“Please forgive me… Isabella,” Dmitry begged.
However, the noble Princess Isabella shook her head.
“That’s impossible, Dmitry. You have insulted me and the royal family. It’s a capital offense.”
“That’s… a misunderstanding.”
“What misunderstanding? Just because you’re rich? You think you can buy me with such trivial money? Are you out of your mind? Such a foolish bear.” Dmitry is flustered.
“It’s my fault…! Even if I offer all my wealth… no, everything I have, it wouldn’t be enough to buy even a hair of Isabella.”
“You know that well. But it’s already too late.”
“But…! You are all I have, Isabella.”
“Lies.”
Dmitry knelt before Isabella.
Kissing her pale wrist.
“Oh, beautiful Isabella. Do I look like I’m lying now? My eyes have only ever looked at you.”
“That’s also a lie.”
“Isabella…!”
“All lies.”
Isabella coldly pushed away Dmitry’s hand.
“Dmitry. Everything about you is a lie except for your breathing. How shameless can you be!”
“Princess Isabella! If you would only forgive me, I would do anything!”
“Anything?”
Isabella’s eyes shone dangerously.
“Then beg like a dog. Dmitry, that suits a lying bear like you! Ohohohoho!”
Again and again, ―I ~1, A knock sounded. Bella Izakhel put down the teddy bears she was holding in her hands. And calmly opened her mouth as if nothing had happened.
“…What is it?”
“Miss. The Duke is looking for you.”
“My father?”
What could it be? Bella checked the grandfather clock. Tea time had long passed, and it was too early for dinner. This time was officially Bella’s free time. Therefore, even the Duke and Duchess seldom called her at this time unless it was something important. Could something significant have happened?
“Hmm… Alright. Please tell my father that I’ll finish what I’m doing and then come.”
“Yes, Miss.”
As the footsteps receded, Bella rose from the bed. A modest room, neatly furnished with practical and inexpensive furniture. It was a room fitting for her, who disliked luxury. Of course, for a Duke’s daughter, it might be considered plain.
Bella stood in front of the dressing table. Her silver hair was always beautiful. A gift from the gods. The most beloved woman by the gods smiled in the mirror.
‘Hmm?’
As she was about to touch her hair, her eyes fell on the fan in front of her. The 500 Kael fan she bought last time because it looked cheap. At the same time, the face of that man came to mind. At that moment, Bella’s anger surged. It wasn’t just because her value seemed to be only that much. Surely, that was infuriating, but there was another reason she was so upset.
She slowly picked up the fan.
“How dare…”
Her pride was hurt. The fact that the fan, carried by a daughter of the Duke’s family, was only worth 500 Kael and that it was exposed to that despicable man!
Bella thought of Tristan. His cold voice came to mind. It felt like a sneer, as if mocking the worth of the Izakhel family. Just thinking about it made her uncomfortable. A despicable man. Fat and his laughter is creepy, and rumors say he even lays his hands on his servants. No wonder he’s known in society as the ‘Mad Pig of the Earl’s family’.
Bella was not only angry about that. The most dreadful fact was that he was the first and only man to propose to her. It would be a wonder why no one else had proposed to Bella, known as a peerless beauty in the empire. The reason is simple. Everyone was afraid of Tristan’s retaliation. The Ruelberta family had a presence in the empire, even among all the noble families. Their endless wealth, vast territories, and private army rivaling the imperial forces. Even the current isolationist policies of the country were heavily influenced by the Ruelberta family. Even the imperial family couldn’t ignore the Ruelberta family. And of course, the Izakhel Duke’s family was no different. It was known to everyone that Tristan, with his immense power, had set his sights on Bella of the Izakhel family. To propose to her, one had to risk their life. Since then, Bella became the flower on the edge of a cliff.
‘Do you think I would just take it lying down?’
Bella resisted. She didn’t want to lose to such a man. She couldn’t help being marked, but she delayed and delayed the wedding as much as she could. Years went by. Eventually, an anxious Tristan asked Bella.
-How much will it take?
-What… did you say?”
-How much to buy your heart? To think of buying a person’s heart with money! Outraged, Bella asked him in return.
-Okay. Then let me ask you in return. How much do I look like to you?
But what was even more astonishing was his response. Five hundred million Kael. Bang! Bella couldn’t contain her anger and slammed her hand on the dressing table.
“I can never forgive you… just you.”
Thinking this, the fan that she once liked now felt pitiful. As Bella was about to throw the fan into the trash can, she hesitated.
“Hmm… It would be a waste to throw away something that’s still in good condition, wouldn’t it?” I’m not poor, just frugal. So, she decided not to throw it away.
Instead of putting down the fan, she picked up the teddy bears scattered on the bed. Dmitry and Princess Isabella. Bella headed towards the corner of the room. She stopped in front of a wall painted with the crest of Izakhel I. There, she drew a large circle and infused it with magic.
Drdrdruk. A space created by making a hole in the wall revealed itself. It was a detailed replica of a kitchen, bathroom, living room, yard, and more. A dollhouse. A precious treasure she had secretly owned since childhood.
“Let’s see… Hehe…” Isabella is a princess, so she belongs on the most splendid top floor. And Dmitry, being a liar and a criminal… the barn suits him. Bella looked at the Dmitry doll. A bear actively courting Isabella. Impossible.
“Hmph. What will you do when you see this?”
She shoved Dmitry into the barn as if venting her frustration. The crumpled bear doll looked comically ridiculous. Hmm. Good. Perfect. Satisfied, Bella left the room. She walked down the long corridor of the Izakhel Duke’s mansion. Like her room, the mansion’s decor was modest for a Duke’s residence. Not a single expensive ornament in sight. Instead, the walls were filled with portraits of ancestors who had made significant contributions to the empire. Heroes celebrated throughout the ages. That’s what Izakhel represents. Bella felt a sense of pride whenever she walked through here. The dignity of Izakhel. Feeling this, she arrived in front of the reception room.
Knock knock ―I ―’I ^
“Bella here. May I come in?”
“Come in.”
As the
door opened, Duke Fred Izakhel welcomed her with open arms. “Oh, yes. You’re here. My daughter.” Too gentle for a noble. Lacking in dignity, he was also her father.
“Yes, Father.”
“Sorry to disturb you while you’re resting.”
“It’s okay. I was just reading.”
A cultured act befitting the lady of the Izakhel family. Fred nodded in satisfaction.
“Just like my daughter. Even in leisure, not forgetting the dignity of a noble. I’m proud of you-”
“But what’s the matter?”
“Ah? Ahaha… Well, that’s…” Fred scratched his head. Bella’s eyes narrowed. ‘Hmm… It must be a troublesome matter.’ She knew this was her father’s behavior when he felt uncertain.
“Actually… we have a guest.”
“At this hour? Is there someone among Father’s guests who lacks the decency to come without a prior appointment?”
“Cough, that’s… It’s not my guest, but yours, Bella.”
“Me?” Fred pointed to a luxurious sofa. Precisely, at the man sitting there. The moment Bella saw the back of his head, she felt her heart sink. How long had he been there?
The man turned his head, looking at Bella with cold eyes. She muttered the man’s name like a groan.
“Tristan, why are you here…”
Tristan twisted his lips. “Sorry. I’m not well versed in manners.” It was a wicked smile that only a villain could make.
