Love Doesn’t Matter - Chapter 49 – Everyone’s Own World

It was starting again.

Emilia sighed and answered, “No.”

“Oh, I thought that you had certainly read it. Since you are a book lover.”

Mocking laughter was heard from somewhere.

“So, what is the story in ‘The Camellia Maiden’?”
“Unfortunately, it is a tragedy. The Count and the maid, they both die.”

The people around them started becoming quiet, like a dead mouse.

“Although they love each other, they can’t cross the wall of reality. The Count is disappointed by the maid’s vulgar habits, which she reveals unconsciously, and the maid can’t let go of her inferiority complex. Jealousy gets worse little by little. To the point that it’s disgusting.”
“Oh my goodness…”
“Isn’t that a realistic story? I was worried that foolish and stupid women might have strange fantasies, but as expected, it’s a masterpiece. Reality is different. What do you think, Miss Bern?”

The startled gazes fell on Emilia again.

“I also agree that it is a realistic story.”

When she shrugged her shoulders as if it was insignificant, their eyes widened again. Emilia continued, calmly.

“But I do not agree with the term ‘foolish and stupid women’. That’s called prejudice. It’s a narrow-minded belief that everyone dreams of a rise in status. To point out one more thing, I think that just because you can’t break down the walls of society, it shouldn’t be misinterpreted as ‘inferiority complex related to status’.”
“Well, that’s an argument that doesn’t really strike me. Anyway, you must read the book at least once.”
“Unfortunately, I have no intention of reading it.”

The surprised eyes turned to Shayla again. Unlike the serene Emilia, her face was glowing red.

“That’s surprising. I thought Miss Bern liked such beautiful love stories.”
“Why did you think so? Speaking of which, can I ask you one thing? I wish you will stop caring about me from now on.”

Emilia had an annoyed expression, as if she were chasing a fly, which made Shayla unable to hold back.

“Cut it out, Emilia.”

The sudden use of informal language caused a splash on the warm atmosphere. The people watching gradually froze.

“Why are you pretending not to? Everyone here knows it too. How much you want to fit in our world. Don’t get me wrong. I am cheering you on as you walk on that rough path. Instead, choose one. Meyer or Malvin.”
“Are you aware that you are framing me without any basis right now?”
“Why is there no basis?”

Shayla shrugged her shoulders, as if teasing her.

“I saw it earlier, you showed up proudly wearing Meyer’s ring and smiled in front of Melvin. Aren’t you ashamed?”

She was speechless. It was hard to even breathe. Emilia adjusted her breathing and tried not to get caught up in her emotions.

Shayla is a person who doesn’t understand logic. So, she has no choice but to give it back in the same way.

“Why do I keep having strange thoughts?”
“… Strange thoughts?”
“You’re jealous. You look like a jealous little girl.”

Shayla turned pale.

“… I’m jealous?”
“Yes. It only looks like you’re going to die of envy.”
“Ha! I’m surprised… Are you completely out of your mind? That too is because of your inferiority complex.”

Emilia’s eyes sank as quietly as the eye of a heavy storm.

“Don’t get me wrong. I always wanted you to be successful in your marriage. The proof of that was that I allowed you to act like a mouse for 5 years. It is purely thanks to my family that you are able to pretend to be a lady like this and not be humiliated here. Is it not?”

The last hint of relaxation disappeared from Emilia’s eyes. Shayla also lost her reasoning.

“Of course, there are things that education cannot do. Something like lineage.”

Noticing that Shayla was trying to cross the line, someone gave her a hint to stop.
But the boiling anger completely blinded Shayla’s eyes and ears.

“Blood doesn’t change. No matter how generous and understanding the Meyer family may be, they will not be able to stand it when their blood is mixed with a bloodline as inconsiderable and vulgar as yours. The same goes for the Malvin family. They’re acting carelessly, so I’m just listening to the government.”
“…”
“I feel really sorry for Prince Meyer. Even if it is an engagement in name, how can he get mixed with the blood of a disabled person like you…”

Screech!

The sound of the chair scratching the floor pierced the silence. All eyes turned to one place at the same time.

Emilia was looking down at them with a cold expression.
Her head was full of thoughts of slapping that disgusting woman’s cheek.

Do it, Emilia. Do it!

But all Emilia could do was clench her fists tight.
Her nails dug into her skin. Her heart felt like it was going to explode.

It was an unexpected voice that cut through the suffocating silence.

“Miss Cavendish, you’re going too far.”

Josephine continued speaking in a calm, yet firm, voice.

“I hope you know how much my Mother cared for today’s event. No matter how you think about it, Miss Cavendish’s behavior was wrong. I think you should apologize to Miss Bern.”

Some were silent, others nodded. Shayla, whose face was flushed red, suddenly burst into tears. The sound of her sobbing echoed horribly.

Be patient. Right now, patience is winning.

As she saw Shayla’s shoulders shaking, with her face buried in her hands, Emilia suppressed herself boiling like an active volcano.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Her upright, unshakable body slowly came out of the salon.

Coming out, Emilia walked like a ghost. Unable to do anything with her weakened legs, she eventually slumped down against the wall of the back hallway.

She crouched, resting her forehead on her knees.
She was earnestly wishing that the storm raging in her chest would soon subside.

“Excuse me, Miss Bern…”

When she looked up, she saw Josephine Lüen looking at her with pitying eyes.

“I’m sorry, but I want to be alone right n…”
“Here. Have a drink first. There’s nothing more comforting than alcohol when you’re having a hard time.”

Emilia stared at the glass of champagne she had given her. Then she made eye contact again. Oddly enough, the power to refuse disappeared in an instant.
Emilia, who took the glass in surrender, swallowed the champagne at once.

Perhaps her tongue has become numb; the sweet drink felt too bland.

Without asking, Josephine crouched down next to Emilia. Her unhindered behavior made Emilia a bit perverse.

“By chance, did Young Master Meyer ask you to do this? To side with me?”
“… What?”

As she asked, Josephine looked rather confused.

‘I misunderstood again’, Emilia thought bitterly.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been through what happened at the salon often. That’s why I keep getting wary and thinking whether or not your kindness is sincere.”

Emilia replied a little coldly.

Josephine blinked her big eyes a few times before suddenly reaching out her arm and pointing at something.
On the podium, the musicians were diligently tuning their instruments.

“There, do you see it? The pianist.”

As she followed her finger, there was indeed a pianist. His skin was too white for a man and his eyes were filled with excellency, that kind of man.

“His name is Tiffin Lewanski, a rising pianist in Nowak. His mom is a prostitute, his dad is a drunkard, he grew up in a ghetto, yet he was able to hide that fact and become my piano teacher. And one month ago, we finally became lovers.”

Her two opened wide eyes turned to Josephine.

“Miss Bern isn’t the only one being blocked by a wall of status. That’s why I wanted to talk to you more. I always wondered about how Tiffin would feel when meeting with me.”

Josephine was looking down at the man who had become her lover with mature eyes that did not match her age.

“Perhaps Tiffin will have to endure the same insults and accusations as Miss Bern. Things like how he dared to covet the Countess’ daughter. So, our relationship is strictly secret. There are too many people in the world like my mom and Shayla Cavendish.”

Does she also know when people talk?

The cheerful and innocent girl’s eyes disappeared, leaving only an overly mature girl.

“I just hope Tiffin doesn’t go through the same thing as Miss Bern. If he does, he will eventually want to leave my side someday. His life as a pianist would get ruined too.”

A thought suddenly ran through Emilia’s head.

“But didn’t you say that you are getting married next year? You said so earlier, in the salon. That you are in talks to get married to some Count from Gronoso.”
“Ah, that person? Of course, I have to marry him.”

In front of the immediate and clear answer, Emilia felt stunned again.

“Then… That pianist…”
“Tiffin will be my lover. He knows it too. That I am getting married soon. If possible, I want to marry a powerful person. It will help him in his career as a pianist.”

Josephine chuckled as Emilia couldn’t close her mouth.

“I will continue to support his music career and our love will continue.”

But what about your husband?

Emilia, who was about to ask the question, just kept her mouth shut.
Her tongue was stiff and dull, as if she had swallowed something that should not be eaten.

“Anyway, you were really great earlier. It was a really good thing to react coldly without responding anymore. I knew it immediately. Miss Bern is more aristocratic than noble people.”
“No, it’s not like that.”

Emilia shook her head vigorously. How surprised that child would be if she knew how hot-tempered she was.

“I have another reason for putting up with it. A not-so-elegant reason. Actually, at Sir Cavendish’s house, I…”

She was about to say that she was thinking of working as a bookkeeper, but suddenly, her mouth closed.
No matter how desperate she is for money and it is kept under wraps… Can she really work at the Cavendish mansion with such insults? She wasn’t sure.

“Anyway, thank you for seeing me in a good light. And thank you. For this.”

As Emilia held up her glass, Josephine smiled, grabbed her own glass, and clinked them. The two smiled as if they had made a promise and took the champagne to their mouths.

“You drink very well.”

Josephine giggled and raised her hand to the servant. The servant appeared with more champagne. After hesitating for a while, Emilia decided that this would be her last and accepted the new glass.

“Anyway, forget about Shayla. After all, she will soon be completely ostracized from the social world.”
“Why is that?”
“She dared to offend the Malvin family. I can’t believe she spread such dirty rumors in public. There is nothing we can do about the country bumpkins.”
“What do you mean? Rumors?”

Josephine looked at Emilia silently and said, “… You didn’t know?”, and started telling her about the rumors.

It was quite a shocking story for Emilia.

“Shayla dug her own grave. She is tormenting Miss Bern, but she is blind and does not know that she has offended a sleeping lion.”

Unlike Josephine, who was excited, Emilia felt her mind grow more complicated.
Even though she was so careful, in the end, the rumors circulated. Even the word ‘mistress’ came out…

Hadius must have known already, right? That’s why he insisted that it was because of ‘that guy’.

She seemed to understand why Nathan turned away with such a dark face when their eyes met earlier.

She was scared.
Emilia felt disillusioned and afraid of all these things that happened regardless of her will. And of Josephine Lüen, who talks about love and lovers at the same time with a bright face, too.

The more you know Hadius’ world, the more complicated and difficult it is to understand.

Emilia took out the ring she had been fiddling around with from her finger.

Giving him a special indulgence doesn’t change anything.
People have their own sphere. Just like the fish that live in rivers cannot live in the sea.

Emilia clutched the ring tightly.
At the same time, she was gulping down the glass she had put down with her other hand.

Why did the champagne become so bitter? Like it has never been sweet before…

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