Ophelia spoke as if Celian were already the future duchess. Though she had denied it dozens of times, Ophelia acted as if she had absolute certainty. 

 Speaking would only hurt her mouth. Celian silently lowered her eyes. 

 She postponed thinking about how to return home with these legs. Izer, busy adapting to his duties as duke, hadn’t come looking for Celian. Even if she returned late, even if she limped for a day or two, it wouldn’t be a major problem. 

 She thought so until the maid announced a new visitor. 

 “Miss, the doctor is here.” 

 “Tell him to come in right away.” 

 She felt the man pause at the doorway. Ophelia remained seated and calmly greeted Owen. 

 “It’s been a while, Doctor Owen. Have you been well?” 

 “……Yes. Have you been well too, Miss?” 

 “If you’re asking if I’ve reduced the drugs, yes, but if you’re asking if I’ve been at peace, no. You must know what’s happening if you’ve seen the newspapers, Doctor.” 

 “……” 

 Even without meeting his eyes, she could tell. How shocked Owen’s face must be right now. The sight of her legs, kneeling in nothing but an underdress that was practically underwear, with her feet bare and her legs turning black from death — it looked terrible even to her reflection in the mirror, let alone to Owen who had only ever seen the proper Celian. 

 Shame welled up. 

 Rumors were rampant that the woman who said marriage wasn’t her concern had become Izer Chesterfield’s mistress. If she were innocent, there would be no reason to endure this in front of Ophelia; the reason Celian endured this humiliation was because she acknowledged that she had been the young duke’s mistress. 

 Owen held his unopened bag. 

 “I’m glad you’ve reduced the drugs. Well done. There’s nothing for me to do here today.” 

 “You seem to be in a hurry, Owen.” 

 “I’m no longer the Montes family physician.” 

 “……?” 

 Celian raised her head that had been hanging down. The hands that had been quietly resting on her thighs were grabbed and pulled upward. The man naturally supporting her as she staggered on her numb legs was definitely Owen Caleb. 

 “Let’s go, Celian.” 

 “Owen, why……” 

 Celian looked back as she was dragged out. Ophelia’s incredulous gaze and Cain’s interested expression disappeared behind the wall. 

 Once outside the entrance, Owen simply lifted Celian into his arms. Celian struggled and pleaded desperately. 

 “Owen, no. I’m fine. Go back and tell them you’re sorry.” 

 The Montes family had been quite a source of income for him too. With their great influence, they could easily control Owen’s reputation. Celian had nothing she could do for Owen, and now she had become an obstacle in his path as well. 

 She refused to owe him any more. But what followed her pleading was the man’s jacket covering her exposed chest. 

 Only after being practically thrown into the carriage could Celian properly face Owen. His voice, filled with anger, shook her. 

 “Why are you kneeling before that woman.” 

 “Owen, I……” 

 “Every time I see you, Celian, I want to kill myself……” 

 Owen wanted to kill himself that day in April who had persuaded her to come to the capital. If he had abandoned his small greed and gone down to find Celian, this wouldn’t have happened. 

 Averting his eyes from her chest that the jacket couldn’t fully cover, he declared:

 “Quit being a governess. Leave the Duke’s mansion. You’re just an employee anyway. No one can say anything if you quit.” 

 “……” 

 “Let’s leave Humingham together. We can bring Beth from Porchmen, or let her continue school there. If needed, I can ask my father. I can handle all the living expenses and child support. Celian, I have that much ability.” 

 “……” 

 “Celian, please……” 

 Celian didn’t answer. Owen groaned. Even after this humiliation, she couldn’t leave that house. She didn’t even seem to want to use Percy as an excuse anymore. 

 Owen realized. There was only one way to pull her out of that cursed house. 

 “Celian, it’s the right thing to do for the Duke’s sake too.” 

 Ripples appeared in her eyes that had been staring out the window while fidgeting with the jacket. Owen’s heart tore at her response, which was like a clear admission of her feelings. 

 But it’s okay. If I can just get you out of that hell. I’m a doctor, I can heal you. I can revive both your body and your mind……. 

 Marsha, who saw Celian getting out of the carriage wrapped tightly in Owen’s jacket and being supported, ran over with a pale face. Foam scattered behind her. 

 “Miss Berienne, what happened to you!” 

 “……” 

 Which bastard did this to you, if it was Doctor Owen tell me, I’ll kill him, goodness what happened to your legs, quickly go wash up and change clothes. If the young master or the young duke asks, I’ll cover for you……. 

 Her last sentence brought Celian back to her senses. 

 The Duke. 

 Izer, the new master of Chesterfield. 

 Her eyes turned upward out of habit. In that room at the far end of the second floor, in that luxurious bedroom, that man was there. 

 The one who had won the battle against his adoptive father who tried to kill him and now grasped everything in this mansion. The person who had whispered apologies in her ear as she fell asleep after degradingly violating her, and who had held her more tenderly than any lover. 

 What did Ophelia say again? 

‘The world will point fingers at him. They’ll whisper about how a daughter of Berienne has no right to the position of Duchess. Sin is inherited, and people still remember your father.’

 She heard the voice of the old woman who had pushed her down at the estate. 

 ‘Because of you!’ 

 Harris Chesterfield had been wrong. Being abandoned by the woman he loved wasn’t the only punishment. Celian was a quagmire for Izer. From the moment she was called to his side, the gates of hell had opened for him. 

 People often call good things heaven and bad things hell. 

 But hell has levels. From a swamp you might escape if you struggle, to darkness from which you can’t escape even if your limbs are torn apart. She couldn’t pull him out of hell, but she could prevent him from sinking deeper. 

 That was the last thing Celian Berienne could do for Izer Chesterfield. 

 Celian turned around. 

 “……Owen,” 

 “Yes, Celian.” 

 “I want to leave now.” 

 ***

 It was that night. 

 “I’ve come to tell you I’m resigning.” 

 Izer stood in front of the window. Perhaps it was a good thought that the only light came from a couple of candles lit on the desk. His face, half-turned toward her, reflected the moonlight and shone coldly.

Celian took a deep breath and continued with the words she prepared. 

 “I have failed to properly care for Young Master Percy. The Young Master needs a far better governess than me.” 

 Harris Chesterfield had ordered her to leave just a note and run away. She decided to openly defy this now meaningless final order. 

 She would say farewell face to face. Put an end to the relationship that began as employer and employee. 

 The man who had come to see her as more than an employee might be confused or hurt. If he asked what went wrong to make her leave, she was prepared to answer step by step. She had received too high a salary until now, staying beside someone about to marry was overstepping bounds. 

 Let’s end our relationship here. 

 Rehearsing countless words in her mind while waiting for his reaction, Celian spoke again. 

 “I’m sure you can find someone more suitable than me……” 

 “There won’t be anyone who can suck my c*ck as well as you do.” 

 The words falling over his long arm as he closed the window were sharp. 

 Her heart started racing at his aggressive response. Her skin broke out in goosebumps. Words failed her. None of her prepared excuses and pretexts came to mind. 

 “……!” 

 His burning red eyes stared straight at Celian. As the man approached one step at a time, she couldn’t even avert her gaze. Her back touched the cold door as she unconsciously retreated backward. 

 Izer, who had followed her, stopped a few steps away and tilted his head downward. 

 “I’ll let the world know. How deeply we loved each other.” 

 “……!” 

 “‘Childhood friends who parted long ago met again, as a governess and the house’s eldest young master,’ something like that would be the headline.” 

 “Suddenly, why……” 

 “Let’s add one more line. ‘And they f*cked earnestly.’ Doesn’t that pique your interest? Makes you want to spend 1 penny to buy the newspaper right away, doesn’t it?” 

 It was just like her first day meeting Izer again in this house. That day too, Izer had been composed, and Celian alone couldn’t breathe. A single sentence barely escaped the lips of the woman gripped by fear. 

 “You would tarnish your own honor……”