Clea sighed.

She had anticipated that Aria would find some way to interfere.

That’s why she had imagined how Aria might try to obstruct her.

‘But after showing up, that’s all she has to say.’

Clea scoffed at Aria, who talked about permanent exile from the capital.

Perhaps hearing Clea’s laughter, Aria narrowed her eyes for a moment and glared as if asking why she was laughing.

But Clea’s expression didn’t change.

This wasn’t the worst-case scenario she had imagined.

‘I thought she would at least call out Lloyd to put me in the worst mood possible.’

If not that, she expected Aria to appeal to people with tears, saying she couldn’t accept this penance.

Even if she couldn’t outright deny the penance, there was a chance people’s perceptions might not change.

However, Aria showed up with a completely different approach.

And she brought a knife that was not only dull but almost completely rotten.

“Permanent exile.”

“Yes, Clea. I’ll forgive you, so disappear from the capital forever.”

She seemed to have certainly used her head, but it only came across as one-dimensional thinking.

Meanwhile, Aria’s expression was crumpling, probably feeling like she was being ignored.

Clea felt it anew.

‘No matter how kind a face she puts on for everyone, when she scowls like that, she’s the epitome of a villainess.’

With that thought, Clea looked at Aria.

To Aria, who still maintained a triumphant attitude, Clea spoke calmly.

“And if I don’t accept?”

“Then you will never be forgiven.”

“You do know that all your sins related to me will be forgiven through this penance anyway?”

“Even if your sins are forgiven, will people really accept you?”

Hearing Aria’s words, Clea smiled.

She wished she could get up and grab Aria’s chin, but not forgetting she was in the middle of penance, she quietly looked into her eyes.

Just by making eye contact, Aria started to shrink back for some reason.

In contrast, Clea still showed a relaxed demeanor.

Aria couldn’t understand it.

Even though she was definitely the one intimidating her, whenever she made eye contact with Clea like this, the one who got scared was always Aria.

“You know. I don’t really care about people’s perceptions.”

“I know, I know very well. But this time, things won’t go your way.”

Sensing the impatience in Aria’s voice as she spoke emphatically, Clea asked in a low voice.

“Then have you thought about what would happen if I accepted your proposal as is?”

There was no particular emotion in that voice.

Finding it awkward to answer, Aria continued.

“You would never be able to set foot in this capital again.”

“Yes, as you say, I would never show up here again.”

Clea knew very well what Aria wanted most at this point.

None other than to separate Admund and herself.

That’s why she was saying she would remove her from the capital, but the point Clea was making was elsewhere.

“If I accept your proposal and leave the capital like this, do you think Admund will turn to you?”

“Well, of course…”

“He won’t.”

Clea interrupted Aria mid-sentence and said.

“You will never be able to win Admund’s heart. Because his heart is already as good as mine.”

How could she win a heart that was already as good as her own?

Of course, if they were physically separated, naturally his heart could also drift away, as was human nature.

But Clea could be sure of one thing.

Even if he became love-starved after she left, he wasn’t foolish enough to not be able to distinguish between sweet and bitter.

‘Things are taking a strange turn.’

Hayden, who was present, observed the reactions of the spectators watching them.

From the perspective of people who had simply come to watch the penance, it was a shocking situation.

They had never thought Aria Hersher herself would show up.

At the same time, the voices supporting Aria diminished considerably.

No matter how much it was Aria, interfering with penance was something that shouldn’t be done.

Partly because penance was seen as a sacred ritual.

But also because it was a place acknowledged and watched by many people.

Public penance, in particular, was a completely exposed setting.

It had the characteristic that others could sufficiently hear the words exchanged within, so there was no knowing what variables might arise.

And now another variable had occurred.

‘I wish they would at least consider by whose consent this penance is being carried out.’

The group still advocating for Aria’s actions argued that it was legitimate for her to make such a demand of Clea.

The reason being that Clea had at least committed actions that could endanger Aria’s life.

Even those who had been shocked momentarily came to their senses and pointed out that this point should not be forgotten.

But their minds could only be thrown into confusion once more.

“Aria Hersher, what are you doing here right now?”

“Admund.”

There were only rampant rumors.

When Admund never showed his face even once, people eventually believed it was a false rumor.

In fact, even those who supported Aria had completely denied the rumors related to Admund and Clea.

Amidst the commotion, Admund finally appeared at the scene.

Admund took steps forward.

Aria was restless at the sight of him.

She couldn’t forget the cold gaze he had sent her way at the Hersher estate.

“A-Admund, long time no see. You look very tired, are you o-okay?”

Still, driven by the single thought that she had to talk to him, she mustered up courage and spoke.

“Clea, I missed you.”

Admund, not caring about Aria at all, completely ignored her attempts to talk to him and knelt down in front of Clea.

In an instant, the atmosphere changed strangely.

Admund and Aria were known to the public as inseparable friends due to their academy days.

There were even those who thought the rumors couldn’t possibly be true because they were such close friends.

However, the scene before their eyes distorted everything.

Everything that people had believed until now began to be completely thrown into confusion.

Meanwhile, regardless of what people thought, Clea looked at Admund who had appeared after several days.

Just having him by her side brought warmth to her body that had felt as if it would freeze completely.

Clea asked.

“Why did you only show up now?”

“I’m sorry. There were things I had to take care of.”

“Were those things you had to take care of more important than being by my side?”

“I have nothing to say about that.”

She spoke as if blaming him, but there was no resentment at all in her voice.

Nevertheless, Admund felt sorry towards Clea.

He had thought he would finish the work quickly and return to Clea’s side.

He also knew that if he wasn’t by her side, Clea would have to keep enduring the cold stares from those around her.

However, the work didn’t end as quickly as he thought.

There were interruptions in between and unexpected issues to face.

Perhaps because he couldn’t show up on time, he felt apologetic for the pressure she must have endured alone.

On the other hand, Clea didn’t get up from her seat and hugged Admund who was right in front of her.

Seeing him feeling so sorry over words she had only said jokingly, Clea realized once again.

That he truly loved her.

“Don’t be sorry. I’m actually really grateful that you showed up, even if it’s only now.”

“What’s there to be grateful for? I’m the one who’s late.”

While they conveyed feelings of apology and gratitude to each other, Aria just stood there, unable to do anything even after witnessing the scene.

If it were her usual self, she would have somehow wedged herself between the two and prevented Admund from even talking to Clea.

However, Aria couldn’t forget the chilling warning Admund had given her at the estate.

Her body completely frozen, she briefly pondered what to do.

But before she could even think, Admund turned his head and asked Aria first.

“But why is the young lady here?”

There was not a hint of the kindness he had shown Clea in that voice.

For a moment, Aria was taken aback and looked at Admund with wide eyes, but.

“I asked, didn’t I? Why is the young lady here?”

At Admund’s behavior that he had never shown before, even the noisy crowd became completely quiet.

A cold atmosphere hung in the air of the public penance hall.

* * *

The Duke and Duchess of Hersher couldn’t believe the sight they were seeing.

They had been worried when they heard their daughter, who had disappeared after visiting the Grand Duke’s residence, had finally returned home.

And when they heard the news that she had immediately headed to the temple where the penance was in full swing, they also moved straight to the temple.

“Dear, what should we do? Our child, our child…”

Even at the Duchess’ tearful voice, the Duke did not take his eyes off the scene unfolding before him.

It seemed as if he couldn’t hear his wife’s voice at all right now.

His mind was in turmoil.

‘The relationship with the crown prince is completely ruined.’

There had been a desire for their cherished daughter to sit in the most exalted position above anyone else.

But he wasn’t foolish enough to deny the reality he saw right before his eyes.

Faced with a situation that could no longer be refuted, the Duke felt a sense of futility and worry.

The actions they had been taking all this time flashed through his mind.

He looked at his precious daughter Aria and said.

“Perhaps it was our vain greed.”