Episode 43
Estelle tried hard not to avoid Lennox’s gaze.
She couldn’t show even the slightest hint of guilt.
“That’s an interesting comparison,” she said calmly.
She never thought she could fool Lennox forever.
‘After I visited, they must have found the map piece. Of course, I was the prime suspect.’
But when he asked how she knew the location of the relic, she had no good excuse.
“Duren likes Mini Mew,” she said, doing her best to change the subject.
Fortunately, Lennox didn’t seem to be interrogating her and let it go.
“Mini Mew?”
“It’s a popular children’s play series. It’s also in storybook form, and Duren loves it so much he asks to hear the same story several times a day.”
Just then—
Bang!
The door burst open.
Had Duren come back?
Estelle and Lennox turned their heads and saw Glessia holding a pillow tightly.
Her hair was a mess, and her eyes flashed dangerously.
“You—get out!”
Estelle slowly stood up.
But Glessia pointed directly at Lennox.
“Not Estelle. You!”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
What was going on now?
Meeting his energetic sister for the first time in a while, Lennox pressed his fingers to his temple.
“Sister, this is my house.”
“Is it really your house?”
“…It’s our house—yours and mine.”
He corrected himself quickly.
“No, it’s my house. So get out. If you leave, Estelle can divorce you and—”
She accidentally blurted out her real reason.
While Glessia froze in embarrassment, Estelle gave Lennox a look.
They’re misunderstanding our relationship. Explain. Fast.
Gulp.
With no way to dodge it anymore, Lennox swallowed hard and spoke with difficulty.
“Sister… Estelle and I have a contract to stay married for one year.”
“What?”
“We didn’t marry for love. When the contract ends, she’ll naturally leave.”
“Why?”
“To register Duren as my son…”
“You tied a young, beautiful woman to a loveless marriage in this dangerous place, just for that?”
His explanation was long-winded, but not exactly wrong—so Lennox nodded.
Trash.
Glessia’s eyes called him names without words.
Then she turned to Estelle.
“Estelle, please step out for a moment.”
“Huh? Oh, okay.”
As Estelle tried to leave, Lennox naturally followed.
“Lennox Winterlen.”
He froze.
“You stay here.”
So Estelle left alone, leaning against the wall outside. Soon, classical music floated through the door.
A few minutes later—
“It’s over. Come in.”
When she opened the door, white feathers floated everywhere.
The side of the pillow Glessia was holding had burst open, and Lennox’s usually neat hair was a complete mess.
“If this is how it is, divorce right away,” Glessia told Estelle firmly.
“Why did you agree to this contract?”
“Well…”
“Don’t let him answer. I want to hear it from you.”
“For money.”
“If you need money, I’ll give it to you. Divorce him and go back to your life.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
Wouldn’t it be better to get compensation without even finishing the contract?
Glessia couldn’t believe she was refused without hesitation.
“If I don’t finish the contract, all my property goes to Winterlen. It’s in the terms.”
Glessia was shocked.
“That’s a poison clause! This is a scam contract!”
Her anger turned right to Lennox.
“Are you insane? Did you trick innocent Estelle like that? Don’t call yourself my brother.”
“Sister, I didn’t put that clause in.”
“Then who did? Liar!”
The atmosphere was bad, so Estelle quickly jumped in.
“It’s true. He’s not lying.”
“You don’t have to defend him.”
“I really asked for that clause to be included.”
Glessia’s eyes widened.
After a short pause, she asked Estelle again,
“Estelle, could you step out for a bit?”
“Uh… okay.”
Back outside, Estelle heard classical music again—along with Glessia’s voice between the melodies:
You should’ve stopped her! You knew it was dangerous and still included it? Are you a devil? A scammer? Both?!
“Come in.”
This time, there were even more feathers in the air. Lennox looked completely drained.
“So, in the end, no divorce, right?”
“Yes.”
Glessia had mixed feelings.
She was glad Estelle wasn’t leaving right away,
but worried she might end up like Jeremy in the past.
Still—having Estelle stay as family for a few more months was a relief.
“I’ll survive and finish the contract. Don’t worry,” Estelle reassured her, as if reading her thoughts.
“And sorry for making it seem like I’d divorce right away.”
“No, it’s not your fault. Can I call you by a nickname?”
“Of course. Call me Tia.”
“Then call me Lea! Our nicknames sound similar.”
Glessia’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she shot Lennox a cold glare.
“If Lennox does anything weird, you must tell me. Promise.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Sister, you must be tired. Why not rest if you’re done talking?”
“Are you ordering me?”
“It was a suggestion.”
“Don’t even suggest.”
Lennox shut his mouth.
At that moment, Estelle realized—
without even trying, she had brought Winterlen’s true power-holder to her side.
There was no mandrake medicine, yet his sister had regained her energy.
[Sister, you called?]
[Yes. Turn off the light.]
[…]
Duren had called him “Dad.”
[If you keep glaring, you’ll get wrinkles.]
[Daddy looks like Dark Lord.]
[What’s that?]
[The mean villain who bullies Mini Mew! Doo-doo hates him most!]
[…]
Even his contract wife was perfectly fine.
It should’ve been perfect.
But as the days passed, Lennox’s worries deepened.
Now his sister acted like he didn’t exist.
Duren called him “Dad” but always added “I hate you!” afterward.
And Estelle…
[Duke, here are the receipts for what Madam spent today.]
Thud!
A heavy bundle of papers hit his desk.
Lately, with Glessia’s endless favor backing her, Estelle had been buying luxury goods—spending money like water.
For the first time in his life, Lennox felt sidelined in his own home.
He decided to fix this with money.
“Doo-doo will transform you!”
Duren was in the middle of a makeover game with Glessia.
Holding up red lipstick high, he declared with confidence.
“Mmph, mmph!”
Glessia’s face was being smothered without mercy. Estelle hid her laughter as she watched.
“Kommo! This part is white!”
As he grabbed Glessia’s hair, her expression froze.
Duren glanced around and whispered like it was a secret.
“Kommo is Snow Cat, right?”
“…?”
“Doo-doo likes Snow Cat too!”
What was that?
Glessia didn’t understand, but just played along.
When she nodded, Duren looked thrilled.
“Snow Cat was trapped in ice and just got free! Were you cold? Doo-doo will bring something warm!”
Whoosh!
He darted away, and Estelle explained,
“It’s a character from Mini Mew. I think he says that because your hair is partly white.”
“Kommo!”
Soon Duren returned with steaming tea—followed by a dark shadow.
“Kommo! Drink! It’s warm!”
“Mhm.”
Why are you here?
Glessia’s eyeliner, already crooked from Duren’s game, seemed even sharper when she saw Lennox.
“I’ll join in,” Lennox said, stepping in naturally.
The response came instantly.
“Daddy, I hate you!”
“I hate my little brother too.”
The only one who accepted him was Estelle.
“Sit with me and watch,” she said, smiling and pointing to the seat next to her.
As they watched, the game ended.
“Sir, that’s five million gold.”
“Too expensive.”
“Then ten million gold!”
“…?”
Duren clearly didn’t understand currency yet, but raised the price anyway.
It was absurd.
“Ten gold,” Lennox countered.
“Ten million gold!”
The little shop owner was ruthless.
This time, Lennox strode over with confidence.
“I’ll pay for it,” he said, handing over a paper.
“What’s this?”
“A property title.”
“?”
“It means this toy store is yours now. All the toys inside are yours.”
He had taken Estelle’s advice about Duren’s love for Mini Mew and outright bought a toy shop.
He’ll definitely love this, Lennox thought.
Until he saw Duren’s unamused face.
“It’s just paper. Even Doo-doo knows that.”
“…”
“Ugh. If you don’t have money, just say so. Kommo, I’ll let you have it for free.”
With a sigh, Duren ran off to Estelle, shouting “Mom!”
Watching his small figure disappear, Glessia asked in disbelief,
“Is that kid on his second life?”
