How to Escape from My Possessive Fiancé - Chapter 56

As the celebration drew near, Sophia and Michelle Piels grew closer. Though they kept out of sight, they spent time in each other’s rooms talking, complaining about the day, and encouraging one another to try their best the next.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Michelle asked while brushing her hair. The only time she had looked that worried was during the hunting contest, probably because Sophia always came to her room with wounds from practice. It wasn’t to show off, but because the princess refused to call a doctor over something minor, and luckily, the Piels family had gotten into the medical business, so Michelle had lots of ointments.

“Of course,” Sophia said with a laugh, then added, “By the way, is there any business your family doesn’t do?”

Many nobles invested in mines or foreign imports, but few worked so hard within the empire. Sophia meant it as praise, but Michelle blushed slightly.

“Our territory isn’t as large as yours.”

“Come on, the size of your land doesn’t matter. What your family does is impressive. Where do you even get these ideas? Other than that ointment from the duke, this one works the best.”

“There’s a famous doctor in Mektakt, and people said the ointments made there are amazing. My father heard about it and spent a long time convincing them to make it in large quantities. I think we might even get into cosmetics soon.”

“Wow. How do you even know all this?”

Sophia stared at her in amazement. Michelle shrugged shyly and tightened the ribbon in her hair.

“I just overhear a lot of things.”

“Then maybe someday you’ll become a merchant leader like Sara Dahl.”

“Sara Dahl? Who’s that? What merchant group is she from?”

“No, she’s the main character in Her Victory. She’s just like you—calm and when there’s danger, she’s like, swoosh!”

Sophia waved the ribbon around like it was a sword.

“She’s even good at sword fighting and puts the men to shame.”

“Well, I guess if you want to do business with men, sword fighting is a must.”

She said it so seriously that Sophia burst out laughing.

“You don’t know how to fight with a sword?”

“Do you?”

“Of course… well, not really. I only learned how to use a dagger for defense. But as you know, I’m great at archery. So when you start your business, I’ll be your bodyguard.”

“A merchant group protected by the future duchess. How reliable.”

Michelle smiled. Even in this light joke, the word “duchess” made Sophia feel bitter. She sighed and sat back down on Michelle’s bed.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t know if I can really become the duchess. I mean, the princess is keeping a sharp eye on me.”

“No matter how powerful she is, you’re the one he proposed to.”

“People say men change their minds all the time…”

“Not all of them.”

“…Also, I’m not even sure if I really love the duke.”

Michelle quietly looked at her. Sophia suddenly asked, “Do you have someone you love?”

She remembered hearing from the maids that Michelle once tried to run away with a man. It felt risky to bring it up, but hiding her thoughts also felt dishonest, so she tried to sound casual.

Michelle’s lashes lowered slightly.

“I did.”

The scariest answer past tense and that look in her eyes. Sophia bit her lip and pretended not to notice. Michelle also seemed unwilling to say more and changed the subject.

“What about you? Is there anyone else besides the duke who catches your eye?”

Sophia stiffened. Not her, but the Sophia in her dreams had once run away from the duke with a dark knight and died. She quickly shook her head.

“No way, how could I do that.”

Michelle’s face darkened at the unspoken implication: someone like me shouldn’t even think about it. Sophia wondered what had happened to the person Michelle once loved, if she really got caught trying to escape and became a maid for the princess. But she kept quiet, hugged Michelle, and said goodnight.

Whatever their stories were, they both needed each other’s comfort.

—

The day of celebration approached, and more nobles gathered at the palace every day. The endless sound of carriages and voices even reached this far corner of the palace. It was a good thing Sophia lived far from the main palace, or the crowd would’ve been unbearable. Inside the princess’s quarters, Sophia still wore those weird black clothes, but outside she was now allowed to wear simpler outfits.

‘Be grateful to Her Highness,’ Angelina had said. She claimed Yulicias had made the decision out of kindness, but everyone knew the princess was just worried about her reputation if her maid looked too out of place. As soon as Angelina left, Sophia pouted.

Her family was arriving in two days, and she was excited. It had been three months. She stayed up late thinking of all the things she wanted to say that didn’t fit in her letters.

‘That means the duke is coming too, right?’

Staring at the ceiling, her forehead creased at the thought. No reply to her letters for three months. Maybe Yulicias intercepted them, but still no word for that long made her feel angry.

“How could he do this?”

Saying things like “trust me” and kissing her forehead and cheeks when did that even happen?

‘No, don’t think about it.’

She buried her face in the pillow and tried to sleep, but it didn’t come easily. Even worse, she had a strange nightmare.

It was a wedding. Under a giant statue, the duke stood on a platform, holding the bride’s hand with a loving look. Sophia was sure the bride was her. But when the veil lifted it was Princess Yulicias.

“Ugh… What kind of dream was that?”

Sophia groaned as she got up early to run an errand for the princess. She stretched her aching body and grabbed the documents to deliver to the head maid of the main palace.

As she walked out, nobles were chatting in the gardens or having tea. After giving the documents, she spotted the duke from far away, walking with the finance minister across the fountain garden. The minister looked serious, puffing a cigar and talking about politics, while the duke listened and nodded, looking handsome as ever.

It had been a while, but he looked dazzling. His golden hair shone in the sunlight, and his sharp features naturally caught the eye.

‘He didn’t seem so distant when we lived together.’

She stood frozen, unsure whether to go to him or not.

She was his fiancée shouldn’t she say hello? But she’d never approached him first before, so she didn’t know how. Should she smile brightly and call his name like the other ladies?

Then she remembered the dream; the duke and Yulicias slowly leaning in for a kiss.

“To continue, Archer said…”

She shook her head to forget the dream, but just then, the minister’s voice passed her.

In that moment, both the duke and minister walked past her without noticing. Mouth slightly open, Sophia turned her head to watch him walk away. She half-expected him to stop and smile like it was a joke, but the duke didn’t look back not even once.

‘Was that really our first meeting in three months?’

Sophia stood stunned, staring at where he disappeared. Did he really not recognize her? Maybe she looked too much like a maid? But this outfit was way better than the black one from the princess’s palace. Still, how could he not recognize his own fiancée from this distance? She had recognized him right away.

Or did he recognize her and just didn’t want to say anything?

Sophia bit her lip. Countless thoughts raced through her head. But none gave her an answer.

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