Chapter 155
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 155
“So, the rumors of our meeting have already spread? News certainly travels fast.”
His casual admission drew gasps of shock from the crowd. This was, after all, a man who had never once been linked to a woman in any rumor, now openly acknowledging a massive scandal.
“Excuse me, but what of Young Master Cheslow…?”
“Is there any reason I should concern myself with him?”
“Ah, no, of course not! Hahahaha!”
“Precisely. Even if I were ‘that lady,’ he wouldn’t even be worth the comparison.”
At those words, Cedric shrugged.
“I’m not entirely sure what you’re getting at. But if you’re suggesting Young Master Cheslow could impede me, I assure you, I will not avoid a confrontation with him.”
More gasps rippled through the room.
In that moment, the rumor that Cedric Kailas intended to make Bella Listerwell his duchess was all but confirmed.
* * *
The rumor spread like wildfire.
The most shocked by the news were neither Daphne and her friends, nor James’s circle, but Bella’s own social group.
“Bella! I heard something strange yesterday. It’s about you and Duke Kailas… Surely… it isn’t true, is it?”
As one girl voiced the question, the others—who had clearly heard the same gossip—laughed it off with expressions of disbelief. Yet, a flicker of unease was discernible in their eyes. It was a sentiment they had likely harbored ever since seeing the photograph of Cedric and Bella sitting side-by-side in the newspaper.
They were clearly hoping for an answer like, ‘It’s a ridiculous, baseless rumor,’ but Bella responded with a cryptic smile.
“It’s a bit difficult to say anything definitive just yet.”
At that, every eye widened, and the girls leaned closer to Bella.
“But you’re already engaged to Young Master Cheslow! What do you mean?”
“Duke Kailas is a wonderful man, but you have Young Master Cheslow. You mustn’t waver, Bella.”
“Exactly. You aren’t that kind of girl.”
Watching her friends fuss as if a great disaster had struck, Bella couldn’t help but let a sneer escape her.
“Don’t you think love is a whim of the gods? It is an irresistible force. Surely, falling in love cannot be a sin.”
“Bella! This isn’t love, it’s cheating! It’s shameful.”
When one of them gathered their courage to rebuke her, Bella glared back and retorted sharply.
“Would those words still pass your lips if I were to become the Duchess?”
“Be—Bella…?”
Everyone stared at her, stunned. It was a remark and a tone they had never imagined hearing from her.
As a shocked silence fell over the group, Bella suddenly giggled and lightly slapped her friend’s arm.
“It’s a joke, a joke! You all took it far too seriously.”
“Oh, of course. You really gave me a fright, Bella!”
“Don’t worry about it too much, everyone. Baseless rumors always fade away quickly.”
Only then did sighs of relief break out.
“It must be because that photo of you and Duke Kailas was in the newspaper. That’s how these things start.”
“Exactly. Bella is getting married next year, so I don’t know why people are talking.”
“It’s just because Bella is so pretty, I suppose.”
Her friends strenuously denied the new romance, as if desperate to feign ignorance. Because of that, they failed to realize that Bella hadn’t actually denied a single thing.
Only Caroline, her closest friend, observed Bella with an uneasy gaze. The Bella Listerwell she knew was someone who would move heaven and earth to make even a baseless rumor a reality.
“Caroline. Do you want to be popular?”
In the summer of her fourteenth year, the most beautiful rose in Genoa had whispered those words to the girl who admired her. Caroline Tarrant, the ambitious daughter of a provincial noble, had been a girl often overlooked in Genoa’s high society.
“I’ll make you my best friend. In return, you must listen to everything I say and never speak of anything that happens between us.”
In essence, she was being asked to serve as a glorified lady-in-waiting.
Normally, it would have been an insulting offer to refuse, but Caroline, who yearned for the spotlight Bella commanded, had eagerly clasped her hand.
It was a decision made based solely on the persona Bella presented to the world. While she was eventually surprised to learn Bella's true nature, she harbored no regrets. After all, she gained far more by being Bella’s shadow than by living as the daughter of some obscure provincial barony.
Of course, to maintain her position, keeping Bella in good spirits was paramount.
Caroline waited until Bella was alone, then approached and whispered to her.
“I think you and Duke Kailas make a truly excellent match.”
At those words, Bella’s eyes sparkled as she turned to Caroline. It was the look she always wore when she heard exactly what she wanted to hear.
“Thank you, Caroline. You truly are the only one who understands me.”
“I only spoke the obvious.”
Caroline offered a faint smile, but inwardly, she shook her head at Bella’s bottomless ambition.
* * *
About ten days after the Pelodier Theater’s opening ceremony, Harriet set off for Einspora.
Roxana had accumulated family matters to attend to in the capital, and as she was returning to her manor there, Harriet had agreed to look after Trisha.
“While I’m away in Einspora and Aunt Roxana is on her way here, the manor will be empty for about a day. Please ensure no suspicious individuals lurk around during that time, Butler.”
“You mean the likes of Viscount Listerwell or the House of Marshall, I assume?”
“You know me well.”
Harriet clapped hands with Andre, then boarded the waiting carriage. It was her first time visiting Einspora, and she was going to see Trisha after a long while, so her spirits were high.
“Always be vigilant of your surroundings and take care. It’s best to urge the horses a little faster on forest paths, and you must only rest in crowded places.”
Andre closed the carriage door, giving his final instructions. Knowing his concern wasn’t mere courtesy, Harriet listened attentively, nodding her head. Indeed, if John were to learn she was heading to Einspora alone, there was no telling what he might do.
“It’ll be fine. I’m taking several guards with me.”
Thanks to that, the travel expenses had increased significantly, but there was no such thing as money more precious than life.
* * *
Around the time Harriet left Genoa, Roxana departed from Einspora.
“Be careful.”
“Yes, Mother.”
After a brief farewell with Trisha, she boarded the carriage, secured her hat, and ordered the coachman to depart.
“Hup!”
The coachman’s shout rang out as he cracked his whip, and the carriage began to clatter along the road. Roxana adjusted her attire. Comfortable clothing was paramount for travel, so she avoided styles that constricted her body or were too elaborate.
‘This should be easy enough to escape in, should an emergency arise.’
With an indifferent expression, she gave her skirt a firm tug, then let it fall.
Meanwhile, the carriage continued its cheerful rhythm, moving forward. Einspora and Genoa were about a day’s journey apart. While it was a considerable distance, a resort with high-quality hot springs at that range was undeniably attractive to the capital’s nobility.
Because of this, the road between the two cities was well-maintained. Small villages had sprung up along the way to cater to traveling nobles, offering restaurants and drink shops. It was usually a journey with little danger.
‘But there are still sparsely populated stretches between the villages.’
Roxana peered out the window. They had already stopped at three rest villages. The long, lingering afternoon sunlight illuminating the green fields presented a peaceful scene.
But her blue eyes searched for the danger lurking beyond that peace. Her gaze remained cool and collected, even as she imagined her life might be in peril.
Just then, the coachman shouted.
“Milady! We’ll take a short rest at the next village!”
“Yes, let’s!”
After this stop, the next would be Genoa.
‘Did I misjudge the situation?’
It was then, just as she packed her handbag with a wry smile, that it happened.
“Neigh—!”
“Whoa, whoa!”
The horses’ panicked cries rang out, and the carriage lurched violently. The coachman struggled to calm them, but to no avail.
“There’s a woman in the carriage!”
“Kill her!”
Rough, unfamiliar voices barked orders. A sharp crack echoed from the carriage wheel, followed by the sickening groan of wood as the frame began to tilt.
At the same time, the clash of steel rang out. The sound of swords deflecting an attack meant that the guards hired to protect Roxana were doing their job.
‘Just a little… just a little longer…!’
Roxana swayed inside the rocking carriage, waiting for the struggle to end.
But then, from the source of that ominous cracking sound, there was a loud snap. One corner of the carriage slammed into the ground, causing the entire body to flip onto its side.
“Ugh!”
Roxana tried to brace herself, but inside the overturning carriage, her efforts were futile.
“Milady!”
The guards fighting the assassins rushed over, but it was too late. They couldn’t prevent the carriage from careening off the side of the road.
A violent impact, a dull thud, and then—nothing. Darkness claimed her.