IWEML 03

chapter 03

But having come this far, Polius seemed determined to get an apology, raising his voice once more.

“Damian isn’t the only problem. How can you compare your fiancé to other men like that?”

I shrugged slightly and replied calmly.

“You compared me to other women too, didn’t you? Clara Martis, Miss Josephine Ingda… and who else was it?”

“Master Polius, you are truly fortunate. Miss Clotilde would make an excellent wife once married.”

“Haha, Melanie is a good woman, but I don’t think she could cook like Josephine. She complains and lies down over anything.”

Hmm, that wasn’t the only time. There were other comparisons too.

“Clara Martis is good in every way, but her family isn’t that influential…”

“But isn’t that better than someone with a high-handed attitude because of her family, like Melanie? I still prefer gentle women.”

I could count endlessly. Back then, hearing these words made me restless, and I would try harder to be a better woman for Polius.

“All of that was pointless,” I thought, raising my chin and crossing my arms.

“Why is it okay for you, but not for me?”

“I’m really tired of this. Are you saying my past mistakes are the same as yours? Can’t you just admit you were wrong?”

Oh, of course, he’s always the good one while I was the bad one. And yet, he’s only strict when it comes to me, not with other women approaching him.

“Polius, you and I are very different. You compared me to others as your fiancée, but I spoke of my ex-fiancé. We’re already broken up, aren’t we?”

“Stop making excuses to avoid apologizing. That’s not like you, Melanie.”

“I ended things with you, Polius Veldert. I couldn’t tolerate your wandering ways with women.”

Polius jumped up from his seat.

“Ended things? By whose permission? I absolutely won’t accept it!”

“And what do you plan to do about that? I’ve told you twice already, and you still don’t get it.”

I said coldly to his back as I turned away.

“I’m no longer your fiancée, so don’t concern yourself with who I speak to. And stop showing up at the palace without permission.”

“Hah. Helping a sick person makes them like this? It must’ve been tough hiding your true self all this time. I didn’t know you could be so ruthless.”

Ruthless? Perhaps. I had never once spoken harshly to Polius before.

“But I’ve seen myself through the eyes of others in the story.”

Even if I had been passive, knowing that I could ruin my family and hurt my father for a man would change anyone.

Besides, my past self and Melanie Clotilde were far from being obedient women.

“This is the real me.”

Now I had cast off the obsession with showing Polius only my good side.

“I could get even harsher. Do you want to see?”

Instead of being provoked, I tilted my head and curled my lips into a slight smile.

“Since we’re no longer anything, stop using casual speech with me. Honestly, the ducal family and the countly family are on different levels, aren’t they? Though you’re not exactly an ordinary countly heir either.”

I thought he would lose his temper and storm off like before… but Polius spoke with an unexpectedly calm face.

“I didn’t want it to come to this… Melanie Clotilde, don’t you realize you’d be in trouble without me?”

“What did you say?”

“The strong painkillers you take all have severe side effects. The fact you’re standing on your own two feet now… you’re doing okay, huh?”

It felt like a heavy blow to the back of my head.

“You were going to come find me anyway. It would’ve been better if you accepted my apology politely. What if you changed your mind because I wouldn’t bless you?”

Even so, Polius was once the person to whom I had given everything.

Is he threatening me with my illness, after all the times I had suffered and had seizures?

“I’ve treated you too well, haven’t I? You should know that a good man is scary when angry.”

“You…”

“Melanie, I’m doing all this for your own good. But that doesn’t mean I’ll just let it slide.”

Polius then opened the door to the drawing room and left.

“Isn’t someone who doesn’t want to break up doing it because they love you? But is this really how someone treats the woman they love?”

I had secretly hoped that by being strong, Polius would be shocked and change.

I had always complied with him, never once refusing him.

I hadn’t voiced my dissatisfaction about him being with other women, so maybe he hadn’t realized the problem.

If I were strong, he might change… if he didn’t want to lose me.

But that wasn’t it.

Polius didn’t not want to break up because he loved me.

‘Even after being caught in bed with another woman, he doesn’t bow—he knows he needs my blessing.’

Polius thought I could never abandon him.

This was the man I had given my whole life to.

A chill ran through my mind like cold water.

Then a voice broke through my daze.

“Miss, I think it would be best if you apologize first.”

He must be worried I won’t receive Polius’ blessing if I don’t apologize.

“Thank you, but…”

“Honestly, this time, you acted immaturely. Master Polius must have been very hurt.”

I turned and saw the loyal bodyguard, suppressing his anger. He had over-loyalty toward Polius because of the few good deeds he’d heard about.

‘What is he saying now?’

I almost forgot.

‘How dare he open the palace doors without permission?’

Loyalty should be for the right person, not some random heir from another household.

“Accepting him when he first came is the way to save face…”

“Yes, you’ve done well so far.”

My sudden praise widened the bodyguard’s eyes.

“Eh? Thank you…”

“But today, you’re fired. Go to the guardhouse and take your punishment. No severance or recommendation letters, and your knighthood may even be revoked.”

The bodyguard’s expression became tense again.

“Miss! What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“You allowed an outsider in without permission and threatened my safety. That is regrettable.”

“That’s not it!”

I smiled at him and opened the door to signal the other guards.

Flustered, he added,

“I… I just wanted to reconcile you with Master Polius for your happiness!”

“That’s meddling and overstepping your bounds.”

Sending an ex-fiancé into my own room? What if Polius had gone berserk?

I smiled and gestured.

“Take him away.”

“Mi—Miss!”

Yes, one troublesome thing handled.

Polius might be avoiding it now, but in time, he’d accept the breakup.

It’s amusing how he wants to cling to me even though he has many other women. I’ll make full use of that.

Even though he didn’t meet me when I tried, now I’ll tidy up my life.

I decided to straighten out everything connected to Polius in my daily life.

I discarded his gifts, burned his half-hearted letters, and canceled the trip plans I had prepared to go with him.

“Most importantly, I need to check if there are any assets tied to Polius.”

So far, he had mostly given cash, but he recently traded a closed mine.

I brought an expert to review the documents; the only issue was a debt I had to repay, but the mine Polius purchased was entirely mine.

It was fortunate he used my name because the loan didn’t go through.

‘Even if others don’t know, I know this mine produces magic stones.’

Now that we’re broken up, Polius won’t profit from the magic stones. I won’t allow it.

One day, the butler, upon hearing I was sorting out Polius-related matters, hinted something.

“Miss… about Master Polius’ mother, Lady Mila…”

So I quickly realized what Polius’ mother had intended to do using me.

Polius’ mother gave birth to a child of Count Veldert but was not the countess. Even after the countess died, she couldn’t become the official wife. So people simply called her Lady Mila.

“Hmph, a nominal title. Isn’t it practically me who’s the countess?”

Even when acting strong, checking her power visually was the best way to soothe her anxiety.

“May I ask your name?”

“My future daughter-in-law is Miss Clotilde. The duke’s only daughter, got it?”

“Lady Mila! Forgive me, a new employee made a mistake. I will make sure to train them properly.”

The man correcting the employee bowed so deeply it was practically a kowtow.

Polius was registered under the countess by Count Veldert, but that didn’t make him the family heir.

So Lady Mila enjoyed using Melanie’s prestigious name; it had far more recognition.

Lady Mila felt the power of authority as she saw the employees bow to her.

“Hmph! Did you really bring in something that I wouldn’t recognize?”

She proceeded to the adjacent fashion room.

“Welcome, Lady Mila!”

The fashion employee at the entrance greeted her with exaggerated politeness.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the employee who had failed to recognize her earlier stomping in frustration.

‘How foolish. Didn’t recognize someone like me?’

She decided to drive them crazy by making record sales. That employee would surely be scolded for a long time!

“This dress looks excellent on you. No one else could pull it off!”

“Oh, flattery.”

Lady Mila’s lips twitched. She tried to receive the compliment gracefully, but she enjoyed praise too much.

“How about this new jewel? As you can see, it’s very large and ornate, not suitable for just anyone, but perfect for you…”

“Oh my.”

Lady Mila decided to buy all the suggested items. She intended to charge them to Melanie’s account. Even if Count Veldert favored her, there was a limit to the money she could spend since she wasn’t the countess.

‘Well, this way Melanie earns points with me, which is good.’

But…

“Excuse me, but Miss Clotilde has decided to stop further charges…”

“What? That can’t be!”

She needed to put the employees who didn’t recognize her in their place, but now she was humiliated! Thinking of their smug relief and laughter made her head spin.

Not only that, if word got out, it would give people a reason to criticize her for her government background.

‘There must be some mistake!’

Fuming with embarrassment, she left the fashion room.

‘I need to meet Melanie quickly to sort this out.’

Lady Mila headed straight for Clotilde Palace, intending to scold Melanie for mismanaging the staff.

‘And I’ll get more jewels as an apology.’

But she wasn’t the only one facing resistance; the staff at the fashion and jewelry shops weren’t the only ones blocking her.

“What is this? I’m supposed to be Melanie’s future mother-in-law! How dare they block me?”

Even at Clotilde Palace, she was treated unexpectedly!

“Miss Melanie has forbidden your entry,” a guard announced.

His tone seemed to mock her, and Lady Mila’s face turned red.

“What on earth!”

After the fashion shop, now this humiliation! Lady Mila tried to steady her breathing as the guard continued.

“Also, I heard you have broken up with Master Polius.”

“What?”

Lady Mila hurriedly covered her agape mouth.