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However, all she could encounter there were the clerks.
To meet the owner or the producer, she needed a different approach.
'I need to secure the cosmetics producer before the Count reaches out.'
The problem was that the person she was looking for was just a supporting character who was barely mentioned by name in the original story.
Trying to find someone with only a name, without even knowing what they looked like, was not easy.
'What's a way to contact them as naturally as possible without arousing suspicion...?'
She was sitting on a bench, repeating the same worries over and over again.
Suddenly, a long shadow fell in front of her. At the same time, a familiar low voice broke the silence.
"Ayla."
It was a voice that made her brow furrow just by hearing it. Ayla quickly raised her head.
Sure enough, Kadin was looking down at her, silhouetted against the pouring sunlight.
"I've been looking for you. There's something I need to tell you..."
Why is that guy showing up in front of me again?
Ayla looked up at him with a dazed expression.
But she quickly grasped the situation and jumped up from her seat. It was obvious without even looking. He must have come to spout nonsense at her again.
'I thought it was quiet for a while... Is he twisted inside because Felix was revealed to be the Heir of the Duke's family?'
She didn't want to get involved at all. She immediately turned around to get out of the uncomfortable situation.
"Ayla!"
Kadin called out to her in a hurried voice.
"Can you spare just five minutes? It's something that might help you."
Ayla paused and stopped in her tracks.
"Please, I promise I won't bother you anymore."
"......"
It was the first time he had come out so humble, so Ayla was momentarily stunned.
'Kadin... is begging me? The guy who was always so overbearing.'
Ayla narrowed her eyes and stared at him.
His usual arrogant attitude was nowhere to be seen, and his face looked desperate.
'If it were the old me, I would have rejected him outright.'
If there was one lesson she had learned from dealing with him, it was that it was better for her mental health not to even talk to him.
But it didn't seem like he was here to talk about such nonsense today.
She had a feeling that she couldn't ignore. That she should listen to him this time.
"...Speak quickly."
As Ayla reluctantly turned around, Kadin approached her with a sigh of relief.
Before opening his mouth, he looked around for a moment. Fortunately, the students who had been making a fuss around them had disappeared somewhere.
Confirming that they were alone, Kadin lowered his voice and opened his mouth.
"Be careful of the spring Subjugation Contest, Ayla. It seems like Freya and Rosia are plotting something to put you in trouble."
As soon as she heard him, Ayla's expression hardened.
Kadin ran his hand through his hair and sighed deeply.
"No, it's better not to attend at all. That'll be safer for you."
"......"
Ayla just swallowed instead of answering.
'I expected Rosia to be up to something anyway...'
But she didn't expect Freya to be cooperating as well.
She had been suspicious of them walking around together recently.
"Of course, it's a good opportunity, but it's not more important than your life. It's better to skip it, even if you have to make an excuse that you're sick."
"......"
"Huh? Ayla."
Kadin urged her, who wasn't answering. But Ayla couldn't open her mouth easily.
Of course, the news Kadin brought was very useful.
The original Ayla was expelled from the academy long before the Subjugation Contest was held, so she didn't know anything about what would happen afterward.
'But why?'
Why is Rosia's fiancé telling me this?
Unless he has some other intention... Is he sincerely trying to help me?
With a confused face, Ayla asked.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I don't want you to get hurt."
"...Why would you want that?"
A deep distrust arose in Ayla's eyes.
Instead of answering her immediately, Kadin remained silent. He looked like he didn't know how to explain it.
Seeing that, Ayla sighed softly.
"No, thanks for the advice. Then I'll be going..."
"...Because I like you."
Ayla's body stiffened at the sudden words.
When she turned her head, Kadin also had a bewildered expression. He seemed surprised by what he had said himself.
But soon, as if he had made up his mind, he spoke clearly and forcefully.
"Ayla... I've only just realized it. That I truly love you."
He confessed his feelings and then frowned.
"Of course, I know that I've been acting like a fool all this time. I know that I've hurt you so much, so it won't change anything even if I confess now..."
Kadin took another step towards her with a desperate expression.
"But no matter how much I think about it, I can't give up on you. I keep... thinking about you and missing you."
His eyes were trembling slightly, as if trying to gauge Ayla's intentions.
Seeing that, Ayla sighed deeply.
To be honest, if it were the old her, she would have been greatly shaken when Kadin confessed his feelings in this way.
And she would have quickly forgiven and accepted him, no matter what he had done wrong.
'But now all trust is broken.'
It was strange. In the past, just looking at him made her heart flutter.
But now, no matter what he said to her, she didn't feel any emotion at all.
She even felt unpleasant.
Ayla frowned slightly.
'But I don't know what's going on.'
Suddenly, she had been confessed to by two men in a short period of time.
Of course, it was a development that had never been seen in the original story.
'Well, the story has been completely twisted since I took the top spot in the academy.'
Thinking that far, Ayla let out a light sigh.
'But... it feels completely different from when Felix confessed to me.'
At that time, it was as if her head, which usually worked so well, had suddenly broken down, and she was suddenly speechless.
If Piyo hadn't interrupted, she might have accepted his confession without realizing it.
That small difference gradually brought Ayla to a realization.
'...I, too, was in love with Felix.'
Without realizing it, her fist clenched.
But on the contrary, her mind became much calmer. It felt like everything had become clear after acknowledging her feelings.
Soon, Ayla asked Kadin sharply.
"So what do you want me to do? Are you telling me to dump Felix and become your mistress? You're Rosia's fiancé."
At her sharp question, Kadin shook his head firmly.
"No, if you want, I'll call off the engagement with Rosia. I promise to only look at you from now on."
Kadin said with a serious face, but Ayla couldn't hide her laughter.
She slowly shook her head and said.
"No. I know you well."
As someone who had watched him for a long time, and as someone who had read the original story.
Ayla knew better than anyone what his true nature was.
"You've lived with all kinds of privileges since you were born. So you believe that the world revolves only around you."
"......"
"Of course, you'll act like you'll give me anything right now. If you succeed in taking me away from Felix, how exhilarating will that be?"
"Ayla, that's not what I mean..."
"But how long do you think that feeling will last? I guarantee that in a few years, you'll be going to another woman and saying the same things."
"That's not my intention, never..."
Kadin made a desperate expression and tried to explain her words somehow.
But Ayla didn't even try to listen to him.
"No, you've already completely lost my trust. You had several opportunities to hold onto me. But you were the one who didn't."
"......"
"So I'll say it one last time. Don't interfere in my affairs anymore."
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