I Abandoned the Male Lead Who Cheated with the Villainess - Chapter 143
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⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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It was especially frustrating that the task Johann brought with him was something that had to be handled at the Imperial Palace. There were limits to what could be done at the Tens Mansion.
Herix sent a calm glance.
‘Do you have no sense of the situation?’
It was a look that subtly criticized Johann for always bringing work that required leaving the house. Sweat started to drip down Johann’s spine. Though he smiled sociably, beads of sweat formed on his temples.
‘I only brought all the urgent matters because you wouldn’t let me have any meetings here. I’ll keep it short and handle the most urgent stuff.’
Johann answered with a bright smile, but the tone of his voice sounded almost pitiful, like someone trying too hard to be charming.
Ivonne silently watched the silent exchange of looks between Herix and Johann, as if she was listening to a comedy routine. It was a little funny, but mostly infuriating.
‘Isn’t this just deceit?’
Or perhaps, not wanting to lie outright, Johann was resorting to this obvious charade.
Ivonne had no intention of drinking the tea, but because of Johann’s persistent gaze, she ended up finishing the cup. Herix wouldn’t leave for the Imperial Palace until she drank it.
Herix, putting on his winter coat near the entrance, spoke up.
“I’ll finish quickly and be back.”
“Don’t overdo it. After all, I can’t go anywhere.”
Though Ivonne sounded indifferent, there was a bitter tone in her voice. Herix flinched, doing his best not to glance at her ankle. Johann, pretending not to have heard Ivonne’s remark, stepped outside first.
Perhaps it was because the charade they were putting on right in front of her seemed ridiculous, but Ivonne couldn’t help but feel annoyed.
“Take your time coming back. After all, you’ll be getting reports from Mary all day anyway. Most likely, I’ll be reading books, napping, and maybe doing some lacework.”
The words came out from Ivonne before she even realized it. She was surprised by her own outburst.
The exhaustion from Herix’s unrelenting obsession and the endless confinement was real, but she hadn’t intended to sound so sarcastic.
Herix’s expression stiffened as he was about to say something else.
But Ivonne decided to use this cold atmosphere to her advantage.
They needed to talk. More than anything, she no longer wanted to look at Herix with the uncomfortable feelings that had been festering. It was painful for her, too, to be uncomfortable with the person she loved.
“Let’s talk when you come back.”
“….”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Ivonne turned around and walked toward the bedroom after saying those words. Only after she had reached the second floor did she hear the sound of Herix leaving the house.
She then noticed Mary quietly following behind her, hands politely clasped in front of her.
“I’m sorry, Mary. I didn’t mean to say anything about you.”
Ivonne explained her thoughts about being watched and reported to Herix.
Mary lowered her head slightly in response.
“It’s nothing, Your Highness.”
It was just a brief exchange, as usual. They didn’t speak more than necessary, and Ivonne made her way to the veranda. Mary brought over a portable heater and placed it right in front of her.
The veranda jutted out from the house, and since there was no heating coil in place, the heater was necessary.
“I’ll stay here. You should sit down, too, Mary.”
The seat she was referring to was the chair where the night attendant would sit while watching over her as she slept. Mary nodded respectfully before heading to the chair.
Ivonne picked up the lace embroidery she had left on the veranda the day before.
“I started this because I didn’t have anything else to do, but it’s actually quite fun.”
Some of the finished pieces were used as coasters, while others were sewn onto Herix’s clothes. Whenever Herix wore the clothes with the added lace, he would be overjoyed, making sure to wear them when he went out.
‘If I finish this one well, I should add it to Herix’s cravat.’
Watching Herix wear the items she had made for him was one of the few joys she had during her confinement.
She was absorbed in the lacework when something outside the veranda caught her eye. It was something that appeared and disappeared quickly.
The Tens Mansion was on a small hill, so from her bedroom on the second floor, she could see a great distance. The heavy snow had blanketed everything in white, making anything out of place even more noticeable.
And, of course, the color that caught her attention was red.
‘Is that… a hat?’
Ivonne’s eyes widened. The red hat with a round pom-pom at the end was unmistakably something she recognized. It was the very same hat she had made for Berthe.
‘Berthe? What’s she doing here?’
Ivonne blinked in surprise.
It had been a while since the children had started coming to the Tens Mansion, and while it had been somewhat disappointing, she was also relieved not to have to worry about them discovering her shackles.
But seeing Berthe now, covered in snow! She was climbing up a poorly kept path to the Tens mansion too.
‘Why is she coming in this cold?’
She’ll catch a cold for sure or worse, she could end up with frostbite. As Berthe got closer, Ivonne could see her face clearly.
‘She’s crying.’
