Rudella came straight to the Ferbache mansion in the capital after sending her letter.
Her only attendant was Vera, who had served the Bismarck family for many years and had grown up alongside her since childhood.
Since this meeting had to be more secretive than ever, Rudella hadn’t informed Topaz Palace of her visit to see the Lady of Ferbache.
Click.
Rudella set down her teacup and glanced around. She was alone in the room, which exuded a dignified, antique atmosphere.
The servants had guided her here, but this wasn’t a drawing room. It was, at a glance, a space the Lady of Ferbache personally used.
“……”
Whatever the reason, Rudella decided not to think too deeply about it.
Perhaps the Lady had simply wanted to speak in a more private space than a formal reception room.
But still… a wave of complicated emotions suddenly surged within her.
Her chest felt tight, and she could feel her fingertips slowly growing cold.
The moment she entered this place, it felt as though she had stepped somewhere she didn’t belong.
The room held the lingering warmth of the Lady of Ferbache. If that warmth alone had been present, it wouldn’t have mattered. But traces of Yohan were here as well.
The coat hanging on the wall.
It was the same one Yohan had been wearing when she had visited him on official business not long ago.
And the faint lavender scent that lingered throughout the room—it was the fragrance that always seemed to follow Yohan.
It truly felt like a space where the two of them lived their lives together. Almost as if the space had been deliberately displayed to someone, to show them what that life looked like.
The warmth that radiated from this space seemed to confirm a reality Rudella could never touch……his real place.
The thought left her with a sensation that the objects in the room were quietly looking down on her, as though mocking her.
From deep within her chest, heavy jealousy and isolation rose up, clawing at her throat. She felt like an unwelcome intruder.
Like an invisible boundary, the room gently pushed her away.
‘…It’s fine.’
Rudella repeated the words to herself, trying not to let anything show. From the moment she chose to become his second woman, she had steeled herself for this.
‘It’s fine…’
She pressed her lips together to maintain a calm expression. But she couldn’t hide the faint trembling of her fingertips.
‘…This is the path I chose. Don’t feel sorrow.’
She bit her lips more firmly, waiting for the storm of emotions inside her to subside.
In truth, it was natural to feel this way.
Who could willingly accept sharing the man they love with someone else?
But the Lady of Ferbache likely felt the same way too…
She had no choice but to steady her heart and focus on persuasion.
“Huu…”
Rudella took a deep breath, gathering up the ugly emotions lurking within her.
Click.
In that moment, the door opened. It was the Lady of Ferbache she had been waiting for.
Her attire was not the formal dress expected for a noble meeting, but instead a light and relaxed loungewear.
The luxurious silk fabric softly draped over her figure, subtly revealing smooth, graceful lines. The waistline was loosely tied, and her pale, elegant neckline was exposed.
Within her restrained elegance, there was an undeniable sharpness—almost as though she was drawing a line that this space was her domain.
A space filled with Yohan’s presence.
“Apologies, Lady Bismarck. Have you been waiting long?”
The Lady of Ferbache greeted Rudella with a subtle smile. At that moment, Rudella fully understood why she had been guided to this room rather than a formal reception area.
‘…I see.’
It was clear that the Lady of Ferbache intended to remind her of Yohan’s relationship with her. This room itself was proof of that.
“…I haven’t been waiting long. The atmosphere here is quite comfortable.”
Rudella smiled calmly, but a cold tension spread through her heart.
“The atmosphere here is quite comfortable.”
“Isn’t it? This is where Yohan and I spend most of our time.”
Francia tilted her head slightly, her smile as sweet as honey, though there was an undeniable chill glimmering in her eyes.
“This space is special. A place shared only between Yohan and me.”
Rudella’s eyes narrowed. That single remark struck her heart like a shard of ice.
“Shall we begin our conversation now?”
Francia sat across from her, the sharpness of her poised smile unmistakable. Rudella was not so naive as to miss it.
“…Let’s.”
But she understood. Yohan must have told Francia everything that had happened.
How could anyone look kindly upon a woman who approached a man already spoken for?
“This is the first time we’re sitting down to talk face to face.”
Rudella carefully broke the silence, lifting her teacup. It was like a warm-up before the real discussion began.
“…Is that so?”
“We’ve never even had a proper introduction.”
As the Crown Prince’s betrothed, Rudella had attended many parties and interacted with numerous nobles, but she had never once crossed paths with Francia.
There had been no reason to. Besides, the Crown Prince had likely ensured they never met.
Thus, Rudella knew of Francia’s existence but had never exchanged a word or a greeting with her.
The Bismarck and Ferbache families weren’t particularly close either.
“Well. I doubt you came here for idle chit-chat, so let’s get to the point.”
Francia’s voice was cool as she continued.
“Yohan has told me a great deal. Not only did you confess your feelings to a man with a lover, but you also had the audacity to claim you could persuade me.”
Her crimson eyes flickered sharply, and the gaze she directed at Rudella was far from kind.
“…That’s correct.”
“And you have nothing to say for yourself?”
“I will apologize.”
“…What?”
Rudella bowed her head deeply.
Francia, who hadn’t expected her to apologize so quickly, was momentarily caught off guard. But before she could say anything, Rudella continued.
“However, I do not regret truly falling in love with him. Even if time were to turn back, I would still fall for him again. He is the one who taught me so much and made me feel emotions for the first time.”
Rudella had been—
A lifeless person who had never once looked at her own emotions.
Her decisions had always been made by her parents, and her life was meant to be sacrificed for the sake of her family.
She had thrown her life away.
She had thrown herself away.
But not after meeting Yohan. At least not since that day. Since then, she had been able to stand tall with a clear conscience.
She could be honest with herself.
She could be human.
“That’s why I have no intention of backing down. No matter what happens, I will convince you, Lady Ferbache, and earn your approval to become his second woman.”
This opportunity felt like one that would never come again. Rudella was determined to persuade Francia, no matter the cost, and to secure her place as Yohan’s second woman.
“…I see. I understand your feelings.”
Francia was inwardly impressed by Rudella’s sincerity. Before her return to this time, she had assumed Rudella to be a cold, emotionless woman, but now she was completely different.
“But for your wish to come true, you’ll have to convince me first. Lady Bismarck, I’d like to hear why you’re so confident that you can persuade me.”
However, that alone was not enough for Francia to accept Rudella’s proposition.
“I know exactly who the most troublesome person for Lady Ferbache is right now. He’s like the Empire’s little sun, and no matter how high-ranking you are, you can’t easily lay a hand on him.”
The “little sun” was a reference to the Crown Prince. Francia’s eyes narrowed.
“I know how to bring that sun down. I have all the evidence needed to do so.”
Francia’s voice dropped to a quiet, calculating tone.
“Why should I trust you?”
Rudella Bismarck was the daughter of the Bismarck family, a noble house that supported the Crown Prince, and she was also his betrothed.
It was only natural for Francia to be suspicious. In fact, it would have been strange if she hadn’t been on guard.
“I will share the evidence.”
Rudella had anticipated this question, and she spoke calmly as she continued.
“The fact that he has been colluding with magic users, selling information about the kingdom to foreign nations, using them to make huge profits, and even secretly recruiting soldiers without the Imperial family’s knowledge……just to name a few.”
The information Rudella spoke of was dangerous enough to dethrone the Crown Prince if proven.
“I have the ledgers, the magical recordings, and even a mana canvas that captures the exact moment of these actions. I will share all of it with you, Lady Ferbache.”
“What… what are you talking about?”
Francia was so taken aback that she could barely finish her sentence, her lips twitching in disbelief. Her eyes widened in shock as they locked onto Rudella.
The weapons Rudella held were enough to shake the very foundations of the Empire. A large-scale purge targeting those close to the Crown Prince might even be set into motion.
“You….can you really escape from this? So much blood will be spilled…”
As the Crown Prince’s betrothed, it seemed impossible for Rudella to avoid the fallout. The Bismarck family was one of the foremost supporters of the Crown Prince.
“…Thank you for your concern, but I’m not worried at all. I’m planning to sever ties with the Bismarck family, and I have already appointed someone else to handle the situation.”
Naturally, Rudella had a plan.
“…Good heavens.”
While the Imperial family was caught up in petty disputes, beneath the surface, events that could bring a bloody storm to the Empire were quietly unfolding.
“Well? If you allow me to have a relationship with Yohan, I can bring down the little sun who has tormented you for so long.”
Francia closed her eyes tightly and crossed her arms.
It was, without a doubt, an attractive proposal. If the Crown Prince was removed from the equation, there would be no one left to interfere with her and Yohan’s relationship.
It wasn’t just about removing the Crown Prince. There was no need to worry about the remaining factions, and by elevating Ferbache’s authority, Francia could control the Imperial family.
But was it really okay to accept this? Yohan was involved in all of this. She would be sharing her man with another woman.
What if, after all this, Yohan abandoned her and showered his favor on Rudella instead? Would she regret this choice later? Would she grow resentful?
Rudella Bismarck was undeniably an attractive woman, even in Francia’s eyes. She had grace, perfect manners, and even beauty that rivaled her own.
Of course, Yohan wouldn’t be the type to be swayed just by her looks, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t something to be wary of. A woman’s beauty was a powerful weapon that could cloud a man’s rational judgment.
Francia’s mind raced with conflicting thoughts.
‘…But there’s no better way to destroy the Crown Prince completely.’
If the Crown Prince, Fedelian Rogino, wasn’t utterly crushed, he would inevitably rise again. Before her return to this time, he had been the one to sell out the country and even started a civil war just to possess her.
If she had the chance to crush him completely, it was something she had to take.
“…Alright.”
Francia exhaled deeply, her eyes opening.
Rudella, hiding the tremble in her fingertips, gazed at her.
“I’ll accept Lady Bismarck’s proposal.”