Chapter 20

Of course, I had no regrets about it.

Fabian and Larissa met three years earlier because the storyline and development were different, so maybe Fabian may not be in love with Larissa later.

Then, even if I divorced him, he might not have married Larissa.

I thought so while biting my lip.

‘I don’t mind it.’

Three years. If I take good care of Larissa during that time, she will recover a lot.

And as the Grand Duchess, I can save up a fortune, get everything after the divorce and leave this mansion with Larissa.

It is difficult for two people to make a living with just the jewels I have now, but if I keep money diligently while living as the Grand Duchess, I will be able to live without any problems for the rest of my life.

Maybe I could hire an escort to protect Larissa from Igor and Villain.

‘If Larissa doesn’t want to live with me, I’ll give her enough of the fortune that I’ve accumulated over the years.’

Of course, it would be great if Larissa married Fabian after my divorce.

Larissa is happy to be married to her prince, and I will be happy because of the wealth I have accumulated.

‘It’s an ending that makes everyone happy.’

Either way, I can survive.

“There is one more thing I want to tell you.”

Suddenly, I heard Fabian’s low voice, and I stopped thinking and looked up at him.

“It’s about my ancestry.”

Fabian spoke calmly about his ancestry.

The explanation was brief, but the content was quite shocking.

Although he inherited the blood of the Grand Duke, he was not a perfect noble.

That his mother was a commoner, and that she was a witch, not an ordinary commoner.

“The color of my eyes is proof of that. Red eyes are witch eyes.”

He said while tapping his finger around his eyes.

His red eyes were filled with emotions that were difficult to describe.

If his mother was a witch, then maybe she should be burned at the stake…?

I remembered the aristocratic directory I had seen before.

Both Fabian’s parents were supposed to have died at a fairly young age.

I don’t know about his father, but maybe his mother’s life didn’t end well.

The fact that the blood of a witch is revealed in his eyes that cannot be dyed or covered up…

‘It must have been hard.’

He grew up surrounded by enemies. I understand why there was a cold and scary atmosphere.

‘Just as Marcia, who grew up listening to all kinds of swearing and complaints, became a villainess in Blick’s mansion.’

“That’s why you came to me.”

What Fabian had said earlier made sense.

Those obsessed with a pedigree will not want to recognize Fabian as Grand Duke.

As soon as the will was announced, he came to me right away and proposed to me.

After the contents of the will spread to the people, if he marries a powerful family, he may become involved in the family over bloodline issues.

“Give me time to think.”

“All right. I will come back tomorrow at this time.”

He nodded lightly and left the room.

I stood there with my arms crossed and pondered.

I was still not sure if he was the prince in the fairy tale.

‘If it was just based on his face, I’d be sure.’

I sighed and crossed over to the next room.

Whether Larissa understands or not, I have to tell her what happened.

Larissa was sitting on the sofa in the same posture I had brushed her hair earlier, staring blankly into the air.

Larissa was sitting there doing nothing while I was talking with Fabian.

‘What is this child thinking?’

I don’t know why my two-year-old nephew, who never stood still, keeps overlapping with Larissa.

‘Even though there is no resemblance at all.’

I sighed and sat across from Larissa.

“You know, Larissa, do you know what just happened in that room?”

Larissa stayed still with her eyes closed.

I started explaining slowly from the beginning.

“Did I say that I had to bring you to the House of Grand Duke Laurent, uhm……it was because I had a foresight?”

Sorry, Larissa.

Even so, I don’t have the courage to tell you that you are an artificial fairy tale heroine, sob sob.

By the way, I thought seeing it in a dream would be the best, so I said so.

“……and that’s why I’m thinking of getting a divorce when you become an adult……”

“……”

“Ha ha ha……”

Oh my gosh, that was absolutely ridiculous even when I heard it.

“Larissa, what do you think of Fabian? Did you feel something the first time you saw him? In my dream, you two fell in love at first sight as soon as you saw each other.”

I looked into Larissa’s green eyes that looked just like mine.

She clenched her fists and placed them on her lap, lifted her head, and looked at me.

His eyes shook for a moment and then she looked down again.

‘It seems that Fabian is not the only one who did not fall in love at first sight.’

Looking at Larissa’s reaction, it was hard to think that she probably liked him.

“I won’t do it if you don’t like it. Then we can just stay here for a few days and then run away to another place.”

Just in case you don’t know, you might be able to come back to this mansion again in three years.

I got up from my chair and moved closer slowly so as not to irritate Larissa.

I crouched in front of Larissa, looked at her face, continued my speech.

With sincerity.

“If you like it, maybe I’ll accept the proposal. Of course, in three years, when you become an adult, I’ll divorce him, and that is my opinion. But considering your future, it is hard to find a better place than Laurent estate.”

I really think so.

If you leave here with me, you will not be as wealthy as living here.

I will have to work whatever it takes to make a living for the two of us.

But here, I only have to worry about getting a divorce safely.

‘The Laurent duchy is the wealthiest and most powerful family right after the royal family.’

Until the divorce, Larissa just has to live comfortably as the Grand Duchess’s little sister.

I couldn’t think of any better conditions than this.

But Larissa did not answer.

I stared at that expressionless face for a while, then sighed and looked down.

At that time, Larissa’s hand reached the end of my gaze.

Two hands clenched into her fists, resting on her knees.

I thought she was empty-handed, but upon closer inspection, Larissa was holding something in her hand.

When I looked at the slightly protruding ends, it looked like a piece of cloth.

I glanced at Larissa’s hand.

“What is it?”

Then Larissa was startled and pulled both of her hands to her chest.

She seemed to shudder for fear of getting beaten up.

The piece of cloth that could be seen between her fingers was covered with dust.

“I don’t know what it is, but it is dirty. Can you give me this? I will wash it clean.”

As I reached out my hand, Larissa’s eyes fluttered.

I said cautiously, “I don’t mean to take it away. I won’t leave it to the maid or anyone else. There is a water fountain in the room, so I can wash it myself with soap. You can stand next to me and watch it.”

Larissa looked at my hand and stayed still for a while.

Is it something that doesn’t matter if it gets dirty or is it something you don’t want others to know about?

‘Then I can’t do it.’

I don’t really want to force anything. I took the outstretched hand.

I was just about to give up and get up.

Larissa slowly lowered her hands with a gesture of caution as if hesitating.

Laying on the two small palms was a wrinkled handkerchief that had been clenched for a long time.

The edges were dirty with dust, and there was small debris on the inside.

“Ah, this is……”

I took a breath.

That’s……it was my handkerchief.

The handkerchief that I used to carry some ginger cookies when I went down to the basement to convince Larissa the night before we escaped.

That day, I said to Larissa, ‘Don’t you want to get out of this basement?’