OIAR - Chapter 114

In the past, she was a Duchess in name only and faced many restrictions due to Harriet's treatment, but now Shioana had little to hold Diana back.

"I could have solved it myself without you having to show up like this."

Even if she were trampled and broken, this was ultimately her problem.

'You are no longer my guardian.'

Seeing Shioana's dissatisfied expression, Etienne offered another apology.

"Right. It's my fault."

"Stop showing up around me first."

At Shioana's request, Etienne's broad back trembled slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he slowly turned his head and gazed at her.

"..."

I had a lot to say, but I couldn't bring myself to speak.

Shioana's attitude toward Etienne was extremely cold.

"I'll decline your half-hearted consideration."

Because the consideration or mercy he was showing now was not appreciated at all and only annoyed me.

"...Ha."

At the sight of her, which clearly showed signs of having been away for a long time, Etienne had to barely clutch his heart as if it were about to collapse.

'You won't let me off the hook until the very end.'

Etienne wanted to stroke Shioana's aching cheek and hold her thin body.

However, since he could not fulfill that wish, he had no choice but to simply gaze at Shioana.

Soon, Etienne's gaze fell on the belly she was covering with her cloak, and he quickly turned his head away in guilt.

"..."

"It's all my fault."

Etienne, having left one last apology, opened the door and disappeared.

Shioana's eyes quickly welled up as she followed Etienne's gaunt profile through the slowly closing door.

"Who said I wanted to hear an apology like that?"

If Etienne had looked back just once, he would have been able to see Shioana's tear-stained face.

"It's really over now."

She would never again face Etienne's face. Neither the red eyes that made her tremble nor the beautiful lips that made her cry.

"It's okay, everything will be alright."

It was clearly something I wanted, so why was I crying like this? Shioana covered her face with both hands and held back her sadness.

A short while later, Harriet returned holding Raul's hand, and Martha, who had come in making a fuss, hugged Shioana.

"Was everything alright? I shouldn't have left you behind, Miss."

Even as she took cover following Raul, Martha felt uneasy the entire time. Although she saw the Duke approaching from behind, her anxiety did not easily dissipate. She was worried that the young lady, who was not even a homebody, might get hurt.

"Then, I chased them all out."

Martha held back her tears as she looked at Shioana's slightly protruding belly. It seemed that the Duke still did not know about the young lady's pregnancy.

'Madam, what shall I do?'

She felt like seeking advice from the late Countess Evgenia, who was watching over them from heaven.

"My young lady, when did you become such a grown-up?"

Shioana frowned as she stroked Martha's hand, which had not even been treated for its wounds yet.

"Martha, you remember that I am the head of the Evgenia family now, right?"

Since moving to Urcheka, Shioana rarely spoke about her family.

'I see you hadn't forgotten.'

The owner of Regbell is a young lady.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Martha held back her tears and spoke cheerfully.

"Of course. Of course. I know."

“Me too! Me too!”

Harriet, who was holding Raul's hand, also jumped up and down in place, seemingly excited about something.

"They say our young master knows about it, too."

"Harriet, come here."

As Shioana knelt and spread her arms, a blonde child jumped into her embrace.

"I wonder if it will rain tomorrow."

Leaning against the door, Raul whistled for no reason and pretended to be distracted.

***

After Diana's incident, Raul visited Shioana's house more often.

"I just picked this up on the way here."

He sometimes brought clothes or toys that Harriet could wear.

"Are there really people who throw away something this good?"

Martha tilted her head as she looked at an object that looked brand new no matter how she looked at it.

"Well, I don't know why the guys who threw it away did that."

Raul, hiding his flushed cheeks, acted nonchalant for no reason.

"Uncle, talk! Talk!"

As Harriet, who had become quite talkative, ran toward him, Raul willingly bent down and carried the child.

Happy laughter bloomed abundantly under the roof of the small house.

After dinner, Raul left Shioana's house.

"You have to lock the door properly."

Even after that, as if he still couldn't put his mind at ease, he looked around the house several times.

Shioana, who had set out to see him off, looked up at the sky, which hadn't even turned dark yet. It seemed that he was even more nagging than Raul on Martha.

"Hmm, it's still early evening."

Then, Raul, who had been fidgeting with his fingers, glanced at her belly.

"Still, you always have to be careful, since you have a baby at home."

Although he didn't say it directly, there was no way he didn't know that Shioana was pregnant, considering how often he visited.

"...Ah."

As Shioana discreetly covered her stomach with her hand, Raul quickly brought up a different topic.

"Why don't you come back to the office? Murphy and Thompson are clamoring to hire more staff because there is too much work."

It was undoubtedly said for Shioana, who was struggling financially because all her classes had been canceled.

"No, not at all. I can't cause any more trouble. I'm looking for a way."

Raul's expression was not very good as he watched Shioana speak briskly.

"Over there, Shi, Shioana."

His face flushed bright red; he stopped and stammered.

"You see, I wish I could be closer to you and Harriet and help you both more. I’m not a noble, so I lack refinement, but—"

“Where is that word?”

As she held Raul's hand tightly and smiled, he looked very flustered.

"...?"

Shioana nodded and opened her mouth.

"You've already helped me enough. And I've always thought of Raul as my older brother."

She wanted a good person like Raul to be her family instead of her biological brother, whose whereabouts were unknown.

"...Brother."

Confusion was clearly visible on Raul's face as he repeated her words.

'Shioana and I have completely different feelings.'

It is a fact he already knew, but he doesn't know why it hurts his heart so much.

"I can't repay you right away, but someday I will pay back those who have helped me. Definitely!"

Raul stammered in embarrassment at her declaration.

"What do you mean! This is all employee welfare, welfare, haha!"

Raul's hearty laughter carried a salty scent, as if carried by the sea breeze.

***

Katrina's face was dark as she left Urcheka.

"It was almost within my grasp, so why did it fail?"

It was called a trip, but considering the number of soldiers escorting her carriage, it was akin to being sent into exile.

When Etienne told her to leave the Empire, she thought she could easily ignore his words. After all, she had reigned in high society for a long time and had amassed quite a fortune.

"They are all nothing but useless things."

Katrina's eyes turned red as she got angry.

'Sister. I'm sorry..'

The Count, Katrina's only younger brother, was the first to turn his back on her.

'If I don't cut ties with my older sister, my family will be in immediate danger.'

The reactions of those who remained were all the same. They either did not reply to the letters Katrina sent or bid farewell by sending a small gift.

"Madam, it is time to board the ship."

The carriage door, which looked like a prison gate, opened, and Katrina boarded the ship in perfect condition, as always.

"I will definitely return here and get what is mine back."

The Bernhard family was a fortune she had acquired with great difficulty. Standing at the highest position in the Urcheka Empire was not something just anyone could do.

“No problem.”

Katrina's red lips, showing no remorse, twisted severely.

As she entered the cabin she had been assigned, someone was waiting for Katrina.

"...Oh. How dare you!"

Etienne Bernhard, sitting in a chair, smiled sweetly at her. However, Katrina realized that the Duke's eyes were not smiling at all.

Blood-red eyes were glaring at her, filled with malice and hatred.

Etienne uncrossed his legs, stood up, and spoke.

"You see, I basically don't prefer killing. Blood just feels really unsettling to me."

"What kind of nonsense is this, coming all the way here! Didn't I listen to everything you said? You told me to leave the Empire, so I even boarded this ship!"

Instinctively sensing danger, Katrina turned the doorknob to open the door and leave.

However, the door did not open, perhaps because it was locked from the outside.

"Hey! Get me out of here! Get me out of here!"

At that moment, the cabin was like a hot pit of hell where the Grim Reaper was swinging the scythe of death.

Etienne smiled faintly as he watched Katrina run wild in panic.

He clearly intended to show mercy.

'Use the remaining time to repent for the dead.'

For her, having gained everything only to lose it all, life might be harsher than death.

Just like he used to be.

However, it was Katrina who kicked away the chance to live.

"I have changed my mind.”

Katrina trembled at the terrible murderous intent hidden in those simple words.

"E, Etienne! Your Excellency, Duke Bernhard! Please listen to me. Please?"

Katrina slumped down on the spot and acted subserviently.

"I'll make you pay the price for touching my wife."

Etienne's face looked pained as he spoke ominously.

He knew nothing while Shioana swallowed the poison. He could not even dare to offer her an apology because he could not understand her pain in the slightest.

"It was all for the sake of the family. If we acquire Count Vale's wealth, our Bernhard family might become powerful enough to surpass the Imperial Family."

Katrina, completely driven mad by terrible greed, bowed her head while holding Etienne's shoes.

“...I’m not interested.”

Because all he wanted was Shioana.

"Duke! I know many women who are more beautiful and wonderful!"

Katrina, with bloodshot eyes, seemed to have no idea what Etienne was talking about.

“It’s time.”

Etienne lightly shook his foot as if it were covered in filth to pry Katrina away, then took out a document.

"By order of His Majesty Emperor Tenubis, I hereby punish you, Katrina, for committing kin murder and deceiving the Emperor."

When shown the document bearing the Emperor's seal, Katrina suddenly changed her attitude.

"Do you think you can kill me?"

Katrina straightened her back and looked straight up at Etienne. She wanted to deny reality to the very end.

As soon as he stood up from the chair, Etienne drew his sword and clicked his tongue in a low voice.

"...Well."

The sword flashed white, followed by a loud thud.

It took just over a second to take the life of the villain.

Etienne, who was stepping out of the cabin door, gave instructions to his subordinate.

"Remove the body."

A moment later, the sea, which had been stirring with white foam and a splash at the back of the boat, soon became calm.

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