I AM NOT THE LOVE INTEREST!

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: In Sync

Chapter 70: In Sync

—ARIA—

"But you crossed a line and I will not stand still in the midst of your unjustified insults."

The words settled between us like a blade driven firmly into the ground.

For several moments, neither of us spoke.

The garden seemed strangely quiet now. The distant music drifting from the ballroom sounded muffled beneath the night air, while the lanterns hanging along the stone pathways glowed soft golden light across the hedges surrounding us.

Cynthia stood frozen where she was.

One hand remained pressed against her reddened cheek while disbelief lingered in her expression.

As though she genuinely could not comprehend what had just happened.

Perhaps she believed I would never retaliate.

Perhaps she thought I would continue swallowing every insult simply because she cried while delivering them.

Perhaps she mistook patience for weakness.

Whatever the reason, I found that I no longer cared.

I looked at her quietly then I exhaled.

A strange calm settled over me.

Because the truth was, this conversation had finally clarified something I had been avoiding ever since I met her.

There was no saving this relationship.

There was no understanding to be reached.

No sisterly bond waiting to blossom beneath misunderstandings.

Cynthia had already decided who I was...

...and she has decided who she will be.

I knew every action I took would be twisted into proof of her beliefs.

If I helped her, I was pretending.

If I succeeded, I was stealing attention.

If others treated me kindly, I had manipulated them.

There was no winning against someone determined to resent you.

And frankly...

I was tired.

Very tired.

I had spent quite some time trying to be reasonable.

Trying to help her settle into the household.

Trying to remember that she had suffered.

Trying to convince myself that things could be different from the original story.

But standing here now, I found myself remembering something I rarely allowed myself to think about.

The original Aria died.

And Cynthia had stood at the center of that tragedy.

Whether intentionally or not, every road in that story eventually led back to her.

I had been giving grace to the very person who would have watched me fall.

Perhaps that made me kind.

Or perhaps it simply made me foolish.

Either way, I was finished.

Without another word, I turned away from her.

My heels clicked softly against the stone pathway as I began walking toward the mansion.

The conversation was over.

At least for me.

I heard Cynthia’s breathing grow uneven behind me.

Then came her voice.

"You don’t speak to me?! Do you think you’re better than me?!"

But still I continued walking.

"You always get everything!"

Still, I did not look back.

The silence seemed to infuriate her even further.

"Answer me!"

No.

I had already wasted enough energy.

"You cannot just walk away!"

Actually, I could and I intended to.

My fingers tightened slightly around the fabric of my skirt as I continued toward the mansion.

Then suddenly, rapid footsteps echoed behind me.

My instincts immediately sharpened.

But before I could even turn fully around, another voice cut through the garden.

"Do not touch her."

I froze.

And so did Cynthia.

Slowly, I turned around and immediately understood why.

Ren stood between us.

I had absolutely no idea when he arrived.

One moment he had been nowhere in sight and the next he was there.

His hand was wrapped firmly around Cynthia’s wrist.

Apparently, she had attempted to grab me from behind.

My gaze briefly shifted toward her outstretched hand.

Ah.

My hair.

She had been reaching for my hair.

What a lovely evening this had become.

For a moment, I simply stared at Ren.

Because something about him felt different.

Oh no, he looked furious.

Cynthia visibly paled.

"R-Ren–!"

"Do not."

His voice remained courteous.

Which made it infinitely more frightening.

"Do not address me so familiarly. I do not serve you."

Cynthia swallowed visibly.

"You are hurting me."

But Ren’s expression did not change.

"I assure you, Lady Cynthia, if my intention were to hurt you, there would be no uncertainty about it."

I blinked.

Good heavens.

That was terrifying.

Cynthia looked equally alarmed.

Ren slowly released her wrist.

Then he stepped between us completely, protectively shielding me.

His entire posture made one thing abundantly clear.

She would not be reaching me again.

"How dare you even think of hurting her?"

Cynthia opened her mouth to reason.

"She deserved it—"

"No."

The interruption came instantly which made Cynthia flinch.

"You do not understand."

"I understand perfectly." He cut her off again. "I understand that Lady Aria has treated you with more kindness than anyone else in the household."

Cynthia’s jaw tightened.

"I understand that she welcomed you. I understand that she defended you. And I understand that tonight you repaid her kindness with resentment."

Cynthia was suddenly left unable to answer.

Suddenly, rhe sound of approaching footsteps interrupted the tension.

Sebastian arrived and the moment he saw me, his expression changed.

His gaze immediately landed on my cheek and the moment he saw the faint redness on it, his entire face darkened.

"What happened?"

Sebastian’s eyes slowly shifted toward Cynthia.

Then toward Ren.

Then back toward me.

The realization came quickly and his jaw tightened.

"Did she strike you?" he asked me.

I sighed internally.

Here we go.

Cynthia looked away but Sebastian took a step towards her.

"Did. You. Strike. Her."

"I—"

"Answer me."

"I did," Cynthia snapped suddenly with her eyes filled with fresh tears. "Yes, I slapped her!"

Sebastian stared and the disbelief on his face almost made me laugh.

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"She deserved it!"

"No."

Another voice echoed which surprised me.

Matthias Sinclair stepped forward, but unlike Sebastian, he did not look angry. Instead, he looked disappointed.

Profoundly disappointed.

His gaze moved briefly toward me, then toward Cynthia.

"Nothing I witnessed tonight justifies such behavior."

Cynthia’s expression tightened.

"You—! The royal knight!" She trembled.

Matthias folded his arms behind his back.

"A noblewoman does not solve her grievances through violence."

"And what would you know about it?" Cynthia snapped.

The moment the words left her mouth, she seemed to regret them.

Because Matthias’s expression became even colder.

"A great deal more than you imagine."

"Well, well, well."

Another voice interrupted that made me raise my brow and turn to look at who it was.

Only to see Ezekiel step into view.

"Looks like I missed the exciting part."

The archmage’s tone sounded almost casual.

Until his gaze landed on my cheek.

Immediately, the amusement vanished.

His golden eyes narrowed.

"Ha!"

That single expression carried enough menace to make Cynthia step backward.

Ezekiel smiled. Unfortunately, it was not a pleasant smile.

Cynthia looked cornered now.

Sebastian looked furious.

Matthias looked disapproving.

Ezekiel looked dangerous.

And Ren...

Ren looked ready to drag someone into the nearest river.

The atmosphere had become unbearable.

I rubbed my temple and decided to say something.

"I would like to go back inside."

Four heads turned toward me immediately and it was honestly unsettling.

"I am serious." I continued. "All of you come with me." I unknowingly ordered which these men responded obediently.

"As you wish..."

"...my lady."

"...sweetheart."

"...my love."

"...lady Aria."

They replied in sync.