CH 2

“What do you mean, then?”

“There was a time when the Lord got hurt and a letter came. After that, I’ve found it strange that no other letters ever arrived…At that time, that greedy girl must have bewitched the master!”

Anna raised her voice in excitement as if what she said was true. But Herace didn’t react. She only stared straight ahead with blank eyes.

‘Come on, now that I know, what’s the use? My husband had already been seduced.’

Anna, who was watching, went to Herace’s side and knelt down. Herace entered the room and turned her head for the first time to the warmth that was holding her hands tightly. Anna comforted her with warm eyes.

“Don’t worry too much.”

“Of course, I know that no matter what I say, it will not console you. But you have endured even more difficult times than this. You have to overcome this too. You are no longer alone…”

“There is a baby in your womb.”

At the word baby, Herace put her hands on her stomach. The greatest gift Ezekiel has ever given her. One of the hopes in life that made her happy more than anything. Her sinking blue eyes had slowly returned to focus.

“And no matter what anyone says, the Duchess is Anna’s Lady. And I’m not the only one who feels like that, so there’s no need to be afraid. If there isn’t anyone else, I’ll pull out all my hair. Please believe me.”

Herace’s eyes got a little moist at Anna’s exaggerated voice. Anna was one of the few people who remained grateful to her even after all that she had gone through. Herace took Anna’s hand and nodded her head slightly.

‘Yes, I have to pull myself together and get over it. I have to do something step by step, instead of idling and crying.’

She didn’t know why Ezekiel suddenly changed, but even if it was that his heart had gotten cold, it was something she had to endure. Doesn’t she have a past?

Herace didn’t even talk to Ezekiel for months when she first came to Serpence Castle. Not only that, but even throughout their wedding day, she only shed tears. She ruined the ceremony and humiliated her husband. So, even if Ezekiel hated her now, she was not in a position to say anything about it.

However, contrary to what she thought, merely thinking of him with another woman made her heart throb in pain. Herace held her hand tightly and took it to her chest.

Of course, that was assuming the worst case scenario. Until just a few months ago, he cared for and loved her. Although it was in the past, Herace was not dull enough to forget his feelings. He was more honest than anyone else when it came to loving her.

‘…Firstly, I need to tell him about the baby.”

Herace was determined. She was so afraid of her husband’s cold eyes, but she had to be brave for the child in her womb. She’s not alone anymore.

“Anna.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Ezekiel…. Inform the Duke I want to meet him……”

When she made up her mind, she had to put it into practice. Courage is bound to fade away. Herace tried to get Anna to call for Ezekiel, her heart feeling restless. But then they heard a knock outside. Both eyes turned to the door at the same time.

At Herace’s glance, Anna got up and opened the door, and an attendant entered the room. He bowed politely and delivered Ezekiel’s command.

“The master asks for you to have a meal together.”

***

There was a reason the cooks in the castle were busy. As if to congratulate the Lord on his safe return, the food laid out on the long table looked delicious.

Herace quietly moved the tableware and glanced at Ezekiel, who was sitting opposite her. Since it was a meal he had asked for first, she was nervous that the woman named Charlotte would be there. Fortunately, they were the only ones sitting at the table.

But even if it was just the two of them, her heart still felt pained. Usually, Ezekiel would escort her himself whenever there was a dinner like this. It was the first time that a servant came instead like today. Considering her typical aristocratic family, this was quite natural for her, but as a woman who liked to go down to the dining room while whispering close to her husband, it felt like she had lost a bit of her joy.

Moreover, when she arrived at the restaurant, Ezekiel had not said a word until now. Herace wanted to break this silence somehow, but she was afraid, and instead nibbled at the food on her plate. The blue pheasant, which is said to be only found in the North, had a deep flavor as the chefs put great effort into it. However, this could not impress Herace in her current state.

“Why don’t you eat? Does it not suit your taste?”

It was when she sliced the meat helplessly. Ezekiel spoke to her, after taking her eyes off her plate for a moment. It wasn’t much of a greeting, but Herace felt her heart beat fast. Anyway, what he said wasn’t a word of care. She replied shyly, feeling cramped at the awkward atmosphere.

“…I’m eating.”

Ezekiel didn’t react to her answer anymore. Instead, he took the meat to his mouth, chewed and swallowed it, then sliced the grilled mushrooms that came with it, biting still.

“Any questions?”

Unlike him, who was still calm, Herace shuddered.

‘I’m curious…There are a lot of things I want to ask.’

But Herace held down the questions that came up from within and brought up a subject that her husband would not be uncomfortable with.

“Did your work go well?”

“With this sweeping, the savages won’t be bothering us for a while, so you can say that it’s over.”

“I heard you were injured. Of course, I got a letter saying that you were healed, but I wasn’t sure…”

“Is that all you have to ask?”

Herace raised her head at the sound of the slightly subdued voice. His yellow eyes stared intently at her.

It wasn’t scary or cold. But Herace felt that Ezekiel was angry. Faintly.

At the same time as the lips that had fallen off stuck together, Herace stopped slicing the food.

“Aren’t you curious about Charlotte?”

As she faltered, Ezekiel asked more boldly. Unlike Herace, who had a fork and a knife in her hands, Ezekiel’s hands were off the table and had his arms crossed. He scanned Herace’s face, then smirked, “Looking at your face, you seem to already know her name. So, do you know where she came from?”

“……”

“She’s a fine girl. Although her origin is lowly, she is a great woman who can give pleasure to her man. Unlike someone…”

Her lost eyes fluttered aimlessly. Unlike someone else, he said so and looked at Herace’s torso, exactly at her chest. From the feeling of insult, a blush rose from her neck to her ears. Ezekiel drank wine as if unaware that her eyes had begun to fill with water, and continued.

“….. it’s disgusting to think about it. This is the first time I’m talking to you about it. My wife knew about my lover before I could tell her… There must have been a rat who told you about Charlotte.”

‘My wife and my lover.’

Thinking that these words refer to different people, Herace blinked hard a couple of times trying to hold back the tears that were gushing out.

“Did the maid that you care so much about tell you?”

“I-I asked.. I asked Anna first…”

The person he was talking about was definitely Anna. Herace defended Anna, who came to her senses due to her husband’s shrill voice.

‘My husband was not a person who harmed people in any way. But he was merciless to anyone who wanted to disturb or hurt him.’

“You must have done so.”

There was some kind of resentment in Ezekiel’s voice, but there was no way it could be heard by Herace’s ears, who was terrified at the thought of what would happen to Anna.

“Really. Trust me. Anna has just gotten to know her, as I told her to find out.”

“The noble Duchess Serpence would certainly do so. Do you think I don’t know you? You probably don’t even like to hear about my mistress. After all, you are not the kind of person who would try to find out about her husband’s lover first.”

‘Mistress’, what the word meant was clear. Herace bowed her head in pain at the mention of the word rather than Ezekiel’s sarcastic voice. As long as the word mistress came out of her husband’s mouth, she could no longer ignore the fact that he has another woman. Her fingernails dug deep into the palm of her hand.

“That’s how it is now. I have something to tell you, so I asked you to have dinner together.”

Herace looked at Ezekiel with a sad face. Hearing his cold and hard voice as if confirming, it was certain. Ezekiel. Her husband no longer loves her…

“…I don’t love you.” 

It was then that Herace bit her lip hard, unable to accept the truth. Her voice was low as Ezekiel sternly warned her.

“I’m telling you now. Do not touch Charlotte.”

The blood drained from Herace’s face. The fork and knife she was holding fell haphazardly onto her plate with a sharp sound. Ezekiel looked at her as she got up from her seat, giving a brief glance at the mess at the table in front of her.

“I-I!”

Herace got up from her chair and tears were streaming down her eyes. Ezekiel said it in a tone that was sure she would hurt his Charlotte. Herace felt horrible. She had never dared to imagine that this would confirm that his love was gone.

With a sense of humiliation, Herace trembled, unable to speak. But was it really just a sense of shame? Feeling the tears falling down, Herace asked herself, ‘Is that really all you’ve got?’

“Don’t make a fuss and sit down.”

Ezekiel gave a firm command to Herace‘s sad face as she wept, but Herace stood still. 

Ezekiel sighed and brought himself closer to the table. The table in front of him was still neat, unlike Herace‘s. Ezekiel clasped his hands, putting it on the table, “Of course, I don’t think people like you will move because of my mistress. You don’t have the personality to do that. What I mean is, keep a tight rein on the people working under you.”