Chapter 4
“Please forgive me…Isabella.”
Dmitri pleaded desperately.
But the noble princess, Isabella, slowly shook her head.
“That’s impossible, Dmitri. You have insulted both me and the imperial family. It is treason.”
“That’s… a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding? Just because you’re rich, you think you can get away with anything? You thought you could buy me
with that pocket change? Is your head full of garbage? You foolish brute.”
Dmitri froze, flustered.
“It was my fault…! Even if I offered my entire fortune, no, everything I have, it wouldn’t be enough to buy even a
single strand of your hair, Isabella.”
“So you do understand. But it’s already too late.”
“No…! You’re the only one for me, Isabella.”
“A lie.”
Dmitri dropped to his knees before her.
He pressed a kiss to her pale wrist.
“Oh, beautiful Isabella. Do I look like I’m lying? My eyes have only ever looked at you.”
“That’s a lie too.”
“Isabella…!”
“All lies.”
Isabella coldly shook his hand off.
“Dmitri. Everything about you is a lie—except your breathing. How can you be so shameless?”
“Princess Isabella! If you would just forgive me, I will do anything!”
“Anything?”
Her eyes gleamed dangerously.
“Then beg like a dog. That suits a lying oaf like you perfectly. Ohohohoho!”
Knock, knock.
A sound came from the door.
Bella Izarkhel set down the teddy bears she had been holding.
Then, as if nothing had happened, she calmly spoke.
“…What is it?”
“Miss, the Duke is calling for you.”
“Father?”
What could it be?
Bella glanced at the grandfather clock.
Tea time had long passed, and it was still too early for dinner.
This time was officially her free time.
Because of that, even the Duke and Duchess rarely summoned her unless something important had happened.
Could something serious have occurred?
“Hm… I understand. Please inform Father that I will finish what I’m doing and then come.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Listening to the fading footsteps, Bella rose from her bed.
The room was modestly furnished with inexpensive but neat and practical furniture.
A room that suited her dislike of extravagance.
Of course, for a duke’s daughter, it could still be considered rather plain.
Bella stood before the vanity.
Her silver hair was beautiful no matter when she looked at it.
Truly, a beauty bestowed by God.
The woman most loved by God smiled back at her from the mirror.
“Hm?”
As she reached to fix her hair, her gaze fell on the fan in front of her.
A cheap-looking fan she had bought during her last outing for 500 kael.
At the same time, that man’s face came to mind.
In that instant, anger surged within her.
It wasn’t simply because her worth had been reduced to something so trivial.
No, although that angered her too, there was another reason.
She slowly picked up the fan.
“How dare he…”
Her pride was wounded.
The fact that the fan carried by a duke’s daughter cost only 500 kael, a cheap trinket, had been exposed.
And of all people, it had been seen by that vulgar man.
Bella recalled Tristan’s face.
She remembered his cold voice.
And suddenly, it felt as though he were mocking her, as if the dignity of House Izarkhel was worth no more than that.
Just thinking about it made her furious.