Chapter 154: Decision
“Why did you lie to me and hide her?” Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Because I’m pathetic…” Sigren bit his lip.
My eyes widened at his unexpected answer. Why did he feel pathetic?
“This is the empress’s goal.”
“Her goal?”
“Yes, it’s all intentional. She deliberately pushed a woman who resembled my mother into the emperor’s bedroom to lure you out. She must have thought I couldn’t turn a blind eye to a woman in the same situation as your mother….”
Sigren let out a sigh of frustration. “And I did it even though I knew it.”
Yeah, I guess. Sigren’s heart was not made of iron. He certainly had weaknesses, and the empress understood him.
“That’s even embarrassing.”
I shrugged; I had nothing to say. “Well, I wouldn’t have liked it either if you pretended not to know a woman who was in danger.”
Sigren laughed bitterly. “I felt troubled when you were so broad-minded about me like that, Fiona.”
“If I have a big heart, shouldn’t you just be thankful?” Anyway, I had a soft spot when it came to Sigren. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Sigren hugged me and whispered, “Then I was afraid you would go on a rampage and run away without knowing the reason….”
Go on a rampage? That was so mean! What excessive words he used about me.
“Anyway, I swear to you, I have nothing to do with her.”
“Okay, I’ll believe you.” Now that he was being honest, it was okay. I couldn’t be angry with him anymore. I also felt responsible. I didn’t want to bring up his dead mother because it was such a sensitive matter for him, so let’s end the conversation here.
“I’ll help her escape the empress’s gaze and send her back to a moderately safe place.”
“Okay, let me know if you need help.” I hugged him from behind. But somehow, I thought it was too easy for this to end just like this.
***
Livya told me, “Lady Fiona, should I introduce you to some good, fresh young men?” Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Lady Livya, I’m dating someone.”
Livya opened her fan and smiled widely. “The rumors about that person have been quite ugly these days.”
Ah, Livya was angry.
I laughed awkwardly but couldn’t refute it because that was exactly what she said. Recently, the rumors that Sigren favored the mysterious young singer had become the talk of everyone. The one who spread the rumor must have been the empress.
Now I understood why she had suddenly broken her period of self-reflection and become active in noble society. That was exactly what she was aiming for. What a high-level move!
She brought in a woman who was in the same situation as Sigren’s mother—the one she herself had killed—and showed him that she held a lifeline, shaking it in front of him. Then she used it to create rumors that damaged Sigren’s reputation. What was even sadder was that, in a situation like this, I could do nothing but defend myself.
“There’s a misunderstanding.”
However, no matter how well I explained it, to Livya, it must have sounded like the words of an innocent girl denying her lover’s affair. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“All the girls in this world say that when they witness their lover cheating for the first time.”
Wow, Livya, that was a bit mean.
Livya laughed softly. “So, you have to get a better partner.”
It was obvious what my image would be in society. Before, there was already a rumor that the prince had deliberately approached me to use the Heilon influence. Now, public opinion was increasingly leaning toward that rumor. In the end, I became the innocent, foolish young lady who had been tricked by a man and taken advantage of.
The empress and the ladies close to her must have worked hard to spread these rumors.
Now, Livya’s proposal only frustrated me further because I couldn’t even explain it properly to the people on my side. Another concern was that I was afraid this rumor had reached Abel’s ears. Well, I was pretty sure he had heard it. That was why I had come out today. I was afraid of his reaction, and to be honest, I also didn’t want to face the marriage letters that had been pouring in lately.
“I’d rather see you happy!”
Her intention was good; she even said such touching words. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
I sighed. What a problem.
“Excuse me, Lady Fiona Heilon?”
I looked up. A man around my age stood in front of me. I recognized his face, but who was it again?
“I don’t know if you remember me. I gave you flowers last time.”
I came to my senses quickly. Oh, this damn bastard dared to show his face after giving me that flower? What nerve! Should I go tell Abel right away? No, there was no need for that. It would be better if I took care of him myself, for my own purposes, of course. I had gotten quite cranky because of the rumors about Sigren and the singer.
Yeah, what an irony. I pretended to be cool in front of Sigren, but deep down, I still felt jealous.
Let’s find a good way to deal with this damn bastard. He was a noble, so it wouldn’t be wise to handle him too quickly.
I grinned widely.
“What’s the matter?”
The man responded calmly.
“My name is Paul Steven.”
Of course, I didn’t care whether this bastard’s name was Paul or Fool. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Paul gave me a social smile.
“Did you receive the flowers last time?”
“Oh, of course.”
“I’ve repeatedly submitted marriage proposals to the Heilon family, but there has been no reply.”
“My father doesn’t want to, so that should be enough of an answer.”
But my problem was why this man had given me flowers like that. Did the flowers have a different meaning?
“I knew what it meant. But, Lady Heilon, could we talk for a moment?”
“I’ll refuse.”
Paul looked sad.
“From your reaction, it seems you know something about the flowers.”
“Yes. Did you send them to mock me?”
He shook his head. “Absolutely not. If you don’t mind, could you give me a chance to defend myself?”
Then he lowered his voice. “It’s hard to say it here….”
In the end, we’d have to see each other alone. I wondered if this was a trap or if there would be useful information. Well, I was a mage, so I thought it would be fine even if there was something dangerous.
However, just as I was about to agree, someone called me from behind.
“Miss Fiona Heilon?”
It was a deep yet soft voice.
I turned around and saw a familiar face—the songstress who had been bothering me lately. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Oh? Why?”
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