Stella opened the study door. Her footsteps had long since ceased, but thankfully, the study was still well-maintained. Tall bookshelves filled every inch of the wall.
"Phew."
Stella brought all the books she'd enjoyed as a child with her when she got married. Having died and come back to life, she's a bit disoriented, but one goal has become clear: don't waste time on useless things. Live your life doing what you love.
'It's better to be alone than to get hurt.'
Fortunately or unfortunately, Stella was alone. And she seemed to have grown quite accustomed to being alone. She no longer had parents nagging her to get good grades. Only her husband, who came home late at night, showed his face without affection, and then disappeared.
'First, let's organize what needs to be done.'
1. Prepare for divorce.
2. Find the cause of the disease and cure it.
3. Find out what talent God has told me about.
4. Find something I like and do it.
5. Be happy.
Sunlight streaming through the window half-tinted the paper. These five things were closely connected. She needed to get a divorce and get over her illness, then find something she loved and live happily ever after. The mere thought of getting over her illness number two was daunting, but since she was back alive, she couldn't let it go.
'If you saved me, I'm sure you won't let me die from illness.'
She raised her head, and the room was filled with the scent of books. She opened a book, worn and worn by her childhood. With the burdens and regrets of life gone, she was able to immerse herself in the world of books.
"Oh my, this is surprising!"
There were even instances where the maids who came to clean were surprised or screamed when they saw Stella.
"You don't have to clean up. It's okay, just bring me something to drink."
"All right."
She didn't want her time alone interrupted. She carefully placed her glass down and called the servant who was about to leave.
"Don't let anyone enter this room until I leave first."
“Ah... if it’s anyone?”
She looked as if she were asking something obvious.
"His Grace, too."
"All right."
Stella read the book as if she were trying to quench a long thirst.
Occasionally, when her eyes grew tired, she looked away and blinked. She could read so freely. Why had I forgotten the joy of books all this time? Stella felt a strange sense of liberation.
Word of Stella's obsession with books reached Kendrick through the servants, first to Sia.
"I met Stella on the way here."
When she mentioned Stella's name, Kendrick stopped reading the papers. He looked at Sia, and she continued, her voice tinged with concern. It seemed as if word had already spread throughout the dukedom that Stella had attempted suicide.
"I heard she was going to the study."
"Study?"
It was unexpected. She rarely left her room unless she came to Kendrick to say she missed him. Seeing Kendrick's lack of response, Sia quickly moved on to another topic. Kendrick's mind was in turmoil. He kept his expressionless face, pretending nothing was wrong, but the conversation he had with Stella was quite shocking.
- Why don't you want to get a divorce?
Her voice rang in his ears, and he felt a strange sense of urgency. He gritted his teeth and deliberately brought in tasks that could have been done slowly. But he couldn't get anything done.
- You don't really love me. It's so annoying.
How did she end up saying something like that?
'Why this woman?'
Kendrick still doesn't know why Stella slit her wrists.
'It's making me nervous.'
Moreover, he couldn't understand why she was asking for a divorce. He hadn't really felt at ease since marrying Stella. To Kendrick, Stella was a difficult woman to deal with. She was like a difficult math problem with no answer.
'Stella.'
The root of her wounds, Kendrick knew, was Skyle. He believed the constant comparisons to him had etched a wound in her heart, and that's why Kendrick believed Stella had gotten better after their marriage.
‘Why on earth...?’
So he was at ease. But at some point, Stella started to turn on Kendrick. The image of Stella, lying helpless, staring at him with a pouty gaze, kept bothering him. Kendrick shook his head, shaking off the thought.
'Let's not think too deeply about it. She's probably just trying to get my attention anyway.'
This thought brought him much peace of mind. He figured Stella would be waiting in the room, but for some reason, he was reluctant to look at her. Also, he was afraid she might bring up divorce.
'Study.'
"Phew."
Stella brought all the books she'd enjoyed as a child with her when she got married. Having died and come back to life, she's a bit disoriented, but one goal has become clear: don't waste time on useless things. Live your life doing what you love.
'It's better to be alone than to get hurt.'
Fortunately or unfortunately, Stella was alone. And she seemed to have grown quite accustomed to being alone. She no longer had parents nagging her to get good grades. Only her husband, who came home late at night, showed his face without affection, and then disappeared.
'First, let's organize what needs to be done.'
1. Prepare for divorce.
2. Find the cause of the disease and cure it.
3. Find out what talent God has told me about.
4. Find something I like and do it.
5. Be happy.
Sunlight streaming through the window half-tinted the paper. These five things were closely connected. She needed to get a divorce and get over her illness, then find something she loved and live happily ever after. The mere thought of getting over her illness number two was daunting, but since she was back alive, she couldn't let it go.
'If you saved me, I'm sure you won't let me die from illness.'
She raised her head, and the room was filled with the scent of books. She opened a book, worn and worn by her childhood. With the burdens and regrets of life gone, she was able to immerse herself in the world of books.
"Oh my, this is surprising!"
There were even instances where the maids who came to clean were surprised or screamed when they saw Stella.
"You don't have to clean up. It's okay, just bring me something to drink."
"All right."
She didn't want her time alone interrupted. She carefully placed her glass down and called the servant who was about to leave.
"Don't let anyone enter this room until I leave first."
“Ah... if it’s anyone?”
She looked as if she were asking something obvious.
"His Grace, too."
"All right."
Stella read the book as if she were trying to quench a long thirst.
Occasionally, when her eyes grew tired, she looked away and blinked. She could read so freely. Why had I forgotten the joy of books all this time? Stella felt a strange sense of liberation.
***
Word of Stella's obsession with books reached Kendrick through the servants, first to Sia.
"I met Stella on the way here."
When she mentioned Stella's name, Kendrick stopped reading the papers. He looked at Sia, and she continued, her voice tinged with concern. It seemed as if word had already spread throughout the dukedom that Stella had attempted suicide.
"I heard she was going to the study."
"Study?"
It was unexpected. She rarely left her room unless she came to Kendrick to say she missed him. Seeing Kendrick's lack of response, Sia quickly moved on to another topic. Kendrick's mind was in turmoil. He kept his expressionless face, pretending nothing was wrong, but the conversation he had with Stella was quite shocking.
- Why don't you want to get a divorce?
Her voice rang in his ears, and he felt a strange sense of urgency. He gritted his teeth and deliberately brought in tasks that could have been done slowly. But he couldn't get anything done.
- You don't really love me. It's so annoying.
How did she end up saying something like that?
'Why this woman?'
Kendrick still doesn't know why Stella slit her wrists.
'It's making me nervous.'
Moreover, he couldn't understand why she was asking for a divorce. He hadn't really felt at ease since marrying Stella. To Kendrick, Stella was a difficult woman to deal with. She was like a difficult math problem with no answer.
'Stella.'
The root of her wounds, Kendrick knew, was Skyle. He believed the constant comparisons to him had etched a wound in her heart, and that's why Kendrick believed Stella had gotten better after their marriage.
‘Why on earth...?’
So he was at ease. But at some point, Stella started to turn on Kendrick. The image of Stella, lying helpless, staring at him with a pouty gaze, kept bothering him. Kendrick shook his head, shaking off the thought.
'Let's not think too deeply about it. She's probably just trying to get my attention anyway.'
This thought brought him much peace of mind. He figured Stella would be waiting in the room, but for some reason, he was reluctant to look at her. Also, he was afraid she might bring up divorce.
'Study.'
Kendrick was worried about Stella being alone. He sent someone to check on her.
"What about Stella?"
"She seems absorbed in your reading. Her complexion seems to have improved."
"That's good. Tell her I'll come by as soon as I finish work."
Kendrick thought about Stella all day.
“Um, but...”
She wasn't.
"Lady Stella has ordered that no one enter until she calls first."
Kendrick's cold gaze made it difficult for the servant to utter a single word. Even though he wasn't raising his voice in anger, the pressure was considerable. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his eyes urged him on.
"She also asked me to refrain the Duke from visiting."
Kendrick slowly closed and opened his eyes. She was already unusually quiet and reserved today. Everyone knew that Stella was the reason. The words just uttered by the servant had made all the servants surrounding Kendrick tense.
"I see."
Kendrick was calm. He felt a pang of sadness inside, but he managed to keep it off. Come to think of it, Kendrick had said similar things to Stella many times. Early in their marriage, he'd cautiously told Stella, who'd often come to visit him, complaining of loneliness.
- Please refrain from coming to the office unless absolutely necessary.
- But how do you do what you want to do? I'm alone all day.
- It doesn't look good to others, Stella.
He remembered Stella's droopy eyes at that moment. He felt sorry, but he also thought it was quite cute how upset she looked. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. How could she, who never wanted to be separated from me, end up asking for a divorce? Dealing with Stella was truly difficult.
"Your Grace, you don't look well. I think it would be best if you rested."
Normally, he'd retreat to his bedroom by evening, but tonight he stayed in his office until midnight. Only after being told three times that it would be best to stop working did Kendrick finally get up.
"Yes. I guess that's all for today."
The distance to the bedroom felt unusually short today. In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of the bedroom door. He remembered the scene a few hours ago, when he had fled from her, who had demanded a divorce. It came back to him. Entering the room like that felt somehow awkward.
'Did you read the book well?'
Have your thoughts of divorce calmed down a bit?
'I heard you went to the study after a long time.'
How are you feeling?
What should I say when I see her? So many words welled up in his throat, but choosing just one was difficult. Kendrick gently grasped the doorknob and then released it. He sighed softly, almost imperceptibly, and opened the door. Creak. Perhaps it was because the room was so quiet, but the door creaked loudly today. He looked for Stella, who was supposed to be lying in bed, but she was nowhere to be found.
"Stella."
Kendrick turned from the bed and scanned the bedroom. As expected, there was no sign of Stella.
'Weird.'
This was the first time Stella hadn't been in his bedroom when he'd entered. Before, she'd heard his footsteps echoing down the hallway, rushing over and waiting at the door, even without him calling her name.
"Stella!"
Kendrick was used to Stella like that. Perhaps he had grown accustomed to her waiting.
"Your Grace? What's the matter?"
Sia came to see Kendrick.
"Is Stella still in the study?"
Thinking back, it wasn't a big deal, but he felt a sense of unease. This had never happened since they got married. This bedroom felt awkward without Stella. Something felt wrong.
'She's never been late until this hour.'
Soon, the anxiety snowballed, even though he knew it wasn't a big deal.
"Has she ever been out of the room since then?"
Kendrick was anxious and confused. It wasn't long before she attempted suicide.
'No way.'
Kendrick felt uneasy, wondering if Stella had taken advantage of the moment she was alone in the study to harbor malicious intentions. The servant's words, "Kendrick, keep your mouth shut," came to mind, and Kendrick couldn't remain silent.
"I see it's that again."
But Sia didn't seem at all flustered.
"What?"
"Why, that's something Stella often does."
Rather, she dismissed Stella's sudden change in behavior as ridiculous.
"You know, there are times when she deliberately stirs up trouble to get the Duke's attention. I think it's the same this time. She's probably hiding in the study and not coming out."
This twisted Kendrick's feelings towards Sia.
'You're hiding to get my attention?'
Kendrick felt no need to listen any longer. Without responding, he walked in the direction of Stella's study.
Suddenly.
Rattle rattle.
There was a disquieting sound. He shook the door a few times, making sure it was locked. Kendrick opened his eyes. Was something wrong with Stella? Was she dying alone somewhere? All sorts of thoughts crossed his mind. These were the thoughts that truly terrified him.
'Please just stay alive.'
The thought that he might never see her again took his breath away.
Thump. Thud.
There was a dull thud. While the attendant went to get the key, Kendrick tore the door open with brute force. With a loud crash, Stella's silhouette appeared.
"Ugh!"
A sudden noise startled her, and she screamed. Stella stared at the torn door with a startled expression. Kendrick carelessly threw the door aside and approached her.
"What's going on all of a sudden, Kendrick?"
Stella blinked, her expression unclear. Kendrick picked up her wrist and examined it. There were numerous scars, but no recent marks. It didn't appear as if she had attempted to set fire to the study, and he couldn't find any rope to hang herself.
"Ha."
A relieved Kendrick rested his hand on the desk and let out a wet sigh.
Stella guessed why Kendrick had broken down the door.
'This guy thought I was going to kill myself.'
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