IWEML 02

chapter 02

“What did you just say? ‘End it’? What are you even talking about?”

Polius looked quite flustered at my words about breaking up.

But when I met his gaze with unwavering eyes, he quickly continued speaking.

“Melanie. I love you more than anyone in the world. Isn’t that enough? There’s no woman like you, as I said before… sigh, let’s not tire each other out.”

“I, on the other hand, am already completely exhausted.”

“This is to help people who are suffering like you. How can you be so cruel toward someone like me?”

“But it’s just so strange. Why is it that situations where I have to be understanding or accept the inevitable only happen with young women?”

Even so, having already made up my mind, I didn’t lose the faint smile tugging at my lips.

“Up until now, there’s never been a sordid rumor about you and another man, Polius.”

“Sordid? Watch your words!”

“Then why didn’t you behave more cautiously yourself, Polius?”

“You’re more at fault for saying things like that out of anger. This isn’t something you can just call jealousy!”

He stood up abruptly, but it seemed he didn’t really want to break up. Judging by the way he took my breakup as nothing more than a little fuss.

“Saying we should break up was really harsh. I will never forgive those words with just a few apologies!”

I had expected that my declaration might make him reflect on his mistakes, but after a brief surprise, he got angry instead and stormed off.

Being clung to for forgiveness is tiring, but this was ridiculous in its own way.

‘No wonder his head’s empty. Well, I’ve been too patient all this time.’

I smiled faintly at the corner of my lips.

Even living without thinking much, luck always seems to tidy up things and make people like me—it’s no wonder my head feels empty.

But soon, whether I want to accept it or not, I’ll have no choice but to.

‘I should announce the breakup first and… try to gain some support on my side.’

Having been sensitive to Polius’s flirtatious nature, I wasn’t well-regarded for trying to stop his affairs.

By contrast, Polius, who was kind to other women, had a relatively good reputation. It would be wise to restore mine for the future.

I carefully selected an event from the invitations I had received. My health didn’t allow me to attend multiple gatherings, so the best option was to attend a gathering with influence in high society.

Four days later, I arrived at a beautiful mansion. I had chosen a place full of cultured ladies to sway public opinion in my favor.

“Oh my, Lady Clotilde has arrived.”

“I heard you were unwell. Are you overexerting yourself?”

“I apologize for not showing my face for a while. I’m still not fully well, but I wanted to meet all of you, so I made a bit of an effort to come out.”

I greeted the ladies with perfect etiquette, handing out carefully prepared gifts to each of them.

“Oh my, what is this?”

“I’ve missed seeing all of you. So I chose something modest that I thought you’d enjoy.”

The gifts were appropriate—not ostentatious enough to seem like I was buying their favor with money, yet elegant and not easily obtained.

‘They weren’t easy to pick.’

Indeed, as the ladies examined the gifts, their expressions softened.

“Hoho, Lady Clotilde, you really don’t seem like a modern young lady at all.”

“That’s thanks to the guidance from all of you, ladies.”

Only older ladies were present, so there were no young women stirring trouble, telling Polius to stay away from me.

‘I need to start restoring my image with these ladies first.’

Moreover, these women were outside of Polius’s flirtations. They would calmly listen to the story that I broke off the engagement due to his unfaithfulness.

“Oh, did young Master Polius also come to visit you?”

As Polius’s name came up in conversation, I lowered my head briefly, not answering immediately.

“Actually, young Master Polius and I… recently ended our engagement.”

“Oh my!”

“I’m sorry. It’s been a while since we last met, and I didn’t mean to dampen the mood with such news.”

Unlike usual, I didn’t bother to hide my pale, worn-out face with makeup. Anyone looking at me would notice I didn’t look well.

Perhaps thanks to my exhausted appearance and the gifts I had given, the ladies looked at me more kindly than usual.

“Lady Clotilde has nothing to apologize for, of course.”

“That’s right. You’re the one hurting the most, aren’t you?”

Everyone knew how much I liked Polius.

Even ladies who weren’t usually close to me showed sympathy. Unexpectedly, Lady Telida, the head of the gathering, spoke up.

“How did you end up breaking up with such a gem of a man?”

For a moment, I couldn’t believe my ears.

‘A gem… Was Polius really worth that much effort?’

It was the first time I’d heard rational and strict Lady Telida praise someone this way.

“There’s no man as solid as young Master Polius. Lady Clotilde, I thought you were mature, but you’re still young.”

So she finds Polius impressive because he seems attractive with age… I don’t want to waste decades of my life.

“Young people often quarrel over trivial things. But even now, don’t be stubborn—reach out first. Young Master Polius is worth it.”

“…You’re calling him by his first name so familiarly?”

Lady Telida had no particular connection to Polius and, being strict, likely wouldn’t favor his illegitimate child status. Why, then?

“Yesterday there was a carriage accident, and young Master Polius happened to help.”

Of course… I couldn’t have been mistaken.

Why does just walking along the street improve someone’s reputation so much? Truly a protagonist-level buff.

“…Given the number of women around him, I assume he’s already forgotten about it,” I hinted carefully that the breakup was due to Polius’s flirtations.

Lady Telida, experienced as she was, immediately understood my implication.

“Hoho, men like young Master Polius are desired by many women. Please accept it with a broad heart.”

“….”

“Of course, you’re not the only one who can see his value. You must treat young Master Polius well, or you’ll lose him, right?”

If I had to tolerate his flirtations to be considered a good person, I’d rather live a narrow-minded life forever.

“Yes, there are rumors that Lady Martis and Lady Ingda both admire young Master Polius… especially Lady Ingda, well-trained in bridal etiquette…”

The conversation continued. Lady Telida seemed to favor Polius quite a lot.

‘Even older ladies know all about the women in Polius’s “harbor,” yet he shamelessly acts as if he’s done nothing wrong to me?’

I laughed quietly, thinking I had chosen the right path by breaking up.

“Then I’ll date a man who’s handsome, kind, and not popular with women.”

“What did you say?”

I might as well compare Polius to his other young men.

“Hmm, who could it be… Sir Dussan, the tall one; young Master DeBost; Count Corday…”

I didn’t want to seem rude to the elder lady, so I phrased it indirectly. But speaking openly about Polius and the women he had affairs with in front of my former fiancé, I couldn’t stay quiet.

“Oh, if it’s about looks, it’s definitely Master Damian Martap, right?”

I deliberately mentioned Polius’s half-brother last, smiling innocently.

If Polius was the illegitimate child of a mistress, Damian was the legitimate son of Countess Veldert.

‘Several wives here have suffered due to their husbands’ affairs, and yet she’s openly defending an illegitimate child?’

If Lady Telida didn’t catch my implication, she might as well retire from society.

“….”

A moment of silence fell. Sensing the strange atmosphere, Lady Telida immediately stopped talking.

A strict gathering that even a protagonist’s buff couldn’t sway. People who couldn’t welcome Polius were gathered here.

There was a reason I had chosen this particular gathering among influential social circles.

“Haha, by the way, today’s weather is…”

“The sunlight is so warm!”

Several ladies subtly changed the subject.

Yes, the atmosphere finally became pleasant.

The next day after the gathering:

“Is it true you said you were interested in Damian?”

An unwelcome face appeared first thing in the morning.

It was my ex-fiancé, Polius.

“I don’t recall letting you into my room. How did this happen?”

It wasn’t my fault. I had clearly told the guards about the breakup.

Even more surprising, the guards had maintained a calm expression until I spoke.

I said nothing, simply staring at the guard.

Seeing the confused guard blinking repeatedly, Polius’s voice burst out.

“Melanie. Are formalities more important to you than me? Don’t try to dodge with nonsense! What’s this about mentioning Damian?”

Ah, so the reason he rushed over angrily this morning was about Damian Martap.

From the perspective of an illegitimate child, the lady’s son is apparently a sensitive spot. Seems I hit a nerve. Plus, a scandalous topic spreads quickly.

“Ah, are you talking about when I mentioned Damian Martap as the most handsome at the gathering?”

But I tilted my head the same way as yesterday, pretending not to know why he was angry.

“I don’t see the problem. He’s a handsome young man. Don’t be jealous—brothers should get along.”

“Do you know how cruel that bastard and the Countess were to me? They insulted me endlessly, calling him their mistress’s son, while I tried to get along with family!”

Polius’s face turned red with rage, as if he couldn’t even mention it without shuddering.

‘So Damian Martap is the only nerve-ending for this empty-headed man.’

Yet I didn’t change expression at all.

“Melanie. Do you really not understand the mistake you made against me?”