CHAPTER 65……………………………………….
After dragging things out as long as I could, I finally accepted Samuel’s proposal as if I had no other choice.
“Fine. With all the money you have now, you can just about pay it off.”
“Really? Thank you! You saved me!”
“On one condition—you sign a written pledge right here.”
“Of course.”
“That you will never appear before me again, and that you will never mention me to the press or any other media.”
“Y-yes.”
“And no using our relationship to gain goods, services, or favors from others.”
“…I get it.”
“Since my lawyer friend happens to be visiting, we’ll draft the pledge in proper form.”
Of course, Sharon wasn’t visiting by chance; I had requested her presence at the embassy. From the moment I heard the Wallace family had come, I had planned to make them sign a pledge.
‘Legally, I might be in the right, but it’s better to make this absolutely certain.’
I wasn’t about to leave even a slim chance of losing the Andala mines.
Samuel would surely think this was a good deal for him. All he had to do was surrender a troublesome mine and pay a pile of taxes, in exchange for clearing a significant portion of his gambling debt.
“So, who exactly do you owe money to?”
“Are you planning to pay them yourself?”
“You’d just gamble it away if I gave you the money.”
“Ah, no, that’s not it.”
Samuel frowned but obediently told me who his creditors were. Apparently, he was too intimidated to handle them himself.
“Anyway, thanks.”
“Flattering me, huh?”
“Don’t be shy.”
Perfect. After all, the goal was to get my hands on the four IOUs they possessed. One more leverage wouldn’t hurt.
‘If you break the pledge, know that far worse people than those creditors will come for you.’
I hid a satisfied smile as I watched, following Sharon’s instructions, Samuel write the pledge. At first, the Countess was reluctant, but her son pressured her, and she picked up the pen.
“I want the Earl to sign a pledge too.”
Samuel quickly responded, worried I might change my mind.
“I’ll go get my father to sign it right away.”
“Good. Send someone with him. If even one copy is missing, I won’t pay a cent.”
“Trust me. But should I also write that it’s invalid if my sister doesn’t repay?”
“As you wish.”
As long as Samuel kept his promise, I planned to keep his IOU buried.
A short while later, the pledges were completed. After notarization, the Countess and Samuel left the embassy. The Countess’ back looked unusually small as she walked away.
The next day, the Earl’s pledge arrived. Samuel must have been well persuaded.
“Could you send this to Cassius?”
I finally dealt with the reply to the card from the Duke of Cassius that I had been putting off. I kept it brief: no leniency, collect the debts owed by the Wallace family.
It would be a harsh trial for the three of them, but not my concern. Besides, who knows? Sometimes hardship can spark positive change.
‘So it’s up to you, Countess of Wallace.’
Several days after meeting with the Wallace family, the long-awaited message arrived: an invitation accompanied by a two-line note.
‘I look forward to seeing you that day. Soon my gift will arrive—please allow it to bring you joy.’
There was neither a sender name nor initials, but I knew immediately. The neat, elegant handwriting belonged to Terrence.
I wondered how Terrence was doing. Vineta said he was so busy these days he barely had a moment to breathe. I couldn’t help worrying slightly.
‘But what kind of gift could it be?’
He had hinted at sending a divorce celebration gift before. I had refused politely, but apparently, he had prepared something nonetheless.
‘Is it a surprise, that’s why he isn’t telling me? And when he says “coming,” does that mean someone will deliver it?’*
I pondered the gift’s identity as I went down to the embassy dining hall. Diana greeted me with a bright smile.
“Good morning, Edel.”
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes! Last night I had a dream…”
Diana chattered about her dream. The ambassador and his wife watched their daughter with affection, no longer shrinking or hesitating as she once did. A truly satisfying scene.
‘I’m glad I found her before it was too late.’
Seeing her with my own eyes, I realized that even a few months of neglect could feel like an eternity if left unchecked.
Diana still occasionally dreamed nightmares about her married life. That’s why the ambassador and his wife always asked her if she had slept well each morning.
‘But soon, that will end.’
She was preparing for her divorce trial. Her cruel husband, realizing she was actually a daughter of a noble family, refused to grant a divorce, holding out stubbornly.
The ambassador and his wife likely wanted to bury him quietly, but Diana insisted on a formal trial. It was her way of confronting past trauma.
I sincerely wished her happiness in the path ahead. Of course, after her victory in court, the ambassador couple would make sure the scoundrel faced severe consequences.
“Edel?”
“Yes?”
“Didn’t you hear what I just said?”
Oh. I had been lost in thought and missed Diana’s words.
“Sorry. Can you say it again?”
“Of course. If it’s okay with you, would you like to go out together this afternoon? I’ve been invited to His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday banquet in ten days.”
Diana’s cheeks flushed a lovely color.
“I’m planning to pick out a dress for the event. Could you come with me and give me advice?”
Ah, so cute. Living in a good environment, her cheeks had filled out, and her once rough skin had become soft.
“Me? I’m not sure… I don’t shop much, so I’m not sure I’d be much help.”
“That’s perfectly fine! Just going with you is meaningful.”
“Then gladly. I also happen to need a dress for a formal event.”
“Oh, will you also attend His Majesty’s birthday banquet?”
“Yes, I received the invitation today.”
Vineta had delivered the invitation along with Terrence’s note. It seemed he had subtly added my name to the guest list.
“That’s great! I was worried I’d feel awkward without friends my age at the banquet.”
“I don’t have many close friends either.”
“So I can just stay with you the whole time!”
Diana’s face clouded for a moment.
“At the Emperor’s birthday banquet, that person might also attend. Is that okay?”
It was obvious who she meant—my ex-husband, Leandro Cassius.
“That’s more than fine. Let him come. I’ll never run away just because I’m scared.”
My pride would never allow it. And more importantly, I had a reason I absolutely had to attend…
‘The birthday banquet is when Terrence will be officially announced as Crown Prince!’
It was his debut. This was the wish he had whispered under the moonlight. That I, as his comrade and friend, attend such a momentous event.
Naturally, I agreed to attend. Could I, as his friend, not do this much for him?
Meeting Leandro or appearing before many people with attention on my divorce wasn’t entirely pleasant, but it was no reason to avoid the event.
Why should I hide and sulk for some imagined fault of mine? I hadn’t needed to intervene before, but now was the time. It was a celebration of my friend’s success, officially recognized by his parents for the first time.
‘And showing myself to people once in a while isn’t bad either.’
Recently, the public perception of me had subtly shifted. My reputation seemed to be quietly deteriorating.
Since the Duke of Cassius had finalized the divorce, the family no longer actively manipulated public opinion against me as before. They were only working to restore Leandro’s image.
But having fought bloody trials, the more they raised Leandro’s profile, the more I naturally sank. And like the Riena fanclub, pro-Cassius supporters voluntarily began defaming me.
‘For any reason, since I insulted Riena’s beloved elder brother, I’m now their enemy, I guess.’
To them, I was a villain who humiliated her husband with lies. My absence was seen as cowardice.
I clenched my hands together. Fine, I’ll show myself proudly. Sometimes, direct confrontation is necessary.
Even if I leave the empire afterward, I would fulfill Terrence’s wish and depart with dignity.
“I’ll find the perfect dress for you, Edel!”
Diana blazed with determination, like a general heading to battle.
“I’ll be counting on you.”
I smiled and said so, but our outing didn’t happen that day. The dress came to us without our needing to go anywhere.
“Nice to meet you! My name is Miranda. I make dresses.”
She introduced herself amidst numerous mannequins wearing dresses.
“I’m here to create Edel Wallace’s dress for His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday banquet.”
I asked Diana, “Did you call her?”
“I don’t know. My parents weren’t informed either.”
Miranda cupped her face with her hands.
“It seems a request was made by your closest friend.”
At that, Diana asked, with a hint of competitive spirit:
“W-Who? Your closest friend, Edel?”
…There was only one person: Terrence Freihiden.
