To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 27

“But, Your Highness. I can confidently say that Lady Aisha Parden will never give her heart to you. I dare to guarantee it.”

At those words, the thin mask Jared had been wearing cracked. Jared was angry at Ian’s arrogant words, but also deeply hurt. If Ian was that confident, it was clear how he intended to treat Aisha. Jared shouted angrily at Ian.

“Such arrogance! This only proves again that you, Marquess, are not at all worthy of her heart.”

Even though it was frightening to hear such loud words from a royal, Ian simply bowed silently. His smug expression irritated Jared, and he blurted out what he had been holding back.

“I should’ve let Sir Parden hit you earlier. Then I could’ve seen that unpleasant face of yours swell up. What a shame.”

Ian briefly glanced sideways at Jared upon hearing his muttered wish for a beating, but it was only for a moment. Maintaining his blank expression, he stepped back and gave a formal farewell.

“If there’s nothing else you wish to say, I will take my leave.”

Jared sharply turned his head away in dismissal, silently permitting him to go. Ian turned without hesitation. Jared glared at Ian’s back and smirked.

“Marquess, come back here.”

Ian had walked about twenty steps when Jared called him. It was loud enough that Ian couldn’t pretend not to hear. He frowned and turned back.

“I said come here.”

The way Jared lazily curled his finger like a street thug was clearly meant to provoke him. But Jared was a prince. Ian bit his lip and quickly returned to stand before him.

“Did you call me?”

“Go and personally bring the knights here. These men need to be thrown in jail. I’ll be waiting, so make sure you come back.”

Jared’s tone, as he patted Ian’s shoulder, was far from the usual cold demeanor he was known for.

Ian was about to respond with sarcasm, but closed his mouth. He realized he was getting into a childish argument with the prince over Aisha. Suppressing his boiling frustration, he replied slowly.

“As you command.”

Clatter, clatter.

The Parden family’s carriage traveled through the late-night streets. Although it was quite late, many other noble family carriages lined the roads, likely due to the imperial banquet.

Inside the large carriage sat only Count Graham Parden and his wife, Marissa. Having sent their children ahead, the couple had stayed behind to pay their respects to the Emperor and Empress, and were now returning home much later.

Normally, the carriage would be filled with the couple’s gentle conversations. But tonight, they hadn’t even made proper eye contact since before boarding. The coachman, sensing the tense atmosphere, tried to drive as smoothly as possible.

“So you’re really going to let this go?”

Marissa stared at her husband for a long time before speaking. Graham couldn’t meet her gaze. When he stayed silent, her voice rose.

“You won’t take it to court. You won’t tell anyone. Then what punishment will you give? This is letting it go!”

The couple had been shocked by Sophia’s confession during the banquet. Though she sobbed and tried to downplay her actions, the core message was clear.

“You’re saying you spread those awful rumors about Aisha? Oh my god!”

“P-Please forgive me, Uncle. I was wrong. I never thought it would spread so maliciously.”

Sophia had clung to Graham’s feet, knowing he was weak toward her. Her manipulation worked—Graham had already decided to settle things quietly.

“She’s going to apologize to Aisha on her knees. And I didn’t say she wouldn’t be punished. I just said I wouldn’t make it public. She confessed first, so she must feel some remorse. Let’s just handle this within the family—”

“No! As Aisha’s mother, I can’t accept that.”

“Do you realize how cruel the rumor Sophia spread was? People are already whispering about Aisha because Ian postponed their engagement. And now there’s a rumor that Aisha was dumped because she had another man? That’s character assassination!”

Marissa was furious. She couldn’t forgive Sophia for doing such a thing to her daughter. And just after Sophia ran out, Edward delivered shocking news that only fueled her anger.

“Mother, Father. I have something urgent to tell you.”

“Edward, later. We’re dealing with—”

“It’s about Aisha.”

The incident with Vincent and his gang had been devastating. The Parden couple had gone straight to the Emperor to report it and received a promise of severe punishment for those involved.

“And that whole incident tonight might have happened because of the rumor. Didn’t you hear what the youngest son of the Valto family said? He acted like that because of the gossip about Aisha being promiscuous!”

“If His Highness hadn’t been walking nearby at the right time, Aisha my daughter might have been… I can’t even say it! I just can’t forgive Sophia!”

The couple agreed on destroying Vincent’s family, but they could not see eye-to-eye on Sophia’s punishment.

“Didn’t you just slap Sophia several times earlier?”

“So? You stopped me from hitting her more! I only got in a few slaps! I should’ve hit her until that lying mouth was gone!”

“If Sophia reports that, we’ll be in trouble too. Assaulting a noble, no matter what, is serious.”

“Graham!”

“I’m not saying we should forgive her. Just punish her privately this once. And even if we don’t go to court, we’ll formally protest to the Lloyd family. If she ever does something like this again, we’ll include this incident and take her to trial.”

Marissa glared, trembling, but then suddenly slumped as if all energy had drained from her. Her brown eyes turned cold, and Graham grew anxious.

“Graham… Who is your real family?”

“Marissa!”

“Aren’t me and our children your family? Whose side are you really on?”

“It’s not about sides. Marissa, Sophia is like a daughter to us. Not by blood, but you used to adore her too. Just this once, please give her a chance. That’s all I’m asking.”

“Enough! To me, Sophia is just your dead friend’s daughter. I only cared for her when she wasn’t harming our daughter. But now? She disgusts me!”

“Marissa, please…”

Graham grabbed her hands tightly. But she threw his hands off and glared at him. Suddenly, her eyes widened.

“You know, something has always felt strange. You never said anything, even when Ian treated Aisha so coldly Don’t tell me.”

“Marissa, what are you talking about—”

“Was that rumor actually true? Did you have something with the Marchioness? Is Sophia really your—”

“Marissa!”

Graham went pale, dropping to his knees and placing his hands on her lap. His rough hands showed how hard he had worked despite being a noble. But Marissa’s face stayed cold. Seeing that, Graham trembled as he begged.

“Marissa, don’t say that. Please, don’t.”

“You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, and you always will be. So why would you say such things…? Even if I upset you, how could you doubt that?”

“Still, Graham, sometimes I wonder. Are we your family? Or are they?”

“Don’t say that. Of course it’s you and the children. But you know… Cliff was my closest friend”

At the mention of the late Marquess Lloyd, Marissa closed her eyes and leaned back. The source of nightmares that haunted her husband for 15 years.

She gently stroked his hair, then stopped and spoke softly.

“Graham, what happened to the Lloyds wasn’t your fault. You had nothing to do with it. They made their own choices. Stop acting like a criminal.”

“And I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean to doubt you. I know better than anyone what kind of man you are.”

“But Graham, listen. You’ve done enough. You took care of Ian and Sophia. You protected their wealth. Now, you need to take care of your own family. Be the strong father our children need.”

Graham’s shoulders shook silently. Marissa, knowing he wouldn’t let anyone else see this side of him, sighed and closed her eyes. Despite the smooth ride, she suddenly felt queasy—like motion sickness for the first time in a long while.

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