Secret Love Affair between a Former Saint and a Dark Hero - Chapter 31
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- Chapter 31 - I Would Rather He Be Like Everyone Else
Iora lifted her head to look at him, then shook her head quizzically. Ovid’s face seemed quite serious. He appeared uncomfortable, as if someone had played a prank on him. She couldn’t fathom why he wore such an expression when it was she who had been splashed with mop water.
“Your Highness?” she asked.
The prince, after a moment’s hesitation, said, “I wonder if that conversation with me has put you in a bad mood.”
“That conversation…”
“About breaking off the engagement. The one I requested from you, my Lady.”
“Ah.”
His gaze had been tactfully averted to avoid any disrespect. Then, his striking grey eyes, almost wolf-like in their intensity, squarely met Iora’s gaze.
“Of course, I knew Lord Ribandt wouldn’t take it well. I did not think that he would press you for it, since it was a family affair, is it not?”
Why was this happening? Was it because he was the male lead in a novel, and Iora herself played the role of a lovestruck villainess who adored him secretly? Her heart throbbed at the sight of his eyes, which seemed concerned for her. Her fingertips tingled.
‘Oh. Suddenly, my heart… it feels like it might burst.’
Despite changing her clothes and wiping her face with a towel, she felt like she looked like a complete mess in front of the prince. Any other lady might have fled in tears. Yet, despite the dry gaze fixed upon her, her fingertips heated up. Her heart trembled.
As though she were in love.
Something tickled in my chest, as if a tiny emotion had sprouted.
“Is it because of me that my Lady faced such difficulties?” he asked.
“Why would you think that… if I may ask?”
‘No, it can’t be.’
Iora bit down hard on her tongue. Though tears of physical pain pricked at her eyes, her mind snapped into focus. What was she thinking just now? Love? About whom? About Ovid, the male lead?
“My suspicions were correct: you haven’t been in class for nearly a week, and when you do show up, your face looks like you’ve been through a serious illness.”
After saying so, Ovid furrowed his brow and lowered his voice.
“If you have experienced something abnormal, something you shouldn’t have, I wanted to offer my help. It has been bothering me. If by any chance, my Lady has gone through something she finds difficult to speak about… within her household.”
It felt like a blow. Her eyes widened. No one had ever spoken such words about her before. Suddenly feeling cornered like a trapped mouse, Iora almost gasped in desperation.
“Do I look like someone who’s been abused?”
Iora bit down so hard on her lip that it felt stiff. Her face reddened as if stung by an accusation.
“I… My family.. has no such… issues. And even if there were, it’s not something…”
“My Lady.”
“That’s… not something you should concern yourself with.”
A subtle anger simmered within her.
“You asked for the dissolution of our engagement.”
“…Iora.”
Did she look so pitiful that you had to ask, even though she was the woman you so desperately wanted to separate from? Was his concern just shallow pity? But why did her heart tremble at that pity, playing the role of a taken-for-granted supporting villainess? Why does he make her feel so wretched?
“When the court’s decision comes… It won’t matter to anyone. Just as Your Highness desires.”
As the words left her lips, she felt even more miserable, pitiful even to herself. Iora took a deep breath.
Can I leave now?
She knew those eyes, neither cold nor warm, were following her, but she didn’t want to harbor futile hopes and expectations. What could she possibly do by extending her hand to the male lead? She didn’t want to reach out to him and tell him to save her from this situation, nor did she have the energy to do so. She didn’t feel comfortable with her heart beating so fast whenever his eyes met hers.
So, she didn’t look back. She didn’t see if the prince’s gaze looked somewhat off. Even if she had seen, it wouldn’t have mattered to Iora.
* * *
“Please don’t think it’s weird,” Arcanda said, sounding very cautious.
Iora, who was about to offer her a cookie prepared for her, paused and leaned in to listen attentively.
“Iora, I heard something strange…”
“What… did you hear?”
Iora despised rumors, especially those she wasn’t aware of. And rumors about herself were never a good sign. Arcanda smiled kindly while looking at Iora’s visibly tense face.
Just then, the carriage jerked, as if hitting a bump on the road, causing Arcanda’s golden hair to shimmer and sway.
Ah, how beautiful…
“By any chance, Iora, do you want to continue your engagement with Ovid?”
“What?”
“I heard you had a long conversation with Ovid yesterday. Without me.”