WARDV 55

CHAPTER 55

Confirming the situation, Elise began her performance in earnest, now fully at ease.

“Then could you at least deliver a message for me? That I was grateful she took me in after my uncle cast me out… That I’ll leave as soon as I find a place to stay, and I’d appreciate it if she returned home.”

She spoke as if she were sincerely concerned about Leticia.

As a result, the opinions of the onlookers began to stir.

“Did the duchess misunderstand something?”

“But still, how is it acceptable for another woman to live in a house where the wife already resides?”

“Even so, where could a noble lady with no wealth and nowhere to go possibly turn?”

The crowd was divided in opinion, and Elise, delicate in appearance, stood there letting tears fall silently.

Seeing the flustered employee swallowing nervously, Elise smiled to herself in triumph.

This had become a matter of pride now—she absolutely couldn’t lose.

“Even if it’s just my words, please do make sure to deliver th—”

Elise turned as if about to leave, expecting the staff member to cave under public pressure and stop her.

But at that moment—

“I don’t think that message needs to be delivered.”

The door to the boutique, which had been firmly closed, opened—and Leticia stepped out.

Elise’s face went pale at the sight of her striding confidently forward.

‘Didn’t they say she wasn’t coming in today?’

Elise glanced toward the staff, hoping for clarification, but they too seemed shocked by Leticia’s unexpected appearance.

As everyone held their breath, Leticia calmly broke the silence.

“Thank you so much for visiting, and for waiting all this time, ladies. Our staff will guide you inside now.”

She addressed the noblewomen who had accompanied Elise, then gave a subtle signal to the employee behind her.

The employee approached the group, but the noble ladies exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to respond.

“Ah, well… Thank you for guiding us, but…”

“If you’ve changed your mind, you can yield your spot to those behind you. Everyone who came here is a valued guest—I wouldn’t want anyone waiting longer than necessary.”

Only then did the ladies notice the long line still stretching behind them. After a brief moment of hesitation, they followed the staff inside.

And just like that, Elise was left standing all alone.

Alone under the weight of everyone’s stares.

In the tense silence, Leticia gazed at Elise, who now stood isolated.

Elise waited, her expression stiff with anxiety, to hear what Leticia would say.

But…

‘What… What is this?’

Leticia didn’t say a word. She simply turned around.

As if Elise wasn’t even worth her attention.

Elise, offended and flustered, hastily called out.

“Madam! Are you just going to leave without offering any explanation for this situation?”

Leticia, who had been walking toward the door, stopped and turned back.

“Explanation?”

“Don’t you think it’s proper to explain why you refused to let me in?”

“Well. Isn’t explaining something what people do when they’re either falsely accused or trying to deny guilt?”

Leticia tilted her head and stared coldly at Elise.

“I wasn’t falsely accused, and I have nothing to deny. So why should I explain anything?”

“People are misunderstanding our relationship. It’s just a minor misunderstanding, but because of it, we’re both being gossiped about. That’s not good for either of us—”

“A minor misunderstanding…”

“Don’t tell me… you actually still believe those rumors are true?”

Elise looked at Leticia with visibly hurt eyes.

“It’s fine if people misunderstand me. You don’t have to explain anything if you don’t want to. If that helps put your heart at ease, then so be it. But…”

Elise’s voice trailed off, tears welling in her violet eyes.

“The more you misunderstand and hate me… the more it must hurt you, Madam.”

“…”

“And that… that breaks my heart…”

With teary eyes and lips trembling with emotion, Elise truly appeared the picture of a wounded victim to any bystander unfamiliar with the truth.

‘She won’t push this any further. Her reputation would suffer if she gets aggressive now. So she’ll either offer an explanation or, at worst, begrudgingly let me enter.’

That’s what Elise believed.

But—

Leticia suddenly burst into laughter and stepped closer to her.

Taken aback by the unexpected reaction, Elise instinctively held her breath.

“Elise.”

Leticia’s soft voice brushed Elise’s ear.

“Do you still think I’d be embarrassed just because some man got stolen from me? That I wouldn’t expose your relationship with Peidan because I’m worried about appearances?”

“…!”

“Only someone whose entire worth is based on a man would think that way.”

“W-What are you saying…!”

“Not having a man doesn’t diminish my value one bit.”

Just as Elise was about to shout back in protest, Leticia straightened up and took a step back.

“Well now. It seems the one really hurt by all this misunderstanding… is you, Elise.”

She smiled sweetly at Elise, who stood there stunned and unsure how to respond.

“If the public’s misunderstanding bothers you so much, then you should be the one to explain. I’m not upset. And I have no desire to deny anything.”

Elise could only chew her lip, unable to speak.

‘What am I supposed to say now that anyone would believe?’

But if Leticia turned away now without Elise saying even a single word… that would be an even greater humiliation.

Just as she opened her mouth—desperate to say something, anything—

She heard the distant sound of horse hooves.

“Oh my! Isn’t that a carriage from the Imperial Palace?”

The crowd buzzed with excitement, parting to reveal a grand carriage bearing the imperial crest.

Elise wasn’t the only one surprised—Leticia’s gaze also turned toward the carriage.

Soon, a woman stepped out—an attendant of the imperial household.

“Isn’t that… the head lady-in-waiting from the Empress’s Palace?”

The woman walked forward calmly, ignoring the murmurs trailing behind her.

Leticia, clearly caught off guard by this sudden appearance, quickly stepped forward to greet her.

“What brings you all the way out here, Lady-in-Waiting?”

Expecting that she might be here to shop, Leticia was surprised when the woman stopped directly in front of her.

She handed Leticia a letter—sealed with the imperial crest, used only by the royal family.

“Her Majesty the Empress wishes to invite Lady Leticia to the Empress’s Palace.”

Everyone—including Leticia—was shocked.

But none more so than Elise.

‘The Empress invited her?’

The Empress, being from another country and in poor health, rarely appeared at social functions and had little interaction with the nobility.

Though many nobles were wary of her foreign origins, they still longed for her favor due to the Emperor’s deep affection for her.

An invitation from that Empress?

‘And not by messenger or knight, but by sending her head lady-in-waiting personally…’

That could only mean one thing—the Empress regarded Leticia as someone extremely important.

Still in disbelief, Leticia opened the letter.

**[Dear Lady Leticia,
I hope this sudden invitation doesn’t startle you.

As the mother of the child you graciously saved, I should come to thank you personally—but circumstances do not allow it. So, instead, I extend this invitation.

Would you be able to visit the Empress’s Palace this afternoon?
If the timing is difficult, please feel free to suggest a date that works for you.

I look forward to meeting you very soon.]**