Episode 17
Straight to the Point
After a storm, peace finally returned.
A week had passed since Lucy dealt with the annoying “gift attacks” from Phoebe and Theodore. Just when she started to enjoy some quiet time, bad news reached her ears.
“Milady, you have a visitor.”
“Really? I thought I could finally rest… Who is it this time? Don’t tell me it’s Prince Phoebe or Viscount Garnet’s errand boy again?”
“It’s not either of them, but… um…”
“Why are you hesitating? Who is it?”
“It’s me, Lucy.”
The voice was cold, elegant, and sharp — painfully familiar.
Lucy turned, and her eyes met a pair of icy green ones.
“Well, well. Look who’s here. What brings you to such a humble place, Lady Mielle?”
Lucy’s smile was thin and cold. The tension in the air froze instantly.
“I didn’t expect you to come see me yourself,” Lucy said quietly.
The visitor was Mielle, once Lucy’s closest friend — the precious lady of House Leatis.
Now, she was Viscountess Garnet, Theodore’s wife, and the very woman who had ruined Lucy’s life.
“I didn’t want to go around through servants, so I came directly to ask you one thing: why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Why are you making our lives miserable? Even using the Crown Prince for it?”
“You really don’t know?”
“Please, Lucy. For the sake of the friendship we once had—”
“Did you just say friendship? In front of me?”
“…”
“When you were sneaking around with Theodore behind my back, did that friendship exist then?”
“Please don’t do this. I regret being harsh with you.”
“Don’t lie. Don’t pretend to be sorry when you’re not. It makes me hate you even more.”
“…”
“Did you think if you came here asking me to ‘leave you two alone so you can live happily,’ I’d just forgive you?”
“…”
“I can see right through you. The brilliant young lady of House Leatis — reduced to this pathetic mess over one man. What a pity.”
Mielle brushed her hair back and glared coldly.
“Ah, so this is your true face.”
“Lucy, stop being so proud before you get hurt. Do you really want me to use my family’s power against you?”
“Still the same, huh? Threatening people just like before.”
“…”
“Don’t remember? The moment I found out about you and Theodore, your family sent soldiers to my home, ordering me to divorce him — even threatening violence if I didn’t.”
“That was…”
“In the end, I risked my life to hold on, but you two spread rumors and threw me away. I was crushed by your power.”
“…”
“Honestly, after the divorce, I hated Theodore more than you. You were still my friend — the one person who stayed by me even though my family had fallen.”
“What?”
“I really wanted to keep that friendship, no matter how shallow. I thought Theodore was the one who lured you away.”
“…”
Mielle couldn’t respond.
“But not anymore. You and Theodore are the same. So I’ll send you both straight to hell together.”
“Don’t make me laugh. You think you can beat me?”
“…”
“Let’s be real — how much do you want?”
“What?”
“You already accepted all of Theodore’s gifts. You don’t seriously think you can become Crown Princess, do you? How much money do you need?”
“Mielle Leatis!”
“Don’t act so high and mighty. Just take this and disappear.”
Mielle threw some papers in front of Lucy.
Lucy didn’t even bend to pick them up. She stayed seated, staring coldly.
“What’s that?”
“A house I own in the capital. Not as big as this one, but comfortable enough.”
“…”
“You told Theodore to live as if he were dead, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did. So what?”
“Then it’s you who should disappear instead. Take that house and leave. Never show yourself to us again.”
“…”
“If you sell it, you’ll have plenty of money to start over. So stop this silly Crown Princess act and—”
“You really think this is about money?”
“Then what else? You married Theodore for money too! Isn’t that all you’ve ever cared about?”
Slap!
The sharp sound echoed as Lucy’s hand struck Mielle’s cheek. Her hand trembled, her eyes filled with anger and pain.
“You want to know why I’m doing this?”
“…”
“To make you both suffer. To make you dry up and die inside, just like I did!”
“What did we even do to you?”
“You really don’t know? You spread lies that I’d gone insane — ruined my reputation — and took everything from me when I was finally about to be happy!”
“That was my place to begin with!”
Lucy froze.
“What… are you talking about?”
“I met Theodore at a royal ball. I fell in love with him instantly and begged my father to arrange a marriage proposal with House Garnet. But before it could happen — you appeared.”
“…”
“It was supposed to be my marriage! If not for you, Theodore would’ve been mine. But you took him first!”
“But Theodore proposed to *me*. I didn’t even know about your proposal—”
“What did I lack compared to you? My house, my wealth, my title — I had everything! Why him, why you?!”
Lucy was stunned. She hadn’t known Mielle’s love ran that deep. But no matter what, it didn’t justify her betrayal.
“You may have loved him first, but *I* was the one he married.”
“…”
“I was foolish. I should’ve let you rot as his mistress forever.”
“What?”
“With your precious pride, could you have endured that? No — so I struck him instead. Maybe I regret not doing worse.”
“You’re insane! It’s over! Why are you still—”
“Because now I want to be smarter about it. I’ll hit you where it hurts most. You’ll see.”
“…”
“You can’t stop me. Just wait and see how I’ll make you both suffer.”
“You think it’ll be that easy? The Crown Prince will get tired of you — of your poor background, your lack of wealth. He’ll throw you away.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
Lucy froze.
Mielle turned toward the voice — and her face went pale.
“Greetings, Viscountess Garnet. What a surprise to see you here.”
“Y-your Highness, the Crown Prince! How…?”
“This is my beloved’s home. Why wouldn’t I visit?” Pierre said gently, turning to Lucy. “Isn’t that right, Lucy?”
Lucy’s lips trembled slightly as she walked to him.
“You must be tired, Pierre. I’m sorry I didn’t greet you — Lady Garnet came unexpectedly.”
“It’s fine. Seeing you is worth any fatigue. But… have you been crying?”
Pierre brushed her tears with his fingers. His touch made her heart race.
“We were just talking about old times,” Lucy murmured.
“Viscountess,” Pierre said calmly, “it’s fine to share memories, but please — don’t make her cry again. She’s precious to me. I don’t want her to hurt.”
Pierre put an arm gently around Lucy’s shoulders.
Even though she knew he was acting for Mielle’s sake, Lucy’s heart pounded wildly.
“I… I should go now. Forgive my rudeness.”
As Mielle hurried toward the door, Lucy’s cold voice stopped her.
“Lady Garnet, don’t forget what you brought.”
“Ah…”
“And from now on, let’s not meet privately again. For both our sakes. His Highness doesn’t like to see me cry.”
Mielle snatched the papers from the floor and left, her face stiff with humiliation.
As soon as she was gone, Lucy’s legs gave out, and Pierre caught her.
“Are you okay?”
“…I’d be lying if I said yes. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being hated like this.”
“You’ve done well. Come, sit down.”
He helped her to the sofa, where they both sat quietly.
“Thank you… for before.”
“For what?”
“For standing up for me in front of Mielle. You acted like you really loved me — she must’ve been shocked.”
“So now it’s ‘Your Highness’ again?”
“Pardon?”
“You called me by my name earlier.”
“Oh, that was just to look natural in front of Mielle. I’m sorry if it was rude.”
“No, I liked it.”
“But—”
“I mean it. Hearing my name from your lips… it sounded sweet.”
Pierre smiled brightly. Lucy turned away quickly to hide her blushing face.
“And don’t thank me. I didn’t act for her sake.”
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it,” he said with a mysterious smile, walking away toward his room.
Lucy blinked, confused.
He disappeared down the hall before she could ask why he’d come or what his words meant.
Watching his back fade away, Lucy leaned against the sofa and sighed.
“He really is… the most confusing man ever.”
