TYWAUOM 32

Chapter 32

“Edward oppa. Do you know how I felt when I heard those words earlier?”

“……”

“I… I was happy without even realizing it. Even though you were treating our engagement like some kind of trade, my heart still fluttered. I should’ve felt miserable, and yet… ah.”

A hollow, bitter laugh escaped her lips. Edward unknowingly clenched his hand at the way his sister’s voice crumbled. The sudden pressure made Aisha flinch slightly and let out a soft groan of pain.

Snapping back to his senses, Edward quickly withdrew his hand. Aisha rubbed her sore shoulder, then gently placed her hand again on her brother’s. She held his much larger hand tightly in both of hers.

“I was foolish… I’m sorry for making your heart ache. Really, I’m sorry. When I think of you and the others, I know I should be smarter… but I just couldn’t. I’m sorry.”

Her repeated apologies made Edward’s jaw clench tightly. He stared down at his trembling sister, who clung to his hand as if it were a lifeline, and after a long pause, he finally opened his mouth.

“Aisha… I’ve never believed in myths or legends. But today, for the first time, I curse Cupid’s arrow.”

Cupid was the cherubic god from the ancient myths of the Caesar Empire, the son of Venus, the goddess of love. Though he looked like an adorable child, his arrows held immense power—anyone struck by them would fall into an inescapable, cursed love. Because of this, people often said that someone suffering from unrequited love had been deeply pierced by Cupid’s arrow.

Edward had always scoffed at such tales since he was a child. But seeing his sister unable to let go of Ian despite all the pain, it felt as if such a cursed arrow might truly exist. He tried to pull his hand away from hers but stopped, then said in a weary voice,

“I won’t say anything more. If this is what you’ve chosen, who am I to stop you? But as your brother, I only wish…”

“……”

“…that the arrow lodged in your heart is pulled out as soon as possible.”

For the first time in years, Sophia visited the Parden household—or to be precise, was dragged there by Ian.

“Ian, please… oppa. I, I just…”

“……”

“There’s no need to go this far. I only need to apologize to Aisha… just to her, isn’t that enough? Please?”

From the front gate, Sophia’s face was twisted in humiliation, on the verge of tears. Though she was being pulled along by her brother, she shook her head desperately. But Ian didn’t look at her or stop walking as he held her hand firmly and strode forward.

As the Ian siblings walked toward the house, the rest of the Parden family—excluding Aisha—were gathered in the mansion’s largest parlor, waiting. None of their expressions were pleasant, and the servants carefully watched the moods of the family.

“Even on a day like this, she dares show up late. Honestly… tch.”

“Ahem…”

Seated in the highest position on the couch with her husband, Marisa couldn’t hide her displeasure. At her pointed comment, Graham cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the whole situation. After some hesitation, he spoke to his wife cautiously.

“Marisa… since we’ve called in the notary, let’s send the children and the staff out. Too many people may not be wise…”

“Graham. If that’s all you’re going to say, it’d be better if you just drank your tea. Do you know how furious I am about having to settle for something like this? Are you in your right mind?”

Her sharp rebuke made everyone except Arthur scowl. Before Marisa could say more, Daniel, who had been standing with his arms crossed, raised his voice.

“Mother is right. I’m already livid that this is being wrapped up with just an apology… and you expect us to leave? Who knows what Sophia might pull on Aisha again? I’m not leaving. No—I refuse to.”

The Earl of Parden couldn’t bring himself to respond to his wife. He knew. He knew that by not pressing charges against Sophia, Marisa had already shown great leniency.

But forcing a noble young lady—especially in front of Aisha, the entire family, a notary, and eight deliberately summoned servants—to beg for forgiveness was a public humiliation of the highest order. Still, he could no longer argue with his wife. Frustrated, he turned his scolding on Daniel instead.

“Daniel! Don’t interrupt your parents! And why are you wearing that sword? Take it back to your room this instant!”

“No. What if she starts running her mouth again? I might have to cut that tongue off.”

“Did you just—?!”

Graham was about to leap up, furious at Daniel’s harsh words, when something caught his eye and made him stop. The rest of the family turned to the parlor entrance.

“…I’m sorry I’m a little late.”

“Come in, Aisha.”

Aisha stood in the doorway, wearing a beige dress. When her eyes met Graham’s, she gave him an awkward smile and quickly looked away before taking a seat as Marisa gestured. Her expression made Graham lower his head and bite his lip.

‘Marisa’s right. I shouldn’t be like this. Sophia might feel like a daughter to me, but… my real daughter is Aisha.’

With a sorrowful sigh, Graham fell into silence. His wife was right. In trying to keep an eye on the Ian siblings, he had neglected his own children.

“You better get your head on straight. If you go forgiving her right away or say anything soft, I won’t let it go.”

Daniel scoffed at his father’s downcast appearance and warned Aisha with crossed arms. Aisha nodded at his stern tone and looked over her family one by one.

Her father, Graham, was holding his head in his hand, while her mother sat with her back stiff and expression cold—just like Daniel. Across from her, Edward sat with his eyes closed, a slight furrow in his brow.

‘Because of me… everyone…’

Aisha’s heart tightened with guilt as she slowly shifted her gaze toward Edward. Sitting beside him, Arthur flinched when their eyes met and quickly turned his head away. It was odd, but Aisha, too deep in her self-reproach, didn’t notice anything strange.

Silence fell over the room—but it didn’t last. Ian and Sophia arrived.

“I don’t want to go in…”

Sophia’s voice was clear enough to be heard from the parlor. Clinging to Ian’s arm, she pleaded with a pale face, but stopped when she saw the arched doorway to the parlor.

“Ah…”

As the stares of more than a dozen people focused on her, Sophia’s legs wobbled. But Ian supported her without a word, helping her stand upright as he bowed politely.

“It’s been a while. I’ve come to formally apologize to Lady Aisha and the Earl of Parden.”

Facing the sixteen pairs of eyes—including her brother—Sophia looked ready to faint. She instinctively tried to turn and flee, but Ian didn’t allow it. Blocking her way, he all but pushed her into the center of the room.

All eyes were on her. After being thoroughly scolded by Ian in the past few days, Sophia knew exactly what she had to do.

Hesitating, she stepped in front of Aisha and looked up at her brother with teary eyes. But Ian remained firm. At his signal, Sophia reluctantly opened her mouth.

“I… huu… I-I’m sor… I… waaah!”

Her apology was unbearable to watch. She couldn’t even pronounce the words properly as she hung her head and sobbed. At that moment, she looked less like a noble lady and more like a crying seven-year-old. Aisha looked at her, bewildered, then turned to Marisa.

Unlike Aisha, Marisa’s face didn’t change at all. With cold eyes, she glared at Sophia before standing up and addressing Ian in a firm tone.

“Marquis, you’re not planning to end it like this, are you?”

Her formal address was icy. Marisa had cared for the Ian siblings for years and usually addressed Ian casually unless in official settings. The fact that she used his title now made it clear this was formal.

“You must carry out exactly what we agreed upon. In the presence of the notary, Lady Sophia must kneel before my daughter and offer a sincere apology.”

At her signal, the notary who had been standing aside approached. He was a stern-looking man in glasses. Sophia’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She had heard about this before coming—but to think they’d actually make her, the only daughter of House Lloyd, kneel in front of someone like Aisha, and even record it in a document?

But Ian didn’t bat an eye. He had clearly expected this. He bowed and replied,

“Of course, madam.”

“O-Oppa…”

“Sophia Lloyd. As the head of our house, I command you—kneel before Lady Aisha and offer a proper apology. Now.”

At the word “oppa,” Ian responded coldly. Sophia looked at him in disbelief, then turned her eyes to Graham, who sat beside Marisa.

She knew how soft the Earl of Parden was on her. If she just called him “uncle” once… just like always, he’d protect her. Just like that day. Even when she confessed, it was he who stopped the Countess from exploding.

“Hic… Uncle… Uncle, please h-help me… waaah…”

Her choked sobs were pitiful. But Graham didn’t even look her way. As he turned his face away, Sophia’s entire body began to tremble.