Silence settled over the dining room.
In the oppressive quiet where even breathing was inaudible, only glances were exchanged.
As the heavy atmosphere persisted, my emotional outburst began to feel embarrassing.
‘Like a fool, why did I… to someone who knows nothing?’
At the same time, I was flustered. Someone like me, who always spoke in a defensive manner and hid my feelings, had just poured my heart out as if venting to a stranger.
‘My trauma isn’t even his fault.’
Edmund’s piercing, direct gaze became too much to bear, and I instinctively looked away.
“I’ll get up first.”
As I placed my napkin on the table and stood, a low voice suddenly intruded.
“I’m sorry.”
When I turned my gaze back, Edmund had risen and slowly bowed his head.
“If my careless words hurt you, I sincerely apologize.”
His voice was steady, neither high nor low, but it carried sincerity and clarity.
An apology for rudeness was only natural. Yet, when you go too long without receiving such a basic courtesy, even the simplest apology feels unfamiliar.
Having lived as Etricia, I was surrounded by rude people my entire life. To hear a genuine apology from someone I assumed disliked me was enough to leave me bewildered.
“You… you don’t have to go that far. You didn’t know my circumstances, Count, and you were just suggesting an efficient solution.”
“No, I was rude.”
The rigid man bowed his head once more, making me feel guilty.
“Really, it’s okay—”
“Apology?”
Lilien suddenly entered the dining room and inserted herself into the conversation.
Still half-asleep, she rubbed her eyes as she walked in. As soon as our eyes met, she turned her gaze to Edmund, who was standing stiffly. Then, her eyes landed on the apple pie on the table.
“Oh, the apples from Dowaton Province are delicious, right…?”
That wasn’t the kind of ‘apology’ we were talking about.
With a small chuckle, I walked over to Lilien and straightened her hair. It was obvious she had rushed to get up so she wouldn’t miss breakfast with me.
Lilien glanced at Edmund, then lowered her head and whispered to me.
“Did I interrupt something important?”
“No, we were just wondering what time Lady Lilien would wake up.”
“Oh my, were you waiting for me? That makes me happy, Lady Etricia.”
Lilien cupped her flushed cheeks and beamed.
Ah, I just realized something—I truly liked the warm and gentle atmosphere she created.
Even her timid, clueless, and hesitant traits seemed endearing.
Edmund must also like his sister’s pure-hearted sincerity. That’s why he’s so indulgent with her. Well, I suppose I’m the same.
The unpleasant emotions that had been festering inside me, stirred by thoughts of my in-laws, slowly melted away. The lingering sincerity of Edmund’s calm but genuine apology helped as well.
“Lady Lilien, shall we eat the apple pie together?”
“Yes, Lady Etricia! What about you, Edmund?”
Edmund gave a silent nod.
And so, the three of us sat together to enjoy our meal. By noon, at Lilien’s urging, we took a stroll through the garden.
Even if it was just for a fleeting moment, it felt as if I had someone on my side. Thanks to that, I was able to enjoy my day without paying too much attention to the unusually quiet Edmund.
It was a brief peace amidst the chaos.
In the late afternoon, an argument between Rail and an unexpected guest echoed through the halls.
Who could it be? No one would dare cause such a commotion at the Mipedian estate, which was under the emperor’s favor.
As I passed through the first-floor hall, an unsettling chill ran down my spine.
Hurrying into the garden, I spotted someone and froze, my expression turning cold.
“Didn’t you hear me? Move aside! My wife is here…!”
A man with brown hair and caramel-colored eyes roughly pushed Rail’s shoulder. The moment he saw me, he waved his hand excitedly.
“My wife!”
Hah, so it was him.
I clenched my teeth and glared.
“Devon…”
My husband had returned.
Now, I sat face-to-face with Devon in the drawing room of the estate—a place that held nothing but bad memories for me.
Absentmindedly, I watched the sunlight reflecting off my tea, then, growing bored, I took a sip.
How much time had passed?
Devon finally spoke, his eyes filled with false sorrow.
“My wife, what kind of irresponsible behavior is this? I heard the estate burned down, then I heard you ran away. Do you know how shocked I was?”
“……”
“On top of that, you caused a scandal in the papers about our marital discord. As the lady of the house, you acted recklessly.”
“……”
“I don’t know what nonsense you’ve been told, but the rumors about my affair are misunderstandings. The only person I love is you, so let’s stop this and go home, alright?”
Ha. My lips curled into a smirk.
It sounded like he was coaxing and persuading me, but in reality, it was a warning telling me not to act out.
And his excuse for the affair? Completely baseless.
He had become so complacent because Etricia always trusted everything he said without question.
“My wife, are you listening to me? Stop worrying me—”
Clatter! I slammed my teacup down onto its saucer, startling Devon into silence. As he stiffened like a statue, I flashed a sweet smile.
“Could you be quiet, Devon?”
“…What did you just say?”
“I said, if you’re only going to spout ridiculous excuses, then shut your mouth.”
Devon’s mouth opened and closed like a goldfish; his face filled with disbelief.
No wonder. Etricia had never once interrupted him or even expressed her thoughts properly.
She had always been desperate not to be hated by him.
I blinked innocently.
“Oh, silence. So, you’re someone who actually listens? Then maybe you shouldn’t have had an affair in the first place.”
At the mention of his infidelity, Devon’s eyes widened in shock before he frowned.
“My mother was right; you’ve changed. Why are you acting so out of character? I’ve told you multiple times—it was a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding? Then, was it also a misunderstanding that you had an affair with my sworn sister, Verita?”
Devon flinched, swallowing hard before forcing a calm smile.
“An affair? You must be jealous. I was just being friendly with her because she was your sworn sister.”
“Oh, is that so?”
I blinked slowly.
How cliché. Cheaters always used the same excuses.
Expressionless, I pulled out a painting I had prepared.
It was evidence of his affair, sent by Rainbutton.
I pointed to the painting, which depicted Devon passionately kissing a woman while holding her waist.
“It seems my husband likes to build friendships through saliva exchange?”
“This is…”
His eyes wavered violently at the undeniable evidence. I smirked and handed him the divorce papers Rainbutton had prepared.
“All you need to do is sign. I know you won’t do it easily, but there are countless ways to make you. So, let’s part ways cordially before I start thinking of crueler methods.”
I pushed back my chair and stood.
I no longer wanted to breathe the same air as this disgusting man.
But as I tried to walk past him—
Bang!
Devon slammed the table and grabbed my wrist harshly, his grip crushing my bones.
“Ugh, let go.”
“I already told you—it was a misunderstanding! I’ve been patient enough, so what more do you want?!”
Ah, so this is his true nature.
He had always had a short temper.
He had never hit the obedient Etricia, but he was often violent toward the servants.
Just look at him now. When he couldn’t take control of the situation, he tried to use fear to intimidate someone weaker than him.
‘How pathetic.’
When I stared coldly at him without backing down, Devon seemed surprised. A cold sweat rolled down from his temple.
“Ah, damn it!”
He let go of my wrist roughly, as if throwing it away, and ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
I stepped back, holding my reddened wrist.
“Fine! Yes, I slept with other women a few times. But that’s it! That’s all it was!
What, you can’t understand a few nights here and there?”
…What?
Even when I stared at him in shock, Devon didn’t feel the slightest bit ashamed. He just kept shouting, full of anger.
“You should’ve been grateful I kept you around. Instead, you act all high and mighty like you’re someone important?”
“…”
“You’re the one with nowhere to go if you get kicked out of the house.
I pitied you, so I let you stay—but you should know your place!”
Ha… Ha ha.
I let out a bitter laugh and looked around the empty air.
Devon’s face—once smiling brightly and calling me the most beautiful woman in the world as I stood in my wedding veil—overlapped with the face in front of me now… and then shattered like glass.
Looking back at our marriage, I had always felt something was off, even if I didn’t want to admit it.
I’d suspected something about my father’s will.
But I was too afraid.
I wanted to believe Devon was the one person left in the world who truly loved me.
So Etricia closed her eyes and ears, and hid away in the mansion, not knowing that her love was slowly destroying her.
Never knowing when her husband would abandon her, she lived every day of her marriage in fear and anxiety.
The rage from the past boiled up inside me, and tears stung my eyes.
My lower jaw trembled, and I clenched my teeth and fists tightly.
“You parasite.”
