“Ha.”

In the end, she got fired from the shop.

Although the manager hadn’t seen that state, it seemed someone had told him after all.

Still, it’s fortunate.

Stella stared at the coins placed in front of her. Among the copper-colored coins, several golden coins were mixed in.

It was the wages from working for a few days and the coins Duke Rochester had given her.

‘This should be enough to get through the mourning period.’

With just one gold coin, she could cover a month’s rent and food expenses during the mourning period.

If she used one more, she could cover not only her mother and Mary’s medicine but also the cost of calling a doctor.

She could put the rest in the tea leaf container and use it whenever there was an urgent need.

‘It’s money I need, money I must have.’

But she didn’t want to use it.

Stella bit her lip.

She knew it was pointless pride. She knew even better that she wasn’t in a position to indulge in such pride.

Yet she wanted to be stubborn.

‘Why am I being like this, really……’

Since leaving the mansion and working among commoners under a false name, she had never been stubborn like this.

If only she hadn’t been fired from the shop.

If only she could have worked a little longer at the tavern.

She wouldn’t have had to be so attached to this money.

“……Ha.”

Stella laughed quietly. Clearly, at first she had resisted not wanting to work at such a place, but now she was missing that position over just a few coins.

But she really didn’t want to use this money.

“You mean a woman who only tends to others?”

“Such a woman doesn’t suit the seat beside me.”

“I thought I’d bestow some pitiful sympathy.”

Every time she looked at the coins, the words she had heard that day kept coming back to her.

The cruel words she had heard from her first love, whom she had cherished for over ten years, tore Stella’s heart to pieces every time they surfaced.

‘I know I’m strange too.’

Stella repeatedly rubbed her gaunt face.

Hadn’t she been holding onto a pathetic one-sided love for over ten years just from meeting him at a party?

Hadn’t someone said so?

That love grows when it’s given and received mutually.

But during all those years, not even the most common greetings or well-wishes had been exchanged between herself and Kalian.

The distance that she could reach with her fingertips if she stretched her arms with all her might as a child had now become so far that it was difficult to even send a glance.

‘Besides, he hates me that much.’

A woman who pleasures her husband every night, a woman who could roll around with lovers without problem.

And a woman who only tends to others.

The rumors about herself that she heard at the tavern were truly shocking. She wondered if there was another woman named Stella Ambrose.

But no matter how much she listened, it was definitely referring to her.

Where, who, and why on earth.

Had someone spread such rumors about her? And just how far had those dirty rumors spread?

An even bigger shock was the fact that Duke Kalian Rochester believed those rumors.

“……Ha.”

Stella let out a long breath and barely swallowed her tears. Hugging her knees, she rested her head weakly.

‘So that’s why he showed such an expression at the memorial altar?’

That face, as if looking at filth on the roadside, must have come from that.

A bitter laugh escaped. Stella kept wiping her dry eyes.

‘It’s about time to stop.’

The time had finally come to fold away this pathetic heart.

She knew that, she did know.

“……”

Why couldn’t she give up easily?

When she was forcibly driven out of the mansion where she had grown up her whole life, when she had to sell her cherished belongings for a few coins, when she was forced to part with people she loved.

And when her mother collapsed from worsening chronic illness.

Whenever she was in anguish, too hard to bear, Stella would carefully take out those memories and take a small sip.

Then she would feel a little better.

It’s still okay, I can endure it. I’m really okay.

He’ll probably come up to the capital around summer. He’ll surely pass through the main road, so I might be able to see him from afar.

Good, let’s cheer up. Let’s try to hold on until then.

Hadn’t she endured like that?

And then she heard such words.

“Foolish Stella Ambrose……”

Stella cried tears while laughing self-mockingly.

She took a deep breath. After wiping the tears flowing down her cheeks and lifting her head, bright moonlight was pouring into the house through the window.

“It’s beautiful.”

A hoarse voice flowed out from crying too much. Stella stared blankly at the moon.

“Really beautiful……”

Bathed in bright moonlight, Stella blinked slowly.

Perhaps because the painful time had been long, the moment of decision was brief.

It was regrettable, truly agonizing, but it was right to end it here.

She instinctively knew that hesitating would be more agonizing.

But how?

How should she cut off this heart?

It was a heart she had cherished preciously for over ten years. It surely wouldn’t be cut off easily.

If she saw his face even once, all her efforts would be in vain.

“……”

There was only one thing she, with her weak heart, could do.

Creak, as she got up, the old chair made an unpleasant sound.

Stella’s staggering steps headed toward the top of the dresser. There lay a letter that had come to her recently.

Stella silently caressed the name written on the envelope.

Dorison, a maid who had taken care of her since the days when House Ambrose could still live somewhat like nobles.

Perhaps because she had stayed close for as long as a wet nurse? Or perhaps because she had a daughter exactly her age?

Even after leaving the mansion, Dorison continued to worry about her and wanted to find her a proper job.

Rip.

Stella tore the envelope with her hand and carefully took out the letter inside.

[ To Miss Stella Ambrose.

How are you doing? I’ve been hearing news as dark as the sky just before rain lately, so I’m sending you another letter. For me, Dorison, Miss’s well-being comes first. The passing of the two princes is truly a sorrowful matter. ]

Except for the addition of talk about the princes’ obituary, Dorison’s letter was the same as usual.

Worrying about Stella, worrying about House Ambrose, greetings, well-wishes, and……

[ I’m always curious whether you still have no intention of coming to work as a tutor at Raviens Estate. ]

The matter that Stella had always refused.

She took out letter paper and ink from the room where she had read the letter.

[ To my always kind friend, Dorison.

How have you been? Thank you for always asking about my well-being. ]

This time, the letter going to her would contain different content.

⁕⁕⁕

“I’m thinking of going to Bexshire.”

That was what Count Ambrose’s good eldest daughter Stella had said to him.

“What?”

“I’ve thought about it for a long time, and I think I’ll work as a tutor at Raviens Estate and save money, as Dorison said.”

“Stella.”

“They say they’ll give generous wages and provide a room to stay in. It would surely be a good environment for saving money.”

“……”

“I’ll go and come back, Father.”

Her face showed the resolve of someone who had already made up her mind—a look that made it clear she was ready to leave the capital, no matter what anyone said.

‘No.’

Sweat beaded on Count Ambrose’s face as he moved his steps busily.

‘I can’t let her go.’

Bexshire was a remote countryside that could only be reached after riding for half a month, changing carriages several times.

And what? Raviens Estate?

‘I’ve never heard of such nobles.’

They were surely people who made money through business and were clumsily imitating nobles.

Weren’t such people increasing these days? People who bought the mansions of bankrupt nobles and acted arrogantly as if they were real nobles.

For such fakes to have his daughter, the eldest daughter of the prestigious House Ambrose, as a tutor and order her around.

It was something that should never happen. A noble, going to commoners’ house!

He was already displeased with her working at commoners’ shops and selling flowers on the street.

What? Now she was going to work as a tutor for people pretending to be nobles?

‘This must not happen.’

Count Ambrose clenched his teeth tightly. It was because he could clearly see how his daughter would be treated if she went to Raviens Estate.

Shamefully, Count Ambrose knew that he had failed to properly educate Stella.

He had taught her the basics, but even that was insufficient.

Right when Stella should have been learning and growing, hadn’t he made mistakes that led to selling the mansion and ending up on the streets?

The reason for calling his daughter as a tutor was simple.

An ornament.

They would bring a real noble as a tutor and seat her there, giggling as if their own class had risen.

Then they would bring people similar to themselves and show off Stella.

Like people showing off expensive porcelain.

‘Stella must be happy.’

How kind his daughter was, how much she suffered.

Wasn’t he the one who knew best?

To send such a daughter to a place with no family or connections? Even to the house of people who would obviously treat his daughter as an ornament?

It was absolutely unacceptable.

I must protect my daughter myself.

Only that thought filled Count Ambrose’s mind.

But how?

How could his incompetent self protect his daughter?

‘There’s only one way.’

It was a wrong method. A method that would surely make his daughter resent him.

‘But I must protect Stella!’

Strength entered the count’s hand gripping his cane.

“Baizel!”

The count, who had arrived at a place with staggering steps, knocked on the wooden door.

Thump thump! Heavy sounds rang out consecutively.

“Yawn, who is it at this late hour…… Count Ambrose?”

A familiar servant blinked slowly.

“The master is sleeping right now.”

“Please call him quickly, quickly! It’s urgent.”

The servant, unable to withstand the pressure, hurriedly went inside the mansion.

Soon he was invited inside, and not long after, a middle-aged man in a robe entered the reception room with a face struggling to overcome sleepiness.

“Brother, what on earth is the matter? Wait, did you walk all the way here? How far is the distance!”

“Baizel.”

Count Ambrose, who had even dropped his cane, gripped his younger brother’s shoulders tightly.

“You, you. Is that story from last time still valid?”

“It was, wasn’t it? Why? Last time you said it was a story not worth reconsidering.”

“That, that is. Baizel.”

“Let’s sit down first, brother.”

Baizel led his brother to the sofa. Then he rang the bell and had a servant bring warm tea.

Looking at the tea that was placed there or not, Count Ambrose only stared at his younger brother.

A face as if this was the only remaining way to live.

A face that anyone could see was urgent, with only desperation remaining.

Had it finally happened?

Had the time finally come to realize his plan?

“What on earth is the matter that you’re bringing up a past story? Back then you told me never to say such things again. Tell me the detailed story so I can help you, brother.”

Baizel smiled while running his hand through his curly auburn hair.

“We’re family, aren’t we?”