In just one month, so many things had really changed. 

 

Meeting so many people, experiencing things that the old, shabby Cordelia could never have even dreamed of…

 

It must all be thanks to Noah.

 

Unconsciously smiling to herself, Cordelia changed the subject.

 

“By the way, has there been any separate contact from Sir Mikael?”

 

“He sent a letter. Saying he wants to meet. That he was worried. He doesn’t want to be remembered forever as the bad guy. On the surface, he seems indifferent, but he actually cares a lot about how others see him, and he’s quite cowardly. He’ll probably ask to meet at least once to try to wrap things up cleanly with ,me too.”

 

At her bitter smile and words, Cordelia frowned. 

 

‘Ugh, that makes it even worse.’ 

 

Sasha, sensing the reaction, hurriedly added,

 

“Please don’t misunderstand—he was terribly cruel to me, but the man himself isn’t some completely awful, repulsive monster. He’s just… pitiful. He grew up lonely, with nowhere to truly belong. It’s like he wrapped himself in thorns because his heart is so soft and fragile. Yet the moment he actually hurts someone close to him, the regret becomes unbearable. He’s so twisted that he can neither receive love properly nor express it well.”

 

Cordelia found Sasha’s excuses frustrating and completely nonsensical. 

 

Just because someone has a lot of wounds, does that give them the right to hurt others? 

 

If it were Noah, he would probably have said something like, He’s a total bastard, so just tell him to fuck off already.

 

Seeing Cordelia’s silence, Sasha awkwardly touched her cheek as if admitting it herself.

 

“I know. It must sound strange. But… those weak, vulnerable sides of him are what I can’t stand. I can’t just leave him alone.”

 

“This might be really rude to say, but… why do you like him? Someone like you, Sasha.”

 

She was genuinely curious. 

 

How could someone as radiant and seemingly perfect as Sasha fall for such a terrible man?

 

Sasha was quiet for a moment before letting out a hollow laugh.

 

“I don’t know. The moment I first saw him, I was helplessly drawn in. Maybe it’s because we’re kindred spirits in suffering. He and I went through similar circumstances at birth, after all. At first, that’s why I felt such a strong sense of kinship. I thought we could truly understand each other. Pity, huh? It’s laughable. I used to secretly think people who fell for that kind of thing were such fools… and now here I am doing exactly the same. Maybe I’m being punished for it.”

 

Sadly, it was clear she still loved him. There was no mistaking it. 

 

Why does love have to drive people so insane, make them so miserable, hurt them so deeply? 

 

Why on earth?

 

When Cordelia’s eyes clouded over with pity, Sasha forced a smile and shook her head.

 

“Of course I know. You’re right, Cordelia. In the end, our relationship was nothing more than playing with fire. He betrayed the fidelity of our relationship, and that fact isn’t going to disappear. Even if he never truly saw me as his lover, at the very least, he should have broken things off with me or ended it cleanly before getting engaged. If not for me, then at least for the sake of his fiancée. Foolishly, I still want to believe he never deliberately set out to hurt me… but he made me feel utterly wretched, like I was worthless. Loving a man like that any longer would be betraying my father, who truly loved me with all his heart. I can’t dream of a future with someone so selfish and irresponsible.”

 

It sounded as though she were trying to convince herself. 

 

Having recited the words like they were being vomited out, Sasha blinked her wet eyes and forced another smile.

 

“I know all of this, yet somehow my heart just won’t listen. It’s driving me crazy.”

 

“Sasha…”

 

“I still want to see him even now. What should I do…?”

 

Sasha began to sob quietly. 

 

Cordelia, who had never been good with smooth or comforting words, simply furrowed her brows in pained sympathy. Then she quickly stood up, moved to Sasha’s side, and wrapped her arms tightly around the crying woman.

 

She had learned from her mother in childhood and from Noah that simply sharing warmth like this when someone is heartbroken and sad can bring tremendous comfort.

 

As Cordelia patted her gently, the way one would soothe a baby bird, Sasha leaned her head against her shoulder. 

 

Sasha truly was a lovable person. 

 

Like bright sunshine, she knew how to give love and how to receive it. Just being near her filled the air with vitality.

 

Was it really fair for someone like this to suffer such absurd humiliation and wounds? 

 

If Sasha had any fault at all, it was only that she trusted people too much. 

 

Cordelia couldn’t tell whether the burning anger she felt on Sasha’s behalf came from Sasha being her very first friend, or because Sasha had suffered the same kind of pain her own mother once had—but either way, she simply loathed Mikael with every fiber of her being.

 

While Cordelia was letting out one heavy sigh after another, a sharp knock—tock tock—sounded at the door. 

 

The maid was calling for Sasha. Both of them hurriedly pulled apart, coughing awkwardly with flushed faces. 

 

After wiping away the tear tracks and quickly straightening her clothes, Sasha spoke in a calm, unaffected voice.

 

“What is it?”

 

“A guest has come for you, miss!”

 

“Already?”

 

It wasn’t yet time for the tea party, so Sasha looked puzzled. The maid quickly clarified.

 

“The Count of Wales and Miss Langham have arrived!”

 

Cordelia could feel Sasha’s face hardening in an instant.

 

Cordelia stomped her feet in helpless agitation. 

 

Why of all times? Was Mikael completely insane? 

 

Bringing his own fiancée—her friend—right to Sasha’s house? 

 

For a man who had seemed so quick-witted that he hadn’t even needed an invitation today, how could he possibly not realize Sasha was deliberately avoiding him?

 

“Sasha…”

 

Sasha gave the teary-eyed Cordelia a brief, small smile, then slowly rose from her seat. 

 

In that moment, the innocent young girl who had been aching with heartbreak vanished, and the composed, elegant mask of a noble lady settled over Sasha like magic.

 

It was an almost miraculous transformation.

 

“Please show them to the drawing room. Tell them I’ll join them once I’m ready.”

 

After the maid replied that she understood and walked away, Sasha let out a deep sigh. 

 

Cordelia looked at her worriedly—her face had gone pale, all color drained—only for Sasha to flash a bold, defiant smile instead.

 

“Don’t worry. Duke Arsen’s residence is my home. My territory.”

 

For a moment, fierce anger flashed in her sea-bright eyes.

 

“I have no idea what on earth he was thinking coming here, but I’m going to make sure he realizes it was a terrible mistake.”

 

Her furious expression reminded Cordelia of the face Sasha had worn on the Mermaid when she stood up to the pirates—the very moment Cordelia had first thought to herself how incredibly cool Sasha was. 

 

Unable to help smiling along with her, Cordelia quickly stood up too and asked,

 

“I-Is there anything I can do to help?”

 

Having steadied her breathing, Sasha smiled and made a small request.

 

“Would you… Stay by my side? Honestly, I don’t want to face the two of them alone together.”

 

Despite the brave front, there was a fleeting fragility in her expression. Cordelia nodded firmly.

 

🫧

 

The instant Cordelia saw the two people in the drawing room, her face stiffened. 

 

She almost gasped out loud and very nearly pinched the arm Sasha had linked with hers—only to catch sight of Sasha’s bloodless, ashen face and instead quickly grasp her hand tightly.

 

Mikael and Georgiana were standing at such an odd, intimate angle that it looked as though they might kiss at any second.

 

“Oh, Sasha! You’re here!”

 

Georgiana stepped away from her fiancé with perfect nonchalance and a bright smile, while Mikael abruptly turned his head and fixed his gaze on Sasha.

 

Fortunately, with Cordelia holding her hand tightly, Sasha outwardly appeared calm and expressionless.

 

Quite separately from that composed facade, Cordelia was inwardly hurling every curse she knew. 

 

Is he insane? Doing that in someone else’s house is already rude enough!

 

But Mikael used to be involved with Sasha, for God’s sake!

 

“Hello, Georgiana. Lord Wales. What brings you here without any notice?”

 

Sasha, wearing a faint, gentle smile, looked incredibly impressive. 

 

Cordelia knew she herself could never have mustered such bold composure.

 

“What do you mean? What’s the matter! I heard you were kidnapped—how could I not worry as your friend? Oh, I’m sorry about that just now. We’ve been spending so much time together lately that I couldn’t quite control my feelings.”

 

Georgiana blushed shyly as she stroked Mikael’s arm, while he remained expressionless, carefully studying Sasha’s face.

 

Sasha’s gaze lingered for a moment on their joined hands before indifferently sliding away. 

 

If it weren’t for the faint trembling in her fingers, no one would have noticed anything amiss—and that fact only made Cordelia feel even sorrier for her.

 

As the two women approached to take their seats, Mikael suddenly rose without a sound. 

 

Georgiana’s overlapping hand fell away like a withered leaf, meaningless and discarded; her expression clouded for an instant before she quickly smiled again.

 

Mikael personally pulled out chairs for both ladies. 

 

As he withdrew his hand, it brushed—seemingly by accident—against Sasha’s hair. Their gazes met at an angle as he leaned slightly toward her.

 

For a very brief moment, both of them seemed to stop breathing. 

 

It was Sasha who looked away first. 

 

He gazed down at her impassive, forward-facing face for a second longer, then returned to his fiancée’s side.