When That Door Opens - Chapter 19

“My dear Countess, is the dress I’m making for you to wear…”

“Yes, to those two’s wedding. The capital will be bustling. I heard they’re even planning a street parade, or something of that sort?”

Yvonne was too drained to be surprised anymore, so she just nodded.

Now she understood why he said he wouldn’t be able to visit for a while. The reason he vaguely mentioned ‘because of work’ was this. Of course, he couldn’t come to see his hidden mistress while preparing for his wedding.

“They… they look good together.”

So much so that she couldn’t even dare to covet the spot beside him.

“That’s true. They’re the perfect couple. With Princess Amelia being the Emperor’s favored daughter, the status of the House of Lance will only rise higher.”

The Emperor. Yvonne, who had never dared to even utter that name, suddenly asked.

“So, if… if Duke Lance had another woman…”

“Just thinking about it is terrifying.”

Young Countess Alpen furrowed her delicate brows.

“For Duke Lance, who is to marry the Emperor’s only daughter, such a thing cannot and must not exist.”

* * *

Click.

Back at home, Yvonne leaned against the closed door and slid down to the floor. Her head was spinning. The image of Princess Amelia kindly holding her hand and Jerome escorting the Princess swirled confusingly behind her eyelids.

However, nothing tormented her more than the echo of young Countess Alpen’s voice.

“For Duke Lance, who is to marry the Emperor’s only daughter, such a thing cannot and must not exist.”

Such a thing. To even the kind and considerate young Countess Alpen, Yvonne’s existence was just “such a thing.” Something to be hidden, something that shouldn’t exist.

“What if there is… such a woman?”

“If such a woman exists… she would have to be dealt with before the Princess finds out. But honestly, who in their right mind would have another woman while being betrothed to the Princess?”

“That’s… true.”

“But why do you ask?”

“I just thought I heard that some nobles keep mistresses sometimes…”

“Haha, it depends on the noble. But I’ve known him for a long time as my brother’s close friend. I’ve never seen him stray from the path even once. His appearance and character are so perfect that it’s almost frightening. That’s Duke Lance for you.”

The perfect Duke Lance. However, he was no longer perfect. There was now a flaw—herself. A lowly, unsightly flaw that could endanger him.

“I must leave.”

Mulling over her conversation with the young Countess, Yvonne muttered as if she were laying down a heavy burden. The path she needed to take became clear. The decision came quickly, almost amusing her with how much she had suffered over it.

The moment she realized her existence could harm him, she became resolute.

This was not an issue she should have been agonizing over for so long. It was just her foolish mind taking this long to find the answer.

Was it because she was uneducated and short-sighted, or because she was greedy and selfish? To want to stay by his side no matter how she was treated. Why had she only thought of herself?

There was no place for her by his side. Even the desire to see him, no matter how she was treated, was impudent and ambitious.

She imagined herself saying goodbye to him, but Yvonne shook her head. She was too weak. Whenever she stood before Jerome, everything crumbled helplessly. She had no strength to push him away herself.

One day, if he stopped coming altogether. She feared that after waiting and waiting, she might lose her mind and run to the Duke’s residence. If her unchecked desire grew and became a bigger flaw for him, she would never forgive herself.

Her closed eyelids trembled. After sitting there for a moment, calming her trembling body, Yvonne slowly stood up. There were two weeks left until his wedding. She had many things to do within that time.