Episode 39
“Yes. Eleanor told me you helped her with what happened this time.”
Catherine secretly wiped her cold sweat as she sat in front of the Duke.
The Duke’s presence was overwhelming—normal people wouldn’t even dare to come close.
It felt like standing in front of a powerful predator, just waiting to be eaten.
The day after Eleanor left, just like she said, knights from the Duke’s house came to find Catherine.
“H-Huh…?”
“Take her to the office.”
Leading the knights was someone very familiar—Sir Mel, Eleanor’s escort knight.
When their eyes met, his cold, disgusted expression made it clear he didn’t want to even touch her.
Instead, he ordered the other knights to drag her along.
That’s how Catherine ended up here, sitting alone in front of Duke Hereis.
“I’ll thank you first. Thank you.”
The Duke, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
“…What?”
Catherine was shocked.
She had expected him to get angry, maybe even hit her.
After all, Rachel—the woman who had always been cruel to Eleanor—was her mother, and Catherine had bullied Eleanor too.
So she was surprised when the Duke thanked her.
“I don’t know why you changed your mind all of a sudden… But still, I’m glad. I’m glad you stood by Eleanor’s side, not your mother’s.”
His cool violet eyes stared straight into Catherine’s sky-blue ones.
“If you had followed your mother completely… you wouldn’t be sitting here now.”
Catherine flinched at his low murmur.
It was like an adult scaring a small child—but neither of them commented on it.
“You’ve probably heard by now. I’ve already submitted divorce papers with your mother to the court.”
“That means…”
“You’re quick. That’s right. You’re no longer a part of the Valentine family. Neither is your brother.”
Divorce.
That word hit hard.
It meant that Catherine and Alex could no longer stay in this house.
They were now outsiders—no longer part of the noble family.
Less than a week had passed since everything happened, but the Duke had acted immediately as if he’d been waiting.
Now Catherine understood why the servants were cold and the knights treated her roughly.
It wasn’t just because she had done something wrong—it was because she had become just a commoner now.
Before coming to the Valentine estate, Rachel often said she was different from other commoners, but never clearly explained her status.
She always avoided the topic, which made Catherine suspect she had indeed been a commoner before.
“What you did put Eleanor in danger… but in the end, you tried to help her. So I’ll grant you one wish. Tell me what you want.”
The Duke looked at her like a god offering mercy to a foolish mortal.
He already had an idea of what she might say:
‘Please don’t kick me out of this house.’
‘Please don’t abandon me, Duke.’
He thought Catherine would be scared to live as a commoner now, without her mother and brother.
He assumed a child used to luxury would never be able to handle a poor life.
“A… wish?”
But his guess was completely wrong.
Catherine looked into his eyes and spoke slowly.
“Then… please send Eleanor to Hieros Academy, just like she wished.”
“…”
“My wish is this. I hope you pay more attention to your children, Duke. Please help them live the life they truly want.”
Instead of asking for something for herself, Catherine made a wish for Eleanor and his children.
Even if the Duke was surprised, Catherine’s calm blue eyes stayed the same.
What… What did she just say?
The Duke wasn’t someone who granted wishes easily—
He wasn’t the type to repay favors just because someone helped him.
This was a rare chance. And Catherine used it… not for herself, but for someone else.
“She needs you, Duke.”
That was all she said. She didn’t add anything more.
And at that moment, the Duke noticed something odd.
Duke.
…Her way of addressing him had changed.
She no longer called him “Father.”
Father! Duke, can I call you Father?
I always wanted to say that because I never had one!
Thank you, Father!
Catherine had been the most affectionate child toward him in this cold household.
Whether Rachel had told her to act that way, or she did it for her reasons, she had always treated him warmly.
But now… she drew a clear line and called him ‘Duke.’
That made the change even more noticeable—and uncomfortable.
“Strange.”
“…Pardon?”
“…Never mind. If that’s your wish, I’ll grant it.”
The Duke pushed away the uneasy feeling.
There was no reason to care anymore anyway.
“For now, you’ll stay in this house. From this point on, you are not a member of the Valentine family… but a guest.”
“…What? Until when?”
Now it was Catherine’s turn to be surprised.
She thought he’d throw her out today. His words didn’t make sense.
“Until I say otherwise.”
With that, the Duke waved his hand, telling her to leave.
His expression looked conflicted as if he didn’t want to talk anymore.
Is… is this okay? Can this be happening?
Confused and uneasy, Catherine began to leave the office.
But then she stopped.
“Excuse me…”
She turned around and asked a question that had always been in the back of her mind.
Why did he marry someone like Rachel, if he hated her so much?
Why keep Rachel’s children, like her and Alex, close by?
Why not kill her, even though she had bullied Eleanor?
“…Why are you keeping me alive?”
The Duke wasn’t someone who would pity her.
He had lost someone he loved, and since then, had closed off his heart.
So why was she still here?
“…Your eyes are very precious.”
“Pardon? What do you mean…?”
“I’m keeping you here, even with your mother’s sins, because…”
He had lost his beloved, but couldn’t let go of her memory.
“…Because of your eyes.”
Because he had gone mad from love.
Those pure sky-blue eyes looking at him reminded him of a memory—
The moment he once shared with the woman he loved, just looking into each other’s eyes.
“The eyes I loved… don’t belong to her, or even me. They belong only to you.”
Even if it was wrong…
“That alone is enough reason for you to stay here as a guest.”
The man who had fallen in love needed a place to breathe.
“Your eyes… look just like hers, the woman I loved.”
Even if it was twisted.
