"Are you serious?
Are you really serious?"
I nodded.
I was worried that Walter might become suspicious of this sudden change in my behavior, especially since the real Bella might have told him other things.
I was also afraid that he would guess that the information I gave him came from Leon, but from the expression on his face, it was clear that he didn't think about it at all.
“Yes.
Seeing your face, which was so gloomy, now light up comforts me.”
"Really?
I looked that gloomy?
Thanks, Bella.
I really…"
Walter stammered and lowered his head shyly.
“If you are so grateful… If the world ever becomes strange, come to my rescue in Esther.”
“What are you saying?”
“Something like that.”
Instead of telling him to come to Esther if the world becomes strange, I asked him to save me.
I thought that because of his debt to me, this request would be the one that would make him come to Esther.
“Okay, I have to go, Leon is waiting for me.”
When I got up, Walter got up with me.
“Are you going now?
Let me drive you.”
“No, I'm fine.”
“I heard that the Duke of Astaire bought a palace in the capital?”
“Yes, it's not a rumour, it's a fact.”
“I will go with you.
I will quickly greet the Duke and return.
As you said, I will try to look at your husband without prejudice from today.”
I shook my head, then stopped and thought.
Walter's suggestion sounded good.
If it was just a quick hello, it wouldn't be a problem.
“Sounds like a good idea.”
At my words, Walter’s face, which was frustrated, lit up as if a light had been turned on.
We left the café, got into my car together, and headed to the palace.
When we got off the carriage, Walter looked at the palace with a slightly stiff expression and followed me inside.
I asked Amy, who had taken my coat, where Leon was.
“The master is now painting in the bedroom.”
“Okay, we will be in the reception room, tell Leon that Walter is here and ask him to come to the reception room.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
After telling Amy, we entered the reception room and sat waiting for Leon.
“The palace is very small.”
Walter spoke with a dissatisfied expression.
“Well… yeah, but we don’t come to the capital very often.”
"truly?"
Walter nodded, but continued to look around the reception room with a dissatisfied expression.
At that moment, a noise was heard from outside, and the door suddenly opened.
“Bill bill!”
Leon rushed in, calling my name.
Walter got up at the same moment.
Leon approached me excitedly, but froze when he saw Walter.
"Who is this?"
'Are they meeting for the first time?'
Didn't they even meet at the wedding?
And of course Amy told him Walter was here.
I looked between Leon and Walter in shock.
“Your Highness the Duke, this is Walter Sweden.”
"Oh, Walter?
Wow-wow."
Leon made a dog barking sound and started laughing, holding his stomach.
Walter's face completely stiffened.
He looked at Leon with eyes full of hostility.
“Wo-wow!”
Leon repeated and laughed loudly again.
Walter, who was speechless, seemed to stare at Leon with his mouth slightly open, and then laughed sarcastically.
Then he looked at me with a contemptuous look.
'Is this relationship over?'
My mind was filled with chaos.
Who is at fault here?
When Elizabeth said “Lily” yesterday, Leon looked touched no matter how stupid he wanted to act.
I shook my head violently, denying this position.
“Well, you said he was an idiot but he was rich and good...”
“Walter!”
no!
How could he say that in front of Leon, you idiot?
I felt dizzy, and my madly beating heart was out of control.
My weak fingertips trembled.
I turned around with difficulty to look at Leon.
He looked at me sarcastically.
I thought Leon didn't like me but he didn't hate me either.
But his look of contempt today made me realize that his previous looks were full of kindness.
There was a reason for Bella's idiocy.
It was hereditary.
She wasn't the only one stupid.
“Leon...”
You called his name desperately, grabbing his arm.
But Leon shook my arm harshly.
“Leave me.”
He left this cold word, turned violently, and left the reception room.
I looked sadly at the door through which Leon came out, then collapsed on the ground.
"This is really weird.
Why is he acting like this?"
Walter approached me, shaking his head.
"Get out!
Get out, you're the real idiot!
I don't want to see you, get out!"
I started screaming at Walter with all my might.
I was so angry that the tears wouldn't come out.
I remembered the saying “return good with evil.” He scattered filth on my clean path.
“Bella.”
Walter called me with a confused face.
I did not calm down, I got up from the ground and started shouting at him: “Get out!
Leave now!”
"Bella, sorry, I made a mistake."
I left him in the drawing room and ran to the bedroom.
What I hated most was Leon's contemptuous look, more than all my efforts to survive turning into bubbles.
“Give Walter a cart and tell him to leave.
Tell him not to contact me until I contact him.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Where is Leon?”
“Master ordered that we not tell you where he is if you ask.”
Amy spoke cautiously, watching my face.
I closed my eyes and bit my lip hard.
“I want to be alone, everyone come out.”
After the maids left, I lay down on the bed.
I felt the white ceiling distorting, and I was drowning endlessly between its cracks.
I didn't sleep all night, and sat on the couch, hugging my knees, looking as pale as a zombie.
“Ma’am, are you really going to skip breakfast?”
Mary repeated her anxious question.
I nodded without wanting to respond.
Amy cautiously entered the bedroom.
“Ma’am, the master said he didn’t want anything to do with you anymore, and would rather not see you, and ordered me to pass this on.”
I rested my head on my knees and looked at the bracelet on my wrist.
'Not sure yet, let's test it further.' If this is truly the Governor's Flame, I can survive without Leon.
If Esther is driven away, I will build a small, strong shelter near her and survive.'
I raised my head firmly.
My heart was aching, but I didn't have time to wallow in emotions.
I have to survive first, then think about divorce or love.
I weakly buried my head in my knees.
'But I have no money.'
I suddenly remembered Walter.
‘Now that he inherited the Marquis family’s fortune, why didn’t he contact me?’
I quickly started getting ready to go out.
When I finished and was about to leave the bedroom, Mary came running in.
“Ma’am, the master says he will return to Esther.”
"What?
Now?
Without telling me?"
I lifted my dress and quickly left the palace.
People were moving quickly, carrying luggage into the cart.
Leon was standing leaning on the cart, looking at me.
When our eyes met, he turned his cold face and quickly got into the carriage.
“Leon!”
She caught the carriage door as he closed it.
“Wait a minute.”
Leon raised his red eyes to me.
His eyes seemed filled with mysterious sadness.
Was it because I was sad?
“Lady Bella Sweden, I’m tired of this too.”