Rohan, who wanted to get closer to Sesenia in any way.

“I’m sorry, Rohan.”

But it was a role she couldn’t respond to with her heart. Sesenia couldn’t love anyone.

No, she wouldn’t love. Love was the most useless emotion that brought only hell to her.

It wasn’t because of Rohan. It was the same for everyone.

“Even if that’s the case, why do you have to take Teddy with you?”

“Are you jealous?”

“Ah… well…”

“Teddy is special. He has to come with us.”

At the news of my arrival, Teddy, who had come down to the first floor of the emporium, froze with a surprised expression, widening his eyes.

“Special…? No, really…?”

“Yeah. So, can Teddy come with us?”

“Since the lady said so… Can I stop her? But… to become special… I see.”

“Yeah. Give up.”

Give up your heart and give up going together. Sesenia looked at him with determination. Only then did Rohan’s eyebrows twitch.

“Yes…”

“Rohan.”

Every time she hurt someone’s feelings, Sesenia felt as if her heart were tearing apart.

What am I saying? What am I saying to use such precious feelings on someone like me? But she felt it.

After hearing Lizbet’s words, maybe it was because of that, Rohan liked her.

So, she had to let go of Rohan’s feelings.

Even if that feeling was very old. Even if it was poignant and intense.

“So, don’t love me. Think of me as a bad person. As a corrupt manager who uses you and plays with others’ hearts. I am… I’m just human trash that doesn’t deserve anyone’s feelings.”

Love, to her, only brought hell.

The past and the present were the same. Affection always betrayed her.

She liked her family. She liked her father. But to her father, Sesenia was just a convenient substitute for her sister.

She liked her friend.

But to Ian, her longtime friend since childhood, Sesenia was just a tool to meet Elger, the one he liked.

She liked her husband.

Even if he met and went out with this woman and that woman, even if he didn’t give her a second glance, she was pushed away with words that she was inferior to her sister.

I cheat because you’re lacking.

She rationalized her actions. She liked her sister. Even in the moment when her sister’s husband was taken away, she might have liked her.

Maybe there was a misunderstanding, and she cornered herself into a predicament.

She wanted to believe that. Because it was her sister whom she liked. But most of the feelings she harbored for people were betrayed.

“Yes. Lady.”

“I… No.”

As if understanding what the deep silence meant, Rohan nodded very slowly.

Hate me. Hate me fiercely. Please throw away any bit of affection for me with that hatred.

“All right. I won’t do anything.”
“Thank you. I genuinely like Rohan. He’s truly outstanding.”

“…….”

“Meeting Rohan is a blessing. And later, when everything is over… When everything is finished… You should take over the emporium named after Mother. You’ll run it much better than me.”

Rohan’s face stiffened for a moment.

“What is this…?”

“You should like it. Since the corrupt manager will leave everything behind, you should like it.”

“But…”

“Don’t work with the mindset of a manager. You’ll become the manager soon, so lead the way. If you feel uneasy, pocket some bribes. Got it? This is all I can offer in response to Rohan’s feelings.”

“Lady…”

“Teddy, Lizbet, let’s go. Oh, this.”

Sesenia, fearing that Rohan might say something else, handed him the letter she had written this morning and hurriedly left.

Normally, Rohan, who would have sent her off from the first floor, followed Sesenia somewhat bewildered, but the three had already boarded the carriage.

“Lady…!”

Remember my words. I’ll be back!”

That was the end of it. Thanks to these individuals who moved faster than usual, the carriage departed as soon as the door closed.

“Lady… If you do this, how will I… How will I…”

Rohan’s expression, watching the carriage move away in a daze, was even more complex than before. After exhaling for a moment, he opened the letter entrusted to him by Sesenia.

“You gave me work to do on your way out. This is better. than I expected.”

With a much brighter expression than before, Rohan, who had come inside the emporium in a hurry, seemed to be in a hurry.

**

Inside the carriage.

“Fortunately, it looks like we shook him off.”

“Yeah. I wondered what we would do if he followed us all the way.”

“Lady, thank you.”

“Huh? Why?”

“For making Rohan come to his senses. Judging by his expression earlier, he definitely came to his senses. Of course, healing emotions doesn’t happen quickly, but… it’ll be okay.”

“Rohan… will meet a good person. That’s how it should be.”

Lizbet tightly held Sesenia’s hand.

“But are you really going to hand over the emporium to him?”

“Yeah. Not right away, but after everything is over.”

“But…”

“I have no attachment to money. It’s just a background for the path I’m taking. Actually, I was wondering how to handle the emporium after everything was over. It worked out well.”

But what Lizbet was saying was different.

“If you’re going to hand it over, make the ownership stake 50.”

“Huh?”