Chapter 72

The return to the capital was comfortable thanks to the preparations of Princess Hermia, but in many ways, it was a cushion of thorns.

“Young Lady, are you nervous?”

“Rather than nervous…”

I let out a heavy sigh.

How could I explain this feeling…?

‘Going back… and breaking up with Cassius. What will happen after that?’

Breaking up with Cassius would not be too difficult in itself. It was not that I did not think of the possibility that all of this was his plan for me to walk into his house on my own accord. However, in that case, why did he even let me go in the first place?

‘If the marriage is broken off, then I can live my life.’

More precisely, the true life of Evelyn Garneid. A life that no longer fears death by Cassius Brudenell… life as the heir to the Count—daughter of the Count’s couple and sister of Ophelia. That also meant that I would be obliged with many responsibilities.

“It’s okay.”

I tried to mumble aloud. Whatever it would be, it would be better than it used to be when I had to wait for my fate to die.

“…Young Lady.”

Kitty quietly opened her mouth.

“Everything will be fine.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because you’re a good person. Good people have good luck, right?”

“I don’t know…”

I shook my head.

Ophelia in the original must have been a really good kid, but what about the ending? Was her life not shattered when she got caught wrong by Cassius Brudenell?

“You know, Kitty.”

“Yes.”

“I… Someday, perhaps, I will become a countess.”

“I know. You’re the successor!”

“Will you still be by my side then?”

It was a very impulsive statement. Kitty and I have not been acquainted for a long time, and the relationship was formed through the employment of Cassius Brudenell. It meant that there was no such thing as a relationship.

Nevertheless, she reacted entirely differently than I expected.

“Of course!”

Kitty’s eyes shone brightly like candles.

“When I return to the Count’s residence, I’ll make you my personal maid.”

“I’ve always been the Young Lady’s personal maid.”

“You’ll have to be hired as a new employee by Count Garneid, so we have to follow the procedures.”

“That’s fine.”

Kitty nodded her head.

“Just leave anything to me in the future. I’ll do my best.”

“That sounds reassuring.”

The corners of my lips rose very slightly.

The future is unstable, though I still have one person I can trust. And, if I go back to the capital, it would be increased to two people.

‘The rest … Let’s think about it then.’

I must receive education for becoming the successor, which has been delayed, and perhaps even find a suitable marriage mate.

Still, the excitement was greater than the fear.

‘I’ve been really just running away all this time.’

A sudden realization came.

Yes, the life I wanted was the life of Evelyn Garneid. However, since I was living a life as a resident of a pioneer who did not fit in well, of course, I appeared only as someone who would quickly return in the eyes of others.

How long has it been?

“Young Lady, we’re almost there!”

I came to sense as Kitty shook me.

A huge mansion that was familiar to my eyes, yet felt far away, caught my eye. It was the Duke of Brudenell’s residence. At the same time, it somehow felt like I could hear Hermia reprimanding me to do what needed to be done first.

I slowly got out of the carriage.

“Follow me.”

Kitty followed me quietly.

Perhaps, because it was a sudden visit, no one came to greet me, but it did not matter. At some point, Duke Brudenell’s residence became as familiar as Count Garneid’s.

“This is incredible.”

Kitty was amazed.

“Well, it’s the Duke.”

I replied indifferently and stepped into the Duke’s mansion. The first people we met, of course, were a few servants.

“….!”

The maid, who was diligently cleaning the hallway, opened her eyes as soon as she saw me, and she rubbed her eyes. She could not seem to believe her eyes. Meanwhile, the reactions of the other maids and servants were not much different.

Either way, I took Kitty to my destination.

Fortunately, no one disturbed us.

‘…Something’s strange.’

Even though I am Cassius’ fiancée, I was an outsider who had been missing for over a month. Of course, it was normal when a report went up to the Duke or Duchess, so it was expected to see the servants hauling around hastily.

But, no one in the Duke’s mansion came to us.

‘Well, Princess Hermia must have mentioned something already.’

I walked to Cassius’ room, thinking carefreely.

At last, when the annex, where the successors of the Dukes lived for generations, appeared, a man in a white robe appeared before us.

“…You’ve come, Young Lady Garneid. The Lord is inside.”

Doctor?

I was dumbfounded and stared at the person opposite me. Hermia only mentioned that Cassius had become a mess, not that he was ill.

“Is he very sick?”

“If you’re talking about physical problems… No, he’s not.”

I licked my lips.

It was because I could fully understand the hidden meaning of the doctor’s words. Cassius was being treated like a madman… and he might be taken to a mental hospital soon. No, as long as I stay still, Cassius will be locked up in a mental asylum where I was once so afraid of being trapped.

‘…Then, he won’t be able to threaten me again.’

Why…?

I should have been happy, though my mouth had a bitter taste. I am sure it must be because I have a great objection to mental hospitals in this world.

“Your remarks have legal effect… Is he in such a bad condition that you’re saying that?”

The doctor was quite surprised by my words.

“It’s not necessarily like that, but… If you were to say something meaningful, it might work. Would you like me to stay with you?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

By the time it was said that I should be sent to a psychiatric hospital, I was so terrified that I would hide when I saw a person in white. Cassius would also be in a state not much different from me.

“Call a servant of the Duke. Please, be a person who can be a witness to the breakup.”

“All right.”

I paced around in front of the door for a long time. While there may be a way to go ahead and talk to Cassius, I could not move at all.

After a considerable amount of time had passed…

“Young Lady Garneid!”

A pleasant voice was heard. It was David.

“Sir David, long time no see.”

​​

“That’s what I was going to say.”

David shook his head. Seeing that he also looked quite dreary, I was slowly starting to get worried. Could it be that some kind of curse was placed on the Duke’s residence? If it were not for that, there is no way everyone would not be in good shape until now.

“You said you came to break off the marriage?”

“…The doctor must’ve told you that.”

“If you were going to hide your purpose, you shouldn’t have said it out loud in the first place, Young Lady Garneid.”

Instead of answering, I opened the door.

Now that David, who would be a witness, had come, there was no reason to delay.

“…Lord Cassius?”

I stepped into the room and cautiously called for Cassius. At the same time, the person who was sitting in the armchair slowly got up from his seat and turned his body toward me.

“….!”

I barely suppressed the urge to keep my mouth shut.

The man in front of me was not the same Cassius Brudenell as when I left.

…No, it would be more accurate to call it the empty shell of the one who used to be Cassius Brudenell. The admirable and perfectly handsome features belonged to him, though his gold eyes were unfocused, and his lips were dry and chapped.

In addition, his posture… Being overly upright, I could not find any of the languidness and alluring charm that I usually felt from him.

In a word…

The one in front of me was Cassius Brudenell, but not the Cassius Brudenell I knew.

I bit my lip.

‘I can’t just stand there stupidly, I’m here to break off…!’

Still, I am also human.

It was by no means easy to tell someone, who was left with nothing but a shell, that our relationship was completely over and that we should break the engagement that was constructed by his coercion in the first place.

I opened my mouth slowly.

“Lord.”

That was then.

A passionate word came out of the mouth of a person whom I never thought would have spoken in the first place.

“…Why, Evelyn?”

Cassius’ eyes were still unfocused.

His voice, the voice I had always feared, was just as I remembered it. Although low, it has the power to plunge people into the abyss.

“Why did you come back?”