The End of First Love - Chapter 31

Tears overflowed, and a sob threatened to escape.

Elizabeth, having fled the noblewoman’s private room, ran down the long corridor in search of a place where she could be alone. As a lady, running in a dress like this was considered improper, and she couldn’t complain if others pointed fingers at her. But there was no room in Elizabeth’s mind to care about such trivial matters in her current state.

The vibrant paintings on the corridor walls and the elaborate chandelier hanging from the ceiling were completely out of her focus, blurred by the tears in her eyes.

She just wanted to be alone. That desire alone propelled Elizabeth’s feet forward.

If she stopped now, she was sure she would collapse on the spot and cry uncontrollably.

How far had she run? At the end of the long corridor, the city’s night view suddenly appeared before her, halting Elizabeth’s steps.

“Beautiful…”

The golden and silver lights of the city glittered in the night, resembling a sea of stars. Elizabeth, feeling as though she were gazing at a sea of stars, approached the glass window and lost track of time as she gazed out.

(How beautiful…)

Enchanted by the stunning night view, Elizabeth turned toward the door leading to the balcony.

She placed her hand on the doorknob, twisted it, and heard a soft click as the door opened. Stepping onto the tile-covered floor of the balcony, a gentle night breeze caressed her cheeks, and her beautiful silver hair swayed in the wind.

The mosaic-patterned floor, a combination of blue and white, was illuminated by the moonlight, so beautiful it almost made her gasp in awe.

(I never knew such a wonderful place existed. It’s like walking through a sea of stars.)

The glittering city lights, the blue-and-white tiled floor, and the melody faintly echoing from afar reminded Elizabeth of the memories of the ball.

(This song… it’s the one I danced to with Lord Heinz.)

Her arms naturally rose, and she began to step in rhythm with the music.

It was the song she had first danced to with Heinz at her friend’s wedding reception.

The dance steps she had worked so hard to memorize just to dance with William. She had practiced them over and over until her body had memorized them. But she never got to dance with the prince. She had been left standing at the sidelines, unable to do anything. He was the one who had noticed her efforts and recognized them.

She didn’t want to believe that all the words he had spoken to her were lies, that they had been just for his own benefit.

As the music ended, Elizabeth’s feet stopped moving. The distant sound of applause reminded her that the play had ended.

(I wonder if that villainous lady was escorted offstage by the knight…)

The image of the villainess kneeling with her head down merged with her own, and the tears that had stopped earlier began to overflow again. Elizabeth collapsed to her knees.

(What will her fate be?)

She didn’t remember much about the play.

What had been the crime of that villainess? Was her sin so severe that she was dragged offstage?

The audience, who had watched the play, had applauded her departure. No one had supported her.

The villainess, who had lost her fiancé to the heroine and had fallen into madness. Was there no room for sympathy for her?

No one had thought about that at the finale. The distant sounds of cheers and applause spoke volumes.

The story only ends when the villain is gone. As long as the main characters are happy, the audience is satisfied in this cruel world. No one cared about the villainess’s fate.

No one cared about the villainess’s end. She was a forgotten existence, fading away unnoticed.

The anger that surged within Elizabeth made her body burn with heat.

She had been abandoned by William, and now she was being used as a tool for Heinz’s schemes.

Did those who were branded as evil and cast out of society have to accept everything, even the unreasonable?

(I will never become Heinz’s pawn! I will resist to the fullest. There’s no way I’ll let things go his way!!)

With the rising fighting spirit and wiping away her overflowing tears, Elizabeth stood up.

It was then that she suddenly heard a voice from behind, causing her shoulders to tremble.

“—Lady Elizabeth, here you are.”

When she slowly turned around, the face of the person she saw made her heart grind uncomfortably, and she could feel the dread spreading through her.

Why was he here? Leonardo Mareille.