Episode 58: I Was Wrong, Darling

It was hard to believe. Lara wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with the story. She had heard before, even in her previous life, that Valerie had been involved with a theater actor from Travis.

Back then, the rumor had been spread by Gladys to tarnish Valerie’s reputation.

“To think Alec was the one who spread Valerie’s scandal…”

It was surprising. But when she thought about it, it wasn’t all that shocking. Alec was no stranger to schemes and manipulation.

Perhaps, even in her previous life, Alec had spread Valerie’s scandal to bring her down. Yes, it was likely that Alec given Gladys the ammunition, knowing she would escalate the matter.

Lara blinked with a conflicted expression and raised her head to look at Lawrence.

“An eye for an eye, it seems, with your husband.”

“What about my story?”

“Half the people here probably already know it, but I heard it from a servant working at the mansion where the Oppresse siblings stay.”

“That’s…”

“They’re my planted informant.”

“You must really dislike the Oppreese siblings.”

“I don’t.”

Lawrence’s curt reply made Lara frown slightly at the smooth smile on his face, which she found irritating.

“It’s the Marquis of Heslow who dislikes the Marquis of Oppreese. Their ideologies are completely opposed.”

At the mention of ideology, Lara’s eyes shifted slightly. Lawrence noticed the subtle change, finding the glimmer in her blue eyes intriguing.

“Does your ideology align with that of the Marquis of Heslow?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

“And most of the people gathered here share my views.”

Lara nodded. That seemed plausible. This was Dranberg, after all, and her invitations had included some businessmen without titles and even a few actors from renowned theater groups.

These people mingled naturally with the nobles, sharing laughter and enjoying the lively atmosphere. Of course, she and Lawrence were the only ones of slave origin.

“So there’s no need to be so distressed.”

“What?”

She had been absentmindedly picturing the face of the Marquis of Heslow when Lawrence lightly nudged her.

“After all, those who need to know already know. That I’m an illegitimate child and a runaway slave.”

“You and I are different.”

“We’re not.”

“There’s no need to comfort me like that. We’re…”

Lara shook her head, struggling to find the right words, when a low voice called her name familiarly.

“Lara.”

She turned her head to see her husband. Alec approached with a bright smile.

The overly composed and affectionate smile made her uneasy. Alec pulled Lara close by the waist in front of Lawrence, his lips parting to speak.

“What were you doing here? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

Alec smiled. Lara could read the shadow behind it. No matter how much he tried to hide it, his turbulent emotions surfaced in the stormy gray of his eyes.

At that moment, the music for the waltz began. She guessed he had been looking for a dance partner. Raising her head, she glanced up at Lawrence.

Lawrence, who had been wearing his usual smooth smile, now faced Alec with the expression of a soldier. Alec gave him a polite nod before pulling Lara away.

Lara hurriedly bade Lawrence farewell before heading back to the ballroom, where the other guests were gathered.

“Why do you talk to him so often?”

As soon as Lawrence was out of earshot, Alec asked. His voice was dry and tightly wound.

“Who?”

“Hamizzle.”

“Ah—.”

Lara let out a sound. Alec’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.

“That’s only the second time.”

Lara replied nonchalantly. Alec glared down at her with a furious expression. For a moment, fear gripped her, but she refused to show it.

“Lara.”

“You’re going to bruise my waist.”

“Don’t be alone with him. In fact, don’t be alone with any man from now on. Especially not him. And don’t talk to him. Understand?”

“Why should I?”

Lara shot back. Alec stared at her with feigned anger. Lara pried his arm off her waist and glared at him.

“It’s an order.”

Alec responded after a long pause. She was stunned.

“An order? Are you giving an order to a slave as a member of the royal family?”

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“As your husband, I’m ordering my wife.”

Lara clenched her jaw and trembled with suppressed fury as she glared at him. Alec forced his expression to soften and whispered,

“I have a duty to protect you, and you have a duty to obey me. Because you’re my wife. You’re my woman, so you have to listen to me.”

“…Why should I?”

The coldness in her gaze began to thaw, replaced by rising emotion. She twisted her face in frustration and clenched her fists tightly.

“None of your other wives ever blindly obeyed you.”

“Lara.”

“Even your young concubines didn’t simply trust and obey you. So why should I live my life obeying only you? How did my life turn out in my previous life when I followed your every word? Why should I have to suffer because I loved you?”

“That’s not what this is about.”

Alec swallowed a sigh as he spoke. His reaction only fueled her anger. The way he grasped her wrist, as though trying to suppress himself, was utterly repulsive to her.

Lara shook him off with a fierce motion. Alec raised both hands, signaling that he had no intention of touching her further. As Lara turned away, barely managing to suppress her ragged breathing, he spoke.

“I was wrong.”

His voice was rough. Lara bit her lip, her face contorting. The cracked baritone of his words scraped at her heart like a jagged blade. Each step forward felt like treading on brittle, crumbling leaves.

“I admit my faults.”

“…”

“Everything I did to you… all the horrific mistakes I made…. You’re right. I failed to protect anyone. I deserve to be abandoned by you.”

Tears welled up in an instant. Lara forced herself to regulate her breathing. She couldn’t allow herself to ruin her makeup.

This was her gathering, the one she had prepared. It was her night to shine. Even if Valerie and Gladys were determined to sabotage it, she had a duty to see it through.

Now, she no longer wanted to appear foolish—not even in fleeing from Alec with her back turned.

“I’m sure you’ve been lonely for a long time. I know it must have been sad and painful.”

Lara shook her head. There was no way he truly knew. But it didn’t matter anymore. She prepared to take a step forward, summoning strength into her legs. Yet, she couldn’t move.

“I was wrong, my love.”

“…”

“Please.”

She turned around. Alec slowly knelt before her. Lara bit her lip hard.

“Stand up.”

“Lara.”

“Be quiet. Stand up quickly. Someone might see.”

“I…”

“Stop talking. I don’t want to hear it.”

Lara’s sharp, cold tone cut him off. Alec’s expression hardened briefly before he rose to his feet.

“Brush off your knees.”

She ordered. Ailrek obeyed, dusting off his knees. Lara watched him with icy eyes, then looped her arm around his as she sensed people nearby.

Alec quickly resumed his role as her escort, and together they returned to the center of the ballroom, parting the crowd slowly.

Rejoining the crowd, they exchanged polite greetings with those who approached Alec before the waltz began. As they faced each other for the dance, an awkwardness hung between them. Their earlier quarrel and the sudden closeness made the situation feel surreal.

“Ah.”

As Lara focused on her steps while holding Alec’s hand, a servant carrying a tray of champagne and hors d’oeuvres bumped into her. Startled, Lara recoiled, and the servant, flustered and terrified, apologized profusely.

“I-I’m so sorry, Your Highness!”

The tray, containing half-finished champagne glasses and scattered canapés, had been in disarray, perhaps because the servant had been leaving the ballroom before the waltz began.

Lara realized she couldn’t avoid changing her dress. The spill hadn’t just stained the hem; it had splattered across her side and back, areas that would become more conspicuous as she moved.

“It’s fine. Truly,” Lara reassured the trembling servant and gently ushered him out of the ballroom.

“I need to change my dress.”

“Call for Diane,” Alec replied with a stiff expression. Lara nodded, and Diane, who had been with her husband nearby, rushed over, alarmed by the commotion.

As Diane anxiously examined Lara’s dress, Lara calmed her down and left the ballroom.

Alec, watching his wife and Diane leave hurriedly, turned his gaze to Gladys. The woman, barely able to contain her glee, quickly suppressed her smile and approached him with a serene expression.

Her steps were graceful, embodying the perfect image of an elegant noblewoman. With her radiant blonde hair, flawless skin, and striking blue eyes, Gladys was renowned not only in Dranberg but also across the Travis social scene as a beauty of unparalleled fame.

Her features were captivating, striking a balance between dazzling and refined, drawing attention wherever she went.

Alec thought back to their first meeting. He hadn’t chosen her for her looks. Rather, it was because her father, Marquis Belzenor, was the only one capable of standing against Marquis Oppréese’s ambitions.

Belzenor was as ruthless, cunning, and calculating as Oppréese. Yet, the court had attached countless interpretations to Alec’s decision to marry her.

It was all because of her superficial beauty.

He remembered the ridiculous romanticism people indulged in when they saw the ring on her finger. Despite having two empresses already, comments like these echoed in the halls:

“They’re a perfect couple—an ideal match. Truly, Lady Gladys complements His Majesty perfectly.”

To Alec, none of this mattered. Even after deciding to marry her, he hadn’t known her face.

“You seem to be alone,” Gladys said as she approached.