Chapter 258
“Sweet princess, don’t cry. Daddy’s to blame.”
“Waaah.”
“Here, have some sweet cake and take another look at Marquis Beyhev’s portrait again?”
Just as Isabella seemed to calm down a little, Count Werfel’s words drove a nail in her heart: “Dad is the worst in the world!”—and she stormed out of the study.
In truth, having grown used to Rubens’ face, Isabella couldn’t be satisfied with any other man.
She admired Duke Krygen’s power and wealth but clung to Rubens because of that mythically beautiful face.
‘What now?’
They couldn’t keep postponing the wedding. People would start gossiping that Isabella still couldn’t forget Rubens if it dragged on.
Isabella was torn, and rumors circulated that Rubens had finally found his mistress.
And today’s headline wasn’t any better:
<Yannick Horton vs. Macy Horton: Will the genius painter’s true identity finally be revealed?>
Public opinion speculated that Duke Krygen had finally met Macy.
‘Will Duke Krygen really show up at the trial?’
If the trial was happening, the Name treatment must have started again.
‘Could Macy really become the Duchess?’
That was the most terrifying thought—how could that lowly charlatan become Duchess instead of Isabella?
If it were the old Duke Krygen, he’d never have considered such a thing, but seeing Rubens’ actions over the past year, it no longer seemed impossible.
If he was Emperor, he might have even made Macy Empress—he was obviously obsessed with her.
“Ugh! This is so frustrating!!”
She wanted nothing more than to tear them apart. Isabella couldn’t be the only one to lose.
She even wished Rubens would be dragged down in the mud as his origins were rumored to be unclear.
But Rubens hadn’t publicly exposed Isabella’s secret affair with the townhouse butler.
Though many at the Krygen estate knew from the scandalous noises, there was a clear difference between public humiliation and keeping things private.
That’s why Isabella couldn’t easily spill Rubens’ secret.
More than anything, having witnessed Rubens’ true nature, she was scared of what he might do to her if she betrayed him.
‘I wish someone could take the fall for me…’
Like Marchioness Lingston, someone publicly unconnected to Isabella but close enough to link the secret that could expose Rubens and bring trouble upon that arrogant man.
Isabella bit her nails, struggling to find a solution but came up empty.
Meanwhile, the trial date for Macy and Yannick Horton drew near. Isabella wore a veil-covered hat and secretly blended into the crowd at the square.
‘Where is Duke Krygen?’
No matter where she looked, the Duke was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Duke Krygen’s aide, Kronen, was busily moving about.
“Who do you think is lying?”
“I don’t know. Both sides sound convincing…”
The trial ended awkwardly, and people gradually left.
Before coming here, Isabella had planned to approach Yannick Horton to reveal Rubens’ secret, but on reflection, she realized Yannick didn’t hate Rubens enough.
‘He’s more likely to run away even if told the secret.’
With no solid proof, he’d probably escape to avoid the fallout of noble quarrels.
‘What a waste…’
Then Isabella spotted someone familiar.
‘Huh? That person is…’
She had seen him before, long ago, at the Krygen estate.
Though he hadn’t inherited the blue eyes of the family, he was a man who carried half the bloodline.
“Hello.”
“What’s this?”
Looking at Kallen Krygen’s arrogant glance, Isabella lifted her veil.
“It’s me, Isabella Werfel. We met long ago—do you remember?”
Kallen’s expression stiffened as if caught off guard.
He too seemed unwilling to let Rubens find out he was here.
“Ah… young lady, what brings you here?”
“Would you have a cup of tea with me?”
“Huh?”
His eyes widened slightly.
“I recently heard a very interesting story. I’m sure Sir Kallen would find it fascinating, too.”
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