Episode 40
When I carefully opened the folded pink paper, I saw black ink that read:
[I kept calling your name, and before I realized it, summer had already passed.]
A chill ran down my arm. The next letter had a similar tone.
[There’s a field of flowers in my heart. You are the owner. You can come anytime and take as many flowers as you want.]
There weren’t many letters, but all of them were full of overly sweet compliments and passionate love confessions. They were so cheesy that they made me feel a little sick. The handwriting wasn’t Carla’s. It looked like love letters from a man.
When I looked carefully, the sender’s name was written at the bottom of each letter. It was easy to figure out who wrote them.
‘They’re from Count Icarus. Ugh, gross.’
Still, I thought maybe something in the letters could help, so I started going through them one by one. Then Theodore came over.
“Did you find anything?”
“No. Just love letters.”
I handed him the papers, but he hesitated to take them.
“What’s wrong?”
“Is it okay for me to read them…?”
“It’s fine. Go ahead.”
Theodore carefully took the letters and began reading them seriously. Seeing such a big man holding pink paper looked kind of funny and cute.
‘Don’t laugh. He’s helping you.’
But I couldn’t help smiling and had to cover my mouth. Theodore bit his lip while reading, then handed the letters back to me.
“What is it?”
“Do you… like words like these?”
“Are you asking me?”
“Yes.”
It was clear he misunderstood something. These letters were sent to Carla, not me. Just because she might’ve liked this stuff didn’t mean I did too. My voice came out sharp.
“I didn’t get these letters.”
“I know.”
Theodore’s cheeks turned red. Scratching his neck, he explained.
“I just thought… since you were looking at them so carefully… maybe Lady Carla liked that kind of thing. I mean, not you—you didn’t receive them—but the Carla I know—well…”
He was so flustered that his words got all tangled, and he didn’t even notice. He wasn’t even looking at me—just at the floor.
‘Ah, so he wasn’t confusing me with Carla.’
Seeing him desperately explain himself made me feel better. He looked really cute when flustered. I ended up laughing.
“Haha, it’s okay. I get it. You don’t need to explain anymore.”
But I couldn’t stop laughing, and the more I laughed, the redder his face got. His cheeks, ears, and even his neck turned bright red.
Knock, knock. The door suddenly opened, helping me stop laughing. Theodore immediately reached for his sword, just in case. I quickly hid the love letters behind me.
“Unni (Big Sis), are you asleep?”
“No, not yet.”
It was Phedes. She came in wearing a soft white dress, a nightgown embroidered with a blue butterfly at the hem. She looked more like a girl barely past twenty than the serious knight she usually acted like.
Theodore stood up straight when he saw her.
“What were you doing?”
“Nothing much. Just talking with Sir Theodore.”
“Then play with me now. Send the guard out.”
I was planning to search the room more, so I was surprised by her sudden request.
“You never know when you’ll sleep here again. I want to sleep with you tonight.”
She pouted. It must be her usual way of whining to her sister.
‘She’s so cute.’
Even though I wasn’t really her sister, I found myself being soft with her. I could search the room later. I didn’t even know what I was looking for anyway.
Since I’d made peace with the Duke and Duchess, I’d likely have more chances to visit this place.
“Alright, let’s sleep together tonight, you little whiner.”
“Yay!”
As she wrapped her arm around mine, I quietly tossed the love letters back into the drawer. She didn’t notice—I think she was too busy watching Theodore.
“I’ll take my leave then. Please call me if you need anything.”
“Don’t tell me you plan to stand guard outside the door again? Why is your guard always so stiff? Just go rest. The butler will show you to the guest room.”
“Yes, enjoy your rest. You’re our guest today.”
“But I…”
Theodore tried to explain why he needed to stay, but Phedes cut him off.
“What’s with that attitude? Are you saying you think I might hurt my sister?”
She even shoved him out of the room. The butler, already waiting outside, gently smiled and took Theodore away. The way he handled things so thoroughly was a bit scary.
“Are you cold?”
“No.”
“Why are you still not changed? Should I call your nanny? Maybe the maids forgot.”
“No need to bother.”
I said I was fine and held up the folded nightgown on the desk. It matched the one Phedes wore. I went into the bathroom, quickly washed up, and changed.
When I came out, Phedes was already sitting on the bed. I hesitated, unsure of how to “play” with her. But she spoke first.
“Unni, be honest.”
“About what?”
“Are you going to divorce the Count?”
Her question caught me off guard, and I gasped. That made me hiccup.
“Hic… What are… hic… you saying?”
“Don’t deny it. It’s obvious from how you act.”
She was pressing me, but with that big pillow in her arms, she didn’t seem threatening at all. I patted my chest to stop the hiccups and replied.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Even if the family opposed the marriage, you’re still the Duke’s eldest daughter. As the heir, I have a duty to protect you.”
She gently patted my back. The hiccups stopped. Her words were comforting, but I couldn’t divorce yet.
“I’m not divorcing him.”
Most of Carla’s dowry was in the Count’s hands. If I divorced now, I’d just be doing him a favor. When I said that, Phedes frowned.
“If the casino goes well, you’ll earn that money back. Just divorce him and come back.”
“No. That would feel like losing.”
If I had just arrived in this world, I might’ve taken that offer right away. But now, I had so much anger built up against the Count. He constantly mocked me, treated me like I was beneath him, and ordered me around like I was some servant.
“Sure, I don’t want to waste the dowry. But I’d rather fight back than not even get to wear the dress I like.”
That hit me like lightning. Carla had brought a huge dowry into the marriage. She kept saying she’d been abandoned, but if the Duke’s family had truly rejected her, the dowry wouldn’t have been so generous. And they wouldn’t have welcomed me back so easily.
The Count kept insisting the Duke’s family had cast Carla aside. But that was a lie.
“I can’t just back down. I made a vow in the name of the Great One. I will not divorce him easily.”
I thought Phedes would scold me, but instead, she clapped her hands.
“Now that’s the Carla I know. Carla’s not Carla without her pride.”
She lay down and rested her head on my lap. Her face beamed with a smile.
“But why did you change your mind all of a sudden?”
I hesitated. Her sparkling eyes made it hard to tell her I’d caught the Count cheating.
“Did something happen?”
I felt like I was choking. Would she be able to accept such a shameful story? Carla had done nothing wrong, but the truth was still painful to admit.
‘How do I tell her I saw the Count and a maid together on Carla’s bed?’
In this world, affairs were treated lightly. What if Phedes thought it was no big deal? I was scared she’d think Carla was foolish.
When I stayed silent too long, Phedes looked worried.
“Don’t tell me… did the Count hit you?”
“No.”
“If he ever tries to raise his hand, tell me. I’ll make sure he never uses it again.”
Phedes growled. Seeing her angry made my heavy heart feel lighter. I gently fixed her messy hair and said:
“I saw him cheating. With a maid.”
“What?”
“I came home, and they were cuddling on my bed.”
All the color drained from her face.
“He said he’d divorce me and make her the new Countess. So I told him—never.”
Just remembering it made my voice shake with anger.
“I’ll take back the dowry, steal all his money, and kick him out. That’s why I’m working with the casino. Until then, no divorce.”
Saying all that out loud made me feel so much better. I laughed bitterly.
“I mean, doing all this just because my husband cheated—don’t you think it’s too much?”
But Phedes didn’t laugh. Her fists were clenched so tight the veins on her hands stood out.
“You married a fool, and now you’re acting like one? That’s not funny at all.”
She hugged me tightly.
“No matter what, I’m on your side.”
Her hug was so strong I thought my ribs would break. I managed to pull away and smoothed down her long black hair.
“Unni, can I ask you something?”
“Since when did you need permission to ask?”
I repeated what I’d once said at the card game. Phedes giggled. Her young face, so much like Carla’s, was full of curiosity.
“Are you and your guard knight… you know… in that kind of relationship?”
