I’m In Trouble Because The Darkened Heroes Are Obsessed With Me

When Elsez’s carriage arrived at the Rittenhouse estate, the waiting butler stepped forward to open the door.“Welcome, my lady.”The butler, ever-polite, momentarily hesitated when he saw Elsez step down.Unlike her usual visits—where she dressed elegantly—today, she wore a simple tunic and trousers.A rare sight for a noblewoman.Noticing his lingering gaze, Elsez wordlessly held out a small gift box.“This is…?”“Madeleines. I thought the Duke would like them.”Of course, the Rittenhouse chefs could easily make madeleines, but since it had been a while since she last saw Tezette, she couldn’t help but bring some.Tezette had always loved sweet pastries.When she had first brought him out of the back alleys as a child, he had been wary of everything.Having grown up rough, his moral compass was different from others, leading to frequent trouble.He would even pick fights with Cassian and Rashiel, who were older than him.Like an untamed beast, he resisted everything.Except sweets.‘Now that I think about it, he’s kind of like Reti.’Even as an adult, he had never outgrown his love for desserts.Surely, he would still like them now.The butler, still surprised, accepted the gift.‘The Duke never talks about his personal preferences…’Tezette wasn’t the type to hide his tastes, but considering how little interaction he and Elsez had, the butler found it odd that she knew this.Still, a thoughtful gift was not to be refused.“I will deliver it to the Duke. I’m sure he will be pleased.”Handing the box to a nearby servant, the butler then asked,“Would you like to go to the greenhouse, as usual?”‘So they always met there.’Elsez nodded without answering.With that, the butler led her inside.The Greenhouse Rittenhouse mansion was even grander than Elsez had imagined.‘No wonder it’s the second-largest estate after the imperial palace.’Beyond the mansion lay vast gardens that stretched endlessly—The maintenance costs alone must be astronomical.Walking further in, they reached a massive glass-domed greenhouse.Inside, exotic flowering trees mingled with vibrant, colorful birds, creating a world that felt like a miniature foreign land.“Tea will be served shortly. If you need anything, just call on the maids.”After a polite bow, the butler withdrew, leaving Elsez alone except for two maids standing by the entrance.‘Might as well look around while I wait.’Elsez had never been the type to sit and wait patiently.She began wandering through the greenhouse, admiring the rare plants.In her first life, she had never had connections to nobles—So she had never had the chance to explore places like this.Even Martin’s house, which she had visited often, was nothing compared to this.Whispers among the maids. As she wandered, a hushed conversation reached her ears.“Honestly, after being stood up that many times, she still keeps coming back. You have to admire her persistence.”“Right? The Duke keeps rejecting her, yet she just won’t take the hint… I would be too embarrassed to show up again.”“Well, what choice does she have? Her family is drowning in debt, and her only lifeline is her fiancé. And not just any fiancé—a Duke. Of course, she’s desperate to hold onto him.”“Tsk, it’s embarrassing. Poor Duke, having to deal with this.”Even without a subject, the meaning was clear.The maids were talking about her.They weren’t even bothering to lower their voices.Stealing glances at her, they whispered loud enough for her to hear.Elsez didn’t react outwardly, but their words quickly helped her piece together the past.The previous Elsez had been coming here every week…Yet Tezette had never once shown up.Even knowing that, she had kept coming, waiting in vain.‘Figures. That guy never had any manners when it came to women.’It also explained why the butler hadn’t mentioned whether Tezette was even here. He just silently leading me to the greenhouse instead.It was likely that the previous Elsez had needed to keep up appearances, pretending to outsiders that her fiancé was still meeting her.Even if that was far from the truth.For her pride and status as a fiancée.‘So even when the maids mocked and laughed at her loud enough for everyone to hear, she couldn’t even show a reaction.’With Tezette already refusing to meet her, if she were to raise her voice at the maids, bad rumors might reach his ears.‘You are that desperate, wasn’t it, Elsez?’Elsez furrowed her brows.Losing her only family, her father, she must have endured everything in her own way just to survive. For a moment, Elsez felt pity for her.‘But I have no reason to do the same.’That way, all she’d become was someone who looked fine on the outside but was crumbling within.Just then, a maid approached with a trolley carrying refreshments.Seeing it, Elsez returned to the table and sat down.The maid placed an empty teacup in front of Elsez and began pouring tea from the teapot.Absentmindedly watching, Elsez noticed the maid’s gaze.The maid was watching her with an amused, expectant look, as if she were waiting for something to happen.And the moment Elsez realized this, the tea in the cup overflowed.A faint smile spread across the maid’s lips as she poured.‘This is all for the Duke.’Deep down, the maids secretly wished that the Duke’s miserable fiancée would realize her lowly status—too powerless to even rebuke them—and finally leave.“Oh my, I’m so sorry—”The maid hurriedly set down the teapot, ready to offer an apology that wasn’t really an apology.But before the spilled tea could touch Elsez’s leg, the table suddenly flipped outward.Crash!A loud noise echoed through the quiet greenhouse.The maid flinched, visibly startled.Not so much by the noise, but by the fact that Elsez had done this on purpose.The Elsez she knew was someone who endured their harassment and gossip without a word, pretending not to notice.As Elsez gazed up at the frozen maid, she finally spoke in a slow, relaxed voice.“I’ve been training my body lately, so when someone tries to harm me, I instinctively defend myself.”The maid shuddered, staring at Elsez.Though she seemed to be smiling faintly, her words had clearly pointed out what the maid had just tried to do.Before anyone realized, Elsez’s smile disappeared as she spoke again.“Again.”“…Pardon?”“Bring it again. I can’t drink tea from a shattered cup, can I?”Elsez looked up at the maid as she said this.Even while seated, the maid felt an oppressive pressure as if Elsez were towering over her.‘She’s like a completely different person…’No matter how much she tried to sit up straight, she still seemed intimidated. She was nothing like the Elsez from a month ago, who had always appeared somewhat subdued.“I-I’ll bring it right away.”Overwhelmed by the shift in atmosphere, the maid hastily set the table back up and withdrew.A short while later, she returned with a clean teacup.As the maid reached out to pour the tea again, Elsez spoke.“Hasn’t it steeped too long? I don’t like bitter tea.”“…Ah.”Though phrased as a question, her intent was clear.The maid bit her trembling lips and hurried off with the teapot.When she returned, the trolley carried a steaming fresh teapot.As she carefully poured tea into the cup before Elsez, her hands trembled ever so slightly.Elsez watched her with cold eyes.‘Being unconditionally kind isn’t always the answer.’If she didn’t assert her position, she would be looked down upon—just like earlier.Despite her shaking hands, the maid managed to pour the tea properly this time.Elsez silently stared at the filled teacup for a moment before speaking.“Go call the butler.”Hearing that, the maid tensed but quickly reassured herself.‘She wouldn’t actually report this, would she? If she causes a scene here, it’ll only hurt her own reputation. Her family reputation is already bad enough as it is.’Thinking this, the maid went to fetch the butler.“You called for me, my lady.”As if she had been waiting, Elsez rose from her seat without even touching the tea.“I wanted to see the Duke in person to speak with him, but I don’t think that will be possible. So, I’d like you to deliver a message for me.”“What message…?”With a bright smile, Elsez spoke words that neither the maid nor the butler could have ever imagined.“I’d like to call off the engagement.”