The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 91

Octavia fainted again shortly after opening her eyes. It was a bit ridiculous, but Shailoh understood her to some extent. It was thanks to her experience of living as a noblewoman for the past eight years. Octavia had probably never lifted anything heavier than a piece of cutlery in her life, and the worst pain she had known was likely a needle prick while embroidering. If Shailoh had continued living as Lady Diponz, she wouldn’t have been much different from Octavia.

 

Doris, who had been sent out to grasp the situation, quickly returned with shocking news. “Milady, this is terrible! Outside is complete chaos… According to Jenine, Duke Perus had already sent people to search. It’s hard to believe, but she was under house arrest for demanding to marry the second prince.”

 

“My goodness.”

 

“So it seems Duke Perus was trying to push the wedding date forward.”

 

Unable to listen any longer, Shailoh rubbed her forehead. Octavia was even more naive about the world than she had thought.

 

“What should we do now, Milady?”

 

“For now, we have no choice but to inform His Highness. Send someone secretly and deliver the news. Make sure they keep it confidential.”

 

“Understood.” With a determined nod, Doris left the room.

 

Shailoh approached the window with a heavy sigh. She peeked through the curtains and was relieved to see no suspicious figures lurking around. But if Duke Perus tightened the investigation net like a spider’s web, being discovered would only be a matter of time.

 

* * *

Caleb arrived at the townhouse shortly after cutting through the dawn mist. He opened the door without knocking and immediately looked for Shailoh’s face. “Sasha.”

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“Where is Lady Perus?”

 

“She’s sleeping.”

 

The moment Caleb saw the woman sleeping soundly after causing such a commotion, his turquoise eyes narrowed. He strode forward to wake Octavia, but Shailoh blocked his way.

 

“She lost a lot of blood. The doctor said absolute stability and complete rest until tomorrow morning.”

 

“Ha…” Caleb ran a hand through his wet hair and approached the couch, tossing his coat carelessly over the backrest. “Approaching Octavia was a mistake.”

 

“Didn’t she act as you expected?”

 

“What?” At the sharp question, Caleb turned around while loosening his tie.

 

Shailoh, who had been sitting by the head of the bed, stood up and picked up his coat. “You were the one who intended to use her from the start, Your Highness. You wanted to use her as a useful chess piece, but now that the piece is moving on its own, you’re in trouble.”

 

Caleb remained silent, as if inviting her to say more.

 

Turning her back to him, Shailoh hung the oversized coat, large enough to swallow her whole, on a hanger. “What will you do with Lady Octavia now? How will you dispose of a chess piece that’s no longer useful and moves on its own?” Her tone was as usual, but each word was sharp.

 

Caleb, who had been watching her back intently, finally slumped onto the couch. “Are you afraid you’ll be discarded?”

 

“Not at all.” Shailoh approached him with a cold smile. “I just feel sorry for her. I wonder what’s so different between that young lady and me.”

 

“You’re not like her.” Caleb chuckled and gestured for her to sit across from him.

 

Shailoh obliged and pointed out, “That’s a common excuse men who cheat use. Go on.”

 

“Are you worried something might have happened with Octavia?”

 

“That wouldn’t be surprising.” Shailoh met his gaze with a bitter smile. Caleb was that kind of man. He approached her kindly, only to use her. He seduced her and became her lover.

 

“My type isn’t a woman like her. It’s a woman who calls me a bastard.”

 

“You have quite an unusual taste, Duke West.”

 

Caleb twisted his lips at the title coming from her mouth for the first time. “Yes. That’s why I’m only attracted to you, Miss Shailoh.”

 

“…”

 

“By the way, it’s quite amusing.”

 

“What is?”

 

“You look like a wife confronting her husband’s infidelity.”

 

A sudden, clear realization struck Shailoh, and she closed her mouth. She wasn’t his wife, and he wasn’t her husband. They had shared feelings and bodies, yet they couldn’t even become true lovers. That was precisely why she couldn’t be cruel to Octavia, whom she had disliked from the beginning. Though slightly different in nature, Octavia was another person who had been toyed with just the same.

 

“Are you upset because I said I couldn’t marry you?”

 

Playing along, Shailoh picked up the teacup on the table. The tea had cooled a bit since Doris brought it before Caleb barged in. Feeling disappointed, she poured it over his face.

 

“…” Caleb, now even wetter than before, glared at her with icy eyes. His gaze was as if he could devour her whole, but Shailoh gritted her teeth.

 

“I never thought that. Talking about things that are already in the past, you must not be fully awake yet.”

 

“Indeed.”

 

The anger that seemed about to flare up was quickly extinguished, like a snuffed-out wick. As he unbuttoned his wet shirt, Shailoh jumped up from her seat.

 

“Since your clothes are wet, wash up and change into fresh ones. Then we can talk when Lady Octavia wakes up.”

 

* * *

After Caleb washed up, Octavia had just woken up. It seemed she had a lot to say to him, but like a girl shy in front of her first love, she fidgeted nervously. Instead, Shailoh conveyed her message.

 

“Lady Octavia said she has something to tell you. That’s why we contacted you at this late hour.”

 

Perhaps because she hadn’t mentioned the urgency, Caleb’s indifferent turquoise eyes showed a hint of interest.

 

Watching the two of them, Shailoh stood up. “Then I’ll leave you two to talk.”

 

“Sasha.”

 

As she tried to slip past the two of them, her wrist was caught. Turning around with a creak, Caleb pulled her to sit beside him.

 

“Stay here.”

 

Shailoh quickly whispered to him, observing Octavia’s twisted expression. “You need to be considerate of Lady Octavia’s feelings. This won’t end well.”

 

“Stay here.” Ignoring her words, Caleb repeated himself and released his grip. If she stood up, he seemed ready to leave as well. With a sigh, Shailoh stayed put.

 

Caleb shifted his gaze from her and got straight to the point. “So, Lady Perus. What did you want to say after escaping from your uncle?”

 

“Well.” Octavia bit her lip under his stern gaze and spoke. “First, promise me. If I prove useful to Your Highness, you’ll keep me by your side.”

 

“By my side?”

 

“Yes. Give me a place next to you, Your Highness.”

 

Caleb watched her intently at her bold request.

 

Flustered, Octavia added, “O-Of course, I’m not asking to become queen. You’ll choose someone who brings you great benefit for that role. I just… even being a maid would be fine.”

 

Caleb didn’t respond. A tense silence enveloped the three of them. Even the sound of swallowing seemed loud. Shailoh felt his turquoise eyes glance at her. Their eyes met, but she remained unperturbed.

 

Octavia’s words were lies. She hadn’t given up her feelings, nor was she meeting him without any ulterior motives. Even if she hadn’t said those words, they would have met, but her heart felt uneasy. It was like a weight in her chest, but she maintained her composure. She didn’t want Caleb to notice. She didn’t want him to see how much he still affected her.

 

Caleb, who had been coldly staring at the unresponsive Shailoh, nodded. “Alright.”

 

“Your Highness!” Octavia’s voice was informal, but she didn’t seem to care, almost ready to leap into his arms with tears in her eyes.

 

“But.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll make you a maid after everything is over. And only after I verify how useful the information you bring me is.”

 

“…Yes. Of course.” Quickly hiding her disappointment, Octavia took a deep breath and slowly moved her lips. “I know the place where my uncle and the queen secretly exchange letters.”

 

“Letters?”

 

Caleb’s eyebrows twitched. Shailoh also listened intently, eyes wide.

 

Encouraged by their reactions, Octavia continued with a clear voice. “Yes. The two of them exchange important correspondence under double and triple layers of security, so no one can know. I know the location that serves as the intermediary point.”