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Chloe’s appearance.
It was something that hadn’t happened before the regression. This, too, seemed to be a situation that changed because of the different choices Iana made in her past life.
“Ha...!”
She laughed dryly as she watched Carrion escort Chloe.
“I don't care who you meet.”
Carrion walked by, whispering affectionately with Chloe.
As if to show Iana, who claimed she didn't care.
Boom!
Thunder roared, and a strong storm blew outside.
As Iana watched the storm through the ballroom window, a thought occurred to her.
‘Carrion might just be a fleeting thing, but Chloe seems genuine. Coming here through this storm...’
As expected, Chloe’s eyes never left Carrion.
“Why did Lady Chloe come here?”
“Indeed. She must be busy preparing for her wedding.”
The noblewomen standing next to Iana were more agitated than she was.
Carrion and Chloe.
Their relationship was an open secret in social circles.
In the Rubena Empire, it was common for married noblemen to have mistresses.
However, it was strictly forbidden for noblewomen who were married or engaged to see other men.
Thus, although the two pretended to be close childhood friends, everyone knew they were deeply involved.
“Iana, you know Chloe Rizefna, don't you?”
Carrion approached and boldly introduced Chloe.
His face seemed to ask if she still didn't care who he met.
“...!”
The nobles looked at Iana and Chloe with curiosity, as if watching a drama unfold.
The most audacious was Chloe.
Despite Carrion introducing her first, she didn't even greet Iana.
Before the regression, the Iana who deeply loved Carrion would have broken down in tears.
But not now.
‘Carrion, things won’t go according to your plan.’
Iana greeted Chloe warmly, as if she were an honored guest.
“Lady Chloe, thank you for gracing this event despite the heavy rain.”
“What? Oh, yes...”
Chloe was momentarily flustered by Iana’s unexpected hospitality.
The nobles, who had expected a confrontation between the two women, looked equally surprised.
Iana, undeterred, warmly addressed Chloe.
“The Count often speaks highly of you. He always praises you as a beautiful and admirable lady.”
“The Count—no, Carrion, talks about me?”
Chloe looked at Carrion with a moved expression.
“...”
Carrion silently stared at Iana.
At that moment, Charles, who had been absent for a while, entered the ballroom.
As he approached, Iana spoke kindly to Chloe.
“Chloe, please greet His Highness the Grand Duke.”
Chloe, confused by Iana’s sudden friendliness, greeted Charles respectfully.
“Chloe Rizefna. Greetings to Your Highness.”
“Nice to meet you, Lady Chloe.”
After receiving the greeting, Charles alternated his gaze between Iana and Chloe, asking,
“Are you two friends?”
Charles seemed to assume they were friends because of Iana's familiar manner of addressing Chloe. The nobles whispered among themselves, exchanging knowing glances.
Iana spoke firmly.
“Lady Chloe is not my friend...”
“...”
“She is my husband’s mistress.”
“...!”
The atmosphere froze in an instant. Iana and Carrion’s eyes locked in a fierce glare.
“Cough, cough.”
Charles, who had been standing gracefully, was startled and began coughing.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
A nobleman beside him fussed.
Chloe, her face turning red, muttered indignantly.
“Countess, how can you say such rude things? Did you call me by my name because you consider me a mistress?”
Iana whispered softly, almost ventriloquist-like.
“Did you come here without the courage to reveal that?”
Carrion, who had been watching Iana, spoke coldly.
“Chloe, let’s step outside for a moment.”
“What? Okay.”
With an angry expression, Carrion left the ballroom, with Chloe quickly following.
Riel left the room and headed to the dining preparation room where the maids were gathered.
“I know who the culprit is.”
She needed to find out how much the head maid knew.
As Riel descended the central stairs and walked down the hallway, she noticed Carrion dragging an unfamiliar woman by the wrist.
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Riel followed them.
They headed to a rarely used back door of the inner castle.
Swoosh.
As the two stepped out through the arch-shaped wooden door, heavy rain poured down.
Riel hid behind the door, eavesdropping on their conversation.
“Are you sending me away already? How long has it been since I arrived?”
Chloe asked, her voice full of hurt.
“Showing your face for a while is enough.”
“Carrion—no, the Count, why did you call me here today?”
“...”
“I was so happy to receive your letter asking me to attend the event. So I came through this rain...”
Chloe’s voice trembled with tears, but Carrion remained cold.
“Did you misunderstand me? I can’t stand women who whine.”
At that moment, Chloe suddenly hugged Carrion tightly.
“What are you doing?”
“Carrion, should I really live as your mistress? Just as the Countess said.”
Chloe clung to Carrion, desperately trying to change his mind.
‘Iana knows about their relationship.’
Riel realized where the rift between the Count and Countess had started.
“Be my mistress? Are you out of your mind?”
Carrion pushed Chloe away with a disgusted look.
“I'll ask my father. I really don't want to marry anyone else.”
Clatter.
Just then, a carriage stopped at the back door. The coachman quickly ran up with an umbrella.
“Stop talking nonsense and go back!”
“Carrion, let’s talk a little more.”
When Chloe refused to get into the carriage, an angry Carrion grabbed her wrist and dragged her through the rain.
“Count!”
The coachman, surprised, tried to shield Carrion with the umbrella.
“Move.”
Carrion shoved the coachman aside and forced Chloe into the carriage.
Their struggle in the pouring rain caused Chloe to lose one of her shoes.
Thud.
Carrion opened the carriage door and shoved Chloe inside like a piece of luggage.
Bang.
He slammed the door shut.
“Stop thinking about nonsense and focus on your wedding preparations!”
“Carrion!”
Chloe pressed her hand against the carriage window, pleading.
Then Carrion, seeing Chloe's shoe on the ground, picked it up and approached the carriage.
Seeing him return, Chloe, who had been crying sorrowfully, looked hopeful.
Swish.
Carrion opened the carriage door and tossed the shoe inside.
“Here’s your shoe!”
He coldly closed the carriage door and walked back towards the back door.
Riel hid in a nearby storage shed and thought.
‘Count Detrian discards women so easily once his feelings are gone.’
The wind and rain intensified under the gray sky.
In the ballroom, nobles glanced at Iana.
All their gazes were the same.
The pitiful Countess who officially acknowledged a mistress just a month after her marriage.
But Iana had a more pressing issue.
‘I’m hungry.’
A strong wave of hunger hit her again.
‘Why is my body like this?’
Just then, she locked eyes with Charles, who seemed deep in thought.
He walked straight towards her.
“Countess, there are many beautiful paintings in the hallway next to the ballroom.”
“Paintings?”
Iana wondered what Charles meant by his sudden suggestion.
‘He thinks I’m not leaving because of people’s attention.’
He seemed to have mistaken her hungry expression for something else.
“You must not have had a chance to see the paintings in the hallway during the day because of other matters. Allow me to show you.”
Iana naturally exited the ballroom with Charles.
They walked through the hallway, looking at the paintings.
Charles asked detailed questions as if he were genuinely interested in the art.
‘His Highness is truly warm and considerate.’
Feeling this, Iana casually remarked,
“Your Highness, do you behead your servants if you dislike them?”
“What?”
Charles stopped in his tracks, surprised.
“There’s a rumor among our household staff that they fear you.”
“Oh my...”
“I thought it wasn’t fair for such a considerate person to be misunderstood, so I brought it up.”
Charles spoke in a serious tone.
“The battlefield alone is challenging enough for me.”
“Pardon?”
“Watching people die. Is that a sufficient answer?”
His expression was calm, but there was sadness in his eyes.
Boom!
Thunder crashed violently.
“I suppose today’s event must end here.”
“Is it because of your departure tomorrow?”
“With this heavy rain, I need to check on the horses and carriages. Traveling in this weather is dangerous.”
Iana looked at the pouring rain outside.
If the situation were the same as before the regression, the First Knights Division, with 700 men, would have had to ride dangerously through the rain for over two hours.
“Your Highness, why not change the departure date? Considering the rain.”
Just then, Carrion’s sharp voice was heard.
“Who dares to make such a significant decision without the head of the household’s permission?”
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