Chapter 67

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Chapter 67

Seeing Maxim, the same age as Isaiah, a black heart sprouted in her.

‘Why is this child the legitimate successor of the Lancert family? Someone who keeps my son as the shame of the family without even being allowed to set foot in the capital.’

Rather, she wished that Pierre would grow a stronger heart to usurp the throne.

‘Wouldn’t it be enough to just get rid of that crazy mother and ignorant nephew?’

“Damn bastard.”

Swear words toward her husband spit out from Katrina’s mouth as she recalled the past. He was a bastard. Even thinking about it now, trying to chew it wasn’t enough.

[tl/n: idiom: she means she can’t let go her anger]

How did he dedicate himself to Maxim despite his son being separated from their life and left alone in the tribe? To her husband, the sense of duty as a member of the great Lancert family and a servant who swore allegiance to the king was more precious than his own family.

‘Are you still loyal to your grown-up nephew? You have no backbone.’ Unlike her husband who had neither ambition nor greed, her desires gradually twisted and grew in size. Cutting off and pressing on the unstable Queen’s limbs was easier than a piece of cake. There was no resentment, she hated her terribly simply because she was a Solstern noble and she was just an Aryan. It was enough to say it was the jealousy of a petty barbarian woman.

Although the Queen threw herself from the window, Katrina smiled faintly that day, as her efforts seemed to have paid off. Nothing was as easy as cutting off her limbs, making her have nowhere to rely on, and encouraging her guilt to push her into extreme anxiety.

[tl/n: cutting her limbs means cutting the people she trusted]

The young Maxim Lancert was a very bright child. He grew up quite like a ruler even when both his parents died. He succeeded in consolidating his throne by steadily taking control of the military and the elders’ council, and suppressing the rampage of foreigners, which strengthened the trust of the northerners. Although he became like a thorn in the eyes of foreign nations. How could he be the better Lancert with the same blood running through his veins? Katrina found what she could do to release the hatred and resentment that had built up in her heart.

‘I’m going to scratch the flamboyant legitimacy of the Lancert family.’

That was why Ayla was brought into the castle. If Maxim married Ayla, wouldn’t his legitimacy be broken as well? What about the Lancert bloodline? It was no different with her son Isaiah.

The problem was that Maxim had no interest in Ayla at all. No, more precisely, he was not interested in any women. He didn’t blink an eye at beautiful women like any other young man full of vigor. It was as if he was looking at stones or luggage on the side of the road.

Either way, it was a good opportunity. If he died on the battlefield without an heir, the throne would pass to another Lancert.

‘Then my Isaiah has a chance!’ After a moment of desperate hope, Solstern appeared out of nowhere as a lit candle. As she thought of Rose Etoile, Katrina groaned in annoyance and clutched the chapel chair.

‘Everything became a mess since that b*tch showed up.’ It was a big mistake to think that she would fall apart by herself like Maxim’s dead mother.

‘Now, if that b*tch conceives Maxim’s blood…’ Katrina shook her head as if she couldn’t even imagine that.

‘I can’t sit still and wait until then. Never!’

Katrina finally got up from her seat. With a more determined face than when she entered, she left the chapel.

Rose stared out the window. Maxim, who had left during dinner earlier, rode his horse at full speed and ran out of the mansion. That appearance kept haunting her.

“Rose, are you okay?”

“Ah? Yes…”

Count Jared and his wife had been wary, keeping an eye on their daughter since earlier. After supper was over, everyone went home. Now, finally, the County couple and their daughter were able to spend time together. But Rose was looking out the window with a gloomy face.

The sky, which had been dull since the day, was covered with dark clouds, and when night came, it began to vomit its wild screams.

Rose looked up at the sky with anxious eyes. The face of Maxim last night, who was suffering from nightmares in the shelter house, came to her mind again. Thick raindrops collided with the window, creating a stream of water droplets. Observing from the dark clouds, it looked like it was going to rain continuously today as well.

Since Maxim left like that earlier, Rose didn’t feel at ease. She had finally come to the house she had been longing for and it was dreamlike to spend time with her parents after so long. Yet, all she could think about was him.

“I can’t help it.”

When Rose turned away from the window as if she had made up her mind, the count opened their eyes wide.

“What do you mean?”

“I should go back home.”

“But your home is here.”

Mrs. Audrey, with a blink of her beautiful eyes, answered as if it were natural.

“Right, Rose, didn’t you decide to stay here today? He also allowed it.”

Right. Maxim had definitely got on his horse and said, “It’s been a long time, you should spend time with your parents,” as he looked back at her before leaving.

“Next time.”

“Child. Look outside. The weather is bad today.”

Mrs. Audrey got up from the sofa and grabbed her daughter’s arm as if she was trying to cling onto her. Count Jared also stood up from his seat, not knowing what to do.

“Rose.”

“Next time. Not today, but next time.”

“But you’re leaving soon after the wedding is over!”

The mother had a hurt face as she looked at her daughter. Rose looked at her father and said with earnest eyes.

“Please. I’ll be back today.”

Count Jared was bewildered, but looking into his daughter’s eyes, he finally nodded. From an early age, he already knew that her daughter was more stubborn than his son Hans.

“Come on, prepare the wagon for Rose with the fastest horse,” He ordered the butler and hugged his daughter tightly.

“Go back carefully.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Rose rushed out of the room, not forgetting to leave a kiss on her mother’s cheek.

Mrs. Audrey, who accidentally let her daughter go, looked resentfully at her husband.

“You! How can you send Rose like that when it looks like it’s going to rain? You should’ve stopped her from going!’

Mrs. Audrey’s face became extremely dark. She ran to the window to watch her daughter leave the mansion.

“She’s going home. What can I do if she says she’s going home?”

Hearing his wife’s words, the count swept his face with both hands as if troubled. A flash of light from the pitch-black sky pierced the room.

“Aahhk! Honey!”

Mrs. Audrey fell from the window and quickly ran to her husband and hugged him.

She still couldn’t understand why her daughter was stubbornly insisting on moving through this harsh weather.

Rumble–!

In the roaring torrential rain, the wagon ran so far over the muddy ground that the wheels fell off. The sound of rain was so loud that it felt like there was a war, and the carriage rattled as if it was about to overturn. The wagon, which pierced through thunder, lightning, and heavy rain, arrived safely at the mansion on the west side. Contrary to the sounds of her pounding heart, ridden with anxiousness and worries, the mansion was peaceful and quiet. Since it was time for both the servants and assistants to sleep, not even an ant could be heard.

“Your Highness! I heard that you were staying at your parents’ house today.”

When he found her at the entrance, Jansen quickly approached Rose. He was the last to sleep even after coming here.

“Jansen, are you still working?”

“I’m a little late writing a letter to Freddie. But what happened? I heard you were staying at your parents’ home today.”

“That’s… That’s how it was supposed to be. Has he arrived home?”

“Yes? Oh, yes. His Majesty came earlier, so he may be in the study now. By the way…”

“I’m a little tired, so I’ll go up.” Rose cut off Jansen’s words and ran upstairs, brushing her messy hair.

At this midnight hour, coming through this heavy rain was a strange situation no matter what excuse you use, so she wanted to get out there as soon as possible. It was difficult to even see Jansen’s suspicious eyes.

Jansen hurriedly went behind her. He looked at her and tilted his head.

‘What happened? You’re both weird today.’ He recalled his master who had arrived alone on horseback earlier. He had gone straight into the study with a stiff expression like an angry person and was silent the whole time.

‘As expected, you two had a couple-fight.’ If so, this makes a bit of sense.

“Aah- As expected, a relationship between men and women is really tiring.”

Jansen shook his head and headed to his room.

Rose soaked herself in hot water, trying to calm her head.

‘Why did you run to this place through the harsh weather as if you had lost your mind?’ Even though she was with her parents, ‘Why was I only worried about him?’

From some point on, she was embarrassed by her behavior of being more emotional than logical.

“Phew… Why do I feel so uncomfortable?”

Certainly, on the way to her parents’ house, Maxim was the same as usual. When he came into her room, he seemed to be in a better mood than usual. It was when they ate dinner together in the dining room that he felt somewhat uncomfortable. However, none of the people were disrespectful to him. As far as Rose knew, her family and relatives welcomed him with sincerity.

“But what the hell is wrong with it!”

Rose, who had been watching the foam on the palm of her hand, blew it with her lips and got up from the bathtub.

She had no choice but to ask herself. Because, at this rate, she won’t be able to sleep comfortably tonight.

‘Jansen said he was in the study.’ Rose went to the study at the end of the hallway on the second floor and gently knocked on the door. When there was no sign of popularity inside, she opened the door. With only candles burning, the study room was empty with no one in it. Traces of him remained on the desk as if he had just been there. Only a glass of wine and a book lying face down.

‘Did you go to the bedroom?’ Frustrated, Rose quietly left the study and moved towards her bedroom. She buried herself in the cozy bed and lay down, but she couldn’t sleep. No, she was more distressed than ever because she was fully sober. Eventually, she got up from bed and drank a glass of alcohol that was on the table.

‘Drink a little and you’ll fall asleep right away.’

As she gulped it at once, heat rose in her cheeks and hot breath leaked out.

Rumble–!

Startled by the sound that seemed to make the ground vibrate, Rose looked out the window.

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