Honey, Don’t Love Me

13: The Duchess in Name Only (Part 1)

For Aella, who had never had a true friend with whom she could share her heart, Elena was the first and only friend to whom she revealed all aspects of herself. A pitiable princess who had fallen in love with the crown prince who still harbored feelings for Aella. Aella felt sorry for her, yet at the same time, grateful.

When Elena first opened up about her feelings, the two unknowingly began sharing their pain with each other, and soon became like close friends. As this happened, Aella felt a heavy weight lift from her heart.

“I wish Aella would invite me to the Duke’s residence as well.”

“I’ll have to ask the Duke.”

“Oh, I see.”

Knowing that her words would likely be ignored, Aella had no choice but to rely on Elena. Surely, no one would dare ignore the princess, who was also the crown prince’s fiancée. Above all, there was no reason for Kael to disregard the princess.

“I think it would be better if you asked the Duke yourself, Elena.”

“Pardon?”

“I cannot ask the Duke for anything.”

“Oh!”

Elena immediately grasped the meaning behind Aella’s words. She looked at Aella, who was smiling awkwardly, with a pitying gaze. Instead of saying anything, Elena simply nodded.

Knock, knock.

“Your Highness, the Duke of Hormons is here.”

“!”

Their startled eyes met.

“Your Highness?”

“I understand.”

Elena, who was walking ahead, opened the door. Standing right outside was the maid Azet, and behind her stood the Duke of Hormons, his tall figure striking.

‘This man…’

Though she had seen him earlier, Elena now took in the sight of the Duke of Hormons up close. When he greeted her politely with a composed expression, Elena also returned his greeting, saying it was a pleasure to meet him.

“Your Grace, let us take our leave.”

“Yes.”

If Aella hadn’t told her about the Duke of Hormons, Elena might have been completely fooled by his gentle tone and kind eyes.

‘What a spine-chilling performance.’

Feeling a shiver run through her body, Elena stopped the Duke, who was preparing to leave.

“I have a request for the Duke.”

“Please command me.”

“I find the Duchess to my liking and would like to call on her as a companion from time to time. Would it be alright for me to visit her?”

Elena carefully observed the Duke’s expression, which showed little reaction to her words.

‘He’s someone whose true intentions are impossible to read.’

Unable to let her guard down, Elena clenched her hands tightly.

“It is truly an honor that my wife has found favor with Your Highness.”

‘There’s no emotion in his words.’

This much was clear to Elena. This man was thoroughly rejecting Aella.

Elena lowered her head before lifting it again to meet the Duke’s indifferent expression.

“Please do as Your Highness wishes. You are always welcome.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Duke.”

“It is nothing.”

“Then, I shall see the Duchess again next time. It was truly a delightful time.”

“The pleasure was mine.”

After the Duke and Duchess completely disappeared from her sight, Azet, who was standing next to Elena, finally spoke.

“Your Highness, were you serious about what you said?”

“What do you mean?”

“About the Duchess of Hormons!”

When Azet’s voice rose, Elena suggested they go inside, and they entered the room.

“Your Highness!”

“Azet, I’m not deaf. And yes, I was serious.”

“Your Highness! Why? Of all people, why the Duchess of Hormons? You know why I’m reacting this way!”

Azet, clutching her chest in frustration, pounded on it as she spoke. Elena, with a faint smile on her lips, continued.

“Azet, for the first time, I’ve found a friend to whom I can open my heart. That friend just happens to be the Duchess of Hormons.”

“Your Highness…”

“I can’t tell you everything, and I’m sorry for that. But I can tell you this much: she and I are very similar. That’s probably why we’re drawn to each other.”

“I… I just can’t understand you, Your Highness. Truly! If you get closer to the Duchess of Hormons, it will only hurt you more!”

Azet, unable to finish her sentence, began to cry, her tears falling like raindrops. Elena patted Azet’s back as she sobbed.

“Azet, you should stop worrying about what others think or say. It will be better for your mental health.”

“That’s easier said than done! How can I not care when I see and hear everything? Even I feel like I’m crumbling inside, but Your Highness! Sometimes I wish I were just a fool who didn’t know any better!”

Elena embraced Azet, who was pounding her chest in frustration, and gently stroked her back.

“I’m sorry, Azet. This is all because of me.”

“Don’t say that, please. To me, Your Highness is my entire world.”

“Thank you, Azet. It’s because of you that I can endure. Truly, thank you.”

Elena comforted Azet until her sobbing subsided.

***

“Lord Kael!”

Aella, who had been walking behind Kael, turned at the familiar voice.

The twins who entered her view were the fraternal twins of the empire: Prince Ren and Princess Mai.

Mai, who had been born three minutes earlier and became the elder sister, and her younger brother Ren, were fraternal twins who resembled their mother, the Empress, with their beautiful features.

As mischievous ten-year-olds who loved to run around, the twins greeted Kael with bright smiles, and Aella, standing beside him, bowed politely, saying it had been a long time since she last saw them.

“Aella, it’s been a while! Have you been well?”

“Of course.”

“I heard you two got married. Congratulations!”

“Thank you.”

Kael’s indifferent voice made Aella’s heart ache, but she tried to suppress her feelings.

“Hmm~ Did you two have a fight or something?”

“Why do you think that?”

“It just feels like there’s some distance between you two compared to before.”

“So you felt it too, Sister!”

Aella couldn’t bring herself to look at Kael’s expression beside her. Whatever expression he was wearing, it wouldn’t make her feel any better.

“Why would I have any reason to fight with Aella, Your Highness?”

“But it feels different from before. Right, Ren?”

“Yeah! Aella’s expression doesn’t look good either.”

Aella felt the cold gaze on her. It was as if she were being scolded for failing to manage her expression in front of the young royals. Smiling, she responded.

“Your Highness, Princess, and Your Highness, Prince, I apologize. I am not feeling well at the moment…”

“Oh, I see! That’s a relief then! Anyway, Kael, when are you coming back to the palace? We’re bored!”

Aella looked at Kael, who was crouching to meet the twins’ eye level with a smile. That smile, at least, was genuine. Kael loved cats and children.

As Aella watched him absentmindedly, their eyes met, and Kael’s gaze turned cold and sharp. Aella quickly lowered her head.

‘I wonder when I’ll get used to this.’

Pressing her palm against her chest, which felt as though it were being pricked by needles, Aella took a deep breath.

‘It’s alright. I’ll get used to it soon. Everything will be fine.’

Encouraging herself, Aella turned her attention to the twins, who were chatting animatedly beside her, and joined their conversation.

Kael, watching her from the side, looked at her with nothing but a cold and piercing gaze.

***

Returning to the Duke’s residence, Aella entered her now-familiar modest room and sat on the bed.

“You look very tired.”

“Hmm, a little. But I feel good.”

“By the way, did something good happen at the palace?”

When Aella nodded, Kina, feeling uplifted by her mistress’s rare cheerful expression, asked further.

“What good thing happened?”

“I became a companion to Her Highness the Princess.”

“Oh, you mean Princess Roden!”

“Yes. She’s truly elegant and someone I admire.”

Looking at Aella’s smiling face, Kina hesitated before speaking with a serious expression.

“But I feel like Her Highness wouldn’t think highly of you.”

“Why do you think that?”

“I’m not the only one who thinks so. It’s because His Highness the Crown Prince still has feelings for you…”

Kina’s voice trailed off, and Aella let out a small laugh.

“Kina, the Princess and I are similar in many ways. Perhaps that’s why we were drawn to each other.”

“What?!”

“Have you heard the saying, ‘misery loves company’?”

“It means people in similar situations empathize with each other.”

“Yes. The Princess and I…”

Aella trailed off, changing the subject.

“Is Charlotte playing well in her room?”

“Yes, she seems to be very fond of Natasha, the head maid.”

“That’s a relief.”

Seeing Aella smile softly, Kina let out a heavy sigh.

“Why are you sighing?”

“I’m just frustrated. How much more must you endure, my lady?”

“Kina, I’m truly okay. I have you, Laura, Charlotte, and…”

Closing her eyes, Aella thought of Elena, who had held her hand tightly, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

***

That evening, Aella sat at the dining table for the first time in a long while. Watching Kael, who was seated far away and already eating, she also noticed Rensi glaring openly at her. Aella thanked Kina for preparing the meal and picked up her utensils.

‘It’s been so long since I’ve seen proper food.’

Having been surviving on soup after suffering food poisoning, Aella’s mouth watered at the sight of meat.

The moment she cut into the meat and tasted the burst of juices, her face lit up with joy. Kina, watching her mistress finally enjoy a decent meal, grew annoyed at the disdainful gazes directed at Aella.

Clink.

Waiting for the Duke to leave the dining room, the maids began gossiping as soon as he left.

“She’s so pitiful, being openly ignored like that.”

“She won’t even have breakfast or lunch tomorrow.”

“Well, at least her maid will feed her something.”

Feeling the hostility, Aella chose to quickly finish her meal and leave.

Splash!

“Oh my, I’m so sorry, my lady! My hands slipped. Let me clean that up for you!”

Rensi deliberately splashed cold water on Aella and began rubbing her face with a dirty rag. Aella pushed her hand away and stood up.

“Pretending to be noble, are we?”

“So annoying.”

Aella calmly surveyed the maids. Aside from Rensi, some of them had been recipients of her kindness, and she had even healed their injuries and illnesses.

“Snicker.”

“Are you laughing?”

“She’s mocking us!”

“A murderer’s daughter dares to—”

Aella met their raised voices with a composed expression.

“Yes, by your logic, I’m the daughter of a murderer. But what does that make you, who were healed of your scars and illnesses by this murderer’s daughter?”

The room fell silent at her words. Aella smiled faintly and turned to leave.

“Who do you think you are!”

Thud!

A glass cup hit the back of Aella’s head.

“My lady!”

Kina rushed to support Aella, who staggered from the blow.

“Wasn’t that too much?”

“Ugh, whatever. I don’t care.”

Natasha, the head maid, approached Rensi and slapped her across the face.

“Head maid!”

“You insolent girl! How dare you break the Duke’s property! Have you not been punished enough?”

At Natasha’s reprimand, the other maids sighed in relief.