Chapter 03
Maia found herself stepping closer, her mouth slightly agape at the sheer, overwhelming size of the portrait.
When she confirmed who the figures in the painting were, she froze like stone, yet could not tear her gaze away.
Silvery hair, rippling like waves.
Even with the limitations of paint, it created the illusion of shimmering light.
In the small, delicate face, eyes redder and deeper than the finest garnet.
So captivating that even the thought of looking away felt like a sin.
Truly… so noble and beautiful that it was impossible to compare.
Maia pressed a hand against the faint ache in her chest.
Before her, unchanged from her memories, hung the portrait of the beautiful woman from that time.
Of course His Grace can’t forget someone so beautiful.
I understand. I have no choice but to understand.
Two years. Short if short, long if long. In that time, she had tasted enough of the gap between dreams and reality.
Maia deliberately avoided looking at the man in the portrait as she moved away.
It’s time to end this. It was never my place to begin with.
Step by step, her footsteps grew distant.
Only the young man in the portrait, gazing down at his wife with eyes full of unspoken emotion, remained behind.
✦✦✦
Maia’s lips tightened into a cold line. In that moment, any lingering feelings for him vanished.
Did I really like this man sincerely? Regret surged through her.
Silently, Maia raised a hand.
A small hand in violet gloves pressed against the black fabric of his chest.
The unexpected action caused the Duke of Western’s eyebrows to lift.
“Please step back.”
And Maia pushed against his chest.
“You’re too close.”
Throughout their marriage, they had never even touched fingertips.
Why was he acting like this now? She could guess the reason, which made it all the more unpleasant.
The Duke of Western glanced down at Maia’s hand resting on his chest.
Then, with one step—just a single step—he moved back.
Maia brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and let out a sigh.
“You’re not saying this on a whim, are you? I told you several days ago about the divorce, and I gave you more than three days to respond. Yet you said nothing. No discussion, no words.”
Suppressing her trembling, Maia spoke calmly. Her usually gentle violet eyes now held a cool light.
“So I assumed that meant His Grace had no intention of continuing this marriage with me, and I decided to leave quietly.”
His cold, emotionless expression was intimidating enough just to face.
Maia swallowed her rising fear and spoke.
“I believe you know how rude your behavior is right now. So, please, open the gate.”
Her legs were shaking.
Come to think of it, this was the first time she had ever expressed her will to him so clearly.
“…Rude.”
The Duke of Western muttered in a calm, low voice.
Maia flinched, startled by his unexpected reaction.
His pupils, filled with an unreadable emotion, captured her completely.
As she anxiously wondered what he would say next, his arm, wrapped in a thick coat, suddenly circled her waist and pulled her close.
In the freezing air that numbed her skin, the heat of his hand was vividly felt through the fabric.
“What are—kyaa!”
Before she could finish, his other arm swept under her knees.
In an instant, her world flipped. Maia gasped.
Before she knew it, she was in the Duke of Western’s arms.
Even standing face-to-face for long would strain her neck due to their height difference.
Now, she was completely engulfed in his embrace.
Maia blinked.
…What is this?
Her pupils trembled violently.
What just happened?
“I will pretend I did not hear those words. The air is cold enough to freeze your breath. Let us return to the mansion.”
The Duke spoke in a calm tone, completely opposite to Maia, who was so shocked she couldn’t even scream.
Maia’s lips quivered.
Most women would have been flustered, let out a scream, or yelled at him to put them down in such a situation.
But Maia went beyond all of that… and felt fear.
The Duke of Western had never held her like this, not even on their wedding day.
He had always maintained a cold, business-like demeanor, to the point that even her family had frowned at him.
Maia’s violet eyes, trembling with fear, scanned his expression carefully.
She desperately tried to understand what was happening, but no answer came.
The Duke began to walk. Rocked by his steady strides, Maia suddenly remembered what she had forgotten in the chaos.
I was trying to leave this place.
She saw the gates of the estate receding as the Duke carried her further inside.
Grinding her teeth, Maia shouted:
“What do you think you’re doing?! I told you I was leaving—”
“I said I would pretend I didn’t hear that.”
The Duke answered in a cool voice.
Maia drew a sharp breath, glaring at his unshaken face.
“Don’t say absurd things and put me down. Now!”
“I have already said it.”
His voice cut her off, making Maia’s eyes widen.
His deep blue eyes, shadowed with calm, were looking down at her.
“You are not leaving.”
His words, wrapped in an oppressive force she couldn’t name, made Maia press her lips together.
Seeing her fall silent seemed to please him, and the Duke walked briskly toward the mansion.
✦✦✦
They returned to the mansion at a pace that was neither fast nor slow.
Though the warmth of the indoors had raised her body temperature, Maia felt cold all over.
I was supposed to leave today. I even declared it to the head maid…
I was supposed to leave.
“Put me down.”
Maia spoke in a low, calm voice.
The Duke frowned but obediently set her down.
His dry hands lowered her small frame so carefully, as if afraid she might break.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Maia stepped back from him.
I never imagined something like this would happen.
The Duke of Western, who hadn’t given her any sign for three days, suddenly intervened and disrupted everything.
What am I supposed to do now?
No—Maia clenched her resolve.
There’s still a chance. No matter what, I will get a divorce and leave this family.
Yes. Now, I need to probe the Duke’s intentions again and revise my plan.
“…What is going—”
At that moment—
“Head maid.”
The familiar voice from behind made Maia freeze, her fist still clenched.
Hearing the Duke softly call that name, Maia’s face drained of color.
She turned her stiff head with a creak.
There, the head maid was staring at her with a gaze so sharp it felt like it could pierce right through her.
I didn’t come back on my own. Your master forcibly dragged me back here.
So please, don’t look at me like you’re about to kill me!
Seeing the head maid’s expression, which looked ready to rip her apart, Maia’s face crumpled.
This is why I wanted to leave.
Maia shot the Duke a resentful glare.
“The Madam has been outside in this cold for a while. Prepare her room so she can warm herself properly.”
His words, as if he were concerned about Maia, made the head maid’s expression harden even further.
“Understood. However, if I may be so bold, were Your Grace and the Madam not preparing for divorce? The Madam clearly said she would be leaving today, so how is it that you have returned together…?”
With that, the head maid immediately exposed the root of the situation.
Maia sucked in a breath.
She was used to being ignored, but hearing someone speak so bluntly to him was shocking.
No—perhaps this was a good thing.
Depending on how the Duke answered the head maid, Maia might get a glimpse into his true intentions.
And if she could use this moment to press the divorce issue again—
“It seems I’ve been too lenient with you.”
His cold, cutting words stopped her thoughts.
Maia’s face froze in the middle of her faint smile.
“For a servant to add words to her master’s command.”
The Duke of Western was always cold, but now, his face was even more chilling than usual.
The weight of his dark gaze was enough to feel like a blade piercing through.
“N-no, that was not my intention. I spoke out of turn. Your Grace, please punish me.”
The head maid, her face drained of blood, dropped to her knees on the floor.
The menacing look she had been giving Maia just moments before had vanished entirely.
Maia couldn’t keep up with how quickly the situation was changing.
She looked between the head maid and the Duke.
Then, a sharp, cold laugh slipped from the Duke’s lips.
His smooth face was twisted with a dark, bitter smile as he looked down at the trembling head maid.
As if contemplating how best to dispose of a bothersome insect near his eyes.
“I could never. You were the personal maid of a noble Imperial Princess, one who served her since childhood, and followed her even into my household. How could I dare lay a hand on you?”
The maids, who had been standing proudly behind the head maid, shivered at the coldness that now filled the air.
“I will let this pass just this once. But should the word ‘divorce’ reach my ears again…”
Everyone standing in the vast hall held their breath.
“The sword passed down to me from the previous Duke will claim your head.”
“…!”
Maia barely managed to swallow the gasp that rose in her throat.
