There is no happy ending

The Duke of Winston’s residence was not very far from the Marquess of Morening’s. Only half an hour by carriage.

As usual, the first person to greet Bianca upon arrival at Duke Winston’s estate was the butler.

The butler knew how to play to Bianca’s squeamishness, and took it for granted.

Their master was the Duke of Winston, but at the same time, Bianca was the future Duchess of Winston. It was a predetermined future.

Such a butler would not serve Bianca today.

‘At the moment, the Duke is receiving guests who came first.’

Let me tell you, Bianca Moening doesn’t like to get in her way. It’s partly because she’s always been bred to be the center of attention, and partly because it’s her nature.

‘So?’

‘I think you should return home, the Duke will not be receiving any more guests today.’

Is that Bliss’s order?

The butler’s eyes behind his glasses wavered for a moment. The butler bowed.

‘I’ll show you to the empty drawing room at …….’

That wasn’t the answer Bianca had asked; the resemblance between master and servant was unnerving.

‘I asked if it was Bliss’s order.’

The butler bowed deeply, unable to answer.

‘I apologize, my lady. It is my arbitrary judgment.’

The late butler said. Bianca felt her face crumple, but she held it together. Losing her temper here would only add to it.

Bianca already had a volcano of anger building up inside her, along with jealousy and other emotions she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She didn’t want to accumulate more.

She made her way to the drawing room, unguided by the butler, the room that had always been her favorite, the room that bore the most trace of Bianca in the Duke of Winston’s mansion, and the room that had been reserved for her.

The butler’s face went white.

‘I’ll show you to a different, different drawing room.’

Bianca had been in a bad mood for days.

Ever since she’d heard the damning rumors from Eris before she’d heard about Bliss Winston’s affair with Fabian Halona’s daughter before she’d heard Bliss’s not-so-confession on the terrace.

Where Bianca is headed is a space she has always taken for granted. The first room in Duke Winston’s mansion that will one day be hers.

A space that belongs to Bianca and no one else.

But the other drawing room?

‘Nonsense! If I’ll not be, where else would I be?’

There’s only one thing Bianca can infer from this. Bliss Winston is in that parlor right now.

And it’s probably…….

Bianca walked quickly.

The butler did not dare to stop her. Bianca had been relatively tolerant of him, but he didn’t have the heart to go against her any further.

The butler was well aware that Bianca had perfect blue blood.

Perfect blue blood was never a good thing. It meant never seeing the lesser man as human.

There was nothing more frightening than the anger of someone who did not treat a human being as a human being.

Worst of all, Bianca would soon be the hostess of the Duke of Winston’s household. Six years and the things she would enjoy at Winston Mansion would prove it.

The butler was powerless to stop her.

Bam!

The parlor door swung open almost as quickly as Bianca reached the front of the parlor.

‘I don’t know what I’m doing,’ she said, ‘I feel as if I’m doing a great wrong.’

‘Who told you that?’

‘No one has said such a thing, but, but, but, but, Bliss, there’s a rumor going around…….’

‘It’ll settle down soon enough, and I won’t let anything happen to you.’

Silver hair like white threads was the first thing she noticed, followed by clear white skin and blue eyes that shone like sapphires, free of impurities. At first glance, her face was like a lily, pitiful and pale.

The woman was sitting next to Bliss on the sofa, holding her hand firmly. She was leaning casually against Bliss’s shoulder.

The woman turned her head at the sound of the door opening.

At that moment, the woman’s eyes met Bianca’s.

‘Ah.’

An exclamation escaped the woman’s lips. Then her eyes flickered.

‘Odette?’

‘Ah, ah…….’

‘Odette, why all of a sudden.’

The woman’s face colored with horror as she let out a weak moan. Bliss’s gaze followed the woman’s in his arms.

Where his gaze landed, he saw Bianca watching the two of them, her face impassive. Bliss’s face hardened.

But Bianca didn’t care. Instead, she spoke softly, as if she hadn’t seen anything.

‘Oh, my God, Bliss.’

Her face and voice were indeed innocent. Of course, just because she was faking it didn’t mean she was truly unaffected.

Inside, she was on fire. Bianca hadn’t expected herself to be so consumed with rage, but she desperately feigned calm.

She had to. She didn’t want to show any signs of wavering, didn’t want to look like someone who had been hit hard.

Bianca Moening is in love with Bliss Winston.

Bliss Winston is not in love with Bianca Mowen.

It’s a battle she’s already lost, but Bianca, the aristocrat to the bone, never wants to admit defeat.

She didn’t ask permission to enter, but she walked in as if it was a matter of course. Bliss’s arm wrapped tightly around the woman.

The corner of Bianca’s mouth twitched slightly.

‘Who told you to come in here?’

Bianca had just taken the third step. ‘It was Bliss Winston,’ he said in a very cold voice. It was, if anything, close to selling.

Bianca froze in place and let out a laugh that sounded like a sigh.

‘Are you trying to tell me that…….’

Bianca’s face contorted, but it didn’t matter to Bliss. Bliss’s face and voice were still as cold as winter.

‘I don’t recall inviting you today, Bianca.’

‘I have every right to come whenever I wish.’

‘That doesn’t mean you can shoot up my mansion without permission.’

His eyes were so full of love when he looked at her. When you hold her hand, your touch is filled with such tenderness. When you speak to her, your voice is filled with such gentleness.

Yes, when you look at her…….

But not when he looked at Bianca.

Bliss’s eyes were cold when he looked at Bianca. The way he touched Bianca was so nonchalant, and his voice was cold when she called her. It was the same now.

For a moment, Bianca felt dizzy and thought she might fall backward. Maybe the floor would give way.

But Bianca was in very good health, and the floor she was on was very solid. It would not collapse.

‘It’s a shitty…….’

It was a rare occurrence. Bianca said, as if in anger. She didn’t even seem to have time to choose her words. But it wasn’t anger that filled her, it was heartbreak.

Why don’t you look at me like that?

Why don’t you hold me like that?

Why don’t you call me like that?

Why do you…….

Bianca pointed her index finger at the woman. It was a very rude gesture, but there was no one in the place to point it out.

‘Is this what you call a commoner girl?’

‘…….’

‘Is this Fabian Halona’s daughter, who doesn’t even know the subject?’

Bianca chose to hide her disappointment.

This time, it wasn’t a matter of pride. She felt that if Bliss didn’t come to me, it would hurt me deeply. And I felt like I would never get back up.

Soon after I realized that the obvious wasn’t obvious, I felt like I was going to die. It felt like I would wish for death.

Bianca never wanted to die. She didn’t want to be this miserable, this worthless, this dead.

But it was strange. It was Bianca who wanted to die, not the woman, and yet she fluttered like a sick chick in Bliss’s arms. She acted as if she wanted to die more.

The more frightened the woman became, the more fierce Bliss’s eyes grew on Bianca.

‘All because of her.

Bianca felt as if she was being strangled, and she wanted to scratch at her own throat, unable to bear the suffocation. But instead, I bit the flesh in my mouth.

I didn’t feel much pain. I didn’t even notice the bitter taste in my mouth.

What I felt was a blade ripping through my chest. Bliss’s words, her gaze.

She didn’t answer. No, I didn’t want an answer, but I hated this situation.

I hated this situation, where I felt like a vicious villain and she felt like a victim. I hated the way I kept my mouth shut and tried to run away.

‘You …… have to answer her.’

‘There’s no reason for her to answer you.’

Bianca pressed for an answer, and Bliss responded as if he was the woman’s spokesperson.

Had Bliss Winston ever done that to Bianca? Bianca could answer that question quite easily. No! No. Not once had Bliss ever done that.

A vile, jealousy sprouted in her.

Bliss shouldn’t behave like this. The word contract might seem shallow above all else, contracts were more important than relationships between people.

Above all, their contract was made by them and no one else. If it was their choice, they should be responsible for it.