Side Story 3.2

‘I knew this would happen.’  

Adolf’s clumsiness didn’t end there.  

He spilled tea, broke teacups, tripped over a chair….  

After a series of endless mishaps, Adolf sat dejectedly on the ground outside the house while Ella shook her head. No father would welcome a son-in-law with a face he disliked and behavior that left much to be desired.  

Before Ella could even reveal Adolf’s specific background, her father had already expressed a subtle rejection by saying, 

“It would be nice if you two stayed good friends.” 

He then sent Ella out to see Adolf off, instructing her to escort him safely.  

Judging by the stern look in her father’s eyes, even as he smiled, Ella could tell she was in for a scolding when she returned home.  

Sigh…. 

Considering the disaster of Adolf’s first meeting with her father, the outcome was unsurprising.  

‘This is why I said it would’ve been better to just meet at the wedding….’  

Thinking about how Adolf had spent over a month preparing a list of questions and practicing for this meeting because he wanted to get official approval, Ella felt a pang of guilt.  

‘He can’t even walk properly, so what’s the point of preparing questions….’  

Though she felt like sighing again, Ella wasn’t heartless enough to do so in front of her boyfriend, who was undoubtedly feeling the most disheartened.  

She patted Adolf’s slumped shoulders and said, 

“There will be another chance. Feeling down? Want to grab a drink?”  

The two headed to the tavern where they had first met. 

When they arrived, Adolf’s face brightened slightly, as if the place brought back memories.  

“Do you remember the day we first met?”  

“How could I forget….”  

“I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life.”  

Adolf might not know, but for Ella, it wasn’t exactly a fond memory. Even after they started dating, Ella occasionally had nightmares about the day she vomited all over Adolf’s chest. Not to mention the time she misunderstood the situation and jumped into the bathtub where he was bathing…. Those were dark memories she couldn’t easily erase.  

But Adolf had a dreamy look on his face.  

“You were like an angel….”  

Ella couldn’t help but wonder what kind of angel would get drunk, vomit, and cause a scene, but she was grateful for Adolf’s rose-tinted recollection.  

“Why don’t you sit and relax? I’ll go place the order.”  

“No, I’ll—” 

“Nope, I’ll do it.”  

Ella gently pushed Adolf, who was still a bit unsteady, into a seat before heading to the counter to order.  

That’s when a familiar voice caught her attention.  

“Ella?”  

Turning her head, she saw a man with beautiful golden hair and a gentle face.  

It was a face she knew all too well.  

Her first love and ex-boyfriend, Shyle.  

But their breakup hadn’t been pretty….  

Unsure of how to react to an ex-boyfriend she hadn’t parted with on good terms, Ella responded with a vague expression.  

“Shyle?”  

“Wow, it really is you, Ella! It’s been a while!”  

“Uh, yeah, it has….”  

Despite their messy breakup, Shyle’s face showed nothing but joy at seeing her. It was as if he had forgotten all about their last encounter.  

“I heard you became the Empire’s first commoner administrator? Everyone in Eren was talking about you…. I knew you’d do well. Congratulations!”  

“Th-thanks.”  

He even knew about her recent achievements and seemed genuinely happy for her. Ella, caught off guard by his enthusiasm, stammered a response. Shyle, smiling warmly, continued the conversation.  

“It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Want to grab a drink? My treat.”  

Ella, who had been getting swept up in Shyle’s natural flow of conversation, suddenly snapped back to her senses.  

“No, I’m here with someone.”  

“Oh? Who?” 

“My boyfriend.”  

“You have a boyfriend?”  

At Ella’s reply, Shyle’s face briefly clouded before quickly returning to its usual cheerful expression. He glanced around, looking curious.  

“Who is he? That brown-haired guy sitting over there?”  

“No.”  

“Then the guy in white clothes by the window?”  

“No, he’s sitting near the entrance.”  

After several wrong guesses, Ella finally pointed toward Adolf. He was slouched in his chair, hidden behind the table, with only his face vaguely visible. Thanks to the shadow of a flowerpot on the table, the long scar running down his left cheek wasn’t immediately noticeable.  

After vaguely confirming Adolf’s face, Shyle shrugged and said, 

“He’s a nobleman, isn’t he?”  

“What? How did you know?”  

Ella asked in surprise. While Adolf’s reputation was well-known, his face wasn’t widely recognizable.  

Shyle chuckled and replied, 

“You’re such a snob, Ella.”  

“What?”  

Ella, confused by the unexpected comment, blinked at him. Shyle, still smiling, continued to speak.  

“You’ve always liked good-looking men. That’s why you fell for me. But I guess power changes people’s tastes, huh? Don’t tell me you dumped me just to chase after some nobleman in college?”  

“…What?”  

“Haha, I’m kidding. Why are you getting so serious? Anyway, enjoy your time with your noble boyfriend.”  

This bastard….  

As Shyle turned to leave, Ella, having finally processed his words, reached out angrily to grab him.  

But someone else got to him first.  

Adolf, who had silently approached, blocked Shyle’s path. Resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, Adolf spoke in a cold voice.  

“I stayed quiet because I thought you were an old friend….”  

Gulp. 

The chilling tone in Adolf’s voice made everyone in the tavern turn to look at them. As Adolf’s face came into full view under the bright lights, the noisy tavern fell silent.  

Shyle, sensing the shift in atmosphere, began to back away. But Adolf grabbed his shoulder firmly and pulled him forward.  

“You dare speak so carelessly.”  

“I-I didn’t mean—”  

Shyle stammered, trying to explain himself, but Adolf wasn’t interested in hearing his excuses. Instead, he turned Shyle to face Ella and said, 

“Apologize to the lady.”  

“Haha… Ella….”  

Shyle, who had been so bold earlier, now looked pitiful as he tried to apologize. Ella, holding her throbbing forehead, finally spoke.  

“Just let him go.”  

“What?”  

Adolf questioned her, but Ella firmly responded again.  

“Just let him go. I don’t want to face him anymore.”  

“Ah, yes. I understand.”  

When Adolf released the shoulder he had been holding, Shyle bolted away like an arrow. After finishing her order, Ella returned to her seat with Adolf. Her face was filled with gloom, prompting Adolf to cautiously speak up.  

“Ella, are you very upset?”  

“It’s not that… it’s just embarrassing.”  

Ella wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. Adolf, with his sharp hearing, seemed to have already overheard the entire conversation between the two. She felt embarrassed that Adolf had to step in because she couldn’t even respond to Shyle, who had dragged her around and insulted her and her lover.  

But what bothered her most was…  

“It’s so humiliating that you found out someone like him was my ex-boyfriend.”  

The fact that such a lowly person had been her first boyfriend was mortifying. She couldn’t believe Adolf had discovered this in such a way. It felt as though she had been stripped bare, leaving her utterly exposed.  

Ella, her face flushed, lowered her head in shame. Adolf, sitting across from her, slowly began to speak.  

“This might sound selfish… but I’m actually grateful.”  

“What? Grateful for what?”  

Ella tilted her head slightly at Adolf’s unexpected words. Adolf hesitated before continuing carefully.  

“If your first boyfriend had been a decent person, I probably wouldn’t have had another chance. I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to meet you.”  

“Ruby…”  

Even while happily dating Adolf, there were moments when Shyle’s last words still lingered in her mind. She tried to pretend otherwise, but the sudden change in her once affectionate boyfriend had left a deep scar.  

Because of that lingering memory, she had faltered again today… But hearing Adolf’s words made her feel as though the unhealed wound was finally beginning to close.  

‘Yes, meeting that trash made me realize how precious Ruby is.’  

It would have been better if she hadn’t gone through such an experience, but even bitter memories are still experiences. She decided to use her past as a stepping stone for a better future, rather than being trapped by it.  

Ella resolved not to feel ashamed of her past anymore.  

This incident became a hot topic in Eren City for a while. It was the first time Shyle, who had repeatedly caused trouble with the backing of the underworld, had faced such a significant defeat. Naturally, the news reached Becker’s ears.  

‘He might seem like a fool, but he sure knows how to stand up for his own.’  

Thanks to this, Adolf was given another opportunity to meet Ella’s father.  

“Oh, right. Was it Aster?”  

“Pardon? My name is Adolf…”  

“Ah, Arnold. Come in.”  

However, Becker’s heart wasn’t so easily swayed.  

***

‘Ruby worked so hard to win over Father’s approval…’  

Lost in thought, Ella snapped back to reality when she felt sharp gazes directed at her.  

“Huh? Do you really have to go, Administrator?”  

“You’re being too much. I’ll get checked after leaving the palace today. Don’t worry and go eat.”  

“Alright. Please try to eat something else, at least.”  

Rosa tried to persuade her further, but Ella barely touched her food before leaving the table. She returned to her desk and picked up the fountain pen her husband had gifted her during their university days.  

‘It’s probably nothing.’  

She had too much work piled up to dwell on her slightly upset stomach. Soon, only the sound of papers being turned filled the room.