How to Escape from My Possessive Fiancé - Chapter 48

“Who’s in the study right now?”
Sophia murmured to herself as she thought.

After nearly a month in the princess’s palace, she had started to understand how people moved around.
Not long ago, designers and shop owners had visited from Henford, so by now the princess and the maids were probably in the drawing room, and the servants had likely just finished cleaning the study.

“You have to take care of things like this as soon as you think of them.”
Sophia stood up quickly, straightened her clothes, and because she was the only one in the palace wearing this kind of outfit; ripped down a curtain to throw over herself as a disguise. Then she headed toward the study.

Since she’d been good at running away since childhood, she felt confident about sneaking around.
Strangely enough, the hallways on the way to the study were almost empty that day.

‘They must all be in the drawing room helping out.’
Taking the opposite route toward the study, she didn’t see anyone. Still, her heart kept racing. Whenever two or three maids passed by, she had to hide in the shadows and clench her trembling hands.

She had been born into a comfortable life, never committed a crime and now here she was, about to steal stationery with the princess’s signature.

Sophia sighed at her fate.

Fortunately, the study was empty. She glanced around cautiously before stepping inside as naturally as she could.

There were only porcelain dolls on the small desk used for writing letters; no sign of the signed stationery.
Sophia carefully moved behind the desk and began opening drawers.

‘This one’s for saved letters, and this is for letters to be sent…’
In her rush, her fingertip got a paper cut. She quickly covered it, afraid that even a drop of blood on the paper might land her in prison.

‘Where is it?’
Sophia’s face twisted with worry. Just then, a quiet voice came from beyond the desk.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah!”
Startled, Sophia fell backward. She looked up to see Michelle Piels staring down at her with her usual blank expression.

“What about you? What are you doing here?”
Sophia was so shocked by Michelle’s silent appearance that she snapped back without meaning to.

Michelle simply showed a key and answered, “I’m in charge of the study. You didn’t know?”

Then she calmly unlocked a small cabinet on the desk, took out the very stationery Sophia had been looking for, and sat down as if Sophia wasn’t even there to begin writing a letter.

Sophia muttered in disbelief, “I didn’t know…”
Of course such an important item would be locked away.
Feeling like all her effort had been for nothing, Sophia covered her face with her hands. Then she noticed the curtain she’d used was still wrapped around her body.

“Oh geez.”
She hurriedly pulled it off and rolled it up. Michelle continued her work without reacting.

Watching her for a moment, Sophia asked cautiously,
“Are you going to tell anyone?”

“Tell what?”

Was that her way of saying she’d keep quiet?
Given their history, Sophia had worn the black dress in Michelle’s place maybe she would help but Sophia couldn’t assume that without asking.

“I hope you don’t tell anyone.”

“You mean that you snuck in here to steal the princess’s signed stationery?”
Sophia gasped. She hadn’t expected her to say it so plainly.
But Michelle looked unbothered, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Who wouldn’t guess that? Everyone knows you’ve been given an impossible task. The easiest way is to somehow get the shop owners to come here, and a letter from the princess could make that happen. Anyone who sees you near the desk would know you came to steal that letter. Why are you doing something so reckless? Just give up and go back to the count’s house.”

Her voice was calm, but her tone was fast and hushed, like she was deliberately trying to keep things discreet in case someone was watching.

Sophia was still sitting on the floor in shock. She stood up, pretended to look at a book, and spoke,
“I can’t. I can’t go back to the count’s house. I have to do this, no matter what.”

“Why?”

“I need to apologize to Solid.”

Michelle fell silent. She was clearly remembering the rumors that Solid had miscarried because of Sophia.

“If that’s true that she really lost the baby because of you, there’s no fixing that. An apology won’t change anything. Especially if you’re risking everything to do this.”

“But I can’t just lose someone important to me and do nothing.”

“So, you’re going to commit a crime instead? If it weren’t for me, you would’ve been caught already.”

There was a hint of reluctant help in her tone.
Maybe Michelle felt she owed Sophia something, and Sophia saw an opening.

“Can’t you help me just a little? No one would notice if a few sheets of signed paper went missing.”

“But if the shop owners come here, someone will figure it out.”

“I’ll handle that part.”

“Don’t be stupid. I’m not giving you that paper.”

Michelle’s cold tone made Sophia’s face flush.

“That’s too much! I did all this for you!”

But she instantly regretted it. Claiming she did it “for Michelle” was crossing a line.
She hadn’t worn the black dress for Michelle. It was just her way of easing her guilt. And Michelle had never asked for her help anyway.

Sophia sighed and raked her fingers through her hair.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

For the first time, Michelle’s hands stopped moving. She looked up at Sophia.
Sophia’s hair was a mess like a little boy’s, and she looked deeply depressed. Still, there was something bright about her. A lively charm that even the black dress couldn’t hide. So different from Michelle.

Michelle bit the inside of her cheek, feeling bitter.

“Even so, I still can’t help you. Stealing and using that stationery is a serious crime.”

“…Right.”
Sophia’s voice was small. Michelle continued writing, then spoke again without thinking.

“Do you want to borrow some clothes?”

Sophia’s face lit up.

“Really? You’d let me?”

“Yes. I can do that much.”

Michelle answered a bit impulsively. Sophia instantly brightened.

“One outfit is enough. If I get caught, I’ll just say I stole it. With proper clothes, I can go to the mansion in the capital, borrow some servants, and bring more clothes. I couldn’t go like this. It would alert my father.”

“You’re even taking servants? If you go to the shops, the princess will definitely hear about it.”

“It’s fine. I’ll give them money. Better they know who I am.”

“There might be eyes watching you.”

“I’ll wear this dress underneath and take it off on the way back like with the curtain.”

Sophia winked and pointed at the curtain.
Michelle tried not to laugh, but the image of Sophia wrapped in a curtain popped into her head and she chuckled.

Her mood changed completely. The stern, gloomy air faded, replaced by a gentle warmth.
Sophia was surprised and looked at her closely.
Michelle’s dull black hair now looked elegant, and her eyes, once unremarkable, seemed special.
Suddenly, a rumor came to mind:

“There was a man who tried to run away, so the Marquis of Piels forced Michelle into this palace. The mining profits he gave the princess in exchange rose over 30% this time.”

A man who tried to run away.
Back then, Sophia couldn’t imagine Michelle loving anyone. She seemed so cold.
But now she could see it. Michelle seemed like someone who could love, and be loved in return.

Sophia hesitated, unsure whether to ask, “Was there really a man you tried to run away with?”
But Michelle locked the cabinet, stood up, and said,

“I’ll give you the clothes now. It’s better if you’re back before evening. The security gets tighter then.”

Sophia nodded and followed after her.

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