Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 116

Just as everyone turned their heads toward where Rubens was looking, a sudden exclamation broke the moment.

“Ah!”

Isabella’s champagne glass slipped from her hand and spilled toward Rubens. With a sharp sound, the drink splattered across his clothes.

“I’m so sorry! My hand slipped… Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine.”

The liquid had splattered onto his outer coat and soaked his shirt, leaving it translucent. The sweet smell of champagne was making his head spin. He was already feeling unwell, and now the sharp sound echoed in his ears, almost ringing.

“I think you need to change your clothes. I’ll help you. Let’s go together.”

Isabella urged Rubens to move, noticing that he didn’t seem well. A lady spilling a drink on a gentleman was a classic way of seduction.

In another setting, it might have been too blatant and drawn disapproving looks, but today was their engagement banquet. After all, Isabella and Rubens were already promised to marry.

If they left together, the guests would only think positively of their closeness. Rubens, who had been looking at Isabella with slight annoyance, found a smirk creeping onto his lips.

“Yes, then I would appreciate it.”

He realized it would only give him a headache to stay and watch the festivities. Leaving today seemed to be the best option for him.

Isabella probably sensed that if he couldn’t concentrate, she might as well go inside and rest.

He had found her antics bothersome lately, but she seemed like a good match for an engaged partner. Before leaving, he shot a glance at Baron Shearton, signaling him to keep a close watch until the end.

After confirming that the Baron nodded in response, Rubens moved away.

* * *

“Lady Werfel is quite bold. They probably won’t return now?”

“I doubt they will since it’s a message to spend the night together. Did you see Duke Krygen smiling? He seemed to have been waiting for this moment.”

“Ah, I did see. I wonder how passionate their night will be with such a handsome man. Lady Werfel is quite enviable.”

The whispers around Macy were particularly loud in her ears. The ladies blushed as they indulged in their imaginations about the couple.

‘They really won’t be coming back?’

Macy caught a glimpse of Eren smiling at Lady Werfel’s audacity. She couldn’t believe he was so readily nodding in agreement as he walked out with her.

Would they end up undressing each other and get carried away to the bed? Would Lady Werfel be unable to resist scratching his back, which would inevitably brush against the spot where Macy’s name was written…

In an instant, a burning sensation surged in her left chest. Macy could no longer pretend to be fine, even on the surface. Her fingers, gripping the shawl, turned pale and trembled.

“Macy, are you alright?”

Noticing her agitation, Baron Shearton asked with concern,

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. I’m just a little dizzy… I think I might be tipsy.”

“It would be good to get some fresh air on the terrace.”

“Then I’ll come with you—”

“As your partner, I’ll take care of it.”

As a gentleman nearby tried to step forward, Baron Shearton intervened and blocked him. He was openly dismissing the men approaching Macy, making it clear he was protective of her.

‘Eren must have instructed him to do this.’

Eren didn’t want Macy interacting with other men. Meanwhile, he was holding Isabella’s hand right in front of her, strutting around like nothing mattered.

Macy felt too drained to be angry at his selfishness. Tears threatened to spill as she wanted to cry and let it all out.

Seeing them together felt like a scene from a painting, and her heart was shattering under the weight of that painful realization. How could he look down on her so easily, smiling and holding another woman’s hand? What was even more pathetic was that Macy couldn’t say a word, even after being humiliated.

The wave of helplessness crashed over her. She imagined Eren with that unfamiliar woman, and it felt unbearable.

“Perhaps it would be best for you to return. You don’t look well.”

Baron Shearton gently suggested, noticing her poor expression, even on the terrace.

“You don’t need to worry about me anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Duke is no longer here. You couldn’t enjoy the banquet because of me… I’ll be leaving now. You can go.”

Baron Shearton was silent for a moment. Macy wanted to cry alone, but she knew if she did it in front of him, it would reach Eren’s ears. Hearing her would only amuse him; it seemed he enjoyed watching her suffer.

“I’ll have the carriage brought around. Please stay put.”

He looked troubled but ultimately withdrew after ensuring that she wouldn’t interact with other men until she left the banquet. Alone, Macy finally let her tears fall.

“How pathetic…”

Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she couldn’t even sob out loud for fear of being heard outside.

She wished the world would just end. What if there were a war and Eren had to rush out? She couldn’t muster the courage to confront him, so she wiped her tears away while imagining such extreme scenarios.

“Macy? You haven’t left.”

At that moment, a voice came from behind her. Startled, she quickly wiped her eyes with her gloves and turned around. The person speaking to her was Prince Benedict of the Kingdom of Ciseina.