Chapter 177
Cassius and Aila were literally torn apart.
Gabriel said that a girl from a family as lowly as Aila’s could not be brought into the imperial palace, and naturally, Cassius flew into a rage.
But after being threatened over the necklace incident, Cassius had no choice but to give up on Aila.
It’s unclear how Aila’s side felt, but since the consolation money was delivered generously, it should have been fine.
The meeting between the imperial family and the grand duke’s family also took place quickly.
Was it thanks to Priscilla’s influence, or the power of the grand duke’s household?
Mars, feeling guilty about something, could barely utter a sound and pretended to be pleased with the engagement, while Gabriel, Leona, and even Priscilla naturally smiled.
The only ones who couldn’t smile were the men.
The news Gabriel shared that day made Leona laugh for the first time in a while.
“You saw a hallucination? Of your mother?”
Ahaha! The moment Leona heard the news from Gabriel’s garden cat, she laughed so hard she doubled over.
Ah, that feels so refreshing.
If it started like this, how would it end?
As the frequency of Mars’ hallucinations increased, his mind gradually deteriorated.
Now, whenever he faced Leona, he did not hide his hatred.
But not everything went smoothly.
On the way back from the palace.
The carriage had been going fine but then stopped, and when she went out to see what was happening, someone was struggling in front of the mansion, blocked by the knights.
“What’s going on?”
“Miss… well…”
Even without explanation from the gatekeeper or the coachman, Leona already recognized who was blocking her way.
The unwelcome visitor had run desperately as soon as they saw the carriage.
“Aila!”
It had been a long time since she last saw her, after the necklace incident.
Even as Aila ran up to the carriage, Leona had no intention of getting down and simply looked down at Aila through the window.
Aila could not hide her embarrassment at Leona’s cold treatment and was breaking into a sweat.
“It’s been a while, Leona…”
“Indeed, Countess’ daughter.”
Leona tilted her head as if asking what this was all about.
Aila stammered in a voice that sounded like it might choke her.
“Leona, I kept sending letters, but it seems you didn’t receive them, so I came in person.”
“Letters…”
Come to think of it, maybe she did get them?
Leona rarely went out, and most letters were skimmed and discarded without much thought.
The only ones she remembered were those bearing the royal seal.
Standing at the mansion entrance to talk seemed awkward, so Leona let Aila in first.
No sooner had she taken a seat than Aila knelt in front of Leona and pleaded.
“I… Leona. I know you doubted me because of what happened last time. I understand it was a suspicious situation! But the necklace—I really didn’t steal it. Please believe me…!”
If Leona had been holding a teacup, she would have dropped it.
Of course—Aila came all this way and was bringing up old matters again.
The necklace? That no longer mattered.
Leona could never have imagined that she’d still be dwelling on it and causing a scene here.
“That doesn’t matter. There are plenty of those at home.”
“Then why…!”
Ah, the necklace wasn’t the real point.
Leona let out a small, knowing laugh.
She already had a feeling of what Aila was about to say.
“Why, between me and Cassius…”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Aila couldn’t even finish her sentence and glared at Leona with her eyes.
Was the problem that she had been forced to separate from Cassius?
‘Gabriel, really…’
He was too eager and ended up causing this kind of trouble.
But Leona was more grateful than angry, so this little annoyance was something she could easily endure.
Leona had no intention of helping Aila up, instead blowing on her hot tea.
“That’s a strange way to put it. An engagement is something that the elders in the families decide. Wouldn’t it have been right to go to His Majesty the Emperor and my grandmother?”
“B-but!”
“And you received a lot of consolation money from Her Majesty the Empress, right? Wasn’t that enough?”
Leona considered the compensation sufficient.
The money Gabriel had given was enough for three generations to live without working.
Even if she had been separated from her family, with that money, Leona would have eaten first and made a fuss later—but it was just a breakup between kids barely in their teens, right?
To Leona, Aila’s pleas felt like childish tantrums.
If it was really about money, Aila could have just said so. Leona would have gladly given more.
But Aila was making ridiculous excuses.
“Leona. I really need His Highness Cassius. I can’t part with him.”
Aila insisted only on Cassius, as if she didn’t need money at all.
By now, money wasn’t the issue, was it?
Leona asked without malice.
“You want status? You once said you hoped your parents would live better. Was money alone not enough?”
“No! No, but… I… I just really love His Highness…”
Aila’s face flared red as if her secret had been exposed.
Leona could not understand any of Aila’s behavior.
Being pretty was one thing, but with someone like Cassius, unless there was a big purpose, most would have broken off the engagement in three days.
Everyone approached Cassius with some goal in mind, and Leona saw no difference in Aila.
Since Leona knew Aila’s honest face, she could be certain.
Love? Ridiculous.
‘Ultimately, she just wants to become the Crown Princess and expects me to step aside.’
Otherwise, there would have been no need to bring up a false explanation about the necklace now.
Leona could no longer hold back her laughter.
It wasn’t exaggerated, but it certainly conveyed her meaning.
Aila was utterly stunned.
From Leona’s perspective, Aila’s attitude was even more ridiculous.
Why try to steal someone else’s prize when you can’t even clearly ask for what you want, or properly fight for it?
Leona tilted her chin and asked Aila sharply.
“You love His Highness Cassius?”
“Y-yes!”
Aila quickly nodded as soon as she saw that Leona was at least listening.
But the next words shocked her.
“Then you two can meet as much as you want. But that doesn’t mean I’ll break off the engagement for you.”
“…What?”
“I don’t love His Highness Cassius. So whether you meet secretly behind my back or not, I don’t care. I won’t concern myself if he has a mistress.”
Aila was dumbfounded as if insulted for the first time in her life.
Her face alternated between anger, confusion, humiliation, and shame, which was almost amusing.
The necklace incident would no longer be an issue, but since Aila had brought it up herself, Leona couldn’t resist a little mischief.
“If you really love His Highness Cassius, wouldn’t that be enough?”
“How can you say that!”
Aila, who had been kneeling almost glued to the floor, could no longer hold back and stood up.
At the academy, she had endured any insult with a smile, but now her face was red with anger.
Still, it wasn’t enough to sway Leona’s heart.
No matter how great her love, could it compare to someone seeking revenge for their parents?
Leona waved her hand as if there was nothing more to hear.
“I’ve given plenty of alternatives. But if you don’t accept them, there’s nothing I can do. Jane! Show the guest out.”
Her tone was curt and rude, as if shooing a peddler.
Aila’s fists trembled in frustration.
Finally, Jane gave Aila a warning look.
Aila held on as long as she could, then, shedding tears, asked Leona one last time.
“Leona. You’re really cruel. Did you ever even consider me a friend?”
Leona didn’t bother hiding her disbelief.
Aila had betrayed first.
Leona didn’t bother answering verbally and just turned her head.
Actions and attitude were answer enough.
Aila’s lips trembled as she turned her back on Leona.
“…Excuse me, Grand Duchess.”
Swallowing her sobs, Aila walked out on her own.
Leona didn’t care what kind of expression she had as she left.
It wasn’t an engagement the Count’s family could have blocked, so she didn’t see it as an interference at all.
In fact, Aila never returned to the Grand Duke’s mansion again.
She never imagined that this would become her downfall.
