Chapter 23: I took away Yeju's first love.
As I watched this, I continued speaking.
"It was better than losing her life, but still, a perfumer's life is her sense of smell, isn't it? I showed it to the congregation because Mother and I were close, but there's been no improvement at all."
After saying that, I just drank my tea. The atmosphere became so heavy it felt suffocating.
After a long silence, Tatiana finally spoke.
"Why are you telling me this story?"
"Hmm? Just to see if you have a conscience."
Her hand, gripping the hem of her dress, was trembling.
I put down my teacup, leaned back into the chair, and smiled at her.
"I just wanted to let you know that you've completely ruined someone's life."
"That's not true, I didn't do that."
"Really? But why do you care so much, like you're the culprit?"
Tatiana glared at me, biting her lip.
I knew that when she was cornered, she had the habit of biting her lip.
"Come on, Titi. Why did you torment that person so much? You even sent Raymond."
"No, I... I didn't do that."
"Nivea rejected my offer of revenge because she thought of you until the end."
Her pale blue eyes trembled helplessly.
Her body was so still, it seemed she had forgotten to breathe.
Thank goodness, she still has a conscience.
At least she's the kind of person who will suffer from guilt for the rest of her life.
"I came here to tell you this story. I'll be going now."
I stood up and slowly walked towards the door.
I put my hand on the doorknob and waited for a moment.
She wouldn't let me leave like this.
Our heroine can't live with herself as the perpetrator.
She would definitely make an excuse, and in her current flustered state, it would likely reveal her true self.
Just like when she confessed to me that all the male leads belonged to her.
"It's all your fault, Karin."
"What are you talking about? What did I do?"
"Why did you try to take what I couldn't have?"
The reason that came out of her mouth was something I couldn't even imagine.
"That person was someone I approached first. What right do you have to try to take them away?"
"People aren't objects, Titi. And in business, who approached first isn't important. You didn't even sign a contract."
I turned around and stood in front of Tatiana.
I pressed her shoulder with my finger and said,
"Instead, you were the one who tried to ruin them with vicious methods."
"I won't let anyone, especially Karin, have what I can't have!"
Her eyes were filled with madness.
Her endless greed felt like a bottomless pit.
"From now on, nothing will be taken from you, Karin. If you do get something, it will only be a completely ruined piece of trash. Be careful. Like Aster!"
A sharp sound split the air.
"Watch your words, Titi. Don't you dare mention Aster's name with that dirty mouth."
Looking at Tatiana's reddening cheek, I slowly spoke.
"Go crazy by yourself. Don't ruin other people's lives."
I was more rational than ever.
I felt like I would regret it if I didn't hit her now.
Tatiana, filled with anger, shouted and raised her hand to slap my cheek.
Thanks to the training I had done, even though my body wasn't fully recovered, I easily caught her wrist.
"Is it okay to use force like that, Titi?"
I immediately let go of her, mocking her as she struggled.
Perhaps because she was using all her strength, her body staggered and she fell to the floor.
The servants, who had been waiting outside, burst in at the sound.
They rushed to surround Tatiana.
I was surprised by their strong loyalty.
The butler glared at me with hatred.
"What are you doing! After all you've learned!"
I calmly shook my hand and said to the butler,
"After all she's learned, the duchess wanted to take my ex-fiancé as a mistress."
"What? When did I say that!"
My prepared story made Tatiana's eyes widen.
Fortunately, there were many reasons for me to come and cause trouble.
"You told Sir Wilhelm you wanted to meet again. Since our marriage was a political one, you suggested we each have a mistress. You said you wanted Sir Wilhelm as your mistress."
Tatiana's past of taking away my ex-fiancés was now shining brightly.
The maids, and even the butler who had rushed at me, looked at her strangely.
They seemed to doubt it, but also thought it might be true.
Otherwise, they would have immediately condemned and attacked me.
"Since I was the one insulted first, isn't this a cheap price to pay?"
Tatiana, who had been lying on the floor, quickly stood up and lunged at me.
"Karin, are you crazy? Why are you saying things that never happened...!"
Blocking Lily, who tried to stop her, I leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"Or should I tell them what you just said?"
"I'm not that stupid. I recorded everything you said."
Before coming here, I deliberately wore a magical earring with a recording function.
Thanks to that, I was able to record everything Tatiana said earlier.
"How could you do such a despicable thing..."
"You did the same to me. Why are you surprised now?"
I had been the one whose sincere words, spoken in trust, were recorded and exposed when it was to my disadvantage.
"You're the one who spoke freely without thinking."
Just like I had trusted Andrew and Tatiana.
"Be careful. You know this world isn't as kind to you as it used to be."
Tatiana only shuddered, showing no reaction.
Thinking there was nothing more to do, I slowly walked past her.
I will return the favor several times over for the price of ruining Nivea's life to trample on mine.
As I stepped outside, Lily, who had been held by other maids, ran to me.
We quickly crossed the corridor.
Lily, looking around, asked quietly,
"Miss, did you really hit her? She didn't just fall on her own?"
Lily cheered softly, delighted.
I didn't think it was that big of a deal, but I didn't mind since I wasn't in a bad mood either.
As I was about to get into the carriage after leaving the ducal mansion, an unexpected man appeared.
Andrew LeBrun Gloucester.
Meeting a man I didn't want to see in the worst place.
The only thought in my mind was to leave as quickly as possible.
I slightly bowed my head in greeting.
His shadow, visible while I was bowed, rippled slightly.
After finishing the greeting, I quickly tried to pass by him and head to the carriage, but he grabbed my wrist, stopping me.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see the duchess. I had something to ask."
His eyes wavered at my words.
They were the same deep purple as Aster's, but felt completely different.
Just looking at him made me feel down.
I looked at him, who seemed dazed, and turned around.
It was as if this couple had a habit of being flirtatious even after marriage.
"Why are you doing this, Your Highness?"
"Do you have a moment to talk?"
Lily, clearly unhappy, tugged at my clothes from behind.
I had no intention of talking to him at all.
"I'm sorry, but unlike some people, I do care about others' opinions. If you have something to say to me, please send a formal request to the ducal house."
His request would never reach me.
It would probably be erased without a trace by my family.
I calmly passed by Andrew.
In the past, just seeing his face made me cry, but now it only made me feel bitter.
The saying 'time heals all wounds' is true.
'But I never want to see him again.'
I thought as I got into the carriage.
After Karin left the ducal mansion, Tatiana was restless with anxiety.
Unlike the dark and small Tatiana, her bedroom was dazzlingly luxurious.
"Your Highness, would you like some tea?"
The maid's eyes seemed different.
It felt like she was condemning her, which scared Tatiana.
The surroundings, which she always felt safe in, now seemed like potential threats.
"Huh? No, no. You can go. I need to think alone."
After dismissing the maid, Tatiana looked at the bracelet she was wearing.
When she turned the inside of her wrist, a few of the transparent beads had small cracks.
'This is all because the bracelet is broken.'
After the bracelet broke, the sturdy wall that protected her world began to waver.