By the time the marks on her cheek and chest from being struck had almost completely faded, Reina received some news.

Her mother had passed away.

She wasn’t surprised. Ever since they said her mother was in critical condition, she had reportedly never fully regained consciousness. Reina just thought—it was horrifying how long she managed to hold on.

It must have felt like hell to stay in that place. Maybe, as she’d said herself, she wanted to see her daughter leave that house.

‘Though in the end, that never happened.’

Reina gave a bitter smile.

The funeral was held quietly. It was only natural—Yeria had never once appeared in high society.

Only two people cried at the solemn, heavy funeral.

The personal maid who had cared for her mother for many years sniffled softly as she wiped away a few tears, while Eldan, with a dazed expression, wept in silence.

Reina stared at the man in silence.

If that could be called love, then perhaps it was. Even if to the other person it had been nothing but a horrific obsession, to Eldan, Yeria had clearly been his one and only love. Of course, even that was something she found repulsive.

Her mother was buried in the Berend family cemetery. Beside her, a space had been left—naturally—for Eldan.

‘If he wants to lie there, he might as well die now.’

She thought this to herself and laughed quietly under her breath.

‘If it’s ever possible, I’ll have you buried next to Father instead.’

Reina whispered the words in her heart as she tossed a white flower onto the coffin.

‘It’s far too pitiful for her to remain bound to that man even in death.’

After the grave was filled in, Eldan suddenly tried to dig it back up with his bare hands, like a man possessed.

“Yeria… Yeria!”

Even the word madness couldn’t fully describe his state. No one around him tried to stop him.

He dug into the soil with his arms until he no longer could, and when he finally collapsed, covered in dirt, he curled up on top of the woman’s grave.

To an outsider, it might have looked like the grief of a man who had lost the woman he loved more than anything in the world. But to Reina, it was nothing more than deranged obsession.

Because of that one man, several people had lost their lives. As if destroying one woman’s life wasn’t enough, he had dragged her daughter into hell as well.

Reina looked at Eldan with eyes as cold as ice.

His madness hadn’t ended. After watching him for a long while, the onlookers finally turned back toward the estate.

A few days passed.

Whispers about Eldan began to spread.

Some said he had dug up the corpse. Others claimed he’d been weeping at the grave without pause. There were rumors he hadn’t eaten or slept, locking himself away in the room where Yeria used to live.
That he talked to thin air, as if he could see her spirit lingering there.

‘As if Mother would ever show herself to him.’

Reina couldn’t hold back a laugh when she heard someone suggest Yeria’s spirit had appeared. Unless Eldan had somehow forcibly bound her soul, there was no reason for her mother to remain at his side.

“The main estate is in turmoil.”

Rose said, wrinkling her nose.

“Good.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Ever since the marquis had been unable to properly perform his duties, Kaelid had grown considerably busier. The man who once visited the villa daily without fail had finally started showing up less frequently—a welcome change, as far as she was concerned.

‘At this rate, it won’t be long before he becomes the next marquis.’

If the rumors were to be believed, Eldan didn’t have much time left. Either he would die soon, or he’d spend a long, torturous life consumed by madness in a world without Yeria—his own personal hell.

Whether he died or truly lost his mind, the end result would be the same: Kaelid would inherit the marquisate.

Staring quietly into the mirror, Reina let out a soft sigh.

‘If that happens, I won’t have had my revenge on Eldan myself.’

Perhaps her mother had already given him the greatest despair possible. That alone might have been its own form of revenge. Though the Berends had failed to bring the blade of vengeance down upon the household as a whole, they had delivered a living hell to Eldan personally—and that, at least, was some small comfort.

Reina rose from her seat in front of the mirror and slipped off her robe.

Rose, ever attentive, took the robe and folded it neatly before pulling the blanket up over her.

“Sleep well, my lady.”

“Good night, Rose.”

The woman offered a gentle smile before stepping out of the room.

Left alone in the darkness, Reina blinked up at the ceiling. She debated calling for Yuta, but in the end, decided she just wanted some time to herself.

‘Come to think of it, things have cooled off with Yuta too.’

There was a time when, on nights Kaelid didn’t visit, she would almost always spend them with Yuta instead. But now that there was no one around actively tormenting her, the need to call for Yuta had naturally lessened.

Reina shifted slightly and closed her eyes.

She wasn’t quite used to falling asleep alone—but it wasn’t as though she couldn’t.

She had drifted into a light sleep when—

Bang.

The door slammed open.

Reina flinched, eyes flying open as she abruptly sat up.

Was it Kaelid? She was relieved she hadn’t called for Yuta. If she’d been with another man, she didn’t even want to imagine how Kaelid might have reacted.

“What… is this?”

The silhouette stumbling into the room was unfamiliar. Reina frowned slightly, but the room was too dark to make out the face clearly.

‘How did he get in?’

There were people guarding the villa. It didn’t make sense that a stranger would be let in like this.

The man’s staggering steps showed not a hint of caution.

“Who are you?”

Reina took a step back.

“Stop right there.”

If he came even one step closer, she was ready to scream for help. She fixed her eyes on him, warning sharp in her voice.

But the man showed no sign of listening. Swaying on his feet, he stepped forward again.

Then, in the faint moonlight seeping through the window, his face was revealed—

And Reina froze.

It was Eldan.

He was far more gaunt than the last time she’d seen him, and his eyes were burning with madness—but how could she not recognize him?

In that instant, she understood why no one had stopped him at the estate.

“D-Don’t come any closer.”

The fact that it was Eldan made the situation all the more terrifying.

Even if someone saw what was happening now, there would be no one willing—or able—to save her.

Her hands fumbled around the nightstand beside the bed, but there was nothing solid to grasp.

Reina clutched the blanket tightly and bit down on her lip.

‘If only my legs worked properly, If I could just stand without a cane, I could push him away and run.’

Tonight, that helplessness cut deeper than ever.

“Yeria…”

The name was slurred, but it was clear enough—he was calling for Yeria.

“I’m not my mother.”

“Yeria… my Yeria.”

Eldan murmured low under his breath as he came closer.

The distance between them closed until Reina could clearly make out his face—and with it came the overwhelming stench of alcohol.

“Yeria.”

Staggering, he climbed onto the bed. Reina tried to escape, but he was faster.

His hand grabbed her arm, pulling her roughly toward him. With both hands, he cupped her cheeks—as if he were handling something precious.

“You can’t leave me.”

“My mother is dead.”

Reina said, her voice shaking.

“Even in death… you can’t leave me.”

“I… I’m not my mother.”

She tried to pry his hands off her, gripping his wrists and pushing against him, but she couldn’t overpower him. He was not only a man but also drunk, and the smell of liquor on his breath was so thick it made her dizzy with every inhale.

“Even your death belongs to me.”

Eldan whispered the words before bursting into laughter—a loud, jarring sound that shattered the stillness of the night.

And yet, no one came to check the room.

It was clear. Everyone already knew who had entered Reina’s bedroom.