~Chapter 155~
“Has it already become a rumor that I’m meeting with her? Everyone really is quick with news.”
His lighthearted admission made everyone gasp in shock. A man who had never once been involved in any rumor with a woman was now basically confirming a massive scandal.
“Excuse me, but… what will you do about Young Lord Cheslow…?”
“Is there any reason I should care about him?”
“Oh—n-no, of course not! Haha!”
“Exactly. Even if someone calls her ‘that lady,’ there’s simply no comparison.”
Cedric shrugged at that.
“I’m not sure what you’re indicating. But if you mean that Young Lord Cheslow could interfere with me, then I’ll say this clearly: I have no intention of avoiding a clash with him.”
The sound of people sharply inhaling echoed all around.
That was the moment when the rumor—that Cedric Kailas intended to take Bella Listerwell as his wife—became a certainty.
***
The rumor spread quickly.
The people most shocked by it were not Daphne, her friends, or even James’s friends—but Bella’s friends.
“Bella! I heard something strange yesterday. It was about you and the Duke of Kailas… No way… it’s not true, right?”
When one person cautiously brought it up, the other friends, who had clearly heard the same rumor, laughed awkwardly as if to say that could never happen.
But their eyes already held a trace of fear.
Ever since they saw a photo of Cedric and Bella sitting together in the newspaper, that anxiety had been growing.
They were all hoping for Bella to call it a “ridiculous, impossible rumor.”
Instead, Bella smiled strangely and said:
“I can’t really say anything just yet.”
Their eyes widened instantly, and they all scooted closer.
“But you’re already engaged to Young Lord Cheslow! What does that mean?”
“The Duke of Kailas is amazing, sure, but you have Young Lord Cheslow. You can’t waver, Bella.”
“Right. You’re not that kind of girl.”
Watching her friends make a fuss as though this were some huge disaster, Bella couldn’t suppress the smirk forming on her lips.
“Don’t you believe that love is a mistake that we cannot control? It’s beyond your control. “Falling in love is not a sin.”
“Bella! This isn’t love, it’s cheating! It’s disgraceful.”
One friend finally scolded her harshly, and Bella glared back.
“Would you still say that even if I became a duchess?”
“B-Bella…?”
Everyone stared at her with wide, stunned eyes.
It was something none of them had ever imagined hearing from her mouth.
Just as everyone fell into horrified silence, Bella suddenly burst into laughter and playfully hit a friend’s arm.
“I’m joking! I’m joking! You were all being so serious, I couldn’t help it.”
“Oh my gosh, you scared me, Bella!”
“Don’t worry too much. Baseless rumors disappear quickly anyway.”
Only then did relieved sighs come from all sides.
“I think the rumor started because that picture of you and the Duke sitting together was printed in the newspaper.”
“Yeah. Bella’s getting married next year—why would such a rumor even appear?”
“Well, Bella is pretty. That explains everything.”
All her friends desperately chose to ignore the situation, pretending her new romance rumor was obviously false.
And so they completely missed the fact that Bella never actually denied it.
Only her closest friend, Caroline, watched her with uneasy eyes.
Because the Bella she knew was exactly the type who would try to make a rumor real—even if it started out as nonsense.
“Caroline. Do you want to be popular?”
Fourteen-year-old Bella, the most beautiful rose in Genoa that summer, had whispered that to a girl who admired her—the ambitious but ignored daughter of a provincial noble family, Caroline Tarrant.
“I’ll make you my best friend. But in return, you have to listen to everything I say, and never tell anyone what happens between us.”
In other words, she wanted a personal maid.
Most people would have been insulted and refused, but Caroline, desperate to become someone like Bella, grabbed her hand immediately.
After making that choice based only on Bella’s usual charming appearance, she was a little shocked by Bella’s true nature—but she never regretted it.
It was much better than living life as some nameless baron’s daughter.
Being Bella’s closest friend gave her far more advantages.
Of course, that meant keeping Bella satisfied was the most important thing.
When Bella was finally alone, Caroline approached her quietly and whispered:
“I think you and the Duke of Kailas look wonderful together.”
At those words, Bella’s eyes sparkled.
It was the look she always wore whenever she heard something she wanted to hear.
“Thank you, Caroline. You’re the only one who truly understands me.”
“I just said what’s true.”
Caroline smiled gently, though inside she sighed at Bella’s endless greed.
***
About ten days after the grand opening ceremony of the Pellodia Theater, Harriet headed for Ainsfora.
Since Roxana had to return home for family business in the capital, Harriet was going to Ainsfora to look after Trisha while Roxana was away.
“The mansion will be empty for about a day before I arrive and before Aunt Roxana gets back, so please make sure no suspicious people come near, Butler.”
“You mean people from the Listerwell family… or the Marshall barony?”
“You understand perfectly.”
Harriet clapped hands with Andre and then climbed into the prepared carriage.
She was excited—she hadn’t seen Trisha in a while, and it was her first time visiting Ainsfora.
“Always stay alert and be careful. Try to move quickly through forest paths, and only rest in places where there are lots of people.”
Andre gave his final warnings as he closed the carriage door.
Harriet knew he wasn’t just being polite—his concerns were real.
If John found out she was traveling to Ainsfora alone, who knew what he might do?
“I’ll be fine. I’m traveling with multiple guards.”
It did make the trip more expensive, but no amount of money was more valuable than her life.
***
While Harriet was leaving Genoa, Roxana was departing from Ainsfora.
“Be careful.”
“Yes, Mother.”
After a short farewell to Trisha, Roxana boarded her carriage. She tightened her hat one more time and instructed the coachman to depart.
“Hyah!”
With a flick of the whip, the horses set off, hooves clicking rhythmically along the road.
Roxana adjusted her clothes again. For travel, comfort was most important, so she avoided tight or overly elaborate outfits.
‘This way, even if something dangerous happens, I can run easily.’
She tugged firmly at her skirt to check the mobility, then released it.
The carriage continued its lively rattling as it moved forward.
Ainsfora and Genoa were normally about a day’s ride apart. It was far, but the hot springs along the way made the route popular among nobles.
Because of that, the road was well maintained, and small rest villages had sprung up between the two cities, with restaurants and shaded drink stands for travelers.
It was usually a safe journey.
‘But between villages, there are stretches with very few people.’
Roxana looked out the window.
She had already passed three rest villages. The late afternoon sunlight bathed the fields in golden light, creating a peaceful scene.
But her blue eyes were searching beyond that peace—searching for danger.
Even as she imagined her life might be at risk, her gaze remained cold and calm.
Then the coachman called out:
“Miss! We’ll rest at the next village!”
“Yes, that’s fine!”
After that stop, the next place would be Genoa.
‘Maybe I was worrying for nothing.’
She gave a short, dry smile and picked up her handbag.
That was when—
“Neigh—!”
“Whoa, whoa!”
The horses suddenly screamed, and the carriage lurched violently.
The coachman tried desperately to calm them, but it wasn’t working.
“There’s a woman inside the carriage!”
“Kill her!”
Unfamiliar voices shouted viciously.
Something near the wheel cracked loudly, and the carriage tilted sharply.
But at the same time, the sound of swords clashing rang out.
Her guards were fighting back—they were doing their jobs.
‘Just a little longer… just hold on…!’
Roxana struggled to stay upright inside the shaking carriage, waiting for the attack to end.
But then another terrible cracking sound came from the spot she feared earlier.
The carriage slammed sideways and overturned.
“Ugh!”
She tried to brace herself against the wall, but in a falling carriage, no amount of willpower mattered.
“Miss!”
Her guards, still fighting the assassins, ran toward her—but they couldn’t stop the carriage from crashing into the roadside ditch.
The loud thud of impact was the last thing Roxana remembered.
😍😍😍
Thank you very much🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺