~Chapter 69~
Ivelina gritted her teeth and turned to see who was holding her wrist.
“What, now even a commoner is looking down on me?”
She couldn’t control her growing anger and shook off Alphong’s hand roughly.
“You… I’ll deal with you later.”
Then she spoke through clenched teeth to Roni.
“Open the door, Roni.”
“O-Open the door?”
“Yes.”
“But…”
“We need to check if what Delphina said is true. Who knows if her recording orb is real? But it’s true the dress came from her carriage, right?”
Ivelina shouted brazenly.
“The recording orb could be faked. A great magician can do that. You’re misunderstanding, Delphina. I was trying to give you a chance.”
“A chance?”
“There’s already lots of evidence you were cheating with this man. They found love letters in your room, and there are servants ready to testify you spent secret time together. Do you know what that means, Delphina?”
Delphina shrugged.
She had figured Ivelina would prepare something like this.
‘With the Rikeion family’s power, they can create fake evidence and witnesses.’
And exposing false evidence and witnesses is very hard.
It would take a long time, and there would be lots of rumors. Scandals like that can even destroy trust between real lovers.
Delphina realized why Ivelina was doing this.
‘She’s trying to make Elcayan and me fight. She must really think Uncle used black magic and that our love weakened it. That’s why she’s pushing so hard.’
Delphina remembered what Johannes had said:
“Black magic reacts strongly to love. That’s why they’ll keep trying to make you and Elcayan fight. But they’re missing one thing.”
“What is that?”
“You and Elcayan aren’t actually in love. Probably.”
“That’s true.”
“So those tricks won’t work at all. That’s what happens with contract lovers.”
“…”
“You’re just contract lovers, so it doesn’t matter if you have someone else. Even if she falls for someone else, it’s fine. Probably.”
Delphina blinked.
She realized Elcayan had never answered Johannes about that. Even when Johannes emphasized “probably,” Elcayan didn’t agree or disagree.
‘He just had a scary, stiff look on his face.’
Delphina didn’t think much of it. At least Elcayan wasn’t mad at her.
The thing Ivelina didn’t know was that she and Elcayan weren’t actually lovers.
The black magic was weakened because of Lord Frad’s blessing, not because of love with Elcayan.
‘No matter how much Ivelina tries, it’s meaningless.’
Elcayan wouldn’t even blink at Ivelina’s schemes.
‘Maybe it’s good Elcayan and I aren’t in love.’
It should have been a relief, but for some reason, her chest hurt.
‘Why does it hurt? Do I like Elcayan?’
Delphina shook her head.
Right now, what mattered was revenge on her uncle and his family.
Because of all this, Delphina could never forgive them.
‘If black magic is used again, they’ll try to use me all over again.’
They’d force her into that helpless state, making her do whatever they wanted.
“Open the door now!”
Roni, hesitating, finally opened the dessert shop’s door under Ivelina’s orders.
There were a crowd of nobles outside. Among them was Elcayan. Delphina saw that things were going exactly as she expected.
‘She wanted to bring Elcayan here to see this.’
The Rikeion family members who were supposed to be out hunting, Elcayan, and Calix were all there.
“Delphina!”
Delphina frowned at the voice calling her name. She didn’t want to hear it.
‘Why is he here now?’
Kassen was there, looking haggard. On his shoulder sat Pepper.
<Pepper>
Thinks Kassen is a fool.
Delphina sighed.
She guessed Ivelina had also invited Kassen, wanting to show everyone what was happening.
‘She probably wanted everyone to see what I did.’
If things had gone Ivelina’s way, it would have been a funny scene. Delphina gave a little laugh.
Kassen cried out dramatically,
“Is what Ivelina says true? I heard you had a lover even before breaking off our engagement. How could you?”
Delphina ignored him and looked at Elcayan.
Probably, Ivelina had sent Kassen a letter in advance, explaining what would happen.
‘Elcayan didn’t say anything to me, so maybe he heard about this from Uncle on the way here.’
Duke Rikeion bowed stiffly to Elcayan.
“I’m very sorry, Your Grace. I didn’t mean for you to see this. I came in a hurry after Ivelina’s letter, and it seems what she said was true.”
Ivelina covered her face, pretending to cry. Now that things had gone this far, she was determined to see it through.
Duke Rikeion made a show of comforting Ivelina, who was a mess—her makeup smeared and clothes wet from the tea Delphina poured on her.
“Ivelina, why are you crying?”
“Father, I really wanted to keep Delphina’s secrets. I hesitated a lot before telling you what she did.”
“Yes, I know.”
“I knew Delphina had another lover. But thinking of our family, I tried to keep it secret, but now she’s blaming me for everything. She even poured tea on my head!”
“She blamed you?”
“She faked the recording orb. My maid saw her maid putting clothes in Delphina’s carriage. It makes no sense! I already have evidence.”
Delphina admired Ivelina’s boldness. She’d set her trap and was playing innocent, just as Delphina expected.
‘Ivelina’s done this to me since the academy days.’
Being falsely accused wasn’t even surprising. Ivelina probably had more fake evidence to make Delphina look bad with that man.
‘That’s why she’s now saying the orb is fake.’
Proving the orb’s truth would take a long time. Ivelina was sure she could make Elcayan and Delphina fight before then.
“I told Delphina’s lover to come tell the truth to the Duke. To admit she deceived him. But she got angry and attacked me. She’s the one who poured tea on my head!”
Duke Rikeion gave a forced laugh.
“Delphina, is this true? Did you really pour tea on her? Is Ivelina’s state your doing?”
