Chapter 19
Lincia was in agony.
Someone close to her had been Julius’s spy.
She knew.
No one else would dare such a bold act but Julius.
Even if she claimed it wasn’t her doing, the fact remained that the Grand Duchy had been troubled because of her.
“……”
“I hope you can understand, my lady. His Grace is also deeply troubled by this matter.”
At Caden’s words, Lincia lowered her head.
Harvich had used the gentle phrase please understand, but she knew his judgment would not change.
“You asked this of me, and you told me to understand, so I accepted it, that’s all.”
Harvich, who had been silently listening to Lincia’s words, finally opened his mouth.
“Did you know your maid was a spy?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
She couldn’t understand why, out of all possible questions, Harvich chose that one.
“Ah.”
Though she felt exhausted by the suspicion always lurking in Harvich’s eyes, every time she confirmed that he truly didn’t trust her, her heart ached.
Normally, she would have swallowed it and given him the answer he wanted.
But this time, it was too difficult to endure.
Lincia had always told Harvich the truth.
Even about the conversation with Oberok, she hadn’t wanted to share, and even about the child’s father, though he never believed her.
Yet Harvich never once trusted her words.
“Delusions taken too far are an illness.”
He cut her off coldly.
Hearing him speak that way, Lincia thought he truly remembered nothing, and so she didn’t hold on any longer.
He shouldn’t have said that the night was beautiful, or that she was lovely.
If he was only going to erase it from memory, he shouldn’t have looked at her with eyes that cherished her.
While she was struggling to put him behind her, Harvich unravelled all of Lincia’s effort and forgot everything.
That made her bitterly resentful.
“…Do you think I knew about the spy and kept it from you?
Is that why you asked that question?”
At her sharp tone, Harvich pressed his lips together and rubbed his face with one hand.
“I didn’t ask because I suspected you of hiding a spy.
I was only asking if you knew your maid was one…”
Harvich added the words as if to excuse himself, then shut his mouth.
“You always doubt me. Even when I say I only speak the truth.”
Swallowing her fatigue, Lincia tried to rise from the bed, but Harvich stopped her.
His hand pressed gently on her shoulder.
“I can explain.”
Harvich spoke urgently, but Lincia no longer wanted to hear him.
She brushed away his hand.
Whatever misunderstanding there had been, the fact remained that she had lived alone for a year.
If Harvich had even once wondered about her, even once checked on her, none of this would have happened.
“I don’t want to hear it.”
She turned her head.
Shouldn’t he have been the one to reach out first?
How could he say something so heartless?
“I hope you can understand, my lady. His Grace is also deeply troubled by this matter.”
Even after hearing such words, Lincia was not shameless enough to go looking for Harvich first.
So she endured that long time alone.
Whenever a maid treated her kindly, Lincia wondered if perhaps there was another motive and pushed them away.
At the absurd words of a man, a hollow laugh escaped her.
When Harvich turned as if to leave, Lincia spoke up.
“Don’t punish my maid.”
“……”
“That is the only request I have for you.”
A faint sigh slipped from Harvich’s lips.
“…Very well.”
Harvich was about to leave the room, but Oberok appeared carrying prepared medicine, forcing him to stay in the chamber.
Lincia didn’t spare even a glance his way as she chatted quietly with Anna.
Though Anna had always seemed anxious, her eyes were soft whenever she looked at Lincia.
“Please drink one cup before bed each day. I’ll give you five days’ worth first.
Once you move to the Grand Duke’s castle, I’ll bring the rest.”
Oberok gave her the prescription and explained what foods she must avoid.
Anna carefully wrote down each instruction.
Then, moving with familiarity, Anna gave Lincia the medicine and even pulled out candy she had somehow prepared in advance, tending to her with care.
“Would you like more water?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Harvich stood there, watching.
Though Anna’s presence was irritating—being Lincia’s close maid—her devotion to her mistress was clearly genuine.
Perhaps she was even more of a support to Lincia than Harvich himself.
“I’ll take my leave now. If you need anything, call me anytime.”
Watching Oberok rise, Harvich followed suit.
“I’ll step out for a bit as well. I’ll be late today, so don’t wait up for me.”
It was obvious Lincia wanted to be alone with Anna.
And since Harvich had misspoken, it must be uncomfortable for her to see him now.
“…All right.”
Hearing her small voice, Harvich left the room.
He hadn’t meant to imply Lincia had knowingly hidden a spy.
“…Do you think I knew about the spy and kept it from you?
Is that why you asked that question?”
Only belatedly did he realise how easily his question could be misunderstood.
But by then it was too late.
Lincia was already hurt.
“You always doubt me. Even when I say I only speak the truth.”
Seeing her wounded expression, Harvich understood what he had truly wanted to ask.
He had wanted to know if Lincia was all right.
She was so tender-hearted.
Even if the maid had been a spy, learning she had been executed would surely devastate her.
“I can explain.”
He had begged belatedly for a chance to explain, but Lincia refused.
She only bit her lip hard and turned her head away.
Her hands clutched the sheets, trembling.
So Harvich fell silent.
He realised he was being uncharacteristically emotional.
Harvich was not the kind of man to explain anything to Lincia.
Even when she had wanted explanations.
Yet here he was, trying to justify himself.
And about something she didn’t even want to hear.
What good would it do to tell her he was worried?
Their relationship was already broken beyond repair.
He had been the one to draw the line first.
Was he only feeling threatened now that others were gathering around her?
Why?
