I Made a Mistake in my Confession. Can I Cancel it? - Chapter 33

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 33

“Well, I suppose I can just go and ask, then correct it properly when the time comes.”

But when she actually returned to the event hall, she realized how naive she had been. The people’s stares were far from ordinary.

‘Do they all really believe such an absurd rumor? That’s ridiculous…’

It was both absurd and frightening how fierce everyone’s gazes were, leaving her unsure of how to handle the situation.

Just then, Kartan spotted Lillian and approached with quick steps. Then he shouted very irritably.

“Where did you go? I was startled thinking you had disappeared again.”

‘Does His Grace the Archduke know about this too? No, he definitely seemed unaware until just now. But someone might have told him while I was away.’

Her head was so confused that she couldn’t say anything. In an instant, Kartan’s expression hardened completely.

“Lillian.”

Just then, the group of young ladies she had seen in the powder room shamelessly approached to speak.

“Lady Lillian must also be very interested in supporting the orphanage.”

“Oh my, what an obvious thing to say! Otherwise, why would she be here?”

Before she could even answer, another young lady from the group responded. Then they kept giggling among themselves as if something was funny. It was clear they intended to humiliate her in front of His Grace the Archduke.

‘I should just ignore them and go somewhere else.’

Lillian, who was about to flee, hesitated for a moment.

‘But then, wouldn’t those people think the rumors are all true?’

She absolutely couldn’t let them misunderstand like that. This wasn’t just about her alone—it was a ‘scandal’ involving His Majesty the Emperor and His Grace the Archduke. If she just let it slide here, it would cause trouble for both of them too.

Lillian deliberately raised her voice as if for everyone in the event hall to hear.

“I don’t know what rumors you’ve all heard or how… It’s not true! I’m innocent!”

Her heart kept pounding, not knowing how people would react. Just then, Kartan, who had been listening beside her, interjected.

“What rumors?”

“…”

It was such a scandalous rumor that she couldn’t even dare speak it aloud. Instead of dirtying her mouth, Lillian looked at the group of young ladies. At that moment, Kartan’s gaze also turned toward the group of young ladies. His expression hardened instantly.

“The young ladies must not be able to hear me. Or perhaps what I said wasn’t worth listening to. I just asked what rumors are going around.”

In an instant, the young ladies’ faces turned deathly pale. Then finally, one of the young ladies burst into tears.

“Ha, what did I even say to make her cry.”

He couldn’t understand it, but Lillian could relate to this situation all too well. The crying young lady reminded her so much of her past self that she even felt pity for her.

Soon, Kartan irritably waved his hand dismissively.

“Stop being bothersome and get lost.”

Only then did the young ladies quickly disappear. Soon, Kartan turned to look at Lillian and asked.

“What exactly are these rumors that made them act like that?”

He looked very angry in Lillian’s eyes. But strangely, rather than being scary, it felt reassuring. And soon, overwhelming sadness began to well up.

Afraid that tears would spill if she spoke carelessly, she instead grabbed onto his collar. Kartan quietly looked down at her sleeve end.

“Follow me.”

At his heavily subdued voice, Lillian bit her lip. She didn’t want to stay here any longer either.

Just as she was about to follow His Grace the Archduke out of the banquet hall, suddenly the event hall became noisy.

Turning her head, Lillian could immediately find the cause.

‘Lady Bella has arrived.’

Bella was giving kind smiles to the people who welcomed her. She looked as if she had already become the Empress.

‘Come to think of it, Lady Bella will soon become the Empress. Shouldn’t I explain things to her? It would be terrible if she misunderstood.’

The moment their eyes met, Bella declined the people’s greetings and walked over here. Lillian somehow felt ashamed before her.

“It’s been a while, Your Grace the Archduke.”

Kartan’s face crumpled unpleasantly. Bella paid no mind to this and continued speaking.

“Well, though I suppose it hasn’t been that long since I saw Your Grace in your office just a few days ago?”

Suddenly Lillian felt strange.

‘You met just a few days ago? Why? I didn’t hear about that. Was there some reason for the two of you to meet privately?’

When she thought about it, His Grace the Archduke wasn’t her subordinate, so he had no obligation to report who he met with.

‘Still, he told me not to get close to her, and yet…’

As disappointment washed over her, her mood plummeted even further, adding insult to injury.

Just then, she happened to make eye contact with Lady Bella. She smiled sweetly and spoke to her.

“Lady Lillian, I was really disappointed that we parted like that last time. Please come visit the Duke’s estate sometime. I’ll serve you some delicious tea.”

“…”

She wasn’t in the mood to answer at all. But she also didn’t want to openly display her disappointed feelings here.

“That’s enough.”

When Kartan stepped forward, his body naturally blocked Lady Bella from view.

“Oh my, why are you being so prickly? I was just exchanging greetings.”

Then Bella whispered something in his ear. Lillian couldn’t hear it well, but one particular word clearly reached her ears.

‘She definitely just called him Kartan. Were the two of them that close…?’

It was a form of address he had never allowed her to use. Calling someone so casually meant they were that familiar with each other, so Lillian found the current situation bewildering.

Then his cold voice that followed brought her back to her senses.

“Bella Ariana, just how many lives do you have?”

She could feel his anger just from his voice, but Bella’s voice coming from over his shoulder was full of laughter.

“Heh, how would I be any different?”

Hearing that joking voice made Lillian’s mood worsen as well.

“What exactly are you…”

Suddenly Kartan cut off Lillian’s words.

“Bella Ariana, you and I need to talk.”

“Yes, let’s do that. Kartan.”

In that moment, Lillian felt something inside her crumble. Then Kartan turned around and spoke to Lillian.

“You stay here.”

“…”

‘I think I understand what it means to feel disgusted beyond just being in a bad mood. Why are they trying to talk alone, excluding me? What are they planning to discuss?’

“Heh.”

Just then, she heard what sounded like someone laughing. When she looked around, she could feel people’s piercing gazes directed at her. Suddenly, an inexplicable surge of emotion welled up.

“No, I’ll excuse myself.”

Then she left the event hall before His Grace the Archduke could give his permission.

‘Why am I feeling so uncontrollably angry and embarrassed? This would normally be a situation I wouldn’t care about.’

She couldn’t understand the reason at all. But what was certain was that if she had stayed in the hall even a little longer, she would have shown an ugly side of herself in front of everyone.

‘But why have I been acting like this lately…? Could it be that I’m actually jealous?’

The moment Lillian thought that far, she stopped dead in her tracks.

Thump.

Her heart plummeted downward. It felt like the sky was falling.

“Why would I do something like that…?”

‘In romance novels, people usually act like that toward someone they like…’

“No, that can’t be right. I don’t… His Grace the Archduke…”

Even she thought she was being utterly foolish. She sat down heavily on the first bench she spotted.

“Ha.”

The sky she looked up at was clear without a single cloud, unlike her turbulent inner state. As she took a deep breath, the cool air filled her lungs completely.

“At least the cold breeze makes me feel a bit better.”

Just then, a long shadow fell over her head. Only then did Lillian’s gaze turn to the strange man standing in front of her.

“Who are you?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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