Chapter 18
#18
The only question swirling around in Ricardo's head was:
Why was she crying?
After catching the pickpocket and briefly scanning the people around him, his eyes met Bianca's, who had apparently followed him.
Even among the crowd, Bianca was easy to spot. Her shimmering blonde hair and dazzling beauty were bound to stand out anywhere.
Today, she had dressed plainly and refrained from wearing jewelry as much as possible in her own way to go to the festival with the children, but her beauty couldn't be concealed by such things.
That's why Ricardo recognized her at a glance.
The moment their eyes met, tears streamed down Bianca's face.
Ricardo wondered if he was mistaken because of the sunlight, but no.
It was definitely Bianca, looking at him, and crying.
"Bianca?"
Ricardo called her name, seeing Bianca crying for the first time in his life, but it was already too late.
Bianca was turning away and disappearing into the crowd.
"Bianca!"
Ricardo was about to chase after Bianca immediately, but he realized that he was currently holding a pickpocket.
He couldn't just leave this guy on the street.
"Damn it!"
Ricardo cursed and twisted the guy's arm harder than necessary.
He screamed that he was going to die, but Ricardo didn't care.
Ricardo looked down at the pouch and, as she had said, the name Maria was embroidered on it.
"Here, your money."
He tossed the pouch toward her, and Maria instinctively reached out and caught it.
"Get up. Let's go to the guardhouse."
Ricardo roughly pulled the pickpocket up.
"Ah! Wait! Please tell me your name."
Maria blocked Ricardo, who was about to disappear, dragging the pickpocket along.
"You found my precious money, and I want to repay you."
"No repayment is necessary."
"But, I want to."
Ricardo looked at Maria carefully.
Very clear green eyes were looking at him.
It didn't seem like she had any ulterior motives.
She was just purely grateful and genuinely wanted to give him a small reward.
It was just that Ricardo didn't need her reward.
Anyone could see that Maria didn't look rich. Ricardo, who had seen countless socialite women, realized that at once.
In the first place, they wouldn't come to a place like this.
Just like it was Bianca's first time here.
Suddenly, Bianca's face, looking surprised at the crowd, flashed through Ricardo's mind.
It was a truly dumbfounded expression.
He also remembered her cautious appearance, taking each step with a tense expression.
He remembered how she was horrified when she almost bumped into someone in front of her, and how her eyes widened when someone brushed past her shoulder.
Then, he even remembered how she felt slightly proud when she suddenly realized that she was walking quite well among those people.
He thought that the word 'cute,' which he didn't think suited Bianca very well, suited her very well at that moment.
Ricardo thought so.
It wasn't just that time.
He didn't say it, but he also remembered her watching the mouse-catching game with a very tense expression, her being surprised and happy when she caught the third mouse, and her looking at Lara when she finally held the doll in her arms.
It was all like that.
Today, Ricardo had discovered yet another new side of Bianca.
Cute Bianca.
"If you really want to repay me, help other people instead of me."
"Pardon?"
Maria didn't understand Ricardo's words right away and asked again.
"I don't need a reward, so use it for other good deeds instead. Help an orphanage or donate to a homeless shelter."
Ricardo recited the things Bianca had done recently.
"That's how you repay me."
"Ah, wait!"
Ricardo was no longer listening to Maria.
He was heading to the guardhouse with the pickpocket in front.
And he thought.
Why did Bianca cry?
"What to do?"
An empty, hollow question filled the room.
The only place I could return to after running away from the festival in a daze was one place.
My house, my room.
My own comfortable space without Ricardo or Maria.
But I felt like even this space, decorated only for me, was gradually being encroached upon by them.
"What to do?"
Another question mark escaped my lips.
If it wandered around and met its friend, they would ask each other again, but they would never find an answer.
Now the two have met.
I tried to stop it, but I couldn't.
The two will fall in love.
"Then what about me?"
When I closed my eyes, my life, which was long if it was long and short if it was short, flashed by.
Learning etiquette, cultivating refinement, mastering academics, and expanding my network.
The only reason I did that was one.
To become a perfect lady.
To become an elegant Duchess.
But now that dream was about to shatter.
The only goal of my life was about to disappear.
Because of one insignificant girl.
She said she was born in the countryside. She said she grew up as a commoner. She studied well, but in the end, she couldn't even find a decent job.
A woman whose mother is a commoner, who has no manners or knowledge, and who obviously has no connections, is about to take the place I've dedicated my whole life to becoming.
"Why?"
A new question mark arose.
What did I do wrong?
Why do I have to?
I didn't neglect anything to become a Duchess. Rather, it was excessive.
"Why me?"
Why should I be pushed aside?
Why should I give my place to such an insignificant woman?
Why should I have Ricardo taken away by that woman?
It had been 10 years.
A place I had thought was mine for a full 10 years, and a man I had thought was mine.
Suddenly, hatred welled up in my heart.
Jealousy and hatred arose for a woman I didn't know well, or perhaps a woman I knew better than anyone else.
"If only you weren't here..."
Should I have just killed her?
Would it have been okay if I had taken action before she met Ricardo?
Even if I couldn't sleep comfortably, maybe the place I would be sleeping would be the Duke of Wincaiser's residence.
Knock, knock.
Just as hatred was turning into murderous intent toward Maria, I suddenly heard a knock.
"What's going on?"
"Someone from Wensbury's has arrived."
Panya, who opened the door, flinched when she saw my face. But she lowered her head and told me what was going on.
"Who?"
"It's a Miss Maria."
Panya's words reminded me that I had told Reintar that I would see Maria today.
I couldn't keep Ricardo busy all day, so I had planned to keep Ricardo busy during the day and Maria in the evening.
But it was all useless now.
"I'm sorry, but tell her..."
I was about to tell her to go back because I wasn't feeling well.
But then I closed my mouth.
"No. I'll get ready and go out. I invited her to dinner, so guide her to the dining room."
"Yes, Young lady."
Panya bowed her head and quietly closed the door.
Even after she left, I sat in my seat for a while before slowly getting up.
"Hello, Maria."
"Ah! Hello!"
Maria, who was sitting in the chair, was startled by my voice and jumped up.
Thanks to that, the chair made an unpleasant noise as it was pulled back, and the table rattled as if it had hit her foot.
As I expected, she seemed far from elegant etiquette.
"I invited a guest and came down late. I was doing my makeup a little."
"No, I came a little early."
"Please sit down."
"Yes, yes."
Maria nodded and sat back in the chair. When she pulled the chair forward with her hand, the chair made a creaking noise again.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Bianca Crofort."
"Hello, I'm Maria Bellu... Ah, no, I'm Maria Wensbury."
As if she wasn't used to the new surname yet, Maria hurriedly corrected her name.
I smiled at her as if it was okay, as if I knew everything, and observed her.
Her dark red hair had been styled in its own way, but the ends were split and frizzy.
Her facial features were pretty, but she didn't give off a sophisticated impression. If I had to say, she was unsophisticated.
The smile she gave when our eyes met was... honestly, it was refreshing enough for me to admit.
Her green eyes were full of life, and her smile was full of innocence.
It was something I didn't have. Not that I wanted it, though.
"I've heard a lot about you from Lord Wendsbury."
"Which Lord Wendsbury are you talking about?"
"Ah! I mean, what I just said was, Lord Reintar Wensbury."
"You mean Reintar."
"Oh! But the other Lord Wendsbury also talked a lot about Bianca... or Miss Bianca? I mean..."
It seemed that Maria was confused about the titles.
"Bianca is fine."
"Ah, yes! Bianca. So, the Marquis of Wendsbury also talked a lot about Bianca."
"Did he?"
"Yes. He praised you a lot. He said you are a lady with many admirable qualities."
"That's an overstatement. I don't know if I'll disappoint Maria today."
"Ah, no!"
Maria quickly put her hand forward and waved it quickly.
"Rather, seeing you in person, you are much more elegant and beautiful than I heard."
She quietly lowered the hand she had just been shaking and smiled shyly.
"Actually, I thought you were my ideal type."
Did I just hear something wrong?
