Chapter 2.20

A knight approached and restrained her mother, who was flailing her arms wildly. Her mother screamed.  

“Let go of me! Let go, I said! Who do you think you are to stop me? She’s my daughter! She’s mine!”  

Her mother’s eyes, filled with madness, sent chills down her spine. If she hadn’t been in Karl Lavresion’s arms, she would have been dragged back into her mother’s grasp, her hair torn out, her face slapped, and her body kicked as she lay on the floor.  

Eventually, several other knights came and forcibly restrained her mother. Only then did her mother’s movements come to a halt.  

“Let me go! Let me go! Leticia! Leticia Evris!”  

Even as her mother was dragged away, her shrill screams echoed through the hallway.  

“Leticia! You’re my daughter! You’re mine! How could you do this to me? You wretched girl! You ungrateful brat!”  

Her mother’s curse-laden words pierced her like daggers. Coming from her mother, they cut even deeper.  

Even after her mother’s screams faded completely, Leticia’s tears didn’t stop. She sniffled, rubbing her face against Karl Lavresion’s chest. His shirt was soaked with her tears and snot.  

“S-sorry…”  

Seeing his drenched shirt, she felt a wave of embarrassment. She pushed against his chest with her arms, and he stepped back without resistance. His shirt was not only wet but also wrinkled and disheveled.  

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”  

Her face flushed with heat. He handed her a handkerchief. She quickly took it and wiped her wet cheeks and nose.  

“It’s disposable, so use it however you like.”  

His thoughtfulness made her chest tighten. Yes, Karl Lavresion was this kind of person—kind and considerate. That’s why she liked him.  

He waited patiently until she stopped crying, just as he had when he held her earlier. The handkerchief, now as messy as his shirt, couldn’t be discarded. She carefully folded it and tucked it into her pocket.  

“I’ll buy you a new one.”  

“No, this is fine…”  

Really, it was fine. She smiled awkwardly, lowering her gaze. Her mother’s nails had left scratches, and red marks were visible on her skin. There were also bruises in various places.  

“Let’s go inside and rest. I’ll call a doctor.”  

“Okay.”  

He helped her to her room. Lying on the bed, she felt slightly better. Her wrist throbbed, and the pain was sharp, but she gritted her teeth and endured it.  

The doctor arrived shortly after. He carefully applied ointment to the bruises and scratches on her body and wrist. After taking painkillers, the pain subsided somewhat.  

The doctor hesitated, glancing at Karl Lavresion before leaning in to ask her softly, 

“Did he… hit you?”  

He was asking if Karl Lavresion had hurt her. It was an understandable misunderstanding. She let out a small laugh and shook her head.  

“No.”  

The doctor still seemed doubtful as he scanned her body, but he didn’t press further. Karl Lavresion noticed the situation and frowned in displeasure.  

“Hey, don’t make ridiculous assumptions. And if you spread baseless rumors, you’ll regret it.”  

“…Understood.”  

The doctor grumbled under his breath as he packed up and left in a hurry. Karl Lavresion sighed and sat on the edge of her bed.  

“Leticia, I’m truly sorry that this happened while Ronan was away. I’ve issued a punishment and will ensure justice is served. Don’t worry—you won’t have to face her again.”  

“No, that’s not necessary.”  

She knew how hard his subordinates worked. They handled everything, from trivial errands to taking care of her when he was away. She had even heard that when she had fainted, they had stepped in to act as father figures for Killian and Selina.  

Perhaps even Ronan had not anticipated that such a situation would arise.

“But, Leticia.”  

“It’s really fine. You don’t have to do this because of me. There’s no need to go out of your way for me…”  

“‘No need,’ you say? It’s because it’s you, Leticia.”  

“……”  

“Because it’s you.”  

Her heart stirred.  

Even though she had resolved not to be deceived by his kindness anymore, even though she had sworn not to rely on the fleeting emotion of love, her weakened heart had surely faltered because of his actions earlier.  

She wanted to trust him again—the man whose attitude had changed in an instant, the man who hadn’t looked for her for months after they parted at the villa. This, despite the pain she had endured from his change of heart and the tears she had shed because of it.  

Avoiding his gaze, she opened her mouth to speak.  

“The children… they’re actually yours.”  

“I know.”  

There was no point in denying it. Anyone could see that Selina resembled him. He must have known the moment the child was born—perhaps even before then. Leticia herself knew how flimsy her lie had been.  

“The reason I said they weren’t your children… was because I didn’t want to raise them as yours.”  

“Leticia.”  

“I know. I know what it means to grow up as an illegitimate child in Chevrem. I know it better than anyone because I’ve lived it. Even so, I wanted to do it.”  

Because, to her, the instability of her parents had been more painful than the ridicule she faced as an illegitimate child. She didn’t want to pass on that pain, even if it meant enduring the stigma of being a single mother.  

Even if he claimed he would ‘take responsibility.’  

She knew all too well how shallow and fleeting that kind of responsibility could be. She didn’t want to gamble her children’s lives on emotions that could change in an instant.  

Steeling her heart against his kindness and consideration, she reminded herself that she couldn’t live like her mother. She couldn’t spend her life plagued by insecurity and anxiety.  

“When you called me ‘Leticia’ instead of ‘Leti,’ I felt like my heart was being torn apart.”  

“……”  

“To you, it probably didn’t mean much. You probably didn’t even think about it. But to me, even something so trivial ripped my heart to shreds.”  

‘I’ve booked separate rooms. See you tomorrow, Leticia.’  

His cold voice still lingered in her ears. His kindness and consideration could easily be passing whims. There was no guarantee that he would maintain this attitude.  

“…I’m sorry.”  

He apologized in a small voice.  

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Leti. I’m sorry.”  

With a face that looked as though he might burst into tears at any moment, he repeated his apology. His twisted expression and desperate tone conveyed sincerity, but Leticia only smiled faintly.  

“There’s no need to apologize. The reason I was hurt so much… is probably because I liked you that much.”  

She had loved Karl Lavresion sincerely. Her desire for his love had been genuine, and that was why she had been hurt and wounded.  

Even though he had said that love was an illusion, that it didn’t exist.  

Leticia didn’t think love was an illusion. She didn’t want to deny her own feelings. She didn’t think it was wrong to want to be loved by someone.  

But from the start, this love had been flawed.  

“I knew all along that you approached me with a light heart.”  

Even so, she had fallen in love with him.  

“I was hurt simply because I let myself be swayed by your kindness. So there’s no need to apologize.”  

From the beginning, she had known how this love would end. A flawed love could never come to fruition. Even knowing this, she had let herself fall. That was why, even as she loved him, she hadn’t expected anything in return. Yet his coldness had left her in tatters.  

The answer was clear.  

“I’m going to leave you now.”  

“…What?”  

“I’ll take responsibility for the children. They’re my children, born from my body. They’re a gift from the gods. They’re the reason I have to keep living.”  

Even though she had longed for death, she hadn’t died. It was a miracle that she had survived giving birth to twins despite her frail body.  

It was divine providence. Until the day she died, she would take responsibility for her children.  

“Leave? Leti, what are you saying?”  

Karl Lavresion’s pupils trembled uncontrollably. Looking into his golden eyes, which reflected her image, she continued.  

“Thank you for taking care of me all this time. Karl, I’m grateful to you. For giving me so many experiences. I’ll never forget them.”  

She would never forget the beautiful night sky at the villa, the vast blue lake, the shimmering leaves of the trees, and most of all, him—the brightest and most dazzling of them all.  

At last, she put an end to this love.  

For the first time, the Leticia who had always been swayed and dragged around by others had brought her relationships with her mother and Karl Lavresion to a close.  

With her own hands.  

“Leti, wait… I’m sorry. I regret what happened back then. I just… I didn’t know how to handle myself when I saw you. I felt uncomfortable, even scared. That’s why…”  

He spoke quickly, his words tumbling out in a rush. It wasn’t a lie. He must have had his own reasons, reasons she didn’t know.  

Everyone had their own circumstances—her mother, the Baron, the Emperor, and Karl Lavresion.  

She understood.  

“Yes, I suppose so.”  

She spoke with a faint smile still on her lips.  

“But it’s too late now.”  

She couldn’t live like this any longer.  

She wanted to live a better life.  

She had to change, if only for her children.  

The color drained from Karl Lavresion’s face. His golden eyes, which always sparkled with light, now looked empty as he stared blankly at her.  

“I owe you so much… His Majesty wouldn’t approve of me staying here for so long, would he?”  

She had received privileges because of Karl. Normally, she wouldn’t have been allowed to set foot in such a place.  

“It won’t take long. I don’t have much to pack, anyway.”  

Her words flowed out without hesitation. Words carried weight. The more she spoke, the more certain she became of her decision.  

After a few moments, he finally spoke.  

“Have you really made up your mind?”  

“Yes.”  

“Since when?”  

“…I don’t know. I’m not sure when it started.”  

When had it started? In truth, she had known from the beginning. She had just delayed making a decision.  

“So you don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’ll get myself together and leave soon…”