The End of First Love - Chapter 32

“What a coincidence. Lord Leonardo, are you here to see the play as well?”

Why is he here?

The sight of the man standing before her, his fiery red hair flowing, sent alarm bells ringing in Elizabeth’s head.

She had to leave immediately.

After encountering Leonardo at the tea party hosted by the Crown Princess, Elizabeth had done everything she could to investigate the Mareille Count family. However, no matter how much she searched, she could not find a single bad rumor about them.

A noble house that lived up to the name of impeccable conduct. Their land management, ties with the city’s merchant guilds, tax payments, even their social connections—everything about them was exemplary.

And that was precisely why it felt so unsettling.

Using the intelligence network of the Baker Ducal House, she could easily uncover the inner workings, alliances, and business dealings of any noble family.

Most noble houses, big or small, had their share of skeletons in the closet. Even if they managed to hide them well, traces of secrets would always surface as rumors.

Yet, the Mareille Count family had none. That alone made Elizabeth deeply uneasy.

“Yes, a friend invited me. They said there was a popular play in town and asked if I’d like to see it. But I must say, I’m surprised to see you here, Lady Elizabeth. Are you attending with Lord Heinz tonight?”

“Why do you assume I am with Lord Heinz?”

“Oh? Ah, my apologies. That was an inappropriate question to ask a lady. It’s just that I saw him at the salon, so I thought perhaps you were together.”

Even if what Leonardo said was true, prying into someone’s private affairs was unbecoming of a gentleman. Moreover, in noble society, the unspoken rule was to pretend not to notice acquaintances in public places like theaters. Yet, here he was, deliberately addressing her in an unoccupied balcony, an act that could be seen as lacking common sense.

(I should leave immediately. If someone sees us together, unnecessary speculation could arise.)

For now, she was still engaged to Heinz. If rumors spread that she was secretly meeting another man, her reputation would suffer even further. She could not afford that—not when she needed to settle the score with Heinz.

“I see. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

“—Are you sure? Are you really going to leave just like that?”

“What do you mean?”

Elizabeth stopped in her tracks at Leonardo’s provocative words.

“I mean, are you truly okay leaving like this? I noticed something was off about you, so I followed you… but Lord Heinz is quite cruel. To bring a duke’s daughter, cast aside by Prince William and slandered as a villainess in the city, to watch a play based on that very scandal—one must question his sanity. It’s as if he brought you here just to remind you of your place. To silence you.”

She couldn’t find the words to respond.

(Since when has he been watching me? Could he have seen me break down in tears?)

“That… that is none of your business!”

“Is that so? But Lady Elizabeth, I need you to keep Lord Heinz in check. If the Mareille family is to make a move within the Crown Prince’s faction, we cannot have him acting on his own.”

“That is your concern, not mine. Do not involve me in it.”

“That may be true. But is this truly what you want? To be nothing more than a pawn to Heinz, used and discarded when you are no longer of value? Are you willing to accept that fate?”

Used and discarded. Those words scraped painfully against Elizabeth’s heart.

“Lady Elizabeth, I understand your hesitation in joining hands with me. But do you really have the time to dwell on such trivial concerns? If you hesitate, someone will pull the rug out from under you.”

A vision of Heinz embracing a woman dressed in a nun’s habit flashed through her mind, and her resolve wavered.

(If I align myself with Leonardo, I might be able to strike back at Heinz…)

The devil whispered in her ear. And with the betrayal she had suffered, Elizabeth no longer had the clarity to resist.

“Lord Leonardo… What is it that you desire?”

“When your wish is fulfilled, I ask that you help pave the way for the Mareille family to shift allegiance to the Crown Prince’s faction.”

“…Very well.”

Guided by the devil’s whisper, Elizabeth took Leonardo’s outstretched hand.