Chapter 163………………………………………….
A countess’s daughter of no significance, an orphan.
Because of that, there was nothing about her that could attract Leona’s attention.
That is, until she heard a certain rumor.
“They say His Highness the Prince has been trailing that countess’s daughter everywhere?”
The young ladies who brought the gossip said that Cassius had completely fallen for Ayla.
And he wasn’t even ashamed to follow her around like that.
“Still, they say she refuses him every time. But come to think of it, it’s kind of ridiculous. How dare she?”
“Still, isn’t it better than keeping her head too high? At least she’s crawling a bit.”
In front of Leona, the young ladies immediately began criticizing Ayla.
The rumor that Leona liked Cassius hadn’t completely died down yet.
But since Cassius was already outside Leona’s interest, she herself was indifferent.
“As long as it doesn’t get in the way of my plan, I don’t care how the two of them get along.”
Leona’s goal was not to marry Cassius. That was just a means to exact revenge—a tool from the past.
Now, her attention was entirely on pleasing Gabriel in order to get an opportunity to speak with Mars alone.
“If Uncle would help, I wouldn’t have to go through such a troublesome method.”
Lloyd seemed uneasy about Leona seeking revenge.
In any case, Leona was confident that she wouldn’t need to worry about those two anymore.
“Damn it!”
As soon as the terrace door closed, Leona threw the glass she was holding to the floor, shattering it.
Her dress hem was dirtied by the drink, but at this point, such a thing couldn’t even make her angry.
“Damn Cassius. Damn that girl.”
Today was the debutante ball she had been eagerly anticipating.
Even when facing the emperor, shamelessly smiling in the place that should have been Minerva’s, Leona maintained her composure.
All for the sake of avenging Minerva.
But the imperial family’s attention was focused not on Leona, but solely on Ayla.
Because Cassius had publicly announced Ayla as his lover.
The debutante ball was ruined for everyone except Ayla.
Especially for Leona, it was a complete disaster.
During the formal greeting with the emperor and empress, Leona was the only one ignored by the emperor.
No matter what, as the daughter of a grand duke, Mars could not hide his grim expression upon seeing her face.
And the reason was obvious to anyone who knew Minerva.
“Of course… I look too much like my mother.”
Minerva and Leona resembled each other far too closely.
Lloyd had secretly married a provincial noblewoman and had Leona, claiming that her biological mother died at childbirth.
Some believed it was coincidence that she resembled her mother, but others doubted it.
Mars certainly belonged to the suspicious camp.
“This is a disaster.”
Why didn’t I see this coming?
If I had known, I would have just gone straight for it.
Even if I couldn’t bring a sword, I could have at least thrown a bottle at his head.
Her flaring shoulders gradually fell.
Anger and regret ebbed, leaving only a sense of helplessness.
“What do I do now?”
What if Mars even tries to kill me?
Going to Minerva’s side didn’t bother her—it was actually a relief.
But dying unjustly without achieving revenge was something she could never accept.
She had no confidence that she could carry out revenge alone.
Was her only option to give up revenge as Lloyd had suggested?
But if that were the case, there would be no reason to remain alive.
Leona leaned dangerously over the railing as if ready to fall.
“Oh my, Grand Duchess. I was wondering where you went, and here you are.”
“Who—gasp…!”
Someone suddenly spoke from behind, causing Leona to lose her balance and tilt over the railing.
At this height, a light outfit might have allowed a safe landing, but with her heavy dress, she wouldn’t survive the fall.
She hadn’t intended to die just yet!
Leona shut her eyes tight, bracing for the pain.
Instead of the agony of hitting the ground, she felt someone grab her arm firmly.
“…?”
Puzzled, she turned around.
A stunning beauty with black hair was holding her arm. It was Empress Gabriel.
Once Leona regained her balance, Gabriel let go and adjusted Leona’s disheveled dress.
“You must be careful, you know.”
“Your Majesty, Empress.”
“We met earlier, didn’t we? It’s a pleasure to see you, Grand Duchess Eckhart.”
Gabriel greeted Leona warmly and sat down as if nothing had happened.
Why was Empress Gabriel here?
Leona’s confused expression didn’t seem to bother her, and she gestured for Leona to sit.
Almost instinctively, Leona took the seat indicated.
Leona’s mind was spinning.
“Why? Is she here to interrogate me already?”
Gabriel had been Minerva’s playmate, she’d heard.
But there were also rumors that Gabriel had been the one to falsely accuse Minerva.
What on earth was she planning to say here?
Leona watched Gabriel’s lips carefully and swallowed dryly.
“His Majesty the Emperor was rude earlier. I came to apologize on his behalf.”
The emperor never apologized.
Thus, the empress had no need to apologize either.
Yet Gabriel claimed she came to apologize—Leona couldn’t understand it at all.
“Excuse me?”
So she spoke out loudly, forgetting etiquette.
Gabriel, contrary to the rumors, smiled kindly and spoke again.
“No matter what, she’s the debutante of the ball. That reaction was far too rude. I’ll scold him later myself.”
“…?”
Leona still didn’t understand.
Was Gabriel under Mars’s control?
It seemed like it.
But still, she was the empress, after all.
Leona took a deep breath to calm her confusion and asked carefully,
“Did you come here personally just to say that?”
“Well, that and other reasons too.”
Gabriel folded her fan and brought it to her lips, looking at Leona with gently curved eyes.
It was a loving smile.
“From the moment I entered the ballroom, you were all I could see.”
“…Just me?”
Leona allowed herself a faint hope.
Perhaps Gabriel didn’t know her identity, unlike Mars.
But then her red lips moved again.
“Yes. You resemble my dearest friend the most.”
“…!”
“Minerva, you know her, don’t you?”
Leona’s hope evaporated completely.
Damn it, of course.
If Mars had noticed, there was no way Gabriel hadn’t.
She looked far smarter than Mars.
Cold sweat ran down her hands, gripping them tightly, and she couldn’t even raise her face to look at Gabriel.
She wished she could blink and have several days pass, just to escape this moment.
But a command fell from above.
“Lift your head, Grand Duchess.”
If she didn’t want to die here, she couldn’t disobey the empress.
Leona reluctantly lifted her trembling head and met Gabriel’s gaze.
Gabriel leaned in, studying her face closely.
“You really do resemble her… it brings back memories, truly.”
Yet her eyes were strangely moist.
Gabriel was certainly one of those responsible for Minerva’s death.
They should have hated each other.
But Gabriel’s expression now was completely different from what Leona had expected.
Without realizing it, Gabriel reached out and gently caressed Leona’s delicate cheek, as if it were a precious treasure.
It was a touch impossible to resist.
The memory of Minerva stroking her like this came flooding back naturally.
Leona’s heart softened without realizing it. Thoughts of peaceful days with Minerva brought tears to her eyes, and she bowed her head.
Gabriel, without seeing it as strange, kindly offered, as if comforting her,
“Have a cup of tea with me. I have so many things I’m curious about regarding the Grand Duchess.”
