chapter 12
After giving the drawing room to Tartennon and the Marquis, Lebellina stepped out into the garden. The moment she set foot there, the servants hurried to prepare a table and tea for her.
“I don’t need tea.”
“Then shall we bring some light refreshments?”
“No.”
“You haven’t been eating much lately, miss. The chef just made lemon tart—I’ll bring it. You like it.”
Sandy stepped in and guided her into a seat. Since she hadn’t been eating or drinking properly, her complexion had grown sharp and pale, and even makeup couldn’t hide it—in fact, it made her look worse.
Lebellina sat blankly in the chair, lost in thought.
‘I have to leave for the North in just a few days?’
It felt so unfair she could go mad. Going itself wasn’t the problem—she just didn’t want to be driven out like this.
She carefully considered the consequences of the decision she had made in a fit of anger. Now that some time had passed, her mind had cooled.
After deep thought, she reached a conclusion: Inferno could not abandon her.
‘More than anyone, His Majesty won’t stay still about this.’
That left her with two choices. Either accept Inferno when he came back… or go to the North as promised to the Grand Duke.
Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the table.
The soft tap, tap echoed through the quiet garden. The servants held their breath as they watched her. That habit only appeared when she was making an important decision, so no one dared to interrupt—even their breathing was restrained.
Word had already spread quietly among them that something bad had happened to their lady at the imperial banquet. When it became known that the Second Prince—a royal with nothing to his name—had dared to belittle her and had an affair with a baron’s daughter, anger flared in their eyes.
Watching her from afar, they whispered among themselves so as not to disturb her.
“Is the Second Prince insane?”
“Exactly. What does our lady lack compared to some baron’s daughter?”
“Nothing. She’s perfect.”
“Right.”
As the servants nodded in agreement, Sandy spoke up.
“I’m sure that sly fox of a lady seduced him first!”
“You shouldn’t say that about a noble lady.”
“Oh please, you can still say that after seeing our miss’s face?”
Pointing at the gaunt Lebellina, Sandy continued without hesitation.
“And what about the prince? After everything our lady has done, how could he say such things…!”
“What did he say?”
Sandy glanced around to check if anyone was nearby. As someone who had a friend among the imperial maids, she was the information hub of the Asilius household. If even she was being cautious, it had to be something important. The other servants also looked around nervously.
“They say he asked to break off the engagement.”
“What? Break it off?”
“He’s lost his mind.”
“Ahem! Speaking disrespectfully of royalty—!”
“Step aside, butler! Disrespect or not, is that what matters right now?”
All the servants agreed with Sandy. Even the butler, though he tried to maintain propriety, was clearly shaken. The Asilius Marquisate was one of the empire’s most prestigious houses—yet a penniless Second Prince dared to speak of breaking off an engagement with its sole heir.
It was already a marriage agreed upon by both families, even approved by the Emperor. Trying to overturn it was unthinkable.
A sharp glint appeared in the butler’s eyes.
The other servants were no different. They were people who always wished they could do more for Lebellina. Now, anger burned in their gazes.
“This is an insult to the Asilius Marquisate.”
The head maid declared firmly, and the others nodded in agreement. They exchanged resolute looks, silently vowing that prince or not, they would never let him set foot in the estate again.
“Butler.”
“Yes, miss!”
Though her voice was soft, the butler rushed to her side at once.
“From today onward, the Asilius Marquisate will not receive guests.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll inform my father myself. Make the preparations accordingly.”
“Understood.”
“However, the Grand Duke of Speraum is an exception.”
“Yes, miss.”
Though he didn’t know what had been discussed in the drawing room, the butler could tell something significant had happened if even the marquis had met the grand duke alone.
As he quickly left the garden, Lebellina’s expression softened slightly. She called for Sandy, who promptly placed the prepared lemon tart on the table.
“You’ll eat, right?”
“I should.”
It was a light remark, but her resolve was clear.
Sandy smiled and stood behind her. Lebellina took a sip of the warm Earl Grey, then cut into the lemon tart. Just as she did—
Someone sat down across from her.
“Pour me a cup as well.”
“Ah, Your Grace. Did your discussion with Father go well?”
“Lina, ‘Your Grace’? Isn’t that a bit cold, between us?”
“Between… us?”
“I told you, I fell in love with you at first sight. Didn’t I ask you to call me by my nickname?”
“At first sight…?”
“Have you forgotten? I asked you to call me Ren.”
Tartennon’s nickname was Ren—a shortened form his mother used because his name was difficult to pronounce.
At his glance, Sandy quickly approached with a tray and prepared another teacup.
Lebellina blinked at his sudden change in attitude—then realized.
If she didn’t play along with this act, she would never escape being the subject of pity in high society.
Her eyes curved softly, and a beautiful smile spread across her face. Tartennon’s gaze sharpened with interest.
Without a sound, she lifted her teacup and took a sip. As the warm tea went down, it felt as though her confusion and agitation were melting away.
Savoring the warmth, she gently smiled.
“Asking me to use your nickname in front of others?”
“These are merely your household’s servants.”
“Ren.”
The quiet way she spoke his nickname rolled naturally off her tongue.
Tartennon smiled and reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against her face.
“Why have you grown so thin?”
“Well, that’s…”
“I told you, didn’t I? You only need to trust me.”
‘What is he even saying? Has he lost his mind?’
Though inwardly flustered, Lebellina didn’t show it.
The gentle tone sent a strange tingling through her fingertips. It was a kind of affection she had never once received from Inferno.
Even if it was fake… for now, it brought her comfort.
“I’m happy just that you’ve accepted my feelings. So I hope you won’t worry about anything.”
“Oh my!”
A startled exclamation escaped from behind. Judging by Sandy’s flushed face, she looked ready to run off and spread the news immediately.
Lebellina gestured to her.
“I have something to discuss with His Grace. Don’t come closer until I call.”
“Yes, miss! I won’t come at all!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Sandy dashed away. Lebellina gave a faint, bitter smile—then turned her gaze.
Tartennon was staring straight at her.
“Don’t tease her. She’s an innocent child.”
“I’ve heard that servants in the Asilius house inherit their positions.”
“And?”
“Then their loyalty must be strong. Naturally, I should make them my allies.”
“That’s quite impressive.”
Lebellina truly meant it. To make such a judgment in such a short time—he truly was the Grand Duke of the North.
Meeting her approving gaze, Tartennon spoke.
“I’ve received the marquis’s permission, so I think it would be best to announce the marriage.”
“My father approved?”
“Yes.”
‘He’s quite capable.’
She knew her father’s personality well—he wouldn’t have agreed easily. He hadn’t even been pleased when she insisted on marrying Inferno.
‘Does Father already know?’
Her expression darkened.
She hadn’t wanted her father to find out. How could she possibly tell him that the man she chose had abandoned her for another woman?
She couldn’t bring herself to say it. That was why she couldn’t answer when the marquis repeatedly asked what was wrong.
But judging from how things had progressed with Tartennon, it seemed her broken engagement was already known.
‘There must have been something else as well.’
Inferno, being timid, wouldn’t have confessed it himself—so that left only one person: the Emperor.
What on earth had the Emperor said to her father to make him accept Tartennon’s proposal so easily?
Lost in thought, Lebellina fell silent.
Tartennon didn’t rush her. He simply waited.
Even after the tea in their cups had gone cold, her lips didn’t part.
Finally, he called her.
“Lina.”
“…Yes?”
His gentle voice startled her, and she quickly lifted her head.
