Episode 32
Emilia studied Henry as he sat slouched at the table, tossing back drink after drink.
The proud, refined man she’d once seen in the Hermann estate was long gone. His clothes were filthy, his hair a mess,
and the stench of alcohol rolled off him.
She frowned and walked toward him.
When Henry noticed someone approaching, he immediately assumed it was another debt collector and barked,
“I told you, I’ll pay it back!”
“I mean it! I’ve finally got a way to get the money!”
“A way?”
He still hadn’t realized it was Emilia standing in front of him. Even though she made no effort to hide her voice, he was
too drunk and dazed to process it.
Watching him, she almost laughed in disbelief. The man who had once been the heir to a marquisate had fallen so low
it was pathetic. If no one else were watching, she might have doubled over laughing.
Clearly, he had no credit to his name. Whatever money he’d borrowed was probably from loan sharks, not any
legitimate source. And now, in the middle of the day, he was here drinking. What “method” could he possibly have to
repay anyone?
She had a guess.
“Yeah, I’m going to see my little sister and get some money off her. Looks like she’s living in a pretty nice place, she
must have some cash.”
Her guess was dead-on.
She’d suspected that was why he’d come looking for her the other day, but hearing it from his own mouth still left her
speechless. How could he say something like that so brazenly?
“And if she refuses?”
“She wouldn’t dare. That kid used to do anything I told her she’d pretend to drop dead if I said so. And if she doesn’t
give it to me, I’ll just take it.”
“…Ha.”
They weren’t half-siblings. They shared the same mother and father. If she’d been an illegitimate child or born to a
concubine, maybe his arrogance would have made some twisted kind of sense.
But no they were full siblings.
Not that she’d ever truly thought of him as her brother. And now, hearing this, whatever scraps of human decency
she’d kept for him were gone.
“So just give me a little more—”
“You really think I’d give you a single coin?”
“Who are you?”
He finally realized she wasn’t a debt collector, his face stiffening.
Emilia removed her cloak and met his eyes.
“Well, speak of the devil. Emilia. What kind of tone is that with your big brother?”
He actually had the gall to sound offended. Recognizing her face seemed to relax him, and he even got angry.
If a loan shark had been the one speaking to him like this, Henry would have laughed nervously, agreed to whatever
they said, and tried to placate them he’d learned the hard way what happened otherwise.
But with Emilia? In his mind, she was still the timid girl from the Hermann estate.
Back then, she’d been utterly powerless even ranked below the servants.
It wasn’t the treatment she deserved, but no one had cared.
She’d crawled to him, crying, begging him to acknowledge her as part of the Hermann family.
Thinking of those days, Henry smirked. Maybe it would be better to keep her around and milk her for money instead
of selling her off. That could wait until later.
“Emilia, stop yapping and get some money ready. Your brother says he needs it.”
“I already told you—what, are you getting senile? I’m not giving you a single coin.”
“You’re really talking back. And what’s with ‘you’? Say ‘brother.’”
“Brother? My ass.”
“What?”
His drunken face twisted with confusion and anger, his eyes narrowing like he might leap up and grab her by the
collar.
She didn’t care. She wasn’t afraid of him anymore not even if he tried to hit her.
“Because of you and Father, so many people died. And you’re here wasting away? Pathetic.”
“Pathetic? You”
“And stop saying my name. It’s disgusting when it comes out of your mouth.”
The memory of her wedding day surfaced the day before, when she’d been thrown into a freezing underground cell.
She’d thought Edwin didn’t really want her, and that if things followed the original story, she’d meet the same tragic end.
She’d planned to fix things with him when she got the news of their engagement. But she never got the chance
because of Henry.
She could still see his face, smirking as he ordered her locked up.
“My life is ruined because of you. You!”
Bang!
Henry slammed the table and stood.
Emilia glanced around. Every eye in the tavern was on them half curious, half annoyed.
The annoyance wasn’t just from having their peace disturbed, either. There was clear disdain for Henry in their stares.
She almost smiled.
Go ahead, keep it up.
It didn’t look like there was anyone here who would step in to help him.
People follow emotion over reason—it’s easier. And judging from those eyes, if Henry wound up dead here, no one
would lift a finger.
She reached for the sword at her side.
“You probably don’t even know…”
Henry, oblivious to her intent, lowered his voice and spoke.
She ignored him, gripping the hilt until he said a name he shouldn’t have.
“I saw Edwin near your place. Kinda makes you wonder if”
“Shut your mouth, Henry.”
Before he could finish, she drew the sword and pointed it at him.
He froze, legs trembling.
The onlookers didn’t pity him instead, they mocked him for shaking like that.
Still, he pushed on.
“E-Emilia. I’ve got something you’ll want to hear.”
“I doubt it.”
“No, listen! This could help you too! A chance to get back at Edwin that bastard who ruined us both!”
Her face hardened.
“What the hell are you babbling about?”
He must have thought she was hooked, because he went on.
“You only got to marry Edwin because of a weakness, right?”
“…Yeah.”
A weakness. The word alone made her tense. It was why she’d been forced into marriage, why she’d been shoved
onto the path she’d wanted to avoid.
After a wedding no one welcomed, she didn’t fit in with either the Emperor’s faction or the nobles, enduring stares
everywhere she went.
That weakness had stained her life in pitch black.
Seeing her reaction, Henry cautiously reached into his coat.
“Easy. I’m just taking it out.”
She kept the blade at his neck and gave him a look that said Go on.
He slowly pulled out a sword.
“It’s the Casper family’s heirloom. With this, you could be a duchess again.”
“Ha.”
“And I could rebuild the marquisate!”
She laughed loud and sharp.
Henry scowled, not understanding, then realized she was laughing because she thought his idea was a joke not worth
answering.
“What’s so funny?!”
Even with him shouting, she didn’t cower or flinch like before.
“You think I was kicked out of the Casper house?”
“If you weren’t, why are you here?”
“Because I left before they could throw me out.”
His eyes widened, like she’d said something impossible.
“I left him on my own because it was better for him, and for me.”
She’d signed the divorce papers and walked out before anyone could force her.
As for that “weakness” he was rambling about it was nothing but nonsense.
She clicked her tongue at him… then noticed his eyes fixed on something behind her.
She followed his gaze to the doorway.
“Haah… haah…”
A tall man with black hair the same one she’d seen yesterday stood there.
“Edwin?”
