CH 3

“What… happened?”

Duchess Marsetta asked in great bewilderment.

“We’re going to leave, Madam, young Master.”

It was the same for the Duchess’s maid and Hailey, who were in the room. They barely controlled their pupils, which were widened in surprise, and went out with their heads bowed.

“I like the scent of tea. Little Duchess should try it too.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

At Duchess Marsetta’s words, who offered tea, Charelize gave a small smile.

Sitting at her seat, Charelize had no idea what to say. There were countless things she wanted to say. She always misses her and cries just thinking about her. But her mouth couldn’t move properly when facing her mother’s face. She bit her lips, fiddling with the hem of her dress.

“It’s not polite to fiddle with your dress while talking to someone.”

At the pointed-out words, Charelize came to her senses belatedly. Loosening the power of her hand, she looked at her mother’s face and met her gaze.

After giving birth to Charelize, the Duchess’s body became a precarious body that can be life-threatening even with a slight blow from the wind. She spent most of her time in bed after giving birth. Nevertheless, she kept her noble dignity anytime and anywhere.

The memory of helping the weak and giving something to the poor was engraved vividly in Charelize’s mind.

“We were born as noble, but it’s not because of something we did. Just like they weren’t born with a low status because they were committing a sin.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Princess, always keep in mind that you have a lot of people under your position.”

To Charelize, her mother was her idol. She wanted to hold hands with her and walk on the same path. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t reach her hand. They couldn’t walk together.

Now, Charelize was about the same age as when her mother gave birth to her. She slowly felt traces of her mother’s life on her face.

“Do you still feel guilty about the young lady from Marquis Luxen?”

Perhaps it was an unexpected question, and her mother seemed very surprised.

Siael Jenna von Luxen.

She was the fiancée of Duke Marsetta, and it was forbidden to mention her name. No one ever asked about her first, and no one answered it. There was no conversation nor interest in her.

“It’s… true that I have ruined many people’s lives by being here.”

An awkward atmosphere descended. Silence came again.

“I’m going to break my engagement with the second son of Marquis Radiasa.”

“That’s… what do you mean?”

Duchess Marsetta tilted her head puzzledly.  It was difficult for her to fully understand what her daughter was saying, as she was now listening to her.

Duchess Marsetta knows that her daughter believed that everyone except the one by her side was her enemy. Charelize’s mind also didn’t open up well. However, Delphir was considered one of the few people on her side. It was natural as they have been together since they were very young. As soon after their coming-of-age ceremony was held, they got engaged.

“Did… I hear it wrong now?”

“You heard it correctly.”

Charelize was not the type to fool others with a joke. Knowing that fact better than anyone, this situation was confusing enough. As it was not enough to suddenly come here without any reason, the first sentence she said was that she wanted to break up her engagement with Delphir.

‘What had happened to her? I had no idea why she made this decision.’

“Did you know that Marchioness Radiasa… is a close friend of this mother?”

“I could meet him in the first place because the two of you were close. Of course, I’m not saying I will break the engagement for no reason. Shouldn’t we be careful about things that may go unnoticed?”

“Then, why are you saying this? Is it just a superficial reason? Or is it because you learn about the young lady Luxen’s story late and feel sorry for her?”

With the sudden change in Charelize’s attitude, Duchess Marsetta tried to find the reason.

“Before it’s too late, I want to spend time with mother.”

Duchess Marsetta stared straight at Charelize. Her straight gaze reminded her of a long-lost person who came out daily in her dreams.

“Madam, little Master, I’m sorry for disturbing the conversation.”

“What is it?”

They heard the knock from the maid waiting outside.

“There’s a guest here who came to see Madam.”

“A guest? I don’t have any appointments today…”

The complexion of Duchess Marsetta, who had been contemplating for a long time, suddenly darkened.

“Take them to the parlor. Tell them I will be there soon and treat them with the utmost respect.”

“Mother?”

“Little Duchess. I don’t think today is the right time. Let’s drink tea next time.”

“Yes.”

Charelize nodded her head slightly and stood up from her seat.

“Who the hell is the guest who visited mother?”

She grabbed and asked the maid who had left the parlor.

“I’m sorry, little Duchess. I don’t know because I received the instruction from the head of the maid.”

“You do not know?”

“Yes. The guest is covering their face with a black robe.”

“Go back.”

“Yes, little Duchess.”

Even after the maid left, her feelings of discomfort and disappointment didn’t go away. Returning to her office, all she did was do her immediate task. As she stood still, unknown dizziness made her body tremble.

A day or two passed, and it was finally the third day.

“I’m going to the Marquis Radiasa estate. Prepare the carriage.”

“Yes, little Duchess.”

She ordered the coachman and was getting ready to change into her outing dress.

“Martin is also on vacation, so don’t come along today. Take a break and get some rest.”

“Your Highness, what if something happens?”

“Lari is right. Your Highness, please reconsider.”

As soon as she gave a vacation to Hailey and Lari, who helped her dress up, voices of protest were heard immediately. Even Hailey, who always agreed to her words and faithfully did her work, disagreed with Charelize.

The carriage, which had barely separated the worried-eyed maids, was, of course, quiet. On the other side, Charelize thought the memories from a long time ago seemed like an illusion.

They put rings on each other’s ring fingers and promised eternity. However, the ring that Delphir put on was loose. It didn’t fit her finger anymore. It wasn’t that she lost weight, but it seemed that it wasn’t her from the beginning. It made her feel unfamiliar as if stealing someone else’s belongings.

As they arrived at the Marquis Radasa’ss residence, the horses leading the carriage gradually slowed down. After taking a few deep breaths, Charelize got out of the carriage.

“I see the little Duchess.”

“May Goddess Resina’s blessing reach the little Duchess.”

“May the two of you be protected.”

She greeted the Marquis and Marchioness Radiasa. Then they led Charelize to Delphir’s room.

“He just woke up this morning. Do you know who he searched for first?”

“…”

“I had a hard time trying to stop him because he was looking for the little Duchess.”

“Is that so?”

“He fainted for a while, but don’t worry, he just suffered from a minor bruise.”

“I’m… not worried.”

“Pardon…?”

“In the future, there will be no such thing.”

Marchioness Radiasa defines her words as if Charelize wouldn’t let Dephir be hurt in the future.  

“Oh my, little Duchess…”

Charelize didn’t have to correct the misunderstanding.

“Delphir, the little Duchess has arrived.”

Marchioness Radiasa slightly knocked on the door of Delphir’s room.

Shatter.

All of a sudden, the sound of shattering was heard.

“Delphir!”

The bewildered Marchioness Radiasa hurriedly opened the door and saw Delphir sitting on the floor. Glass beads containing their memories were all broken.

“Baby! What’s happening?  Are you okay?”

“…Charel… is that really Charel?”

Delphir pushed out Marchioness Radiasa, who was trying to lift him up. As if he couldn’t believe it, he repeatedly called Charelize’s nickname.

“I have something to say to Delphir.”

“The two of us will leave you for a while, Your Highness.”

“But, honey. Dephir is..”

Marquis Radiasa, who always had a hard expression from a while ago, seemed to have noticed something. He took his wife, Marchioness Radiasa, who looked uneasy.

After some time passed, Charelize bent her back and picked up the glass piece that had fallen around her.

“Charel!”

When it touched her delicate skin and bled out, Delphir reacted immediately. As if nothing was as painful as seeing her blood, he closed his eyes in astonishment.

“You fall when you ride a horse.”

“…”

“It’s surprising. No one else but you, who taught me how to ride a horse.”

“…”

“This is the first time that you fell off the horse. To answer my question with silence like this.”

Coming in the carriage, and given the time in her past, Charelize constantly thought. Delphir’s accident, which had never happened before, was surprising. Moreover, Delphir’s riding skill was so good that it couldn’t be ridiculed. And she couldn’t understand why he was looking at the glass beads that he hadn’t even looked at.

When she asked with a calm face holding down her emotions, Delphir didn’t answer. She wondered why he was shaking his whole body over there.

“You were looking at the glass beads that contained our memories.”

“…”

“Why? You normally don’t do this. You don’t answer anything, and you even tremble in anxiety…”

“…”

“It didn’t happen back then.”

As soon as she said those words, Delphir lowered his head.

“Just in case.”

“…”

“I was just thinking. Do you really remember everything?”

“What… What are you talking about? I, no…”

“Even now, you still can’t lie.”

“…”

“Thanks to that, I’m glad I know what you said to me in prison wasn’t a lie.”

The prediction she just made was right. Delphir avoided Charelize’s gaze. He remembered everything, and he came back to the past too.

‘If only me who suffers and remember it… there’s nothing more resentful and unfair than that.’

She could hardly believe it, but it was rather good.

“Why did you do that?”

“…Sorry. I’m sorry. I… I misunderstood you.”

“Shut up.”

“…”

“You didn’t believe or listen to me.”

Tears dripped from his eyes.

“I don’t want you to regret it now, and I don’t need your tears, or even you apologize.”

“…”

“My baby has never seen the light of the world, died because of you.”