Acidity of Regret Ch 56
- Jan 13
- 8 min read
The tournament was only a few days away.
Vanessa had taken up residence in the Imperial Palace for the duration of the event. Under normal circumstances, she would have had to travel back and forth by carriage, but Hayden—who attended to her every need—would never allow such a burden. He formally invited her as a ‘Guest of the Imperial House’ and arranged for her to stay in a private wing of the palace.
She saw no reason to refuse. The mere thought of entering the palace every single day for the matches was exhausting. Spending hours in a jolting, swaying carriage was a trial in itself.
While waiting for the tournament to begin, her days were relatively peaceful. Living within the palace walls allowed her to meet with Hayden more frequently than before. On one occasion, she even attended a formal dinner with the Emperor and Empress. It was her first time seeing the Empress up close; due to her frail health, the woman had not appeared in public once since Vanessa’s debutante ball.
She was a woman who reminded one of a delicate blossom.
The aura of gentleness she wore was strikingly similar to Hayden’s. Her voice was equally soft, proving that her mild temperament was part of her nature. Vanessa had often wondered where Hayden’s kindness originated, and through this belated meeting, she finally discovered its source.
Meanwhile, another individual was staying at the palace besides Vanessa: Declan Vinkart, the Master of the Grand Duchy. He had also been invited to the banquet.
Vanessa could hardly describe how nervous she had been at the prospect of running into him again. Considering the Emperor and Empress were in attendance, it would be a lie to say she wasn't sick with worry. Yet, for some reason, Declan did not attend. His absence was an act of blatant arrogance, but since the Imperial couple did not comment on it, the matter was quietly swept under the rug.
The days blurred into one another until the morning of the tournament arrived.
[Dina] "The Crown Prince will surely give you a rose today, My Lady! Oh, I’m so nervous I can hardly breathe!"
Dina, who had accompanied Vanessa to the palace to serve her, bustled about as she expertly styled Vanessa’s hair. Her face was flushed with excitement, as if she were witnessing a fairytale prince and princess come to life. Of course, the prince, at least, was the genuine article. And it was certain he would treat Vanessa like a princess.
Hayden was a man to whom she owed a great debt of gratitude. However, she occasionally felt a pang of guilt, realizing she treated him more like a stranger than a fiancé. She had boasted to Declan that they were "soon to be married," yet her private actions suggested she was only consenting to the union out of necessity.
As clearly as she knew this herself, Hayden likely sensed it too. He knew she was keeping her distance, yet he never showed even a hint of displeasure. His unwavering kindness made her feel all the more indebted to him.
She was always grateful, yet always apologetic.
[Dina] "I’m going to make you more beautiful than anyone else today, My Lady."
Dina insisted that Vanessa must be the most stunning woman in the audience and spent far more effort on her appearance than usual. After her hands flew about with unmatched speed, even Dina herself gasped at the result.
[Dina] "My Lady, you look… incredible."
Dina stepped back, her eyes sparkling. Her expression was so much like an artist staring at a masterpiece of the century that Vanessa couldn't help but laugh. Turning to the mirror, she saw a young lady in a sophisticated beige gown accented with delicate green patterns.
It hadn't been her specific intention, but today marked her first public appearance as the ‘Crown Prince’s Fiancée.’ There hadn't been an event large enough to gather the nobility for some time. Since the news of the engagement had already spread far and wide, the amount of attention she would receive today would be undeniably immense.
[Vanessa] "Thank you, Dina."
Even to her own eyes, the styling was flawless. Vanessa looked at her reflection and steeled her resolve. To avoid being intimidated by the stares of others, confidence was more important than anything else.
Once ready, she left the room and encountered Elliot, who was waiting to escort her. His face was as stoic as ever, but there was a subtle hint of surliness beneath the surface. Knowing exactly why he was acting this way, she gave a wry smile.
[Vanessa] "Elliot. Are you still pouting?"
[Elliot] "I am not pouting, My Lady."
Elliot had hoped to participate in this tournament. For a knight sworn to a family, their martial achievements brought honor to their master. He had intended to compete to bolster the prestige of the Count’s estate.
That is, until Vanessa found out and forbade him from entering.
Elliot had asked for a reason, but she had merely repeated her refusal like a parrot.
She had no choice. What if he entered and crossed paths with Declan or his subordinates?
To Vanessa, who was still struggling to claw her way out of the nightmares of her previous life, that scenario was too cruel. It wouldn't be the men dueling with swords who fainted; it would be her, watching from the stands.
Moreover, Declan remembered exactly who Elliot was and clearly held a grudge against him. There was no guarantee the horrors of the past wouldn't repeat themselves.
‘I’m sorry, Elliot. I’ll make sure you can enter the next tournament. Please?’
At her earnest plea, Elliot had no choice but to withdraw his intent to compete. However, it seemed he couldn't quite shake the disappointment in his heart.
Still, Vanessa couldn't bring herself to confess her true fears, so she offered no excuses. It was a hundred times better for him to be grumpy with her than for something terrible to happen to him.
[Elliot] "We should depart now."
Accompanied by an uncharacteristically blunt Elliot, she headed toward the arena.
The arena, situated on one side of the palace grounds, exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure. As she stepped inside, she had barely taken a few steps before whispers about her identity began to ripple through the crowd.
Vanessa purposely kept her eyes lowered as she followed Elliot to her seat.
The shaded seating area was perfectly temperate. Fearing that the crowd would swarm her like a pack of hyenas if she so much as looked around, she stared fixedly ahead.
The gray stone floor of the arena was etched with countless marks left by sliding blades—vivid evidence of the fierce battles fought here.
[Stranger] "Excuse me."
The presence approached while she was scanning the arena. Thinking that what was bound to happen was finally happening, Vanessa slowly turned her head. She expected to see a familiar face—perhaps one of the women who loved to gossip most in high society.
However, the person standing before her was entirely unexpected.
[Helia] "Is the seat next to you vacant, by any chance?"
There were plenty of empty seats available besides the one next to Vanessa. One could spot half a dozen just by glancing around. The fact that she had specifically asked for this spot meant her target wasn't the seat, but Vanessa herself.
Despite the obvious intent behind the approach, the person was so unexpected that Vanessa nodded in a daze. With that, the young lady with her soft, waist-length hair tied in a half-updo—Helia Quasar—gave a bright smile and sat down.
Vanessa blinked, feeling as though she were in a dream. Memories of the moments this woman had smiled just like this while setting traps to torment her flashed through her mind. Her guard was instantly up.
As soon as she settled in, Helia asked:
[Helia] "We’ve met before, haven't we?"
Vanessa’s heart leaped. For a second, she wondered if Helia also remembered the events before her return.
But upon further thought, she realized that wasn't it. Helia was referring to that rainy day in front of the garden. The day Declan had held an umbrella over her.
[Helia] "Ah, I haven't introduced myself. I am Helia Quasar. I’m from the Grand Duchy of Vinkart, not here in Ingzella. I came to watch since the Duchy is participating in the tournament this year."
Unsure of why she had approached, Vanessa’s eyes darted around as she managed a brief reply.
[Vanessa] "I am Vanessa Rohawk."
[Helia] "Yes, I know. You are quite famous, My Lady—not just here, but in the Duchy as well."
Though a smile remained on her lips, there was an unmistakable hostility seeping through Helia’s eyes. It was the same look she had given Vanessa when she was the Grand Duchess—eyes radiating unfiltered jealousy, as if her man had been stolen by another woman.
But why?
In her past life, she had been married to Declan, but in this life, they shared no such bond.
[Helia] "If I may, could I ask you one thing?"
While Vanessa’s confusion deepened, Helia drew her metaphorical sword without hesitation.
Vanessa swallowed hard. The memory of how this woman used her silver tongue to drag her into the mire of public embarrassment was still vivid.
[Helia] "What is your relationship with Grand Duke?"
Vanessa wondered if there was something else she had missed, but the reason was, as expected, that man. Swallowing a heavy breath, she feigned a puzzled expression.
[Vanessa] "Grand Duke?"
[Helia] "I have never seen the Grand Duke look so flustered. One moment I thought he was snatching the umbrella from my hand, and the next, he was running to you..."
Her suppressed anger seemed to bubble over at Vanessa’s innocent-sounding question, and she began to snap. Then, as if realizing she was revealing too much of her own insecurity, she clamped her mouth shut.
It seemed Helia had actually caught on to the unusual atmosphere between the two that day. She had assumed that, with the distance and the blurring rain, the woman wouldn't have noticed.
Vanessa looked intently at Helia’s face. The young woman, who looked younger than herself, had no hesitation in revealing her emotions—unlike Vanessa’s own love, which she had always been desperate to hide.
Seeking to clear the hostile misunderstanding, she answered calmly.
[Vanessa] "I have no relationship with Grand Duke."
Helia’s eyes darkened with suspicion.
[Vanessa] "If anything, we are simply soon to be family."
[Helia] "Fa... family?"
[Vanessa] "I am scheduled to marry the Crown Prince."
At that shocking answer, Helia’s expression, which had momentarily twisted beyond control, went blank.
She was so honest, showing her shifting emotions without any attempt to hide or decorate them. Vanessa guessed that this lady must have grown up receiving a great deal of love.
[Vanessa] "Even that day, he only came to me because he had something to discuss regarding the Crown Prince."
[Helia] "...But the umbrella."
[Vanessa] "He said he felt sorry for me, seeing me alone without an attendant."
[Helia] "Surely the Grand Duke... didn't he embrace you?"
[Vanessa] "He was merely catching me because I was about to trip."
It was a complete lie, but she spoke it without a hint of hesitation. In a situation where she was already struggling to deal with an enemy like Declan, she didn't want to add another for such a trivial reason.
Furthermore, she remembered that this lady’s methods were incredibly subtle. She had the air of someone who had played the role of social queen many times. It was far less exhausting to keep such a person from becoming an enemy.
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