To You, Whom I Shouldn't Love (24 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 12
After a long hesitation, she finally named just one thing.
“I want to take Lucy with me.”
Lucy was the horse her father had given her as a gift for her eighth birthday. Once a small foal, Lucy had grown into a capable and noble steed thanks to Riena’s devoted care.
Naturally, her father and the knights had coveted her, and even her stepmother, Countess Daik, had set her sights on giving Lucy to her son, Aaron.
Because she had originally planned to run away secretly, she hadn’t even considered taking Lucy—but now, perhaps she could take her openly. Yet even as she spoke the words, she didn’t truly believe it would be possible.
What Cassel had referred to as “items to bring along” surely meant actual belongings—clothes, jewelry, and other simple personal effects. Horses were difficult to take along, and even if she did, caring for one would be a burden.
Thus, she thought pessimistically—yet unexpectedly, his reply was positive.
“If it’s Lucy, that white horse you’ve always cherished, I understand. We can have her pull the carriage.”
His ready permission was so unbelievable that Riena asked again in a dazed voice.
“You really mean I can take her?”
Cassel answered without hesitation once more.
“As much as you wish, my lady. Knowing how dearly you care for Lucy, I couldn’t possibly leave her behind. Is there anything else you need?”
“No.”
Riena answered firmly.
“One bundle inside the carriage will be more than enough.”
“Will you be alright without bringing a personal maid?”
Cassel glanced toward Joanna, who stood to the side observing the situation. Riena followed his gaze and looked at Joanna as well.
Joanna waited hopefully for Riena to call her name, her freckled cheeks flushed bright red with anticipation.
Riena swallowed the rising anger in her throat and spoke as calmly as she could.
“I don’t need one.”
“A—Miss?”
Joanna approached her, disbelief written all over her face.
“Miss, what about me?”
Joanna’s pained expression—like someone betrayed by a lifelong companion—only made Riena feel more disgusted. She sidestepped Joanna’s attempt to grasp her hand and asked just one question.
“Why did you do it?”
“Huh?”
Joanna tried to feign composure, but she couldn’t hide the subtle trembling in her eyes. Riena stared straight into them and pressed again.
“Why did you do it?”
“Miss….”
“You didn’t even ask what I meant. If you were going to pretend ignorance, you should’ve asked me what I was talking about—at least then I might’ve lowered my suspicions a little.”
Riena let out a self-mocking laugh. She had expected it, but hearing it confirmed still left her hollow.
Even when Countess Daik had discovered the letter Riena sent to Raoul, she still trusted Joanna.
After all, Joanna had been her maid since childhood. Despite their difference in status, Riena had always regarded her more as a friend than a servant.
That was why she’d confided in Joanna without reservation—both when sending letters to Raoul and when planning her elopement.
Besides, hadn’t Countess Daik even slapped Joanna? There had been no reason whatsoever to suspect her.
Riena began doubting Joanna only after the carriage wheel sank into the mud and she saw Joanna’s reaction. Honestly, even when the Captain of the Knights appeared, her suspicion remained just that—suspicion.
But the moment she saw Joanna sigh in relief upon meeting Countess Daik, suspicion turned into certainty.
Joanna had been the one to betray everything to the Countess. The letter to Raoul hadn’t been discovered by chance—it had been handed directly to the Countess by Joanna.
“I couldn’t help it! The Countess said she’d fire me if I didn’t!”
“Yes, I understand. Because I know how desperate you were, I won’t blame you.”
“Miss….”
“But if you wanted to stay in the mansion so badly, then stay. Isn’t that right?”
Joanna’s faint hope collapsed under Riena’s resolute tone. She dropped to her knees and clutched Riena’s legs.
“Miss, I’ll be loyal to you from now on! No matter what happens, I’ll only listen to you—please don’t abandon me!”
“….”
“If you leave me behind, the Countess will cast me out! And once this gets out, I won’t be able to show my face anywhere in the territory!”
“Why should I care about that, Joanna?”
Hearing Riena’s icy tone—something she’d never heard before—Joanna unconsciously loosened her grip and looked up at her.
Riena’s violet eyes, gazing down at Joanna, were unwavering and resolute. Joanna realized at once that her mind was made up, and nothing she did would change it.
Tears streamed down Joanna’s cheeks.
“Miss, please have mercy….”
“The fact that I’m not punishing you for your betrayal is the last mercy I can show you.”
Riena replied without pity, then turned to Cassel.
“As I said—that’s all.”
“Understood. I’ll have preparations made. In the meantime, my lady, you should probably change your clothes.”
Cassel gestured to Ben, who quickly disappeared in the direction of the stables.
Noticing Cassel was also drenched, Riena suggested,
“Then perhaps Your Grace should also change before we depart? Even the nearest magic portal will take some time to reach—you might catch a cold if you go like that.”
The idea of Cassel, a swordsman at the peak of his craft, catching a cold from this drizzle was absurd—but Riena still worried about him.
“I’ve sorted most of my father’s belongings, but a few sets of clothes should remain. I’ll have a maid bring them to you—please come inside for a moment.”
Cassel looked down at her for a brief moment, then nodded.
“If that is my lady’s wish, I shall comply.”
She also offered fresh clothes to the knight who had accompanied Cassel, but he declined, saying he’d only get wet again once he mounted his horse.
“Well then, there’s nothing to be done. I’ll just escort Your Grace, then.”
Riena signaled to the Head Butler, who swiftly led Cassel inside.
Meanwhile, Riena went to her room, pulled on the first clothes she found, and tucked the ribbon she’d kept in her pocket into her sleeve before heading downstairs.
As she stood gazing wistfully at the mansion one last time, her eyes suddenly widened.
“Oh….”
Johannes Belliar stood before the mansion in light indoor attire. After staring at her blankly for a moment, he began walking toward her through the rain, and his aide hurriedly opened an umbrella over his head.
Johannes waved the umbrella away as if it were unnecessary and stepped closer to Riena, drenched. His hair and face glistened with rain, and the faint smile tugging at his lips made him look as delicate as a single white lily.
“Riena.”
Just as Johannes reached out his hand toward her, Cassel, standing beside Riena, stepped firmly in front of her.
Johannes narrowed his eyes slightly and greeted Cassel as if they were old acquaintances.
“It’s been a while, Lord Winkler. Or should I say, Your Grace, now that you’ve inherited the dukedom?”
“…”
Cassel remained silent, simply glaring at Johannes. Unfazed, Johannes smiled and continued.
“I simply can’t fathom why someone who should be in the North is here at the southernmost edge.”
“That goes for you as well, Lord Belliar. Shouldn’t you be enjoying parties in the capital instead of coming all the way here?”
“I came to find a fragrant flower. Speaking of which—would you mind stepping aside for a moment? I have something to discuss privately with Lady Daik.”
“She’ll hear me perfectly well even if we speak like this.”
Riena grasped Cassel’s arm.
“It’s fine. I’ll just speak with Lord Belliar briefly.”
Even then, Cassel didn’t move.
“I’m asking you, please.”
At those words, Cassel looked between her and Johannes with evident concern, then placed an umbrella in her hand and stepped back. Once Riena confirmed he’d moved far enough away, she spoke.
“I’m sorry, Lord Belliar.”
“…”
“I don’t think I can accept your proposal. I know it’s awkward to say this out of order, but things have come to this.”
Johannes was silent for a moment before speaking.
“I’ve always thought it unbecoming for a man to ask this—but I must ask anyway.”
“Yes?”
“What makes Duke Winkler acceptable, but not me?”
To answer that, she’d have to explain the arrangement she’d made with Cassel. But she couldn’t say it outright, so Riena stayed silent.
‘Truthfully… if it hadn’t been Cassel Winkler, perhaps things would’ve been different.’
If Johannes had suggested a sham marriage, claiming she could use him, she never would have accepted.
Even if her childhood friend Raoul—someone she trusted completely—had made the same offer, her answer would have been no different.
But Cassel was different.
For some reason she couldn’t explain, her heart leaned toward him.
Was it because they’d been childhood friends? That alone wasn’t enough to move her.
All she knew was that something inside her had changed the moment he’d looked up at her, holding that crumpled bouquet.
Perhaps it was because of the dream that had haunted her these past two months. In that dream, she’d given her heart to a man utterly devoted to her—and Cassel shared that man’s exact face and voice.
There was no way to know whether the man in her dream was truly Cassel. Even if they were the same person, it wouldn’t necessarily mean they were truly identical.
After all, what happened in the dream had never occurred in reality—and Cassel himself had no idea what dreams she’d been having.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
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‘I also want to ask if Cassel had a lover… but I can’t bring myself to ask that
No shit Sherlock! 🤔🙄🤦🏻♀️ I don’t like stupid people really …My hand starts to get itchy 😡
“Rebecca? Maybe that’s too old-fashioned… How about Regina? Rachel? Renée? Oh! R
I think sometimes she can be reeeeeaaally dumb 🤔😒🤦🏻♀️
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Wat happened to the other guy—raol or smth??? Wasn’t as going to go to him first?