Secret Love Affair between a Former Saint and a Dark Hero - Chapter 34
The store bell chimed, and teenage girls dressed in vibrant spring-like colors burst into the shop, as if they had been waiting, shouting as they caught sight of Arcanda.
“Arcanda, we’re here!”
“Sorry for being late for our appointment time! Haha!”
“No worries, Julie and Helen. Hehe, I have someone to introduce. Come here, Iora.”
Huh? As Iora watched the giggling girls fanning themselves, her body stiffened like a tree trunk. Most noble girls despised and detested Iora for allegedly flirting with their idol, Prince Ovid. And meeting multiple young ladies from other noble families altogether was a first for her.
When they stared at her all at once, Iora’s nerves made her swallow hard. That’s when she realized they weren’t any different. They hated her too.
“I, I…”
“Hmm.”
Her shoulders slumped under the weight of their collective scrutiny. Her face reddened, and she stuttered. She hadn’t been told I would be meeting anyone else. Why were they suddenly here?
Confused, she glanced at Arcanda, but her gaze was already fixed on the newcomers. Iora’s eyes flickered. She wanted to ask Arcanda what was happening. Typically, when making plans, one didn’t schedule conflicting appointments. If it did happen, it was polite to mention it beforehand and ask for permission. Had Arcanda forgotten that it was rude? Or had she forgotten to mention it on purpose?
Iora approached them with a pale face. The girls, finding something amusing, exchanged glances as they watched her walk, giggling conspiratorially. It didn’t seem like laughter with positive intent.
“Hello, Lady Iora von Ribandt. It’s the first time meeting you in person. I’m Julie, from the Viscount Richelle’s family. I’ve heard so much about you, so meeting you feels like we’ve known each other for a long time.”
“I’m Helen, from the Marquis Jamil’s family. A friend of Lady Arcanda, you know.”
Yes, she knew. Enduring years of neglect, they had barely shown her a trace of warmth, and their greetings were laced with mockery. There was no apology for the sudden encounter, no exchange of nods or gestures—just an abrupt introduction of their names.
Iora clenched her fists.
‘What should I do? They are Arcanda’s friends, and I can’t just leave like this.’
She needed to express her anger or discomfort, but first, she gauged Arcanda’s mood. Arcanda was smiling warmly as if oblivious to everything. She was vastly different from Iora, who was sweating nervously, trying to read the situation.
Suddenly, her mother’s advice popped into her head. Those venomous words that told her that being with Arcanda would only invite ridicule. Just moments ago, everything had been joyous, but inexplicably, it turned cold as if standing on winter ice. It felt lonely. Glancing around, she noticed several women looking at her with curious, amused eyes.
‘They’re all in on it.’
Still, it couldn’t have been Arcanda’s intention. Iora concluded that these were just people who hated her. It was because of her own inadequacy.
“By the way, Arcanda, I heard from afar… that you’ve employed a new handmaiden… Ohoho!”
A maid? Her?
Iora’s face went rigid. She realized she was the subject of the two girls’ gazes. There was a clear difference between bowing from a distance and being told that she looked so shabby that she seemed more like a servant to a noblewoman than a noblewoman herself.
“Oh my, it was just a joke. You’re not angry, are you, Lady Iora?”
“Of course not. Lady Iora is one of the candidates for sainthood. It’s unimaginable for her to be so narrow-minded.”
Behind the fan, she could see mocking eyes flashing with laughter. Their gazes were spiteful. Their subtle language was cunning. If Iora lost her temper here, it would only portray her as someone unsuitable for the role of a saintess, narrow-minded and flawed.
And the two girls pulled Arcanda between them as if to shield her. She who had been standing by Iora’s side was separated from her, leaving Iora isolated. It was evident she was being excluded from the group.
‘Did even those girls, whom I barely knew, find me so repulsive….’
There was an invisible wall. It was clear they had no intention of letting anyone else into their conversation, and it stung her heart. Even Arcanda’s initial bewilderment soon turned into a bright smile as she realized how much she enjoyed talking to them.
Iora stood still, unable to do anything but stare, and then bowed her head.
‘Mother was right. I should have just stayed home.’
Regret engulfed her.
