CHAPTER 3: PETTY JEALOUSY

“What happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you the one asking? What’s all that luggage?!”

It was her first visit in the family house after three years. Timogere shouted at the top of his lungs, his face flushed red, as he dreaded her setting foot in the mansion. The mansion had not changed since Isabelle left, except for some changes in the servants.

Mia stuck close to Isabelle, watching carefully, and Timogere’s eyes were fixed on the trunk. It was clear to anyone that this was not just a brief visit.

“Did I come to a place I can’t come to?”

“Tell me what’s going on!”

“Nothing.”

The fact that Isabelle, who hadn’t been home for the past three years, had suddenly appeared with a large trunk and a maid meant that their marriage was in trouble.

It was a big deal for Timogere, who would have to keep his hands on for Richt in the future. Isabelle’s happiness was none of his business, but he had to keep the money.

As if the unexpected weren’t bad enough, his damned sister had narrowed her eyes at him. Timogere’s bushy-bearded jaw tightened.

“Did that bastard Richt threw you out?”

“No. I left on my own.”

“What? Why?”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

Isabelle said tiredly. She didn’t want to be bothered by Timogere’s nagging when she was already feeling dizzy. Right now, she just wanted to rest.

Isabelle moved towards the stairs to go up to the second-floor room she used before her marriage. Mia followed close behind, carrying her trunk.

But her legs didn’t get very far before she was stopped by a large body. Timogere had blocked her way with a stern expression.

Isabelle tried to move past him, but he grabbed her slender arm in a vicious grip. Her brow furrowed at the faint pain.

“Let go of me, it hurts.”

“Tell me! What happened?”

“I’m getting a divorce.”

Isabelle spat the words out sharply, jerking her arm away. She glanced at Timogere, who looked surprised and disbelieving.

“What did you say?”

“Are you deaf? I said I’m getting a divorce.”

“You’re telling me that Richt didn’t kick you out, that you walked out of Calitheon Mansion on your own?”

“Yes. I left on my own. Is that okay now?”

“Are you crazy? There’s no way you’d do this unless you’re insane!”

Wanting to avoid unnecessary confrontation, Isabelle tried to move away, but Timogere didn’t release her tightly gripped arm. Although she expected this sharp reaction, having traveled a long way in a carriage left her without the energy to endure it.

“Go back!”

“I don’t want to.”

“Listen to me, Isabelle! You’re now Isabelle Calitheon and this is not where you belong!”

“It’s all over now.”

“Go back now before I kick you out! Go and beg at Richt’s feet!”

“This is my home now. Are you going to throw your only sister out onto the streets?”

“If throwing you out on the street makes money, then I might consider it, but it’s not profitable, so I can’t do that.”

Isabelle didn’t expect a warm welcome, but seeing her indifferent older brother, who didn’t care about her own situation, filled her with frustration.

“Am I nothing more than that to you brother?”

“I thought you were at least something. Just spread your legs for Richt, and stick by his side. Do you understand?”

Timogere tugged at Isabelle’s hair. She winced in agony as her neck was jerked back by the tugging at her scalp. She shuddered as memories of the abuse she’d momentarily forgotten came flooding back.

She knew she would face this, but she felt helpless with nowhere else to turn.

“Get off me!”

“Okay, then go back and lick Richt’s cr*tch and beg for forgiveness.”

Timogere, firmly holding her hair, moved toward the door. Isabelle struggled and was dragged like an animal. Even though she scratched his arm with her nails, it was no use.

Fearing the fierceness of Timogere, Mia couldn’t approach recklessly. None of the other users around her did anything. They didn’t know what they’d get for intervening.

“Ah! I said let go of me!”

“You’re making too much noise, shut up!”

“I can’t go back now! I can’t… *sniff*.”

The pent-up frustration and sadness burst forth, and tears streamed down her face. More than anyone, it was Isabelle who didn’t want to leave Richt. She was the one who made this happen.

Timogere had taken out all his anger on Isabelle since childhood, and now he had ruined the only thing she had ever wanted, to be Richt’s wife. If it weren’t for her brother, she would never have left the Calitheon in such manner. This fact made Isabelle unable to endure it.

“I’m not going back! Let go of me, you bastard!”

“What? Are you really going insane, woman? Do you want to die?”

Timogere yanked her hair out more, and raising his other hand threateningly. Isabelle closed her eyes tightly to avoid the imminent blow, but the next voice she heard belonged to someone else.

“Stop it, Timogere!”

Suddenly, a man appeared, overpowering Timogere and causing him to fall to the ground. Isabelle, freed from Timogere’s grip, slumped to the floor. Looking up to calm her startled heart, she saw none other than Eden Ross.

“…… Eden?”

Isabelle’s watery eyes widened. This was a completely unexpected turn of events.

Why would Eden be here?

Eden was the son of Cain Ross, the chief physician of the Duke Blanchette. From a young age, Eden accompanied his father’s visits to the Blanchette household, and naturally became friends with Timogere, who was his age, and eventually became acquainted with Isabelle as well.

After playing with Timogere, Eden would often knock on Isabelle’s door, bringing handfuls of gifts each time.

Usually, it was fish or frogs caught by the stream, or squirrels and rabbits caught in the mountains. Although Isabelle appreciated the thought, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for the animals. In response, Eden had made her a beautiful wreath of wildflowers.

Unlike Timogere, who had a harsh and violent demeanor, Isabelle was fond of Eden. She often wondered how nice it would be if Eden were her real brother, a thought that didn’t leave her for days.

Even after that, Eden treated Isabelle warmly. They remained close until adulthood, when Isabelle married.

Isabelle had considered Eden like family since her early years, so even after her marriage, she sent several letters to Eden, but received no reply.

While she was in occasional contact with Timogere, she hadn’t heard of Eden. Isabelle and Timogere were not the kind of siblings who exchanged intimate letters, so it was not surprising.

Occasionally, she heard news about Eden in social circles. He had left the Dranselle region, where he originally lived, after receiving the title of viscount, and was being courted by a steady stream of eager women.

He’s living well.

Isabelle assumed, and thought it was fortunate, but she never expected to reunite in this manner.

After three years, Eden looked even more robust.

and was being courted by a steady stream of eager women.

“Stop it!”

“This is a family matter. It’s none of your concern, Eden Ross!”

“You’re going to hit Isabelle in front of the servants? Your own sister? Stop this disgrace!”

Despite Eden’s firm and cold warning, Timogere couldn’t control his exhilaration and lunged at him, but he was no match for the sword-trained Eden. Easily subdued, Timogere sprawled on the floor.

Thinking he had been humiliated in front of the servants and Isabelle, Timogere’s face turned red. Undeterred, he continued to argue with a face full of unresolved anger.

“What do you think you’re doing, Eden!”

“Go upstairs, Isabelle. Let’s talk later.”

Eden didn’t answer Timogere, but turned to Isabelle. While Timogere, still agitated, was caught off guard, Isabelle hurriedly went upstairs. Mia followed closely behind. Although a furious scream was heard from behind, they ignored it.

After entering the room and locking the door, Isabelle and Mia breathed sighs of relief. The room, untouched by human warmth for three years, was chilly even in the summer. Isabelle walked to the mirror and assessed her disheveled appearance. Her hair, tangled haphazardly, had become a mess.

“Are you all right, my lady? Oh, my God, look at your hair. What should we do?”

Mia, who had placed the luggage against one wall, quickly ran over to tidy Isabelle’s hair.

“I never knew the Count Blanchette could be so violent.”

“My brother is…….”

Isabelle bit back a string of curses. Even though she wanted to let loose, she couldn’t curse in front of a maid, especially given the status as the young lady of the Blanchette family.

“Stay away from him as much as possible, Mia. You’re right, he’s not the easiest person to get along with, so be careful.”

“Yes, I’ll be careful.”

“If anything happens, be sure to tell me.”

Isabelle sternly instructed Mia, who nodded meekly. As the screams from downstairs quieted down a bit, Isabelle let Mia into the adjacent room. Fortunately, it was empty.

That room used to be the maid’s room who attended to Isabelle before her marriage. Typically, the living quarters for the servants were separate on different floors. However, Isabelle, who was timid and couldn’t sleep properly without a maid nearby, had given her a room right next door.

“If you need anything, call me, Mia. You must be tired from the long journey; rest if you need to.”

Returning to her room, Isabelle sank into bed. Her whole body was exhausted. It wasn’t that she hadn’t expected Timogere’s reaction, but having Eden witness this was not part of the plan.

She felt embarrassed, as if revealing a deep-seated flaw. She didn’t want to announce her impending divorce in this manner.