One Day, My Fiancé Brought His First Love Along - Chapter 106

Aireen was dumbfounded.
How could he have the nerve to speak to her first—and in such an impolite manner?

Even before, the sharp feelings I had held toward Judith had already begun to fade. But now, the space in my heart that once belonged to her was completely empty. And that was fine.

It meant that the anger and resentment I’d once felt toward the woman who stole my fiancé, the woman who used to flaunt her superiority by constantly mentioning Carlisle, had disappeared.
That doesn’t mean Judith has no regrets.

Rather, I found the situation a bit amusing. No, perhaps I even felt a little sorry for her.

Once I knew everything, it all seemed trivial. Maybe that’s why people in power look down on others—because everything feels small and meaningless to them.

Judith’s expression, trying so hard to seem relaxed, was almost funny. She didn’t even seem to have any intention of coming to see me.

“What’s so frustrating? Carlisle is yours. At least while the contract lasts.”

Aireen spoke with a faint smile, one that held a subtle sense of indifference.

“What’s going on, so suddenly?”

“Your Majesty.”

“If the Marquess of Hessiden, known for her noble background, is acting so rudely, it must be because something urgent has happened, right?”

“……Can you give me some time?”

Judith, however, had a strong personality. Even though it was clear she wasn’t pleased, she pushed ahead without hesitation.

One day, in front of a perfume shop, she got so angry that she cried and told the Marquess of Hessiden about Aireen Levart’s insolence.

The Marquess, just as furious, reacted as if he were going to personally deal with Aireen. He believed she would face an unfortunate end during the expedition.

However—

What he actually said was that he and Carlisle had been isolated, and they’d ended up spending several days alone together.

The moment she heard those words, Judith’s patience finally snapped. She had already been irritated by Aireen, who was baring her fangs and climbing her way up. She had been hoping to lash out at Carlisle for doing something outrageous, but he wasn’t behaving the way she expected.

“But just the two of us—what does that even mean?”

That was why Judith couldn’t hold back any longer and came to confront Aireen.

Normally, she would have kept up appearances to protect her reputation and worn the mask of hypocrisy with ease. But even that luxury was gone now. The moment Judith spotted Aireen step out onto the balcony, she headed straight toward her.

And now—

“I heard you were alone with Carlisle for several days.”

“Yes, I was.”

The answer came out without the slightest hesitation, which only made Judith’s emotions surge more violently. She clenched her fists.

The truth was, Judith’s emotions were particularly unstable these days because of her pregnancy. Her moods shifted several times a day, and she often cried over the smallest things.

I cried, too. Not just when I heard the news about Carlisle—but also when I heard that Aireen had returned safely.

Seeing Aireen in a dress that hugged her body, while she herself stood there in a loose, dull outfit with a tired expression, only made Judith feel worse.

“How could this be? He’s the man I’m supposed to marry. Even if we were apart, we should’ve lived separately. This is too much, Your Highness.”

Aireen let out a hollow laugh at Judith’s cutting words, eyes wide open in disbelief.

It was the most absurd thing I’d heard in a while. It didn’t even deserve a response, but I couldn’t resist.

“Who was it that spent the night with a man who already had a fiancée? Now that I think about it, you not only have no conscience, Marquess of Hessiden—you also have no shame.”

Aireen knew that Carlisle and Judith’s relationship was purely contractual.
Still, she pretended not to know—and pushed her away.

Judith bit her lip.

“You wouldn’t understand. You’ve never properly held a sword or stood on a battlefield. If you had, you’d know how desperate it is when two people are isolated. You wouldn’t dare say something like that.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Judith Hessiden. I remember you telling me very clearly last time—I don’t have a hobby like collecting trash. I still don’t know why you’d want something everyone else has already played with, but if that’s what you want, then take it.”

“Stop dragging unrelated people into this.”

Aireen deliberately glanced at Judith’s rounded belly. Judith’s clenched fists trembled, and the sneer on her face twisted with restrained anger.

“Your Majesty, you’ll regret it if you say things like that.”

Judith had already cast aside the mask of nobility. Her teeth were clenched, her warning sharp and full of fury.

Aireen simply smiled, lifting one corner of her mouth.

“Then make me regret it as much as you’d like. I’ll be waiting, Judith Hessiden.”

A faint smile appeared in Carlisle’s cool, sunken eyes. Judith couldn’t have missed it.

“We’ll see how long you keep that arrogant tone, Princess. Don’t come crying to me to raise Carlisle’s child later.”

Judith tried to appear calm, but the corners of her lips trembled. It was obvious what she was thinking.

Aireen found it unbearably amusing, though she didn’t show it.

“I hope so. If only I could.”

Judith’s body trembled. She wanted to scream at him—to curse him and finally put an end to all of this. But she barely managed to restrain herself.

A shred of reason still lingered.

“Don’t worry, my lady. It will happen.”

Judith turned and stormed off without another word.

Aireen exhaled and shook her head.

“You’re not even trying to hide it anymore. Are you truly that foolish?”

Does the Marquess of Hessiden know that his daughter is openly casting doubt on him?

Aireen closed her eyes calmly, bracing for the battle ahead.

Judith, seething with anger, went to find Carlisle.

“Carlisle!”

He looked up as she entered, his sunken eyes meeting hers. The door slammed behind her with a loud bang.

“Do you even know what happened to me at the banquet today? Why didn’t you show up?”

Carlisle hadn’t attended. He had used the excuse of being busy. After his meeting about the Santinu alliance proposal with Edys, he had been weaving a careful net to trap the Marquess of Hessiden and the Tanil tribe all at once.

Of course, that was only the surface reason. The real reason was simpler—he hadn’t had the courage to face Aireen at the banquet.

He couldn’t even stand the thought of formally interacting with Judith in Aireen’s presence. He feared Aireen would hate him more. Or worse—act indifferent and say none of it mattered.

What haunted him most was Aireen’s attitude. He feared she might show even the slightest reaction toward Judith. If that happened, everything would fall apart. His role as a spy would be meaningless. His revenge for the danger Aireen had faced—twice—would be for nothing.

So, he chose not to go.

“Don’t just stand there! Say something!”

“It’s loud.”

“Carlisle!”

“Lower your voice.”

Only then, struck by his cold tone, did Judith begin to calm her breath.

This wasn’t her home. And she was carrying a child. She had to stay composed.

“You parade around with that shameless expression. Laughing with the knights like you’re one of them. You’re so busy chatting with them; you speak like a vulgar soldier.”

Judith scoffed. She knew he was trying to provoke her—but hearing it directly still made her blood boil.

“Don’t insult the knights. They’re more honorable than you think.”

Carlisle slowly clenched and unclenched his fists under the desk, barely holding back his emotions. Judith gave him a cold smile and returned to the point.

“Ssagodolgi, Carlisle. Are you really not going to tell me what happened between you and her when you were alone?”

“I told you. I was dealing with monsters. Trying to find my way.”

“A man and a woman were left alone in a secluded place—so how could nothing has happened? Do you honestly think I’d believe that? Besides, everyone in the empire already knows the nature of their relationship.”

“Don’t assume everyone thinks in such vulgar terms.”

“Carlisle, you really—!”

“If you’re done with what you came to say, could you leave now? As you can see, I’m busy.”

With that, Carlisle lowered his gaze to the papers in front of him. Clink, clack. The only sounds echoing in the quiet room were the scratching of the pen and the soft rustling as he turned a page.

“…Understood.”

Judith let out a long, empty sigh and ran her fingers through her hair. Then, she glared at Carlisle as if she truly intended to kill him.

Carlisle was incredibly stubborn when it came to himself. Once he shut his mouth, it was almost impossible to get a single word out of him. And he knew better than anyone that he wouldn’t dare show that side of himself in front of Aireen.

That’s why I was furious.

He always listened to Aireen. He never took his eyes off her, never missed even the smallest words. But he never allowed himself even the tiniest opening.

Her due date was just around the corner, and Carlisle still hadn’t come to see her. It was driving her insane.

I thought that if I could just get him away from Aireen—if I could crush his hopes like breaking a spell—I might find the gap and finally break through.

“I warned you. If you keep acting like this, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

Carlisle remained silent, eyes still fixed on the papers.

“What if I take out my anger on Princess Revart, Carlisle? Huh?”

Her voice was dangerously soft. That alone was enough to make Carlisle finally look up.

“You’re only looking at me now?”

A hollow laugh escaped Judith’s lips.

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