Chapter 123

Ayla thought about skipping breakfast, but she had no choice at Rose’s order and entered the cafeteria, which was filled with contemptuous gazes at her.

The fingers and whispers of those who looked at Ayla as she entered the restaurant had become more explicit than yesterday.

At the raw criticism coming towards her as if sneering at her, Ayla, who had decided to maintain her dignity, was biting her lips firmly and lowering her gaze.

Clatter.

Then, Ayla picked up the dishes that were neatly placed as if nothing had happened.

A small fruit salad and a slice of freshly baked bread were served on a plate, for breakfast.

Although she succeeded in ignoring the sharp gazes towards her, she could not close her ears.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to eat. She is really shameless after seducing someone who is going to be someone else’s husband.”

“They have been going at it the whole night, she must be hungry!”

“I find it funniest when she pretends to be noble. She still thinks she’s the Count’s daughter when she’s doing something that is worse than being covered in dung. Isn’t that really funny?”

Ayla’s hand, which was holding the plate, began to shake incessantly at the maids’ conversation behind her back.

She couldn’t afford to keep her rationality anymore.

Clank!

She could feel the attention of those around her as she angrily threw the plate and turned around as if she were about to kill someone.

Tap, tap.

Suddenly, Ayla was standing in front of the maids who were spitting out dirty words towards her without hesitation.

Perhaps they didn’t expect this reaction, as the girls who had been running their mouths just until now kept their mouths shut as if they had become mute.

“Did you guys see it? Did you see me doing that?”

“…”

“Why are you talking such nonsense? And you. Should I tell His Highness all the dirty words you have said?”

Ayla fixed her gaze on the maid who unhesitatingly said that they had done it all night long, pointing at her.

Now that it has come to this, the only way to protect her pride may be to throw away the things she had to show as an aristocrat, such as pretending to be noble and elegant.

“S-See? She’s telling him because there is something going on. If not, how dare she say that to His Highness… D-Don’t you think so, guys? I’m right.”

“Are you out of your mind or are you saying you’re better than me? Didn’t I tell you not to make fun of me with that broken mouth of yours?”

“Oh my… L-Look at what she is saying! She’s really vulgar, really!”

Seeing Ayla, who was about to grab her hair, Diane, who had come closer, silently grabbed Ayla’s arm and shook her head.

Biting her lip and staring at the maid with the broken mouth, Ayla’s eyes turned colder and colder. Not long after, the cafeteria was filled with the voices of noisy maids.

Thump, thump, thump.

At the sound of someone hitting the table as if telling them to pay attention, everyone’s eyes turned to the center of the cafeteria.

At the table in the center was Rose, with a stiff expression on her face.

Those who saw her started getting silent one by one. When all the noise around her stopped, Rose slowly opened her mouth.

“I have heard disgraceful things about a specific maid going around lately. As the Head Maid who manages and looks after you, I am deeply saddened.”

“…”

“The concerned maid was only performing her duties under direct orders from me and High Highness the Crown Prince.”

Rose, who had been talking with a firm expression on her face, turned her gaze towards the maids who had been slandering Ayla with baseless words a while ago.

The maids deliberately lowered their heads so as not to make eye contact with Rose.

“Miss Rebecca, what do you think is the reason for why this nonsense rumor spread?”

It seems that the name of the maid with the broken mouth that was saying dirty things to Ayla was Rebecca.

As Rose spoke to Rebecca and the group with a cold expression on her face, their gazes turned even more towards the floor.

It was a question no one could readily answer.

There was silence in the big cafeteria, contradictory to its size.

It was Rose who broke the heavy silence.

Rose’s gaze looking straight ahead while maintaining a firm expression was very cold, unlike usual.

“We lost a loved one five years ago due to unfounded rumors.”

“…”

“Some of you will remember that person, and some will not.”

“…”

At Rose’s words, the cafeteria was divided into those who blinked their eyes and listened without even knowing the situation, and those who kept a firm expression on their faces.

Among them, Ayla belonged to the former.

Seeing that she was diligently studying at Fencers five years ago, she had no idea what was going on in the royal palace; however, Ayla closed her eyes at the image of Delia suddenly flashing through her mind.