Chapter 53
“Did it come out? What do you think?”
“It’s fine. It’s done, so step back a bit.”
I pushed Heraise away and blinked. There was nothing caught on my eyelid anymore.
Even so, Heraise wouldn’t take his eyes off me.
“…Why?”
“Your eyes were already red, and now they’re completely bloodshot.”
“Gasp, really that bad?”
If Noa found out, he’d interrogate me again about what happened to my eyes.
I pulled out a hand mirror, and sure enough, my eyes were red.
“They need to calm down before I go home…”
I was worrying over what to do when something suddenly appeared in front of me.
“Indeed. Your eyes are very bloodshot.”
“Are you all right, Lady?”
I had left right after the auction ended, not wanting to run into them—but the two of them had followed me anyway, blocking my way.
“Your Highness, what’s going on?”
At my fierce glare, Kaiden shrugged his shoulders.
“Daphne said she wanted to greet you.”
“What kind of greeting?”
When I looked at Daphne, she smiled shyly and turned her eyes to Heraise.
“Heraise-nim. Forgive my late greeting. I’m Daphne Roxie. Thank you so much for saving me that time.”
With both hands folded demurely at her waist, her soft smile was utterly lovely.
Those innocent eyes, as though she knew nothing of the world, suddenly gave me a strong sense of déjà vu.
In a rush, I grabbed Heraise’s hand—like a child who didn’t want to give up her toy.
I could feel Heraise’s gaze from the side.
‘Can’t you understand? I’ve already been robbed of something precious once before.’
Thinking of the men who had helplessly fallen whenever Daphne smiled that way, my vision darkened.
I pulled Heraise behind me and stepped forward, blocking his view.
“That’s all you had to say? If you’re finished, would you leave? When you and I stand together, people gossip.”
I didn’t even need to look far. All around us, people were already whispering while stealing glances at us.
So my meaning was for her to go.
“…Lady, but I was speaking to Heraise…”
“Oh, so you’re saying I should step aside as the third wheel?”
That finally lit my temper.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
Yet again, she made me into the bad one.
“Of course, I know you dislike me, but to even stop me from thanking my savior… that hurts.”
Daphne’s shoulders trembled like a fragile flower.
A murmur of pity rose around us.
From the outside, it looked as though I was bullying her. Even Kaiden, who knew I hadn’t done anything, flinched as though about to intervene.
“I’m sorry. With the incident about Rio, I must make you uncomfortable… I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
This time, instead of charging in recklessly, I just stood and looked down at Daphne.
‘Well, well.’
It was almost as if she wanted me to get angry at her.
‘What if I poke here? What about now? Won’t you blow up? Really?’
That was how it felt—as though she were nudging me again and again, provoking me into a fight.
She even dragged up Rio, who was my reverse scale, my most sensitive spot.
But to fall for such an obvious ploy would make me the fool, wouldn’t it?
“I didn’t mean it like that, either. If I startled you, I apologize.”
With the gentlest tone of my entire life, I smiled at her.
A crack appeared on Daphne’s delicate face.
Even those pretending not to listen held their breath.
“You said you had more to say, didn’t you? I shouldn’t have cut in without considering your feelings. Go ahead.”
I didn’t know what she was plotting, but for now I’d let her do as she pleased.
I stepped back from blocking them—but then Heraise tugged at my hand.
“Sisi. Shouldn’t you ask me first what I want?”
“Huh?”
He drooped his eyes as though disappointed.
“I don’t want to talk to any woman other than you.”
His cold, detached blue eyes swept over Daphne.
“Least of all someone I don’t even know.”
For the first time, Daphne’s smile cracked.
The first to react wasn’t me or Daphne, but the people around us.
“So it really was him?”
“Him?”
“Lady’s new lover. He entered as her partner at the Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony.”
“He seems to be truly devoted to her. I saw it that day—he even kissed the back of her hand…”
Giggling and whispers bubbled up behind me.
But Heraise simply tilted his head.
“And you wanted to thank me?”
“…Yes. That day, you saved me. Thanks to you, I lived.”
Daphne tucked her fallen hair behind her ear, sending Heraise a lingering, meaningful gaze.
I cursed silently.
‘No way… she’s aiming for Heraise now? …She can’t be.’
I hated myself for knowing exactly what that look meant.
How could I not recognize it?
She was behaving exactly as she had when she first met Rio.
Her blushing face couldn’t pull away from Heraise.
“Saying this in front of everyone feels a little embarrassing.”
“Of course it should be embarrassing. You’ve got the wrong person.”
“…What?”
Everyone turned to look at Heraise.
He ignored all their stares.
“That day, I only treated you because Sienna asked me to. If not for her request, I would’ve left you alone.”
“…What?”
Blindsided by his answer, Daphne could only stammer.
“Don’t understand? Then thank Sienna, not me.”
“Ah…”
It was the first time Daphne had ever been treated this way, and for an instant her true feelings flashed across her face.
She shot me a reluctant glance, her eyes filled with resentment.
It was brief, but there’s no way Heraise missed it.
“Or is it that you don’t want to apologize to Sienna?”
When Heraise pointed it out directly, the crowd began to stir again.
“Come to think of it, the Lady helped Daphne that day and was still falsely accused as the culprit.”
“…True, they may be on awkward terms, but still—she even detoxified the poison. To not offer thanks?”
“Indeed, the one deserving gratitude has changed.”
As murmurs grew, a flush crept up Daphne’s face.
This was likely her first time encountering such a reaction.
After all, she had only ever been loved.
“…I’m sorry. In my distraction, I failed to say it earlier. It was my mistake. Thank you so much for that day.”
Just as Daphne lifted her head, her carriage arrived.
Clearly unwilling to remain here any longer, she turned away before I could answer and quickly bowed to Kaiden.
“Your Highness, I’ll take my leave.”
“Yes, go safely.”
Then she reluctantly inclined her head toward us.
“I wish you both a safe return as well.”
As Daphne climbed into her carriage, I felt an odd sensation.
Usually, I was the one who left first…
‘Feels strange, being on the other side of it.’
And the one who had turned the tables was none other than Heraise.
I fidgeted with the hand still caught in his grasp.
‘He really isn’t like that man… I was foolish to worry.’
It was laughable that, even for a moment, I had fretted about losing him to Daphne.
“Why are you looking at me like that? You’re making me blush.”
“…You’d be better off if you just kept your mouth shut.”
Feigning shyness, he lowered his eyes, and I couldn’t help but laugh and shake my head.
“You two seem close.”
“Eek—You’re still here?”
I’d thought Kaiden had left long ago, but he was still standing beside me.
“Am I that invisible to you?”
“Well, the Kaiden I know would’ve escorted Daphne home instead of lingering here.”
“I don’t do that anymore. It looks inappropriate if I take her back.”
“And coming all the way here doesn’t?”
“That’s different. I was asked to.”
He scratched his head in frustration, knowing how contradictory he sounded.
“I don’t even know why I came. I was supposed to end things properly.”
He muttered while staring at the carriage disappearing in the distance.
“But whenever I see Daphne, I just can’t. It’s like I’m bewitched into following her. It’s been that way from the very start.”
There he goes again—slipping into sentimental first-love talk.
I nudged Heraise aside and discreetly distanced myself from Kaiden.
If I didn’t escape now, I’d be stuck listening to his dreary first-love story all over again.
“My Lady.”
Damn. I froze and reluctantly turned back.
“…Yes?”
“Why did you fall for Heraise?”
“…What?”
At the sudden question, I could only open and close my mouth wordlessly.
