She was his brother's wife. Moreover, she was a woman accused of attempting to poison her husband. How could he feel such emotions toward someone like that?
Lucas shuddered with self-loathing. The woman, who had been watching him as if observing him, turned her head back toward the narrow barred window. A surge of intense shame washed over him at her indifferent attitude. He felt as though she had seen right through every one of his sordid desires.
He clenched his jaw and took a long stride in front of her. He wanted to turn around and leave immediately, but he was afraid that doing so would amount to admitting to the impure feelings he harbored for her.
Lucas opened his mouth nonchalantly, pretending as if nothing were wrong.
“Sister-in-law.”
The woman showed no reaction. Lucas, who had been casually glancing at her pale profile and gaunt neck, hurriedly averted his gaze and added in a blunt tone.
"I came to ask you a few questions."
He swallowed hard. Although he had managed to get the words out of the way, he didn't know what to say first. It was because the questions he had organized in his head had vanished without a trace.
Lucas, rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous expression, struggled to continue speaking.
"I have heard that you have been in frequent contact with outside merchants. I noticed that there are several among them whose identities cannot be verified. If you know anything about them, please tell me everything without omission."
He paused for a moment and observed her reaction. However, Thalia merely stared blankly out the window with an expressionless face.
Lucas, tapping the table nervously with his fingertips, immediately poured out the next question.
"I heard that you purchased the medicine from a wandering peddler. How exactly did you obtain it? If you remember anything about the man's appearance, please let me know."
However, all that returned was suffocating silence. His patience instantly wore away at the sight of her, looking as if she were unaware of his very existence.
"This won't be resolved just by keeping your mouths shut."
Lucas took another step closer to her and spoke in a rough tone.
"Do you really not realize how serious a situation you are in right now? My sister-in-law is currently facing charges of attempted murder. Shouldn't you at least provide a convincing explanation as to why you did such a thing!"
Lucas raised his voice. He wanted her to assert her innocence, even if it was a lie. However, Thalia simply remained silent.
As he looked down at the sight with a frustrated expression, Lucas began to press her impatiently.
"What on earth was the situation? Was someone threatening you, sister-in-law? Or was there a special reason why you had no choice but to do so?"
"..."
" Say something! If you do not offer any explanation, you will be sentenced to death for attempted murder."
"...Do whatever you want.”
Finally, the tightly closed lips parted.
She added in a dry voice.
"It doesn't matter what punishment you inflict. It is an undeniable fact that I gave Barcas the medicine."
He stared blankly down at the red sunset passing through the bars and casting a bruise-like shadow on her cheek, then his face contorted. Her indifferent attitude, as if it didn't matter at all, made his blood boil. He asked in a harsh tone.
"Did you really intend to kill my brother?"
The woman's gaze finally returned to him. Thalia, who had been moving her bloodless lips as if to say something, soon closed her eyes as if exhausted. She appeared to have no strength left to speak anymore.
He gritted his teeth. He could not press her further, seeing how fragile she looked, as if she might crumble at any moment. Lucas, who had been looking down at her emaciated figure with a heavy heart, soon turned away.
He felt that if he kept watching her, he wouldn't be able to suppress the urge to pull her out of this gloomy space.
He stepped straight toward the door. She did not offer a single word of excuse. Under these circumstances, it was obvious that if he stepped forward to release her, the retainers would rise up in unison. For now, he had no choice but to wait for evidence favorable to this woman to emerge, or wait until his older brother woke up.
Lucas, having struggled to compose his scattered emotions, spoke calmly.
"It seems my sister-in-law has no intention of talking right now, so I will take my leave for today."
Then, in the most businesslike tone possible, he added.
"I will inform the guard, so please call me if you have anything to say."
She did not reply at all until the very end. Leaving the chilling silence behind, he pushed open the heavy iron door and stepped out. Soon, the heavy sound of the door closing behind him echoed.
Lucas, who had been wiping his face with his hands while standing in front of the narrow stairs, soon ran down the steep steps as if fleeing.
***
She couldn't tell how much time had passed.
Light entered through the window and then vanished, only for darkness to descend again—this cycle repeated several times.
At some point, Thalia stopped considering the change.
Although the maid had brought her food and water several times, she had not the slightest desire to touch them. She only mechanically took a few spoonfuls when the maid, unable to bear it any longer, persistently urged her to eat at least a little. Even then, she would often throw up after swallowing just a few bites because her stomach would upset her, causing her body to rapidly deteriorate. Had she not recovered her health, she would have collapsed long ago.
No. She thought she actually lost consciousness a few times. She had a vague memory of a maid discovering her limp state and calling a junior priest to treat her.
However, it was unclear whether it was reality or an illusion created by a confused mind. All memories were hazy, as if submerged in a thick fog.
She wondered how long she had been letting each day slip away like smoke when heavy footsteps pierced through her hazy consciousness.
Thalia lifted her heavy eyelids. Then, with the sound of metal clashing, the heavy door opened, and a pitch-black figure flickered beyond her blurry vision.
"Please come outside now."
Thalia showed no reaction. It was because she could not properly understand what the man was saying. Perhaps sensing that her reaction was unusual, the man frowned worriedly and added each word with emphasis.
"His Excellency the Duke has regained consciousness. He has ordered the immediate release of his wife."
It took quite a while for those words to register. Thalia, who had been looking up at the man's face with a dazed expression, parted her dry, parched lips.
He is alive.
As she repeated that fact to herself, her frozen senses began to revive one by one.
She struggled to stand up. Then, moving her stiff legs as if paralyzed, she approached the soldier.
"So... He's okay now?"
The man slowly nodded. Thalia bit her trembling lips tightly. If she hadn't been dehydrated, she would have burst into tears right there.
She was desperately suppressing her welling emotions, but the man continued speaking curtly.
"His Excellency has ordered that the Lady be brought here. Please follow me."
Thalia stiffened her back. The sense of relief that had filled her chest just moments ago vanished in an instant, and a vague fear rose to the very marrow of her bones.
Thalia, who had been standing there staring down at the floor for a while, finally managed to open her mouth.
"...Okay."
The soldier immediately supported her by one arm and led her outside. She followed him, moving her stiff legs mechanically. Soon, familiar yet strange scenery flashed past her. It was a place she had come and gone every day just a short while ago, so why did it feel so unfamiliar? With a sense of emptiness, she crossed the wide hall and climbed the stairs.
“Please go inside.”
Finally, when they reached the front of his bedroom, a soldier opened the door and gave instructions.
Thalia swallowed hard and cautiously stepped into the room. Soon, the figure of Barcas sitting diagonally on the bed came into view.
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