Chapter 50

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 50

Chapter Title: Reunion with Bianca

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She had been my one and only best friend during our first year at the Imperial Academy, but after her betrayal, we never even laid eyes on each other again. That person was Bianca.

"Lucia..."

Bianca looked just as shocked, her face clearly flustered.

An awkward tension and silence hung between them, making the sound of the water seem especially loud.

Lucia's complicated thoughts cleared like a blank canvas the moment she saw Bianca. But that clarity was short-lived; she quickly regained her composure and calm.

She hadn't run into her once at tea parties or any big or small events since the academy days, so she'd let her guard down. But of course Bianca, being nobility, would attend such a major event.

"...Long time no see."

Just as Lucia was wondering what to say, Bianca spoke first.

Lucia had expected her to avoid her or make some excuse about getting lost, but she never imagined Bianca would greet her.

So Lucia awkwardly followed suit.

"Yeah... long time no see."

Bianca, who had initially widened her eyes, now looked nonchalant as she glanced at the empty seat next to Lucia.

"Mind if I sit here?"

"Huh?"

"If not, I will anyway."

Without waiting for permission, Bianca plopped down beside Lucia. It wasn't an adjacent seat but an awkwardly spaced one, so Lucia couldn't bring herself to say no.

"How have you been?"

Unlike the bewildered Lucia, Bianca seemed intent on keeping the conversation going.

Lucia knew the situation was bizarre, but she answered steadily anyway.

"Just living normally."

"I see..."

Awkward silence fell again. Lucia couldn't fathom what Bianca was thinking.

"How are the others doing?"

"...Fine."

"What about Herwin? Still close with him?"

"........."

"Or did you two get engaged or something?"

"...What are you trying to do here? Why ask that?"

The engagement question sounded like a jab, so Lucia glared at Bianca. Bianca met her gaze impassively before turning her eyes forward.

"No reason. Just curious."

Bianca was so skilled at acting that she could fool crowds, so Lucia scrutinized her face, wondering if this was another lie.

But compared to before, the venom in her expression had faded.

As Lucia said nothing, Bianca started mumbling to herself.

"It's been ages since I came to the capital, so I don't know anything. I dropped out of the academy before second year, so I lost touch with everyone."

Lucia knew she had dropped out.

But she didn't know why. Her friends had hushed it up, and Lucia hadn't cared to investigate personally.

"Karma, I guess. After what I did to you all, I couldn't live carefree. Even the new friends I made didn't take kindly to someone who betrayed her friends."

Now Lucia thought she understood why Bianca had quit.

Bianca let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"That damn love. It blinded me into doing something stupid."

Lucia found herself staring at Bianca. Regret and loneliness tinged her face faintly.

Where was the haughty confidence from that three-way confrontation with Christine? Why show this expression now...?

"Not laughing at me?"

Bianca suddenly turned and blurted it out. Seeing Lucia's confusion, she smirked.

"You're still the same, huh? What are you going to do, being such a pushover? If it were me, I'd have slapped you on sight or at least cursed you out."

"...Why would I do that?"

"Why? Duchess's Daughter Lydia or Christine definitely would have."

Bianca burst into laughter, though there was nothing funny about it. Soon, she stopped and looked back at Lucia.

"...Sorry, back then."

"........."

Lucia didn't accept the apology. She might seem like a total pushover, but she could be as sharp as a blade when needed.

Bianca, knowing that, just gave a wry smile.

"Didn't expect you to forgive me anyway. I just wanted to apologize if we met again."

With that, Bianca stood up, apparently done talking.

As she turned to leave, Lucia grabbed her urgently.

"Why...!"

Bianca paused and looked back.

"Why did you betray me?"

She'd heard a reason back then, but Bianca hadn't told her everything.

"I know you liked Herwin. If you liked him, shouldn't you have targeted Arista, not me?"

Bianca had done it all because she liked Herwin.

If so, it made more sense to target Arista, whom Herwin had a crush on, rather than Lucia, who was just his childhood friend.

Yet Bianca had meticulously planned to destroy Lucia instead.

Lucia wanted to hear the real reason she had been the target.

Bianca pondered for a moment, then looked up.

"Because Herwin liked you."

"...What?"

The unbelievable words slipped from Bianca's mouth.

Unlike the stunned Lucia, Bianca remained calm.

"At first, both you as his childhood friend and Duchess's Daughter Lydia annoyed me, so I wanted to get rid of you both at once."

Lucia suddenly recalled falling for Bianca's scheme, badmouthing Arista and trying to trap her.

"If my plan worked, you'd both be out of Herwin's life—one stone, two birds."

"But why switch suddenly...?"

To targeting Lucia?

"I told you. Because Herwin liked you, not Duchess's Daughter Lydia."

Lucia couldn't make sense of it.

"What makes you say that? Herwin likes Arista, not me."

"No need to lie. I've already given up on him."

Thinking Lucia was lying, Bianca didn't believe her.

But then she noticed Lucia's genuinely aggrieved expression, and her eyes widened.

"Wait, you're not lying...?"

"Why would I lie about this?"

Bianca's face filled with shock as she stepped forward.

"Hold on, so you two aren't together at all? What about the engagement? I heard you were getting engaged."

Bianca was getting worked up, but Lucia tried to stay calm.

"I'm not with Herwin like that. I have someone else I'm engaged to."

"What?"

"No, when did you complain about me being around Herwin despite my station, and now... Herwin liking me?"

"Wait, wait, wait."

Before excited Lucia could finish, Bianca cut her off, clutching her head in confusion.

"So... you're not engaged to Herwin. You have someone else?"

Bianca's reaction was so intense that Lucia nodded hesitantly. Bianca's eyes shook aimlessly.

"How? No, why? How could Herwin let that happen?"

"...It's my engagement. What does Herwin have to do with it?"

"Hah..."

Who was the exasperated one here? Lucia felt absurd.

Bianca covered her mouth, sighing repeatedly.

"So, you've completely given up on Herwin?"

Lucia couldn't affirm or deny it. Seeing her pursed lips, Bianca's surprise faded into understanding.

She stepped back, as if she'd pieced it all together.

"...You still like Herwin."

Lucia missed her chance to retort. Before she could explain, Bianca spoke first.

"Are you okay with this? Can you really spend your life with someone else?"

No one had ever asked that before, and it shook Lucia to her core.

"I..."

As she hesitated, someone suddenly grabbed her shoulder from behind.

She caught a familiar musky scent, and a solid chest loomed right in front of her.

Lifting her head, she saw a face that shouldn't be here.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

A beastly growl rumbled from his throat, laced with killing intent.

Herwin had wrapped around Lucia and shoved Bianca away.

Bianca, caught off guard like a thug, stared wide-eyed at Herwin protectively shielding Lucia.

Touch her even slightly, and those fierce red eyes would devour her.

Bianca sneered faintly.

"Still calling it a misunderstanding?"

She shook her head in disbelief, glancing at Lucia nestled in Herwin's arms.

"I'm not your friend anymore anyway, so it doesn't matter to me. But think about what I said. Who do you think is right?"

"Lucia has nothing to say to you. So... get lost."

Facing Herwin's full killing intent, Bianca flinched but looked at him with pity.

"Bianca! Bianca!"

Then, a desperate voice called for her from somewhere. Bianca turned toward it.

"Calips, I'm over here!"

She shouted back to her group, then looked at Lucia and Herwin.

"...Take care."

With that, Bianca left. In the distance, Lucia saw her warmly greeting a man.

The name Calips and the man's face seemed familiar. As she tried to recall, a pull drew her gaze away.

"You okay?"

"Huh? Y-yeah..."

With Herwin so close, Lucia answered awkwardly without thinking.

"Damn it. Never thought I'd run into that woman here."

Herwin clearly wasn't pleased about Lucia bumping into Bianca. No, the malice in his eyes went deeper.

"You went out with Marquis Casper, so why are you here alone?"

Watching Herwin fume as if it were his own issue, Lucia belatedly noticed the hot hand on her shoulder and pulled away.

"I just stepped out to grab a drink. And Bianca was just a coincidence."

Herwin's hand hung in the air, then clenched into a fist and dropped.

"I see..."

Silence fell. Herwin glanced at Lucia.

He could plainly sense her aversion in how she avoided his eyes.

Her attitude screamed boundaries, leaving him feeling both hurt and wronged. Had he done something wrong? He pondered, but found no answer.

Unable to leave it like this, Herwin spoke up.

"You're really okay, right? Nothing happened with that Bianca woman? She didn't threaten you or blackmail you...?"

"No. It was really just a chance encounter. First time seeing her since academy graduation."

"...Good."

She cut him off firmly again. This time, Herwin couldn't hide his disappointment.

Hearing his dejected tone softened Lucia's resolve, so she changed the subject.

"Anyway, what are you doing here? Get lost too?"

"Well..."

Herwin hesitated for a second. But then his red eyes turned serious on her.

"I came to find you because I have something to ask."

Now it was Lucia's eyes that wavered.

This was exactly why she'd been dodging him. And yet here they were. If she'd had at least a day, she might have faced him without her heart in turmoil.

But she couldn't run anymore. Lucia steeled herself.

"Okay? What is it? Spit it out."

Her voice sounded calm, but her heart raced wildly. She just prayed he couldn't hear it.

"Are you really getting engaged to Marquis Casper?"

It was within expectations.

"Yes. We haven't made it official yet, but we're both positively inclined."

"But... it was an arranged meeting, right? That means during my time in the north. You decided on engagement in that short period?"

"That's why we had the meeting in the first place."

"...When was it?"

Unlike the composed Lucia, Herwin scowled and couldn't stay still.

Seeing him so restless, Lucia blurted out,

"What's got you so curious?"