Chapter 22
A count’s daughter so lacking in refinement she couldn’t even step outside.
People who had never once seen her face whispered about Adelaide as if they knew her well, mocking her for the ‘low blood’ she supposedly could not hide. And with the count’s household neither correcting nor able to correct those rumors, they only continued to grow, swelling larger with each passing day.
In those rumors, Adelaide became vulgar, greedy—nothing more than a base, shameless girl.
“Hmm.”
A low hum, as if in thought, broke the silence.
The countess felt a flicker of hope.
She wasn’t asking for much. If only it were revealed that Adelaide was the Crown Prince’s companion, the malicious rumors would vanish on their own.
“So, what you’re asking… is for me to make my relationship with Adelaide public.”
Killian tilted his head slightly.
“That won’t be possible, Countess.”
Just like that, her fragile hope shattered. At her questioning gaze, he raised a brow.
“Obviously. People would start taking an interest in her. And I don’t like it when pests gather around what’s mine.”
Adelaide is not yours. The words rose to her throat—but the countess couldn’t say them. Her tongue felt glued in place.
Pleased with her silence, Killian’s eyes softened into a crescent.
“Instead, I’ll have a new dress prepared for her. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Adelaide in evening attire. As you said, she must be quite upset about her debut being ruined. Do take good care of your ‘pitiful’ daughter, Countess.”
With that, Killian left the drawing room without a trace of hesitation.
Left alone, the countess couldn’t rise from her seat for a long while. A single tear slipped down her cheek.
Guilt. Pity. And a suffocating disgust toward herself, for being unable to oppose him.
Emotions too tangled to name fell in silent drops, staining the carpet one by one.
* * *
“What do you mean? I can’t attend the ball…?”
Adelaide stared at the countess, her face stricken with confusion.
“Just yesterday—no, even this morning—you said you would take me…”
“I did.”
The countess avoided her gaze.
“But the hosts have refused. What can I do?”
“…Refused?”
“A letter arrived. They said they cannot recognize you as a count’s daughter.”
Her tone hardened.
“Do I need to spell it out further, Adelaide?”
Adelaide bit down on her lower lip.
“But… you said the hostess is someone you’re close with—”
“Adelaide. Don’t make this difficult.”
The interruption came cold and sharp.
“Everyone has their own circumstances. It’s their event, of course they don’t want to risk ruining it.”
Then what about me? What about me, who has been waiting for the ball?
The words burned at the edge of her throat, but Adelaide swallowed them. Blaming the countess wouldn’t change anything.
“You’re not a child anymore. Try to act like an adult.”
A familiar reprimand from the Countess. Adelaide forced a small smile.
“…I’m sorry.”
More than resentment, more than hurt, she simply didn’t want to be disliked by the Countess.
“Then… I can go to another social event, right?”
With you as my chaperone… wearing matching dresses. It was a small wish she had never voiced aloud. The countess looked at her for a long moment, something complicated flickering in her eyes.
“…Yes. If the opportunity arises.”
After saying that, the Countess’ gaze drifted to the window. It was a dismissal.
Adelaide bowed politely to her mother who didn’t spare her a look and left the room. Behind her, the countess bit her lip as she watched her reflection in the glass.
If the opportunity arises. She had said it herself, yet it was nothing more than an empty promise.
As long as that monstrous boy remained at Adelaide’s side, there was nothing she could do.
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