Chapter 54
I could feel the duke’s gaze fall on me from one side.
Far away, Adolf had even gotten up from his seat. On another side was Nick’s gaze, and on yet another, even Ken’s.
Feeling all those eyes, I pulled Adela behind me. She was dragged back without resistance.
I caught a glimpse of her cheek—bright red. My own heart felt as if it were burning.
“This child is not at fault.”
I turned to Count Green.
“I approached her first. I was the one who asked her if she wanted to be friends.”
“Being swayed is a sin.”
“No, the one who sways others is at fault. Though I don’t think that word fits very well when all she wanted was to make a friend.”
“…….”
“So if you’re going to strike someone, strike me. But apologize to her.”
I deliberately offered him my cheek. Count Green looked at me and let out a small laugh.
“You always seem to enjoy strange theatrics, Lady Kasia Hydrian.”
“It’s Kasia Bennet now.”
The banquet hall stirred again.
Not Lady Kasia Hydrian, but Kasia Bennet—that statement alone.
It meant divorce.
People had whispered about it before, but nothing had been officially announced. It was the first moment the rumors of my broken relationship with the Duke of Hydrian became indisputable.
“What did you plan to do after seducing my daughter?”
Count Green let out a soft, mocking laugh.
“It’s troublesome when one lays hands on someone else’s daughter.”
“Oh? And laying hands on your own daughter in public—does that make it acceptable? I wonder where you learned such a twisted line of thinking.”
“…….”
“If hitting someone is the only way you can soothe your anger, then hit me instead. But apologize to this child immediately.”
Honestly, I thought that would be enough to settle things.
No matter how shameless Count Green might be, he couldn’t afford to lose control in front of so many witnesses. Striking Adela must have been a momentary impulse.
Or so I believed, staring directly into his eyes.
“So you think I won’t do it just because you say so.”
“…….”
Count Green smirked as he continued.
“If you were still a Hydrian, then striking you might cause problems. But a Bennet? I doubt it.”
He raised his hand high—as if he truly meant to slap me.
I was startled, just a little. But I didn’t show it.
So what? It’s just one slap.
People had already seen us. And Adela looked like she might burst into tears at any moment.
Just for that moment, I thought: if letting him hit me would help settle this and protect her, then maybe it wasn’t such a bad bargain.
My resolve hardened.
I closed my eyes just as—
“Lower that hand, Count Green.”
A voice rang out. A low, resonant baritone.
Polite, yet heavy with authority.
I recognized it instantly.
I slowly opened my eyes.
The Duke of Hydrian stood before us.
Axxion Hydrian.
…Why?
My mouth hung open.
I couldn’t believe it. Why was he blocking the blow for me?
He stood with his arms crossed, just as I’d seen him earlier—alone, yet commanding.
Even by himself, an overwhelming aura radiated from him. He was every bit the head of one of the continent’s most renowned houses.
And then I saw his eyes—darkened.
He was angry.
“How arrogant.”
Axxion spoke in a low, steady voice.
I didn’t understand.
Why was he angry?
He and I were nothing now—our contract was over, and we were completely, perfectly strangers.
I was confused. My brow furrowed.
Chaos already filled the hall. People watched with excited, greedy eyes. Their gazes felt cruel. I clenched my fists.
Axxion seemed to sense the atmosphere as well. He raised his voice, making a declaration to everyone present.
“We are divorced.”
The hall stirred again. His gaze slid toward Count Green.
“…But Kasia Bennet is no longer the same Bennet she used to be.”
He continued.
“She is someone who was once the Duchess of Hydrian.”
Count Green’s eyes sharpened. Axxion looked right back at him.
“And you would dare strike a former duchess? Should I take that as Count Green insulting House Hydrian?”
“…….”
“If we follow your logic about status, then our ducal house would be justified in punishing your family however we see fit.”
He threw those words out casually, almost lazily.
Then he stood there, arms crossed, facing Count Green.
The meaning was clear: If you can hit her, then go ahead and try.
Count Green stared at the duke with an unreadable expression.
Then a thin, unpleasant smile curled on his lips. The hand raised toward me lowered. He turned to me.
“I apologize for my discourtesy, Lady Kasia Hydrian… former duchess.”
“…….”
His smirk made my skin crawl. He then looked toward Adela.
“Adela, forgive your father. I sincerely apologize. Did it hurt very much?”
He reached toward the cheek he had struck.
Smack.
Adela slapped his hand away. His hand froze midair.
He stared at her, his face dark.
She turned and began to run. The crowd parted in front of her.
Her figure grew smaller. I looked once at Count Green.
He watched me with his usual cold, indifferent gaze.
Then I turned and ran after Adela. I had to catch her.
“Adela!”
Once I stepped out of the hall, I saw her running at full speed. I called out, chasing her.
“Adela, wait!”
“…….”
We had trained together. Which meant we both had bodies conditioned by horseback riding.
Adela was running faster than any noble lady normally could.
But I wasn’t going to fall behind.
“Adela, wait!”
She stopped. She turned toward me.
She was crying.
Unlike the bright face I had seen at the riding grounds, her cheeks were now streaked with tears.
She let out a small sob and collapsed onto the spot. I wrapped my arms around her, stroking her back.
“I’m sorry.”
“Adela.”
“I should’ve been more careful. Father grabbed the note and then…”
She seemed disoriented—almost in a panic.
“I should’ve recognized you sooner… I ended up exposing your identity—…”
“Adela, I’m fine.”
I wiped her tears. Big, heavy drops rolled down.
“I’m sorry, my lady…”
“No. I’m the one who’s sorry.”
I held her tightly.
I’m sorry, Adela.
I should’ve handed you the note more discreetly.
I should’ve paid more attention.
Then you wouldn’t have been slapped in front of everyone.
I helped her stand as she trembled from panic.
“Let’s go to my home for now, Adela.”
And that was how her debutante night ended.
11. Adela’s Resolution
Knock, knock, knock.
When we reached my house, I knocked.
“Sophie, it’s me. Please open the door.”
Her voice answered from inside. Soon footsteps approached, and the door opened.
Sophie, still wearing an apron and holding a ladle, blinked.
“If you’ve been gone so long, why not stay and have more fun—”
She froze when she saw Adela beside me.
“Huh?”
“Sophie, help me support her.”
“This is… the young lady from the riding grounds…?”
Confused, she took Adela’s weight. The girl, drained after crying so much, nearly collapsed.
Together, we helped her to the sofa in the living room.
“Sophie, do you have warm water?”
“Oh—yes! Just a moment.”
Sophie hurried to the kitchen. I found a blanket and wrapped it around Adela. She accepted it weakly.
Soon, Sophie returned with warm water.
“Here, it’s warm.”
Adela drank a sip, finally calming a little.
Sophie looked between us, confused and uneasy. She scratched her head and whispered:
“Kasia, what happened?”
“Sorry for startling you. Something happened. She needs rest, and she has nowhere else to go, so I brought her here.”
“Something? What something?”
Sophie’s eyebrow twitched—she had a bad feeling.
“What happened?”
“Well…”
Too much had happened at once. I didn’t know where to start.
“It’s complicated. I’ll explain slowly later.”
“What could it possibly be for you to say it like that…?”
She already looked scared.
Then Adela—silent until now—slowly raised her head. She set down her cup.
“Thank you. I’m feeling a little better now.”
“You can rest as much as you need, Adela.”
“No.”
She looked at me clearly now.
“I’m really all right.”
She gave a small, sad smile.
“More than that… thank you for saving me. I felt like I was completely alone in that hall.”
She looked at me again.
“It’s embarrassing and awkward meeting the real Lady Bennet for the first time like this.”
“Even if I hadn’t stepped in, someone else would’ve.”
I smiled gently.
She really did look calmer now. I held out my hand.
“It’s nice to meet you—though I’ve seen you for a long time at the riding grounds, this is our first proper introduction. I’m Kasia Bennet.”
“I’m glad to meet you too. I’m Adela Green.”
Our hands met.
After exchanging names, I spoke carefully.
If I hadn’t known, it would be different—but knowing, I couldn’t ignore it.
“Lady Green. We’re friends, right?”
“…Yes.”
“I know it’s delicate, but… could you tell me?”
She looked at me, already aware of what I wanted to ask.
I continued.
“What Count Green has done to you.”
What she had lived through in that house.
Adela looked conflicted for a long moment. Then she sighed—letting out a faint, bitter laugh.
“…My father is a very conservative and violent man.”
