Chapter 34

In truth, this was the very reason Adeline had accepted Millein’s invitation to the imperial ball. She had come here for two reasons.

‘First, to understand why Millein had proposed to me.’

And second…

‘To learn what she didn’t yet know about the man named Millein.’

Ever since learning that he was the mastermind behind the fall of House Zeller, Adeline’s thoughts—since the moment she returned to the past—had been occupied above all else by Millein himself. Of all the questions that haunted her, one stood out most sharply.

—How much of Millein was truth, and how much was lies?

During the three years of her marriage to Julian, Adeline had glimpsed yet another side of Millein.

She could still vividly recall the day he had turned his back on her. And with it, the unsettling realization that the Millein she had known might have been nothing but a facade.

‘The Millein I remember was always gentle and considerate, the heir of the Belov Marquisate.’

Yet it was that same kind childhood friend who had brought ruin to her family.

The thoughtful young man she once knew had mocked her, and it wasn’t Millein, but Huberg, who became heir to House Belov. Nothing Adeline had believed about him seemed to match the reality she now faced, not even the rumors about his private life.

She suddenly recalled the scandals involving Millein that had often surfaced during their days at Froude Academy.

—It’s all a misunderstanding, Renée. It’ll be cleared up soon, so don’t worry.

Even the words he used to reassure her back then.

‘Could even that have been a lie?’

What if Millen hadn’t suddenly changed after her marriage, but had always been this promiscuous from the very beginning? Whatever the truth might be, Adeline knew she had to uncover Millen’s secrets. So before coming to the banquet tonight, she had taken ‘certain precautions’ of her own.

‘No one here would ever suspect the truth.’

That the unexpected guest who had suddenly appeared between them, the young woman with the dirty-blonde hair—Sophia Barrett—had been invited by Adeline herself.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

The Barrett family wasn’t especially renowned for honor.

Yet, since her grandfather’s time, their wealth had multiplied exponentially, and among the aristocracy, they were now regarded as one of the richest houses of all. As a result, while other noble families prized modesty and dignity above all else, the Barretts had passed down a legacy of materialism as their highest virtue.

That philosophy was inherited in full by Sophia, their only daughter, who had earned a reputation as Froude Academy’s greatest source of gossip and scandal.

Adeline recalled an incident from her academy days.

One day, while searching for a book in the library, she once overheard whispered voices from beyond the shelves.

“Did you hear? The two of them finally decided to become a couple! After all that fuss about how it wasn’t true, I knew it would end up this way.”
“Fascinating. But Sophia, where do you hear all these things?”
“Oh, I have ears everywhere. There isn’t a single bit of Froude Academy news that escapes me.”

Froude Academy was an institution reserved exclusively for the children of the most influential families in society. Because a reputation at the academy would follow them straight into the world of high society, most students, Adeline included, placed great importance on appearances and paid little heed to gossip or scandal.

‘But.’

How many people were truly uninterested in rumors?

No matter how much they pretended at dignity, in the end, it was the tantalizing gossip that most captivated the students of the academy. Even Adeline, for all her composure, found herself pricking up her ears whenever whispers of scandal arose.

Sophia knew this well, and thanks to the materialistic values instilled by the Barrett family, she cared even less for appearances than most.

“Ahem, listen to your big sister. Information like this always turns into money in the end. Remember that.”

Of course, for all her words, Sophia collected gossip more out of curiosity than for any profit.