Chapter 21
Isabella no longer wanted to cry. Especially not in front of such a selfish and arrogant fiancé.
What was this pathetic one-sided love even worth? What had she been desperately enduring all those long years for? The thought that she had done anything just to receive a shred of attention or affection filled her with bitter regret.
To think she had loved someone like this. Every time his words or glances had turned toward her, she had felt joy—and now even those memories felt humiliating.
Stupid Isabella Ledia. The whispers people had once thrown at her echoed like ringing in her ears.
“Lady Ledia.”
A dry, raspy voice slipped out from between Ikanuell’s lips. Isabella, who no longer wanted to speak with him, shook her head and cut him off.
“Let me make this clear.”
“….”
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and stood up. Ikanuell also rose, reaching out as if to grab her hand—but Isabella stepped back first, widening the distance between them.
“Make sure all the articles about the young lord’s actions today are taken down. If this is delayed any further, I will personally ask my grandfather.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Ikanuell pretended not to understand, as if desperately trying to avoid hearing the word “breakup” from her mouth. Even now, in this situation, his refusal to accept reality made Isabella let out a hollow laugh.
“You’re not seriously asking because you don’t know, are you, Young Lord?”
“Lady Ledia. I—”
“You’re not about to say you want to start over with me, are you?”
“……”
At her direct strike, Ikanuell’s parted lips closed tightly. A brief silence fell. Neither confirming nor denying, he simply stood there, and Isabella shook her head as if she had seen something distasteful.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Do I look like a fool who would soften just because of a single apology?”
“That’s not what I meant. Lady, I just want to sincerely apologize for what I’ve done all this time—”
“No. There’s no need. I don’t want your apology, Young Lord.”
“Lady Ledia.”
His voice kept calling her persistently, and Isabella, unable to bear it any longer, covered one ear and shouted.
“I said I don’t want it!”
He had had countless chances to apologize.
“Isn’t she supposed to be the Lascelles fiancée? She looks so unimpressive.”
“If she’s been insulted that much, the young lord must not care either.”
The mocking voices that had once slipped past her ears so easily now felt unbearably sharp. Even when she stood beside him at the academy, she had always been someone pitiful—someone insignificant.
“Just smiling and pretending it’s fine won’t fix anything.”
She had always smiled anyway, pretending she wasn’t hurt, just so she wouldn’t appear miserable in front of the man she loved.
“Look at her smiling like that. Does she think that’ll change anything?”
At that time, she had clung carefully to his sleeve, begging silently for him to be on her side just once.
But what she received in return—
“Ha. Don’t create unnecessary trouble.”
That cold, exhausted look in Ikanuell’s eyes had shattered her.
The very person who had let her be torn apart by society for ten years was now speaking of apology.
“It’s ridiculous. Apologizing now, after dragging me out with this ridiculous article?”
“Isabella!”
“Don’t call me by my name. You don’t have the right.”
Their gazes met—his once warm hazel eyes that had held spring and summer forests were now completely empty.
There was no trace of the gentle smile he had once always shown her.
And Ikanuell finally realized, with a trembling hand, that he might truly lose her.
Meanwhile, Isabella, having poured out all the emotions she had buried for ten years, felt even the last remnants of attachment leave her.
Ikanuell Lascelles was someone she could never fit with—someone far too heavy for her to bear.
So she would no longer invest her emotions or time in him. She recalled the day she first asked for the breakup and took a steady breath.
Her tears finally stopped. Regaining composure, she clenched her fist and met his eyes directly.
It was time to put an end to ten years of one-sided love.
“After today, I do not wish to see you again, Young Lord.”
Her cold voice struck Ikanuell like ice shards.
“Please communicate anything necessary through letters.”
Leaving his stunned gaze behind, Isabella turned and left the reception room.
At that moment, Oliver arrived with prepared tea and met her outside.
“Lady Isabella.”
“I don’t need my tea. I’m returning to the estate.”
“Ah… I see. I prepared your favorite chamomile tea, what a pity.”
“Thank you for everything, Oliver.”
He hesitated, then silently nodded and bowed respectfully.
“I was honored to serve you, Lady Isabella.”
As she left the Lascelles ducal estate, Ikanuell finally stepped out of the reception room with a twisted expression.
But by the time he realized Isabella was gone, he violently ruffled his perfectly styled hair.
“Oliver.”
“Yes, Young Master?”
“Contact all the newspapers and stop today’s marriage-related articles.”
Oliver hesitated, confused.
“About that… all the articles have already been taken down. The morning papers have been recalled.”
“…What?”
“These are urgent telegrams from the press.”
Ikanuell stared in disbelief as Oliver handed him a luxurious card from the box.
It was from Kairos.
“People say shallow water makes the loudest noise. Surely the prestigious Lascelles house is not merely a shallow puddle. I hope I will not have to act personally next time.”
“Hah.”
Ikanuell crumpled the card with a bitter laugh.
“Have my father and grandfather been informed?”
“If you mean today’s articles, they have not yet reached the duchy.”
“And the breakup with Isabella?”
“The Young Master believes it is only a rumor. The former duke is still unaware.”
“…I see.”
“Shall we inform them?”
Ikanuell hesitated, then shook his head.
He had no intention of ending things with Isabella like this.
“The breakup will be told by me personally. Keep it quiet.”
“Yes, understood.”
He stared at the empty corridor Isabella had walked through, his eyes flickering with unease.
Returning to his study, he sank into his chair helplessly.
—After today, I do not wish to see you again.
He had acted too rashly.
Unlike him. Completely unlike him.
On the day of the imperial hunting event, Isabella standing beside Kairos and smiling so brightly had once again surfaced in his mind.
That radiant smile no longer belonged to him.
“I never want to end things with her.”
—She cried without making a sound.
The memory of her silently crying in front of him pressed heavily on his chest.
He shook his head as if to erase the feeling.
“If I explain properly, she’ll calm down.”
But what should he even say to get another chance to talk?
Ikanuell slowly lifted his head.
Unlike the dark storm cloud in his heart, the early summer sky outside was painfully clear.
