Chapter 41
‘What’s going on? He didn’t act like this in the original story.’
Eila rifled through her memories.
In the novel, Cadin got engaged to Rosia almost immediately after breaking off their engagement.
He then harassed Eila for a time, lost interest quickly, and went back to his usual irresponsible ways—flirting with one woman after another while neglecting Rosia.
Yet now he claimed they weren’t engaged?
Something was clearly wrong.
“Why?”
“Do I really have to spell it out for you?”
Cadin gave her a vague smile, but his eyes shimmered with unease and desperation.
He was watching her reaction far too closely.
‘No way…’
A dreadful realization dawned on Eila.
‘Is this one of those cliché story arcs?’
The kind where the ex-boyfriend suddenly realizes his feelings and clings to the heroine, only to turn hostile when rejected?
She couldn’t let that happen.
‘No way he’s genuinely in love. He just hates losing control.’
She studied him in silence.
In the past, just looking at him like this would’ve made her heart race.
Now? She felt absolutely nothing.
She once thought she loved him. Dreamed of a future with him.
But now, those memories were like old, dusty books on a forgotten shelf.
‘I know who he really is now. There’s no way I’d fall for something like this again.’
A faint smile crossed her lips.
She was proud of how far she’d come—but a little bitter, too.
Softly, she said,
“Whatever your intentions are, I don’t want Rosia to get hurt. So I can’t accept your gift.”
“…”
“And I don’t want to have these conversations anymore. I’m not happy to see you, Cadin.”
“You’re… not happy to see me?”
“No. I’ve rejected you multiple times. If you keep showing up like this, it’ll reflect badly on you.”
Her voice was calm, but firm.
“I only agreed to talk today to ask you one last time: please stop.”
She knew why Cadin was doing this.
He wasn’t here out of genuine affection.
He wanted to spark rumors—to make sure she couldn’t escape him. So others wouldn’t dare approach her.
But Eila wasn’t so naïve anymore.
“Please leave, Cadin. If you really care about me, go.”
Her words were gentle but carried undeniable force.
Cadin’s insides churned.
He’d dropped his pride, brought an expensive gift—and now she was telling him to leave?
‘Clearly, Eila still doesn’t understand her situation.’
Grinding his teeth, Cadin fought to stay composed.
But resentment bubbled up.
Finally, he snapped.
“What are you going to do without me?”
“…What?”
Eila’s expression hardened.
Cadin went on, voice sharpening.
“With your grades, you’ll barely graduate. What kind of job do you think you’ll get with that? How are you going to survive on such a pathetic income?”
Eila’s lips pressed into a thin line.
So this was the real reason he came.
‘As if he ever cared about my exams.’
She swallowed her anger.
Cadin sighed theatrically, continuing his fake concern.
“You’re hated by everyone, too. What if someone takes revenge after graduation? Do you think the princess will protect you forever?”
His smirk twisted.
“I guarantee once you leave the academy, she’ll lose interest.”
Eila said nothing.
But the contempt in her gaze was unmistakable.
Cadin either didn’t notice or didn’t care.
“Eila, I don’t want to bring up your weaknesses. But face reality. Without my protection, how are you going to live?”
She’d had enough.
Eila turned and walked away.
She knew it wasn’t the smartest move, but she wasn’t about to stand there and endure more insults.
Seeing her ignore him made Cadin panic.
The moment he realized she was slipping away, he lunged after her.
“Eila!”
He grabbed her wrist tightly.
The grip hurt—so much that it was hard to shake him off.
“Answer me, Eila. What are you going to do?”
She twisted her arm, trying to break free.
“Let me go.”
But he wouldn’t budge—only tightened his grip.
“You can’t seriously think you can treat me like this.”
Eila looked away, trying to think of how to escape.
Then, a voice cut sharply through the tension.
“Let her go, Cadin-sunbae.”
Eila’s head whipped around.
Cadin’s face twisted as he recognized the newcomer.
Felix.
‘Not this guy again.’
Cadin clenched his jaw.
Felix’s smooth face was an eyesore to him.
“You haven’t changed at all since losing that duel.”
Felix stepped in front of Eila, blocking Cadin’s line of sight.
Cadin scoffed.
“What?”
“Why do you keep harassing someone who’s clearly rejected you?”
Cadin laughed dryly.
Had they been alone, he might have let it slide.
But most of the watching students were nobles.
They hated when commoners overstepped.
“Felix dared to stand up to Cadin?”
“Unbelievable. Just because the Duke supports him, he’s gotten cocky.”
Emboldened by the whispers, Cadin sneered.
“You asked what I was doing? I was asking Eila how she plans to live without me.”
“Why do you care where Eila goes, Cadin-sunbae?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“…”
“You’re nothing to her. Unlike me—her former fiancé.”
Cadin shot Felix a condescending glare.
He’d heard the rumors that the two were close, but Felix was still a commoner.
Even as Duke Azenta’s disciple, he was still born low—and that would never change.
