Chapter 12

As soon as they arrived at the castle, Catherine stepped out of the carriage without looking back. She could hear Alto muttering something, calling after her, but she deliberately ignored him. Her heart wouldn’t calm down at the thought that Henry might have boasted about their intimate night together. Determined to confront him immediately, Catherine quickened her steps, only to learn that Henry was entertaining a guest in the drawing room.

In the month she had spent at Leonard Castle, Catherine had never once seen a guest. Not for herself, nor for Henry. It seemed that Henry had no close acquaintances, as there wasn’t a single person in high society who truly knew him.

But Catherine was no different. She, too, had no friends to speak of, which was why she had never inquired about Henry’s.

No one came to visit, and neither of them had anyone to visit.

It was the first time Catherine had felt a sense of connection with Henry, someone who otherwise seemed entirely different from her.

Neither of them had even received the most common congratulatory telegram for their marriage.

And now, Henry had a guest?

Curiosity about this unexpected visitor began to grow. Without even changing her clothes, Catherine headed straight for the drawing room. As she approached, she heard a sharp voice seeping through the crack in the door.

“What a pitiful life you lead. A half-blood, with a half-inheritance. No matter how hard you struggle, you’ll always be a half-rate knight.”

A half-rate knight.

It was a voice she had never heard before. The hostility directed at Henry by this stranger was palpable. Even without knowing anything, Catherine could tell that the speaker harbored deep resentment toward him.

“Were you so desperate that you resorted to a sham marriage? Drooling over an inheritance that isn’t even yours—how pathetic.”

“It’s not yours either.”

The conversation was far from ordinary. The woman’s venomous tone weighed heavily on Catherine’s chest. Perhaps it felt familiar because she had heard such barbed words before, meant solely to wound.

Taking a deep breath, Catherine pushed the door open with all her strength. Through the open door, she saw Henry and a woman she didn’t recognize. The two stood facing each other, ignoring the chairs, their gazes locked in a fiery clash.

“Ah, we have a guest?”

The woman’s wrinkled face was caked with heavy makeup. Her appearance, adorned with an excessive amount of gaudy jewelry, was enough to make Catherine frown. It seemed the woman was trying to flaunt her status through her ostentatious accessories.

But excess can be a poison. The overabundance of jewelry made her look vulgar, and the thick makeup only aged her further.

As people age, the years they’ve lived begin to show on their faces. In that brief moment, Catherine scanned the woman’s face and surmised that she was not someone who had lived a life of kindness.

While Catherine was scrutinizing the woman, the woman was also sizing up Catherine. Quickly but not hurriedly, the woman’s gaze swept over Catherine before she turned to Henry with a question.

“You’re not going to introduce your wife to your mother?”

“Mother?”

The woman bore no resemblance to Henry. Catherine, unable to believe that this could be Henry’s mother, looked at him with startled eyes. Unlike her, Henry’s expression remained composed.

“Allow me to introduce you, Mother. This is my wife, Catherine.”

Even as he made the introduction, Henry refrained from mentioning Catherine’s full name. The deliberate omission of her surname struck Catherine as odd, and she tilted her head slightly in confusion.

“Is she too stupid to introduce herself? Does she need someone to speak for her to say hello?”

The woman’s gaze remained fixed on Catherine. Her response, dripping with malice, came immediately after Henry introduced Catherine. If this woman was Henry’s mother, she would also be Catherine’s mother-in-law. But her words were far from appropriate for a first meeting with her daughter-in-law.

This woman is just like my grandfather.

Though it was only a brief moment, Catherine couldn’t help but notice the similarities between Henry’s mother and her maternal grandfather. As the thought crossed her mind, a sense of hostility began to stir within her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Catherine Annette.”

Though her words were polite, Catherine didn’t smile. Seeing her introduce herself without the slightest hint of emotion, the woman’s eyebrows twitched.

“Annette… Could it be the Annette Ducal House?”

For someone claiming to be his mother, the woman knew far too little about Catherine. It seemed Henry’s family situation was more complicated than she had imagined. The fact that his mother didn’t even know who her son had married, and the way she glared at Henry with such anger, were enough for anyone to pick up on.

“Prepare to escort my mother out.”

Henry was displeased that Richelle had discovered Catherine’s existence. It was one thing for her to hurt him, but he couldn’t tolerate her treating his wife poorly.

“No, I’ll be staying here for a while.”

After Werner’s will had passed the title of the Leonard estate to Henry, Richelle had packed her belongings and returned to her family home. For years, she hadn’t contacted Henry even once. But now, she had suddenly appeared, announcing her intention to stay. Henry began to wonder what she was planning.

“Am I not allowed to stay here? You both don’t look too pleased.”

“Not at all, Mother. I’ll have a room prepared for you.”

Though they despised each other, Richelle was still Henry’s mother in name. Bowing his head, Henry gave her a formal greeting before taking Catherine’s arm and leading her out. As she was pulled along, Catherine glanced back at Richelle. Her face was twisted into a scowl, as if deep in thought.

***

Time passed so quickly that Marina couldn’t believe it had already been several years since she last saw Richelle. Marina let out a deep sigh. Richelle had left the castle after declaring that she couldn’t bear to live in a place without Werner, alongside someone she despised. Marina never expected Richelle to return so abruptly, without any prior notice. Living under Richelle’s constant hostility toward Henry had felt like walking on thin ice. When Richelle left for her family home, peace finally returned to the castle.

Marina, who had served Richelle long before Henry appeared, had always been concerned about how Richelle had left Leonard Castle as if she were being chased. Having witnessed Richelle’s years of emotional suffering caused by her husband’s infidelity, Marina could understand why Richelle hated Henry. Still, she had hoped that one day Richelle would open her heart.

But contrary to Marina’s hopes, Richelle’s hatred for Henry only deepened over time. It seemed that every time she looked at Henry, she was reminded of his mother.

Marina’s words, that clinging to the past and hating Henry would only leave her feeling empty, didn’t seem to resonate with Richelle. Even as she left the castle, Richelle hurled curses at Henry.

Even after leaving, Richelle continued to grind her teeth at Henry, receiving updates about him through Marina.

“Madame, it’s Marina.”

Marina was curious about Richelle’s intentions in suddenly visiting the castle and announcing that she would stay for a few days. After hurriedly cleaning and preparing the room Richelle had once used, Marina brought refreshments and went to see her.

As if she had been expecting Marina, Richelle greeted her warmly.

“It’s been a while, Marina.”

Placing the tray on the table, Marina bowed deeply in greeting.

Satisfied with Marina’s polite demeanor, Richelle reached for the teacup with a broad smile.

“Marina, your tea is always so fragrant, no matter when I drink it. I missed this so much while I was away from the castle.”

“Thank you, Madame.”

Richelle gestured toward the chair opposite her, as if inviting Marina to sit. Bowing lightly once more, Marina took a seat across from Richelle.

A brief silence fell between them. Richelle took a sip of tea and closed her eyes, as if savoring the aroma.

While waiting for Richelle to speak, Marina neatly arranged the teapot and cups.

“…Catherine, was it?”

With her eyes still closed, Richelle murmured to herself, recalling the events of the day. Knowing Henry’s disinterest in women, she hadn’t expected him to marry so suddenly.

“Yes, Madame. She is Madame Catherine of the Annette Ducal House.”

Hearing Marina’s explanation, Richelle opened her eyes.

When Richelle first heard of Henry’s marriage, she had immediately contacted Marina. If Henry truly followed the terms of the will and had an heir before his twenty-fifth birthday, Richelle and her son would be left with nothing, completely penniless.

“Are you giving it to her daily as instructed?”

“Yes, Madame. I add it to her nightly tea every day.”

Richelle nodded and smiled. It was the first genuine smile she had shown since arriving at the castle.

“I can’t let him have an heir so easily.”

Losing half of the Leonard estate was already too much. She couldn’t allow Henry to take anything more. Ever since becoming Werner’s wife, Richelle had been waiting for the day she could claim the vast wealth of the Leonard family. If Henry hadn’t appeared, all of Leonard’s fortune would have become hers upon Werner’s death.

“I’m so fortunate to have you, Marina.”

Feigning gratitude, Richelle spoke softly, her tone completely different from when she addressed Henry.

“It’s nothing, Madame.”

“I’ll give you whatever you desire as promised, so just let me know.”

Marina bit her lip as she kept her head bowed. She had served Richelle long before she started serving Henry. Though she had raised Henry like a son, her true loyalty lay with Richelle. Tempted by Richelle’s promise of a comfortable life if she followed orders, Marina had betrayed Henry. The shame of her actions kept her from lifting her head.