~Chapter 61~
“Ah.”
I let out a sigh without meaning to.
Outside the door, Rosemarlin stood frozen, while Baldwin faced her inside the room. Just looking at them made me feel cold inside.
Rosemarlin closed her mouth tight. She looked confused, then finally opened her lips to speak.
“Oh, Duke, you were here. I didn’t expect to see you here…”
Rosemarlin stammered.
Baldwin turned to look at me. He asked me with his eyes:
‘Are you still saying you’ll handle this on your own?’
I let out a deep sigh.
Baldwin turned back to Rosemarlin. She tried to step back, as if she wanted to run away, but he pulled her into the room. When the door closed, Rosemarlin shook off Baldwin’s hand.
Her jaw was tight with stubbornness.
“…Fine. Maybe it’s better if you know. The Duchess was so terrible in front of everyone! I was so embarrassed because of her!”
Baldwin’s face went cold.
[Go on.]
Rosemarlin took a deep breath and snapped,
“It was with Gwenndolyn and Countess Crenbel! She pointed out in front of everyone that I didn’t even know about your wedding! I covered up the fact that you both didn’t get my permission to marry! I did that for you!”
Baldwin’s fingers moved.
[The Duke of Constantine can marry whoever he wants, whenever he wants. If you needed permission, you wouldn’t be here either, Mother.]
Rosemarlin’s face showed she was hurt. She looked like a sad deer.
“How…how could you say that…”
Baldwin was pointing out that Rosemarlin herself was once just a baron’s daughter, and her marriage had been against her family’s wishes.
[Please never talk about my marriage again.]
Even though he didn’t say it out loud, I could guess what he meant.
‘You have no right.’
Rosemarlin began to shake. Her eyes, heavily made up, filled with tears.
She glared at Baldwin.
“Do you know how I raised you? How could you say that to me… Do you think the Duchess is only rude to me?”
Baldwin calmly signed again.
[Was there anyone of a higher status than the Duchess at that gathering?]
Rosemarlin’s chin trembled.
“Gwenndolyn is the daughter of the Marquis of Horace! He’s been a leader in politics for years. Even Constantine can’t ignore that!”
[I asked if her status was higher than the Duchess’s.]
Baldwin’s question was calm and unwavering.
He was born a Constantine—someone who was used to ruling, not fitting in or lowering himself. Rosemarlin, on the other hand, had married into Constantine and was used to bowing her head and enduring things.
So even in front of Baldwin, Rosemarlin felt small. The only person she dared to look down on was me, maybe because we came from similar backgrounds.
But what she forgot was that I was a businesswoman. I could handle people and power much better, and I learned how to play the game.
Because of our positions, even if I insulted Countess Crenbel or slapped Gwenndolyn, no one could say anything to me—not out loud, anyway.
That was how social status worked.
The only reason I didn’t go that far was to save Rosemarlin’s face.
I let them believe they were in control, so losing it all would be even worse for them later.
[Is my question too hard? Then let me ask again.]
Rosemarlin grew paler and paler.
[Was there anyone of higher status than you at that gathering, Mother?]
Baldwin politely, but sharply, criticized her.
[The one you should have protected was Anna. Whose family are you in, Mother?]
Baldwin didn’t stop.
Rosemarlin read his words with a white face, trembling fists, unable to speak.
Would she faint right there?
“I… I…”
[They must have been rude to Anna. They must have ordered her around and acted like they were right. And you just let it happen.]
Baldwin spoke as if he had been there himself.
His white fingers, stained with black ink, moved smoothly.
He added one last thing.
[Mother, which family are you from? Are you still part of the Tully family?]
Tully was Rosemarlin’s birth family.
Tears started falling from her eyes.
“How could you say such things…”
Even though Rosemarlin was crying, Baldwin’s eyes were still cold. He didn’t feel even a little sorry. It was as if she didn’t exist in his heart at all.
[It’s your decision. If you’re not one of the Constantines, your family won’t support you.]
Baldwin threatened to take away everything she had.
He hit her in the place she feared most.
Rosemarlin went pale.
“I am the Duchess of Constantine! I gave birth to the Duke, I was the late Duke’s lawful wife! You can’t treat me like this!”
She shouted, crying harder and harder. She looked pitiful even to me, but Baldwin was still cold.
“Never, never say that again. It’s an insult to your father, too!”
[Think carefully, and let me know.]
Baldwin’s merciless words broke Rosemarlin.
“Do you know how I raised you… How hard it was… so hard…”
Now Rosemarlin was gasping for air, as if she might faint from shock.
I thought it was time to step in.
“Baldwin, I think we should take Mother to her room now.”
I took his hand and looked into his eyes. He sighed and stepped back.
“Mother, you should go back to your room now.”
I gently supported her like a defeated soldier and led her out.
Ella stood nearby, looking excited. I sighed and told her,
“Go get the head maid, or at least one of Mother’s closest maids.”
“Yes, Your Grace!” Ella said happily and ran off.
“I’ll take you to your room, Mother.”
“No, I don’t need it.”
Rosemarlin shook me off and glared at me with tear-filled eyes.
“You must be happy inside, right? This isn’t over. I am a Constantine, and my family—”
As she spoke, she breathed heavily, almost like she was reminding herself.
Her shoulders shook as she said,
“I have to protect it. I am a Constantine.”
“Yes, of course.”
I wasn’t scared at all.
Rosemarlin stared at me for a while, then left.
She walked away alone, stubborn as ever, and looked so lonely.
I didn’t know everything that had happened between Baldwin and Rosemarlin. But I knew one thing for sure—Baldwin would never hold her hand again.
Rosemarlin lost her child because of her own mistakes.
Watching her walk away, I saw my own parents in her. They too would never understand what they’d done wrong.
As I stood quietly in the hallway, Baldwin pulled me in.
He shut the door.
He hugged me tightly and rested his chin on top of my head. I could feel his chest rising and falling roughly.
With my head on his chest, I listened quietly to his heartbeat.
Thump, thump.
As I closed my eyes, it felt like everything that happened today faded away.
He kissed my forehead.
“I’m okay.”
He spoke from close enough to see my lips.
“Really, I’m okay. I won. I beat them all.”
Baldwin’s face twisted with emotion.
“I wasn’t afraid at all. Because you promised you’d always stay by my side.”
That was why I could be so brave. Because Baldwin would always be on my side.
I stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips, hoping to soften his sharp heart, even just a little.
