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Chapter 61
Choose.
“Ilina. You know very well that I can never be the cause of all your misfortune.”
“No. All my misfortune was decided the moment you, Lorencia, were born!”
“Are you saying that I am your predetermined misfortune?”
“Yes. When your filthy mother died, you should have died too. No, I should have killed you!”
Ilina knew that the wrongs happening now weren’t directly caused by Lorencia, but she refused to admit it. She resented Lorencia. No, she had to resent her. Otherwise, she couldn’t bear it—and the growing suspicion in Luans’ love would soon whisper to betray her.
“It’s all Lorencia’s fault. If only you disappeared, I could be happy.”
“Do you really think you’d be happy if I disappeared just as you wish?”
Lorencia asked calmly.
“At least it wouldn’t be worse than now. Look! All this misfortune you made is because of you.”
As soon as Ilina finished speaking, Lorencia laughed quietly again.
“Even a kitten can’t harm anyone unless someone picks up a hammer and swings it. You’ll have to keep thinking before Luans grabs the hammer and swings.”
“What do you want me to think about?!”
“Think about who drove Lady Anne to suicide, and who is trying to frame you, Ilina, for murder.”
Lorencia took a sip from the cocoa cup in front of her. The sweet taste lingered in her mouth and seeped into her body, causing her to smile unconsciously.
“If you can’t think, just remember this: Prince Luans plans to make public the letters exchanged between you and Lorilors.”
“Letters…?”
“Choose.”
“Choose? What exactly do you want from me, you monster.”
“Choose whether you’ll be the mutt that bites the master’s neck trying to throw you in the pot, or whether you’ll quietly go into the pot and become meat.”
“My choice is to trust Prince Luans’ love.”
“Ilina. You made that choice thinking of Lady Anne, didn’t you?”
<My beloved daughter, Ilina. You must hold onto Prince Luans’ heart.>
“I won’t talk to you anymore.”
<Lady Anne will go to the convent. If she manages convent life, that’s fortunate, but if she doesn’t, she might end her life herself. So she should make lots of good memories before entering.>
Recalling Luans’ past words, Ilina’s face instantly turned pale. Her face, already fair, now became whiter than snow. Her body, frozen in shock, began trembling, and thick tears started streaming down.
“If you want to change the choice you just made, give me the letters. Ilina.”
Leaving Ilina crying uncontrollably, Lorencia and Teishar exited the parlor.
Teishar asked Lorencia,
“Why are you telling her?”
About the misfortune that awaits her.
“It’s maddening to know misfortune is coming rather than be surprised by it.”
The deeper Ilina’s love for Luans, the more she would resent him in return. If she ever lost control of her emotions, her feelings would burst out as strongly as her love.
Lorencia intended to wait for that.
“Do you think I’m cruel?”
“No. You acted like the daughter of the wise goddess Ella.”
Teishar admired Lorencia’s words, planting seeds of doubt about Luans in Ilina.
“No matter what I do, the Marquess Spencer only praises me.”
“Everything Miss Lorencia does is right.”
“Even if I do something bad?”
“I will join you in that bad deed.”
Teishar answered boldly. Lorencia only smiled.
Because of Anne’s death, Ilina stayed secluded in the Marquis’ residence, worrying everyone greatly.
However, the social scene was turned upside down when letters discovered in the late Lorilors’ mansion revealed that Ilina, not Anne, had sent a letter asking Lorencia to be humiliated. People were outraged.
Even more shocking was the revelation that she orchestrated the murder of Lorilors’ heir to retrieve the letters. Even though Lorilors was unpleasant, people mourned him for dying unjustly.
<I never expected Lady Ilina to be such trash.>
<Prince Luans probably met her thinking she was just a villain.>
<Empress Mama decided to have Miss Lorencia stay at the palace for a while.>
<Thank goodness.>
To hide her own misdeeds, Ilina used her mother as a shield, and society began pointing fingers at her. The once-glorious socialite faded away.
Charlotte saw her chance and began actively interacting with others, gradually shifting the dynamics of high society. Empress Ines was very pleased with the turn of events.
“Thanks to Miss Lorencia, Empress Ines is becoming the center of society. She is very pleased. Whatever you desire, tell me, Miss Lorencia.”
“Nothing for now, Princess Charlotte.”
“Then tell me if something comes up later.”
“Understood, Princess Charlotte.”
Lorencia smiled. Charlotte was much smarter and more resourceful than expected. If asked who would make a better emperor between Adrian and Charlotte, she would answer without hesitation: Charlotte.
“Miss Lorencia, you mentioned discussing the next plan, right?”
Charlotte smiled at Lorencia.
Luans reflected on where things went wrong, but nothing came to mind. He never imagined losing the duel of honor against Lorilors. The unexpected outcome left him confused.
It felt like everyone was pointing fingers at him.
“If you’re still thinking about the duel, forget it, Luans.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Lorilors’ heir is dead.”
“Thank you for avenging him, Mother.”
Lorilors deserved to die. He was a fool who dared to point a sword at him without knowing his place.
“He was foolish.”
If Lorilors had lost but survived, he would still have been alive, yet he raised his sword against him. A foolish choice led to a cruel death, which was just.
“Forget about it now. Focus only on becoming Crown Prince and eventually Emperor.”
Pellena gently placed her hand on Luans’ hand resting on the table.
“Of course, Mother.”
Since childhood, Luans had believed without doubt that he would become emperor.
“I will become Emperor and change everything.”
“Remember, Luans, you were destined to be Emperor.”
Luans’ resolve to become Emperor strengthened even more due to the humiliation of the duel. Once Emperor, he planned to erase this shameful duel from history.
“Yes, Mother. I will become Emperor of the Ishter Empire.”
Luans trusted Lorencia. She had revealed the future in which Adrian dies from an arrow. The one who shot the arrow was Teishar. Lorencia stayed in the palace to catch him.
With Lorencia, who had awakened the power to see the future, by his side, he could remove all obstacles and avoid all harm.
At that moment, a slight smile appeared on Luans’ lips.
“Prince Luans! Lady Pellena!”
“Sila. What’s all the commotion about?”
Pellena glared at the maid, Sila, who had rushed in.
“They say the capital is in chaos over Lady Ilina.”
“Over Lady Ilina?”
“They say Lady Ilina’s letters have been revealed.”
“Lady Ilina’s letters?”
“During the investigation of the murdered Lorilors’ heir’s mansion, letters were found, said to be from Lady Ilina to Lorilors’ heir.”
“Lady Ilina sent letters to Lorilors’ heir?”
It was strange. Lorilors was widely disliked in society. That Ilina sent letters to him was incomprehensible.
“Do you know the contents of the letters, Sila?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Tell me.”
“They reportedly asked Lorilors’ heir to attack Miss Lorencia.”
Sila began explaining the widespread news in the capital about Lorilors’ murder and the letters from Ilina found in his mansion.
“We should return to the capital, Mother.”
“It’s best to hear it directly from the person involved.”
“After listening, we will need to decide whether to deal with Lady Ilina and Count Paul Heredian’s estate.”
Luans’ smile deepened.
Ilina suffered under the blame directed at her. Why did she send the letter to Lorilors directly? If she could turn back time, she would immediately write the letter to him through her mother, Anne.
Her thoughts multiplied, and she was filled with regret. She felt careless.
She wrote the letter only wishing Lorencia to suffer, but the opposite happened.
Brant’s business also faltered, and he did not come to the mansion. Every morning, many letters arrived inviting her, but after the letter to Lorilors was revealed, not a single invitation came.
She never killed Lorilors. Yet, the misunderstanding caused by the letter made her depressed and miserable.
She couldn’t even claim she didn’t write the letter to Lorilors—the handwriting would betray her.
Even if she protested that she hadn’t killed him, the letter clearly showed motive, and gossip snowballed beyond what she had even realized.
