Chapter 6 (Part 4)

Maria Richard hadn’t slept a wink all night.  

The commotion caused by Therese collapsing in the dining hall the previous evening had thrown the entire ducal residence into chaos.  

Her face, as she bit her nails nervously, was filled with tension.  

“Why is it taking effect so quickly?”  

The poison she had secretly obtained was supposed to destroy someone slowly.  

If consumed over time, it would naturally render the person unable to bear children. But it was said to leave no trace, making the victim appear as though they had simply contracted tuberculosis.  

“Then why is she already coughing up blood?”

The first day the poison was used, Therese coughed up blood too quickly, causing an unforeseen problem.  

‘The Duke won’t be able to find any evidence, but…….’  

The Duke, who had been in a frenzy yesterday, ordering the gates to be closed, was terrifying. He acted as if he would interrogate every single servant like hunting down rats. He even summoned a physician and threatened him to detoxify her immediately.  

“Why is my dear son acting like this?”  

What’s the big deal if some insignificant woman coughs up blood and collapses?  

Maria found it hard to hide her disappointment at her son’s unexpected reaction.  

“At a time like this, if only our sweet Katrina were here, I could have relied on her.”  

She missed Katrina, who had left for the estate due to Count Volez’s health issues.  

Standing by the window where she had paced all night, Maria looked out into the dark and spoke ominously.  

“Well then. Has that girl been dealt with?”  

“Of course, Madame. There is nothing for you to worry about.”  

A maid, bowing her head quietly in the corner, whispered softly.  

The maid who had poisoned Therese’s food under Maria’s orders had already been sent away. That young maid, who had done nothing but follow orders, would likely not live to see today’s sunrise.  

“How could he not understand his mother’s heart so much?”  

The fact that the current Duke had grown up so well was entirely thanks to her devoted care.  

Jeremy, who had been deeply shocked after losing his father, exhibited symptoms of mutism and social withdrawal. He locked himself in his room, refusing to meet anyone or speak a word.  

It was Maria who visited him every night to encourage him.  

‘Jeremy, you are now Duke Richard. You must cast aside all personal emotions and focus solely on serving His Majesty the Emperor.’  

After several months, Jeremy emerged from his room on his own, his gaze noticeably sharper.  

He learned everything required of him as the head of the family without a single complaint. He paid no attention to the coquettishness of women or the allure of sweet perfumes, becoming the silent sword for the family and the empire, just as Maria Richard had wished.  

“And yet, I don’t understand why he’s acting so strangely now.”  

Grinding her teeth, Maria’s eyes flashed with anger.  

***

Hiding her flushed cheeks, Therese bowed politely and apologized.  

“Your Grace, I have been disrespectful.”  

After all, she had dared to hold the hand of someone so noble.  

When Therese tried to withdraw her hand, the Duke gently grasped her wrist. Looking down at her restrained wrist, she spoke indignantly.  

“What exactly are you doing?”  

“That’s what I’d like to ask you.”  

The Duke’s voice was sharp, like the quills of a hedgehog.  

In truth, he couldn’t remember when Therese had held his hand in her sleep. He had woken up feeling warm and cozy, only to find her trying to avoid him again.  

Caught up in feelings of disappointment, he continued speaking.  

“I went through so much trouble taking care of you while you were unwell, and yet you remain so cold.”  

“……Hah.”  

Therese frowned at his words.  

The Duke still hadn’t let go of her wrist, and she was utterly exhausted by this pointless argument.  

“Why are you here in my room?”  

All Therese wanted was for the Duke to leave her bedroom quickly. If someone saw them, they might spread unnecessary rumors.  

“It is perfectly natural for a husband and wife to share a bedroom, is it not?”  

“……?”  

The unfamiliar longing in his eyes, as he stroked the soft skin on the inside of her wrist, made her turn her head in surprise and bite her lips.  

The Jeremy Richard she had reunited with was consistently strange and kept shocking her.  

‘There’s nothing natural about sharing a bedroom.’  

The Duke had always been polite to her, but that was the extent of their relationship.  

In the five years of their marriage, they had never once shared a bed. Even when they had to consummate their marriage for the sake of an heir, the Duke had left the bedroom as soon as the act was done.  

‘I’m sensitive and can’t sleep if someone is next to me.’  

So why was he now repeatedly falling asleep beside me?  

“In any case, thank you for what you did last night. Now, I need to get ready to go out, so please leave.”  

“And where do you think you’re going in that condition?”  

The Duke, who had been sitting, stood up abruptly and scolded Therese again.  

There had been a time when she wished he would show her anger rather than treat her as if she didn’t exist.  

‘Yes, there was a time like that.’  

Breaking free from his grip with a sharp twist of her hand, Therese whispered softly.  

“My body will be fine as long as I take my medicine. Besides, as you know, I have a lot to do.”  

Despite her words, the Duke still didn’t budge.  

‘Then I have no choice.’  

Staring at the Duke, Therese slowly removed her robe.  

The thin robe slipped to the floor, revealing her sheer chemise and translucent skin. The Duke’s ears turned red at the sight.  

“……M-Madame.”  

“I sweated a lot and need to bathe. Are you planning to assist me, Your Grace?”  

Turning his back to her chemise-clad figure, the Duke stammered.  

“I-I’ll leave and call for a maid.”  

As Duke Richard hurriedly left the bedroom, Therese leaned against the bed. Though she had spoken boldly, her body was far from fine.  

“……Hah.”  

She quickly took the hidden medicine, feeling as though her insides were burning. The antidote, strong enough to neutralize the poison, was bitter and taxing on her body.  

“Madam, are you awake?”  

Hearing Sophia’s voice from outside the door, Therese straightened her posture. She didn’t want to worry Sophia by showing her pain.  

***

Leaning against the carriage, Therese smiled faintly.  

‘I feel so free.’  

With the Imperial Ball approaching, it was a relief that Duke Richard was unable to act as her escort today.  

Of course, she had to agree to bring additional guards and two maids assigned by the Duke, but still, the most bothersome man was not by her side.  

Therese glanced at the seat beside her through the window. The seat where the Duke usually sat was empty, and she felt a slight twinge of emptiness.  

Startled by her own feelings, she cleared her throat awkwardly.  

“……Ahem.”

“Madam, is something wrong?”  

“No, nothing……”  

Sophia, sitting across from Therese and observing her expression, asked with concern. Despite coughing up blood last night, Therese insisted on handling guild business again, which Sophia couldn’t understand.  

‘It’s definitely not because of money…….’  

Growing up under a busy, single father had made Therese mature earlier than most, but the current Miss seemed very unfamiliar to her.  

‘She acts as if she’s aged by decades.’  

Her sudden health decline was strange, and everything about her words and expressions was full of mystery.  

When they arrived at the office and went upstairs, Roshan was already there, handling business.  

“Master, you’ve arrived.”  

“I told you to take it easy……”  

“Thanks to the leave you gave me, I rested plenty.”  

Roshan lowered his gaze modestly, referring to the two weeks he hadn’t shown up.  

“To anyone else, it might seem like you’re very obedient.”  

Therese, who had been quite gloomy earlier, brightened up at the sight of Roshan. Seeing him allowed her to momentarily forget the complicated matters at the Richard ducal residence.  

“I am always your loyal servant, Master.”  

Roshan stood up, wearing a white shirt with wide sleeves that exposed a bit of his chest and loose black trousers.  

Seeing Roshan dressed in the attire of Pasa for the first time in a while, Therese’s eyes widened.  

“What’s the occasion for wearing that?”  

Roshan, being Pasa-born, disliked wearing Pasa-style clothing. He did everything he could to appear like a citizen of the Caspian Empire.  

“It’s nothing.”  

Roshan shook his head slightly and approached Therese with a tray of prepared refreshments.  

“Master, I heard you coughed up blood again yesterday.”  

“It’s nothing serious.”  

She had been shocked at first when she saw the blood, but now it barely fazed her.  

“Don’t forget the promise you made to me—to stay strong.”  

Seeing Therese’s calm expression, Roshan’s voice trembled slightly.  

“I haven’t forgotten. I was just saying that. By the way, this smells nice.”  

As Therese deliberately changed the subject, Roshan pretended to be fooled and went along with her.  

“I figured you might not have much of an appetite, so I prepared lemon tarts.”  

“Why do you keep doing things like this……”  

Though she grumbled, she couldn’t ignore the effort of the person who had gone out of their way for her. She took a small piece of the tart and placed it in her rough mouth.  

“……Hmm.”  

The buttery crust of the tart and the sweet and tangy flavor of the lemon blended harmoniously in her mouth. It soothed her nausea and refreshed her palate.