CHAPTER 78…
Just as I was about to open the window leading to the coachman’s seat, feeling something strange, a knock came from that very direction.
“Uh, milady.”
“What is it?”
“Well, um… His Grace the Duke of Farnese is blocking the front of the carriage…”
It was such an absurd situation that I had to replay the words a few times in my head before I fully understood what they meant.
“He’s seriously doing something that petty?”
Then again, considering all the things he’s done so far, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
Just look at how he keeps sending letters every day, even though I ignore them all.
‘Honestly, I’d love to tell the coachman to just run him over with the carriage…’
But I couldn’t exactly ask the coachman to hit an—well, not exactly innocent, but not guilty enough—person.
So, with a deep sigh, I stepped out of the carriage.
And there he was—Phaidan—blocking the front of the carriage and striding right up to me.
“Leticia!”
Grinning like a fool, looking far too pleased to see me.
I frowned and instinctively stepped back, putting some distance between us.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Oh, sorry! I must’ve startled you, suddenly blocking the way. You’re not hurt, are you?”
Feigning concern, Phaidan naturally reached out and touched my shoulder.
Acting like nothing happened. Like we were still the same as before.
The familiarity of it made my skin crawl.
I slapped his hand away—hard.
“I asked what the hell you’re doing.”
“Geez, why so cold? It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, can’t we be a little kinder? You’re too pretty to be scowling like that.”
In the past, Phaidan would’ve snapped back at me with a “How dare you!” or something similar. But today, he backed down once more.
‘Of course, he didn’t hide the flash of cold irritation in his eyes when I slapped his hand away.’
Disgust surged through me.
He clearly wasn’t sorry at all—just arrogantly assumed that a bit of groveling would win me over like always.
“We’re not exactly on laughing terms, are we?”
“No, no, that’s not true. There’s no need for us to fight anymore, Leticia.”
I could already guess what would come next.
“That fox, Elise, tricked us both!”
“…Us?”
Hearing that awkward word from his mouth made me laugh before I even realized it.
“Exactly! That woman deceived me and drove a wedge between us. We shouldn’t have fought and broken up over someone like her.”
“That woman.”
Even though I absolutely loathe Elise, the way he tried to dump all the blame on her disgusted me even more.
“There’s no child between us, and I never even loved her. I only tried to take responsibility because she said she was pregnant.”
“…”
“So, Leticia, let’s—”
“So you’re saying that cheating on your wife and getting another woman pregnant wasn’t a problem?”
“T-that’s not—!”
I had hit the nail on the head, and for a brief moment, I saw annoyance flicker in his eyes.
But he quickly masked it again, and went back to pretending to be repentant.
“That was… it was a mistake.”
“…”
“Yes, a mistake! Everyone makes mistakes, right? It was a one-time thing. The biggest mistake of my life.”
At this point, I was starting to wonder—
How long is he going to keep up this fake, humble act?
Still, curiosity is fleeting.
And compared to that curiosity…
“I really regret it. I’ve reflected so much. Can’t you forgive me just once?”
“No.”
“…What?”
“I said I don’t want to forgive you.”
I wasn’t about to waste another second listening to this nonsense.
When I flatly rejected him without a hint of hesitation, Phaidan stared at me in utter disbelief.
His smug assumption that I’d take him back was written all over his face.
It just showed how little he thought of me.
So, I decided to drive the nail in deeper.
“Well, you’re right. People make mistakes. They regret them, reflect, and try not to repeat them.”
“…”
“But that doesn’t mean the mistake never happened, does it?”
The betrayal I felt. The misery. The sadness…
Even though part of it was erased when I returned to the past, the scars from back then were still vividly etched into me.
They didn’t hurt anymore—but the pain and fear had left me hesitant to trust anyone.
“Regret and reflection are your responsibility. Forgiveness is mine.”
“…”
“I don’t want to pretend the betrayal, the pain, all of it… never happened.”
“Leticia…”
“So don’t come crawling back to me like this, all pitiful.”
He reached out again, trying to grab my hand, but I avoided it and glared coldly at him.
“Get lost.”
And just like that, Phaidan’s fake apologetic mask crumbled, and his face twisted in anger.
“Hah, haha!”
But it was only for a moment.
Then his true colors showed as he pointed a finger at me.
“Your personality is always the problem! A wife should know how to forgive and embrace her husband when he apologizes!”
“…”
“You just made a huge mistake, Leticia. You turned down your chance to leave that Grand Duke who’ll toss you away someday, and return to a secure position as a duchess!”
“Pfft.”
His pathetic threat was too much—I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Phaidan’s brows shot up, clearly irritated.
I didn’t care. I sneered at him and asked,
“Do you really think I’d be desperate to return to that ‘duchess’ title?”
“What? Desperate?”
His voice rose in anger.
Just then, I made eye contact with the coachman, who had been watching nervously.
I gave him a subtle glance toward the boutique.
A signal to go inside and bring someone.
Thankfully, the coachman understood immediately and quietly slipped away.
Relieved, I delivered the final blow.
“Me? The most successful boutique owner in the empire, go back to being the duchess who just cleans up after a clueless, tactless husband?”
“You little—!”
Phaidan suddenly stepped toward me as if to threaten me.
“That’s enough!”
A voice rang out, stopping him cold.
Phaidan and I both turned in surprise.
It wasn’t the direction of the boutique where I had sent the coachman.
It came from the opposite side of the street.
There stood a man—one I hadn’t noticed until now.
Before either of us could react, he swiftly stepped in front of me.
I could see his green eyes, slightly filled with fear, through his glasses.
Looking me over, he asked with concern,
“Are you all right, milady?”
“Uh…”
Caught off guard by the unexpected help, I couldn’t immediately respond.
Watching him, Phaidan barked,
“And who the hell are you?”
The man hesitated for a second, then stood between us protectively.
“J-just a passerby.”
“Then pass by. Why are you interfering in a marital dispute?”
“Even if you’re married, as a gentleman, this behavior is unacceptable.”
“Talking to my own wife isn’t gentlemanly now?”
“Forcing yourself on her when she clearly doesn’t want it isn’t gentlemanly. Make an appointment and come back when you’re invited.”
The man’s tone was firm.
Phaidan scoffed, but quickly turned threatening.
“Well, aren’t you the etiquette teacher. And what if it’s not ‘gentlemanly’? You gonna scold me?”
