Chapter 029
“Why are you doing this here?”
Iella’s lips moved, but no words came out.
Sioden did not wait any longer. He grabbed her wrist. The skin that lightly brushed against his under her clothing was warm and soft.
As he led her out into the hallway, Sioden realized they had nowhere to go.
The entire castle was watching them. From the vassals of Raslet to the guests from Rowen.
Having lived under the gaze of others all his life, today he felt particularly suffocated. Sioden tried to attribute all his overwhelming feelings to the effects of the alcohol. When the drink flowed, it brought heat to his body and tightness to his chest, making it possible to mistake that physical response for emotion.
Since the only place to go was the bridal chamber, Sioden intended to take her there and leave. It was then that Iella grabbed him.
“I have no relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Her straightforward words indicated that she knew he was unable to think rationally about that matter.
Sioden clenched his jaw.
“It’s fine.”
“……”
“It’s already famous throughout the world, so it’s not surprising.”
Indeed, there was no need to be surprised.
What kind of person Iella was had already been known in society.
Expecting her to be different from the already known facts was itself a mistake.
“However, now that we are married, please refrain from actions that draw attention. I do not want to be embroiled in a scandal.”
It was likely that discomfort stemmed from that very reason.
He did not want to endure the insults that would rise and fall from others’ lips.
It was simply that.
After all, he was a man she had no feelings for; she could let him go, but Iella did not do that.
She said, “You said you had something to say to me.”
Sioden did not understand that statement.
“Back then, in the tailor’s shop, you said that.”
It was before Iella added that.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
He must not get angry. He must not show any change in emotion. He must not appear to be swayed by her.
Yet, his mouth moved on its own.
“Have you now developed a desire to hear what I have to say?”
He felt heat rising to his face. This warmth, which should end with the alcohol and not turn into emotion, was something he could not control as he approached her.
“Or are you going to hold onto a man you don’t like for your father’s sake?”
There was no way Iella was interested in him. They had only met each other for one night, and unlike him, who had never drawn another woman into his arms, she was someone who had been preparing to marry the Crown Prince.
All the signals she threw at him felt unfamiliar and confusing, but Iella had likely experienced everything already.
So, she would know well how he would react as someone experiencing this for the first time.
Iella stepped back.
“It’s not like that.”
As she backed away from him, her legs touched the bed. He thought that if he pressed just a little more, her body would fall onto the bedding. That thought came to him reflexively.
To avoid making a mistake, he clenched his fist.
“I know that you married a man you have no feelings for because you want to cure your father’s illness.”
So she would not be mistaken.
Iella stared up at him. Then, as if she had something to say, she moved her lips.
It was then that his tongue moved on its own.
“Or, perhaps you’re truly attracted to me?”
Immediately after asking the question, Sioden regretted it.
Was he so eager to hear a proper rejection?
He should have known better than to act foolishly.
He sighed and stepped back.
“Forget what you heard today.”
Before he could completely leave, Iella grabbed him once more.
“Wait a moment!”
Sioden stopped abruptly. A small voice, sounding defeated, came from behind him.
“It wasn’t intentional.”
When the woman hesitated to speak, Sioden almost scoffed. What a remarkable display of family affection.
“I really… you…”
Did even someone like Capren Rowen receive such love from his daughter?
“Don’t say any more.”
Sioden glared at the closed door. He could still feel the sensation of the brooch he was holding.
What was he trying to find meaning in that kept him from leaving?
It was obvious that his expectations would only lead to ruin, and he felt frustrated with himself for hoping.
Didn’t he already know?
“Anyway, I cannot believe anything you say.”
There should be neither trust nor love between them.
Sioden threw the brooch into the fireplace. It was impulsive, but he did not regret it.
“Spring has come to the capital.”
If it were up to him, he would have wanted to burn the words Evelyn had left behind as well.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
It was a marriage that had gone wrong from the very first button. It was unlikely to turn out well.
At first, Sioden tried various approaches to get along with his partner, but none were effective.
Everything had plummeted to the ground, as much as he had learned by mere observation.
During their time together, they drained each other. Iella constantly tested him with Rowen by her side, and while he fought back, he could never feel relieved.
In his life, revenge had brought peace of mind in almost every situation, but not when it came to entangling with Iella.
Even while pouring three days and nights into the problems caused by being blindsided by the woman, Sioden felt it was terrible to make her cry even for a day.
It would be fortunate if the effects of the troubles she caused lasted no longer than three months, and yet her tears would leave no trace by the next day.
Tears.
When that damned thing flowed, Iella clearly knew how she looked.
Whenever he tried to return even a little of what he had suffered, Iella would look at him with watery eyes.
In those moments, Sioden felt as if he had climbed a high mountain. His chest felt tight as if the oxygen were thin, and his judgment became difficult.
He had no doubt that his reactions were fully exposed on the surface.
Otherwise, Iella would not have been able to shed tears so easily whenever she needed to.
Even on the night when the expedition was just around the corner, Iella made good use of her qualities.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
A few days ago, Iella had one of Rowen’s knights cut down Merwen’s Glasyr.
The evidence was so clear that covering it up was very difficult. In the midst of this, the Rowen knight, who was arrested at the scene, claimed that he had an inappropriate relationship with Iella.
Sioden did not believe those words. Before her marriage, Iella had been in a romantic relationship with the crown prince. Even aside from that, she did not even like him.
There was no way she would have taken a knight of lesser appearance, status, and wealth as her lover.
There was no need to leave such nonsense in an official document.
Thus, Sioden deleted the knight’s statement.
It was a lie, so there was no need to bring Iella in for a confrontation. Iella was born the daughter of the Southern Duke and married him. It was absurd to let her be involved in the knight’s absurd claims.
He also burned the handkerchief the knight had presented, reasoning that since he had already been sentenced to death, there was no need to add theft to the charges.
When he beheaded the knight, the elders rushed in. Old retainers, resembling Lerox, who were of no help to him, admonished him not to ruin the family for the sake of a woman.
Sioden struggled to suppress the urge to retort that a few years ago, he would have gladly gouged out his own eyes if it meant saving his family. Doing so would only invite more trouble.
After dealing with the elders roughly, he felt incredibly exhausted.
If his mind was restless and sleep wouldn’t come, that was indeed a problem, but even that could be resolved with alcohol.
As he thought about wanting to rest a bit tonight and wiped his face, a knight knocked on the door.
“Your Excellency, the lady has written a letter.”
The letter had signs of being torn open. It was the request for an inspection from the council, using the incident of Merwen’s Glasyr being cut as an excuse. Sioden hadn’t been able to prevent it. The matter was too significant for the council to remain uninvolved.
The letter, written in the style popular in the Southern social circles, was merely a request for a meeting.
As he put the letter in the drawer and stood up, Rhys came to see him.
“Your Excellency, Her Highness the princess has sent a letter.”
At that time, he was exchanging letters with the princess while planning a rebellion.
After checking the letter and dealing with the accompanying issues, it was close to midnight.
“You should eat. Would you like to go together?”
Rhys, who had skipped meals while working with him, asked. Sioden shook his head. Fatigue overshadowed everything, and he wasn’t even hungry.
However, before entering the bedroom, he noticed the corridor leading to the annex.
Iella had sent him a letter during the day. At that time, he had intended to visit her directly, so he hadn’t written a reply, but other matters had come up that prevented him from responding.
It was doubtful whether he would have time tomorrow.
Ultimately, despite knowing it was too late, Sioden stepped into the annex.
Iella’s maid responded to him, gauging the situation.
“Lady Iella is still awake.”
Still, given that their relationship had long been in ruins, it was questionable whether he would be allowed into the bedroom, yet surprisingly, Iella readily permitted him to enter.
Upon entering the room, he found Iella sitting on the bed.
Her face was pale without makeup, and her white nightgown looked fragile.
Her delicate features bore an innocent expression. No, it would be more accurate to say she appeared innocent, though she was not truly without sin.
Sioden stopped the woman from rising and leaned against the bedpost. He was too tired tonight to maintain a proper posture.
Iella looked up at him with slightly damp eyes. She had caught a cold, and her face looked gaunt. Despite having been tormented by her for the past few days, Sioden felt a pang of sympathy at her appearance.
Had it not been for the question she asked, he might have reached out to wipe the moisture from her eyes.
Unfortunate or fortunate, Iella spoke up quickly.
“Are you going to send me back to the South?”
