028. Why do you want to cry?
“Wasn’t it hard coming here?”
“Yes? No... It was okay.”
“I was worried it might rain again, but it’s sunny today.”
Her throat got choked up again as he nonchalantly reminded her of the day when it rained heavily.
“Did Grojean say yesterday? He said he received an invitation from Madame Luen.”
"Yes."
A frown appeared on one side of his face. Emilia quickly looked away.
“She probably doesn’t know what to do now. Two people with Meyer tags are attending a party that was supposed to be full of rookies.”
There is a strangely happy look in his cold eyes.
“We’re going to be the most popular lovers in Nowak.”
He said the word 'lover' again so nonchalantly.
Emilia was shocked as if she had been hit hard on the head. It wasn't because of Hardius. It was because her heart was pounding at his words.
Come on, this is just an act. You came here to sign a divorce paper!
Emilia steeled herself.
“Odilia Luen invited you at a very opportune time.”
Hardius's cheerful voice continued. It was becoming increasingly difficult for Emilia to listen quietly.
“Of course, I had to keep deviating from my plans to attend that little ball...”
"Master."
A cold voice stops him.
“The divorce agreement. Show me that first.”
Hardius's face hardened for a moment.
“You called me to sign, didn’t you?”
He put one hand in his pocket, his face suddenly calming down.
“What’s so urgent?”
“That’s why you called me.”
“Later. When I go out and come back.”
“Are you going out?”
“There’s a Botanical Garden nearby. The lakeside path there is perfect for a walk right now. You like walking. Just walk for 30 minutes and have dinner at a restaurant with a nice view..."
“You don’t mean to say that... you want to do it with me right now, do you?”
The man's eyes lost their sparkle and quickly dried up.
“What is the intention of your question?”
“Because I can’t believe it.”
“Trust me. Otherwise, why would I be dressed like this?”
Hardius spread his arms as if he were going to show off. Emilia hastily lowered her eyes.
That man was so perfect right now that it was almost ecstatic. If Charlotte walked with him arm in arm like a real lover, she would feel like she would turn into a real monster and bring about some strange magic.
It is black magic and a curse. It is a terrible curse that makes you lose sight of reality by being deceived by the groundless words of 'I like you'.
“Let’s talk about the broken engagement later, after we walk together.”
“No, I don’t intend to do that. I didn’t come here to take a leisurely walk.”
Emilia thought so and took off her gloves and hat in front of the large table.
“Please give me the agreement.”
Hardius's face hardened completely, as if he sensed the determination in her eyes as she demanded again.
“...If you want.”
He walked to the door and called out to someone.
A moment later, the door opened again, and a man with a beaked nose, a moustache, and monocles appeared.
“Hello, this is attorney Stefan Bildermate.”
“Hello, Young Lady. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Looking at him greeting her politely, she realized it once again.
All this is just a pretense.
It would be natural for a noble like Hardius to wear a mask that was different on the outside and inside, but Emilia was different. It was natural for her to feel uncomfortable and uneasy.
“Hello, Mr. Buildermate. Since you brought the engagement agreement, I assume you know the truth. I know it would be presumptuous of you to not call me ‘Young Lady’ when we’re alone like this. Just call me Miss Bern.”
Hardius's eyes narrowed, and the lawyer looked flustered. Regardless, Emilia pulled up a chair and sat down. She wanted to show off her businesslike demeanor without showing any emotion.
“What about the documents?”
“...Stefan, show the young lady the contract.”
Still, he calls her 'Young Lady' as if it were nothing. Emilia swallowed her irritation and glared at Hardius.
After a while, a bundle of about ten documents was handed to Emilia.
<Breakup Agreement>
Emilia felt more at ease in front of the title. She quickly rolled up her sleeves and picked up the document. She couldn't even read a few words,
"Here."
Hardius suddenly dipped his pen in ink and handed it to her. It was a very annoying gesture of urging.
“Just sign it. There’s nothing that will harm you. It’s just a procedure. Don’t put too much meaning into it...”
“I have to read it.”
Emilia raised her head and looked straight into the arrogant eyes looking down from above.
“Who would sign something without even reading it?”
The pen paused in midair. Then it slowly returned to its pen holder.
Having been checking the ledgers of Cavendish Manor for the past five years, she knew better than anyone the importance of documents and terms and conditions.
“Where is the information about residency? I want to check that first...”
The cold gaze turned to the lawyer this time. He, who had been sitting leisurely, flinched and adjusted his monocle.
“Ah, perhaps it is... Article 7, Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2...”
Little hands turned the paper without hesitation. Article 7, Paragraph 2, it really was written. Kaitlyn Meyer had kept her promise.
“Oh, that’s a relief.”
Emilia let out a sigh of relief without realizing it. Hardius's eyes sank heavily, but she didn't notice at all. From then on, she became terribly absorbed in the documents.
‘Reading’ is a wonderful act.
As she read each and every word carefully, many things disappeared from her consciousness.
From the perfectly dressed Hardius to the lawyer who was struggling to cover his bulging belly with his hands, to the servants who greeted her politely as if she were a noble lady...
The tiny letters held Emilia tightly together again.
in the end.
"Great."
After checking the last sentence, she put the document down in her hands. Contrary to her brave answer, she found it difficult to even turn her head towards Hardius.
“Can I have a pen?”
He didn't even move.
“Here it is.”
The lawyer, unable to stand watching, handed Emilia a pen, and she signed without hesitation.
The lawyer received the documents, checked them, and extended his arm with his seal.
After a while, the bright red wax melted and the Meyer family crest, a shield and arrows, were engraved on it.
End.
Her heart started pounding hard. She finally did it.
Broken engagement.
No, a breakup agreement.
In an instant, the tension was released, and her spirits were drained. She felt like steam was rising from her head.
After covering her swollen cheeks, Emilia began to straighten her messy hair.
As she gathered her annoying hair and swept it to one side, there was a strange gaze that beat down on her face like the scorching sun.
When she glanced around, she saw the man's eyes quietly gleaming as if he were going to devour her.
While Emilia was buried in paperwork, something had changed greatly for Hardius as well.
“I did what you wanted, so should I go out now?”
“Does it have to be like that?”
The light steps suddenly stopped.
“I know that you and your family are in a difficult situation. I also understand that you need to calm public opinion before breaking off the engagement. However, I don’t think it’s necessary to go this far. If we go to the botanical garden for a walk and have dinner, you don’t mean that I should pretend to like you, do you?”
Emilia shrugged her shoulders as if she found it ridiculous and walked over to the window.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to go that far. Just going to Madame Luen’s ball is enough to show people.”
“Don’t you remember? You promised to cooperate as much as possible.”
Emilia turned around to look at him, startled by his sharp words.
But there was no irritation, no anger, no displeasure on his face. There was no emotion at all. Hardius was just sitting there, dark as the night sky.
“Tobias.”
He suddenly called the butler. The white-haired man who opened the door and came in was startled by the cold air flowing into the living room, but he soon managed to calm his expression.
“Call Ellier. The young lady is ready.”
Her eyebrows furrow involuntarily.
“Ellier?”
“I’m telling you in advance that I’m not ignoring your independence.”
What?
“It’s not for you either. It’s for me. Ellier is a designer. I asked for it specially. A dress for you.”
“...What... Dress?”
“Just put it on. Then she’ll adjust it to fit you better. She said it’ll only take an hour. Let’s wait, change, and go out together.”
Hardius continued speaking, pretending not to see the shocked Emilia.
“I promised to fulfill my duties as a fiancé. So just take it.”
The door flew open.
“Hello, Miss!”
A cheerful voice that did not match the suffocating air at all, followed by the thick fragrance of flowers. The maids came in one after another, led by a woman dressed in fancy clothes.
In their hands, they each held a colorful dress, far more extravagant and splendid than anything in Vignette's wardrobe.
A total of seven dresses formed a circle around Emilia, but not a single one caught her eye. Emilia continued to breathe heavily, feeling dizzy.
“Because Lord Meyer kept urging us, twenty employees had to stay up all night for several days. We didn’t get to measure your measurements, but don’t worry. These days, dresses are made using patterns. If we make a mock-up like this...”
Emilia unconsciously took a step back to avoid Ellier, who was approaching her without hesitation. Then her eyes met Hardius’s. His indifferent gaze did nothing, but Emilia felt as if her throat was being strangled.
"Young Lady?"
Ellier called her.
“No, I am not a ‘young lady.’”
She answered firmly and strode forward, breaking the spectacle of gorgeous dresses. She grabbed the bonnet that was on the table and turned to face Hardius.
“Why are you being so stubborn? I told you clearly. I don’t need any more compensation.”
Emilia shook her head as she watched him approach.
“No. Don’t come...”
To her surprise, her eyes became hot. Her eyelids, her cheeks, her chin, no place wasn't trembling.
Emilia tried her best not to cry. Just before the tears that had boiled over were about to spill out, Emilia barely managed to turn around.
“That’s enough... I’ll go now.”
Why am I like this?
She doesn't know why she wants to cry so much, why she's so angry.
Knock, knock, knock. Every time her old shoes hit the marble floor, the servants passing by flinched. Emilia crossed the hall and ran out of the mansion in an instant.
“Wasn’t it hard coming here?”
“Yes? No... It was okay.”
“I was worried it might rain again, but it’s sunny today.”
Her throat got choked up again as he nonchalantly reminded her of the day when it rained heavily.
“Did Grojean say yesterday? He said he received an invitation from Madame Luen.”
"Yes."
A frown appeared on one side of his face. Emilia quickly looked away.
“She probably doesn’t know what to do now. Two people with Meyer tags are attending a party that was supposed to be full of rookies.”
There is a strangely happy look in his cold eyes.
“We’re going to be the most popular lovers in Nowak.”
He said the word 'lover' again so nonchalantly.
Emilia was shocked as if she had been hit hard on the head. It wasn't because of Hardius. It was because her heart was pounding at his words.
Come on, this is just an act. You came here to sign a divorce paper!
Emilia steeled herself.
“Odilia Luen invited you at a very opportune time.”
Hardius's cheerful voice continued. It was becoming increasingly difficult for Emilia to listen quietly.
“Of course, I had to keep deviating from my plans to attend that little ball...”
"Master."
A cold voice stops him.
“The divorce agreement. Show me that first.”
Hardius's face hardened for a moment.
“You called me to sign, didn’t you?”
He put one hand in his pocket, his face suddenly calming down.
“What’s so urgent?”
“That’s why you called me.”
“Later. When I go out and come back.”
“Are you going out?”
“There’s a Botanical Garden nearby. The lakeside path there is perfect for a walk right now. You like walking. Just walk for 30 minutes and have dinner at a restaurant with a nice view..."
“You don’t mean to say that... you want to do it with me right now, do you?”
The man's eyes lost their sparkle and quickly dried up.
“What is the intention of your question?”
“Because I can’t believe it.”
“Trust me. Otherwise, why would I be dressed like this?”
Hardius spread his arms as if he were going to show off. Emilia hastily lowered her eyes.
That man was so perfect right now that it was almost ecstatic. If Charlotte walked with him arm in arm like a real lover, she would feel like she would turn into a real monster and bring about some strange magic.
It is black magic and a curse. It is a terrible curse that makes you lose sight of reality by being deceived by the groundless words of 'I like you'.
“Let’s talk about the broken engagement later, after we walk together.”
“No, I don’t intend to do that. I didn’t come here to take a leisurely walk.”
Emilia thought so and took off her gloves and hat in front of the large table.
“Please give me the agreement.”
Hardius's face hardened completely, as if he sensed the determination in her eyes as she demanded again.
“...If you want.”
He walked to the door and called out to someone.
A moment later, the door opened again, and a man with a beaked nose, a moustache, and monocles appeared.
“Hello, this is attorney Stefan Bildermate.”
“Hello, Young Lady. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Looking at him greeting her politely, she realized it once again.
All this is just a pretense.
It would be natural for a noble like Hardius to wear a mask that was different on the outside and inside, but Emilia was different. It was natural for her to feel uncomfortable and uneasy.
“Hello, Mr. Buildermate. Since you brought the engagement agreement, I assume you know the truth. I know it would be presumptuous of you to not call me ‘Young Lady’ when we’re alone like this. Just call me Miss Bern.”
Hardius's eyes narrowed, and the lawyer looked flustered. Regardless, Emilia pulled up a chair and sat down. She wanted to show off her businesslike demeanor without showing any emotion.
“What about the documents?”
“...Stefan, show the young lady the contract.”
Still, he calls her 'Young Lady' as if it were nothing. Emilia swallowed her irritation and glared at Hardius.
After a while, a bundle of about ten documents was handed to Emilia.
<Breakup Agreement>
Emilia felt more at ease in front of the title. She quickly rolled up her sleeves and picked up the document. She couldn't even read a few words,
"Here."
Hardius suddenly dipped his pen in ink and handed it to her. It was a very annoying gesture of urging.
“Just sign it. There’s nothing that will harm you. It’s just a procedure. Don’t put too much meaning into it...”
“I have to read it.”
Emilia raised her head and looked straight into the arrogant eyes looking down from above.
“Who would sign something without even reading it?”
The pen paused in midair. Then it slowly returned to its pen holder.
Having been checking the ledgers of Cavendish Manor for the past five years, she knew better than anyone the importance of documents and terms and conditions.
“Where is the information about residency? I want to check that first...”
The cold gaze turned to the lawyer this time. He, who had been sitting leisurely, flinched and adjusted his monocle.
“Ah, perhaps it is... Article 7, Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2...”
Little hands turned the paper without hesitation. Article 7, Paragraph 2, it really was written. Kaitlyn Meyer had kept her promise.
“Oh, that’s a relief.”
Emilia let out a sigh of relief without realizing it. Hardius's eyes sank heavily, but she didn't notice at all. From then on, she became terribly absorbed in the documents.
‘Reading’ is a wonderful act.
As she read each and every word carefully, many things disappeared from her consciousness.
From the perfectly dressed Hardius to the lawyer who was struggling to cover his bulging belly with his hands, to the servants who greeted her politely as if she were a noble lady...
The tiny letters held Emilia tightly together again.
in the end.
"Great."
After checking the last sentence, she put the document down in her hands. Contrary to her brave answer, she found it difficult to even turn her head towards Hardius.
“Can I have a pen?”
He didn't even move.
“Here it is.”
The lawyer, unable to stand watching, handed Emilia a pen, and she signed without hesitation.
The lawyer received the documents, checked them, and extended his arm with his seal.
After a while, the bright red wax melted and the Meyer family crest, a shield and arrows, were engraved on it.
End.
Her heart started pounding hard. She finally did it.
Broken engagement.
No, a breakup agreement.
In an instant, the tension was released, and her spirits were drained. She felt like steam was rising from her head.
After covering her swollen cheeks, Emilia began to straighten her messy hair.
As she gathered her annoying hair and swept it to one side, there was a strange gaze that beat down on her face like the scorching sun.
When she glanced around, she saw the man's eyes quietly gleaming as if he were going to devour her.
While Emilia was buried in paperwork, something had changed greatly for Hardius as well.
“I did what you wanted, so should I go out now?”
“Does it have to be like that?”
The light steps suddenly stopped.
“I know that you and your family are in a difficult situation. I also understand that you need to calm public opinion before breaking off the engagement. However, I don’t think it’s necessary to go this far. If we go to the botanical garden for a walk and have dinner, you don’t mean that I should pretend to like you, do you?”
Emilia shrugged her shoulders as if she found it ridiculous and walked over to the window.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to go that far. Just going to Madame Luen’s ball is enough to show people.”
“Don’t you remember? You promised to cooperate as much as possible.”
Emilia turned around to look at him, startled by his sharp words.
But there was no irritation, no anger, no displeasure on his face. There was no emotion at all. Hardius was just sitting there, dark as the night sky.
“Tobias.”
He suddenly called the butler. The white-haired man who opened the door and came in was startled by the cold air flowing into the living room, but he soon managed to calm his expression.
“Call Ellier. The young lady is ready.”
Her eyebrows furrow involuntarily.
“Ellier?”
“I’m telling you in advance that I’m not ignoring your independence.”
What?
“It’s not for you either. It’s for me. Ellier is a designer. I asked for it specially. A dress for you.”
“...What... Dress?”
“Just put it on. Then she’ll adjust it to fit you better. She said it’ll only take an hour. Let’s wait, change, and go out together.”
Hardius continued speaking, pretending not to see the shocked Emilia.
“I promised to fulfill my duties as a fiancé. So just take it.”
The door flew open.
“Hello, Miss!”
A cheerful voice that did not match the suffocating air at all, followed by the thick fragrance of flowers. The maids came in one after another, led by a woman dressed in fancy clothes.
In their hands, they each held a colorful dress, far more extravagant and splendid than anything in Vignette's wardrobe.
A total of seven dresses formed a circle around Emilia, but not a single one caught her eye. Emilia continued to breathe heavily, feeling dizzy.
“Because Lord Meyer kept urging us, twenty employees had to stay up all night for several days. We didn’t get to measure your measurements, but don’t worry. These days, dresses are made using patterns. If we make a mock-up like this...”
Emilia unconsciously took a step back to avoid Ellier, who was approaching her without hesitation. Then her eyes met Hardius’s. His indifferent gaze did nothing, but Emilia felt as if her throat was being strangled.
"Young Lady?"
Ellier called her.
“No, I am not a ‘young lady.’”
She answered firmly and strode forward, breaking the spectacle of gorgeous dresses. She grabbed the bonnet that was on the table and turned to face Hardius.
“Why are you being so stubborn? I told you clearly. I don’t need any more compensation.”
Emilia shook her head as she watched him approach.
“No. Don’t come...”
To her surprise, her eyes became hot. Her eyelids, her cheeks, her chin, no place wasn't trembling.
Emilia tried her best not to cry. Just before the tears that had boiled over were about to spill out, Emilia barely managed to turn around.
“That’s enough... I’ll go now.”
Why am I like this?
She doesn't know why she wants to cry so much, why she's so angry.
Knock, knock, knock. Every time her old shoes hit the marble floor, the servants passing by flinched. Emilia crossed the hall and ran out of the mansion in an instant.
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