For a long time, Else had been gnawing at her, taking away and taking away until the bottom was no longer visible, and now there was nothing left to eat... She hated herself for destroying her young and beautiful mother. She had oxidized the good times of her parents, who had once been happy, with her own hands, so shr thought that the life she was given was a life of atonement. However, when she had children... And so, when she looked back at her mother and father, they were an incomprehensible race.
Else could not forgive at times. Even if the baby in her womb was born wrong, a mother could not have a wrong child. A mother would want to love and embrace even a child born wrong. But her mother...
“Elliot! Elliot! This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening...! If you leave too, then I! Ugh..."
The mother, barely able to stand in her funeral dress, collapsed. Else looked down at her with cold eyes. The maid stopped the woman who was trying to crawl on her knees and grab her husband. Her soft hands crumpled the wet earth from the rain that had fallen all night.
Else just held her swollen belly and shivered. Her father did not rescue her from the indiscriminate violence of Millium. It was a miracle that the baby was saved, that the baby was completely attached to the womb.
It was about the time she took her eyes off her sobbing mother. As her attention was focused, long arms came and wrapped around her waist. The feeling of a snake clinging to her back made her stomach churn. Else froze and watched the dirt cover her.
It was an accident. The doctor who was visiting the castle said that the cause was unknown. While preparing for the funeral, some of the knights who accompanied her father rose up in rebellion, saying that it was impossible to bury her father without finding out the cause, but the investigation did not proceed further due to Millium’s opposition.
It was the time when the lord passed away. Even if they slowed down the decay, they had to administer various drugs to the body to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death, and that was because it was not good to see. A modest, remote fiefdom. The knights turned pale at the question of whether there was any need to waste energy on the death of the 'former' lord when the succession was so well-established.
Millium smiled brightly at them. Else couldn't say anything to the man who looked back at her with the same expression. That's how her father passed away. He died while working without any special symptoms. Since he had a poor cardiovascular system, it was impossible to believe that he had passed away from a chronic illness.
Besides, didn’t the servant who found him say that he collapsed clutching his heart? So... Still, something was strange.
Else could not forgive at times. Even if the baby in her womb was born wrong, a mother could not have a wrong child. A mother would want to love and embrace even a child born wrong. But her mother...
“Elliot! Elliot! This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening...! If you leave too, then I! Ugh..."
The mother, barely able to stand in her funeral dress, collapsed. Else looked down at her with cold eyes. The maid stopped the woman who was trying to crawl on her knees and grab her husband. Her soft hands crumpled the wet earth from the rain that had fallen all night.
Else just held her swollen belly and shivered. Her father did not rescue her from the indiscriminate violence of Millium. It was a miracle that the baby was saved, that the baby was completely attached to the womb.
It was about the time she took her eyes off her sobbing mother. As her attention was focused, long arms came and wrapped around her waist. The feeling of a snake clinging to her back made her stomach churn. Else froze and watched the dirt cover her.
It was an accident. The doctor who was visiting the castle said that the cause was unknown. While preparing for the funeral, some of the knights who accompanied her father rose up in rebellion, saying that it was impossible to bury her father without finding out the cause, but the investigation did not proceed further due to Millium’s opposition.
It was the time when the lord passed away. Even if they slowed down the decay, they had to administer various drugs to the body to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death, and that was because it was not good to see. A modest, remote fiefdom. The knights turned pale at the question of whether there was any need to waste energy on the death of the 'former' lord when the succession was so well-established.
Millium smiled brightly at them. Else couldn't say anything to the man who looked back at her with the same expression. That's how her father passed away. He died while working without any special symptoms. Since he had a poor cardiovascular system, it was impossible to believe that he had passed away from a chronic illness.
Besides, didn’t the servant who found him say that he collapsed clutching his heart? So... Still, something was strange.
However, there was nothing Else could do. There were no more of Else’s people in the castle. It was around the time when Millium ascended to the lordship as per procedure and Else became the lord’s wife. The castle was filled with Millium’s family and relatives who had gathered from the royal capital. If it were Millium’s relatives, it would have been her relatives, but the ones Millium had called from the royal capital were his maternal relatives. It seemed that Millium had received a lot of help from his maternal family instead of his mediocre paternal relatives, so he was much more free-spirited with his maternal family than with his paternal family. No. Maybe it was because he believed that his world had come when her father died.
“Come here, Charlotte.”
The first banquet held after her father died was a banquet to welcome the new lord. The hall was filled with people whose faces Else had never known. People she had never met since childhood. Four days after her father’s death, her weakened mother returned to her parent’s home, the Baron Gerjon, and the servants who had cared for Else with some compassion in the castle received their remaining salary and left the castle.
Else was alone. She lived an empty shell life. All that was left was the child in her stomach. It was a spring evening where only the moonlight was shining, just before the flower buds on the pink flower stalks were about to bloom. Else stroked her round belly and tried to laugh off the embarrassment her husband gave her. Before holding the banquet, the first thing Millium did was not to call the royal family, but to call the royal lover.
“Hello, my Countess.”
The woman called Charlotte smiled brightly as she lifted up her gorgeous dress of purple silk. The woman, who wore a dress so low that her nipples were visible, had ribbons and roses adorning the front of her décolleté. Else looked at the woman whose ears and neck were covered with pearls. She was a very gorgeous blonde, and although she was not a great beauty, she had a captivating smile that caught the eyes of many men.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Please call me Charlotte. I’m not married to Millium yet.”
Charlotte burst into laughter at the word “Ma'am.” The corners of her lips, which had been pulled in, trembled slightly. Else tried not to let her expression break. Charlotte opened her mouth after seeing Else’s stern face.
“You are truly a beauty, as I have heard, my lady. Millium has been praising you a lot since we arrived in the capital.”
As her glossy red lips moved, the cute dot on her cheek moved with them. Else blushed as she cautiously stared at the woman's plump belly. It was a bigger and more voluptuous belly than Else's, even though she didn't know how many months it was.
“Oh. My belly is a bit big, isn’t it?
"Ah..."
“It’s Milliam’s child.”
The woman smiled. Else’s expression slowly cooled. Else tried to control her expression. Millium smiled affectionately at the woman who smiled and hugged her. Else turned her head and blinked. In fact, it was even difficult to bring a full government to a place like this... Her face, filled with heat, trembled helplessly. Her eyes, lips, and even her gaze that touched the air were pitiful...
'It doesn't matter.'
She had a little idea that Millium had a woman. He was a man who would regularly spend the night with Else to harass her, but he would also touch the emergency fund in the castle every time, so she could sense it a little. It was fortunate. Else didn’t know what kind of relationship he had with the government, but she thought that if he became close to her, he might let Else go...
“Come here, Charlotte.”
The first banquet held after her father died was a banquet to welcome the new lord. The hall was filled with people whose faces Else had never known. People she had never met since childhood. Four days after her father’s death, her weakened mother returned to her parent’s home, the Baron Gerjon, and the servants who had cared for Else with some compassion in the castle received their remaining salary and left the castle.
Else was alone. She lived an empty shell life. All that was left was the child in her stomach. It was a spring evening where only the moonlight was shining, just before the flower buds on the pink flower stalks were about to bloom. Else stroked her round belly and tried to laugh off the embarrassment her husband gave her. Before holding the banquet, the first thing Millium did was not to call the royal family, but to call the royal lover.
“Hello, my Countess.”
The woman called Charlotte smiled brightly as she lifted up her gorgeous dress of purple silk. The woman, who wore a dress so low that her nipples were visible, had ribbons and roses adorning the front of her décolleté. Else looked at the woman whose ears and neck were covered with pearls. She was a very gorgeous blonde, and although she was not a great beauty, she had a captivating smile that caught the eyes of many men.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Please call me Charlotte. I’m not married to Millium yet.”
Charlotte burst into laughter at the word “Ma'am.” The corners of her lips, which had been pulled in, trembled slightly. Else tried not to let her expression break. Charlotte opened her mouth after seeing Else’s stern face.
“You are truly a beauty, as I have heard, my lady. Millium has been praising you a lot since we arrived in the capital.”
As her glossy red lips moved, the cute dot on her cheek moved with them. Else blushed as she cautiously stared at the woman's plump belly. It was a bigger and more voluptuous belly than Else's, even though she didn't know how many months it was.
“Oh. My belly is a bit big, isn’t it?
"Ah..."
“It’s Milliam’s child.”
The woman smiled. Else’s expression slowly cooled. Else tried to control her expression. Millium smiled affectionately at the woman who smiled and hugged her. Else turned her head and blinked. In fact, it was even difficult to bring a full government to a place like this... Her face, filled with heat, trembled helplessly. Her eyes, lips, and even her gaze that touched the air were pitiful...
'It doesn't matter.'
She had a little idea that Millium had a woman. He was a man who would regularly spend the night with Else to harass her, but he would also touch the emergency fund in the castle every time, so she could sense it a little. It was fortunate. Else didn’t know what kind of relationship he had with the government, but she thought that if he became close to her, he might let Else go...
That’s why there was no problem with her coming here. On the contrary, she might be able to protect Else from Millium’s violence. It would be like having a woman who could hold her instead.
And yet...
“Millium is very capable.”
Someone passed her by and laughed. Else, her face flushed, lowered her head. She bit her lips and endured the hot air. The loud noise disturbed her ears.
'I like it anyway.'
Yes. It would be fine. As long as she could protect the child in her stomach. But what if Millium said he would leave everything to Millium's child? What Else wanted was for her child to grow up in the castle where she grew up.
But if that were not possible, what would Else do? What had she endured all that time for? She couldn't even protect a space even a span wide enough for a child to step on...
And yet...
“Millium is very capable.”
Someone passed her by and laughed. Else, her face flushed, lowered her head. She bit her lips and endured the hot air. The loud noise disturbed her ears.
'I like it anyway.'
Yes. It would be fine. As long as she could protect the child in her stomach. But what if Millium said he would leave everything to Millium's child? What Else wanted was for her child to grow up in the castle where she grew up.
But if that were not possible, what would Else do? What had she endured all that time for? She couldn't even protect a space even a span wide enough for a child to step on...
The ground beneath her feet collapsed in despair. Else raised her head and looked around with a red face.
Charlotte and Millium, who were whispering among themselves while rubbing their noses, smiled at her. She tried to suppress her contempt, thinking that it was not a malicious smile. Suddenly, a familiar face entered her wandering vision. A sharp outline drawing vivid shades...
“Ian...”
Else, who had been whispering a murmur as if holding a heavy groan in her mouth, was crying. Even though it couldn’t be, her gaze wandered aimlessly, chasing that distant and vague afterimage. He was nailed to the same spot, but because he was wearing a black feathered hat, it was impossible to see his exact facial features.
“Are you okay?”
Someone asked Else, who was pale as if she was going to collapse. Else, who was surprised, looked back at him. Millium, who was holding the government, looked at her.
“Oh, who is this? Aren’t you the Count Loper? Nice to meet you, Count. By the way, are you on the invitation list for this banquet?”
Millium, who had been muttering with his face twisted, approached him and asked. Count Loper looked down at Else without giving him a single glance. His eyes were not filled with sincere pity, but rather with a determined look. Else pushed him away and turned around.
It looked like it was going to be a mess. There was no way Millium would just let it go. Else couldn’t endure any more humiliation, so she walked away. Else, who ran up to the balcony on the second floor, gasped for breath. The place she had left behind lingered before my eyes, but she couldn’t go back.
“Ian...”
She hummed it like a habit. Even after Ian left, Else occasionally let it out like a sigh. It was a useless and fleeting thing. The man would be crazy happy to leave Else. But it felt like she had to hold on to him to survive. Else began to sob with a wet face. It hadn't even been a year... The baby hadn't been born yet, and she had days left to live.
Maybe she would die while giving birth, or maybe she would die after the baby grew up a little. How could she endure such a dry and miserable day? But Else really had to live longer. Until she gave birth to the baby safely and found a guardian who would watch over the baby’s growth...
“I can’t stand it. Ian...”
A faint sob escaped her lips. The sorrowful sobs flowed out in long, thin pieces like a sob. It was when she was holding onto the railing and catching her breath. The balcony door opened and a long figure approached her with slow steps. Else, who was sobbing, turned her head little by little. The tears that had been barely clenched fell to the floor.
Charlotte and Millium, who were whispering among themselves while rubbing their noses, smiled at her. She tried to suppress her contempt, thinking that it was not a malicious smile. Suddenly, a familiar face entered her wandering vision. A sharp outline drawing vivid shades...
“Ian...”
Else, who had been whispering a murmur as if holding a heavy groan in her mouth, was crying. Even though it couldn’t be, her gaze wandered aimlessly, chasing that distant and vague afterimage. He was nailed to the same spot, but because he was wearing a black feathered hat, it was impossible to see his exact facial features.
“Are you okay?”
Someone asked Else, who was pale as if she was going to collapse. Else, who was surprised, looked back at him. Millium, who was holding the government, looked at her.
“Oh, who is this? Aren’t you the Count Loper? Nice to meet you, Count. By the way, are you on the invitation list for this banquet?”
Millium, who had been muttering with his face twisted, approached him and asked. Count Loper looked down at Else without giving him a single glance. His eyes were not filled with sincere pity, but rather with a determined look. Else pushed him away and turned around.
It looked like it was going to be a mess. There was no way Millium would just let it go. Else couldn’t endure any more humiliation, so she walked away. Else, who ran up to the balcony on the second floor, gasped for breath. The place she had left behind lingered before my eyes, but she couldn’t go back.
“Ian...”
She hummed it like a habit. Even after Ian left, Else occasionally let it out like a sigh. It was a useless and fleeting thing. The man would be crazy happy to leave Else. But it felt like she had to hold on to him to survive. Else began to sob with a wet face. It hadn't even been a year... The baby hadn't been born yet, and she had days left to live.
Maybe she would die while giving birth, or maybe she would die after the baby grew up a little. How could she endure such a dry and miserable day? But Else really had to live longer. Until she gave birth to the baby safely and found a guardian who would watch over the baby’s growth...
“I can’t stand it. Ian...”
A faint sob escaped her lips. The sorrowful sobs flowed out in long, thin pieces like a sob. It was when she was holding onto the railing and catching her breath. The balcony door opened and a long figure approached her with slow steps. Else, who was sobbing, turned her head little by little. The tears that had been barely clenched fell to the floor.
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