CH 27.2

Good News (2)

Bright sunlight bounced off the golden dome-shaped roof, piercing people’s gazes upon sight.

Rosaline and Erica left the building as the frown lines on their forehead marred even more.

“Is there something wrong with the rumor? I heard that the crown prince’s and princess’s relationship has gotten a lot better.”

“I know. How can she be so indifferent? Maybe, Ariad has no heart at all.”

“Is there any good way——”

They became anxious after seeing the Empress walk around the festival with Kelly.

‘Why did it have to be that bitch?’ Both ladies thought the same thing as they cursed out Kelly’s name.

They were forced to take out their secret weapon.

Kelly’s diary.

However, it had little to no effect.

The crown princess didn’t care about it all.

Obscured by the sunlight, Rosaline crumpled the notebook impatiently and muttered. “Bianca McKinley is a setting sun. Let’s not get too nervous. Let’s continue to hope that Ariadne would become the future Empress.”

“Do you have any good ideas?”

At the corner of the building, where stage performances were shown, she saw a blonde woman crouching on a bench.

Rosaline’s eyes gravitated towards her.

“Whatever you are doing, please continue. Everyone hates you here. Isn’t that a given?”

Coming out of the shadows, Rosaline’s smirk was revealed when she moved toward the bench.

Erica followed after her.

“Kelly, you must be resting right now. You looked after the Empress as if you were her maidservant. You must have had a hard time during the festival.”

Kelly looked up at Rosaline’s sarcasm, showing no signs of exhaustion.

Also, her countenance appeared like she had seen a bored customer visiting her shop multiple times.

“Take this.”

Rosaline threw the notebook she was holding towards her.

After confirming what it was, Kelly froze like a statue.

“Why are you doing this?”

Kelly’s blue eyes trembled.

“You should have hidden it well.”

Rosaline pouted her red lips.

“I read it. Your unrequited love for the crown prince is impressive. My heart hurts for you.”

Standing next to her, Erica looked down at Kelly with pity and amusement.

Her hand halted when she tried to pick up the notebook on the ground because Rosaline‘s shoes had stepped on it.

“Kelly. You shouldn’t repeat the same thing.”

“What?”

“An aristocrat’s illegitimate daughter—an orphan— shouldn’t return to society again. It’s scandalous.” She said sarcastically.

Kelly couldn’t make eye contact with Rosaline, so she stared at the tip of her shoe on top of her notebook instead.

“You shouldn’t do such a thing if you are really sorry to the only family who accepted you. Why don’t you leave our household without carrying our last name? If you want to pursue your humiliating unrequited love, go ahead and we wouldn’t interfere.”

There was nothing wrong with Kelly’s unrequited love.

Still, her mouth dried up because she couldn’t refute the fact.

“But you can’t do that, can you? You are greedier than we thought.”

Her courage slowly went down, burning her throat.

“People should know that subject well, Kelly.”

“….”

“You can’t really curse at us for saying bad things. I didn’t say anything wrong, did I? I’m telling this on behalf of you and the Eurecia family.”

Rosaline was a sharp bully inside a well-wrapped gift.

Still, Kelly held onto her skirts ten million times.

“Your dirty blood doesn’t have a right to claim any throne. Let’s call it a day, will you?  Stop being ridiculous when you’re using the name of Eurecia Family.”

Erica laughed low, and Rosaline took her shoes off her notebook.

They turned their backs on her with a more relieved heart.

Kelly was still staring at the trampled cover of her notebook.

The front part, decorated with a cute heart, was torn and tattered.

It felt like her heart was being trampled on again.

Did Rosaline’s vitriol just dry up?

No, Kelly knew better than anyone else.

What made her more miserable was her overwhelming desire to become the crown prince’s wife made her more miserable.

* * *

Night came again.

There was always someone who would open the door and enter her room.

Blood-red eyes located the woman in the dark room at once.

“You’re here?”

The instant she felt Joshua’s presence, So-hee rubbed her eyes, sat up, and stretched her arms.

She couldn’t seem to get rid of her fatigue.

This hadn’t happened before the first time she possessed Ariad’s body.

After muttering about her abnormal physical condition, Joshua approached her and sat at the edge of the bed.

Today, he was wearing a dark navy uniform.

Joshua took his jacket off, hung it on a wooden chair, and hugged her.

The incredible scent of mint wafted at the tip of her nose.

“What did you do all day?”

“Well, I was bored and went to bed.”

Although she replied casually, So-hee’s heart was pounding.

Joshua’s navy uniform in her peripheral vision had the same color as Hugh’s hair, so he suddenly came to mind.

He had no idea who she had met earlier, didn’t he?

Of course, he wouldn’t know.

She was relieved that she——

“I heard Duke Randolph came today.”

“Randolph? Who is Randolph?”

Joshua’s heart slightly dropped to his stomach when she asked him without thought.

He looked at her and continued softly. “Your father.”

“Ah.”

Joshua’s mouth curled up in amusement.

So-hee gave him an awkward smile.

It must be quite a lot for him to take in when she didn’t even know her father’s name.

She placed her hand on her forehead and murmured, “I woke up insane.”

Her acting skills improved as time passed.

Joshua chuckled before pressing a light kiss on her forehead.

“I heard that the Eurecia sisters visited you. What did you talk about with those people?”

His tone was sweet, but it felt ominous, somehow.

Joshua’s words broke Sohee’s heart when he started reciting her visitors.

At this rate, he might as well mention Hugh Carlywood.

“He didn’t say much. Just a small update?”

Joshua grabbed her chin and lifted it so that she couldn’t avoid his gaze.

“Is that really all?” He whispered.

What else did he know?

Sohee’s pupils trembled in both fear and anticipation.