The deep blue eyes that had been resting on my hand turned to my face once again.

“My feelings for you haven’t changed.”

Cedric locked eyes with me and emphasized his words with determination.

“Even if you torment me, even if you use me, it will be the same.”

“…….”

“Of course, it might hurt… but I’m willing to accept that.”

He playfully twitched his nose, but the smile at the corner of his lips seemed a bit melancholic.

“This emotion is not a momentary wavering, Rebecca.”

It was an answer to what he said when I rejected him before.

“Of course, just the fact that I finally held you is proof enough, but…”

As I looked up quietly, he spoke again.

“If that’s not enough, give me a chance.”

“…A chance?”

“Yes, a chance to heal your wounds.”

His sincere blue eyes focused on me. At that moment, I had to admit it, as I was shaking uncontrollably, wanting to believe his words without hesitation.

Cedric nailed the final words like a last nail.

“I will make you believe in love and in me again, no matter what it takes.”

Meanwhile, inside a shabby inn room in the northern city alley.

The bustling noise of the market flowed in through the worn window frames.

Camilla stood by the window, continuously biting her thumbnails while pacing around.

The area under her eyes was dark red, and her loosely tied hair was messy.

However, Camilla paid no attention to her shabby appearance.

No, it was more accurate to say that she couldn’t afford to care.

In her mind, there was only one thing occupying her thoughts – her husband, who had just announced divorce and left.

‘How could he say he wants a divorce to me? This… this is seriously messed up…’

Camilla bit her nails anxiously, rolling her eyes.

No matter how self-centered she could be, her husband was always generous to her.

‘Maybe he just said it out of anger? There’s no way he would really leave me. He’s someone who cherished me so much…’

That’s how she tried to console herself.
However, the gaze of her husband, which she used to regard as if he were a bug, and his harsh words once again invaded her mind.

Then, a deep sense of anxiety started to rise from the depths of her lungs, tightening her breath even more.

“No, no… My husband can’t leave me. He’s someone who cherished me to the point of looking pitiful… There’s no way someone like that would ever abandon me!”

No one could take away the position of the mistress of the Dimitri family from her.

‘Camilla Dimitri, unless I willingly step down from that position…’

The position of the wife of Count Dimitri was something she planned to relinquish on her own terms.

Enough wealth to start anew with Henry, and a romantic love story that would be enough to maintain her social status in the society even after multiple divorces and remarriages.

All of this would happen after everything was prepared.

But…

“Everything got messed up, all of it! Ugh!”

Camilla screamed while tearing at her pitch-black hair.

One investment failure, resulting in astronomical debts.

What she lost was not only the affection of her husband, Count Dimitri, and the reputation in high society but also Henry Bart, whom she believed to be her only true love.

‘Robelia. Why are you, who never made any effort since childhood, taking everything away from me? Why is it always you taking everything?’

Ahh!

It was when the enraged Camilla couldn’t contain her anger and screamed.

Thunk—

The door opened, and a man, taking off his crumpled hat, leisurely leaned against the door.

Camilla blinked slowly at the sudden appearance of the man.

“Henry…?”

Tears fell from Camilla’s eyes as she looked at Henry, who was staring at her face with a mixture of joy and sorrow.

“Ah, you finally came… Henry…”

Henry, dragging a worn-out wooden chair and sitting with his legs crossed, looked at his wristwatch with a sullen expression.

“What’s the matter that you had to disturb me?”

“He… Henry, I missed you so much…”

Henry coldly brushed off Camilla’s hand, reaching out to him.

“I don’t have time, so just tell me what you need. If we delay any longer, it will give rise to unnecessary suspicions from Robelia.”

“Robelia… Unnecessary suspicions?”

Camilla’s face momentarily became distorted with disgust.

To think that she was worrying about such things now when she spent the night with him without any care. She already knew that Henry had a materialistic side, but she never dreamed that he would look down on her as well.

For a moment, the lovely face of Henry, which had been so charming, felt repulsive.

“I’ve lost all my fortune and only have debts left… I’m no longer needed, is that it?”

Camilla’s chin trembled.

Henry had no answer.

He just turned his head coldly.
The silence that undoubtedly indicated a positive outcome deeply pierced Camilla’s heart.

Camilla, betrayed after a long love, staggered heavily.

“All the things I’ve done to get you, Henry… How could I have done all that until now…”

In Camilla’s eyes, which seemed like they could collapse at any moment, the excessive on the table caught her attention.

In that moment, the pupils of her eyes, which had been biting her teeth, lit up.

“This… you [expletive]!”

In the blink of an eye, she grabbed the excessive item and rushed towards Henry’s back.