Chapter 2
“What?!”
Liette recoiled at the unexpectedly heavy topic.
‘This wasn’t in the book!’
Since the story began after Evan had already grown up, even Liette didn’t know much about his past.
“You’re surprised, aren’t you, Liette…”
“What do you mean, someone died because of you?!”
As she pressed him, tears welled up in Evan’s large eyes.
“My mother… she died giving birth to me…”
Liette, who had been quietly listening, repeated Evan’s words in her mind.
So, his mother died while giving birth to him?
Hmm…
Liette rubbed her chin, then glanced at Evan.
“…That’s it?”
“What do you mean, ‘that’s it,’ Liette?! How can you say that!”
“You idiot!”
Evan’s voice suddenly rose in frustration, but Liette shouted back even louder.
“How does that make it your fault she died?!”
“What…?”
Evan blinked in confusion as Liette raised her index finger, demanding his attention.
“Listen carefully. For it to be your fault, something like this would have had to happen.”
“Uh-huh.”
Evan nodded unconsciously under Liette’s forceful presence.
“You’d have to be playing with fire and accidentally burned down the house, causing her death.”
“…”
“Or maybe she tripped on a toy you refused to clean up, fell, and died from a brain injury.”
“…”
“Or she drank cyanide you accidentally gave her instead of sugar—then it would be your fault.”
“Cyanide…?”
“It’s a thing. If you eat it, you die.”
Liette realized she could’ve chosen a better example, but figured even this fool would get it by now.
“Got it? It would have to be that serious to say, ‘She died because of me.’ Dying while giving birth to you is just an accident.”
“But…! Mother knew she would die if she gave birth to me, but she still didn’t give up…!”
The boy, who had been speaking with a voice as tiny as an ant’s, suddenly became animated and raised his voice, eyes blazing.
Still, Liette kept her patience and explained again.
“If what you said is true, then it’s even less your fault. In the end, your mother chose that path.”
Evan was visibly confused by this new perspective.
“Then… why does Father hate me?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he finds you frustrating.”
Evan froze at Liette’s offhanded response.
Then, after a moment, he barely managed to lift his gaze to look at her.
“D-Do you really think so…?”
Liette shrugged nonchalantly, and the shocked Evan staggered to his feet.
“I—I’m going now…”
Go ahead.
Though she saw him walk away like a zombie, Liette didn’t care.
She just clicked her tongue inwardly.
Does he really believe he’s hated because of his mother’s death?
It was a tragic situation, yes, but Duke Croyte didn’t seem like the kind of heartless person who would blame Evan for such an unavoidable tragedy.
So why doesn’t Evan, of all people, see that?
Liette shook her head, thinking how foolish Evan was.
She turned to look out the window. It was already dark.
It’s gotten pitch black out there.
She had even shaken off the maid who wanted to follow her, so her parents might worry if she stayed too long.
Tch.
Thanks to Evan’s sudden visit, she hadn’t even read much. Liette pouted.
“I guess I should get going too.”
As she closed the book with a sharp snap and stood to leave the study—
“Liette?”
Duke Croyte entered the room.
“Your Grace!”
“I heard you had come and came straight to the study. I’m glad you’re still here.”
“I was just about to leave.”
Liette responded with a cheerful face, completely different from when she had been dealing with Evan. The Duke bent slightly to match her eye level.
His soft, light brown eyes turned to her.
“I invited you but didn’t properly host you.”
“Oh? I’m fine!”
“No, really. Could you spare a bit more time?”
Though much older, the Duke was polite and considerate.
The more she saw him, the more Liette liked Duke Croyte.
But still…
“It’s already late, my parents might worry.”
“I’ll send word to Duke Meren.”
“If I stay longer, it’ll be too late…”
“There are plenty of carriages here at the mansion.”
He’s a thorough man! Liette nodded.
“Well then, okay!”
“Now that I have your permission, I’ll have some tea brought here. Is it alright to have it in this room?”
“Of course.”
Though they were in a study, it was tidy and featured an elegant table.
Soon, a maid brought in the tea. A soft lavender scent wafted up.
As Liette sniffed curiously, the Duke explained.
“It’s lavender tea. My wife loved it.”
Ah… Evan’s mother, who had passed away.
Liette had just heard about the tragedy from Evan, and now the Duke was mentioning her as well.
Liette pretended not to know anything.
“What kind of person was she?”
“She was a beautiful and good person… but also cruel.”
The smile on the Duke’s face as he recalled her seemed bitter. Liette tilted her head at the vague description.
“Is it because she chose childbirth knowing she would die?”
It was understandable that a husband might be deeply hurt by such a decision.
Just as Liette was sinking into thought, the Duke spoke again.
“Sounds like you know she’s passed.”
Liette hesitated.
But thinking again, the Duke didn’t seem like someone who would blame his young son for his wife’s death.
So there was no need to hide the fact.
“I heard it from Evan earlier.”
She answered honestly, and the Duke widened his eyes in surprise.
He probably assumed she heard it from her own father, Duke Meren.
“Evan said such a thing…”
“I also heard how she died.”
Liette spoke carefully, watching his reaction.
“…I see.”
The Duke set down his teacup.
He didn’t seem overtly sad, but the lingering bitterness was clear. It must’ve been a memory that would never dull.
“I have a question.”
Liette finally voiced what she had been debating to ask.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Evan’s mother died giving birth to him, right?”
The Duke nodded slowly.
“That’s right.”
“So… do you resent Evan?”
The Duke’s eyes widened slightly at the completely unexpected question.
“Don’t tell me… Evan said that?”
“Yes.”
Liette answered without hiding anything.
She hadn’t said it to fix their relationship.
She just wanted to clear up the misunderstanding if the Duke was being falsely accused.
She liked this kind man.
He didn’t seem like someone who’d blame his son for his wife’s death. She asked to confirm.
“Evan thinks his mother died because of him… and that’s why you hate him.”
“…Good heavens.”
The Duke pressed his forehead in shock.
His reaction made it obvious—he had no idea Evan thought that.
“Evan is… the only gift my wife left me.”
Tsk tsk, so Evan really had misunderstood everything on his own.
“Looks like he had the wrong idea.”
“I was always worried about how reserved he was, so I nagged him… I guess that’s how he interpreted it.”
Regret filled the Duke’s sigh.
“I get it. That boy is a bit frustrating.”
Liette crossed her arms and agreed, but honestly, she couldn’t completely blame Evan either.
Even if it wasn’t his fault, the guilt must’ve weighed heavily on him, and he’d never expressed it to anyone.
“It might be hard for you to understand, but being a duke comes with great responsibility.”
“I know! Becoming a duke is my dream too.”
Liette’s eyes sparkled. The Duke gave a faint smile.
“Then you’ll be the first duchess of the Truto Empire.”
“Yes, I will!”
The Duke looked proudly at the spirited young lady, but then his voice turned serious.
“But like I said, the position comes with responsibilities. There will be many duties and dangers.”
“Dangers?”
“Yes. As a duke, you’ll meet many good people—but also bad ones.”
His expression darkened.
“One reason I couldn’t be affectionate with Evan… is because he’s too gentle. In a place like this, more a jungle than a home, he wouldn’t survive. He’d end up covered in wounds.”
Liette understood.
All along, the Duke had just been worried for Evan.
His only son would one day inherit the title, but the world the Duke had seen was too harsh.
“And even though Evan’s my only son, there are many outside the mansion who covet the title. If they think he’s unfit, they’ll make their move.”
I see… Liette had thought such succession rivalries only applied to her, being a girl.
But it was the same for Evan.
“That’s why I have a favor to ask you, Liette.”
“What is it?”
Liette tilted her head.
