Chapter 034
When I opened my eyes again, I was in the bedroom.
Sioden was clearly by my bedside. Although his body was partially obscured by the canopy as he sat in the chair, I recognized him at first glance.
Even seeing just a part of him, his tall frame with long legs and the prominent veins on his masculine hands resting on his knees made it impossible not to recognize him.
At that moment, Sioden stood up. He approached the bed and pulled back the canopy.
“You’re awake?”
Standing at an angle where we could see each other, Sioden looked down at me.
I instinctively held my breath at his piercing blue gaze.
As Sioden looked at me, he said,
“You can sleep a little longer if you want.”
In that moment, I realized how much kinder his tone was compared to usual.
That wasn’t all. The eyes that usually glared at me were now drooping with fatigue.
It was both surprising and made me want to ask him something, but as I tried to sit up, Sioden gently pressed down on my shoulder.
“Stay lying down. You’re quite weak, so you shouldn’t overexert yourself.”
It felt like it was the first time he had genuinely worried about me, but I didn’t have the luxury to accept his concern at face value.
“I—I really saw it, didn’t I? The Glasyr, it really was because of me…”
Sioden interrupted before I could finish my sentence.
“It’s a matter you don’t need to worry about.”
How could he say such a thing?
I was so taken aback that I forgot that staring at him might come off as challenging, and I looked up at Sioden.
Sioden had clearly forgotten why he’d been angry with me just a few months ago.
Honestly, I didn’t understand how that was possible, but he had been incredibly busy lately, so it was understandable.
But even if he had forgotten, I hadn’t.
I still remembered what had happened on the morning Merwen’s Glasyr died.
Recalling that memory brought back the despair and fear I had felt then. My vision keeps blurring. I didn’t know if it was because of my poor health, as Sioden said, or because my future felt so bleak.
Even lying down, I was having trouble breathing. Sioden’s eyes darted around, seemingly flustered. He placed a hand on my shoulder and said,
“Calm down.”
It wasn’t as easy as he made it sound.
Everything was easy for Sioden, as his family obeyed his wishes, but I was in a position where I had to take responsibility for things I hadn’t even done.
If the Glasyr had died because of me, I didn’t know what repercussions would follow.
“Why did you cut down the Glasyr?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Perhaps he thought a suggestion wouldn’t work, as his answer switched to a command.
Usually, I tried my best to comply with his requests, but I couldn’t today.
“H-how am I supposed to take responsibility…”
Sioden didn’t let me finish again.
“You don’t have to take responsibility.”
He clearly didn’t understand why I was worried.
How many times had our intentions mattered between us that he could make such a confident statement?
Even if Sioden currently had no intention of holding me accountable, situations and people always changed. Therefore, his thoughts could easily change as well.
But Sioden would just keep repeating the same thing, no matter what I said.
My chest felt tight. I turned away from his gaze and lay on my side.
Sioden turned his head, looking at me with a troubled expression as I silently cried.
“There’s something I need to say…”
But I didn’t feel like talking to him.
I didn’t even have the strength to speak, so I just buried my face deeper into the pillow.
Fortunately, Sioden didn’t press the issue. He sighed again and gave my shoulder a final pat.
“…Focus on recovering now. I’ll call your maid.”
As if finally deciding that was the best course of action, he spoke in a subdued tone and stood up. The hand on my shoulder was gone.
I remained still until he was far enough away.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
A short time later, I felt the bed dip slightly beside me.
Turning from my side, I looked behind me. Apple was sitting by the bed.
She reached out to my forehead, saying,
“Miss, we were so worried when you collapsed.”
Thinking about it, Apple must have been very surprised when I suddenly fainted.
I felt bad for only showing her my worst side after such a long time.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“Don’t apologize. I just wanted to say I was worried about you.”
Speaking in her usual calm tone, Apple glanced around. After confirming that there was no one else around, she leaned closer.
“Can you tell me what Lord Raslet did to you?”
However, the events that had transpired were less “things he had done” and more “things the Rowens had done, and he had cleaned up.”
Explaining everything now would take too long, so I was about to shake my head, but then I remembered the enormous thing Sioden had done.
I haltingly explained his misdeeds to Apple.
“…Sioden really killed the Glasyr because of me.”
The more I thought about it, the less I understood.
A wife from a family who was both a treasure and an enemy. Even I, who didn’t know much, could easily calculate which side was more valuable.
The Glasyr was something that even my father, who supposedly lacked nothing in the world, had never obtained.
And yet, he had destroyed such a tree…
“He really killed it? That tree is a family heirloom, just because of me…? He was so angry last time…”
What is he going to do this time?
Unspoken words scratched at my throat like thorns. My heart ached.
Apple silently and gently caressed my face. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks. I had tried to avoid crying easily, but today, I didn’t have the strength to hold back my tears.
“……What should I do now?”
As I unconsciously sighed, Apple comforted me.
Looking down at me with her warm, dark brown eyes, she said,
“Miss, it’s alright.”
There was conviction in Apple’s eyes.
It would have been wonderful if I could believe like she did, but I knew too much that Apple didn’t.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
When he came out into the hallway, Ben was waiting. He seemed hesitant to speak, unsure of what news he was bringing.
It was probably news he knew he wouldn’t want to hear.
Sioden gestured to the man, who had been looking glum lately, a silent signal to disregard him and speak.
Ben finally approached him.
“Lord Rupid has arrived.”
Rupid was one of Lerox’s oldest friends, a senior who had even officiated his wedding.
…And yet, he participated in the drawing of lots with Iella.
I didn’t want to face any of those who had participated in something that should have been stopped, but I had to hear what Rupid had to say.
Nodding in agreement, I let Ben take him to the reception room.
Inside the reception room, an old man, about twenty years older than Lerox, was waiting.
“Congratulations on your victory.”
Before the old man could add more words of congratulations, Sioden cut him off with a gesture. He didn’t want to be congratulated. And it wasn’t just because it was coming from Rupid.
Severing the Imperial family’s interference that bound the family was his long-cherished desire.
However, even though it was a long-cherished desire, Sioden had never thought it would bring him joy. Therefore, he certainly didn’t want congratulations after achieving it.
Was there anything in life that would bring joy? The thought occurred to him, but he didn’t delve into it. It wasn’t something that could be solved by worrying about it. It was better to ignore it than to suffer more headaches.
Sioden asked Rupid,
“Why did you come to the castle?”
The senior members who had gathered at the castle for a celebratory feast after hearing of the victory had all dispersed when he returned with Iella. He felt like he might commit murder if he saw them hanging around.
He had no intention of letting the senior members enjoy their remaining years peacefully, but there were things he needed to deal with first.
Demian Rowen had given him a list of those who had conspired with Capren.
Punishing them, investigating, and uncovering those connected to them was his priority.
…Only then could the numerous crimes that had been Iella’s responsibility be assigned to their rightful owners.
Even if all the pieces were put back in place, could things return to being as if they had never been broken?
As he pondered this, Rupid spoke.
“I’ve come to offer some advice.”
Advice.
The words made him want to laugh. Sioden unconsciously twisted the corner of his mouth.
It wasn’t him, but Lerox’s loyal servant, who was now entering old age.
And like most things stemming from his father, it had never been of much help in his life.
As expected, Rupid’s advice was for Lerox, not him.
“Release Lady Merwen.”
