Episode 62. Back again
"You son of a bitch!"
Eric's hair, once neatly coiffed, fell limply.
"Count!"
Eric's knights, weapons in hand, rushed into the house. They aimed their weapons at Daemon.
Eric brushed his own hair upward and gestured for them to stop. The knights lowered their weapons, but remained wary, glaring at Daemon.
Eric slowly straightened his clothes and addressed Daemon.
"It's been a while."
Unlike Eric's leisurely greeting, Daemon was extremely excited.
It couldn't be helped, having overheard him talking to his own daughter. He impregnated another woman, then asked her to raise her child, and now he's even bringing up a miscarriage!
He could never forgive his daughter, whom he had raised with such care, for being treated like this by Eric.
"Your welcome is truly excessive."
Eric's face, shaking off his damp clothes, showed no trace of a smile.
"What kind of illusions are you talking about? Get out of here!"
Eric's brow furrowed involuntarily at Daemon's emotional response. No matter how calmly he tried to respond, the other party seemed completely unwilling to do so.
'... It seems we can't continue our conversation today.
He sighed, looking at Daemon, who was glaring at him as if he might kill him at any moment. He stared at Rose, who was staring at him with cold eyes.
'... What on earth has changed you so much?'
She was the type of person who would always say she'd die without him. He'd been worn down by her fanatical obsession, but now, this sudden change in attitude was baffling.
Rose's push away felt strange.
He'd been confident that if he just gave her the attention she wanted, she'd return to normal.
But now, that certainty was beginning to crack. It felt as if Rose was being sincere.
Eric felt a strange, tingling pain in his chest, a sensation he'd never felt before. The tingling was incredibly bothersome.
"Is it because I got splashed with cold water? I don't feel well."
Eric placed a hand lightly on his left chest and frowned. Then he spoke calmly to Daemon.
"I'll take my leave for today."
Daemon's harsh words echoed behind Eric. He ignored Daemon's words and turned to look at Rose before stepping out the door.
"I'll come back, and we'll talk then."
"Don't show that disgusting face again!"
Daemon shouted, as if he wouldn't give Eric a chance. Eric ignored Daemon until the very end and left the house.
-Nyaaaa.
"Oh my, look at him acting cute."
Back in the capital, Doana was spending time with the kitten she'd brought from the south, unaware that Eric had gone to find Rose.
The trip to the south had been a total mess.
It was because the new arrival, a woman named Beliana, and her nanny were interfering with Doana's every move.
"Oh, it still annoys me, thinking about it again?"
She had been smiling at the cat, but her expression hardened, and her voice became sullen.
She couldn't have been pleased with them lecturing her after entering into a loveless marriage of convenience.
"Besides, Eric acted like a complete stranger the entire trip south, and he couldn't even speak properly."
Normally, Doana could easily have teased him, but there was something off about Eric in the south.
He acted like his mind was somewhere else.
Doana had no idea.
The reason Eric had acted like a screw was because of Rose.
He'd been lost in memories of Rose during their trip south.
That must have been why he'd turned to Rose as soon as he returned from his honeymoon.
Eric was belatedly realizing Rose's absence.
"Kitten, this is your room. Isn't it pretty?"
Doana purred, picking up the kitten.
“Home is the best. My stomach hurt all the time in the south, but it feels completely better now that I’m home.”
While Doana was playing with the cat, the maid knocked on the door and came in.
“What! Why are you coming in when I’m just finally resting?”
She yelled at the sight of the maid. The maid, as if she were used to it, didn’t respond and just continued to speak.
“The former Countess has come. She’s looking for Doana."
“Oh, you old fox.”
Doana’s face hardened at the word ‘Tercia.’
The person who had screwed her over at the wedding hall. She was looking for her.
Doana gritted her teeth and looked at the head maid.
“Why is Madam looking for me?”
“Madam brought you a bunch of gifts for Lady Doana.”
“...What?”
Doana couldn’t believe her ears.
When did she always act like this when she was trying to trick someone at a wedding?
“Hmm...”
Doana narrowed her eyes, trying to discern Tercia’s dark intentions.
However, it was difficult to discern Tercia’s motives just from hearing her story.
“Understood. Get me ready.”
She finished preparing briefly and moved to the reception room.
Tercia had brought a bunch of gift packages, just as the head maid had instructed. Doana looked at Tercia with bleary eyes.
Tercia put down the teacup she was holding upon seeing Doana enter. Then she greeted Doana in a high-pitched voice.
“My dear! Welcome.”
It wasn’t the voice of someone who had sworn not to leave her alone for accompanying her on her honeymoon.
Tercia, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, opened her arms toward Doana.
“You called, Mother.”
Doana stared at Tercia, her guard steady.
“So, did you have a good trip? Come sit here.”
Tercia gestured for Doana to come next to her as she sat down across from her.
Doana stared blankly at Tercia.
“Are you upset about what happened at the wedding? I’ll explain everything.”
Tercia, playing the role of a delicate middle-aged woman, spoke with a wistful tone.
“Ha, right. I’ll see what you have to say.”
Doana nodded haughtily and sat down next to Tercia.
“I should have explained it properly. I heard everything from the servants. You were sorely mistaken, weren’t you?”
Tercia acted as if she had no intention of doing anything.
"Calm down. I'm too scared to speak. Yes, let's talk later. Unpack these. I personally bought them all for my unborn grandchild."
Tercia thrust the presents at Doana. Doana, unable to resist her gesture, opened them. They were all baby items.
They weren't even sure of the gender yet, but everything she'd bought was blue.
Clothes, toys. It was as if she was pressuring Doana to have a son.
Tercia had no intention of letting Doana's child live, regardless of whether it was a boy or a girl, but she didn't need to let others see it that way.
Tercia acted as if she cared for Doana.
That way, she wouldn't be suspected if she killed Doana and the child later.
Doana's expression as she unwrapped the presents was utterly indifferent. She had no interest in baby items.
'What? They're all baby items. I don't have any.'
Tercia raised the corners of her mouth as if she had expected it when she saw Doana.
“And, finally, this is a gift for our sweetheart.”
Tercia held out a luxury brand box with a bright smile.
“This is a product from the most popular brand among ladies these days. I worked hard to get it for our sweetheart.”
“Is it mine?”
“Then it’s yours, Doana.”
“Oh. When you said sweetheart, I thought you meant someone else.”
“Hohoho. Look at you. You're really pouting.”
Tercia, finding Doana’s cheeky words amusing, let out a chuckle.
“Of course, Lady Dikar is a sweetheart, but you’re not a sweetheart either.”
Tercia muttered something she didn’t mean and smiled at Doana.
Doana unwrapped the box Tercia had given her. Untying the string and opening the box, she found the contents, as expected from a luxury brand, wrapped in a lining.
It was a bag.
"What, it's quite pretty?"
Doana lifted her bag and looked it over.
"How is it? Do you like it?"
Doana unconsciously lowered the corners of her lips. Then she replied with a pout.
"Well, it's pretty."
As Doana smiled with satisfaction, the door to the reception room opened wide.
"Oh my, our baby is here."
Tercia jumped up from her seat and walked towards the door. It was a stark contrast to the way she had quietly sat and greeted Doana.
"Mother, are you here?"
The one who entered the reception room was Beliana.
"Yes. Did you have a good trip?"
Tercia held Beliana's hand carefully and walked over.
Doana raised her head proudly when Beliana entered, showing off the gifts next to her.
"Look, how much Mother adores me."
Of course, she hadn't yet figured out Tercia's dark intentions, but to someone who didn't know, she would seem like a very beloved daughter-in-law.
"Mother, thank you so much for the gift. I'm truly touched that you've prepared so much for my child."
Doana spoke in a raised voice, unlike when she was alone with Tercia.
"Beliana, don't be jealous. I've prepared a gift for you, too."
As if trying to lighten Beliana's tense mood, Tercia handed her a gift box.
It was the same brand as the one she'd given Doana.
"It's an Hermea bag. As you well know, it's a design that's quite rare to find."
Doana wondered what kind of bag Beliana had received. Was it the same design as her own, or different?
She stared at it for a long time, a strangely triumphant smile forming on her face.
"Hmph, what the heck. That's just not very nice."
A round bag, barely the size of a palm. Beliana's bag, much smaller than her own, was laughably ugly.
"Ah, if it were me, I'd be so pissed I'd throw that bag."
She giggled, as if for Beliana to hear.
Beliana looked at Doana. She glanced at Doana's bag, then gave a strangely mocking sneer.
"Thank you, Mother."
Beliana smiled, seemingly pleased.
"Oh, right, I forgot to mention it earlier. It's time we cleared up the misunderstanding, Doana."
Tercia looked at Doana and smiled broadly. Her eyes were filled with contempt and mockery.
'That old fox! You weren't just wasting time talking to Beliana?'
Doana's prediction was correct.
Tercia, with an innocent expression, brought up the subject of their wedding day.
"I really wanted to apologize. I didn't mean to..."
"Mother, it's really okay now. Let's stop talking about that."
Doana quickly tried to silence Tercia. But Tercia had no intention of doing so.
"Well, she thought your wedding day was her wedding day."
She giggled and clutched her stomach.
"I didn't explain it properly, so Doana must have been completely mistaken. I'm so sorry. If Doana grumbled at you during your honeymoon, please be understanding."
At Tercia's words, Beliana's lips curved upward.
Doana had been a constant source of worry for Beliana throughout their honeymoon. She had wanted to relax, but she had been constantly nagging Doana, unable to bear the nagging of her nanny.
This was her chance to strike back at her, whom she had resented. Beliana seized the opportunity and spoke quietly.
"Oh... so that's why you were wearing that ridiculous white dress?"
Doana's face flushed red at Beliana's mocking tone.
Tercia had beaten her again.
Doana grabbed the bag Tercia had given her and then abruptly rose from her seat.
“I’ll go first. I’m not feeling well. Please have the maid put the baby supplies in my room, Mother.”
She barely said a greeting and ran away.
Doana, who walked with a grunt, carefully hugged the bag.
“I can’t stand it because I saw this bag...!”
She couldn’t even imagine that there would be counterfeit bags in novels, and she tried to suppress her anger as she looked at the luxury bag.
"You son of a bitch!"
Eric's hair, once neatly coiffed, fell limply.
"Count!"
Eric's knights, weapons in hand, rushed into the house. They aimed their weapons at Daemon.
Eric brushed his own hair upward and gestured for them to stop. The knights lowered their weapons, but remained wary, glaring at Daemon.
Eric slowly straightened his clothes and addressed Daemon.
"It's been a while."
Unlike Eric's leisurely greeting, Daemon was extremely excited.
It couldn't be helped, having overheard him talking to his own daughter. He impregnated another woman, then asked her to raise her child, and now he's even bringing up a miscarriage!
He could never forgive his daughter, whom he had raised with such care, for being treated like this by Eric.
"Your welcome is truly excessive."
Eric's face, shaking off his damp clothes, showed no trace of a smile.
"What kind of illusions are you talking about? Get out of here!"
Eric's brow furrowed involuntarily at Daemon's emotional response. No matter how calmly he tried to respond, the other party seemed completely unwilling to do so.
'... It seems we can't continue our conversation today.
He sighed, looking at Daemon, who was glaring at him as if he might kill him at any moment. He stared at Rose, who was staring at him with cold eyes.
'... What on earth has changed you so much?'
She was the type of person who would always say she'd die without him. He'd been worn down by her fanatical obsession, but now, this sudden change in attitude was baffling.
Rose's push away felt strange.
He'd been confident that if he just gave her the attention she wanted, she'd return to normal.
But now, that certainty was beginning to crack. It felt as if Rose was being sincere.
Eric felt a strange, tingling pain in his chest, a sensation he'd never felt before. The tingling was incredibly bothersome.
"Is it because I got splashed with cold water? I don't feel well."
Eric placed a hand lightly on his left chest and frowned. Then he spoke calmly to Daemon.
"I'll take my leave for today."
Daemon's harsh words echoed behind Eric. He ignored Daemon's words and turned to look at Rose before stepping out the door.
"I'll come back, and we'll talk then."
"Don't show that disgusting face again!"
Daemon shouted, as if he wouldn't give Eric a chance. Eric ignored Daemon until the very end and left the house.
***
-Nyaaaa.
"Oh my, look at him acting cute."
Back in the capital, Doana was spending time with the kitten she'd brought from the south, unaware that Eric had gone to find Rose.
The trip to the south had been a total mess.
It was because the new arrival, a woman named Beliana, and her nanny were interfering with Doana's every move.
"Oh, it still annoys me, thinking about it again?"
She had been smiling at the cat, but her expression hardened, and her voice became sullen.
She couldn't have been pleased with them lecturing her after entering into a loveless marriage of convenience.
"Besides, Eric acted like a complete stranger the entire trip south, and he couldn't even speak properly."
Normally, Doana could easily have teased him, but there was something off about Eric in the south.
He acted like his mind was somewhere else.
Doana had no idea.
The reason Eric had acted like a screw was because of Rose.
He'd been lost in memories of Rose during their trip south.
That must have been why he'd turned to Rose as soon as he returned from his honeymoon.
Eric was belatedly realizing Rose's absence.
"Kitten, this is your room. Isn't it pretty?"
Doana purred, picking up the kitten.
“Home is the best. My stomach hurt all the time in the south, but it feels completely better now that I’m home.”
While Doana was playing with the cat, the maid knocked on the door and came in.
“What! Why are you coming in when I’m just finally resting?”
She yelled at the sight of the maid. The maid, as if she were used to it, didn’t respond and just continued to speak.
“The former Countess has come. She’s looking for Doana."
“Oh, you old fox.”
Doana’s face hardened at the word ‘Tercia.’
The person who had screwed her over at the wedding hall. She was looking for her.
Doana gritted her teeth and looked at the head maid.
“Why is Madam looking for me?”
“Madam brought you a bunch of gifts for Lady Doana.”
“...What?”
Doana couldn’t believe her ears.
When did she always act like this when she was trying to trick someone at a wedding?
“Hmm...”
Doana narrowed her eyes, trying to discern Tercia’s dark intentions.
However, it was difficult to discern Tercia’s motives just from hearing her story.
“Understood. Get me ready.”
She finished preparing briefly and moved to the reception room.
Tercia had brought a bunch of gift packages, just as the head maid had instructed. Doana looked at Tercia with bleary eyes.
Tercia put down the teacup she was holding upon seeing Doana enter. Then she greeted Doana in a high-pitched voice.
“My dear! Welcome.”
It wasn’t the voice of someone who had sworn not to leave her alone for accompanying her on her honeymoon.
Tercia, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, opened her arms toward Doana.
“You called, Mother.”
Doana stared at Tercia, her guard steady.
“So, did you have a good trip? Come sit here.”
Tercia gestured for Doana to come next to her as she sat down across from her.
Doana stared blankly at Tercia.
“Are you upset about what happened at the wedding? I’ll explain everything.”
Tercia, playing the role of a delicate middle-aged woman, spoke with a wistful tone.
“Ha, right. I’ll see what you have to say.”
Doana nodded haughtily and sat down next to Tercia.
“I should have explained it properly. I heard everything from the servants. You were sorely mistaken, weren’t you?”
Tercia acted as if she had no intention of doing anything.
"Calm down. I'm too scared to speak. Yes, let's talk later. Unpack these. I personally bought them all for my unborn grandchild."
Tercia thrust the presents at Doana. Doana, unable to resist her gesture, opened them. They were all baby items.
They weren't even sure of the gender yet, but everything she'd bought was blue.
Clothes, toys. It was as if she was pressuring Doana to have a son.
Tercia had no intention of letting Doana's child live, regardless of whether it was a boy or a girl, but she didn't need to let others see it that way.
Tercia acted as if she cared for Doana.
That way, she wouldn't be suspected if she killed Doana and the child later.
Doana's expression as she unwrapped the presents was utterly indifferent. She had no interest in baby items.
'What? They're all baby items. I don't have any.'
Tercia raised the corners of her mouth as if she had expected it when she saw Doana.
“And, finally, this is a gift for our sweetheart.”
Tercia held out a luxury brand box with a bright smile.
“This is a product from the most popular brand among ladies these days. I worked hard to get it for our sweetheart.”
“Is it mine?”
“Then it’s yours, Doana.”
“Oh. When you said sweetheart, I thought you meant someone else.”
“Hohoho. Look at you. You're really pouting.”
Tercia, finding Doana’s cheeky words amusing, let out a chuckle.
“Of course, Lady Dikar is a sweetheart, but you’re not a sweetheart either.”
Tercia muttered something she didn’t mean and smiled at Doana.
Doana unwrapped the box Tercia had given her. Untying the string and opening the box, she found the contents, as expected from a luxury brand, wrapped in a lining.
It was a bag.
"What, it's quite pretty?"
Doana lifted her bag and looked it over.
"How is it? Do you like it?"
Doana unconsciously lowered the corners of her lips. Then she replied with a pout.
"Well, it's pretty."
As Doana smiled with satisfaction, the door to the reception room opened wide.
"Oh my, our baby is here."
Tercia jumped up from her seat and walked towards the door. It was a stark contrast to the way she had quietly sat and greeted Doana.
"Mother, are you here?"
The one who entered the reception room was Beliana.
"Yes. Did you have a good trip?"
Tercia held Beliana's hand carefully and walked over.
Doana raised her head proudly when Beliana entered, showing off the gifts next to her.
"Look, how much Mother adores me."
Of course, she hadn't yet figured out Tercia's dark intentions, but to someone who didn't know, she would seem like a very beloved daughter-in-law.
"Mother, thank you so much for the gift. I'm truly touched that you've prepared so much for my child."
Doana spoke in a raised voice, unlike when she was alone with Tercia.
"Beliana, don't be jealous. I've prepared a gift for you, too."
As if trying to lighten Beliana's tense mood, Tercia handed her a gift box.
It was the same brand as the one she'd given Doana.
"It's an Hermea bag. As you well know, it's a design that's quite rare to find."
Doana wondered what kind of bag Beliana had received. Was it the same design as her own, or different?
She stared at it for a long time, a strangely triumphant smile forming on her face.
"Hmph, what the heck. That's just not very nice."
A round bag, barely the size of a palm. Beliana's bag, much smaller than her own, was laughably ugly.
"Ah, if it were me, I'd be so pissed I'd throw that bag."
She giggled, as if for Beliana to hear.
Beliana looked at Doana. She glanced at Doana's bag, then gave a strangely mocking sneer.
"Thank you, Mother."
Beliana smiled, seemingly pleased.
"Oh, right, I forgot to mention it earlier. It's time we cleared up the misunderstanding, Doana."
Tercia looked at Doana and smiled broadly. Her eyes were filled with contempt and mockery.
'That old fox! You weren't just wasting time talking to Beliana?'
Doana's prediction was correct.
Tercia, with an innocent expression, brought up the subject of their wedding day.
"I really wanted to apologize. I didn't mean to..."
"Mother, it's really okay now. Let's stop talking about that."
Doana quickly tried to silence Tercia. But Tercia had no intention of doing so.
"Well, she thought your wedding day was her wedding day."
She giggled and clutched her stomach.
"I didn't explain it properly, so Doana must have been completely mistaken. I'm so sorry. If Doana grumbled at you during your honeymoon, please be understanding."
At Tercia's words, Beliana's lips curved upward.
Doana had been a constant source of worry for Beliana throughout their honeymoon. She had wanted to relax, but she had been constantly nagging Doana, unable to bear the nagging of her nanny.
This was her chance to strike back at her, whom she had resented. Beliana seized the opportunity and spoke quietly.
"Oh... so that's why you were wearing that ridiculous white dress?"
Doana's face flushed red at Beliana's mocking tone.
Tercia had beaten her again.
Doana grabbed the bag Tercia had given her and then abruptly rose from her seat.
“I’ll go first. I’m not feeling well. Please have the maid put the baby supplies in my room, Mother.”
She barely said a greeting and ran away.
Doana, who walked with a grunt, carefully hugged the bag.
“I can’t stand it because I saw this bag...!”
She couldn’t even imagine that there would be counterfeit bags in novels, and she tried to suppress her anger as she looked at the luxury bag.
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