TSHL 07

Chapter 7

After returning to the mansion, I went straight to my room and began preparing to leave.

I told the maids I wished to be alone and ordered that no one come in. Then I locked the door behind me.

The familiar sight of the old-fashioned room where I had lived these past years filled my eyes.

The soft bed and sofa I might never have used had I not lived the life of the Duchess of Hydrian, the small table and chairs where I could enjoy tea—all of it.

I found myself smiling faintly as I gently brushed my hand over the lovely, ornate furnishings.

It was a strange, complex feeling. Now that I was really about to leave everything behind, a small part of me felt reluctant.

When I first became the Duchess, life had been hard—gossip, conflicts with the family, endless scrutiny.
But those days were long past.

Now I understood boundaries—the line I had to keep before the family, the line I must never cross.

As long as I stayed within those lines, there were no problems.

Aside from the fact that my family was a little distant from me, my life had been decent enough. The luxurious meals every day, the baths filled with fragrant oils, the servants who anticipated my every need without a word…

At least materially, it had been the most abundant time of my life.

I walked toward the table and slowly sat down. Through the window, I could see the vast garden of the duchy.

Whenever things became too complicated in my mind, I would sit here with a cup of tea to collect my thoughts.

As I gazed out at the garden one last time, I took out the paper and quill I had prepared.

After a brief hesitation, the tip of the quill began to move slowly across the crisp paper.

“It’s been a long time since I wrote as Cassia, not as your new wife or your new mother, but as Diana’s friend.”

I had agonized over that first sentence, but once it was written, the rest of the words flowed easily—as if they had been waiting for me to write them all along.

“Now that Nick has come of age, the contract I made with His Grace seven years ago has been fulfilled.
I’m truly relieved that I was able to protect this family safely, even if only in Diana’s place.
Now that I’ve decided to leave, I feel a strange mix of regret and relief…
Having done all that was required of me, I will now leave the duchy and live my own life.”

I paused, setting down the quill for a moment, lost in thought.

What more should I say? I smiled faintly as the answer came to me.

“Diana was my beautiful friend—and your one and only family.”

If the family had truly accepted me, if by some miracle our relationship had deepened, I might have stayed longer than the seven years Diana had mentioned.

Whether as their “stepmother,” or simply as Cassia, even after divorce—it wouldn’t have mattered.

After all, they and I shared the same pain of losing Diana. I had once thought we might heal and lean on each other.

But now I knew better.

This marriage had been wrong from the start.
I had always known it, deep down.

Even if it had been to protect the family, I had crossed the line the moment I took Diana’s place.

That was why it had to be corrected—this relationship that had been flawed from the beginning.

Seven years had passed, and now I finally could.

“Thank you for embracing me, even though I was unworthy to take Diana’s place.”

And now, I too wanted to draw a clear line. Because I was Cassia.

…Because I had my own life to live.

That was the real reason I decided to leave the duchy.

“I’ll be going now. Thank you for the seven years. May divine blessing fill the House of Hydrian.”

When I finished the letter, I folded it neatly and slipped it into an envelope.

Opening the bedside drawer locked with a key, I took out the divorce papers I had prepared in advance.

Cassia Hydrian.

After signing my name, I placed both the papers and the letter into the drawer.

Then, as if nothing had happened, I sat quietly for a while, gazing out the window.

Everything was ready.

All that remained was to leave.

* * *

Nick’s birthday banquet was grand and dazzling.

Under chandeliers pouring down a waterfall of light, the ballroom was filled with nobles of every age.

Word of the Duke of Hydrian’s youngest son coming of age had spread across the nation, and hundreds of guests had gathered from all over.

Young noblemen in tuxedos approached Nick with playful smiles, congratulating him on his birthday.

Ladies in ornate dresses and jewelry stole glances at him, whispering to one another behind their fans.

The banquet was a success. No unexpected incidents, no chaos—everything went exactly as planned.

I sat beside the Duke on the platform, quietly eating and holding my place, occasionally exchanging greetings with visiting nobles.

Ken was not in attendance.
He had never once returned to the mansion after leaving it.

There had been no coming-of-age celebration for him either; the Duke and Nick had simply gone to the imperial palace to share a meal with him.

I felt a faint regret that I hadn’t been able to see Ken’s face again—but perhaps that was for the best.

As I looked slowly around the hall, I felt strangely nostalgic.

The tables laden with food, the servants hurrying about, the nobles laughing and clinking glasses of champagne…

I realized this might be the last time I would ever see such a scene.

It felt like being inside a dream.

I had never particularly enjoyed parties, yet knowing this would be the final one left my heart oddly unsettled.

I wanted to take it all in—to remember every detail.

Then the host’s voice echoed from the stage.

“We will now begin the young master’s birthday cake ceremony.”

The ballroom fell silent, all eyes turning toward the platform.
Nick stepped up onto the stage, dressed smartly in a tuxedo.

He looked strikingly like his father now—taller than me, broad-shouldered and poised.

He had once been a small, frail child. Seeing how much he had grown into a fine young man stirred a strange warmth in me.

A cake was placed before him.

It was the cake I had made myself—
a chocolate cheesecake, his favorite flavors combined into one.

It was modest compared to the towering multi-tier cakes usually seen at such banquets,
but it was the best thing I could personally do for him, one last time.

When the candles were lit, Nick closed his eyes, made a wish, and blew them out.
Cheers and applause filled the hall, accompanied by the sound of trumpets.

Smiling, I joined in, clapping proudly for the grown young man.

Then Nick slowly turned to look at me.

From where I sat below the stage, our eyes met—clearly, directly.

He smiled softly, and then he bowed his head toward me.

“….”

I froze. My eyes widened.

This boy—who had never once met my gaze properly—was looking right at me and smiling.

What was this? Was he simply in a good mood?
Had he noticed my decision to leave and was giving me a farewell gift?

My heart swelled painfully in my chest, beating fast.

And then, before I knew it, a small, trembling smile formed on my lips.

I was happy.
Utterly, overwhelmingly happy.

That single smile from Nick made me feel as though all my efforts these past years had finally been rewarded.

I smiled back at him, radiant, as if to return his gesture.
Then, beside me, I met Axyon’s eyes.

“You look pleased,” he said quietly.

“Yes,” I replied, smiling. “Nick has grown into such a fine young man.”

For a moment, Axyon simply looked at me without replying. Then, he too smiled faintly.

“It’s thanks to you, Cassia,” he said. His voice was sincere.

“You’ve worked hard. Truly.”

“…Thank you, Your Grace,” I answered softly.

“And you as well. You’ve worked hard too.”

With those final words, I felt I could finally leave this mansion without regret.

* * *

The next dawn, I left the mansion.

It was so early that even the servants were still asleep.

I stood before the mirror.

Gone was the duchess’s splendid gown.
In its place, I wore a simple, muted dress and low-heeled shoes instead of the high heels I had always worn.

It was strange—just by changing my clothes, I felt like someone entirely different.

Yet, it also felt like I was finally returning to the real Cassia.

Yes, this was me—
the woman who disliked cumbersome dresses,
who had never worn high heels,
who preferred peace to lavish parties.

This was who I truly was.

My luggage was light. I couldn’t afford to take much with me on a long journey.
…Not that I had brought much with me when I first arrived.

I picked up the small bag and checked once more to make sure I had Diana’s journal with me.

That, at least, I could not leave behind.

Finally, I pulled my cloak tight around me.

I left the room and entered the Duke’s study, placing the letter and the signed divorce papers neatly on his desk.

Would it be all right to leave it at that?

He already knew that after seven years, I had the right to request a divorce.

I wondered what kind of reaction my disappearance would bring.

Would they feel regret? Or would they simply sign the papers without a word?

It didn’t matter either way. The question was only idle curiosity.

Standing alone in the silent study, I whispered a final farewell.

“Goodbye, Axyon.”

And goodbye, Ken and Nick—my dear, beloved boys.

I wanted to carry only the good memories with me, leaving behind the pain and suffocating ones.

In that sense, last night’s banquet was the best memory I had made in this mansion.

Nick’s smile of acknowledgment.
Axyon’s voice thanking me.

That was enough.

With no regrets, no lingering attachments, I could finally go.

After taking one last look around the study, I turned toward the front door.

Step. Step.

With every footfall, my heartbeat thudded in time—
thump, thump, thump.

It was as if my very soul was echoing the sound of my freedom.

The moment the cool dawn air touched my face, I drew in a deep breath—
and then, I began to run.

I ran and ran, as though breaking free from something that had long imprisoned me.

Without once looking back—
I left the mansion behind.