Wasn’t I the Female Lead of a Regret Novel? [Novel] Chapter 52

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CHAPTER 51

Managing to collect her composure, Dolorens glared sharply at Vendia with narrowed eyes.

“You look surprisingly well for a divorced woman, Young Lady.”

“Yes. I don't know why I waited so long to do it. It’s wonderful.”

“The Duke has finally come to his senses, realizing that you are entirely unfit for the position of Duchess of Calvermer. Don't you know it yourself? That you are far, far lacking. How could a woman like you ever hold such a position? Everything has simply returned to its rightful place.”

Dolorens let out a scoff and spat out her words in a rapid, breathless tirade.

“Woah!”

Vendia clapped her hands with a genuinely marveling expression.

“You must have been practicing what you wanted to say to me when we met! How could you speak with such precise pronunciation without stumbling even once!”

“Of course! A woman who didn't even know her place taking a spot right beside Lord Calvermer… Ah, no! What on earth are you talking about?!”

Dolorens, who had blurted out an answer, gasped in shock. Because Vendia had spoken so naturally, she had fallen right into the trap.

Watching Dolorens grow increasingly flustered, Vendia pondered.

The biggest reason that woman had bullied her so relentlessly seemed to be rooted in envy.

Countess Dolorens had also married a count chosen by her family, but compared to her young self, her husband was a middle-aged man twenty years her senior.

Yet Vendia, a woman her own age, had married Denross—the most brilliant man in the empire. It was only natural that her mind would twist with resentment.

“Did you quietly harbor an unrequited crush on Denross… or something like that?”

“Whose name do you think you’re flippantly throwing around right now?! Do you still think you’re the Duchess? You’re nothing more than a useless Count’s daughter now! Know your place!”

Perhaps because she had hit a nerve, Dolorens bellowed with a beet-red face.

“I am well aware. 'Duchess' my foot, I forgot about that long ago. Please just call me a landlord from now on.”

“…A landlord?”

“Yes. A landlord. I happen to own and operate a building.”

Watching the Countess blink blankly in confusion, Vendia flashed a triumphant smile.

Regardless of who gave it to her or how, it was her building nonetheless. She had considered boasting about being an advisor for The Line as well, but held back out of concern that it might spread rumors.

Something under her own name, something Vendia Rose, or Vendia Calvermer, could never have even dreamed of having.

She possessed it now.

“Ha! As if a mere thing like that is a big deal.”

A beat late, Dolorens clicked her tongue in sheer disbelief. Acted like having a single building was something to brag about. She crossed her arms and looked down her nose at Vendia.

“I take it you own a building as well, Countess?”

“Of course! Just the townhouses my husband owns in the capital alone…!”

“No. Not your husband’s buildings. A building registered under your own name.”

“That is…”

Dolorens failed to finish her sentence.

She had none. All she possessed were her husband’s surname, dresses, and all kinds of accessories. Wealth registered under her own name? No such thing could possibly exist.

“See? You don't even have a building.”

“…”

As Vendia raised her chin with a smirk, Dolorens felt an unexplainable sensation of defeat settle over her.

That woman was still someone far more insignificant than herself—now even tagged as a divorcee.

Even if the empire tolerated men’s divorces, public opinion regarding divorced women was still overwhelmingly harsh.

If a noble lady of the empire had a history of divorce, unless she hailed from a truly prestigious family, most could never remarry or would simply be sold off to an old, wealthy noble with a terrible reputation.

Since the Rose County was beyond insignificant, only those two choices remained for her. So why did she look so remarkably relaxed and content?

Dolorens had expected her to be cowering and living in seclusion somewhere, yet she looked beyond carefree.

Even her blue eyes sparkled, brimming with vibrant life.

It was a sight she had never once seen at the Calvermer Duchy. She was completely different from the person who used to stay dead quiet like a lifeless doll.

“Countess. I’ll forget everything, you deliberately spilling tea on my dress, intentionally tripping me to make me fall in front of everyone, and laughing the loudest while watching my mother-in-law humiliate me.”

“When did I ever…!”

“Sending me fake social gathering invitations on purpose to pull a prank on me, leaving me sitting alone at a large group table at a café for hours, and mocking me by spreading false rumors that I was still a virgin because Denross and I never spent the night together.”

Vendia’s gaze, previously fixed on Dolorens, shifted toward a figure standing a short distance away.

She stared straight into the eyes of the person observing her.

She was no longer there.

The self who used to cry breathlessly in lonely isolation, waiting endlessly for someone who would never come while sitting in the garden all day long, was gone.

“…”

Dolorens bit her lip tightly. She couldn't say a single word. Though she felt no guilt whatsoever, gathering everything she had done over time made her wonder if it had really been that much. She hadn't realized it while doing it.

“So instead of wasting your time harassing others, start living your own life from now on, Countess. Try becoming a landlord like me, for instance.”

Without a single shred of lingering attachment, Vendia spoke with a face more relieved than ever before.

“How dare a mere Young Lady try to lecture someone in front of..!”

“Sisterrr!”

Just as Dolorens raised her voice with glaring eyes and clenched fists…

Yulije came sprinting over, calling out to Vendia.

She looked utterly furious, like an enraged bull.

She had heard everything…how Dolorens had harassed her.

“Lady Yulije Heden…?”

Dolorens’s eyes went wide. She recognized Yulije.

As the café where one could get the picture of a lifetime became famous, Dolorens had also wanted to jump on the trend.

Ever since Jane Calvermer left the Calvermer mansion, Dolorens’s standing in high society had been on shaky ground lately.

She had barely been scraping by like a cicada clinging to Jane’s side. She desperately needed something new to draw people’s attention.

That was when she recalled the picture of a lifetime that the young ladies in the capital had been raving about through rumors and newspapers.

That café was so popular that the waiting time was normally one to two hours.

Even if she waited and visited, it was bound to be packed and noisy with customers.

Left with no choice, Dolorens had contacted Yulije privately.

Knowing that the Café of Life at The Line belonged to Yulije, she asked if she could be let in first right at opening time, expressing a desire to use it exclusively and promising to pay whatever compensation was needed.

However, her attempt to contact Yulije had been brutally ignored.

Why was that Yulije calling Vendia 'Sister'?

“Did you hear about yesterday’s café revenue?”

“…Hm?”

At the sudden mention of revenue from Yulije, Vendia tilted her head.

Dolorens’s eyes were busy darting back and forth between the two of them.

Why is she telling Lady Vendia about the revenue?

“I. Knew. Sis.ter's. Ca.fé. Would. Be. A. Success.”

Vendia blinked her large eyes. How can someone sound so robotic? Her acting was terribly unnatural.

Because Yulije was focusing solely on pronouncing each syllable distinctly, all pitch variation had vanished from her voice. Yet a smile quickly spread across Vendia’s lips.

She knew very well why Yulije was doing this.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't Vendia’s café, but she felt deeply grateful to Yulije for speaking like this on her behalf.

“…This is Lady Vendia’s café?”

Whether Yulije’s voice sounded unnatural or not, the effect was undeniable. Dolorens muttered under her breath with the most shocked face seen all day.

“Trying to get the picture of a lifetime without even knowing that. Hmph!”

Yulije turned her head away from Dolorens with absolute disdain.

“Customer number 109! Customer number 109, please step inside! Oh? Miss Dia!”

Just in time, an employee opening the door to call a customer spotted Vendia and came running out.

Accepting the greeting, Vendia glanced down to check the slip of paper Dolorens was holding.

Number 110.

It seemed she had arrived a bit early after being told her turn was coming up soon.

Now, what to do about this?

“Countess. You seem to have come to take the picture of a lifetime, but you’ll have to head back.”

“…What does that mean?”

“You cannot enter this café, Countess. And there is even less chance of you winning the picture of a lifetime.”

Vendia spoke softly and clearly with bright eyes.

“Are you right now…!”

“And customer number 111! Please step inside!”

Having caught on, the employee shouted the next number right on cue upon hearing Vendia’s words.

“Hey!”

Dolorens, who was next in line, lost her temper. Customer 110 was supposed to follow 109, yet they had skipped right over to 111.

“Young Lady! What is the meaning of this?! You just said you’d forget everything..!”

“I may forget, but I still hold a grudge. Well then, goodbye. I hope we don't meet again, as looking at your face isn't particularly pleasant.”

Looking at Dolorens, who was trembling in sheer humiliation, Vendia let out a quiet chuckle and walked away alongside Yulije.

Her heart felt lighter than ever.