There is no happy ending

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ******

The Marquis of Moenings’ lawyer has been visiting the Duke of Winston’s house repeatedly for the past few weeks.

Over the past few weeks, the Marquess of Moenington’s solicitor has visited the Duke of Winston’s house repeatedly, entering and leaving with a determined look on the face, the news of their break-up has been circulating through the social circles.

There had been scandalous rumors about Bliss Winston before.

Two carriages of jewelry, trinkets, and dresses had been delivered to the Duke of Winston. All had been given to Bianca by Bliss.

Bliss sent them all back and wrote a letter to Bianca asking for a meeting, but it was sent back.

No wonder. Bianca had no intention of seeing Bliss’s face for a while.

Except at the Royal Ball, where face-to-face contact was unavoidable, Bianca was not the kind of person who was willing to meet Bliss, who was divorced and had …… a small blemish on her name.

‘You’re an arsehole for meeting him in the first place.

I won’t say how Bliss felt when the letter came back unopened.

Only a cheque enclosed by Bianca, signifying a complete break in the relationship, proved that Bliss had ever written to her.

‘I don’t want to be an arsehole.

Yes, Bianca didn’t want to be an arsehole.

She didn’t want to be Eugene. She lived her whole life trying to be the perfect Moening. Arrogant, selfish, and hard to empathize with, Bianca’s mood revolved around those things.

She did treasure the things Bliss had given her. There were many things that even a king of a nation could not easily afford. Like the jewelry, she’d worn to the royal ball the night before.

But that was not enough to dampen Bianca’s pride.

Watching the ornate carriage pull away from the Marquis of Moenings, Jade spoke up.

‘……Wouldn’t you be disappointed?’

Jade asked as if I were the sad one. The day Jade had tried to play big brother, he’d gotten a slap in the face from Bianca.

Jade’s stern voice reminded him that he was Jade and not Jade Morning, but he couldn’t let go of Bianca.

No matter how often she warned her not to climb, she wouldn’t listen.

Bianca’s mouth was now sore. Jade is stupid and stubborn despite having nothing. She was just like Bianca in this regard.

‘Why would I?’

‘Because ……that’s him.’

Because you loved Bliss Winston, Jade had realized very early on, something Bianca had been slow to recognize, something Bliss hadn’t.

Jade’s theory was that if you look at someone with love, there’s nothing you can’t see.

Jade knew Bianca well. And as well as Jade knew Bianca, Bianca knew Jade.

It couldn’t be helped. When you’ve grown up with someone all your life, there are things you learn about them even if you don’t love them and don’t want to know them.

Displeasure rose in Bianca’s gut.

‘I don’t care, so stop being so presumptuous.’

‘……Mrs. Agha.’

Bianca’s words sped up a little.

Bianca wasn’t okay. Or, more accurately, she didn’t have to be OK with not being OK. Deceiving oneself is something that people in social circles get used to, especially if they’re used to it, and eventually, the lie becomes the truth. Therefore, Bianca didn’t mind.

‘I’ve been doing very well,’ she said, ’but don’t get all judgemental and think I’m not okay.’

Indeed, she was right.

Bianca was doing very well compared to Bliss’s chaotic time.

It was never Moening’s place to dwell on the past, to waste time longing for things that would never return.

On the contrary, Bianca was more full of life than ever. She took on more succession training than most people could handle and socialized like she was never tired. Bianca even endeavored to keep her word that she would find her next fiancé.

She met, dined, and spent time with other aristocratic lords on business and in opposition. Nothing was wrong with that, except that none of the men were quite as suitable as Bliss Winston.

Anyway, Bianca was busy, really busy, madly busy. There was no time for Bliss Winston Mireille or Odette Halona. Part of me pushed harder to not think of them.

But Jade kept telling me that wasn’t the case. It’s unpleasant. Bianca’s words made Jade go still.

‘The royal ball is on again.’

‘…….’

‘I’ve got a partner, and it’s time to put it on the market, not to some jerk in a room who wants to climb the ladder, and everyone will think it’s okay.’

Bianca’s index finger pushes against Jade’s shoulder.

‘Jade, you said you were my brother, but you’re not my brother.’

‘…….’

‘If you looked a little more like your father, or had darker eyes, you could be my brother, but other than that, you’re nothing.’

The harsh words spilled over Jade. Jade had no right to refute Bianca’s words. She’s never been given anything like that in her life.

Bianca glared at Jade, then stalked out of the room.

Emotions are for those who deserve them.

Bliss, Odette, Jade, and Jade have no value to Bianca any more. Bianca would rather put her feelings on my new potential partner than on them, even if it meant twisting her …… heart into a knot.

Yes, feelings are for those who deserve them.

***]

Bianca’s partner for the royal ball was a textbook man.

The second son of an Earl of the East, his pedigree was, well, not bad, and his abilities were quite good. He was handsome, too, and many would have envied her.

My flaw is that I have no ambition in Bianca’s eyes, but I am ambitious enough to want to become a marquis, even if it means giving up my family name.

Bianca’s not exactly ‘happy’, but she seems to be prepared for a marriage that has been thoroughly planned.

He never refuses Bianca’s suggestion that they match their dresses, he’s not a messy womanizer, and he’s dutiful to her. He wasn’t exceptionally handsome, but he was clean-shaven, and his smile was something to behold. He was tall and not very athletic, but not badly built. So far, he’d only dated two women before Bianca, and they were still in the family.

Not bad. It’s hard to find a better man than Bliss in Palbon.

It would be a different story if I went out of the country, but it wasn’t something I could afford right now. Taking from others felt dirty, so I had to be content with what I could use.

Bianca made me a gown in my favorite shade of dark green. The accessories were not given to her by her partner, but were purchased out of her pocket; she could afford better quality accessories. Her partner was embarrassed to see her like that.

I’m not a fan of that modesty, but it’s not a flaw, so I’ll leave it at that.

Socialites whispered that Bianca had brought an appropriate paper doll to the ball.

The comment was met with a certain amount of derision, but Bianca was rather pleased with the reaction, for if anyone thought she was better than that paper doll, she would have more options.

‘Yes, even without Bliss Winston, I’m Moening, the flower of society, the one who outshines everyone, so I should be coveted.

Bianca will take the initiative in the relationship anyway. That’s all that matters now.

Bianca laughed, her usual arrogant, self-satisfied laugh as if she hadn’t heard what they were saying.

‘His Royal Highness the Duke of Bliss Winston and his partner, Miss Odette, may now enter!’

That was until I saw Bliss Winston with Odette Halona as his partner.

As if time stood still…… the noise in the hall momentarily ceased.

Odette and Bianca’s eyes met. Odette ducked her head in surprise as if caught in the act. As Odette lowered her head, Bianca’s gaze followed suit. Bianca’s gaze slid downward.

‘Poor you, Odette. Beautiful, Odette. The pure white Odette that Bianca would never be!

What hung around Odette’s neck, what she wore, what adorned her hands, what…… eagerly grasped Bliss Winston’s arm. It was obvious at first glance that Bliss and Odette had matched their dresses.

It was something he hadn’t done with Bianca before their divorce.

‘You can deceive a man…… but you can’t deceive a woman…….’

A hissing, teeth-clacking sound escaped. It came from Bianca’s gums. Bianca’s face contorted.

There are degrees of stupidity. She was willing to pretend she didn’t know about Bliss’s stupid behavior, whatever it was, now that they were separated, because it was none of her business.

But not ‘this. If love-crazed Bliss Winston had crossed a line, she had crossed it firmly.

It was a royal ball, but there were royal balls, and then there were royal balls.

Some balls were open to anyone with the name of nobility, even if they lived like a commoner, while others were strictly class-based and only those of a certain status could attend. Tonight’s ball was the latter.

Naturally, Odette, a commoner, was not allowed to attend, but Bliss brought her along.

He used his authority to bring her along, blatantly declaring her his partner and clutching her close to his heart. It was clear that he didn’t care about anyone else here…… especially Bianca.

Even if he deceived Bianca, it would be for nothing. It was bad enough that he was rumored to be having an affair with a commoner, and that he had left her with the knowledge that he was divorced.

As if that weren’t enough, he then goes on to screw her over in this way. It’s clear that he doesn’t care about her, and that he has no regard for her feelings of betrayal. What an inhuman thing to do.

Bianca is not the only one excited by Odette’s arrival: the others, eye to eye and scanning the atmosphere, cautiously ask each other questions. To get a clear picture of the situation.

‘……What family does she belong to?’