NMBTD 57

Chapter 57

Alesia stared at the cream-colored box with a heavy expression. Inside the neatly wrapped box was a pair of gloves.

She had told Lucette to send the gloves to Franz. But Lucette had stubbornly insisted she deliver them herself.

Since Alesia had picked them, Lucette said, it was only right she give them to him personally.

‘A gift for Franz, of all people.’

Alesia rested her chin on her hand and sighed.

She just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Since that conversation about the past, she hadn’t seen Franz again.

She didn’t know how she was supposed to face him.

A whirl of emotions surged within her.

First and foremost, she pitied Franz.

He was a man clumsy with emotions.

Being clumsy wasn’t a crime. But because of that clumsiness, Alesia had died. So she couldn’t say he was innocent either.

At the same time, she resented him.

Until the day she died, he had done nothing. Claiming it was to protect her, he had turned a blind eye to her suffering.

Even if he had feared the First Prince’s gaze, was it truly necessary to treat her so coldly?

Was it necessary to be that afraid?

Alesia closed her eyes.

‘It would’ve been easier if I hadn’t known anything.’

Then she could have simply resented him.

But now… she knew everything.

And resentment alone wasn’t enough.

“…Your Highness.”

It was Sara who pulled Alesia out of her thoughts. Watching her carefully, Sara announced the arrival of a visitor.

“Baron Ambrose has come again.”

“Tell him to leave.”

“He begged very earnestly to see you.”

Alesia gave a faint smile at Sara’s troubled words.

“Sara, do you remember the letter I showed you before?”

“You mean the one from Madam?”

“Yes.”

Sara immediately scowled, thumping her chest in frustration.

“How could I forget that?”

“Come here.”

Alesia beckoned her over gently.

“That’s why I told you to throw away all letters from Ambrose, remember?”

“Of course.”

“From now on, throw away Caleb’s letters too.”

“Pardon?”

Sara’s eyes widened. She stammered in surprise.

“B-but the Baron is different from Madam…”

“I used to think so too.”

Alesia’s gaze turned icy. Her emerald eyes locked on the door to the parlor.

“Until recently, I thought so.”

The sense of betrayal she felt from Caleb didn’t fade easily.

Trying to push Neryss toward Franz—right in front of Alesia, no less.

He must have thought she didn’t know anything.

And that made it all the more infuriating.

He had deceived her.

To her, Caleb had been a warm, kind brother.

But what had she been to him?

A tool to flaunt his kindness? A means to get closer to the royal family?

It didn’t matter.

What was clear was that Caleb didn’t truly care for her.

That day, her trust in him shattered. An unspoken disappointment filled her heart.

At the same time, it left her feeling empty.

She had lost a beloved family member overnight. No one could fill the void left by family. That truth ached deeply.

“Shall I send the Baron away then?”

Sara followed Alesia’s gaze to the door and whispered. Alesia gave a faint smile.

“Did he bring company again?”

“No. He came alone this time.”

“Then… let’s hear what excuse he has this time.”

“Understood.”

As Sara left, the door burst open and Caleb entered. He was breathless, as if he’d rushed over, his face flushed.

“Your Highness, the Second Princess Consort!”

“Baron Ambrose. You’ve returned.”

Alesia sat upright and addressed him coolly. When she looked away, he strode quickly across the parlor—

And suddenly knelt before her.

“Please forgive me.”

He bowed his head, voice full of desperation. Behind him, Sara gasped in surprise.

Alesia silently signaled, and Sara swiftly closed the door and left.

Now alone with Caleb, Alesia spoke calmly.

“You ask for forgiveness so suddenly—I don’t understand. Forgiveness for what?”

“I was thoughtless. I shouldn’t have brought Lady Roshanach. Please believe me. It wasn’t my idea. That woman insisted on coming.”

‘That woman,’ huh. So in this life, Neryss was now “that woman.”

Alesia thought blandly.

In her previous life, Alesia had been “that woman.” Just hearing her name had been distasteful.

And now, Neryss had become that person.

It was strange how things had flipped with so little effort.

“You mean you were swayed by Lady Roshanach’s persistence?”

“I’m staying in Calebs with the Roshanach family’s support. I had no other choice. You know how costly it is to stay in the capital.”

Caleb spoke in detail, placing a hand on the back of hers. She stared at the gloves she had gifted him.

‘You really do know how to win me over, Caleb.’

Alesia hadn’t known him well, but he clearly knew her inside and out.

He knew exactly how to break through her defenses, where her weaknesses were. And he didn’t hesitate to use them.

‘Why didn’t I realize it sooner?’

At this point, she wondered if her past self had been blinded by something.

Why hadn’t she seen through such obvious things?

If Franz’s sin was his rigidity, then Alesia’s sin was her naivety—

The sin of only seeing what she wanted to see.

Of only caring about Franz, and ignoring everything else.

‘This time, I won’t make that mistake again.’

She clenched her fist with resolve.

Silence settled over the parlor.

As the awkward atmosphere dragged on, Caleb slowly lifted his gaze—as if checking whether he’d succeeded in persuading her.

Alesia sneered at how transparent he was. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed this before.

Her cold stare made his gray eyes falter.

Before he could make another excuse, she spoke first.

“How expensive can staying in the capital really be? Don’t tell me you’ve already spent my dowry?”

“Of course not! Your dowry has been kept safe. I wouldn’t dare touch it. It’s your wedding fund, after all.”

Lies.

Alesia’s eyes darkened.

Suppressing the urge to lash out, she asked sweetly,

“Why did you choose the Roshanach family of all people? There are plenty of noble houses. Why them? What did they promise you?”

At her questioning, Caleb clenched his jaw.

Why Roshanach?

She made it sound as if he were their dog. She watched his jaw tighten with detachment.

‘Must be humiliating.’

She had chosen her words intentionally.

Caleb would be angry—but he had no right to be.

Kneeling at her feet as he was, their relationship was on full display.

Alesia was the exalted Second Princess Consort. Caleb was a mere baron from the countryside.

If she wished it, she could easily bring down someone of his rank. If he had any sense, he would know this.

This was a test.

If he cared only about his title, he would endure it. He’d bow even lower and beg forgiveness—like any power-hungry schemer.

But if he was truly Alesia’s brother, he’d show his emotions without hesitation.

He’d be upset. Disappointed.

Because they weren’t supposed to be like this.

In the past, whenever Alesia made mistakes, Caleb would gently correct her. He’d guide and teach her.

So maybe—if he truly cared—he’d raise his voice at the arrogant little sister who had become royalty.

If he truly thought of her as family.

‘So, Caleb. What will you do?’

Alesia waited with a pounding heart.

Time crawled. The grandfather clock ticked slowly—tick, tick.

“…Truly.”

Just as her throat began to dry, Caleb finally spoke. She tensed and listened closely.

Still kneeling, he leaned back slightly, bracing himself with one hand.

Then he bowed, pressing his forehead to the rug.

“I am truly sorry, Your Highness the Second Princess Consort.”

“…”

“For accepting support from House Roshanach without your approval and upsetting you—I will accept whatever punishment you see fit.”

Alesia squeezed her eyes shut.

She bit her lip.

As she caught her breath, Caleb poured out his excuses.

“There’s no special reason I accepted their offer. We were briefly connected through Your Highness’s debut, and they reached out first. I haven’t received anything except a stay at their villa and townhouse. And… if you could even call it a price, they simply asked me to introduce Lady Roshanach to you.”

Listening to him, Alesia felt a lump in her throat.

This confirmed it.

To Caleb, she wasn’t a sister.

To him, she was the Second Princess Consort—a tool to gain favor with royalty.

“Rest assured, Your Highness, that you need not worry. Ambrose remains loyal to you. I would never disgrace your name.”

“…Enough.”

Alesia took a shaky breath. She unclenched her fist and gently placed her hand on Caleb’s shoulder.

“That’s enough. You may rise.”

At her words, Caleb slowly lifted his head. His face was tense as he looked up at her.

Their eyes met in midair.

And a suffocating silence once again descended upon the parlor.