Chapter 20
It was only a moment ago that Isabella had felt a premonition that she might actually have a pleasant day. Humming lightly for the first time in a while, she checked the front page of the daily newspaper Selly had brought her.
But the warm, cloud-like mood she had been floating on thanks to Dylan came crashing straight down into the mud.
“…What is this.”
<Breaking News: Marriage between the La Celes Young Duke and Lady Ledia imminent!>
<Isabella Ledia, soon to become the next mistress of the La Celes family—an in-depth look at her.>
Even after reading the bold headlines again, nothing changed. She flipped through the pages, only to find every article filled with her and Ikanoel’s names.
No matter how hard she searched, every mention of a breakup had disappeared. At this point, it almost felt like he was deliberately pressuring her into a situation where she couldn’t even bring up the word “separation.”
Even if that wasn’t his intention, Ikanoel had been acting however he pleased—yesterday and today alike.
“That damn man…!”
She slammed her clenched fist onto the table without even realizing she was still holding her fork.
It was fortunate no one else was in the dining room—otherwise they would have called her completely lacking in etiquette. Isabella sprang up from her seat and stormed out, still gripping the newspaper.
“Ah—Lady? Where are you going?!”
“La Celes ducal estate.”
“Right now?!”
“If I don’t go now, things are going to get very complicated. Selly, prepare the carriage.”
Selly nodded helplessly at Isabella’s determined expression and rushed off.
Ikanoel La Celes—he truly treated people as if they were beneath him. Isabella ground her teeth as she headed to her room.
In just thirty minutes, she was ready and boarded the prepared carriage. Before closing the door, Selly looked at her with concern.
“Are you sure you should go alone, my lady?”
“I’ll settle this quickly. Tell Ryan I went out because I had an appointment.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Today, she would finally force her arrogant fiancé to say the word “breakup.” Sitting in the carriage, Isabella stared out the window with burning eyes.
Even this familiar scenery would no longer be seen after today. That was how serious she was about ending the engagement.
She crushed the newspaper in her hands, letting out a deep sigh.
She still couldn’t understand why Ikanoel was acting like this. Was he offended because she had brought up the breakup first and hurt his pride? Or—
“No. That can’t be it.”
No matter how she thought about it, it was Ikanoel. He wasn’t someone who would suddenly regret things and claim he liked her now.
That was something that could never happen—and shouldn’t.
He had never once acknowledged her as his fiancée in all that time. And now that she had spoken of ending it, she had no intention of listening to any late excuses.
If she accepted his apology, then who would comfort her for all the past insults and wounds?
As her anger rose to her head, her mind instead turned cold.
By the time the carriage stopped, she realized they had arrived at the ducal estate. Before she could even stand, the door was opened from outside.
“Lady Isabella.”
“Long time no see, Oliver. Since my birthday party, I believe.”
“I have no excuse.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
Oliver, the chief butler of the La Celes ducal household, kept his head bowed until she fully stepped out of the carriage.
Seeing the newspaper in her hand, he suppressed a sigh. His young master’s unilateral decision had clearly provoked her anger.
He composed himself and straightened.
It seemed the engagement between his young master and Lady Ledia—believed to be just a passing rumor—could no longer be stopped.
“Master is currently working in the study. I will escort you to the reception room.”
“Very well.”
Isabella, determined to wait as long as necessary, followed Oliver to the reception room.
Refusing even tea, she sat on the long sofa and waited silently for him to finish his work.
About an hour later, hurried footsteps were heard beyond the door. Then the reception room door opened.
The man she had been waiting for finally appeared—Ikanoel.
Even now, just as he had been distant during their engagement, he was difficult to see.
Ikanoel looked visibly startled to see her there so early in the morning.
‘So he didn’t expect me to come this early?’
He stood at the doorway, trying to steady his breath. Even that looked ridiculous to her now, and her brow furrowed deeply.
“Isabella.”
“Let’s sit first and talk. As you said, we have much to discuss.”
Annoyed by the way he awkwardly called her name, she frowned.
She waited for him to sit before placing the crumpled newspaper on the table, as if telling him to look for himself.
“So now you’re so bothered by writing letters that you’ve decided to announce things through newspapers?”
Ikanoel glanced down at the paper. After reading the exaggerated headline, he replied calmly.
“It seems the press published this on their own.”
At his absurd answer, Isabella let out a dry laugh.
Just how foolish did he think she was?
At least being able to discard the last remnants of attachment she had for him was a relief.
She placed her clasped hands on her lap and met his eyes directly.
“You should come up with better excuses, my lord. You do know the ducal house can control the press, don’t you?”
After she had openly mentioned the breakup in a crowded place, not a single article about it had appeared the next day.
Even gossip outlets had gone silent.
Only a handful of powers in the empire could suppress the press like this—the imperial family or great noble houses like La Celes.
The newspaper today made it clear: he was deliberately blocking the breakup.
Suppressing her frustration, she glared at him.
Ikanoel’s expression twisted.
“Isabella… I—”
She could no longer bear hearing him casually use her name.
“Don’t call me by my name so freely. I find it extremely unpleasant coming from you.”
At her cold voice, his eyes widened slightly.
The warmth that once filled them was long gone. It was too late now—but realizing it only made his chest ache.
He tried to speak, but his lips wouldn’t move.
“….”
“I came here for one reason. End the engagement.”
At her unwavering declaration, his gaze filled with sorrow.
Ikanoel desperately wanted to stop her from leaving. His clenched fists trembled.
Too late—far too late regret twisted within him.
“Engagement termination is not happening. I won’t allow it.”
“…What did you just say?”
“I’m sorry for everything I did before. I really am. I… I’m truly sorry.”
Isabella, already straining to listen, looked at him in disbelief.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Just once. Please give me one more chance.”
It felt like a scream might tear out of her throat at any moment.
“Honestly… you—”
Everything she had given him—her time, her effort, her feelings—felt unbearably wasted.
“This is just… selfish.”
Ikanoel, who had been repeating apologies like a broken toy, froze when he saw her.
The Isabella who always smiled… who had never once cried in front of him… was crying because of him.
She sobbed silently, as if accustomed to it. Tears rolled down her cheeks, leaving round stains on her dress.
