After seeing Carlos off, Aneta headed straight to Rodion’s room. The maids had been standing around with worried expressions and dispersed.

Knock, knock.

The door opened as soon as she knocked, as if someone had been waiting. Rodion peeked his head out.

“May I come in for a moment?”

“…Yes.”

It seemed Rodion had been expecting her visit, as he stepped aside from the doorway without resistance.

Following the boy’s dejected figure into the room, Aneta sat him on the bed and fetched a chair from the corner.

Seated, she didn’t dive straight into the topic but first observed the room to see if anything was lacking for Rodion.

“Sister, are you mad at me?”

Rodion hesitantly broke the silence, cautiously testing the waters.

“No, I’m not angry. Carlos got hurt by accident, and you almost got hurt, too.”

Aneta met his gaze and spoke calmly. Her words, which didn’t blame him, might have brought relief, but Rodion’s expression didn’t brighten. He seemed to sense there was more to come.

“I’m just a little upset. I care about both of you and want you to get along.”

Aneta reached out and stroked Rodion’s hair.

He quietly accepted the gesture but didn’t say a word.

“Why do you dislike him so much? Did Carlos do something to upset you?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Carlos’s claim that no such thing had happened. But everyone perceives things differently, so Aneta asked.

“No, nothing like that happened.”

“Then why? I don’t think you would act like this without a reason.”

Until the divorce, things hadn’t been this tense. The sudden change was strange.

“Well…”

Rodion trailed off, clutching the hem of his shirt. It seemed difficult for him to speak.

Aneta didn’t press him. She simply waited quietly.

“Right after you got divorced, everyone talked as if they were all in on it together. They said it must have been your fault that the two of you separated. You wouldn’t have left the capital so suddenly unless you were running away.”

Rodion hesitated momentarily, gauging Aneta’s reaction, but eventually decided to share his true feelings.

Aneta listened intently as the boy broke the silence.

“There were so many rumors. Even as a child, I heard them say… that you were barren, incapable of bearing children, or that you and Carlos never even shared a bed to begin with.”

Aneta was a bit taken aback to hear such crude words from a child’s mouth. Thinking of the people who must have gossiped so carelessly without considering who might overhear, she felt disgusted. But she suppressed it, keeping her expression neutral.

She feared that interrupting the boy would make it harder for him to continue, so she quietly let him speak.

“But the Duke never did anything about those humiliating rumors, not even by the time I enrolled at the academy. I couldn’t stand it and even sent a letter to the estate, but nothing changed.”

Rodion’s face grew more contorted, as if he were on the verge of tears. It was clear the events had hurt him deeply.

Perhaps, in Rodion’s eyes, Carlos, Aneta’s former husband, had simply washed his hands of the matter after the divorce. If that were true, Rodion’s resentment toward Carlos was understandable.

“If he married you out of love, shouldn’t he have protected you even after your relationship ended? He stayed silent back then, but now he acts like he cares, staying by your side. I hate it.”

Out of love. That wasn’t the main point, but Aneta’s eyes widen at the unexpected remark.

Rodion was clever, not someone who would jump to such conclusions without reason. So why was he under the wrong impression?

Aneta sought to clarify her curiosity.

“Why do you think we got married for love?”

“I saw how he always followed you with his eyes, staying close to you. I thought that he must have loved you even if you didn’t love him. Was I wrong?”
Rodion didn’t know that Aneta and Carlos had entered into a marriage of convenience. No one had likely bothered to explain the adult complexities to him.

At that time, relations between the two families had been strained. There had been no reason to explain such details to a child.

“We didn’t get married out of love. It was a contract marriage, with conditions agreed upon by both of us.”

She wondered if it was necessary to explain such matters to a seven-year-old, but Rodion’s misunderstanding caused the rift in their relationship. To untangle things, the truth had to be made clear.

Aneta met Rodion’s surprised gaze. No matter how mature he seemed, he was still just a child. Looking at him now, she was reminded of this for the second time.

“And as for Carlos ignoring the rumors, I don’t think that’s entirely true.”

“But no matter how long I waited, the Duke’s family didn’t respond to anything.”

“According to Tereza, Carlos fell ill with a fever for several days after I left. That might be why he didn’t do anything at the time.”

When Rodion shared what had happened in her absence, there had been no mention of the rumors he spoke of now, but there had been things about Carlos.

Recalling what she had heard back then, Aneta defended Carlos.

“Even if he couldn’t leave the estate, with servants around, there’s no way he wouldn’t have known about the rumors.”

“There must have been a reason. I heard he stripped a few nobles of their positions as soon as he recovered. If I’m not mistaken, it seems connected to this.”

The timing lined up perfectly. Rodion entered school shortly after Aneta left, and Carlos suddenly began auditing officials soon after that.

If Aneta had remained unaware until now, it must have been because someone had handled the matter discreetly—and Carlos could have been the only one who could have done so.

Having left the capital for school, Rodion wouldn’t have known what happened afterward.

Aneta observed Rodion, who was pursing his lips and shifting his gaze thoughtfully. Finally, his expression solidified with determination, as if he’d reached a decision.

“Then I’ll go ask him directly and honestly. If, as you said, there were circumstances, and all of this was my misunderstanding, I’ll apologize to the Duke.”

Fortunately, Rodion seemed willing to accept that he might have been mistaken.

Relieved, Aneta nodded. It was heartening to hear.

“Are both you and the Duke going to the palace tomorrow?”

“Yes. Would you like to come with us?”

“Yes, I would.”

As though waiting for this response, Aneta stroked the child’s hair with a smile.

“Alright. For now, get a good night’s rest. I’ll take you in the morning.”

***

The next morning, Aneta began her usual preparations for work. As the maids assisted her with her attire and makeup, she found herself dwelling on the promise made the previous night, her mind tangled of thoughts.

Taking Rodion to the palace wouldn’t be difficult. As Vernon’s younger brother, his identity could easily be confirmed, granting him access.

The real concern was what would come after.

‘Would Rodion be able to resolve his misunderstanding about Carlos?’

Her eyes were fixed on the mirror, but her thoughts were far elsewhere. The worry etched on Aneta’s face didn’t go unnoticed, and one of the maids beside her spoke up.

“Is something troubling you, My Lady?”

“It’s about Rodion and Carlos.”

“Ah.”

Simply mentioning their names together was enough for the maids to grasp the situation. After all, Rodion’s prickly attitude toward Carlos was evident to anyone who had witnessed it.

“At least it’s a relief that Carlos doesn’t seem bothered by Rodion’s behavior.” Aneta sighed deeply as she thought of Carlos.

Remembering how Carlos had consistently tried to win the child’s favor made her feel endlessly guilty and painful.

“But His Grace the Duke seems to find the young master rather endearing,” Coco remarked.

“That’s not entirely wrong, but it’s likely because the young master is Your Lady’s and Viscount Kainer’s younger brother that he views him favorably. Isn’t that right, My Lady?”

Aneta nodded at Lily’s question, agreeing with her assessment.

Rodion’s attitude toward the Duke was likely possible because he understood his background and position.

Her preparations, weighed down by her swirling concerns, eventually ended. On her way to breakfast, Aneta spotted Rodion standing with someone.

Pausing on the staircase, she noticed it was Lia, the maid who had dropped the tray the previous day.

“I’m so sorry about yesterday, young master.”

Still burdened by guilt over the incident, Lia bowed deeply before Rodion. Her bow was so profound it seemed her head might touch the ground.

Without making her presence known, Aneta watched the scene unfold, curious about Rodion’s response.

“You were startled because of me. If anyone should apologize, it’s me. I’m sorry for putting you in such a difficult situation.”

Fortunately, Rodion didn’t blame Lia. Instead, he returned her apology with one of his own, bowing his head briefly.

Watching this, Aneta’s worry eased.

Rodion wasn’t the type to ignore his own faults. If his misunderstanding with Carlos was resolved, he would surely, as he’d promised, offer the Duke a proper apology.

“No, I should have been more careful. I’m sorry, young master.”

Surprised by Rodion’s apology, Lia bowed even deeper.
The sight of them both apologizing and claiming greater fault brought a smile to Aneta’s face. However, if they continued like this, there would be no end.

Aneta stepped forward, her footsteps echoing as her heels met the floor.

The sound caught the attention of the two engrossed in their apologies, who both looked up at the stairs.

“Sister.”

Noticing Aneta, Rodion turned his body toward her. Aneta walked toward them, pretending not to know what had transpired.

“What are you two doing here?”

Lia opened her mouth as if to respond, but Rodion was quicker.

“I was apologizing for something I did wrong.”

“Good job. If you’re finished, shall we go have breakfast now?”

Aneta gently patted Rodion on the head in praise and gave Lia a subtle look, signaling she could leave. With teary, glistening eyes, Lia gave a bow of gratitude before retreating. She seemed deeply moved.

“Sister, can I hold your hand to the dining room?”

“Of course.”

Aneta willingly extended her hand.

Grinning brightly, Rodion took her hand and didn’t let the smile leave his face to the dining room.