Chapter 42
After being released from prison, Catherine was no longer treated as Duke Valentine’s daughter.
She was now merely a guest, and so, a new room was assigned to her.
Not long after, someone came in—someone who was supposed to serve her from now on.
“Milady!”
“…Helen?! You—why are you…?”
The person who entered was someone very familiar to Catherine.
Helen wasn’t just a maid—she held a higher position as a lady-in-waiting. Yet now, she was assigned as a maid? That didn’t make sense.
Catherine’s face twisted in confusion, but Helen ignored that and rushed forward to embrace her.
In just a few days, Helen had lost noticeable weight. Her eyes were slightly red as if she had been crying.
“H-Hic… I’m just glad… you’re safe…”
Before seeing Helen, Catherine had been holding herself together just fine.
But the warmth and slight trembling of Helen’s shoulders in her embrace made Catherine’s eyes sting.
A few quiet minutes passed in that emotional reunion. Then Catherine looked around, sensing something was missing.
“…Helen, where’s August?”
She hadn’t seen August since she got out.
When she asked Helen about it, the girl bit her lip, looking troubled.
“Sir August… the Duke himself removed his title as your bodyguard. So he’s no longer assigned to you. And then, he just… disappeared somewhere. Hic…”
“I see…”
Catherine nodded calmly. She had expected this.
After all, now that Rachel was arrested as a criminal, there was no longer a reason for the Duke to assign a knight to keep watch over her.
It made sense that August would leave.
But Helen misunderstood Catherine’s expression.
Assuming Catherine was hurt or sad by August’s sudden disappearance, Helen’s eyes welled up even more.
She stepped back slightly and began examining Catherine closely.
“Are you hurt anywhere? Did they treat you badly? Tell me the truth.”
“…Goodness, I told you I’m fine. Stop fussing, Helen.”
“But you were imprisoned! That place is awful… dangerous… hic.”
“Don’t worry. It was better than I expected.”
It was true. The prison was dark, damp, and cold—but they still gave her warm meals and even a blanket to keep her from freezing.
“For a prisoner, I had quite the luxurious experience.”
“Milady!”
Catherine smiled at Helen’s overreaction, trying to ease her concern.
‘Honestly, Helen’s always been a bit overprotective of me.’
Catherine hadn’t always treated her especially well, but Helen’s affection was unwavering, always more than she felt she deserved.
Feeling warm inside, Catherine changed the subject.
“By the way, did you know? I’m officially a guest in this house now.”
She wanted to know what Helen thought about that.
Helen had been with her since she was a noble young lady. In this situation, Helen could’ve easily left if she wanted to.
Yet here she was, still by Catherine’s side—and now in a lower position.
‘If someone forced her to be my maid, then…’
Catherine was ready to let her go. Helen had done so much already.
But Helen understood her intention and smiled gently.
“To me, you’ll always be my lady. That hasn’t changed since the day we met.”
Her voice was firm. This wasn’t anyone else’s decision—it was her own.
“You really won’t regret this?”
“I chose this myself because I want to stay by your side. No one made me do it.”
Looking into those steady brown eyes, Catherine felt her heart grow warm.
Then a dull ache hit her shoulder—delayed soreness from all the tension easing up.
“…Ah. What about Alex?”
“Shall I call for him? I believe the young master was also given a new room close by.”
SLAM!
“Catherine!”
Speak of the devil—and he appears. Just as they mentioned him, Alex burst into the room.
“Hey! I told you to knock!”
“Is that how you talk to your brother after not seeing him for so long?”
Just seeing his face made Catherine smile. So naturally, she spoke to him like she always did.
And Alex, in return, acted like nothing had changed.
Nothing had changed—except maybe their faces were paler from the stress. But otherwise, they were the same.
And that normalcy comforted them both.
Helen quietly observed them. She now fully understood—this was how they communicated as siblings. Bickering, casual words—that was their love.
“I’ll bring you both some tea and snacks. The usual kind?”
“Yes, thank you, Helen.”
Helen, sensing the mood, quietly slipped out. Catherine thanked her, and Helen’s eyes seemed to widen a little. But she smiled brightly and left.
Click.
Silence fell.
The pale blue walls seemed to echo the quiet. Catherine’s soft blue eyes met Alex’s deep navy ones as they stared at each other.
Then both spoke at once.
“Alex, you…”
“Are you okay? Were you hurt? Did you catch a cold?”
Before she could finish, Alex rushed in with concern.
Catherine couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re laughing? At a time like this? Ugh, seriously—you’re so careless!”
Though he scolded her, his eyes were filled with relief.
“…What about you, Alex? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be? But you… you’ve always been scared of small, dark places…”
“I managed. It wasn’t as dark or cramped as I thought.”
Alex paused, then grinned. He looked more grounded now—stronger.
He had changed. In just a few days, he seemed… different.
There was something about him that reminded her of Eleanor. Once lazy and self-indulgent, Alex now gave off a more responsible, even noble, aura.
‘What happened to him while I was gone…?’
Curious, Catherine cautiously brought up Rachel.
Eleanor had told her that it was thanks to Alex that they managed to capture Rachel.
Rachel was a criminal now—but she was also their mother.
Catherine felt guilty. She worried Alex might resent her for what happened.
“I heard… you helped with Mother. You’re not… going to regret that?”
“…What?”
Alex frowned like he couldn’t believe what he just heard.
Catherine had no fond memories of their parents. In both her lives, she had longed for a real family, but it had never been granted to her.
Still, she knew Alex might feel differently.
“…I mean…”
“I did it to save you.”
Alex let out a long breath. Then he reached over and ruffled her silvery hair.
“…Huh?”
“Then and now, you’re the only family I have, idiot.”
“…What?”
“Whether you like it or not, we only have each other now. Don’t worry about Mother. She raised us for her own selfish goals. We just chose different paths, and wanted different things.”
He was telling her not to blame herself.
Alex could read her like a book. After all, he had watched over her for so long, he didn’t need words to know what she was thinking.
Catherine… i always yearned for family.
That emptiness inside her—Alex knew he couldn’t fill it.
But he also feared—deeply feared—that she might end up like Rachel.
That fear was part of why he betrayed Rachel. Catherine didn’t know, but the decision had been made long ago—ever since he met Francis.
He wanted to protect Catherine.
To do what Francis couldn’t.
Take care of her… my son.
He had promised.
Because Catherine was his sister.
So no, he had no regrets.
“Don’t worry. I’ll never hate you. And seriously—who else could handle someone with your temper?”
He looked so at ease as he said it.
“The only family left…”
That simple phrase hit Catherine hard.
“…N-no one asked you to say it like that… But thanks.”
She finally realized—
She still had family.
this novel is such a gem the hell???