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Chapter 15
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Lariana and Jena, with no place to go, came out of the Count Beckdel’s mansion with determination. However, they had nowhere to go since Lariana had come out without any valuable possessions. She only wore a thin indoor dress.

Although there was a townhouse of the Heliosen family in the capital, it was abandoned without a caretaker, and Count Beckdel had the key.

Lariana and Jena wandered restlessly until they sat down to rest on a grassy bank by the Paral River, which ran through the capital of Petika.

It was a warm and sunny spring day, and citizens flocked to the riverside to enjoy picnics. Although it was undoubtedly the same space, the riverside felt like a different world, peaceful and filled with happiness.

“How could Count Beckdel and his wife do such a thing? Our lord even gave them money!”

Jena, unable to contain her anger, stood up and paced back and forth while grumbling.

The Lord of Heline, Could Heliosen, had been sending a considerable amount of money to Count Beckdel and his wife to support Lariana’s life in the capital.

Despite the financial burden in the harsh conditions of Heline’s territory, Count Heliosen spared no effort to provide for his daughter.

Thinking of such a father made tears well up in Lariana’s eyes. She missed her father. She wanted to go back to her hometown.

“All the money and jewels are with Count Beckdel. He won’t even open the door unless I apologize to Prince Lejandro. Jena, what should we do? I don’t want to become his mistress. I need money to go back to Heline… Should we try begging Count Beckdel for mercy, at least?”

“Begging for mercy? Those are the people who tried to sell you! Let me go inside Count Beckdel’s mansion and take your belongings.”

“Can you do that?”

“Well, why not? Now that it has come to this, we have to bring all of your belongings back.”

“Jena, leave everything else and just bring the jewels. With that, let’s go back to Heline.”

Jena clenched her fists tightly and stood up. The two of them moved purposefully towards the Alstri Square, where Count Beckdel’s mansion was located.

In the square’s courtyard, Lariana anxiously watched Jena entering Count Beckdel’s mansion.

However…

“Give us my lady’s belongings!”

In the end, they failed. All Jena brought back was a simple shawl. It seemed that Jena was too concerned about Lariana, who had come out wearing indoor clothing, so she had only managed to grab the shawl despite being beaten up by Count Beckdel’s maids to the point of drawing blood.

“Jena! Look, you’re wounded and bleeding!”

“It’s okay, lady. This should be nothing serious. Please wrap yourself with the shawl.”

As Lariana draped the deep blue shawl, the image of Cain Delacroix came to her mind—she was reminded of the abyss-like depths of his blue eyes. Lariana gently stroked the soft fabric of the shawl over and over again.

She pondered Cain’s proposal. Marriage to Cain Delacroix was, in a way, the best choice she could make. No, it was even more than that. It was the life she had once dreamt of, regardless of her current circumstances.

She couldn’t just cry and be helpless when she had Jena by her side. They needed to find a solution.

“Jena, I know a place we can go.”

Lariana decided and put on a determined expression.

“Where?”

“The Duke’s residence, Delacroix’s mansion.”

“What? What… What are you talking about, lady? Did you forget what happened a year ago? P-Perhaps the shock was too great, and you’ve forgotten?”

Jena began speaking incoherently, completely taken aback by the suggestion.

“How could I forget that?”

How could she forget that nightmare-like experience? She could never forget it.

What Cain Delacroix did to her would haunt her even if she were on her deathbed.

“I’ve been proposed to.”

“By whom? It can’t be Prince Lejandro… Could it be… Oh, please, I really don’t want to hear it, lady. Please, don’t say anything. I have a feeling I know what you’re about to say…”

“Cain Delacourt proposed to me.”

“That madman! Oops! I’m sorry.”

Jena, who cursed Cain, startled and repeatedly slapped her own mouth with her hand. How could they be so similar?

Seeing Jena behaving the same way as her last night, Lariana burst into a mischievous laughter. In response, Then Jena, who was about to follow suit and laugh, stiffened.

“Lady… that really doesn’t seem right.”

“Jena, let’s go.”

There was no other choice. If they couldn’t negotiate the marriage with Cain Delacroix, Lariana would have to return to Count Beckdel and live under Lejandro without any say. She hated that idea even more than dying.

Lariana, accompanied by Jena, headed towards Delacroix’s mansion, which was a considerable distance from Alstri Square.

The clear sky had turned cloudy, as if it could pour rain at any moment.

Just like a year ago, Lariana stood in front of the main gate of Cain Delacroix’s mansion.

“May I see Duke Delacroix?”

“Do you have an appointment to visit?”

“No, I haven’t made any prior arrangements, but… you’ll recognize the name Lariana Heliosen.”

“I’m sorry, but the Duke is currently unavailable. If you don’t have an appointment, we can’t allow visitors due to our internal policy.”

Although the guard was polite to Lariana, she felt embarrassed.

Despite Cain Delacroix’s notorious reputation, he always drew people in. Everyone cursed him, yet they secretly longed for his favor and affection.

Especially young noblewomen. They often fell for him without any precautions, disregarding his infamous reputation. Of course, Lariana was one of them.

And thus, there were many naive noblewomen who visited Delacroix’s mansion without any precautions to meet Cain.

The guard’s eyes probably saw her as one of them. Feeling small and insignificant, Lariana felt thoroughly deflated.

“Can I wait here, then?”

“If the lady wishes, I suppose there’s no choice… But wouldn’t it be better to come back after making an appointment?”

“No, I have to meet the Duke today. Please, don’t worry about me.”

The black iron gate bore the emblem of the Delacroix family, with a large shield engraved with swirling rose vines. A shield and roses… It was an unexpectedly subtle and harmonious combination.

Lariana and Jena loitered near the entrance of the Duke’s mansion, under the trees lining the path. Jena sat and stood repeatedly, complaining about her sore legs, while Lariana stood like a statue.

“Lady, it’s raining.”

Raindrops fell lightly on Lariana’s cheeks. Jena led Lariana under the canopy of trees planted near the entrance.

Although they tried their best to avoid the rain, they couldn’t completely escape it. Eventually, Lariana and Jena were drenched from head to toe by the cascading raindrops through the leaves.

Continuously getting wet in the rain caused their body temperatures to drop quickly. If they continued like this, it would be even colder at night, which was a big problem.

One of the guards who had been observing them approached Lariana.

“The rain is pouring. Wouldn’t it be best to go back? I’ll inform the Duke of your visit.”

“That’s right. Lady, I’m sorry. Let’s go back.”

“It’s okay. I’ll wait a little longer. Jena, we can’t leave.”

Lariana shook her head. She was in a situation where she had reached a dead end. She had to meet Cain.

Then, the familiar carriage rushed towards the entrance of the Duke’s mansion. It was the same carriage Lariana had ridden last night with Cain.

“The Duke is coming.”

Unknowingly, overflowing emotions surged within Lariana, and she waved her hand vigorously towards the carriage. However… the carriage passed by her without a pause.

Lariana sank to the ground as the carriage passed by and slowly closed the gate. At first, the shock was overwhelming, but as it happened for the second time, she felt numb. Tears still flowed despite her numbness, but she was grateful for the rain that helped conceal them.

Jena, who had been watching Lariana’s despair, ran off down the street with a flushed face. She returned holding a large rock.

“Jena?”

Jena had somehow found a large stone and handed it to Lariana, her face a mix of pity and determination.

“Throw this at the Duke, my lady. You need to catch his attention.”

“It’s alright.”

“Hurry.”

Lariana looked down at the stone that Jena placed in her hand. She thought it might be easier to end her life with that stone and join her mother and brother in death.

“Jena, would you sell this bracelet for me?”

“Lady… Absolutely not.”

The thin gold bracelet was an heirloom of Countess Heliosen. Since her mother’s death, it had never left her side. Without hesitation, Lariana untied the bracelet and handed it to Jena.

“It’s the only way for me to return to Heliosen.”

“I… I’ll go. It’s dangerous for you to be alone on the main road. Please stand next to the knight over there.”

“Alright.”

Forced to smile, Lariana nodded her head. The thin gold bracelet, a memento of her mother, was not a valuable item.

The money from selling the bracelet wouldn’t be enough for two people to make their way to Heliosen, let alone one.

Only one of them could go to Heliosen. If that was the case, Lariana wished for Jena to go alone. As Jena moved further away, Lariana looked at the stone in her hand.

Closing her eyes tightly, Lariana raised the stone high. She struck herself on the head several times, wishing for death, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

She had a father who loved her more than her own life. After losing her mother and brother, her father was the only one left.

She had to go to Count Beckdel, kneel down, and beg for mercy, then she could gather money and jewels to return to Heliosen.

“Since I came to be hit by the stone, go ahead and throw it.”

Lariana blinked slowly at the familiar voice. The rain had stopped. No, Cain Delacroix was there, holding an umbrella over her.

As she looked up, there he was, arrogantly looking down at her.

Ah, ah… Even in a moment like this, Cain Delacroix looked magnificent. It was truly maddening.

Lariana had to thank Cain’s parents who gave birth to him. No matter how many wrongs he committed, he was mostly forgiven thanks to his charming facade, unless it was a serious offense. Read ahead here.