Chapter 30
At Lloyd’s words, Kallion frowned deeply.
Seeing Kallion’s confused expression, Lloyd made it clearer.
“Judging by her condition, the symptoms must’ve started before the banquet.”
Kallion’s face hardened at the sharp remark.
Then, frowning with clear displeasure, Kallion retorted,
“And you? Knowing her condition, you still took her outside until she got that bad?”
Grinding his teeth, Lloyd snapped back.
“Well, at least I wasn’t off caring for another woman while my sick wife was left alone.”
The two men locked eyes, the tension thick between them.
Just then, Yuliana, lying unconscious in Lloyd’s arms, slowly fluttered her eyelids.
Noticing her movement, Lloyd looked down at her with concern.
“You’re awake?”
Yuliana, dazed and barely conscious, realized she was in Lloyd’s arms and weakly squirmed.
Then, spotting Kallion nearby, her face stiffened.
“Put me down, Lloyd.”
Her dry voice was enough for Lloyd to gently set her down without protest.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Yuliana staggered.
Before Kallion could react, Lloyd quickly grabbed her arm to steady her.
“Are you alright?”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll help you back into the house.”
Lloyd offered sincerely, but Yuliana shook her head.
“Thank you for everything today.”
With that, she began walking on her own, forcing herself to look okay despite her pale face.
Lloyd bit his lip, watching her struggle.
Kallion, watching the two, felt a strange wave of discomfort.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?” he asked stiffly as she passed.
Yuliana sighed, too tired even to look at him.
“Would it have made a difference if I had?”
Her cold tone left Kallion speechless.
As she tried to walk again, she stumbled. Kallion reflexively reached out—but Yuliana quickly pulled away, as if his touch disgusted her.
“Don’t touch me, Kallion.”
Her voice dripped with contempt. Kallion slowly pulled his hand back, his expression stiffening.
She really hated him that much?
Without giving him another glance, Yuliana clutched her burning forehead and walked away.
“I’m tired, so I’ll go inside first.”
Leaving only those words behind, she disappeared into the mansion, swaying weakly.
The two men could do nothing but watch in silence.
Finally, Kallion spoke.
“Thank you for bringing my wife back to the house.”
Then he gave Lloyd a sharp look.
“But I’d appreciate it if you kept your involvement to a minimum. Like it or not, she’s the Lady of Valdormer. My wife.”
Lloyd scoffed.
“And yet, you didn’t even realize your wife was this ill?”
Kallion’s frown deepened. He ran a hand across his forehead in frustration.
“She doesn’t show it easily. That’s why I didn’t notice.”
Lloyd let out a bitter laugh.
“It’s not that she didn’t show it. She couldn’t.”
Kallion’s shoulders stiffened.
Looking at him sharply, Lloyd gritted his teeth and continued.
“She married into a rival family. People around her don’t like her. Even her own bedroom must feel like walking on glass. How could she show weakness in a place like that?”
Kallion couldn’t argue—because it was true.
“She probably held it all in to avoid giving anyone an excuse to criticize her. I bet she tried her best to endure everything. And the only person she had to rely on… was you.”
Lloyd’s voice trembled slightly with anger as he added,
“But from the look of things, you treated her worse than a stranger.”
He was right.
In truth, Kallion had been the one most suspicious and cold toward her in the household.
“If you don’t want me interfering,” Lloyd said, voice cutting, “then you’d better make sure there’s no reason for me to step in again.”
Kallion stood frozen, unable to respond.
Lloyd, eyes cold as ice, added in a quiet, firm voice:
“Otherwise… I’ll keep stepping in whenever I see the chance. Let’s call that a warning.”
Their eyes locked.
Kallion’s dark amethyst glare clashed with Lloyd’s chilling sapphire stare.
“I’ll take my leave now,” Lloyd said first, stepping back.
He acknowledged—for now—that this was Kallion’s territory.
But the look in his eyes was that of a predator, waiting to pounce the moment his rival slipped.
Kallion watched him go, fists clenched tightly by his sides.
***
Yuliana’s body felt unbearably heavy, like she was buried under a ton of weight.
She struggled to open her eyes, only to be hit by a pounding headache.
Her stomach burned like fire, and her throat felt raw and torn.
In her blurry vision, a small figure appeared.
Familiar. Beloved.
She smiled softly without thinking.
“Denian…?”
The blurred shape nodded.
“You came because you were worried Mommy was sick?”
The small figure nodded again.
She thought: I shouldn’t pass my cold to him…
What time was it? Did the maids remember to feed him on time?
If I didn’t remind them, they might not even take care of such basic things.
Denian had always been treated as if he didn’t exist in this house.
With that thought, she tried to sit up.
But the small, soft hand held hers firmly.
“Mommy, don’t be sick.”
At the warmth of that little hand, she stopped moving.
Then she looked at the child.
Finally, she could see his face clearly.
He looked at her with worry—this child, only three years old, at an age where he should be whining for attention.
Her heart ached painfully.
“Okay, Mommy will get better quickly.”
She gently stroked his small head.
“I’ll get better so I can play with you in the garden.”
Denian smiled brightly.
Her nose stung at the sight, and she slowly opened her arms.
Understanding her signal, the child snuggled into her arms.
She held him close, his small, warm body filling her with something precious.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry Mommy’s sick.”
She kissed his little forehead, and his soft hair.
“I won’t be sick again, so you won’t have to worry.”
Though she was holding him, the longing in her chest didn’t fade.
She wanted to get better quickly. To take him on a walk in the garden. Bake his favorite cookies. Go on a picnic.
She was thinking all this when tears suddenly slid down her cheeks.
Why am I crying?
Why does my heart ache so badly?
She didn’t want Denian to see her cry.
She only wanted to show him smile.
But this warmth in her arms—so precious, so deeply missed—made her sob.
“I’ll get better soon… I have to, so I can protect Denian.”
The tears kept coming. Not wanting him to see, she squeezed her eyes shut and held him tighter.
“So please…”
Holding that small, fragile body tightly, she slowly opened her eyes.
But Denian was gone.
There was nothing in her arms.
She was hugging herself tightly, alone in her bed.
It had all been a dream.
“Hhh… uhhh…”
The memory of his warmth and touch was so vivid, it crushed her chest.
She sobbed quietly, unable to even cry out loud.
Beside her, Kate—who had fallen asleep while watching over her—woke up in surprise.
“My lady! What’s wrong, my lady?!”
“Hhhk… hhh…”
Clutching Kate’s collar, Yuliana broke down and cried. Hard.
And Kate could only hold her in silent comfort.
