Free Web NovelChapter 45: Chapter 45: Round One, Fight!
Chapter 45: Round One, Fight!
—ARIA—
The next morning, the atmosphere inside the dining hall felt strangely tense.
Or perhaps I was simply noticing things more clearly now.
I sat there silently questioning every life choice that had led me into this situation while servants moved quietly around the long table pouring tea with the caution of people who had witnessed noble family arguments before and wished to survive another day.
At the head of the table sat Duke Valen, looking as stern and unreadable as always while skimming through several documents beside his untouched tea. His expression remained coldly composed, though every now and then his eyes shifted toward certain paragraphs long enough for me to know he was mentally criticizing half the kingdom already before breakfast.
Beside him sat Cynthia.
And beside Cynthia...
...was Duke Sebastian.
Unfortunately.
I took a slow sip from my tea while pretending not to notice the increasingly awkward atmosphere surrounding the table.
Because ever since I entered the dining hall earlier, Sebastian had looked at me several times already.
Not openly enough for anyone else to immediately comment on it.
But enough for me to notice.
And honestly?
It was beginning to annoy me slightly.
What exactly was he looking at?
I had already broken off the engagement.
Emotionally evacuate my vicinity, sir.
Meanwhile, Cynthia looked especially radiant this morning.
Of course she did.
The heroine always looked radiant.
Her soft cream-colored dress perfectly matched the innocent elegance naturally surrounding her, while the morning sunlight catching against her curled hair only made her appear even gentler somehow.
Honestly, if I did not know she was technically my narrative enemy, I probably would have liked her too.
The original novel constantly described Cynthia as someone who made others instinctively want to protect her.
And annoyingly enough...
I understood why.
Even sitting quietly, she radiated harmless warmth in a way that naturally pushed people toward her side without effort.
Truly unfair competition.
I calmly spread jam across my bread.
Silence lingered briefly across the table until Cynthia suddenly turned toward me with a soft smile.
"How was your sleep last night, cousin?"
Cousin.
Right.
As if we both did not know the reality behind that title anymore.
Well.
At least I knew.
She still remained blissfully unaware that I already understood exactly who she really was.
"I slept well enough," I answered simply.
Cynthia smiled gently.
"I see," she said. "I was worried cousin could not sleep properly."
I hummed softly in acknowledgment without looking up.
Then she added casually,
"After all, I happened to see you wandering through the corridors rather late last night."
Ah.
There it is.
I continued buttering my bread peacefully.
"Were you perhaps hungry?" Cynthia asked lightly, tilting her head with innocent curiosity. "Heading toward the kitchens, maybe?"
Her tone sounded playful.
Harmless.
But the implication underneath it was obvious enough.
The servants nearby subtly lowered their gazes.
Because noble ladies were expected to maintain elegance constantly.
And of course, controlling one’s appetite belonged somewhere within those standards too.
"You know," Cynthia continued with a soft laugh, "noble ladies should properly manage their diets."
I finally looked up at her.
Internally, I almost applauded.
Interesting.
So this was how she wanted to play today.
Honestly, I had treated her relatively well ever since she entered the estate.
I avoided bullying her.
Avoided humiliating her.
Avoided acting like the original Aria altogether.
And yet here she was still trying to subtly embarrass me at breakfast.
I see.
Maybe fate truly was committed to keeping us on opposite sides no matter what.
Well then.
Fine.
I slowly placed down my cup before smiling faintly.
"Actually," I said calmly, "I have not been eating very well recently."
Cynthia’s expression brightened slightly, probably thinking I was about to embarrass myself further.
Then I continued.
"I have been far too busy avoiding someone else’s fiancé."
Silence immediately settled across the table.
Ah.
There it is.
I watched Cynthia’s smile stiffen almost invisibly.
Beside her, Sebastian finally stopped pretending not to listen.
Meanwhile, Duke Valen slowly lowered the document in his hand.
Interesting.
I calmly took another sip of tea before adding lightly,
"Honestly, someone should probably place a leash around their fiancé’s neck at this point. Don’t you think, cousin?"
I emphasized the last word deliberately.
Not enough to openly challenge her.
Just enough to remind her I was not stupid.
Cynthia’s brows twitched faintly before she quickly recovered with a soft laugh.
"Perhaps I misunderstood elder cousin," she said lightly. "Maybe you were not heading toward the kitchens after all."
Then she tilted her head slightly.
"Were you perhaps meeting a lover instead?"
The words came out playfully enough that nobody could openly criticize her for saying them.
But beneath the sweetness, the insult landed cleanly.
A noblewoman secretly meeting men at night.
Very damaging rumor material.
I noticed several servants immediately tense nearby.
Even Duke Valen’s gaze shifted toward me now.
And behind me?
Ren looked moments away from personally declaring war.
But strangely enough...
I did not feel angry.
Not really.
If anything, I felt amused.
Because I no longer felt desperate to defend myself.
So instead of reacting emotionally, I simply widened my eyes slightly as though suddenly remembering something important.
"Ah," I said softly. "Right."
Cynthia blinked.
"A lover."
For some reason, that answer immediately made Sebastian’s expression darken slightly.
I rested my cheek lightly against one hand and sighed dramatically.
"Honestly," I continued dreamily, "since yesterday, I have been rather fixated on someone."
Now I had everyone’s attention.
Even Duke Valen was fully looking at me now instead of his documents.
"He is extremely beautiful," I added with complete sincerity.
Well.
That part was true.
Aelith genuinely looked unfairly attractive.
Might as well acknowledge reality.
Cynthia’s smile became noticeably tighter.
Sebastian, meanwhile, had gone completely still.
"I truly cannot stop thinking about him," I sighed softly. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Ren who was standing a few feet behind me, made a sound suspiciously close to protesting.
Honestly, if this world insisted on forcing me into the villainess role no matter what I did...
Then perhaps I should at least enjoy irritating everyone properly while I was here.
But before I could say another word, the door to the dining hall bursted open.
