Becky’s voice trembled as she uttered the words, “I was blackmailed,” to Lyna.
Upon hearing this, Lyna simply nodded her head in acknowledgment, prompting Becky to close her mouth once again.
Becky’s nervousness was palpable as she rubbed her cold palms together. Lyna’s voice cut through the silence, “He asked you to bring the permit that servants use to enter and exit during the hunting competition, and you don’t know why…”
Becky recounted the conversation she had with Hans earlier that day, her words spilling forth with urgency.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Lyna’s expression remained unchanged.
She sank deep into her chair and listened intently, her calm demeanor a facade for the turmoil brewing within. Not a muscle twitched as she remained indifferent to Becky’s plight.
Lyna inclined her head, her eyes fixed intently on Becky. “So, he said he would meet you on the day the permits come out?” she inquired, her tone measured and deliberate. “He seems quite certain that you’ll have the permit,” she added, a hint of concern creeping into her voice.
Becky hesitated before admitting, “Yes, I believe so.”
Lyna’s mind raced as she surmised, “Then it must be quite crucial for you to have it.”
Becky remained silent, and Lyna didn’t pry any further.
She knew better than to ask for the “why” first. After all, it’s important to remove the threat first. But Lyna didn’t ask Becky why. She understood that the reason behind the blackmail was a delicate matter, and exposing it could be dangerous for both of them.
Lyna had learned the hard way that her bad luck didn’t discriminate against those around her. If she intervened and things went awry, it could put both her and Becky in jeopardy.
Lyna regarded Becky carefully, her words measured and cautious. “I regret to inform you and that man that I have already declined to participate in the hunting competition,” she said evenly.
Becky’s response was a barely audible “Uh.”
“Of course, there won’t be any permits for servants like you to use,” Lyna continued, her voice firm.
A deep shadow fell across Becky’s face as she bowed her head in defeat.
“Since the Duke’s office has already sent a letter regarding the hunting competition, if I were to say that I will attend, the permit will arrive tomorrow at the latest, even if it’s late.”
A heavy silence descended upon them as Lyna gazed towards the palace, her face clouded with worry.
“I may not know who the man who threatened you is, but he knows about permits and hunting competition. He even knows when the permit will arrive,” she said, her voice tinged with bitterness.
Becky opened her mouth to speak but found no words. She closed it again, her silence a testament to the gravity of the situation. Not even a simple “okay” came out of her mouth.
The news that Lyna, a Bolsheik, had declined to participate in the upcoming hunting competition was likely spreading like wildfire through the grapevine.
Lyna seemed to sense Becky’s unease and added, “You know how people are, especially when it comes to spreading gossip. Everyone will know soon enough, including the person who threatened you.”
Lyna fixed Becky with a penetrating gaze, pushing her to the edge. “You probably have an idea of what’s to come after this news gets out.”
Of course, the blackmailer wouldn’t simply give up and walk away. He had already set the stage for his next move when he made Becky fetch the permit.
Becky’s face darkened further, but she remained silent.
At this critical juncture in her life, Becky had chosen the third option – not lying, but also not revealing everything – and it had failed her.
In the distance, Becky’s shoulders shook heavily as she tried to steady herself.
‘Okay. Since she hasn’t blurted out her secret even though I went this far, I’ll put out the fire first.’
Lyna extended a helping hand to Becky, pulling her out of her dark pit. “I’ll attend the hunting competition,” she said, almost on a whim.
Or was it a hasty calculation, hoping to delay Becky’s inevitable closeness with Jane by showing her a little favor?
Regardless, Lyna had participated in the competition before, before the regression. Even if things went awry, as they had in the past, she had nothing to protect now.
“Thank you so much,” Becky replied, bowing deeply, but Lyna remained calm.
“You’ll have to take care of getting your permit,” she said.
Lyna could easily obtain dozens of servant permits with a single word, she didn’t go that far. It was a matter of scratching each other’s backs.
Lyna was willing to participate in the competition, which she had nearly missed, but she couldn’t take another step without risking ridiculous bad luck and trouble.
“Your luck will only get worse if I get involved,” she warned Becky.
The latter had no idea what Lyna meant by “luck,” but she lowered her head even further.
Becky was not disappointed or anxious that Lyna didn’t solve the problem with just one word. After all, the noble lady had made a decision for her without even being asked.
Besides, Becky had experienced firsthand the consequences of being greedy in the past.
Lyna commanded her to leave, and Becky stepped out of the room, releasing a breath she had been holding.
“Uh…haaa~.”
She looked up at the firmly closed door, recalling the saying that when one door closes, another opens.
The lady who provided a reason to run away had given her a way to escape.
“I need to get a permit,” she thought as she continued with more lively steps until she disappeared without a sound.
Before Jane entered the Bolshevik family, Becky appeared before Lyna like a fragment of the past.
Whether this coincidence will bring luck or misfortune to someone is yet to be revealed in the near future.
When Lyna confronted Becky, the news of the Young Lady of Bolsheik Duke’s absence from the hunting competition spread like wildfire throughout the capital.
“I heard she declined the invitation outright.”
The moment the first person who had sent numerous invitations to the Bolsheik opened their mouth, others followed suit.
“Yes, she has declined every single time.”
“I knew it, what a disappointment.”
People who had been rejected by the Bolsheik before now spoke up, revealing the fact that Lyna had not responded to any of the invitations.
“She even broke off her engagement, right?”
“Yes, the temple ceremony has already taken place.”
The engagement had been sudden, so the breakup was equally unexpected.
Those who had made promises with their lips sealed could only exchange awkward glances.
It wasn’t a match made in heaven from the start.
The alliance between the relatively unknown Third Prince Smith and the Bolsheik Young lady would have remained unknown if not for this engagement.
“Didn’t they love each other?”
“People’s hearts change,”
An awkward smile appeared on the lips of those who remembered Lyna’s loud declaration of love at the time of the engagement.
If they were engaged because they loved each other, then breaking off the engagement meant that love had died out.
It felt like something was coming and everything was unfolding as it should, but it was surprising how easy it was to end the engagement with the imperial family.
Someone whispered in a low voice, as if something crazy had occurred.
“Did she perhaps fall ill?”
No one spoke out in the agreement, but the look of agreement passed between them.
“Even if it’s not an illness, there must be something going on.”
“She’s not even participating in the hunting competition. What on earth is going on?”
Naturally, the news of Lyna’s absence from the hunting competition that caused a stir in society also reached Smith and Ainar’s ears.
“What? Absent?”
“Yes, Your Highness. And we received this letter from Bolsheik.”
After taking the letter from his aide, Smith read the brief and unemotional message inside and erupted in anger.
“What kind of nonsense is this!”
The aide quickly hunched his back and began to speak rapidly, explaining that since the engagement had been officially terminated, Bolsheik would be retrieving their gifts and would no longer provide any support.
“I saw it too, there’s no need to repeat it!”
Smith crumpled the paper with the Bolsheik seal on it and threw it at his aide’s face, shouting in frustration.
“Ugh!”
The aide, hit by the crumpled paper flying towards him at a painful speed, immediately lowered his head, not daring to touch his swollen nose.
“Canceled, canceled, canceled! Without my permission…”
Smith vented his anger and ground his teeth. He knew all too well that this engagement could be made or canceled without his consent or will.
After taking a moment to calm himself, he turned his attention to the aide’s swollen lips and asked,