There is no happy ending

The mood would quickly turn sour, and that would be the end of the meeting. And probably the last time she’d ever seen Eris at a gathering.
It was a ridiculous rumor. It seemed even more absurd because Bianca knew her fiancé.
Bianca’s fiancé, Bliss Winston, was no such man. As Eris had said, he was not a foolish fool to have an affair with a commoner woman of no rank for Bianca Moening, who was no one else.
Bianca liked things like him. Precious things, things that could never be surpassed. That’s why she liked Bliss. Because as precious as Bianca was, so was Bliss.
The Duke of Winston’s family was a royal lineage. One that started with the son of the founding king, produced several queens, and one that might one day claim the throne.
Bliss Winston equated the honor of his house with his honor, and protecting it was his priority.
But Bliss with a commoner, as rumored?
It couldn’t be. I don’t know where the rumor started, but no one who knew Bliss at all would say such a thing.
Especially since…….
‘Ha! Bliss betrayed me?’
Bliss is not the kind of person who would cheat on Bianca. He had his priorities straight. He would never betray Bianca.
They had been engaged for six years now. Six years is not a short time. It is also not an easy time to endure if you are unfaithful.
Bliss had been faithful to their relationship. His behavior during their engagement proved it.
Would you understand if someone said that Bianca and Bliss were the couple of the century?
Being a socialite, yes. It was all about dressing up, traveling to glittering ballrooms, drinking expensive liquor that the commoners couldn’t afford a drop of, and enjoying every minute of it.
It was overly simple and therefore relentlessly complex. Exalting themselves and exalting each other, but looking down on each other at the same time, with swords in their mouths instead of tongues. To enjoy, but never to revel, to laugh, but never to judge each other at any moment.
There were many ways to survive on such a battlefield. And the most common one was love.
Men gave women their undying love, and women bragged about the love they received from men.
But it was all for show, and most men swore chaste and undying love to the woman they loved in the name of chivalry. But noble marriages were not based on love alone, and many men treated their loveless wives like stallions.
Bliss, however, was different.
Unlike other engagements between families, the two had chosen each other. Above all, he was gentle and affectionate in a way that other men were not.
The fidelity he showed to Bianca, the affectionate words, kisses, and hugs he never hesitated to share in front of others.
Those things.
They all proved that Bliss was not that kind of person.
‘But what?
Bianca slammed the window shut with a surge of irritation. She tried to pretend she didn’t know what she’d heard.
But it was not to be.
Her pride was hurt, and she couldn’t forget it.
It was a strange thing. Eris had been so willing to talk about Bliss, considering how jealous she was.
Bianca thinks she’s nothing special, but Eris is the child of a high noble. She’s no less intelligent than anyone else, and no less learned. There’s no way she’d be so willing to talk about something that could easily get her sued.
Also, the way she spoke was very confident. It was the kind of behavior that would never be questioned. Suspicions kept creeping in. Questions nagged at the back of her mind. A strange uneasiness grew in Bianca’s chest.
Sensing her unease, Bianca did not hesitate to turn to the Duke of Winston. She felt that only a clear answer from Bliss’s lips would settle her mind.
They hadn’t made an appointment, but that was fine. That was one of the things Bliss loved about Bianca.
Bianca could come to Bliss’s mansion at any time, at any moment.
No matter when Bianca came, Bliss would greet her with a smile. It would be the same this time, and it should be.

***]

Arriving at the Duke of Winston’s, Bianca stepped inside with familiarity. The butler bowed to her as if she were entering her own home.
‘You have come, my lady.’
‘Yes, where is Bliss?’
Bianca asked, not even looking in the butler’s direction. The butler answered her as if he was telling her a routine.
‘The Duke is in his office, attending to business.’
There was no appointment, but Bianca naturally made her way to Bliss’s office.
It wasn’t with his permission, but the butler didn’t exactly stop her.
Bianca passed through an ornate hallway with several paintings that she had given as gifts until she reached Bliss’s office.
‘Bliss!’
Bianca shouted Bliss’s name and opened the door. There was no knock.
Inside the office was a handsome man who could be found anywhere, and who made many hearts beat faster just by looking at him.
It was Bliss Winston
Sculpted features, blond hair that glistened in the sunlight, deep hazel eyes, impeccable height, and an exquisite body. Everything about him was picture-perfect.
He was sitting in front of his large mahogany desk when he heard the door open and looked up to meet Bianca’s gaze. Their gazes met in the air.
Bianca looked Bliss in the eye and said sharply.
‘I’ve heard rumors that you’re seeing a commoner girl.’
‘Bianca.’
‘It was just yesterday, I heard it from Count Drian’s daughter.’
Bianca strode over and leaned over Bliss’s desk. Their faces were close.
For a moment, Bliss looked incredulous, something Bianca wouldn’t normally do.
‘You pay attention to such things?’
And then his brows narrowed. The fan crease between his flawless brows was never a blemish. On the contrary, most women would find them a source of heartache.
But Bianca’s heart turned cold at the sight of Bliss. That was not what Bianca wanted to say.
Rather, she asked.
‘So, if I don’t care, who will?’
‘It’s just …… social gossip, and you know how much bullshit goes around.’
‘It’s important to me. It got to me. Don’t you know what that means?’
Bliss replied with a sigh, and Bianca was not satisfied. Bliss made a pained sound, like someone in pain.
The important thing was that the rumor had reached Bianca and no one else.
If she hadn’t heard it firsthand, she would have never known. It’s not like Bianca doesn’t know how thirsty people are for gossip.
But then someone came along who told her directly. Whether it was jealousy or malice, she used it to attack Bianca.
Bianca’s position would not be shaken by such a thing, but she could not allow them to try to tarnish her name.
Bianca’s eyes narrowed, and Bliss spoke slowly.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, Bianca. I’m in the middle of important business.’
‘What the fuck is more important than me?’
‘I wish there was a word for it, but it’s not that trivial.’
‘…….’
‘I need to sign a contract for gold distribution.’
Bliss slammed her index finger down on the papers on his desk, the sound of her fingers meeting the hardwood through the thin paper.
Bianca’s eyes flicked down, quickly scanning the papers on his desk.
Bold words like Eldora and gold and a few names, place names, and numbers caught her eye.
Bianca squinted, trying to read the words more slowly again. Bliss closed her large hand over the document.
Bianca tore her gaze away from the document and locked eyes with Bliss again, her intentions clear.
‘You’re welcome to come back anytime, but I’m afraid I have to concede the gold distribution.’
‘What?’
‘I’m just saying that I don’t have the time. If it’s important, wait until I’ve finished reading the papers, and I’ll make the arrangements.’
Bianca was in a bad mood. The strange things she’d heard the day before continued to make her uneasy.
The more her heart pounded, the more Eris’s voice buzzed in her ears, the more the tiny feeling of a vision lurking in the back of her mind…… grew and grew.
.