Chapter 56

“Maybe she didn’t run away from home, but went out with a purpose? With a lover she had for a long time.”

“It’s obvious just from the rumors. She’s so crazy about men.”

“I get annoyed every time I hear that rustic southern accent. Why does it sound so barbaric?”

Look at these guys. I expected it, but I’m a little bit overwhelmed.

Although Freya’s poisoning attempt seemed to have been buried to some extent thanks to my runaway disturbance, I knew that there was still public opinion about me and my family.

I won’t be able to pry or reveal anything openly.

It had become a matter of joining the Omerta family as well as the temple and the Vatican.

No matter what the real intentions behind Izek’s banquet were, my position was clearly better compared to before, and all they were covering for me. It was as good as a public announcement.

Therefore, a slip of the tongue could lead to the Omerta family being involved– which wouldn’t be tolerated.

But they could talk behind my back as much as they wanted. My runaway could also be made into a scandal in some way.

It wasn’t that I didn’t expect that there would be such public opinion, but I still wanted to give them a hard time.

“I think……Gasp!”

One of the ladies, who had been huddling and whispering, gasped as I approached with bated breath and pulled back the curtain.

The other two ladies also had a look of astonishment. All three of them were chatting with me earlier. Look at those aghast faces.

“M-My, My Lady, we’re…….”

“…Erkl!”

“M-My…”

They looked blankly at me, shedding crocodile tears.

“I, I, I…”

“Woo–”

“Really, really, I really did nothing, un, I didn’t think I was that bad..”

As I burst into tears, covering my face with my hands, they clung to each other in a hurry, not knowing what to do.

“My-My Lady, I’m sorry, we just didn’t think about it, so we really didn’t….”

“Unnn, I really thought you all liked me.…”

“I-It’s not how you think… We’ll stop being drunk on c.o.c.ktails and makinh stupid mistakes.….”

“Ah, ah, everyone’s been saying that you’ve hurt Lady Furiana.… How could you.. I-I really didn’t do anything. I really liked you… I love that you came here…….”

“I’m sorry, my lady. I’m sorry, we made a stupid, stupid slip of the tongue.… Don’t get hurt, I didn’t mean it.”

What do you mean you don’t mean it?

One of the young girls, who was whispering and sobbing, suddenly started hiccuping.

“Hic, I’m sorry, my lady. I won’t talk behind your back again. Please forgive me. I just find what other people are saying interesting.”

“Me too, I’m so sorry. I can’t regret it enough.”

“I’m sorry to say such a terrible thing, please forget it.”

They were so young. No matter what, children who followed me to ask for forgiveness with tears in their eyes would look cute at that moment.

These moments were short-lived, the kind I’d forget once I turned around.

I was just going to tease them for a while anyway, so I wiped away my tears and sniffled.

Even if it was a quiet corner, staying for long would catch the attention of the people who were vigilant.

“Hoo, then, you don’t really think that way about me?”

“Of course!”

“Of course! I didn’t mean it. How idiotic of me… I’m sorry.”

“Really?”

“Yes, indeed!”

I hesitated to smile at the babies nodding their heads in unison.

The kids also smiled, wiping their eyes.

Ah, such a heartwarming sight. I’m jealous of you guys. I’m so jealous.

I left the warm scene and returned to the banquet hall. Looking at it, the atmosphere seemed to have heated up.

The dance hall was active again, and those who did not dance were scattered around, eating, drinking and talking.

I had cried a bit so I felt like I needed to get a drink first. Acting was hard, too. Why were there so many people here? And that too, so tall…

“Wow, look at that.”

“Were those released by the temple?”

From far away, the sound of firecrackers sounded, and people flocked toward the balcony.

The crowd gave me a hard time going the other way.

I feel like a character from Gulliver’s travels, haa.

“That’s so amazing, Lady Rudbeckia.”

A whisper suddenly came into my ears and I looked around to see if my husband had returned by now, avoiding people who were drunk and excited.

I tried to turn my head and catch sight of him, but I couldn’t.

Whoever it was, had disappeared.

This was because a great deal of pain came at that very moment.

The pain was immense, as if my right toe had been crushed in one-go.

The pain that surged through my foot made me unable to even scream.

While I struggled in pain and barely turned my head, the one who crushed my feet mercilessly was already gone.

More than that, there were so many pa.s.sersby that it was hard to figure out.

No, this was unfair, why on such an important night!

I carefully raised my sore toe.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be broken, but it still hurt as if it was on fire.

This couldn’t be excused today.

Who the h.e.l.l was it? The creepy voice was worse than the pain. It was too much to say that someone stepped on me by mistake because I was drunk.….

The whisper that rang in my ears was still vivid. It felt like a warning…

“My lady, are you all right?”

I couldn’t be more glad to see Andymion approaching me among people and reaching out his hand.

Good boy! I feel like you’ve been chasing me for some time, but I’m glad to see you.

“Are you feeling well?”

“It’s okay. I tripped for a moment. Have you seen my husband more than that?”

“Yes, he came back earlier and he’s at the table over there.”

I turned to Andymion’s direction and headed for the dinner table, trying not to limp as much as possible.

I was used to enduring pain, but I couldn’t help but lose strength.

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, hubby…!

My haughty husband was right there. On one side of the dinner table, black armour familiar to my eyes was visible in the center of the crowd. He was sitting with arms folded arrogantly, like an a.s.sa.s.sin negotiating with paladins.

What were they talking about so seriously in the banquet hall? It was making me nervous.

“Lord Izek, your wife…”

“Honey!”

I don’t know what I just said.

However, I could only see that I must build up feelings for the sake of my mind and body tonight.

I, who was trying hard to approach him with such firm determination, met another ambush before long.

I’d already almost broken my foot.

Why was there a giant turtle at the dinner table? Even if it’s a plate, it’s head was too big! The eyeb.a.l.l.s are so vivid!

“Ahhh!”

“Madam?”

Thap.

Silence dragged out. After a very long moment, I managed to come to my senses and grasp my current state.