Chapter 261
“I heard from people that it’s Princess Christian? That she was openly dating at a dessert cafe in broad daylight.”
“Ah…”
“There were rumors that if he found you, he’d marry the princess. Looks like it was true.”
Macy had heard this before—rumors of a marriage arrangement between the Krygen family and the imperial court, a match that would be a loss for the Krygen household.
‘I thought it was just baseless gossip since nothing was progressing… but I guess it was true.’
So, is Eren really going to marry that woman? Then why did he treat her the way he did?
With that question, her mood sank further.
Knock knock.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“What’s that? Did Anna leave something behind?”
Before Macy could move, Hils got up and went to answer.
“Huh? Why is…?”
Hils hesitated slightly, stepping back.
“And you—why are you here at this hour?”
The cold tone immediately put Macy on edge.
“Ah, I-I was—”
“Step aside.”
Pushing Hils’ shoulder away, the intruder stepped inside. With long strides, Eren stood right in front of Macy and gave her a sideways glare.
“Did you two drink alone?”
Eren had usually worn a loose, casual style to show he wasn’t feeling well. But today, he looked sharp as ever, with not a single strand of hair out of place. His dark navy two-button suit fit him perfectly.
Maybe that was why…
“No! The others just left—!”
“What does that have to do with you?”
Macy cut off Hils’ frantic excuse and answered sharply.
They had come up together for her trial, yet Eren immediately went to meet the princess. As soon as he recovered, he carefully dressed up and went off with another woman…
“Hah. What did you say?”
“Why are you here? And how dare you barge into someone else’s house?”
The moment she said “someone else”, Eren’s brow furrowed fiercely. She wanted to get under his skin.
Little shards of emotion urged her to wound him again.
“Don’t ruin the mood and leave. If you don’t, I’ll call the sheriff.”
“Is this why you refused to stay at the Krygen estate? Just to drink alone with some stranger?”
“I told you it’s none of your business.”
“Don’t say it’s none of my business—explain clearly what’s going on here.”
Eren glared, eyes blazing with a familiar fire.
The suspicion, the presumptions, the uncontrolled rage he took out on her—the cruel fury that destroyed her love.
That cold rage made her hairs stand on end. Macy’s hands, which had borne it all before, began trembling.
“Duke Krygen, I think you’re misunderstanding something… so we—”
“Shut up.”
Hils stepped in to mediate, but Eren’s gaze stayed fixed on Macy alone. It was as if he insisted the explanation come only from her.
“…You won’t believe anything I say anyway.”
Macy’s lips moved slowly, still dazed by fear.
“You think what you want to think, no matter what I say.”
Tears swelled in her eyes, seemingly out of nowhere, as she stared at Eren. Her sorrowful frustration took her back a year—countless times she explained herself only to be ignored.
She wasn’t the traitor; she was deceived by Prince Benedict. She never even brushed hands with another man, nor held feelings for anyone else.
Even though he scorned and deceived her by keeping her as a mistress, she loved him so much that seeing his face made her smile.
She begged him to love her, to believe in only him—but he crushed her mercilessly, strangling the very breath from her lungs.
It was all because of him that her voice was locked tight.
“If it’s your words, I’ll believe everything. Even the most worthless joke. So—”
“No.”
Feeling the tension, Eren reached for Macy’s hand—but she pushed it away immediately.
“Think whatever you want. I won’t explain.”
The tragedy born of their mutual distrust was painful every time they looked back.
The more they unraveled, the more hatred piled up. Yet every time Macy found herself drawn to him again, she hated and despised herself.
Her twisted anger directed at him boomeranged back, wounding her anew.
“What kind of relationship do we have that needs explaining?”
So let’s live like strangers. They could never go back.
Macy wanted to clean up this messy aftermath, to rid herself of restless feelings and finally forget him.
“…I’m sorry. I was foolish then.”
Eren’s pupils dilated as he whispered.
“I don’t think I properly apologized…”
His eyes were vacant, as if he had lost his soul.
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