Secret Love Affair between a Former Saint and a Dark Hero - Chapter 26
Iora’s shoulders slumped at the sound of clinking silverware. In an instant, her father, who had seemed ready to lecture with an irritated expression, froze mid-sentence.
“Iora von Ribandt.”
“Yes?”
Startled, Iora turned her head to someone else calling her, not her father. It was her mother, who usually spoke with an aloof expression and rarely even uttered a word.
Her mother dabbed her lips delicately with a napkin and then shot a stern glance. Her needle-like stare made Iora’s heart sink. She broke into a cold sweat. What did she do wrong again today?
“I’ve been hearing some strange rumors in my social circles lately. Explain.”
“Ru-Rumors?”
“Indeed. I’m sure you have an inkling of what I’m talking about? Don’t be so coy.”
Though she hadn’t officially debuted, usually noble daughters often participated in modest tea parties or gatherings with peers of their age. But Iora hadn’t attended any such events. No one had summoned her, and even if invitations were extended from certain estates, it was uncertain whether they would receive any considering the disgrace she brought to the Ribandt family. Every time she ventured into society, her mother’s face turned terribly stern.
Iora cautiously lifted her head. “M-Mother. What rumor…?”
She scoffed as if telling her not to lie. “Iora, why didn’t you mention what’s happening at the saint’s mansion? They say the Crown Prince has been frequenting it lately. Always coming to see Arcanda, that girl?”
“Oh, that’s…”
As the voice grew sharper, her throat stiffened. She knew someday she’d be reprimanded for this fact, but she didn’t expect it to be today. Slowly, her head lowered. She was too afraid to look her mother in the eye.
“I suppose that means more chances for you and the Crown Prince to run into each other?”
“Yes, y-yes. Th-that’s true.”
Her mother wore a cold smile. “So, what attempts have you made with that wonderful opportunity?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve educated you. Everything to please the Crown Prince! I’ve taught you so thoroughly that I couldn’t have put in any more effort! So you must have gotten into his good graces and had a conversation, right? Have you asked the crown prince to be your partner?”
Yes, occasionally she was invited to those gatherings where they chatted. But she just sat there, so pathetic and ugly, unable to interject in their conversations.
Mother, Ovid wouldn’t even look at me. Because I’m worthless.
Iora clamped her mouth shut, knowing that if she said that, she would immediately receive a stinging slap.
“Ha! Mother. Father,” a twisted voice interrupted.
As she glanced away, she felt uneasy seeing her brother sneering. He looked straight into Iora’s pleading, hopeful eyes and shattered her mother’s expectations with a cold voice.
“You must not have heard the rumors.”
“What?”
Her brother smirked in response.
“It’s such a disgraceful rumor, but since Mother brought it up, I can’t just stay silent.”
“What are you talking about? Explain, my son.”
Father’s face stiffened, and Iora clenched her hand hidden beneath the tablecloth. Cold sweat began to trickle down. With each glance at her father’s face—his expression, his increasingly coarse breath, and sharply arched eyebrows—it felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
“At the grand event, Arcanda’s partner who will escort her into the ballroom has already been chosen. While that foolish wretch didn’t receive any requests at all.”
“What?”
Her father’s eyes went wide, his beard trembling with rage. Iora momentarily forgot to breathe.
No, please, Brother.
He didn’t even look at her as she met his gaze with a silent plea.
“You must have already guessed who Arcanda’s partner is. Yes, it’s the Crown Prince, the fiance of that inadequate and disgusting thing! Look at her, keeping her mouth shut after what happened. Pathetic as she is, faithfully played her role as a mere spectator without uttering a word to the Crown Prince. Haha, do you think the crown prince would like her when she’s that clueless and insipid?”
“Iora! Is that all true?”
“T-that’s…”
“You fool, you’ve been hiding that important fact from me all this time, only because you were afraid you’d get in trouble!”
Iora’s heart pounded as her father erupted with his burst of rage. Unconsciously, she shuffled her feet backward, causing the chair to grate against the floor. She paled at the giggling servants’ laughter.
“Must I entrust the honor of our family to such an imbecile!”
“Father, once you finish your meal, why don’t we leave together? Staring at that irritating face all day doesn’t sit well with me.”
Her father’s simmering anger felt terrifying, like a raging bull. It saddened her to hear her brother whispering with a smirk on his face. She had been an idiot to expect anything else. Her mother’s murmuring was equally bitter.
Why? Why don’t these people even think about the hurt they cause?
Arcanda was genuinely kind. A truly good soul. Being around her sometimes brought happiness, but often, it felt miserable.
‘A less-than-stellar family.’
She had to constantly remind herself of how different Prince Ovid treated her compared to Arcanda. She found it hard to understand how the maids in the estate, who had always been cold and indifferent towards her, could be warm and affectionate. Worse, she realized that no matter how hard she tried, no matter how much she struggled, she could never be like Arcanda.
She watched it all unfold, and she thought to herself, why don’t you realize how hurt and sick your little girl must be? Why don’t you ask her if she’s hurting? She wanted to ask, but she couldn’t.
“…”
She clenched her teeth, wanting to leave this place right away. While holding back tears that welled up inside her, her brother sighed deeply and abruptly rose from his seat. He muttered something about how his blood pressure was rising just looking at my pathetic state, and their father agreed, rising from his seat as well.
“You.”
Mother reached out her arm towards her daughter with eyes turning bright red. Suddenly, she grabbed Iora’s cheek with a jerk. Iora stared at her mother, dumbfounded.
In a voice that could have killed, her mother snapped, “What have you done well to be acting like you’re in the right? Are you staging a protest right now?”
The tips of her well-manicured, sharp nails pressed down on Iora’s jaw, threatening to cut at her skin.
“Uh, ah! It hurts!”
“Hurts? Do you even feel pain?”
“M-Mother.”
“You’re a useless idiot who takes everything that’s mine and doesn’t even know what to do with it. What on earth made you think you could get permission to go to the dress shop with Arcanda?”
“But she isn’t bad.”
“Shut up! How far must you test my patience? Don’t you know you’re going to be compared and judged, and you must have seen with your own eyes how beautiful she is, and how she shines like a pearl!”
Arcanda was undoubtedly beautiful and lovely. But what did that have to do with anything?
