Chapter 3
Following the Marchioness, Elia stopped in front of a closet tucked away in a hallway on the third floor.
The Punishment Room.
That was the place where abuse had continued, even until Elia was almost twenty-one.
It wasn’t even a proper room—just an old, cramped closet that allowed only a sliver of light to enter.
Elia had always trembled in fear at the thought of being locked inside that place.
Inside, she couldn’t eat, nor drink a single drop of water. She simply had to stay locked up until the Marchioness allowed her to come out.
“Do not come out until I permit it.”
The Marchioness glared at Elia in front of the closet, but this time, Elia met her gaze calmly.
‘Because now I know what you and Serena did to me.’
The look in her eyes was so unfamiliar that the Marchioness’s shoulders twitched slightly, but soon her irritation flared, as if displeased with her own reaction.
Clack.
The sound of the lock being fastened rang in Elia’s ears.
“If not for the wedding, I’d grab a switch and beat the arrogance out of you. How dare you look at me like that.”
After those last words, the Marchioness stormed off, her footsteps full of fury.
Darkness slowly filled the space. A faint ray of light seeped in through the crack of the closet door. But this place no longer frightened her.
“Did you hear? Lady Elia is marrying the Archduke.”
“Oh my, really? She’s so lucky. After being treated so harshly for being an illegitimate child all this time.”
“Lucky? More like being sold off. You know how harsh life is in the North. They say people go mad there.”
The giggles of maids drifted over.
Elia leaned her head against the door and let out a small laugh.
It was funny, yet somewhat bitter—something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Oh right, this will be the Archduke’s third marriage, won’t it?”
“Yeah, the third. One wife died young, and the other practically fled the Empire and divorced him. What will become of our lady, I wonder?”
‘Because of rumors like these, I fought so hard not to go at first…’
Felix was once a war hero, a prominent candidate for the next Emperor—until the prophecy was announced by Cassandra, the oracle of Vishnu’s temple.
Cassandra declared that the first child born of the Emperor’s bloodline would bring ruin to the Empire.
After that prophecy, the Emperor sent Felix Lloyd to the distant North as if exiling him.
The prophecy spread through the Empire like a curse. People who once praised Felix as a hero slowly began to shut their mouths.
“But isn’t the Archduke said to be cold and unfeeling? And that scar on his cheek—so hideous.”
“Hey! If anyone hears you say that, you’ll be in big trouble!”
“Oh, come on. No one’s listening. It’s not like anyone would—”
The maid’s words cut off abruptly.
They knew the Marchioness often locked Elia in the closet, but they hadn’t expected her to be in there today—not when the Archduke was visiting.
“Could it be…?”
Footsteps drew closer.
Click. The lock was undone, and the closet door swung open.
“Ah! My lady!”
“Y-you were here…”
Elia rose calmly and brushed the dust from her skirt.
“Tell Mother you heard me fainting in the closet and moved me to my room. Then bring some food to my room.”
“…Y-yes, my lady.”
The maid lowered her head nervously, gauging Elia’s expression.
Everyone in the Marquis household knew Elia was an illegitimate child, so they all treated her with thinly veiled disdain.
Though they couldn’t outright mistreat her due to her status, her meals were always leftovers from others.
If not for today’s circumstances, they would have ignored her being locked in the closet as usual.
Elia’s struggle to open her heart to the Northern servants later came from experiences like these.
Unlike here, the Northern servants treated her with sincerity—but it took her a long time to accept that.
Lost in thought for a moment, Elia noticed the maids trying to slip away uncomfortably. She spoke up.
“The Archduke’s scar—he got it protecting us. It’s an honorable scar.”
“R-right.”
“Y-yes, that’s true!”
Elia flashed them a bright smile before walking past them.
The maids didn’t notice the slight twitch at the corner of her lips. Acting so differently from usual made her heart race.
Knock, knock.
“My lady, your meal.”
“Come in.”
The same maid who had criticized Felix’s scar entered and placed the food before Elia.
“…I-I’m so sorry about earlier!”
Elia stared at the maid, who bowed deeply in apology.
Sixteen years ago, Elia would have graciously said it was fine and forgiven her.
But now she knew—that attitude only made her look weaker.
“Your name is Jenny, right?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Could you do me a favor?”
Jenny’s dark brown eyes flickered nervously as if weighing her options.
“Uh… what kind of favor?”
“Nothing too big. As you know, I’ll be leaving for the North soon.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“Right. But you see, I’m worried whether my weak body can withstand the cold there.”
“That’s true. You’ve always been frail, and even infert—uh, I mean, you catch colds so easily…”
Jenny quickly changed her words, flustered.
“Exactly. So, I need you to fetch some herbs from the storage room for me.”
“…What?”
“Didn’t you hear me? I’ll say it again—go get the herbs.”
“…But how?”
Her eyes wavered anxiously.
“It’s simple. Just say Serena needs them. You’re her personal maid, aren’t you?”
“E-even so, that’s…”
“…Ha. I wasn’t going to bring this up, but—you took my necklace, the one Serena gave me, didn’t you?”
Elia rose from the bed, her tone carrying quiet authority, and stepped closer to Jenny.
“I’ve always known. I just turned a blind eye.”
Jenny flinched, backing away in panic.
“And not just that—most of the things Serena gave me ended up divided among you and the others. If the Marquis finds out there are thieves in his household, what do you think he’ll say?”
Of course, the Marquis wouldn’t care even if she did tell him.
“I-I…”
When Elia’s face was mere inches away, Jenny immediately surrendered.
“…I-I’ll do it! I’ll do everything you say!”
Elia let out a bitter smile.
‘If I’d had just a little courage back then, it would have been this easy. Why did I let myself live like a fool for sixteen years?’
Jenny hurriedly bowed and rushed out of the room.
Elia picked up the sandwich on the plate. One bite released a juicy burst of flavor from the thick ham, the crisp crunch adding to the warmth.
It was something she had never tasted in this household before.
She was the child born of a secret affair between the Marquis and his most beautiful maid—his single blemish.
That was Elia.
The Marchioness was obsessed with noble pride. She had accepted Elia into the house but sent the maid away.
Thus, Elia became the shadow of House Arnes.
But being alive meant yearning for warmth, for the strong walls of family.
When she first heard the word “illegitimate,” she went to her father, Marquis Harold Arnes, in his study.
“Father!”
But instead of comforting her, his words only scarred her tender heart.
“If you know the truth, then keep your head down and live quietly.”
Elia never forgot those words.
From that day on, she gave up on everything—living like a puppet, obeying every command, emptying her heart for years.
‘I lived that way all my life. Going to the North won’t change who I am…’
But then she steeled her resolve again.
‘In the North, there are too many people I need to protect. Especially little Jeremy. I have to change now…’
She had a reason to be different this time.
She recalled the last image of Jeremy she had seen.
‘He was… twenty-one then, wasn’t he?’
She had hardly cared for him, yet by then, Jeremy had grown strong enough to protect her.
He was now the same age as she was.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t clearly recall the little boy of five she had first met.
‘I do remember he was very small…’
Bang!
“Sis! Here you are!”
The door burst open without warning.
“Serena…”
As always, not even a courtesy knock.
“Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you? I was going to secretly let you out of the closet!”
“…”
‘Right. And every time you let me out, I always ended up with an even harsher punishment later.’
Serena lingered near the door, tilting her head in confusion at Elia’s silence.
Her cheeks were flushed, as if she really had been searching everywhere.
“Sis, what’s wrong? Why do you seem so different today? You scared me earlier.”
“…Nothing. What is it?”
“Huh? What do you mean, what? We were supposed to have tea together today! Don’t you remember?”
“…Ah.”
Elia’s lips, which had loosened slightly, pressed together again. She bit the soft flesh inside her cheek.
‘That tea… Melanesia…’
For a moment, dizziness washed over her. She closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again.
