“My goodness, how dare she show her face here!”

Shocked exclamations erupted from all around.

“Was she invited?”

“That can’t be possible.”

“Then who on earth had the audacity to bring that woman?”

Blatant whispers, not even attempting to be discreet, were directed at Elena.

One of those eyeing Elena with contempt rose from their seat.

“Miss Elena Lopez. What brings you here?”

It was Madam Evelyn.

Though seeing her up close for the first time, Evelyn glared at the all-too-familiar face from various gossip magazines and clicked her tongue.

‘To show her face here. How shameless!’

How could the main culprit who had an affair with the bride’s former fiancé and ruined their relationship attend such an occasion?

Though there had been tragedy, fortunately for Ariana, true love had found her.

And today was the day that love would bear fruit. Evelyn couldn’t stand to see that woman ruin such a meaningful day.

As Evelyn approached with a sharp demeanor, Elena bowed her head deeply.

“I’m… sorry. I…”

‘What’s with this woman? Why is she acting like this?’

Evelyn furrowed her brow as she watched Elena trembling like a wounded deer.

Evelyn had seen Elena perform a few times, as she was quite a promising soprano.

Back then, she didn’t give off this impression at all. Rather, she had seemed full of confidence with a haughty image.

“I, well… um, you see…”

“What is it? Why can’t you speak properly?”

Elena was shaking so much that it looked as if Evelyn had made her cry.

Evelyn looked with displeasure at Elena, who was trembling like a wet bird and unable to continue speaking.

It felt like she was trying to paint Evelyn as the villain while also dragging out time.

The sound of light footsteps on grass could be heard approaching from afar.

Seeing Ariana approaching with Dante, Evelyn sighed. She had wanted to drive Elena away before Ariana found out, but she had failed.

As Ariana drew near, she briefly exchanged a glance with Evelyn before turning to Elena.

“Hello, Elena.”

A calm voice rang out without a hint of wavering.

People couldn’t help but admire that composure.

‘On a day like this, she must have been the last face she wanted to see…’

‘She must have been very surprised by her sudden appearance, yet she’s so composed.’

“Ah… sister.”

Elena’s lips quivered.

Evelyn noticed those lips were tinted a carefully applied rose color and narrowed her eyes.

Now that she looked closely, she could see that white powder had been applied to make the skin look gaunt, but a slight flush had been added to the cheeks and around the eyes to create a strange atmosphere.

“Sister, you look… really beautiful today. You and the Duke really…”

Elena turned to look at Dante and almost bit her tongue in surprise.

A gaze without a hint of warmth. Meeting those cold eyes that looked at her as if she were utterly worthless, she felt her body temperature drop a notch.

“…suit each other well.”

As Elena barely managed to complete her sentence, criticism poured out from all around, clearly meant to be heard.

“Did she come all this way just to say such things?”

“This is outrageous. Who would want blessings from a woman like that?”

Pretending not to hear those voices, Elena pitifully fluttered her eyelashes.

“I’m sorry for coming. I know you wouldn’t be happy to see my face, but… on a day like this, I really wanted to congratulate you. Above all, I felt that once you become a duchess, I truly won’t be able to meet you anymore…”

“Ha, of course a homewrecker like her wouldn’t be able to meet the noble Duchess of Heigenberg.”

“If she knew that, why did she come?”

Elena gripped the hem of her dress tightly at the murmuring voices.

She squeezed so hard that the bones on the back of her white hand protruded.

“Um, sister. Actually… there’s something you don’t know.”

‘What is this vixen saying?’

Evelyn let out a bitter laugh in disbelief.

She had come all this way, deliberately acting pitiful, and now she was dropping meaningful hints for everyone to hear. Her intentions were obvious.

‘This won’t do. I’ll have to take the lead in driving this vixen out.’

If the bride herself took action, it could lead to gossip.

Evelyn decided she would step forward even if it meant damaging her own image a bit. Just as she was about to open her mouth—

“You said there’s something I don’t know?”

‘Oh no, Lady Ariana…!’

Evelyn turned to Ariana with a distressed look. The kind and innocent Ariana had taken the bait set by that vixen.

Elena nodded as if she had been waiting for this.

“Yes, sister. I didn’t have the courage to say it until now, but…”

“What is it? Elena. Tell me here.”

Ariana urged without a hint of hesitation.

That seemed a bit unexpected, as Elena’s eyes darted slightly in confusion. Laughter erupted from the surroundings once again.

“Well, what could she possibly have to say?”

“With her reputation in tatters, she’s probably trying to beg for forgiveness somehow. How shameless…”

As criticism towards Elena intensified—

A man who had been standing a few steps behind her suddenly stepped forward.

“That’s not it. There’s a truth that you all don’t know!”

“…”

The surroundings fell silent at once due to the sudden outburst.

A man with a sturdy build protectively shielded Elena.

“Miss Elena is the victim!”

‘What is he saying?’

Evelyn was so shocked she forgot her composure for a moment and gaped.

In the frozen atmosphere, the man strode towards Ariana.

‘Ah, that person is…?’

Some recognized the man’s face and widened their eyes.

‘Isn’t that Adolf the botanist?’

He was the only son of a famously wealthy family.

The reason he was nicknamed ‘the botanist’ was for a special reason, but it was a secret shared only among a small circle of nobles.

“That is the truth that the Lady doesn’t know. Miss Elena is not some homewrecker. She too is clearly a victim!”

Adolf, who had shouted firmly, bowed his head.

“Pardon my late introduction. Congratulations on your marriage. I am Adolf of the Viscount Schmitt family.”

“Not exactly a welcome congratulation. Adolf Schmitt.”

Adolf’s shoulders stiffened at the frosty voice.

“Today is the day my bride should be happier than anyone else in the world.”

Dante pulled Ariana’s shoulder into an embrace.

Ariana, whose face had briefly hardened, soon gently rested her cheek on his chest.

“Is this story important enough to disturb this person’s mood on such a day?”

The fierce aura in that chilling voice was sharp enough to cut.

Adolf could only stare wide-eyed without saying a word.

Standing before those eyes, he felt like an insignificant insect.

The courage he had possessed until just moments ago, and the sense of mission that he must reveal the ‘truth’, wavered like paper soaked in water before that red gaze.

“Ah, Mr. Adolf…”

At that moment, Elena’s fragile voice was heard.

“I’m fine. It seems my sister still doesn’t want to see my face. I think I was too hasty, so today I’ll just…”

A pitifully trembling voice. That voice, which stirred protective instincts, reignited Adolf’s courage.

Adolf clenched his fists and opened his mouth.

“I apologize, but this is important, Your Grace. When Lady Ariana learns that she has been hating her innocent sister because of one devilish man, I’m sure she will think the same as I do!”

“A devilish man.”

“Who are you talking about?”

Adolf turned to the whispering people and shouted.

“Of course! I’m obviously talking about Lucas Fedegrin!”

“…”

Once again, silence froze the surroundings.

Adolf began to plead as if giving a speech.

“That man forcibly assaulted Miss Elena and confessed his love. Miss Elena was too shocked and scared, but she couldn’t tell anyone! She suffered alone all this time. She was afraid that if she revealed the truth, it would hurt her sister who loved her fiancé so much…!”

The surroundings erupted in a great commotion.

“…What? What did I just hear?”

“Does that make any sense?”

“So Viscount Fedegrin is the only perpetrator, and Elena is just an innocent victim? Does he think we’ll believe that now?”

Voices mocked loudly from all around, clearly meant to be heard.

Adolf gritted his teeth and shouted again.

“As proof!”

Adolf firmly grasped Elena’s hand.

“Miss Elena and I have been dating all this time! In fact, we were secretly engaged. If it weren’t for that terrible act by Viscount Fedegrin, Miss Elena would have become my wife by now!”

“…Elena Lopez with Adolf?”

Some people whispered.

There had been rumors that Adolf, the only son of the Viscount Schmitt family, was infatuated with a soprano and brought her jewels every day.

‘Come to think of it, I think that soprano might have been Elena…’

As Evelyn was vaguely recalling the contents of a gossip magazine, Adolf suddenly turned to Elena and said,

“Isn’t that right, Miss Elena?”

Adolf gripped Elena’s hand even tighter.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Elena.

After drawing out the moment long enough for a sufficiently dramatic effect, just as Elena was finally about to open her mouth—

“Elena.”

Ariana, who had been silent for a while, moved.

She approached until she was just a hand’s width away from Elena and slowly opened her mouth.

“I’ll give you one sincere piece of advice.”