《After I Sent the Divorce Letter, My Husband Went Mad》 CH 1 Prologue The air on the terrace where the windows were firmly closed was cold. Although the early spring sunshine was mellow, the wind was rather harsh. However, there were no curtains on the terrace, so the wind flowing through the gaps in the windows could not be prevented. A woman slipped into this cold place. Even though it was the weather for an average person to wear thick clothes, she was only wearing a thin brown dress. If she caught a cold because of this, her maid would sigh, but she had no choice but to do this. She wanted to hide her heavy heart though she couldn¡¯t, so that was why she was here. ¡°The cold is perfect when you¡¯ve got a lot of thoughts in your head.¡± While she spoke as brightly as possible, her expression was not so good. Sitting on a wooden chair, she sighed and opened the front page of the newspaper in her hand. As her face was tickled by her waist-length brown hair, she lifted her fingers and tucked her hair behind her ear while her eyes were still on the headlines of her newspaper. Originally, the first page of a newspaper usually had separate content related to politics or social issues. However, today¡¯s newspapers were organized into one article without separating politics or social circles. ? Cassel Jen Roten! The great hero. ? An article about a man filled a newspaper page. The story from his birth to his childhood, how he got into the war, and the achievements he has made so far were very well laid out. She smiled bitterly as she ran her hand over his portrait. ¡°¡­Stupid.¡± She muttered to herself. ¡®I am going to divorce my husband now.¡¯ ¡­So, why was he still occupying a corner of her heart? Why does he still occupy a corner of her heart? She cast her eyes at the portrait of Cassel Jen Roten. It was a portrait of him holding a sword and looking into the distance painted from the image captured by reporters. It was one of the most realistic paintings she had ever seen. Of course, it was not exactly the same. ¡°He usually laughs a lot.¡± The way he smiled with his short silver hair slightly forward and his red eyes narrowed were still vivid in her mind. ¡°You¡¯ve become a hero, but¡­¡± Cassel was a magic swordsman ¡ª as both magic and swordsmanship could be wielded freely. As a result, he played a great role in the war and led the victory on almost all battlefields he went on. It was only a matter of time before he became a war hero. ¡°¡­Because of that, I can no longer be your wife.¡± After folding her newspaper, she changed her clothes and went downstairs to her. It had already been a week since she was sent divorce papers from the royal family of the Roten Empire, and now, it was time to make a decision. ?¡¤ : * ? * :¡¤ ? A man with pale green eyes and long blue hair neatly tied was clenching his fists tightly in front of his desk. Even though he wanted to be angry, he seemed to be holding back the rage that was rising inside of him, because he was in front of her. ¡°Leilia, are you really going to get a divorce?¡± At the man¡¯s words, Leilia gracefully picked up the teacup on the table. She stood upright without leaning her back on the sofa and took a sip of tea before putting it down. ¡°It¡¯s an order from the imperial family.¡± At that, the man bit his lip. Three years ago, Count Eloisa had two daughters. The eldest, Leilia, graduated from the academy with the highest rank, and because of the estate her mother had left her, she was courted by a number of nobles. However, she missed her marriage offers because the Count continued to refuse them. Eventually, there was no longer a suitor who was determined and had an intention to marry Leilia. Meanwhile, war broke out between the Roten Empire and the neighboring Kingdom of Seitria. In the Roten Empire, if a war broke out, the prince was required to participate in the war by law. So, according to the law, the current Emperor sent a prince to the war, who was not the heir to the official throne, but Cassel, the Emperor¡¯s illegitimate son. Since the Empire did not recognize him as an adult unless he was married, Cassel married Leilia, the Count of Eloisa¡¯s eldest daughter, in order for him to join the war. This was to prevent the people from accusing them of sending a prince who was not even an adult to the battlefield. Since the marriage was ordered by the imperial family, the Count had no choice but to follow it. In other words, it was not because she wanted Cassel. It was, after all, a politically motivated marriage. ¡°Everyone says I¡¯m the most unhappy woman in the empire.¡± They felt sorry for her for having a husband, who might die in the war, and when her husband returned victoriously as a hero, they felt sorry that she was now on the verge of a divorce. ¡°You know it well.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it would be bad to just pretend to be pitiful like this. Then, the imperial family might give me something. What do you think, Lucis?¡± Lucis titled his head at her question. ¡°Do you have to do such things? Why don¡¯t you tell people everything and stay as His Highness Cassel¡¯s wife?¡± ¡°It¡¯s troublesome.¡± Her cold voice echoed through her room. ?? Nabi¡¯s Note: ?? ?¡î The chapters are going to be split in half, which will also lessen the pressure on the translating staff involved. Splitting into parts like this lessens the pressure me, so I¡¯ll update more often compensate for this! Thank you as always for your constant support and understanding! ? CH 2 Prologue ¡°My husband has a mistress. Before the marriage, he loved someone else. Even if I don¡¯t want a divorce, he will.¡± At her words, Lucis, who was next to her, lifted his glasses. His eyebrows went up as well. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see my husband play with the mistress, and I don¡¯t want to wait for him to file the divorce papers first.¡± Unlike Cassel¡¯s gorgeous silver hair, Leilia had plain brown hair. On top of that, she had purplish-black eyes, and although they seemed mysterious, her appearance was not beautiful enough to be admired. Of course, she does not think Cassel would have a mistress because of her looks. Regardless, the woman who was reputed to be the mistress is said to be very beautiful. In addition, it was also said that she was a comrade closest to Cassel, who was said to be the most capable. It was only a matter of time before love sprouted in the meantime. Besides, Leilia¡¯s family was too low as a young lady from a county to be the Prince¡¯s marriage partner. ¡°And you know, Lucis. All the wives of the prince who went to war and returned alive have left the imperial family.¡± Historically, princes who had become heroes have always divorced their original wives and took other women as their wives. Consequently, the imperial family was once again preparing to divorce her and Cassel without exception. As if they were taking her for granted, they sent her divorce papers as they heard the final victory. ¡°How much help has Lady Leilia given to him¡­¡± Lucis uttered, biting his tongue. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect anything in return, anyway.¡± What she did was only to save him, she did not want anything from him. Leilia had nothing to ask of Cassel, as her expectation for someone had long been lost. However, if there was only one thing she wanted¡­ Thinking that, she opened the desk drawer and pulled out a small piece of paper. ? ¡®I will certainly come back.¡¯ ? Leilia gazed at the writing on the faded paper before running her hand across the paper. Even though her head was complicated when she thought of the current situation, a smile still spread across her lips when she looked at this note. It was a note that Cassel had written before leaving for the battlefield. When she asked him to come back alive, he wrote this and left this message. As she woke up from the first night, Cassel was not there anymore though this note remained. Although he did it formally, it meant a lot to her. All she wanted was for him to live under the same sky as her, that was all. She did not want anything like love from him. It was because she realized as a child that love does not come because she wants it and that it does not reciprocate just because she wants it. But unlike her, Lucis still remained angry. ¡°Still, no matter what, this kind of treatment doesn¡¯t make sense! ¡°Why? I¡¯m used to it, those around me always neglect me. Their treatment of me is no different now.¡± Leilia¡¯s father had arranged an arranged marriage with her mother ¡ª meaning that they were only a married couple in name. ¡®Mother loved father, but he hated her¡­¡¯ ¡­Was that why? Her father regarded his daughter, Leilia, as horrible as her mother was. The cold treatment was not unfamiliar to her. Leilia¡¯s expression hardened at the thought. ¡­Yes, she had a life where she could not have expectations from others. ¡°We got married by arrangement, and we¡¯re indifferent towards each other. So, divorce is not difficult.¡± Even though Leilia tried to speak as calmly as she could, her voice trembled slightly. She could not prevent her hands from shaking, even as she maintained her graceful posture without being distracted. ¡°Even if you said so, you¡¯ve had that paper for a long time.¡± As Lucis glanced at the note that she had in her hand, Leilia lowered her eyes slightly and smiled. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll handle it¡­ my feelings.¡± ¡­While Cassel may have no idea, the letters he occasionally sent comforted her. ¡°I love him¡­ Should I say that was the biggest mistake of my life?¡± Shutting her eyes, Leilia slowly opened her eyes again. Her mother always said this all her life. ¡­It was the fault of the person who fell in love. CH 3 Prologue ¡°I won¡¯t beg for his love.¡± After saying that, Leilia took a pen and signed the divorce papers. Lucis sighed as he watched her move her hand without hesitation. ¡°The Emperor will do whatever he pleases. My husband must be hoping for a new wife, too, though since he was a person in the public eye, he couldn¡¯t ask for a divorce from me easily.¡± Knowing that her husband had a woman he loved before the marriage, she already thought that she would have to let him go someday. If he came back from the battlefield and wanted a divorce, she was willing to accept it at any time. ¡°Why don¡¯t you reveal your identity? Let¡¯s put it in the paper that the leader of the mysterious Hyllan merchants association who helped High Highness Cassel is Leilia.¡± Lucis asked sincerely. Her miserable life was so frustrating for him that he felt like he was going to explode. ¡°I don¡¯t want that.¡± Hyllan merchants association. It was a colossal, transnational association where the headquarters was based in the Roten Empire. Because of its influence, that was why the Empire could not act recklessly. As her mother, the former leader, and Leilia, the current leader, had been operating in secret for several decades, the association leader of Hyllan has never appeared in the public eyes. Therefore, people did not know much about the Hyllan association. Of course, Cassel, who was sponsored by Leilia, found out about her identity by chance. ¡°I¡¯ll never reveal my identity.¡± After saying that, Leilia raised one corner of her lips as she stared at the divorce papers. ¡°¡­Oh, I feel bad about getting a divorce.¡± She was always a stranger among people. Even though she did not want to part with her husband, whom she wanted to be by his side, but because she did not want to beg for love, she tried to let him go. Still, somehow, she could not help but feel the bitterness in her heart. Of course, when she spent her first night with him, she vowed she would let Cassel go. ¡­That was why she signed the divorce papers. Nevertheless, this was still not a good feeling because it was not something she wanted to do of her own will though pressure from the outside forced her to divorce sooner than expected. Regardless, Leilia did not express her feelings on the outside but quietly leaned back on a chair, gazing at the divorce papers. ¡°I see. I didn¡¯t know because you signed it without hesitation like that.¡± Lucis replied sarcastically, but he soon shook his head and held out what he had prepared instead. ¡°Here¡¯s the new dress catalogue.¡± ¡°How expensive?¡± Turning her chair, Leilia scanned the booklet that Lucis had brought. Whenever she was stressed, she would vent her anger by buying a wide variety of things, always choosing the most expensive things when she was spending. ¡°The most expensive dress is cheaper than I thought.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Lady Leilia¡¯s standard.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a wonderful life, everyone should know that Lady Leilia lives like this.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if they don¡¯t know.¡± After saying that, she placed the papers in an envelope and sealed it. Then, she sent the divorce papers to her husband, Cassel. ?¡¤ : * ? * :¡¤ ? The wind on the battlefield was bleak and desolate. At the wind, Lucis glanced up at the castle gate. After the recent war was completely over, high-ranking nobles were coming and going to negotiate a war between the Empire and the Kingdom of Seitria. Therefore, it was not unusual for someone to visit this place through the warp.* [ T/N: An added explanation just in case! In other words, distorting space-time in a wormhole which is a method to travel a long distance in a short time ¡ª AKA, teleporting! ] Feeling the dry air, Lucis clenched the divorce papers in his hand. As he was in charge of the headquarters of the Hyllan merchant association, he was able to minimize the necessary inspection required upon entry, so Leilia¡¯s documents could arrive quickly. Striding to the checking point, he showed his identification. Since they also already knew his face, the examination procedure was formal. ¡°Huu¡­¡± The wind was dry. Lucis stared at Rutelia Castle, which was a fortress where Cassel was. Perhaps, he was in the office where he had always stayed. As he walked down the hallway, he could not hide his heavy heart. He could tell even if no one told him that his own expression had stiffened. Standing in front of the office, he sighed and turned the handle on the door. The door opened with a slight sound. CH 4 Prologue He entered the office with heavy footsteps and bowed his head to a man. ¡°Greetings, Your Highness Cassel.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± A low-pitched voice echoed through the room. After the greeting, Lucis raised his head and gazed at Cassel. His red eyes along his short silver hair overwhelmed the people around him. He was a handsome man with lavish features as if the god of beauty, which was said to have existed in ancient times, had descended. The butterfly-shaped accessory on the black shirt he wore glistened in the sunlight. The blue butterfly, symbolizing the imperial family, conveyed his identity. Whenever his portrait appeared in newspapers, it was rumored that the newspapers sold out posthastedly. It was said to be because of his handsome looks, which did not look like a human. Seeing him like this, Lucis suddenly thought that the reason might be right. ¡®He¡¯s still wearing that necklace.¡¯ The necklace that Cassel wore around his neck had been bought by Leilia ¡ª as a wife, not as the leader of the association. Even though Lucis did not think that he did not value his wife, he was certain that Cassel would choose to divorce her in the end. ?¡¤ : * ? * :¡¤ ? Cassel slowly raised his head and glanced at Lucis. ¡°What did you come here for? Did something happen to Leilia?¡± ¡­A man who always follows his wife. Lucis Oslin. He asked in a dry voice, indicating that his visit was unwelcome. ¡°It was sent from Leilia.¡± Saying so, Lucis handed him an envelope containing the papers. Cassel glanced at the envelope without saying a word, ripped the sealing wax off, and took out the documents inside. The details of the divorce proceedings were written distinctly on a piece of white paper. ¡°This is¡­?¡± Perplexed, his eyes fluttered slowly. At the same time, his hand that was holding the divorce papers was trembling slightly. Cassel suddenly remembered the fact that there were many men surrounding Leilia. Of course, he had never heard that Leilia had another man, but when he saw the divorce papers, that was the first thing that came into his head. After all, she was the leader of The Hyllan, and attractive and unquestionably, she could conceivably captivate the man she likes at once. ¡°Did my wife have another man?¡± Cassel¡¯s voice dawned itself. Upon hearing that, Lucis jumped and replied. ¡°There¡¯s no way she would leave her husband behind because she has another man.¡± ¡°She could give her heart to whomever. There are so many things Leilia has got that she can easily hold the hands of whomever she wants.¡± ¡°Why do you think that she¡¯ll have another man just because she has so much?¡± Lucis asked back sharply. Judging by his reaction, it did not seem like she had another man. ¡°Hm¡­ Is that so?¡± Cassel slowly tapped the desk with his finger. It was an act showing his discomfort. ¡®Leilia¡­¡¯ She did not know why he had come to the battlefield. He also never meant to tell her. ¡°There¡¯s not going to be a divorce.¡± Holding the paper in the air, Cassel mercilessly burned the paper with his magic after he finished his words. ¡°¡­Your Highness?¡± Lucis stared at him in surprise. ¡°Even though we don¡¯t love each other, I thought we were getting along well. It must¡¯ve been my mistake, sending the divorce papers like this.¡± After saying that, he stared at Lucis. Lucis was a married man, and he knew that Leilia never thought of him like that. Nevertheless, it bothered him¡­ No, in fact, all the men around her were on his nerves. Still, he did not want to push her, fearing that he might drive her away and she would leave his side. ¡°If my wife has a man she likes, tell her she can make him her lover. If she ever has a child with that man, I¡¯ll take it as my child so tell her not to worry about the illegitimate child.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± Lucis seemed bewildered by the unexpected answer. ¡°Leila is my wife. So, anything that has to do with my wife belongs to me as well.¡± Cassel¡¯s eyes turned sharp as he continued. ¡°I¡¯ll guarantee her freedom. I can turn a blind eye to her lover, though I¡¯ll never allow a divorce¡­ At least until I return, she¡¯ll have to be my wife.¡± He may not be able to take her heart ¡ª but the position as her husband, the father of the child she gave birth to, had to be entirely his¡­ He absolutely had no intention of letting her go. Cassel uttered his last words firmly and sent Lucis back. ¡°Leilia, don¡¯t even think about running away.¡± She was his wife, so she had to be by his side. CH 5 Leilia was alone in the room. ¡­How long has it been since she met Cassel? She recalled her memories of three years ago. It was before they got married, and she had not yet had a face-to-face with Cassel. It was also when Leilia was just graduating from the academy. ?¡¤ : * ? * :¡¤ ? The sunlight that shone through the window warmed the room. In early spring, the spirit of winter seemed to have receded, although not completely. The next moment, the alarm bell on the desk rang with a loud noise. At that, Leilia struggled to open her eyes. It was the same morning today. After a while, a knock was heard. ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened after a voice, and a woman with pink hair cut into a short bob came in. Her handmaiden, Seychelle, looked at her with her blue eyes and bowed her head. Wearing a black and white maid outfit, she looked somewhat awkward. ¡°Young Lady, did you sleep well last night?¡± Seychelle was originally an escort knight for her mother, Lacilla. She then retired as a knight and became her exclusive maid. So, although she was a little old, she served Leilia with all her heart. This morning, too, Seychelle came to her room just in time she had to wake up this morning. ¡°I slept well. But, did you bring it?¡± Smiling softly, Leilia tilted her head slightly towards Seychelle. At the question, she held out a newspaper that she was holding in her hand. ¡°Here is today¡¯s newspaper.¡± Leilia, who sat in front of the tea table after receiving the square newspaper, poured a cup of tea into the teapot and took a sip. The warm tea ran down her throat. The bitter tea was helpful for subduing her mind. As she sat in the chair and opened the newspaper, the first page of the newspaper contained political content and social issues. Leilia looked at the political part first. It was because there was one political event that caught her attention recently. In fact, it was also an event that interested not only her but all the citizens. ¡°Well¡­¡± The Kingdom of Seitria, once again, challenged her motherland, the Roten Empire. The reason was that the young king of Seitria was pursuing an expansionist policy. In recent years, as the economy of the Kingdom of Seitria had developed and the military power continuously increased, it led to this. ¡°Are they going to go to war after all?¡± ¡®Then¡­¡¯ Relations between countries related to the empire were bound to become sensitive. There were many countries where tensions went back and forth with the Roten Empire, however, they were not enough to fold the top. Regardless, the situation was different in the Kingdom of Seitria. Eventually, they would have to make a decision. By the time she finished reading the newspaper, the tea she had been drinking had already run out. Seychelle, who was organizing around the bed, glanced at the watch before approaching her and whispered. ¡°It¡¯s meal time.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Leilia¡¯s expression was not good. Her least favorite thing was Monday morning family meals. It was the worst thing, though she still had to go. Because if she did not, her father and stepmother would then bother her about it later all week. She just wanted to avoid that. Eventually, Leilia got up from her chair before heading to the dressing room to change her clothes. ?¡¤ : * ? * :¡¤ ? Leilia, who went to the dressing room, chose a modest dress. It was not that she did not have any fancy clothes, but she did not bother to wear them for breakfast. ¡°Are you not going to wear makeup again this time?¡± Seychelle asked formally. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t want to do it for breakfast on Mondays.¡± Seychelle bowed her head at her words and helped her change clothes. The next moment, she carefully combed her hair down to her waist neatly. Leilia, who left her room for breakfast, consciously smiled. ¡®Because I told Seychelle to buy a tea that¡¯s easy to digest in advance.¡¯ While her father, stepmother, and siblings¡¯ rooms were all on the first floor, Leilia¡¯s room was on the second floor. Her father¡¯s intentions were clearly read. As he had separated her room, it meant for her to live there like a dead mouse. Of course, her stepmother would have encouraged the idea as well. ¡®It¡¯s not that I¡¯m upset by that.¡¯ That could be the case because her stepmother was not her real mother. However, her father¡­ he was her biological father though he had no affection for Leilia. Shaking her head, Leilia headed down to the basement where the dining room was located. Upon her arrival at the dining room, the heavy, ornately carved wood door to the dining room opened. Her stepmother was already sitting there already. Her honey-like colored hair fluttered down to her waist while her blue eyes shone like jewels. Her stepmother, who wore earrings with various jewels and lipstick on her lips, was very glamorous. There was no blemish on her clear skin. Her face was always admirable. She had an appearance that suited her father¡¯s taste for beautiful and flashy things. CH 6 ¡°Leilia.¡± ¡°Hello, mother.¡± As her stepmother, Shuella, glanced at Leilia¡¯s outfit, a smile mixed with a sneer crept across her eyes. ¡°It seems like you know your place. You¡¯re well dressed.¡± She seemed to be quite pleased with her outfit. ¡°Isn¡¯t that an outfit that suits you, who¡¯s never even gotten married?¡± ¡­It also meant to know her place and not to wear conspicuous clothes. Leilia did not say anything, went to a corner seat, and sat down. She was just going to listen to what her mother had to say and leave after eating the meal. ¡°Sister, it¡¯s been a while!¡± The next moment, a girl approached Leilia and spoke to her. She had a bright voice that did not suit the solemn atmosphere. Looking at the girl, she smiled involuntarily. The girl who smiled sincerely towards her was her younger sister, Alesha. Turning sixteen-year-old this year, she had fluttering honey-like colored hair and blue eyes just like Shuella. In addition, she also had a smile that seemed to make anyone happy. Leilia could possibly say that she was the only family member to her. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a while.¡± In her childhood, she often wondered if her father would have liked her if she had been born so beautiful, but now, she knew that it was useless. Even if she were beautiful, her father would not have given her love. Even though it was difficult for Leilia to admit it when she was young, she is fine now. ¡°Alesha, I heard you¡¯re getting married?¡± At her words, Alesha blushed. ¡°¡­I¡¯ve met the Duke of Hosel.¡± Although sixteen was a young age, it was not too late considering that the noble maidens were married at least at the age of twenty. Leilia smiled bitterly as she recalled that she was twenty-two years old. If they were going to treat her poorly, they should just find her a suitable marriage partner and get her married. That way, she could get out of the house. However, her father did not do that. It was because if she got married, he would have to return the property that her mother had left for her, which he now owned, back to her. The things that her mother left behind¡ªthey were originally Leilia¡¯s, and she was supposed to inherit them when she came of age. Thinking of her mother, something swelled in her chest. ¡°Leilia, it¡¯s noisy. How dare you talk to your sister?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Mother, I was the first to say hello!¡± Saying so, Alesha acted cute to appease Shuella¡¯s heart with her quick wit. Normally, she would fall for her cuteness, but today was different. She did not look very happy. ¡®Well, she¡¯s been like this for a long time.¡¯ It was because she had been annoyed since earlier. Since she made a reservation for a necklace, Leilia stole it by intercepting the reservation and paid a higher price. Because of that, Shuella has been taking her anger out here and there. ¡®It¡¯s a necklace that isn¡¯t very expensive.¡¯ Of course, it was expensive in this house. Leilia began to eat her food a little faster. It was because before her father came, she wanted to finish her meal. Seeing that, Shuella glared at her. ¡°You¡¯re really being rude.¡± ¡°Mother, what are you saying!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about meddling.¡± ¡­But today, it was worse. ¡®This is annoying.¡¯ ¡®What should I intercept next?¡¯ Leilia, who was pondering that, fell into her thoughts. While Shuella may never know, Leilia was confident that she would not let her obtain any jewelry she wanted. While thinking so, the door opened and a man appeared. ¡°You¡¯re late!¡± The man laughed at Alesha¡¯s cry. A handsome man with golden hair down to his shoulders and blue eyes, he was Leilia¡¯s father, Cowell Eloisa. ¡°You woke up late, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Can you tell?¡± ¡°Well, you didn¡¯t dry your hair.¡± Cowell soothed Alesha by stroking her head tenderly before kissing his wife, Shuella, on the cheek. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Is Alesha enjoying your breakfast, too?¡± ¡°Father, you¡¯re late.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°As a penalty, no drinking for a week!¡± ¡°Please, cut me some slack.¡± They spoke affectionately to each other¡ªexcept for Raylia, they were a very close family. ¡®¡­I¡¯m the only stranger.¡¯ Even though she always hated feeling this way, she had no intention of ever begging them for affection. ¡°Leilia¡¯s here, too.¡± ¡°Yes, father.¡± ¡°How rude she was, she was noisy the whole time we ate.¡± The next moment, Cowell frowned at Shuella¡¯s words before opening his mouth to his daughter, ¡°Leilia, you¡¯re still tasteless. This is why you can¡¯t get married.¡± Meanwhile, Alesha started to eat while glancing at them. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful next time.¡± At Leilia¡¯s words, he shook his head and sat next to Shuella. CH 7 When the meal was over, Leilia was the only one who got up, closed the dining room doors and left. Usually in the Roten Empire, they would be under their parents until they got married. In other words, she could not inherit her fortune even if she reached the age of maturity. In addition, there was a custom that they would only be recognized as an adult when married. Consequently, even though she was twenty-two years old, Leilia had no direct control of her property, which was passed down to her by her mother. It was because her father did not hand it over to her, claiming that he was taking care of her. ¡°Huu.¡± It was obvious that he was going to sell her fortune and use it for Alesha¡¯s dowry. Lamentably, it was the law of this country that her father, a guardian, could do it if he wanted to forcefully dispose of her property¡­ Or, perhaps it was because he was from an aristocratic family, so his words were absolute. If he had known that Leilia was the owner of the Hyllan association, her father would have handed it to her sister, too. That must have been why her mother kept the fact that she was the owner of the Hyllan merchants association during her lifetime a secret. Her steps to her room were heavy. As if her stomach was twisted, Leilia grabbed her stomach and opened the door. Fortunately, Seychelle was already in the room waiting. ¡°Young Lady, are you okay?¡± ¡°No, my stomach feels bloated. Bring the tea.¡± [ T/N: Added explanation here~ She was saying that she¡¯s having an upset stomach due to indigestion from sitting and eating in an uncomfortable situation! ] ¡°Of course.¡± At her words, Seychelle shut the door and went out. Sitting in the chair silently, Leilia leaned back and let out a sigh. ?¡¤ : * ? * :¡¤ ? ¡­Why did her mother love her father? She always said that he was indifferent to her. As she picked up the teacup, she recalled her mother, who had waited her whole life for her father. While drinking the tea gracefully, she tilted her head and leaned back in the chair before muttering softly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be in love.¡± She did not want to hang on to something. Losing herself to emotions and crying like that¡­ She did not want to experience that. Still, even this did not go her way. Leilia smiled bitterly as she raised her body up and glanced at the watch. It had already been a couple of hours since she had breakfast. Thankfully, she now feels more comfortable than before. Then, she called Seychelle. ¡°I¡¯m going out.¡± At her words, Seychelle helped her get ready to go out. While her hair was curled up with a magical hot machine, the curls were added to the ends of her hair. They were beautifully arranged so that it would not bristle. ¡°I¡¯ve got an earring that Alesha bought a while ago, so I¡¯ll use that.¡± She had bought it when they went out together the other day, so Leilia wore it often because of her sister¡¯s sincerity. And soon, Seychelle came with her earring box. Leilia opened the box and put the earrings on her ears. She wore the most glamorous dress with embroidered gold, light makeup, and pink lipstick. She also added glitter to her eyes lightly to add some depth. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in the evening again, so I¡¯ll come back for dinner.¡± Since she often visited her maternal uncle¡¯s house on days where she had family breakfasts, Seychelle was already presuming where Leilia was going even if she did not tell her where she was going. ¡°Have a safe trip.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Waving her hand to Seychelle, she left. ¡®¡­Today is the day he sends the letter.¡¯ A smile spontaneously formed on her lips. However, it soon turned bitter the next moment. Before she even knew love, she had already given her heart to a man. Leilia looked at herself serenely waiting for his letter. ¡®Foolish¡­¡¯ The sunlight illuminated brightly when she came out. Leilia narrowed her eyes for a moment and glanced up at the sky. It seemed like she was going to need a parasol, thankfully, it was a good thing she had brought it as well. Meanwhile, birds spread their wings as they flew facilely in the sky. Like her, who was happy to escape from her home, they seemed to rejoice in breaking free from their bondage. At that moment, there was a man slowly walking down the street. On a piece of paper in his hand, a schematic was drawn. The man swept his silver hair back as he looked at a building. ¡°¡­Leilia.¡± ¡®I hope we can meet.¡¯ The man, who had just passed the age of maturity, prayed earnestly in his heart. CH 8 The carriage came to a stop. Leilia opened the door of the carriage before stepping out. The wind was chillier than she expected as she ambled into the restaurant where her uncle, Natale, was, with her light overcoat undone. Since Natale was good at cooking and loved to do it, her mother took over as the owner of the association while Natale became an owner of the restaurant. When her mother suddenly passed away and he temporarily took over the ownership of the Hyllan merchants association position, he asked Leilia to grow up quickly and take the position. Even when Leilia later took over the position after she reached the age of maturity, he walked away with no regrets. So, as a gift, she made the first floor of this building under her uncle¡¯s name. At that, Natale laughed and said he had saved the rent. As she opened the restaurant door and entered, her uncle, Natale, smiled and waved his hand. He looked a lot like Leilia¡ªwith his brown hair and dark eyes¡ªhe was tall and kind-looking. Although he did not have a flashy appearance, he had a strange charm. ¡°Have you had breakfast?¡± At his question, Leilia nodded her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t eat well.¡± ¡°That.¡± Natale clicked his tongue. He was well aware that today was the day for family breakfasts. ¡°Even though I drank tea to help digestion, I still feel bloated.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± She settled on a seat where the sun was shining. After a while, Natale walked over with a cup of tea. There was also a cute rabbit pattern on the teacup. It was because he liked the rabbit pattern. ¡°This is a tea that helps digestion. It¡¯s very expensive.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s from my uncle, it¡¯s okay if the price is cheap.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t feed you cheap stuff.¡± Leilia laughed at Natale¡¯s witty remark. Like him, she would choose expensive things of the same type among her belongings, too. Today was the day that she would be having lunch alone with Natale. Usually, her subordinate, Lucis, would also come and discuss things with them over lunch, but not today. As she drank the tea, her complexion improved a little. Leilia swept her hair and laughed. When a smile crept across her lips, Natale exhaled as if relieved. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right now.¡± Natale stroked Leilia¡¯s hair as he heard her answer. ¡°You must have had a hard time eating.¡± ¡°It happens all the time.¡± ¡°But, it must still be hard.¡± At his words, Leilia smiled bitterly. As he said, even though it always happens, it is always difficult. ¡°How long are you going to stay in that house?¡± At Natale¡¯s words, she tilted her head to one side. ¡°Until Alesha gets married?¡± Her father seemed to be thinking of destroying her mother¡¯s legacy, perhaps when Alesha married. That was why Leilia had to get acquainted with Alesha and find out when she was getting married. She had to keep an eye on her father¡¯s movements. She intended to repurchase her mother¡¯s estate, which her father was disposing of. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just ruin that house and sell it?¡± Natale spoke coldly. Undeniably, she had that kind of power, and she could do it if she wanted to. ¡°My sister hasn¡¯t married yet.¡± Leilia smiled as she said that. ¡°I¡¯ll take revenge by just purloining what my stepmother wants.¡± In the first place, she had no intention of blatantly seeking revenge. Seeing Natale click his tongue, she then took his hand. Her uncle was always on her side. The pain she received at home was treated whenever she came here. Without this place, she undoubtedly might have wilted and withered to death. ¡°Did you get a letter from him?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been waiting for Cassel¡¯s letter again.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the person I support. I¡¯m pleased to see him advance and grow.¡± Because he was the son of her friend, Jenelle, who died, her mother sponsored Cassel because he had no guardian as the owner of the Hyllan association. Of course, her mother operated secretly as the owner, so he was unaware that his supporters were Leilia and her mother. Cassel had no last name. His mother said she did not know who his biological father was either. ¡­In other words, he was an illegitimate child. ¡°Did he dry the flowers again this time?¡± In the spring, Cassel would dry the flowers and send them away. The flowers he had sent so far were all placed on Leilia¡¯s bookshelf. In fact, she had met him when she was a child. In her childhood, when she was sad that she was not loved by her father, when her mother¡¯s praise alone did not fill her empty heart¡­ ¡´ Leilia shines as you are by being you. ¡µ ¡´ That¡¯s a lie. ¡µ ¡´ No. It¡¯s a blessing that you were born. It¡¯s Leilia¡¯s father who¡¯s doing something wrong. Besides, not all parents love their children. Mine¡¯s the same, too. ¡µ ¡´ But¡­! ¡µ ¡´ If I think that I don¡¯t deserve to be loved just because my father doesn¡¯t love me, that wouldn¡¯t make sense. I just think that I need to love myself ¡ª and so should Leilia. It¡¯s sad to think of yourself as a bad child because you¡¯re not loved by your father. ¡µ A child who did not sympathize with her misfortunes, but rather empathized and told her to let him know whenever she was sad. As she listened to the boy, she felt strangely relieved, as if the feeling of famish in her heart had disappeared CH 9 ¡´ ¡­Even if my father doesn¡¯t love me, I¡¯m not a bad person, right? ¡µ Words she could not bear to ask her mother emanated from her mouth. ¡´ Of course! ¡µ The answers he gave¡­ The conversations they had¡­ They became the strength to endure the present for Leilia. She has not seen each other since then, so she does not know how he grew up. She just sponsored him and received a letter once a month. Even so, the heart that was engraved in her childhood did not change. When she realized that she had a heart for a child younger than her, Leilia ran away without looking back at him again. It was because she thought that the closer she was, the more her heart would grow, so she deliberately stayed away from him. There were times when she wanted to cut the feelings off coolly though it was so painful that she could not bear to do it. ¡®¡­There were so many letters that I threw away instead of sending them to him.¡¯ With such a complex and subtle mind, Leilia waited for his letter and read them over and over again before throwing them away. As she threw them away, she fetched them back again. She smiled as she recalled her own past. Knowing the feelings in her that had not disappeared even now, she now resigned and just collected his letters. As usual, Leilia was also planning to collect the letter she was going to receive today and store them in her keepsake cabinet. However, not only did her uncle not give her the letter, but he also said something strange. ¡°The truth is, Cassel said he wanted to meet you in celebration of his coming of age.¡± ¡°Me¡­?¡± Leilia was perplexed. ¡°But, he doesn¡¯t know who I am?¡± ¡®¡­Doesn¡¯t he?¡¯ ¡°Cassel knew about you.¡± Natale suddenly told her an unexpected story. ¡°I couldn¡¯t deny it because he spoke straight out that he was assuming that you were the daughter of a friend of his mother¡¯s, and that he wanted to meet Leilia Eloisa.¡± He knew who she was. ¡°For that kind of reason¡­?¡± ¡­Does he just want to meet her? Why could she not accept his words easily? Perhaps, it was because most of the people around her were untrustworthy and deceitful. ¡°Go meet him and ask.¡± As he replied, Natale laughed softly. ¡°¡­All right.¡¯ In the end, she thought they should meet and talk for now. Still, her heart was beating strangely. When she heard that she would be meeting Cassel, her heart started beating faster than before. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ She was not dull enough to know her own feelings. As Leilia acknowledged how she was feeling, her heart fluttered rapidly. ¡°He said He¡¯d wait here.¡± Natale then handed her a small piece of paper. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ A long time ago, holding her mother¡¯s hand, she followed her mother to a small cafe. There, she met the young Cassel. ¡­He was waiting at the place where she first met him. ?¡¤ : * ? * :¡¤ ? Her mother did not see her friends very often during her lifetime. She also did not have many friends and refused to meet them as her heart was ravaged by her father¡¯s unrequited love. However, she had a friend whom her mother would regularly write letters to. The friend¡¯s son was Cassel. After her friend died, her mother would help and secretly sponsor Cassel. Glancing at the cafe that was made out of wood, it was always a serene place as they sold tea, coffee, and cakes. Although it does not seem like it had many customers, it was an eccentric place where regulars would come constantly. Leilia, who came with Natale, opened the door and entered. As she entered, she could see the inside. There was a wooden floor, tables, and chairs in the middle, and there were people drinking tea quietly. The next moment, she instinctively walked towards the watermill. It was there that she met Cassel, so she thought he would be there. Though it was since childhood that she saw him, could he remember her since that time¡­? The water flowed out, and the watermill turned. And there, a man was sitting at the table next to it. The short silver-haired man was lost in thought as he gazed into an empty cup of tea. ¡®That outfit¡­¡¯ It was a gift that was sent along with a sword to congratulate him on coming of age. Wearing it, Cassel now sat in front of her. As if noticing Leilia¡¯s staring gaze, he turned his eyes to this place. His bright, refined, red eyes glistened in the sunlight. ¡°Ah.¡± He recognized her. He let out an exclamation before rising up and bowing his head. ¡°Well, he really knows who you are.¡± Natale smiled and patted Leilia on the back. ¡°Well then, have a good time. Uncle will wait over there.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Nodding her head, she strode towards Cassel. As she approached, Leilia bowed slightly to him and opened her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m Leilia Eloisa.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Cassel.¡± CH 10 Leilia, who was staring blankly at him, quickly came to her senses. Even though he was very handsome even as a child, his appearance as he grew up was beyond words. ¡°I came here because you wanted to see me.¡± At her words, Cassel smiled quietly. When he smiled slightly like this, the mood changed. While he seemed nervous and shy, he bowed his head to her the next moment. ¡°Nice to meet you, sponsor.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s sit down first.¡± As Leilia sat in the seat opposite of him, Cassel sat down as well. His hand, holding the menu board, trembled slightly as if nervous. ¡°Would you like to order some tea?¡± She then saw the tea that Cassel had ordered in advance. ¡°What kind of tea did you order?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Senon¡¯s tea.¡± It was Leilia¡¯s favorite tea. ¡°I¡¯ll take the same one.¡± She said, keeping her composure as much as possible. It was because when the man she liked as a child, the only man she had fond memories of, appeared like this and smiled at her, her heart could not help it but feel strange. It was even more difficult because she could not ignore the pounding sound of her heart. Eventually, the tea she ordered was placed in front of her. Looking at it, she picked up the teacup. The reason why she likes Senon tea is because it always relaxes her nerves. After taking a sip of the tea, she congratulated him first. ¡°Congratulations on graduating from the academy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s Cassel¡¯s hard work.¡± Saying so, she chuckled. Alas, she could not do anything other than laugh. Even her laughter sounded embarrassing, and Leilia wanted to hide somewhere. ¡°But, why did you ask to see me? How did you know who I was?¡± The main reason was this. At her question, Cassel handed her a piece of paper. Although it was poorly written, that was definitely her own handwriting. ? Cassel and Leilia had fun together today. ? ¡°This is¡­¡± She seemed to have written when she met Cassel as a child. ¡°Suddenly, I was surprised that the owner of the Hyllan merchants association was sponsoring me. I was confused because I couldn¡¯t figure out why. Then, at some point, I realized that the handwriting of the owner had changed. Before, the owner was a friend of my mother¡¯s, though now her daughter, Leilia, is sponsoring me.¡± Sometimes, Leilia would write letters to him. Nevertheless, it would be as short as saying hello, but seeing this, Cassel was certain. ¡°¡­It¡¯s such an old paper.¡± ¡°It was from my first friend, so It was a meaningful piece of paper for me.¡± His face turned red as he replied. At the same time, Leilia also took a short breath and laughed softly. ¡°And, the reason I asked to see you was because I thought we could meet now.¡± ¡°Why now?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯ve accomplished something. Until now, I couldn¡¯t ask you to meet me because I didn¡¯t have anything to be proud of.¡± Cassel uttered quietly. Hearing his words, Leilia¡¯s eyes widened. She could not easily believe his words. ¡°Did you want to see me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to see you. I tried to make myself qualified to meet you.¡± Hearing those words, she was stunned. Even though she knew that he was working zealously, Leilia did not know that he was working diligently until the end with this kind of mind. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to be a person the sponsor would be ashamed of.¡± As he continued his words, Leilia shook her head. ¡°Cassel has always been someone I¡¯m proud of. You could¡¯ve been conceited when the Hyllan sponsored you, though you never did such a thing.¡± Cassel¡¯s cheeks heated up at her words. He lowered his eyes slightly. ¡°¡­Sponsor, can you come to the graduation ceremony?¡± He must be well aware she was not going to attend the graduation ceremony. His friendly smile shook her heart. ¡°The graduation ceremony¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the sponsor also graduate at the top of the class?¡± ¡°But, I didn¡¯t go.¡± Her heart was wavering. ¡®¡­Dangerous.¡¯ He had a woman he loved. It was often revealed to Natale that he had a girl he liked¡­ He was in love with another woman, not her. Nevertheless, he asked her to come to the academy graduation. Was this really not a life that resembled her mother¡­? ¡®I hate it.¡¯ However, he was now gazing at her. It was really endearing to see his eyes wide open, anticipating her reply. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll go.¡± Not wanting to disappoint Cassel, Leilia replied without realizing it. At her answer, his hand trembled a little, and he rejoiced. ¡°I wanted to go around the academy with the sponsor.¡± ¡°Call me Leilia.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Cassel hesitated before he reached his hand out to her. Then, he grabbed her hand as Leilia opened her mouth. ¡°We¡¯ll continue to sponsor you until you settle where you want to be.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll work hard and be successful.¡± Relaxing a little, Leilia smiled back at him. Still, his hand was very hot. ¡®Why is that¡­?¡¯ ¡°Lady Leilia is still lovely.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t changed since I saw you as a child.¡± Uttering so, Cassel smiled sweetly. ¡®As a child¡­ He remembered that time.¡¯ Immediately, Leilia¡¯s face was now as heated as Cassel¡¯s. Even though she wanted to run away, she also wanted to be with him like this. CH 11 After finishing her meeting with Cassel, Leilia returned to Natale¡¯s restaurant in a carriage. As she flopped down to her chair as soon as she entered the room, her body trembled a little as if she had finally relaxed. Natale, who was looking at her, smiled and sat in the seat opposite. ¡°Cassel is a kind and decent young man. Why don¡¯t you go out with him?¡± ¡°He has someone he loves, you know¡­ But, do you still not know who he likes?¡± Natale shook his head at Leilia¡¯s question. ¡°Yes. I tried to ask him secretly last time, but he never told me. He only said it was someone he couldn¡¯t get close to, like before.¡± ¡®¡­I¡¯m a little sad thinking about it.¡¯ ¡°Maybe, I could help if I knew who it was.¡± At Leilia¡¯s words, Natale raised one corner of his lips. ¡°You want him to marry another woman?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s someone I care about. It¡¯s good when the person I sponsor does well.¡± At that, he asked again curiously. ¡°Then, how are you going to help?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make him rich with money and give him an expensive wedding venue.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your idea?¡± ¡°Well, all I have is money.¡± Natale shook his head at her remark before opening his mouth again. ¡°Why only money? You¡¯re lovely in your own right.¡± Leilia laughed at Natale¡¯s words. Her uncle was telling her what even her father had never said to her. Even though she did not really have a father, at least she had an uncle who was like a father. She repeated his words back. ¡°¡­I¡¯m a lovely person?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Everyone says that, except for my parents.¡± ¡°Well, there aren¡¯t always good parents.¡± Hearing his words made Leilia feel a little better. ¡°Anyway, Cassel will soon be famous. His swordsmanship skills are the best, and he also graduated from the academy with the highest marks. Just like you.¡± ¡°Even after graduating, I only stay at home.¡± Natale swiftly waved his hand as she finished her words. ¡°Oh, my. You¡¯re the richest person in the Empire.¡± ¡°Whatever it is¡­ Regardless, Cassel will be different from me. I¡¯ll support him to do well. He¡¯s an intelligent person.¡± ¡®¡­And, he¡¯ll be fine with the woman he loves.¡¯ At the thought, she could feel the bitterness suddenly overcome her. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s time for Lucis to arrive soon.¡± It was time for her to get out of her thoughts and get to work. As Natale left without a word, Leilia gathered the paper. While she was immersed in her work, Lucis, the director of the merchants association, came in. Leilia frowned as if she was not happy with his appearance. ¡°It¡¯s not time for the appointment yet.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you look over this and finish it quickly?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because it won¡¯t finish quickly.¡± Having nothing to say, Lucis placed the documents on the table. ¡°This is the document you¡¯re going to be reviewing today.¡± The next moment, Leilia rummaged through the papers and quickly skimmed through what Lucis had organized. ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°By the way, did you meet Cassel?¡± ¡°It seems that Lucis knew it, too.¡± ¡°Young Lady Leilia¡¯s identity has been discovered, so I needed to know.¡± At his question, Leilia put the papers down and nodded her head as she answered. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve met him.¡± ¡°What did he ask for?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t want anything.¡± At her words, he frowned for a moment. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sponsoring him, so he just wanted to show his good side to me. He came because he wanted to report to me.¡± After she finished, Lucis stared at Leilia for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that.¡± ¡°Oh, and I¡¯m also going to the academy graduation ceremony. So, I¡¯ll be participating in the events I planned before.¡± Immediately, the corners of Lucis¡¯ eyebrows rose. ¡°You mean, in person?¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. I have to do this so that my father doesn¡¯t know who I am. How far did you prepare?¡± ¡°Here it is.¡± He then showed the materials related to the prepared event. Leilia turned over the papers. The purpose of this planned event was to introduce and promote this year¡¯s new products¡ªwomen¡¯s and men¡¯s luxury items¡ªwhile making it easy for the academy¡¯s seniors to attend the academy graduation ceremony. There were a lot of new products for women. Accessories, dresses, and hair designers were also included. ¡°I like the size.¡± Since they were already doing it, it would be better to prepare it grand and thoroughly. ¡°It was based on a promotional brochure that the Young Lady had previously had for female aristocrats.¡± ¡°I thought so.¡± Leilia nodded her head as if she liked the idea. ¡°For your information, I¡¯ll be in charge of the event that brings senior graduates to the academy.¡± At that, Lucis¡¯ eyes twinkled and he asked. ¡°Is this a meeting with the person who¡¯ll become Young Lady Leilia¡¯s future lover?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± ¡®He already has a girl he loves¡­!¡¯