottle, I asked,
“A celebratory drink is nice, but… isn’t this wine a little too rare to drink just like that?”
Idris accepted the glass the butler poured for him and replied,
“If not on a day like this, then when? To celebrate my partner’s victory, it has to be something worthy.”
Then he gestured for my glass to be filled as well.
“I’ve noticed you’re not one to indulge in alcohol. How’s your tolerance?”
Hmm… not great, honestly.
No, to be precise—I was a lightweight.
But I couldn’t bring myself to reject a gesture like this, especially when my partner had generously opened such a priceless bottle just for me.
So I dodged the question a bit.
“Enough to enjoy a glass or two.”
More than anything, just for today, I kind of wanted to drink.
As I lifted my glass, Idris gently tapped his against mine.
“Drink to your heart’s content. This gentleman is buying.”
Everything in this mansion belonged to Idris, and everything I’d eaten or drunk here had been paid for by him.
His comment wasn’t meant to point that out, but rather made in playful jest.
I let out a soft laugh and sipped from my glass.
And then—
“Wow… it’s delicious!”
The words slipped out before I even realized it.
To be honest, I was never much of a drinker. Especially not bitter alcohol.
When I said that, people would usually respond with, “That’s because you haven’t tasted the bitterness of life yet.”
‘What nonsense. I’ve tasted enough bitterness in life to last me several lifetimes—that’s exactly why I only want sweet things now.’
So, I hadn’t had high expectations for this drink either. It was just for the mood.
But whether it was due to its high price or Idris having chosen it to suit my taste, the wine had a delightful balance of sweet fruit aroma and a smooth, mild bitterness.
As I kept sipping, savoring the flavor, Idris chuckled at the sight.
“I’m glad you like it. But don’t let your guard down—sweet wines can hit you hard before you know it.”
“This much is fine.”
I brushed off his warning and reached for the now beautifully set meal.
As I indulged in the delicious food and drink, relishing the simple happiness of the moment, Idris, who had been watching me, asked,
“So, how do you feel?”
“You mean about the victory?”
He nodded in place of a verbal response.
After a moment’s thought, I said,
“Hm… Not as satisfying as I thought it’d be.”
“Because revenge is hollow?”
“No. That’s the kind of thing kind, upright people say.”
At that, Idris furrowed his brow in mock severity and objected.
“You always underestimate yourself. But you’re one of the rare, kind, and upright people I’ve met.”
If someone overheard, they’d think I was criticizing myself.
Surprised by how hard he was trying to defend me, I stared at him for a moment—then gave in and chuckled.
“Thanks for seeing me in such a good light. But I didn’t mean anything that deep. It’s just that I still have a final goal left.”
“You mean… the Duke of Farnese?”
I gave a small nod.
It takes two hands to make a clap.
Even if Elise had seduced him, their affair wouldn’t have happened if Peidan hadn’t given in.
‘So putting all the blame on Elise would be unfair.’
From the beginning until now, my final goal hadn’t changed.
Without throwing away my own life, I would drag both Peidan and Elise down to the depths.
‘But there’s no need to rush.’
The mana stones were being mined smoothly, the boutique was thriving, and even now, my wealth was steadily growing.
And when the noble ladies who witnessed today’s events started spreading the word, public opinion would soon flip in my favor.
Still, despite everything going so smoothly, there was something that kept nagging at me—something that wasn’t just about Peidan.
‘Madam Cloel didn’t attend the tea party today.’
Madam Cloel.
The woman my father had an affair with while my mother lay on her deathbed.
She later became my legal stepmother, though I’d never truly acknowledged her.
She was once a fallen noblewoman, but after my mother died, she rose to become the Countess of Cloel.
Perhaps due to her humble origins, she had a strong desire to climb the social ladder and attended every social gathering she could.
And yet, she hadn’t come to the capital, nor had she attended the Empress’s tea party—a major social event.
‘In my previous life, I was too preoccupied with my own situation to give it much thought…’
And back then, I was still keeping up appearances with Peidan.
But now? The rumors of our fallout had spread, and I was even entangled in a scandal with Idris.
Surely that news would’ve reached Cloel by now—and yet, there was only silence. That silence was unsettling.
‘By now, I expected her to show up asking for money… or at least demanding I use my connection with Idris for her benefit.’
As I was sinking into the ominous quiet before a storm, Idris’s voice pulled me out of it.
“Leticia.”
He raised his glass slightly and said in a sincere tone,
“Just enjoy today’s victory.”
“…”
“You deserve it.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded—and then I realized.
That’s why he had prepared the wine.
‘He was worried I might be caught up in the emptiness of revenge… and was trying to comfort me.’
Come to think of it, he had always been the one who kept me from drowning in fear and uncertainty.
‘So this is what it means to have a partner.’
Even if it was a partnership born from business.
When I was with Peidan, I constantly felt the need to prove myself—always striving not to disappoint him.
But now I understood that a true partner doesn’t expect you to meet their standards.
A true partner simply supports the path you choose to walk.
‘I swore never to trust people again…’
Whether in love, family, or friendship.
Yet here I was—wanting to believe in people again, in the possibility of connection, despite all the scars.
As I sat in silent thought, Idris gently tapped his glass against mine.
“To the boundless glory of Leticia Cloel.”
I looked at the man who was shaking the very resolve I had sworn to keep, and eventually gave a faint smile.
Just for tonight, I decided to set aside my worries and confusion and enjoy the joy of victory, just as he said.
“To the wealth and honor of Idris Del Lua.”
As our glasses met, a clear and elegant clink echoed in the air.
And as if to match the sound, a soft laugh escaped Idris’s lips at my shameless toast.
I laughed with him.
Maybe it was because the wine was so rare, or because it was a toast to victory—
But tonight, the wine lingering on my lips tasted especially sweet.
…It would’ve been nice if the day ended just like that.
But that sweet wine…
…led to a complete disaster.
