The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 90

Octavia lowered her eyes instead of answering, looking as delicate as a deer wet from the rain. Though she seemed hesitant, Shailoh bombarded her with questions.

 

“Tell me now. What’s with that unfitting appearance? Why have you come to see me at this hour?”

 

“I…”

 

Octavia, her hands clenched tightly, opened and closed her lips several times. Shailoh waited patiently for her to continue. After hesitating several times, she squeezed her eyes shut and pleaded.

 

“Please hide me.”

 

“What?”

 

“Please. I know it’s shameless to ask when we’ve only met a few times… but I have no one else to turn to.”

 

Shailoh remained frozen, blinking in surprise. It was fortunate the tea hadn’t arrived yet. If she had been holding a teacup, she would have surely dropped it.

 

“What… do you mean?”

 

Tears began to fall, one by one, down her smooth cheeks like those of a porcelain doll. “The duke… is trying to rush my marriage with the third prince. Without any regard for my wishes.”

 

“Hold on a moment.” Already feeling drained, Shailoh felt her energy completely sapped by the woman’s sudden intrusion and words. She raised her palm to stop Octavia from continuing. “But it’s a marriage you were going to have anyway.”

 

“I never wanted it!” Octavia’s face turned crimson as she cried out in a voice tinged with tears. “The third prince makes me truly uncomfortable… I dislike him. He’s constantly changing women and is so capricious…”

 

“I understand what you’re going through.” Shailoh closed their eyes tightly and took a deep breath to regain their composure. “So, what now? Did you run away from home?”

 

Instead of answering, Octavia nodded.

 

Feeling a wave of dizziness, Shailoh staggered as she stood up. “Go back immediately.”

 

“Sasha!”

 

Though she had never given permission to be addressed by name, Octavia stood abruptly and followed her.

 

Shailoh, exasperated, looked directly at her and spoke. “What on earth do you think you’re doing, barging in here like this?”

 

“I know it’s shameless. But truly…”

 

“What you’ve done is a huge deal. Do you realize how many people might suffer because of your actions?”

 

“But…”

 

“This isn’t just a marriage between nobles. It’s a royal marriage. Have you even considered how many people and interests are entangled beneath the surface of this engagement?”

 

Octavia’s face alternated between pale and flushed as Shailoh’s barrage of criticism hit her.

 

“Go back now as if nothing happened. Pretend you never came to see me.”

 

Shailoh was about to call for Doris when Octavia, tears streaming down her face, knelt down before her.

 

“Please…”

 

“Stand up.”

 

 

Octavia showed no intention of leaving quietly. Just as Shailoh was considering calling a maid to help, a sharp pain throbbed in her temple, and the words that followed made her head spin.

 

“I thought Sasha would understand. You’ve faced an unwanted marriage before.”

 

“…”

 

“When you were the fake noble lady, you almost got sold to the Grid Merchant Guild leader. You do remember, right?”

 

Clinging to the hem of Shailoh’s dress with a pitiful expression, Octavia trampled on her past with ruthless disregard. It was a topic so dreadful that even Doris, her closest confidante, dared not mention it.

 

“Please hide me. If you don’t…” When Shailoh, frozen like ice, didn’t respond, Octavia, with a determined look, pulled out a gun. “I’d rather die.”

 

A chilling silence descended. Octavia had expected Shailoh to panic and plead with her not to do it, but Shailoh just looked at her with a cold, detached expression.

 

“Sasha…?” Confused by the lack of reaction, Octavia was left speechless. Even though she was threatening her life, Shailoh remained so distant and indifferent.

 

“Lady Perus.” Shailoh pried Octavia’s fingers off one by one and questioned her. “Have you ever lost someone close to you?”

 

“…”

 

“Have you ever watched someone die?”

 

“N-No…”

 

Just a few months ago, she had lived like a sheltered flower in a vast southern mansion.

 

“I thought so.” Shailoh rubbed her face with one hand, her voice icy as she spoke. “A child throwing a tantrum with a weapon they stumbled upon. You have no idea how dangerous that is.”

 

“Are you treating me like a child now? I may be younger than you, but—” Octavia, who had always been treated like a precious gem, felt her pride wounded and was about to retort, but held her tongue. She had to stay here, no matter what. Only by staying could she see Caleb again. She would have time to persuade him, and eventually, things would go her way. So, she had to endure for now.

 

“Doris!” Ignoring Octavia’s fuming, Shailoh called for her maid, Doris.

 

Octavia gritted her teeth and pulled the trigger. Bang! “Aaack!” With a loud bang, Octavia clutched her bleeding foot, having shot herself.

 

Both Doris, who was entering, and Shailoh, who was seated before her, rushed to her side in a panic.

 

“What on earth are you doing?!”

 

“My God, what is this…?!” Doris looked at Shailoh, aghast.

 

Shailoh swallowed hard and quickly gave instructions. “Get a doctor. Make sure no one finds out. Someone discreet.”

 

“No… I missed it. I’ll aim better next time.”

 

“Are you insane? Do you even know what you’re saying right now?” Shailoh shook Octavia’s shoulders, demanding answers. There was no smell of alcohol, and her eyes weren’t glazed over. She was in her right mind.

 

With tears streaming down Octavia’s face, she pleaded. “Please, don’t kick me out.”

 

“…”

 

“If I leave this place, I’ll just die. That wouldn’t sit well with you either, would it?”

 

“…That is clearly a threat.”

 

“Call it whatever you want… ah.”

 

“Dear!”

 

She had lost too much blood. Having never been injured in her life, the shock of inflicting it upon herself was too much for Octavia, and she lost consciousness.

 

“What… What should we do?”

 

Faced with the woman who fainted as if escaping the mess she created, Shailoh let out a heavy sigh. “Just do what I said earlier.”

 

“Got it! Should I inform Your Highness as well?”

 

“Of…” Shailoh was about to say of course, but suddenly fell silent. “We don’t have time for that now, so just get a doctor immediately.”

 

“Understood!” Doris nodded and sprang up like a coil, leaving the parlor.

 

* * *

Octavia regained consciousness at dawn the next day. Shailoh, who had given up her own bedroom to her and had not slept at all, was the first to notice her waking.

 

“You’re up.”

 

“…Yes.” Though Octavia had acted out of desperation, she felt too embarrassed to meet Shailoh’s gaze.

 

Shailoh, observing Octavia with an unreadable expression, took a seat in the chair by her bedside. “Tell me. Why did you come to me? Even if you don’t know anyone here, you could have easily found an inn or a place to stay with the money you have.”

 

“I can’t do that! Everything I have belongs to my uncle. After losing both my parents, I grew up under his care without lacking anything. But now, having done this… I do have some shame.”

 

“It’s not shame, it’s pride.”

 

At Shailoh’s pointed remark, Octavia glared at her. “Is this your true self? Not the ‘Sasha Griche’ you show the world?”

 

“Don’t say you’re disappointed. We’ve only met a few times.”

 

“Why are you so cold? Are you wary of me?”

 

“Wary…?”

 

“Isn’t it because I seem close to the second prince, and you’re jealous?”

 

Shailoh barely suppressed a laugh at the unexpected accusation. Jealous? Close? For a moment, she was tempted to show what was under her dress, revealing what had happened last night. While she hesitated, Octavia suddenly burst into tears.

 

“Really… there’s nothing between the second prince and me. You don’t have to doubt that. I was the only one clinging to him. I’ve given up now.”

 

“So? Just answer my question.” Shailoh’s face, which Octavia thought might show some reaction, remained calm, even cold.

 

Octavia, hiding her embarrassment, pleaded. “So… please let me meet the second prince.”

 

“That’s very different from what you just said.” Shailoh crossed her arms and furrowed her brow.

 

“I’m not asking to meet him out of personal feelings. I have something to deliver to him. Sasha.”

 

“…”

 

“Please…”

 

Seeing her weep like a tragic heroine from a romance novel, Shailoh couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh inwardly. It felt as if she had become the villainess obstructing the heroine’s love, just like when she was acting on stage.