Chapter 107

 

Leroy spoke provocatively.

 

It was a tone that definitively asserted such an event would not happen. Whether it was due to her misdeeds or his change of heart.

 

Iona, looking at his confident face, found herself speechless.

 

He could speak in such a way only because he didn’t remember the events of his past life.

 

Before her death, she had been anything but a reliable wife.

 

Though she never blatantly did anything that could negatively influence him, given her position as his spouse, the number of obstructions she caused with indirect intent was countless.

 

While helping the crown prince keep Leroy in check, Iona consoled herself that it was something that could not be helped.

 

Once she peeled away that flimsy excuse, her own cowardice was laid bare.

 

She wasn’t a good enough person to deserve such trust from him.

 

“…How could I possibly do such a thing to the Duke?”

 

“See?”

 

Leroy raised and then lowered his eyebrows as if to say, ‘I told you so.’

 

Iona didn’t bother to prove her own mediocrity. She only wanted him to see the best in her.

 

Instead, Iona reaffirmed her resolution.

 

There would never be a situation where he was put in danger because of a half-hearted wife like before. She would protect him in this life, no matter what.

 

“…After the dance, would it be alright to go somewhere quiet to talk? I’d like to ask you more about that day.”

 

It was a bond that began unexpectedly in times long past. Naturally, Iona had many questions she wanted to ask Leroy.

 

The same was true for the other party, as Leroy responded to Iona’s words with a playful voice.

 

“If you answer my question first.”

 

“What are you curious about, Your Grace?”

 

“Last time, I noticed you didn’t seem as interested in food as you used to be.”

 

Leroy deliberately paused, as if to give weight to his words.

 

Iona almost reflexively coughed out loud but managed to suppress it.

 

Suddenly, she remembered a time when he had taken her to a restaurant and filled the entire table with food, treating her extravagantly.

 

At the time, she thought it was an unbecoming way to waste food, but she never thought it was something he did after knowing her past.

 

She was about to excuse it as a bad habit from her childhood, but the dance song ended just then.

 

Iona and Leroy locked eyes for a moment.

 

Leroy spoke with a voice laden with emotion.

 

“After we parted back then, did you live well? As much as others, without missing out on the simple, yet essential things…”

 

His eyes held a hope that she had.

 

Regrettably, Iona’s growth wasn’t as bright and hopeful as he might have expected.

 

The reason she no longer felt deprived of the things she once obsessed over was simply because she had been stripped of even the desire for them.

 

As Iona hesitated, searching for a response, people began to leave the ballroom one by one.

 

Leroy and Iona, not wanting to stay too late, blended into the crowd and walked out.

 

Fortunately, or unfortunately, Iona didn’t need to ponder her answer any longer.

 

As if on cue, a servant approached Leroy with a message from the crown prince.

 

“Your Grace, the crown prince is waiting for you.”

 

Leroy looked at the servant reluctantly.

 

There was a plan to meet after the dance, but he hadn’t expected them to be this hurried.

 

Then again, considering what he had done, the crown prince’s reaction wasn’t overly sensitive.

 

Leroy, taking his eyes off the respectfully bowed servant, sought permission.

 

“Would it be alright if I stepped away for a moment?”

 

“Of course.”

 

With Iona’s easy consent, Leroy requested the servant to lead the way.

 

Before following, Leroy glanced back at Iona and shrugged his shoulders lightly.

 

“I’m quite looking forward to what gift the His Highness the Crown Prince will present.”

 

It didn’t seem like he expected a response, as he promptly moved away from Iona.

 

Watching his retreating figure, Iona inwardly sighed in relief.

 

It was fortunate that he had to leave his seat.

 

She wasn’t ready to shatter Leroy’s expectations, nor was she prepared to deceive him with a fabricated life.

 

‘It seems I’ve already failed to not look pitiful,’ Iona thought wryly.

 

She wondered why standing proudly by his side felt so daunting.

 

Feeling weary, she looked for a place to rest, sensing others subtly waiting for an opportunity to approach.

 

It would have been better to mingle with acquaintances at this time.

 

She regretted that Saskia wasn’t around, as she would have mingled with her.

 

Pretending to look for someone, Iona scanned the room with calm eyes. She spotted Erna and Claudia conversing not far away.

 

Just as Iona was about to approach them, someone abruptly grabbed her wrist.

 

“Iona.”

 

It was Nils.

 

Dressed in flashy clothes, he wore an ill-fitting kind smile.

 

As Iona visibly frowned, Nils quickly let go of her hand, and then offered a smooth congratulatory message.

 

“Congratulations. The Duke finally proposed, I hear. It would have been better if he had discussed it with me, your brother, since father was away... Of course, in such a joyous situation where two hearts meet, what’s the importance of such formalities?”

 

The idea that Leroy should have consulted him about the proposal was surprising.

 

It was a remark that almost made them seem like affectionate siblings.

 

Of course, Nils was putting on this act because he wanted something from Iona.

 

Nils closed in on Iona and whispered insinuatingly.

 

“So, about the promise you made, Iona…”

 

It seemed he was harboring false hope that everything would go well after witnessing Leroy’s proposal to Iona.

 

Nils’ smiling face was oddly familiar to Iona.

 

She knew this expression. Many people had approached her with such a face, trying to curry favor with her.

 

Even in the situation where Yvonne was confined, Nils seemed more concerned about his own well-being, trying to appease Iona.

 

Of course, Yvonne was just reaping the consequences of her actions, but the usual Nils wouldn’t have seen the situation so objectively. His arm was always bent inwards, after all.

 

Iona swallowed a scoff at Nils’ craven appearance.

 

Matching Nils’ low tone, Iona asked back.

 

“Do you want me to talk about that issue here in public?”

 

Iona knew several ways to shut Nils up.

 

Sure enough, at Iona’s bluff, Nils hastily waved his hands and backed off.

 

“No, we can talk comfortably about it at home.”

 

It was a feeble evasion.

 

After all, it wasn’t like Iona completely couldn’t understand Nils’ position.

 

Following Yvonne’s incident, everyone was subtly curious about the Modrov family’s affairs.

 

Just because Nils was Yvonne’s biological brother didn’t mean he could ignore Iona in such a setting; it would have looked very odd.

 

Maintaining an outward appearance of a trouble-free family relationship wasn’t bad for Iona either, so instead of pushing Nils further, she chose to silently let it pass.

 

However, it seemed she was fated not to rest easy while waiting for Leroy.

 

No sooner had she moved a few steps than someone else blocked her path.

 

Iona’s eyes widened slightly as she recognized the face.

 

She hadn’t expected someone embroiled in scandal to show their face at such a public event so soon.

 

Taken aback, Iona remained silent, prompting Florence, pale-faced, to speak first.

 

“Dame Iona, could we talk for a moment?”

 

***

 

“What is this supposed to be?”

 

Hearing the crown prince’s stern voice, Leroy thought it was exactly the reaction he had expected.

 

Perhaps to freely express what he couldn’t at the ballroom, the crown prince had called Leroy to a secluded place.

 

Leroy glanced around the almost empty room with a dry look.

 

Even though he danced with Iona for quite a long time, it seemed like it wasn’t enough time for the crown prince to calm down his anger.

 

The crown prince was pressuring Leroy with cold, undisguised fury in his eyes.

 

Pretending to be unaware and avoiding the conflict wasn’t in Leroy’s nature.

 

After a brief contemplation, Leroy replied with a lifted corner of his mouth.

 

“Did I not promise to marry Lady Iona as Your Highness wished?”

 

His response was sincere, not pretentious, though its underlying intent was mockery.

 

The crown prince quickly grasped the meaning behind Leroy’s words, gripping the doorknob tightly just as Leroy finished speaking.

 

“Wasn’t I clear enough about what this marriage means? Are you slow to understand, or is this intentional defiance?”

 

The crown prince’s words were sharp, each one seeming to stir his anger. In contrast, Leroy faced the crown prince with an utterly untroubled expression.

 

“I’m not sure why you say that. Proposing to a lady before marriage is a natural procedure.”

 

“The problem is that your proposal was overflowing with unnecessary earnestness. As if you’re trying to challenge me.”

 

“A challenge, you say? Are you implying that Your Highness and I are competing over Lady Iona?”

 

Leroy expressed his amusement. Maintaining a relaxed smile, he continued fluidly.

 

“If that’s the case, do you also think she seemed swayed toward me?”

--- End Of The Chapter ----

 

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