Chapter 18

“–Definitely understand. Who would challenge the intentions of a person merely trying to help another? Yona is deeply moved by Milady’s sincere acts of noblesse oblige. I will cooperate actively from now on.”

If I had to choose the most materialistic person in this world, their name would be Yona.

I resolved to throw away Melissa’s money for a rainy day and earn a fellow, very able accomplice. Thankfully Ian’s minion, Jake had disappeared after we had exited the shop, so I was able to ride the carriage back to the estate’s back door. Since the Duke had emptied the estate to hurry to the countryside, I immediately schemed up a great plan.

First, let’s wash him.

“Yona. Please bring water to my room. So he can wash up.”

“Is Milady going to wash him?”

“Hm…….”

For a moment, I nearly answered that I would indifferently, but I let out a short puff of air in laughter as the man shook his head.

“He’ll be fine by himself.”

I left the man in Yona’s care and left the room for his privacy.

While I waited, I went through the details of my plan.

Hm, let’s think. Ian used cheating as a method of humiliating me. Then was there any reason why I couldn’t stick to some other guy? Of course, I did feel like trash for using infidelity to fight against infidelity, so I was a bit cautious. In any case, there wasn’t any person I liked in particular.

However, I had no thought of making out with a lover in front of Ian. I was just going to give him some material for his imagination to run wild. Well, I didn’t expect him to feel jealous or at loss, but it was the psychology of the attendees of the Spring Party.

On the day of the announcement of their marriage, the fiancee, who had once stuck to the Crown Prince, now had another man by her side? In addition to that, the man standing by her side was neither aristocratic nor family. Could he be an escort? A lover? Or in order to provoke jealousy? A pet?

There was going to various imaginations and suspicions.

Why did she bring him out for everyone to see on the day of the marriage announcement? Wasn’t she a woman who only looked at Ian? What are you thinking, Melissa Podebrat?

It didn’t matter what they thought.

My reputation was already the bottom of society and I didn’t wish to live in luxury or with authority. I merely wanted people to understand just a little.

That Melissa Podebrat wasn’t a woman who only looked towards Ian Basilios.

“Milady, it’s all done.”

At Yona’s words, the door opened and I nodded as I entered the room. And I became stunned at the man who stood there.

The curly hair that shone like sapphires, the beautiful pink eyes, the corners of his mouth were lowered into a pout, but his eyelashes were long, and when he stood properly, he seemed to be at least a head and a half taller than me.

“He seems like a big dog.”

It looks like it will feel fluffy.

I smiled brightly and extended some porridge that I had prepared earlier.

“You’re hungry, right? They said if you want to start eating after having starved for a long time, you have to start from this.”

“…….”

However, the man merely swallowed and didn’t take the porridge.

Did he not want to eat it? He looked really hungry.

“Hm……. You don’t want to eat in front of me?”

At my question, the man shook his head.

“If that’s not it, are you shy?”

The man blushed red and slightly nodded his head.

I suppose it is a bit flustering to come into an aristocratic household abruptly and eat in front of a villainess.

“Since I did put any poison in the food, don’t be nervous. I’m sorry for bringing you here without any explanation. But since you seem hungry, I’ll give you an explanation after you’ve eaten.”

I smiled as indifferently as I could and left the room again. For some reason, I felt like I was being chased out of my room, even though it’s my room.

I bitterly crouched in front of the door and waited again.

***