Chapter 16

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: There is No Mercy 16

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I glanced at Reiton, then gave a slight nod.

"Bellieta hasn't danced even once yet. It'd be nice if the marquis led her as her first partner tonight."

Reiton's face lit up at my words.

He grinned ear to ear.

Feeling like the wine I'd just drunk might come back up, I turned my gaze to Bellieta.

I gave her a curt word as she approached with a smile.

"Where'd you go?"

"Just some business. Anyway, what were you talking about? The marquis looks awfully pleased."

I turned my head, and he cleared his throat with a managed expression, speaking in a low voice.

"Nothing at all. Just..."

He glanced at me.

What are you looking at? I clicked my tongue softly at his gaze, switched my wine glass to the other hand, and lightly tapped Bellieta's shoulder.

When her eyes asked where I was going, I pointed toward the balcony with my chin and moved my feet.

Staying with them would just make me feel queasy.

Bellieta nodded as if she understood.

I slipped past her side.

A voice came from behind.

"If it's all right with you, Lady Bellieta, would you care to dance the next song with me?"

"If I'm acceptable, I'd be delighted..."

I glanced back slightly and saw the two of them entering the central hall just as the music changed.

Their hands clasped happily.

It felt just like the time I'd placed my own hand in his palm long ago.

I bit my lip hard and turned away.

No need to remember.

No need to care.

It's in the past.

So no need to feel hurt.

I muttered to myself as I walked on.

Escaping the gazes converging on Bellieta and Reiton, I headed toward the balcony.

Even trying not to pay attention, I caught the stares aimed at me and the whispering mouths around.

Whether it was Bellieta's doing or not, rumors about me already circulating badly were eating away at my reputation.

Part of me wanted to chase after them like last time and tell them to shut up, but after seeing those two just now, even that urge was gone.

My chest felt stuffy and clogged.

I approached the open balcony to escape the summer heat.

Pushing aside the black blackout curtains, I stepped out, and a cool summer breeze swept over my body.

Only then did the oppressive feeling lift.

"Haa..."

I let out a long breath and swirled the fresh glass I'd brought.

"Apple wine, huh."

I'd thought it was grape wine because it was red, but it was apple wine.

Not my taste.

Too sweet.

I stared at the apple wine for a moment, sighed again, and lifted my chin.

Night had already fallen thickly.

From behind came the music and the voices of ladies near the balcony.

I closed my eyes tightly.

The surroundings grew quiet, silence settling in.

The churning feeling subsided.

"Never thought you'd come back..."

I'd thought I would never set foot in this building again.

To me, this place held a meaning no different from suicide.

I'd taken that man's hand myself and smiled brightly, not knowing what the future held.

"...Mother."

Suddenly, the image of my parents leaving in the carriage came to mind.

Their backs, to which I couldn't even say a proper goodbye, had returned as cold corpses.

Everyone called it a simple accident, but was it really?

'Bellieta.'

I still believe Bellieta killed my parents.

The carriage that no one could find after the accident—Bellieta was the first to locate it.

What they couldn't find after four days of searching, she found in just one day.

As if she knew all along.

That was the first time I'd been swept away by emotion.

And Reiton approached me right then, fitting the situation perfectly.

I'd handed my heart to him without realizing he was using me to seduce Bellieta.

"I was too naive."

As if knowing my thoughts, a breeze blew in.

A coolness that chased away the summer swelter. I smiled slowly and closed my eyes gently.

"...What about that story?"

"What story?"

"The one about the Bozbon lady and the Riplton Ghost Archduke. Heard it?"

Just as my pent-up feelings were starting to unravel, unwelcome words burrowed into my ears.

With the balcony door open, high-pitched voices easily pierced through the blackout curtains.

"Oh, that! I think I heard. Someone told me today... At first, I thought they were pranking me. The Bozbon family and the Riplton family? Way too out of left field, I was shocked."

"I thought so too. Honestly, the Bozbon lady is the daughter of a duke family anyone would call beautiful, right? Gentle disposition, kind heart. And she pairs so well with the Bladia Marquis dancing over there. Most noble sons would fall for her, no surprise."

"For such a lady to have a political marriage with the Riplton family... A bit pitiful, but surprisingly fitting, don't you think?"

Affirming voices rose from all around.

"The Ghost Archduke and the sweet lady. Like something out of a novel, isn't it?"

At one lady's words, they all let out little squeals.

A sigh escaped me naturally.

The rumors had already spread.

Well, in noble society, famous for fast gossip, scandals like this are nothing.

No point in me making a fuss alone.

Aden would have to show up to declare true or false; if I opened my mouth alone, I'd just get suspicious looks.

"Where the hell is that guy?"

He said he'd use me when needed, but when I actually needed him, not even a glimpse.

"Speaking of the Bozbon lady, have you heard the rumors about the Brilloxen Lady lately?"

"Oh! I heard that one. The Brilloxen Lady copying Lady Bellieta exactly, right?"

"Yes, exactly! I didn't know at first, just heard... But at the Zaksion Marquis's banquet last time, and tonight too, don't the dresses they prepared feel similar?"

"I thought the same. That's not something that overlaps by chance. It was weird. And sure enough, the rumors..."

"The Bozbon lady's the pitiful one. She treated her like a friend, and now there's this copycat... Can't even imagine how upset she must be."

Hollow laughter escaped at their affirming voices.

Who's copying who? Me copying Bellieta? It was so absurd I wasn't even angry.

Endure it. Hold back.

Wasting emotions on every little thing like this gains nothing. No need to jump into stupid gossip and take the loss.

So...

"What a pathetic woman. The Brilloxen Lady, too. Well, that's why she has nothing else but copying, I suppose."

But at those following words, I felt the thin thread of my patience fray even more.

Even trying to hold back and not get angry, their gossip always crossed the line.

Don't they think anyone might hear?

Hearing this and still holding back wouldn't be deep patience or thoughtfulness.

It'd make me a pushover.

The moment the thought finished, I turned my body. My shoe heel clicked crisply on the smooth floor as I stepped forward.

At that instant, darkness fell like blackout curtains dropping.

And a small voice rang out.

"You don't need to hear that crap."

With a deep voice, silence enveloped me as if my hearing were cut off.

A faint 'beep' echoed in my ears.

The voices that had pierced my ears, fiercely shaking my mind and tangling my thoughts, were blocked.

Then, contrary to my belief that I was calm, I heard my heart pounding wildly. I felt my excitedly racing blood settle.

Only then did I realize I'd been biting my lip hard. Releasing it, my lower lip stung.

And my palm hurt.

A brief silence.

With hearing and sight blocked, the anger with nowhere to go naturally faded.

Feeling my heart return to normal rhythm, I opened my eyes.

Then the hand covering my ear lifted, and noise flooded back.

I looked up.

And opened my mouth.

"I don't really like dramatic novel-hero entrances."

His golden eyes curved softly.

"Sorry I'm late. Had a little business."

"Good you came now, at least. I thought you weren't coming. No reply."

Aden pulled a letter from his pocket.

Aden opened his mouth cautiously, looking troubled.

"Riplton doesn't allow messengers in. Magical beasts eat up any pigeons or hawks flying overhead."

"...Really?"

I eyed him skeptically at the first I'd heard of it, and Aden pushed up the corner of his mouth as if to say believe it.

...Can't verify, so no choice but to believe.

I slowly took the letter he offered.

His other hand grasped mine.

And he turned his body.

"Aden?"

"Since I'm here, how about a dance? You waited a long time."

"Before that, did you hear the rumors? I thought about routes where info leaked for that rumor, ways to handle it. In my opinion, if things unfold differently from the rumors, it won't be good for you..."

"Can't believe you're thinking about that even here."

Aden's face, lit by the light streaming through the half-open window, bore a very languid smile.

"How about setting aside such trivial worries for now? It's a banquet you're attending after so long—putting other concerns aside wouldn't be bad. And mere rumors. Where did the woman go who boldly shouted in front of everyone that she was my woman?"

Aden's hand rose.

He grabbed the tightly closed blackout curtain and pulled it aside in an instant.

Then a wave of golden light poured over his shoulders and hair, cascading toward me.

"Dancing with someone else at a banquet isn't scandalous."

"That's..."

"I just want to dance with you. What do rumors matter?"

With the light at his back, Aden's face lit up with delight, his eyes wide.

"Come, Sierra. I want my first dance tonight with you."