50. An Unspeakable Secret (2)

Saturday’s schedule was tight. Fortunately, Joshua was away from the palace since this morning, so there was no obstacle to So-hee’s plan. The person she would meet early in the morning was Kelly. It was impulsive for So-hee to decide on such a meeting but it was a decision she made last night while wishing for Joshua’s happiness. After a long time, no words were exchanged between the two women facing each other in the drawing room. Then suddenly, Sohee blurted out.

“I’m pregnant.”

Kelly’s eyebrows raised at the announcement. Ariad’s statement was even more surprising because everyone already knew the news. However, her following words were completely unexpected. “The problem is, I don’t think he’s Joshua’s kid.”

Kelly was shocked and speechless. On the contrary, So-hee’s voice was very calm.

“Kelly, I’m leaving.”

“What?” Kelly’s parted lips curled into a smirk.“It’s funny how you’re pretending to choose your own path. In fact, if you stay here and get caught, you’ll be in danger so you’re running away.”

“That’s right. That’s exactly right. Actually, I know that I’m being a coward.”

“Why are you talking about this to me? I have no intention of keeping your secret.”

“If I had hoped for that in the first place, I wouldn’t have brought it up.”

“So, what do you want from me after bringing this up?”

“There’s no such thing. Oh, it might sound funny but I hope Miss Kelly’s unrequited love would finally be reciprocated. I’m being sincere.”

“You’re rooting for my love?” Kelly burst out a sarcastic laugh. “You’re amazing, Ariad.”

Kelly’s face looked twisted when she grinned.

“You always put people down so well with such a laid-back attitude. That’s a great ability and you’re not serious about any of it. You pretend to be considerate, but your heart, mind, and everything seem to be easy for you, Lady Ariad.”

The word ‘easy’ suddenly reminded So-hee of Joshua in her recurring nightmares.

‘Yes, you were an easy woman. I forgot about it for a moment.’

It wasn’t easy for her. They had no idea that she had agonized at the crossroads of her choices for quite a long time. Even her decision was made after much careful deliberation. Of course, it was easy for them because they weren’t her. In the end, she apologized for making everything looked easy. Actually, that was also what she wanted to say to him last night.

“Sorry. It’s true that I did such a bad thing. Knowing Joshua’s love, I received and used it well. But you, Kelly, you also used me for your own goals. And even though I knew it wasn’t Joshua’s child, I still tried to hide it as much as possible.”

She lifted the cup and held the herbal tea in her mouth, trying to swallow the climbing guilt along with the liquid. When her dry throat was moistened, So-hee continued her speech. “But as I suffered from nightmares, I became psychologically unable to endure it anymore. That’s why I’m leaving like I’m running away. I want you to fill up the empty space that I left behind. This is what I really mean.”

She prayed for Kelly’s happiness according to her novel’s plot as if the heroine, Ariad, didn’t exist. This was just a simple story between a man and a woman falling in love. She didn’t just want the novel to do well. She wanted Joshua’s true happiness more than anything else.

“I hope your love story will have a happy ending.”

Kelly’s eyes glittered at her calm words.

“Don’t pretend to be nice like that as if you were forced to leave. You’re disgusting and hateful..”

So-hee didn’t give in to the harsh insults scratching her ears.

Last night before she fell asleep, she brought up a story that she kept thinking about. It was the main point that she planned on discussing with Kelly today.

“On March 27th, go to Fate Cathedral’s prayer room by the time the sun goes down. You’ll be able to meet Joshua there.”

It was the story that she had planned for Kelly and Joshua.

If the novel proceeded as it was, a memorial service for the previous emperors would be held, and Joshua would find Kelly crying in the prayer room.

The mysterious and beautiful woman’s lonely appearance would largely settle in Joshua’s was one of the most important scenes that would make Joshua’s heart soften. Sohee, who was too lazy to make the story flow, remembered the exact date because she had set it on her real birthday. Thanks to this, Kelly and Joshua would be connected once again.

Kelly furrowed her brows in confusion.

“What would happen there?”

“Your love will likely continue in that setting. It’s up to you whether you’ll go or not.”

Kelly seemed dissatisfied, but she didn’t say anything anymore since her gift of prophecy had helped her once in the past.

After bringing the main point up, Sohee rose from her chair.

Ariad would remain as an incurable evil woman while the original male and female characters would continue their love.

It was the cleanest development among the options that Sohee’s head could come up with.