Chapter 2
“Albert, didn’t you say the madam hasn’t been eating?”
The man asked the butler who entered the room late.
His voice was low, as if suppressing anger, and the butler flinched instinctively.
There was no doubt—it was Duke Edvon Martinez.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace.”
I wasn’t exactly sure why he was so angry, but thinking it might be because of the soup, I quietly put my spoon down.
“Sigh… Butler, I need to have a word in private with the madam. Take Gerard and leave.”
“Yes, understood.”
At his command, the butler quickly grabbed Gerard’s hand and began to lead him away.
“B-but… Mother…”
Even as he was being led out, the child turned back several times, checking on me with worried eyes.
Click.
“Haa…”
As the door closed, the man let out a deep sigh and ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated.
“So what is it this time?”
Edvon Martinez.
I had always known I’d have to face him someday, but I didn’t expect it to be today. And certainly not like this.
“What is it this time that displeased you?”
Though Edvon tried to maintain his manners, he couldn’t quite hide the deep-seated resentment in his voice.
“I rushed here from the capital without even finishing my duties because I heard the madam dismissed all her attendants and hasn’t eaten in four days.”
“No, that’s not—”
“So, are you satisfied now, seeing me fooled by your lies?”
Grit.
He ground his teeth in frustration.
“If you’re so desperate for a divorce, stop this nonsense and submit a petition for divorce mediation. I’ll gladly sign it then.”
He seemed to have more to say but ultimately turned his back.
Click.
“Ah…”
Seeing how deeply angry Edvon was, a sigh escaped me.
It was true that I’d asked to be left alone to think, but I never intended for things to turn out this way. I certainly hadn’t meant to toy with him.
But even if I said it wasn’t my intention, Edvon—so furious—wouldn’t believe me.
“Sigh… Maybe running away really is the answer.”
Maybe it really is best not to get involved in other people’s family matters.
The royal family of the Kingdom of Ernea—Anditne.
Though the kingdom was fragile, teetering on collapse, Anditne, as the king’s third daughter, lived her life in comfort.
Lustrous platinum hair, mysterious and elegant violet eyes—striking beauty and noble blood.
Having always gotten everything she wanted, the first true despair Anditne experienced was her marriage.
A man of unknown origin, granted a troublesome territory teeming with monsters.
Though Edvon was hailed as a war hero who raised Ernea from a kingdom to an empire and one of the strongest nations on the continent, to Anditne, he was nothing more than a filthy, bloodthirsty brute.
Forced into an unwanted marriage, Anditne constantly picked fights with Edvon and spared no effort to ruin his reputation.
But what truly infuriated her was Edvon’s response—he simply didn’t care.
No matter what she did, he ignored her completely. The more indifferent he was, the more outrageous her behavior became.
And so six years passed.
Now, the relationship between Edvon and Anditne had become undeniably disastrous.
I could have ignored all this as someone else’s problem.
But now… I was Anditne.
Swallowing a deep sigh, I hurried my steps.
If I had to live as Anditne now, I couldn’t stay holed up in that room forever.
‘So that’s the main building… and that’s the servants’ quarters.’
I could read Anditne’s memories. It wasn’t easy—I had to focus hard—but it was fortunate that I could access them at all.
One thing I learned from her memories: the servants feared her.
Not just avoided her—they were scared.
Apparently, the reason I’d gone hungry was because I’d scared them off, telling them to leave me alone.
‘No matter what I said, still…’
…The servants had faithfully obeyed Anditne’s orders.
They followed her commands to the letter—but that was it.
Not one of them offered genuine concern or extended a hand of kindness.
‘Well, they probably knew better than to get close to her.’
Thinking that, I stepped into the servants’ quarters.
It must have been work hours—there was no one in the hallway.
A quiet corridor.
Just as I turned to leave, I heard women’s voices.
“Hey, N—look at this.”
“Sigh, so you heard too?”
“Ugh, were you not going to tell me? Look, didn’t Gerard give you money?”
…Gerard?
Hearing that name from strangers’ mouths, I instinctively froze.
“How much did he give you?”
“Shh, keep it to yourself. Seriously, don’t tell anyone.”
“Whoa, how much is this?”
Excited voices and laughter echoed in the quiet hallway.
“That kid’s so funny. Ever since I showed a bit of concern, he comes running to me for everything.”
“If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve taken that spot myself.”
“Ugh, shut up. Here, take this.”
Rustle.
“So why’d he give it this time?”
“Oh, I told him the madam would like a gift and that I’d help pick one out—he totally fell for it.”
“And did you buy her the gift? And you still had this much left?”
I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop.
But for some reason, I couldn’t walk away.
“But honestly, Gerard really seems to like you.”
“Am I going to be the next duchess or what?”
“Could happen. I mean, how many times your salary is this? Wish he’d like me too. Maybe I’ll talk to him once.”
“Pfft, he probably would like you. He follows anyone who gives him the slightest attention.”
That mocking tone immediately brought Gerard’s innocent face to mind.
<‘Mother, if you need anything, just tell me! I’ll do everything.’>
…The way he looked at me, it was clear he was desperate for affection.
He must’ve known Anditne didn’t like him.
And yet, he never let go of her hand.
“……”
<‘He’s so funny. Just show a little concern and he clings to you like a puppy.’>
A child unloved will seek even the faintest hint of love.
How lonely must he have been, begging for such cheap attention.
My heart felt heavy.
‘Why… Why do we have this in common too?’
…I’d once adored the housemaid who took care of me.
The candy she brought me, the rare compliments and warm smiles.
I even wished she were my mother.
But she didn’t feel the same.
<“They’re rich. Only one daughter, and they spoil her rotten. You wouldn’t believe how much they pay me to look after her. Where else would I go?”>
The day I overheard her call…
<“The kid’s kind of annoying, but not too bad. You know how unloved kids are. Compliment them once and they act like a dumb mutt wagging its tail. She’s a hassle, but obedient.”>
I couldn’t bring myself to ask if she really meant it.
I couldn’t even tell my parents how hurt I was.
I just cried silently in my room.
Three years later, she was caught stealing my mother’s ring and was fired.
…Gerard was eerily like me.
His parents were forced into marriage too.
A frightening mother, an indifferent father.
And no love.
At his age, I had desperately tried to earn my parents’ love.
<“Would you like some water?”>
<“Can I help you with that?”>
Just like Gerard does now—trying to please me with every small gesture.
Back then, I thought love could be earned with effort.
Eventually, I gave up.
<“Please don’t abandon me.”>
A child just like me.
…And yet, though I pitied him…
I wasn’t righteous or emotional enough to risk my life for him.
Selfishly, I wanted to tell him, “I endured it, so you can too.”
Could someone like me even scold those maids on his behalf? Did I have the right?
‘…In the end, I’m going to abandon Gerard too.’
It was empty hypocrisy.
Even if I fired those maids, unless someone truly cared for Gerard, this would happen again and again.
I didn’t want to do anything for Gerard.
If I was going to leave anyway, I didn’t want to get attached.
I wasn’t kind enough to act without hesitation for a child, but I also wasn’t cold enough to heartlessly throw him away after bonding with him.
So I wanted to leave before any attachment formed.
Whether it was sympathy or shared pain, I didn’t want to care about Gerard at all.
That’s how I felt.
And yet…
“…Madam?!”
—Contrary to my resolve, foolishly, I opened that door I should never have opened.
