Chapter 45
Ha, I quickly threw off the blanket and got up.
“Please rest for a few more days, Lady Etricia.”
“I’m fine.”
Lilien repeatedly urged me to rest, but just thinking about that guy made me feel so angry that I couldn’t stay still, so I refused.
After resting for a few days, I felt like all the medicine’s effects had worn off. I called a maid to help me wash up and change my clothes, and my head felt much clearer.
Just as I was thinking about going to Edmund’s office to find the artifact containing the will’s authentication certificate, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and the person who appeared was Edmund.
“Ah, good timing. I was planning to visit your office anyway.”
“I heard you woke up… Sister.”
Edmund started speaking but then shut his eyes tightly. Behind him, I could see a glimpse of Lilien’s silver hair. She was pushing against Edmund’s back with all her strength, as if urging him to go inside.
He didn’t budge an inch. Frustrated, she huffed and kicked the back of his knee.
Even then, Edmund didn’t move at all.
“Lady Etricia is sick, yet you didn’t visit her even once. Do you think you’re qualified to be someone’s husband in the future?”
“I have no intention of becoming one.”
Edmund answered flatly as he stepped inside. Lilien turned her head away sharply, as if she knew arguing any further was useless. She looked dissatisfied but eventually gave up, met my gaze, and smiled brightly.
“Then, I’ll leave you two to talk.”
After the door closed, Edmund sat across from me. A brief silence filled the room before he unbuttoned the top of his shirt, looking somewhat suffocated. He seemed more nervous than I was. After taking a deep breath, he finally spoke.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
Remembering the last awkward encounter we had, I instinctively rubbed my cheek with the back of my hand. At the same time, I was grateful that he was treating me as if nothing had happened. He had also made sure no word of it spread.
“I showed you something embarrassing. If your younger brother hadn’t coincidentally found me, who knows what would have happened…”
I used the word “coincidentally” to explain Edmund’s timely appearance, pretending I had no idea he had been watching me.
I smiled awkwardly and spoke again.
“I’m sorry.”
Edmund, who had been quietly looking around the bedroom, fixed his gaze on my head.
“You’re apologizing again.”
His tone was oddly disapproving.
“Of course, I should apologize.”
The previous scandal was partly Edmund’s fault for letting me stay in his mansion, but this time, the blame was entirely mine…
Edmund frowned as if he didn’t understand.
“It’s not your fault.”
“…”
“You are the victim here.”
I was momentarily speechless and pressed my lips together with my hand. I hadn’t expected him to say that.
He was right. This was Devon’s fault, not mine. The only consequence was the chain of damages caused by his actions.
It must have felt uncomfortable for Edmund to see me, the victim, apologizing.
For years, I had grown too used to apologizing because of Antra.
I hadn’t realized how deeply ingrained that habit was in me even after living as Etricia.
“I’ve said it many times, but I’m the one who kept the Countess in this mansion. Helping you was a rightful deal in exchange for my sister and a courtesy to a guest.”
“I see.”
I covered my mouth and laughed self-deprecatingly before changing the subject.
“I fainted and don’t remember what happened afterward… What happened to Devon?”
“…”
Edmund, who had been staring at me with a blank expression, averted his eyes. For some reason, he looked like a giant dog that had just gotten into trouble with its toy.
“Nothing much.”
‘Why is he avoiding eye contact?’
“Really? Nothing happened?”
“…There was some conflict, but we resolved it peacefully through conversation.”
His voice became noticeably smaller when he said “peacefully.” That made me uneasy. Just what had he done?
“How exactly was it peaceful?”
“Did you know this bed was the one my sister used as a child?”
“Stop changing the subject.”
“…That man wouldn’t listen, so…”
Oh no. I could guess the rest just by the guilty look on his face. Knowing Edmund’s strength, there was no way Devon got away unscathed. Well, I could understand. Devon had a face that made you want to punch him.
But for Edmund, of all people—someone rational and cold-hearted except for Lilien—to resort to violence…
It was both touching and troubling that he had fought for me.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Edmund took out a small wooden box from his coat and handed it to me. Inside was the artifact containing the will’s authentication certificate.
I smiled, feeling as if I had just gained an army of a thousand men.
“Then, I’ll be going now.”
Looking uncomfortable, Edmund quickly stood up and headed for the door. I watched his broad back for a moment before finally speaking.
“Thank you.”
Edmund paused and turned to look at me.
I shrugged with a faint smile.
“I can say thank you, right? Your brother also thanked me for what I did at the banquet.”
“I see.”
Edmund stared at me for a moment with a strange expression before his lips curled into a soft smile.
It was the first time I had seen him smile fully.
“Just now…”
As I raised my hand in surprise, he immediately returned to his usual expression.
As Edmund opened the door to leave, I spoke again.
“Oh, by the way.”
“What is it now?”
“Don’t worry about the lawsuit. It was self-defense.”
“I don’t really care.”
“I know, but I don’t want you to get involved. That bastard did plenty wrong. He wouldn’t dare make it an issue.”
But he did.
Devon was shameless.
I glared at the lawsuit in front of me with burning eyes.
[Plaintiff, Count Buell, accuses Duke Mipedian of unprovoked assault…]
How much time had passed since I confidently reassured Edmund? And now, a lawsuit had arrived.
Rail, who handed me the letter, looked noticeably flustered, saying he had picked it up by mistake. I quickly snatched it from him. It was an undignified reaction, but I couldn’t help it.
Actually, it was fortunate that I saw it before Edmund did.
My previous words now felt utterly embarrassing.
‘Devon…’
I gritted my teeth and glared at the air as if Devon were standing right in front of me.
If news spread that my husband had tried to assault me, it would become nothing more than cheap gossip among loose-tongued nobles.
Devon knew that. That’s why he was using it.
‘That irredeemable piece of trash.’
Even now, just thinking about the kidnapping made my whole body tremble. Fear? No. It was rage that I hadn’t crushed that bastard’s groin with my own hands.
“Rail, contact the imperial palace immediately.”
I crumpled the lawsuit in my hands and stood up.
Then, Rail—sweating bullets—unfolded the crumpled complaint like it was a holy relic.
“There’s no need to keep it. I’m going to withdraw it.”
If Devon was going to pull something like this, I couldn’t just sit back. There was no reason to delay any longer.
It seemed today was the perfect day for the grand finale.
I quietly looked around inside the Dien Viscounty estate, which felt not only silent but almost ominously desolate.
The servants moved like ants, sneaking around to deliver food with barely a sound.
The butler, who came rushing over after hearing a report, widened her eyes when she saw me.
She was the one who used to follow Antra around and sneer at me whenever I visited the Dien estate. Now, upon seeing my face, she flinched and ran up the stairs to call Antra.
Soon, Antra appeared with fire in her eyes, storming over like a thundercloud.
Always perfectly made-up and composed, she now looked like a beggar from a slum—her hair messy, her cheeks sunken, and dark circles under her eyes. She must’ve been on edge ever since my threat.
I gave a small glance that said, Explain, and the head maid glanced at Antra warily before approaching me and whispering.
Her respectful manner made it clear the balance of power had shifted.
“Since the ball, she’s locked herself in her room and refused to come out. She trembles as if terrified and lashes out at any maid who dares meet her eyes.”
Antra’s reputation in high society had completely collapsed. Even those who once praised her for being accepted into Marchioness Wickley’s circle had abandoned her. Her social isolation was practically a death sentence.
Why did I ever shrink in front of someone like her for four years?
A self-deprecating laugh nearly escaped me—just as Antra’s cat-like eyes flashed through the mess of her hair.
“How dare you come here…!”
“Oh? Seems you still have enough strength to pick a fight. I was worried you were hiding because you were scared of what I might say.”
Antra flushed red, clearly hit where it hurt.
“Y-You…!”
She almost shouted, but noticing the maids’ eyes on her, swallowed the rest of her voice and whispered harshly.
“Why are you here…?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not here to see you, madam.”
I had no interest in an old woman resigned to the shadows.
I gave a dismissive snort and climbed the stairs.
I could feel her glare burning into my back, but as long as I held her secret, she couldn’t dare drag me down the stairs by the hair like before.
Smirking, I reached the second floor—just as I ran into Verita coming out of a room.
“Verita, so this is where you were?”
