Chapter 145
“Are you sure you bought all of this with your own money?”
It was then. A sharp voice interrupted from behind.
Turning around, Macy saw Kieran glaring at her with a disapproving look.
“Kieran, long time no see. How have you been?”
This was, in fact, Kieran’s studio.
To accommodate Macy, who found walking around the town uncomfortable, they had found a space just for themselves. Kieran was the owner of the studio, but since he was running late, he had given them the key to his place, so they had arrived early.
“There’s one for you too. Here.”
Macy pretended not to hear Kieran’s sarcastic comment and handed him the box she had brought for him.
Kieran briefly glanced at the box, then furrowed his brows even more.
“Forget it. Just answer me. Did you buy this all with your own money?”
“Yes. I was paid for the engagement portrait. I used that money.”
“Good. I connected you with some nobles to have that portrait done, and now you’re out running around?”
With his words, the cheerful atmosphere froze instantly. Kieran clearly wasn’t going to let this slide.
Without holding back, Kieran began pouring out everything he wanted to say to Macy.
“I heard you disappeared with the Duke at the engagement banquet. What’s your relationship with the Duke? Did you actually sleep with him?”
“Kieran, what are you saying?!”
“What? Aren’t you curious? Is this really the time to be all cozy? You’re out here doing strange things!”
When Anna tried to stop him, Kieran shouted loudly.
The engagement banquet, Duke Krygen, strange things…
Each word Kieran uttered pierced Macy’s heart like a needle.
Anna and Hills hesitated, looking at Macy. It seemed they already knew about the situation.
“I heard you like your Name master. Haven’t you been staying at their house? Did I introduce you to a noble to get you to fall in love? Now you’re involved in a scandal with the Duke, who just got engaged. If you’re going to do something like that, you should’ve kept it hidden! It was supposed to be just one night, so why let these rumors spread?”
“…It wasn’t just one night.”
“What?”
Macy, who had been silent, finally spoke in a small voice.
“It wasn’t just one night.”
“So, you plan to keep seeing him?”
“…”
“Are you crazy?”
Kieran looked at her with disbelief.
“Did you hit your head on a tree or something?”
“I’m not crazy.”
“Then what? Maybe you’ll meet a few times. In the meantime, other nobles will be too busy worrying about Lady Werfel’s feelings, and Duke Krygen will toss you aside once he loses interest. Then what will you do for a living? How long will you keep leeching off your Name master and not be able to live your own life?”
“Don’t shout! I feel like I’m going crazy too!!”
Macy screamed, covering her ears in distress. The loud shouts made her head pound.
Her heart felt as though it was drowning, suffocating with each beat, like being submerged in muddy water.
It felt like the makeshift bandage had finally given way and the wound had burst open.
Of course, Macy had anticipated this situation. But now that it had arrived, the pressure was even more suffocating than expected.
She was terrified of how to explain things to them—whether they would understand, how they would look at her. She was paralyzed with fear, unable to speak.
It felt like they might turn on her in disgust and leave the room right then and there.
“Alright. Kieran, calm down for now. Let’s hear Macy out first. She’s caught in something, right? Isn’t that it?”
“……”
Anna spoke in a deliberately calm voice, though there was an undertone of anxiety in her words.
It felt like her hope that her friend hadn’t done something immoral was choking her, but Macy couldn’t breathe through it.
“Duke Krygen pushed you into this, didn’t he? You talked to me about the affair not long ago. You asked me what to do if you were caught in a compromising situation. Right, Macy?”
“Macy said that? When?”
Hills, who had been silently observing, suddenly asked.
“Just under a month ago.”
“Is that true? Are you being blackmailed?”
Kieran, who had been glaring at Macy, now asked in a much softer tone. Macy bit her lower lip, trying to stifle her emotions, before replying quietly.
“It’s complicated. I can’t say I had no part in it, but…”
They all sighed quietly. It was clear from their expressions that they were disappointed in Macy.
No matter how much she resisted, it was clear that Eren had made her his mistress. But Macy had longed for his love.
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