Episode 130. The Insurmountable Wall
Why was Doana, who had earned the hatred of her entire family due to loan sharks and lawsuits, so confident?
Why did she believe the Counts of Wence would help her?
In fact, she had some faith in her. Ironically, it was Cedric who rescued her from her predicament.
Doana let out a giggle and smiled.
“They say there’s always a way out, even if the sky falls.”
He was referring to her.
Cedric intervened in this case, refusing to be humiliated.
“I can’t let the prestige of the Counts of Wence fall because of something so ridiculous.”
He didn’t want his beloved son to be laughed at. And he couldn’t stand to see his family’s hard-earned reputation tarnished.
Rather than be humiliated by a mere commoner’s government, he was determined to cover up the incident.
“The law? Just give it to them.”
She wasn’t afraid. Even if she were punished, it would be a slap on the wrist.
What would I get? A month in prison? No, two months?
It didn't matter how many months or even years.
The final verdict would be a fine anyway.
Even before the trial began, Doana thought the outcome was predetermined.
Doana pushed all the scattered documents on her desk to the floor. The pile fell with a thud.
Doana's mouth quirked up. She crushed the fallen documents with one foot and muttered,
"No matter how high the success rate of a lawyer, he's just a lawyer. The verdict in a trial is determined by the judge's ability, not the lawyer's. Ultimately, I'm the one who decides in favor of the judge."
Foolish Rose.
No matter how hard you try, you're no match for me.
"I told you. I'm incredibly lucky."
Why was Doana, who had earned the hatred of her entire family due to loan sharks and lawsuits, so confident?
Why did she believe the Counts of Wence would help her?
In fact, she had some faith in her. Ironically, it was Cedric who rescued her from her predicament.
Doana let out a giggle and smiled.
“They say there’s always a way out, even if the sky falls.”
He was referring to her.
Cedric intervened in this case, refusing to be humiliated.
“I can’t let the prestige of the Counts of Wence fall because of something so ridiculous.”
He didn’t want his beloved son to be laughed at. And he couldn’t stand to see his family’s hard-earned reputation tarnished.
Rather than be humiliated by a mere commoner’s government, he was determined to cover up the incident.
“The law? Just give it to them.”
She wasn’t afraid. Even if she were punished, it would be a slap on the wrist.
What would I get? A month in prison? No, two months?
It didn't matter how many months or even years.
The final verdict would be a fine anyway.
Even before the trial began, Doana thought the outcome was predetermined.
Doana pushed all the scattered documents on her desk to the floor. The pile fell with a thud.
Doana's mouth quirked up. She crushed the fallen documents with one foot and muttered,
"No matter how high the success rate of a lawyer, he's just a lawyer. The verdict in a trial is determined by the judge's ability, not the lawyer's. Ultimately, I'm the one who decides in favor of the judge."
Foolish Rose.
No matter how hard you try, you're no match for me.
"I told you. I'm incredibly lucky."
She knew this would happen. That she wouldn't crumble so easily.
She was drunk on victory, oblivious to Cedric's disappearance.
Just then, a maid's voice came from outside the door.
"Lady Doana. The Count is looking for you."
Doana's once-excited expression hardened into a cold grimace. She no longer enjoyed meeting Eric.
"What are you going to say?"
She was sick and tired of facing him and of having to listen to his pointless nagging.
"You have so much money, yet you're nagging me about borrowing a few pennies."
After all, that was mere money, money she could easily earn if her business succeeded.
"I'm so sick of it. Just make some money. I'll be done with this crappy house."
She muttered to herself and looked in the mirror before leaving the room.
Her face was always beautiful. She stared intently at her own appearance.
"Lady Doana?"
A voice urged her from outside. Doana, who was looking in the mirror, frowned and shouted fiercely.
"I'm leaving!"
She walked, one hand on her hip and the other on her stomach.
"How can my belly be so protruding?"
For six months, her belly was incredibly swollen. It didn't seem this bad in her previous pregnancy.
Furthermore, she suffered from severe morning sickness, so she hadn't been able to eat much and hadn't gained much weight. That's why her overly swollen belly felt even more unusual. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she was even full-term pregnant. Doana walked with a wobbly heel, dragging her heavy body.
Now pregnant, Eric's office felt incredibly distant.
"If you have something to say, come here. I have to come and go like this."
She is pregnant, he should have been considerate, but he was completely unresponsive. He always invited Doana to his presence.
After a long walk, she arrived at Eric's office. Doana entered the office and immediately found a seat.
She slowly lay back on the sofa and looked at Eric.
"You called me."
Eric slowly walked towards Doana, who was sitting on the sofa. He then sat down on the sofa opposite her, crossing his legs arrogantly.
"You, get out of my mansion."
Eric spoke without a moment's hesitation.
"Yes?"
Doana couldn't believe her ears after hearing the shocking words.
What did she just hear?
Eric...Did he just tell her to leave?
"Ah."
Shocked, Doana stumbled, holding her forehead. Her head was throbbing.
What, standing before a woman pregnant with his own child, her belly swollen like a mountain? Get out of this mansion? She was so shocked she couldn't say anything. She'd never been treated like this in her life.
She was speechless, missing the men who always treated her like goddesses.
Doana's eyes fluttered, almost pitifully.
Thanks to Eric, she realized once again: getting into a formal relationship with a man is utterly foolish.
Marriage ultimately means becoming a slave!
Marriage is madness.
That's what Doana had thought in her past life.
The men she knew were never satisfied with one woman. They had lovers, even married, and they'd always said they'd die without her.
When you find out a man has cheated, you just break up.
But when you're married and have children, it's a different story.
Divorce is never an easy choice for women who quit their jobs after becoming pregnant. They have to raise their children realistically.
That's why some of the wives she's dated have turned a blind eye to their husbands' affairs.
She accidentally got pregnant and was forced to marry, but the man she stole from her friend was incredibly affectionate, unlike any other man she'd dated before. Even after marriage.
So she must have forgotten about the damned reality of marriage.
'I thought he might kick me out someday... but...'
She was drunk on victory, oblivious to Cedric's disappearance.
Just then, a maid's voice came from outside the door.
"Lady Doana. The Count is looking for you."
Doana's once-excited expression hardened into a cold grimace. She no longer enjoyed meeting Eric.
"What are you going to say?"
She was sick and tired of facing him and of having to listen to his pointless nagging.
"You have so much money, yet you're nagging me about borrowing a few pennies."
After all, that was mere money, money she could easily earn if her business succeeded.
"I'm so sick of it. Just make some money. I'll be done with this crappy house."
She muttered to herself and looked in the mirror before leaving the room.
Her face was always beautiful. She stared intently at her own appearance.
"Lady Doana?"
A voice urged her from outside. Doana, who was looking in the mirror, frowned and shouted fiercely.
"I'm leaving!"
She let out a sharp “Grr!” and, irritably smoothing her hair, moved on.
"How can my belly be so protruding?"
For six months, her belly was incredibly swollen. It didn't seem this bad in her previous pregnancy.
Furthermore, she suffered from severe morning sickness, so she hadn't been able to eat much and hadn't gained much weight. That's why her overly swollen belly felt even more unusual. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she was even full-term pregnant. Doana walked with a wobbly heel, dragging her heavy body.
Now pregnant, Eric's office felt incredibly distant.
"If you have something to say, come here. I have to come and go like this."
She is pregnant, he should have been considerate, but he was completely unresponsive. He always invited Doana to his presence.
After a long walk, she arrived at Eric's office. Doana entered the office and immediately found a seat.
She slowly lay back on the sofa and looked at Eric.
"You called me."
Eric slowly walked towards Doana, who was sitting on the sofa. He then sat down on the sofa opposite her, crossing his legs arrogantly.
"You, get out of my mansion."
Eric spoke without a moment's hesitation.
"Yes?"
Doana couldn't believe her ears after hearing the shocking words.
What did she just hear?
Eric...Did he just tell her to leave?
"Ah."
Shocked, Doana stumbled, holding her forehead. Her head was throbbing.
What, standing before a woman pregnant with his own child, her belly swollen like a mountain? Get out of this mansion? She was so shocked she couldn't say anything. She'd never been treated like this in her life.
She was speechless, missing the men who always treated her like goddesses.
Doana's eyes fluttered, almost pitifully.
Thanks to Eric, she realized once again: getting into a formal relationship with a man is utterly foolish.
Marriage ultimately means becoming a slave!
Marriage is madness.
That's what Doana had thought in her past life.
The men she knew were never satisfied with one woman. They had lovers, even married, and they'd always said they'd die without her.
When you find out a man has cheated, you just break up.
But when you're married and have children, it's a different story.
Divorce is never an easy choice for women who quit their jobs after becoming pregnant. They have to raise their children realistically.
That's why some of the wives she's dated have turned a blind eye to their husbands' affairs.
Doana didn't want to end up in that situation. So she worked hard to avoid becoming a subordinate. She didn't give her heart to just one person; she enjoyed being in the dominant position while seeing multiple people.
So she must have forgotten about the damned reality of marriage.
'I thought he might kick me out someday... but...'
She hadn't thought it would be while she was pregnant.
Doana's grand plan was to give birth, make that child the heir to the Count's family, and become a successful businesswoman herself.
But if she were kicked out now, she felt like she wouldn't be able to do anything.
Not only the heir, but also the business, the debt... and the lawsuit.
"Just now... what did you say?"
Doana asked Eric in a trembling voice.
"Didn't you hear? Get out of my mansion."
The icy voice echoed chillingly. Just a moment ago, Doana, who had been smiling triumphantly, felt beads of sweat trickle down her spine.
“I’m pregnant with your child. And now you’re suddenly telling me to leave...! What about our child!”
“Is it even mine?”
“!”
“I was so excited about having a child that I overlooked something. Is the child in your womb really mine?”
“What are you talking about? If this isn’t yours, whose child is it?”
“There’s no guarantee you wouldn’t have done this to another man besides me. You’re a woman who gives a shit, aren’t you?”
“It’s definitely the Count’s child. I’ve never given it to anyone else but you.”
Doana’s eyes narrowed as if she felt wronged, shamelessly adding another lie.
“No, I can’t trust you anymore. How can I trust a woman who lies to me?”
She brought up Doana’s lies and loan sharking.
“If your child is truly mine, I’ll let you in after a genetic test.”
Of course, not you, but the child.
Eric listened to Tercia and thought, "I need to kick Doana out to get Rose."
Doana's grand plan was to give birth, make that child the heir to the Count's family, and become a successful businesswoman herself.
But if she were kicked out now, she felt like she wouldn't be able to do anything.
Not only the heir, but also the business, the debt... and the lawsuit.
"Just now... what did you say?"
Doana asked Eric in a trembling voice.
"Didn't you hear? Get out of my mansion."
The icy voice echoed chillingly. Just a moment ago, Doana, who had been smiling triumphantly, felt beads of sweat trickle down her spine.
“I’m pregnant with your child. And now you’re suddenly telling me to leave...! What about our child!”
“Is it even mine?”
“!”
“I was so excited about having a child that I overlooked something. Is the child in your womb really mine?”
“What are you talking about? If this isn’t yours, whose child is it?”
“There’s no guarantee you wouldn’t have done this to another man besides me. You’re a woman who gives a shit, aren’t you?”
“It’s definitely the Count’s child. I’ve never given it to anyone else but you.”
Doana’s eyes narrowed as if she felt wronged, shamelessly adding another lie.
“No, I can’t trust you anymore. How can I trust a woman who lies to me?”
She brought up Doana’s lies and loan sharking.
“If your child is truly mine, I’ll let you in after a genetic test.”
Of course, not you, but the child.
Eric listened to Tercia and thought, "I need to kick Doana out to get Rose."
'You're just a hindrance.'
In fact, he hadn't suspected the child in her womb before.
While pondering what to do with Doana, who was carrying his own child, a reasonable suspicion suddenly arose: 'Could it not be my child?'
"I absolutely cannot leave. Why should I leave!"
"You're not alone, so I'll provide a place for you."
"No. No, no! Count, if you kick me out like this, your father won't stay still. He loves me so much. He took care of everything—the loan sharks, the lawsuits—he took care of everything!"
As Doana tripped Cedric, Eric's previously calm expression crumpled.
His eyes, half-maddened, turned to a ferocious glint, in his eyes and he shouted at Doana.
"Don't mention father in front of me! This is my mansion. My word is law, and everyone must obey me. Not my father!"
A moment of silence fell. Doana, feeling a bit defeated by Eric's momentum, shut her mouth tightly.
Eric and Doana stared at each other in silence.
It was quiet. An eerie silence, as if time had stopped, filled the room.
But strangely, Eric covered his ears as if in pain.
"It's noisy... Please be quiet!"
Eric suddenly shouted, piercing the silence. Doana hesitated at the sight of Eric's unfamiliar presence and leaned back.
Covering both ears, Eric grimaced in pain.
A loud, squeaking noise echoed in his ears, along with the simultaneous murmurs of voices he couldn't identify.
"There's nowhere for you."
In fact, he hadn't suspected the child in her womb before.
While pondering what to do with Doana, who was carrying his own child, a reasonable suspicion suddenly arose: 'Could it not be my child?'
"I absolutely cannot leave. Why should I leave!"
"You're not alone, so I'll provide a place for you."
"No. No, no! Count, if you kick me out like this, your father won't stay still. He loves me so much. He took care of everything—the loan sharks, the lawsuits—he took care of everything!"
As Doana tripped Cedric, Eric's previously calm expression crumpled.
His eyes, half-maddened, turned to a ferocious glint, in his eyes and he shouted at Doana.
"Don't mention father in front of me! This is my mansion. My word is law, and everyone must obey me. Not my father!"
A moment of silence fell. Doana, feeling a bit defeated by Eric's momentum, shut her mouth tightly.
Eric and Doana stared at each other in silence.
It was quiet. An eerie silence, as if time had stopped, filled the room.
But strangely, Eric covered his ears as if in pain.
"It's noisy... Please be quiet!"
Eric suddenly shouted, piercing the silence. Doana hesitated at the sight of Eric's unfamiliar presence and leaned back.
Covering both ears, Eric grimaced in pain.
A loud, squeaking noise echoed in his ears, along with the simultaneous murmurs of voices he couldn't identify.
"There's nowhere for you."
"This isn't your mansion. It's your father's mansion."
"You'll live your whole life in your father's shadow."
"You can't do anything without your father."
The whispers piercing his ears, agonizingly strangling him.
"Count, are you okay?"
He suddenly demanded.
"What did you just say?"
Doana remained silent, then was struck by the consequences. She had merely asked if he was okay, yet he reacted so violently.
As if he had heard something else.
Doana, unable to conceal her bewilderment, opened her mouth.
"Yes? I asked if you were okay..."
The auditory hallucinations that had suddenly begun to arise vanished. Eric's dim pupils returned to focus.
"My head hurts..."
He muttered quietly, his voice unmoving.
Doana flinched at the threatening tone. However, she remained silent and opened her mouth.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said today. The Count doesn't look too well either."
Doana stared at Eric, who was lying face down on the sofa. Cold sweat dripped down the side of his forehead; his eyes closed.
"But Count... what happened just now?"
Eric slowly opened his eyes and looked at her at Doana's question.
"What?"
"Just now... You were talking to yourself as if you were hallucinating."
The whispers piercing his ears, agonizingly strangling him.
"Count, are you okay?"
He suddenly demanded.
"What did you just say?"
Doana remained silent, then was struck by the consequences. She had merely asked if he was okay, yet he reacted so violently.
As if he had heard something else.
Doana, unable to conceal her bewilderment, opened her mouth.
"Yes? I asked if you were okay..."
The auditory hallucinations that had suddenly begun to arise vanished. Eric's dim pupils returned to focus.
"My head hurts..."
He muttered quietly, his voice unmoving.
Doana flinched at the threatening tone. However, she remained silent and opened her mouth.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said today. The Count doesn't look too well either."
Doana stared at Eric, who was lying face down on the sofa. Cold sweat dripped down the side of his forehead; his eyes closed.
"But Count... what happened just now?"
Eric slowly opened his eyes and looked at her at Doana's question.
"What?"
"Just now... You were talking to yourself as if you were hallucinating."
She didn't look worried. Doana's eyes scanned Eric like snakes.
They gleamed venomously, as if someone had seized his weakness.
Eric flinched at Doana's words. The reckless tone was so uncomfortable that it was irritating.
"I wonder if Father... knows about this?"
If she did well, it was a chance to control Eric. Doana looked at Eric, trying hard to hide her crooked smile.
As Doana had predicted, Eric was deeply shaken. He swallowed dryly, his face pale.
'If this gets to his father's ears...'
He knew he would be removed from his position as Count. Cedric would even expel his own son for the sake of his family's honor.
Eric trembled and clenched his fists.
There was nothing left to restrain him, but Eric lost his will to fight.
He was no better than a trained animal.
Unlike his powerless childhood, he was more than capable of rebelling now that he was an adult, yet he was convinced he could do nothing.
To Eric, his father was a towering, impassable wall.
He had been controlled that way his entire life.
Doana, recognizing a weakness, licked her lips like a beast spotting prey.
They gleamed venomously, as if someone had seized his weakness.
Eric flinched at Doana's words. The reckless tone was so uncomfortable that it was irritating.
"I wonder if Father... knows about this?"
If she did well, it was a chance to control Eric. Doana looked at Eric, trying hard to hide her crooked smile.
As Doana had predicted, Eric was deeply shaken. He swallowed dryly, his face pale.
'If this gets to his father's ears...'
He knew he would be removed from his position as Count. Cedric would even expel his own son for the sake of his family's honor.
Eric trembled and clenched his fists.
There was nothing left to restrain him, but Eric lost his will to fight.
He was no better than a trained animal.
Unlike his powerless childhood, he was more than capable of rebelling now that he was an adult, yet he was convinced he could do nothing.
To Eric, his father was a towering, impassable wall.
He had been controlled that way his entire life.
Doana, recognizing a weakness, licked her lips like a beast spotting prey.
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