The Regret Novel Female Lead with Unbreakable Mentality Chapter 66

With her long, wavy brown hair and those clear, sharp green eyes, Cordelia looked intelligent no matter who was watching. Everyone gazed at Cordelia, breathing out with excitement. All of them were my rivals—each one hoping to get close to Cordelia.

 

“Oh my, Lady Cordelia!”

 

“Well then, shall we all enjoy the banquet?”

 

Cordelia wiped the beads of cold sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand before taking her seat.

 

I watched Cordelia closely, tilting my head in silent curiosity. That’s odd. Can’t anyone else see how much she’s struggling? It was a strange disconnect—too odd to be explained by everyone simply being caught up in flattery and fawning.

 

As the light meal continued, one clueless young lady blurted out a question. “Then, Lady Cordelia! Could you tell us how you managed to obtain a phantasmal beast? I’m just dying to know!”

 

“I just happened to find an egg while I was walking around the academy.”

 

“How did you develop such an affinity with phantasmal beasts?”

 

“Well, as you all know, it’s just a matter of using mana. It’s something you’re born with.”

 

“My goodness, to be born with such a gift… That’s truly amazing!”

 

Even as she spoke, cold sweat kept trickling down Cordelia’s forehead. She bit her lip so hard it started to bleed.

 

Thanks to my status as a duchess, I was seated right next to Cordelia. Quietly, I handed her a tissue and murmured softly, “Here, use this.” I mimed dabbing my own forehead, as if to suggest she wipe away her sweat.

 

Cordelia’s eyes widened in surprise. She snatched up the tissue in a hurry, but just sat there holding it, never actually wiping her forehead.

 

The topic shifted from Cordelia’s phantasmal beast to the Celestine Green-colored dress. That was because Shabel, who had been quietly sitting and watching me for cues, began to gently explain about a painting by an artist she’d purchased.

 

“It’s a beautiful painting of coral reefs. This color has become the latest trend in high society these days—yes, that green color.”

 

“I’m so curious about it.”

 

With a gentle smile, Shabel handed out small paintings, each about the size of a palm. “I actually brought these little paintings in the Celestine Green color for everyone.”

 

“Oh my.”

 

“It was painted specially to honor Lady Cordelia’s achievement. It’s an image of a fantastical egg, depicted in that noble color.”

 

When everyone received a painting, that damned painting ended up in my hand, too. From the style, I thought this damned painting must be by Taran—or rather, Marquis Berto—and disgust welled up in me. He’s still trying to sell his art, that idiot.

 

The conversation continued on for quite some time. Cordelia, pretending to be fine, acting normal as she cut her food, suddenly gave a small cough and glanced around.

 

Wait a second, is she coughing up blood?

 

But no one was paying attention to Cordelia. I looked around, startled. Well, my partner, Duke Kalinos, wouldn’t care even if someone dropped dead right next to him, so that’s given. But shouldn’t the other ladies at least be concerned about Cordelia?

 

Unfortunately, even as Cordelia coughed beside them, the other ladies just kept laughing, as if they hadn’t noticed a thing. It was like they didn’t see her coughing at all.

 

At that moment, Cordelia’s gaze met mine. The uncertainty in her eyes left me confused. What’s with that look? Why is she looking at me like that?

 

Screech. With a rude screech—the sound of a knife scraping against a plate—Cordelia set down her cutlery and spoke. “I’m truly sorry to everyone who gathered here, but let us end the Inferna party here.”

 

“Cordelia? Sweetheart?” Duke Inferna, who had been chatting away with a doting smile, looked at Cordelia in surprise.

 

Just then, Cordelia’s cold gaze turned to me. “Would you give me your hand for a moment?”

 

Her sudden shift in attitude caught me off guard, but I answered with a sweet smile. “No, Giselle’s hand belongs to the Duke only!”

 

Cordelia’s eyes, flicking between me and Duke Kalinos at my side, instantly darkened.

 

“…Let’s meet again another time.”

 

Most people would at least try to make an excuse if Duke Kalinos—infamous as a ‘murderer’—looked at them with that icy expression, but Cordelia didn’t even flinch. She didn’t break her piercing stare as she gave a small nod. “…Well then, I’ll be going.”

 

Even after Cordelia left, I could still hear people whispering quietly.

 

“What was that about?”

 

“Wasn’t she glaring too much?”

 

“Yeah, it was like she was looking at her mortal enemy…”

 

“She looked like she was out for revenge or something.”

 

Wow, this is so unfair. Revenge? On me? I didn’t even do anything wrong! I even tried to be nice and get closer to her, so why?

 

I stared at Cordelia’s retreating figure. Right then, I felt Duke Kalinos looking down at my hand with a strange expression. What’s with him now?

 

…And just like that, the dreamlike boat party ended with a bitter aftertaste.

 

* * *

Vientin’s daily life is busy. Even today, the day after the party, he was buried under a mountain of work. But tasks that he would normally finish in no time kept getting delayed. He couldn’t stop thinking about a certain conversation.

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

“I was thinking about Cordelia.”

 

“Cordelia?”

 

“Ah, I mean Cordelia Inferna! Didn’t she seem a bit suspicious at the Inferna party? I was kind of curious about her.”

 

Giselle had fallen peacefully asleep after saying that, but ever since, his mind had been in turmoil. Trying to shake off the phantom echoes in his head, Vientin signed the documents with his usual stoic expression.

 

“Brother, Brother?”

 

“What?”

 

“You’re holding the papers upside down. And you signed them upside down, too.”

 

At his younger brother’s dry remark, Vientin turned the papers around and said, “It’s nothing.”

 

“Oh, right. But, Brother—”

 

“What again?”

 

Count Teren glanced at his brother’s fierce expression before speaking up. “Are you jealous, by any chance? You really look like it.”

 

At Count Teren’s sudden comment, Vientin’s face hardened. Oblivious, Count Teren kept talking. “I mean, it would make sense if you were. You’re thinking about Marquis Berto, aren’t you?”

 

No. In fact, that guy had completely slipped out of Vientin’s mind. But Count Teren, unaware of this, just kept running his mouth.

 

“Come to think of it, there were those rumors about Marquis Berto and Lady Giselle, right? Though, looking back, it seems like he was just hitting on her.”

 

“So?”

 

“Pardon? What do you mean by so?”

 

“He doesn’t matter. I’m going to kill him anyway. What’s bothering me is something else.”

 

Count Teren’s jaw dropped in shock. But regardless of his brother’s reaction, Vientin’s mind was elsewhere.

 

Cordelia Inferna’s strange gaze. Others said Cordelia seemed to hate Giselle, but to him, her expression felt different. He wasn’t one to pay much attention to other people’s faces or emotions, but he could read that look. That look was just like…

 

“Brother, let’s just finish up our work. Married life must be really sweet for you.”

 

“…Let’s wrap this up and go home.”

 

“Lady Giselle will be hosting all sorts of parties in society now. Just thinking about how jealous you’ll get every time—”

 

“…You think I get jealous?”

 

“Yes!”

 

Normally, Vientin would have dismissed it outright. While he was searching for something to say, Count Teren beamed with delight.

 

“I’m really looking forward to it. There are going to be plenty of social gatherings with Mother coming up, you know.”

 

Vientin continued his work with an unchanged expression. Aside from the slight tension in his thimble-clad hand and the rustling of papers sounding a bit more irritable, nothing had changed. Or so he thought. Why can’t I focus?

 

For the first time since receiving his title, Vientin faced the disaster of not finishing his work within the allotted time.

 

* * *

“Um, I have something to tell you.”

 

“Whoa, you scared me.”

 

I was just lazing around at the Kalinos Mansion—playing, eating, sleeping, and relaxing. I’d come out to the garden to enjoy some sunshine and was sipping a cup of coconut coffee.

 

So why did Cordelia suddenly show up at our mansion out of nowhere?