Chapter 32
“Hhic… sob…”
Illina wept bitterly, stuffing clothes and belongings haphazardly into her bag before fleeing the mansion at dawn—her sorrow mixed with a sense of injustice, as if the world itself had wronged her.
Had someone done this to her husband, she would have slapped them and torn them limb from limb. Though she had no defense, having followed orders obediently, it still stung. Sally let out a deep sigh.
“Please stop crying, my lady.”
“I’m ruined! What do I do now?!”
All Sally could do was adjust her mistress’s cloak, a hateful task. Beneath it, Illina still wore only a thin nightgown. With all the mansion’s servants glaring at her, she hadn’t even been allowed to change into proper clothes.
“I’ll fetch a carriage. Just wait here a moment.”
After firmly instructing her mistress to stay put—repeating it several times—Sally left. Even as she walked away, she kept glancing back. Illina was the kind of young lady who never listened, not even in this disgraceful dawn hour.
Standing alone before the Grand Duke’s gates, Illina sniffled, paralyzed by the uncertainty of what lay ahead. An audit? That was no different from saying her entire household would be stripped bare, down to the bones.
“Sob…”
As she cried and stewed in her thoughts, resentment and fury began to bubble up. The more she thought about it, the more it felt like she’d been tricked—humiliated, betrayed.
“Cecilia Burnett…”
It suddenly occurred to her—what if the Grand Duchess had orchestrated all of this? Illina, her eyes swollen from crying, gnawed on her thumbnail.
The undelivered invitations she had carefully prepared, Curtis sleeping in Eden’s chamber—all of it seemed too convenient. What if Cecilia had bribed Eden’s attendant beforehand to lead her into such disgrace?
‘Had you even once lain with your husband, you might know the difference—but you haven’t even touched skin. Where does your confidence come from?’
Cecilia’s pointed question, insinuating whether Illina had ever shared a bed with Eden, had been strange. Physical betrayal wasn’t the only kind of betrayal. It was as if Cecilia had deliberately provoked her—pushed her toward making a physical move on Eden.
“You wretched… vile woman…”
Snap—her chewed nail broke. Illina spat it out with irritation, grinding her teeth.
‘Am I to spend my life as Cecilia Burnett’s servant, pandering to her whims?’
‘That’s not what I meant. Just play along until the time is right. It benefits both you and us, doesn’t it?’
When Count Nova had forced her into serving Cecilia, that was what he had said.
‘Now is not the time to reveal ourselves. Be patient. The Rain family won’t be able to touch us, no matter what happens.’
Her father clearly had a plan. Maybe she had no reason to be this miserable. Lifting her head, Illina steadied her expression.
At that moment, the iron gates creaked open behind her. Startled, she turned.
“Lady Nova.”
“Your Grace…?”
It was Eden. Seeing him come to see her off made her think that perhaps he hadn’t truly wanted her gone. Illina’s face brightened without her realizing it, a small smile forming.
Yes… perhaps the talk of an audit was just something he said to appease Cecilia. A flicker of hope stirred.
But Eden simply stood there, silently watching her display of flirtation. Illina, realizing how awkward her smile had become, quickly dropped it.
“I thought I should make something clear, since I didn’t get the chance earlier.”
“What do you mean…?”
As dawn broke, the rising light shone from behind Eden. Illina stared blankly at his soft brown hair, glowing warmly in the sun. But unlike his gentle appearance, his face remained cold, emotionless.
“You said you came to my chamber because you were curious about something. I didn’t get to address that.”
Illina, as if entranced, nodded. It was a flimsy excuse, even to her, but if Eden had any affection for her, he might let it slide.
“Just as Cecilia said, I agreed it was best for you to leave.”
Illina flinched. Eden, unbothered by her stunned expression, continued calmly.
“Your shamelessness after your mistake, your brazen attempt to seduce your mistress’s husband without considering her position—”
“……”
“—and your crude attempt to manipulate the situation with your body. I can’t tolerate any of it.”
Each word he uttered was like a blade. Illina, who once admired this man from afar, now felt nothing but humiliation at his scathing words.
“No matter your title, that’s too harsh, Your Grace!”
“Too harsh?”
Eden echoed the words as if amused. His expression said, What exactly have you done to warrant leniency?
“Yes! What if all of this was a scheme by Her Grace, to trap me?!”
Illina argued desperately. Eden tilted his head slightly, regarding her coldly. To think she’d resort to blaming Cecilia.
“Are you claiming it was Cecilia who bribed my attendant to uncover my preferences?”
From what Eden had seen, Cecilia had shown no ill will toward Illina. Even when he had tried to stir her jealousy using Illina, she had barely reacted.
The thought brought a brief, humorless smile to Eden’s lips. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like he was the one clinging to this relationship—not Cecilia.
“Are you suggesting Her Grace resorted to such petty tricks just to drive you out?”
His scoff made it clear what he thought of such a claim. That Cecilia would stoop to such underhanded methods for someone like Illina? Ridiculous.
“I’m sorry, but Cecilia has never once done you any harm.”
And in the very next moment, Eden let out a quiet sigh and briefly closed his eyes, then opened them again—clearly exasperated that he even had to explain this to Illina.
“How would Your Grace know that…?”
Illina’s defiant words trailed off. Eden, catching the flicker of doubt in her eyes, gave a faint, unreadable smile.
“Because I did it all.”
“…….”
“I’m the one who took the invitations from your room. I’m the one who told my attendant—summoned by you—to invite you to my bedchamber. I’m the one who investigated your family.”
One by one, Eden calmly laid out the truth. His voice was composed, yet every word hit with cold precision.
“Why… why would you…”
Illina staggered backward, her legs weakening beneath her. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“My wife—”
“…….”
“Cecilia is the same as me.”
Eden made no move to reach for her. There was no need—she couldn’t escape. The warm blue in his eyes had hardened into an icy, cutting glare.
“And you thought I’d sit quietly while someone like you tried to seduce me and insult her?”
“…….”
“You truly believed you could place yourself on equal ground with my wife?”
His words were no longer just cold—they were menacing, like steel drawn in warning. Illina trembled, her entire body seized with fear. She felt as though the man before her—the one she once gazed at with fluttering admiration—could sever her neck without hesitation.
“I watched you only to learn what you and your father were scheming. Never show your face near Cecilia again.”
Eden took a slow, deliberate step forward. Illina had longed for this man to come closer—but now, every inch of distance he closed sent her further into terror.
“Even if your family somehow survives this, and even if you manage to slink back into society, Sienna won’t spare you.”
He wasn’t stepping forward to console her or draw near. He came only to deliver a warning—one that would haunt her.
“And I, too, will not stand by if you ever try to harm my wife.”
Eden’s words struck deep. He ridiculed Illina’s fall from grace—the fact that, thanks to Sienna’s scorn, she was already cast out from proper society. He made it clear: if she dared to linger near Cecilia, he would unleash the full weight of his power as Grand Duke, bank master, and royal heir to destroy her.
“And don’t even think about speaking of what happened today. Especially not to Cecilia.”
“…….”
“I wish to always be a kind husband to my wife. And if anyone interferes with that—then I am prepared to erase their family from existence.”
If her life meant anything to her, she’d keep her mouth shut. That was his final message. Illina, tears brimming in her eyes, nodded numbly. Eden stared down at her—a woman now too broken even to resist—then turned his back without another word.
“My lady!”
How much time had passed? The maid returned with the hired carriage, calling out. Illina stared blankly at the morning light stretching across the ground. One by one, the events of mere moments ago replayed in her mind.
Whether love existed between them or not, Eden was obsessed with Cecilia’s safety. He had punished Illina for daring to defy her—and now he was sending auditors to the Nova estate, intent on dismantling her family piece by piece.
“Hurry, we need to go. We must get to Father!”
Snapping to her senses, Illina clambered into the carriage, her face ashen, her movements clumsy. The carriage rocked violently as it departed in haste.
And from the shadows, someone followed quietly—ensuring that Illina would not reach the Nova estate before the Crown Prince’s audit, nor have a chance to destroy the evidence.
