Strategic Marriage with the Mad Villain - Chapter 4
‘Yes… It would be a shame if that man was missing on a day like today.’
Contrary to my displeased feelings, the atmosphere in the ballroom changed in an instant.
People gathering in groups and chatting, those observing the atmosphere from corners, palace servants, and even Roshan and Emily – everyone glanced at Reus while pretending not to.
Then they all began to busily talk about Reus.
“Oh my, the Grand Duke really came…! I’m glad I attended the ball today.”
“Shall we go and greet him?”
“Did you hear? Recently, the Grand Duke…”
This demonstrated just how powerful the current Grand Duke of Rocheter was.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason for all the attention.
“My goodness…! The Grand Duke is perfect as always today. Look at that nose bridge. How can he look so sculpted…?”
“I wonder how wonderful it would be to marry someone like the Grand Duke?”
“I don’t know who will be the Grand Duke’s match, but I’m so envious.”
It wasn’t just the young ladies gathered at the table nearest to me who were commenting on the Grand Duke’s appearance. Most people would add a word about his face whenever they looked at Reus.
Honestly, if they praised someone else like that, it would have been ridiculous.
But even taking into account that he was the cause of my death, Reus was…
‘He is handsome. Extremely so.’
As much as I hated to admit it, objectively speaking, it was true.
The line from his brow bone to his nose bridge was straight and gave an elegant impression, and his neatly styled silver hair accentuated his sophisticated aura.
The young ladies especially loved Reus’s blue eyes. They said it gave off an ascetic vibe that was so sexy or something…
‘Not knowing that those eyes are plotting treason…’
And Reus inevitably drew people’s gazes even when he didn’t want to. Being a head or two taller than others, he stood out whether you wanted to see him or not.
Just then, the young ladies at the next table started praising Reus’s physique.
“The Grand Duke really pulls off both formal attire and uniforms well. My, it’s a feast for the eyes.”
“Indeed. He’s not a war hero for nothing.”
“Not just his face, but how can his body be so good…”
‘But what’s the use when he’s just going to start a rebellion?’
I wanted to grab each person and explain, but since I couldn’t, I had to be content with secretly glaring at Reus with dissatisfied eyes.
‘If you’re going to die, die alone. Why drag me into it…’
He really didn’t have a single redeeming quality.
As I was busy cursing Reus in my mind, Roshan suddenly grabbed both my arms.
“So, what did he say?”
“What…?”
“That bastard. What did he say to you?”
“Oh… um… What would he say… We just parted on good terms.”
“Ah, how frustrating…! I knew you’d be like this! You should have cursed him out at least! Geez, it’s so frustrating. Really.”
Roshan shook me vigorously, then sighed heavily before letting go of my arms.
Emily, who had been looking at me with an understanding gaze, patted my back and told me I did well.
Just as the doorkeepers were about to close the doors, assuming all invited guests had arrived, the door suddenly opened again and a man entered the hall.
The man who entered, drawing everyone’s attention, was none other than Casien, the male lead of this world.
As if on cue, people looked at Casien and then glanced at me.
They were clearly curious whether Casien would ignore me and flirt with other women today as well.
Normally, I would have felt a bit intimidated and wandered on the terrace or sat in the lounge, but today there was no need for that.
‘We broke up, so there’s no need to care.’
Even if we avoided each other, people would obviously think, ‘Well, that’s how it is.’
But somehow, the atmosphere in the hall flowed differently from my expectations.
“Oh my… What brings Count Ersian here?”
“That’s right. I heard he completely ended things with Lady Verodica recently…”
“So it seems that was true?”
It was because this crazy Casien naturally approached me and grabbed me as if it was only to be expected.
“Roel.”
‘Why does he keep doing things he never did before? Didn’t we end things completely that day…!’
I couldn’t be harsh to Casien now with all eyes on us. If I did, it would surely reach Feria’s ears.
“Roel. Please, just one conversation…”
Quickly, I grabbed Casien’s wrist, lest others hear.
“…Follow me.”
* * *
I led Casien to a terrace a bit away from the hall.
“Casien…! Didn’t we finish our talk?”
“What?”
“What…! Haah… What’s wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with you, Roel?”
After all this time asking to break up and end the engagement, why is he doing this now?
“I clearly said we should break off the engagement…”
“The Countess…”
“…”
“She doesn’t seem to know.”
As I pressed my lips shut, Casien moved a little closer.
“No. She seems to firmly believe we’re getting married.”
“Casien, that’s…”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of telling the Countess that you asked to break off the engagement.”
Casien naturally brought his hand below my ear and gently stroked my cheek with his thumb. Then, after chuckling continuously, he soon smiled brightly and said,
“How could I not know what you want? Right, Roel?”
Though I hadn’t revealed that I wasn’t her real daughter, Casien at least knew that I was afraid of Feria.
That’s why I was even more angry.
‘Knowing that, you still pretended you’d marry me at the dinner?’
A guy who will soon forget all about his fiancée and fall for the female lead?
It became even more certain that there wasn’t a shred of sincerity in his actions of holding onto me. No, beyond that, Casien had practically deceived and mocked me.
I spoke with a slightly trembling voice, angry:
“There was no need to play such a joke when you’re not even going to marry me anyway.”
But Casien burst into laughter so loud it was refreshing even for the listener.
“Who says that? I’m going to marry you no matter what happens.”
“…Please stop making a fool out of me, Casien.”
Casien stared down at me silently with eyes that made it impossible to guess what he was thinking. Then he soon curled up the corners of his mouth.
“It feels quite different hearing those words from you.”
“What do you…”
“Roel. Seeing you go this far, I can tell how badly you want to break off our engagement.”
“Then…”
Casien pulled me slightly with force and embraced me so tightly it was almost hard to breathe. Then he whispered softly in my ear.
“So I can’t let you go. What should we do?”
“How can you, even at a moment like this…”
Perhaps today’s meeting could be the last with Casien.
If we parted here and returned to the hall, Casien would be drawn to Iris, and after that, he would completely forget about me.
Yet Casien acts as if he doesn’t care about my true feelings until the very end.
“I thought that if I went this far, you would… you would treat me seriously at least once.”
Even if he didn’t love me, he shouldn’t act like this… out of basic human decency for someone he spent 4 years with.
But no matter what, it’s as if he’s confirming that I’m merely a being meant to be swayed by him, the male lead.
If he truly wanted to keep me, he wouldn’t have acted this way.
At the very least, he wouldn’t have let me enter the hall without a partner today, and he would have come to the mansion to pick me up before the imperial ball.
Yes. If he were sincere, he wouldn’t have left so easily when told to go, and he wouldn’t have suddenly come looking for me when I didn’t want it, turning my insides upside down like this.
During the 4 years of our engagement, Casien never loved me for even a moment.
That was an unchangeable fact no matter what.
‘How foolish…’
Tears welled up a little, but I desperately swallowed my sobs and said,
“We’re going to break up anyway… There’s no need to go this far.”
Hearing my words, Casien openly frowned as if everything was displeasing.
Who are you to be irritated? Seeing his unpleasant expression made my heart sink, and I desperately escaped from Casien’s embrace.
“You’re the worst, Casien.”
Fearing I might be caught again like at the Ibel Count’s mansion a few days ago, I quickly left the terrace. But it was an unnecessary worry.
Casien only watched my retreating figure, not chasing after me.
* * *
Thinking I should get as far away from Casien as possible, I ran aimlessly. Only when I felt the surroundings become quiet did I stop.
Then the tears I had barely held back in front of Casien began to flow.
I had known for a while that he wasn’t taking our relationship seriously, but I didn’t expect him to be this cruel. I tried to calm my sorrowful heart, but the tears kept flowing endlessly.
“Bastard…”
I’m the fool for believing I could end things nicely with such a guy.
As I wiped my tears and turned a corner, I bumped hard into someone.
“Ah-!”
The collision was so strong that even the tip of my nose stung.
‘What’s so hard…’
I closed my eyes for a moment, holding my aching nose, waiting for the pain to subside.
When I finally opened my eyes, what came into view was a man’s chest. I raised my head to see his face and made a foolish sound.
“Ah…”
The person I bumped into was none other than Reus.
*
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“I’ve given birth to two children for you, yet you still think about him.
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Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, transmigrates to a female-dominated country.
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