Chapter 5

Blood-tinged water flowed over Baron Dermann’s face. The carpet became soaked with his blood and water.

“Come back.”

“…….”

Lennox pulled off the rings and threw them to the floor, speaking forcefully. At those words, Ellen drew in a breath. Step. His footsteps grew closer. When Karan stepped aside, Ellen’s view was filled entirely with Lennox. With his freshly washed hands, Lennox gently cupped Ellen’s wounded pale cheek, and once again spoke firmly.

“Come back to me, Ellen.”

“…….”

Ellen read the desperation, the longing, in his eyes. She closed her eyes as if to turn away. Memories of their time together flashed by, and she remembered the moment he had been dragged away. Remembering how she had felt then, Ellen could easily steady her heart. She looked up at Lennox and shook her head.

“I can’t do that, Lennox.”

His throat moved deeply. Ellen spoke again, firmly.

“I won’t go back. Never again.”

“…Is that so?”

Lennox murmured, withdrawing his hand from her cheek. Karan handed Lennox a rolled-up parchment. Slowly, Lennox unfurled it and spoke.

“Tur Dermott. Ellen Valère. Under the name of God, I declare you husband and wife.”

‘Marriage contract.’

The dreadful marriage contract, under which Ellen had been forced to accept Baron Dermann as her husband before God. Lennox’s eyes slowly turned to Ellen. Ellen met Lennox’s gaze straight on. Lennox’s eyes returned to the contract as he spoke slowly.

“It’s the most worthless thing ever written.”

When Karan offered a lit match, Lennox burned the marriage contract. The contract disappeared, leaving only the smell of burning. Ellen silently watched as the contract that had shackled her all this time burned black and scattered across the floor.

“You’re no longer this man’s wife. So now there’s nothing stopping you from coming back, is there?”

“I won’t go back.”

“Is that so? From the way you speak, it seems there’s another obstacle. If I’m not mistaken, that obstacle must be this.”

A child’s cry was heard. The closed door opened, and Emma was dragged in by knights, clutching a sobbing Innis in her arms. Ellen’s face went pale, and she let out a faint scream.

“Innis! Emma!”

“So this child’s name is Innis, I see.”

“Madam!”

“My lady!”

Lennox blocked Ellen with his arm as she tried to rush forward. Emma was forced to her knees, and Innis flailed her arms, trying to reach her mother. Ellen’s mind spun. The thin mask she wore as Baroness Dermann was completely stripped away as she tried to push past Lennox’s arm to reach Innis. But his strong arm around her waist kept her from moving forward.

“Let go, Lennox!”

“And seeing you like this, it’s clear this child is yours.”

Lennox’s eyes swept over Ellen’s desperate face, the sobbing four-year-old, and the unconscious Baron Dermann. Grinding his teeth, he spoke as if forcing out the most dreadful words in the world.

“That means, this child is also that toad’s offspring.”

“…….”

At his words, Ellen stopped struggling. Lennox hoped she would deny it. But Ellen sealed her lips and did not deny it, making Lennox feel as if something inside him was crumbling. He wished, hoped, she would say it wasn’t true—that the child wasn’t his, wasn’t Baron Dermann’s. But she never opened her mouth. Lennox pressed her for an answer.

“Say it. Was this child born between you and Baron Dermann?”

‘Say no.’ 

Sensing Lennox’s desperation, Ellen squeezed her eyes shut. She knew better than anyone how lonely a child raised by parents who demanded only duty, not love, could become. Innis was the same. Baron Dermann had never properly called or embraced Innis. To Ellen, that was a relief. Baron Dermann was not Innis’s real father. He had no right to hold her. The only one with that right was Lennox.

That was why Innis was even more precious and beloved to Ellen, her one and only pillar, her beloved daughter for whom she would give her own heart without regret. With Innis right before her, Ellen could not deny her daughter.

“That’s right.”

“…….”

Ellen felt Lennox’s grip on her waist tighten, making it hard to breathe. Instinctively, she tried to loosen his arm, but it wouldn’t budge. Above her head, his voice came out frosty.

“…Is that so? She’s precious to you?”

“Yes.”

Ellen did not deny it. Innis was the most precious person in the world to her. When Lennox wasn’t by her side, Innis was the only reason she endured life in this terrible mansion. Lennox’s heart, slowly crumbling, froze over. He stared for a while at Innis, who was crying and looking up with eyes just like Ellen’s. Then Lennox let go of Ellen. Off balance, Ellen fell to the floor. In the past, Lennox would have helped her up, but now he didn’t look back, walking toward Innis.

“…Ma…”

Innis stopped crying in surprise and looked up at Lennox, hiccuping. Lennox, seeing Innis who resembled Ellen as a child, furrowed his brows and closed his eyes. It was painful. Innis kept reminding him of Ellen’s childhood.

‘My liege Ellen. My friend Ellen. My lover Ellen. My Ellen.’

Until he entered this room, only love and affection had filled his heart, but now hatred and resentment swirled uncontrollably. The moment he faced her, five years’ worth of emotion crashed over him, paralyzing his reason. He himself didn’t know what he was feeling or saying anymore.

He had never imagined a day would come when he would hurt Ellen. Or perhaps it was inevitable, ever since the day they parted, ever since he learned the terrible truth—whether sooner or later, this day would come.

Lennox slowly drew his sword, his lips moving slowly, as if ready to accept and welcome her hatred with his whole body.

“In that case, it’s better to get rid of this child for the future.”

“No!”

As Lennox raised his sword, Innis stared blankly at it. Ellen screamed, running to tightly embrace Innis. Innis, startled, burst into loud sobs. Lennox’s movement stopped with his sword raised. His red eyes wavered for a moment as he looked at Ellen’s back, holding Innis tightly. Ellen curled her body around Innis, shielding her from the terrifying, gleaming sword in the sunlight.

“P-please, Lennox. Don’t show such a frightening thing to this child. Don’t touch her. Not this child.”

“…….”

“Please, Lennox. Lennox…….”

Ellen pleaded, hugging the crying Innis tightly. No matter what happened, this child must not be harmed. At least not by Lennox. This child, more precious than anything, had to be protected. For that, Ellen was willing to beg, even humiliate herself. Lennox gazed down at the trembling small shoulders, feeling a subtle thrill.

‘Yes. Even after all this time, you are still honest with me. And I am the only one who knows your true self.’

If anyone else were here, Ellen would never show this side of herself. Only with Lennox could she humble herself. Lennox knew this very well.

‘But.’

At the same time, his barely frozen heart shattered into sharp pieces.

Ellen was begging Lennox to spare the child she had with Baron Dermann. When he slapped Baron Dermann, she hadn’t been desperate. But now, because of this child, she was begging desperately, lowering herself before him.

He felt both joy and a twisted jealousy that swelled like a heavy balloon. Paradoxically, her appearance made his heart ache and feel sorrow.

‘I said I’d never hurt you. But now I’m the one hurting you first.’

Despite his feelings, cold words spilled from Lennox’s lips.

“That’s not possible. Should I let the Dermann bloodline live?”

“Please… Lennox. No. Not this child. I’m begging you. Please, just don’t touch her. It’s my fault. It’s all my fault.”

Ellen, holding Innis, bowed her head to the floor and begged. Her tears fell one by one onto the carpet. Lennox’s grip on his sword tightened.

He was angry and sad. His heart was wavering. The love and resentment he felt for Ellen burned through his veins. Everything about this situation was miserable.

He hated himself for trying to use Ellen’s precious child, hated Ellen for begging so desperately for the child, hated this wretched situation where a child’s life became a bargaining chip. Lennox slowly drew a breath, struggling to suppress his raging emotions, and spoke.

“I’ll say it once more. Come back to me.”