Chapter 2.5

In the end, she boarded the carriage.  

The carriage headed straight for the grand mansion.  

If there was one silver lining, it was that Angie, her maid, accompanied her.  

It was a precaution, just in case.  

‘I need someone to attend to me.’  

At her words, Luette Trovill had given her a look of exasperation, as if to say she couldn’t even endure a few hours without help.  

But it didn’t matter. She had succeeded in seating Angie next to the coachman.  

The carriage left the plaza where Watson Station was located and traveled along a clean road.  

It was only 6 p.m., and though the sun had set, people could still be seen hurrying to dinner or whispering sweet nothings to their lovers.  

Only Solnia, seated in the black carriage of the Trovill family, grew paler by the minute.  

‘It’s fine.’  

She kept clenching and unclenching her cold hands.  

‘It’s fine.’  

She felt foolish.  

She had known her grandmother would summon her at least once before her coming-of-age ceremony.  

She had even imagined situations like this countless times in her head.  

Yet here she was, crumbling in the face of reality.  

“It’s fine.”  

She muttered the words like a mantra, unaware that she was speaking aloud.  

She didn’t even notice the suspicious glances directed her way.  

Meanwhile, the carriage turned onto a secluded path—a path she found both tedious and familiar.  

Her gaze naturally shifted to the right.  

Beyond an endless stretch of high walls stood the Oberon Grand Mansion.  

The vast garden, which took half a day to explore fully, surrounded the mansion that loomed in the center.  

Today, it exuded an especially ominous aura.  

The carriage passed through the main gate, jolting slightly as it did.  

“Are you from the Trovill family?”  

“Yes. I’ve brought the Earl and Countess of Melfir.”  

The voice of an elderly steward and the young coachman’s reply.  

Then, the steward glanced briefly at them with a surprised expression.  

The carriage started moving again, drawing closer to the mansion that stood like the eye of a storm.  

The entrance to Oberon Grand Mansion, said to be over 100 years old, looked no different from last year.  

The air was slightly chilly, and there was a faint smell of grass.  

When the carriage door opened, Solnia wrinkled her nose involuntarily.  

“Are you uncomfortable, my dear?”  

Luette Trovill, who had stepped out first, reluctantly extended his hand to her, accompanied by his signature charming smile.  

When Solnia took his hand and stepped down, he leaned in and whispered,  

“Control your expression. We’re entering enemy territory.”  

The word “enemy” caught her off guard.  

Of course, Luette Trovill likely didn’t know what he was saying, but for a fleeting moment, Solnia felt a strange sense of camaraderie.  

“There are many eyes watching.”  

“I have eyes too.”  

As she muttered under her breath, a familiar voice called out from behind them.  

“Earl of Melfir, have you arrived?”  

As if on cue, the two turned around with smiles.  

There stood the butler and housekeeper, who had come out to greet them after seeing the carriage approach.  

The smiles they directed at Luette Trovill turned to faint surprise when their gazes landed on Solnia.  

“…It’s been a while, Young Lady.”  

“How have you been?”  

Solnia deliberately stepped closer to Luette Trovill, as if to make a point to the servants who still addressed her as “Young Lady.”  

As expected, the butler’s expression grew even more uncomfortable as he watched the couple.  

“I didn’t expect both of you to come together. The Dowager will be so pleased.”  

“It’s her seventieth birthday. Of course, we must attend to celebrate.”  

Luette added a dazzling smile to his reply.  

“But what should we do? The Dowager is out at the moment. If only you had informed us of your visit…”  

“……”  

In that moment, Solnia’s only thought was, ‘Thank goodness.’  

She had come prepared to face her grandmother and to act her part until the end.  

But if she could delay it, she would.  

Just as she was about to suggest returning the next day, the butler spoke again.  

“Would you like to wait inside? She mentioned she’d be back soon. The Earl is here as well.”  

“That sounds good.”  

But Luette Trovill, who had no idea what was going through her mind, stepped into the mansion without hesitation.  

As soon as they entered, Solnia felt the weight of countless eyes on them.  

All the servants were staring at Solnia and her husband.  

Some looked surprised, others suspicious.  

Solnia tightened her grip on the man’s arm, which had slackened without her realizing it.  

“……”  

She was momentarily startled by how solid and firm his arm was, but she quickly focused on maintaining her smile, pretending not to notice his annoyed sidelong glance.  

“If you’ll wait here, I’ll prepare some tea for you.”  

As soon as the butler and housekeeper who had escorted them to the drawing room disappeared, Solnia turned her gaze sharply toward him.  

“Why did you come inside? You could’ve just said we’d come tomorrow.”  

“I already told you. I don’t want to waste time doing unnecessary things twice. There’s no benefit to meeting her often, either.”  

“……”  

She didn’t want to argue further. Her head was pounding.  

Even the drawing room looked exactly the same as it had when her grandmother had once told her she had a stubbornly persistent life.  

And then—  

“Well, look who it is!”  

A familiar voice rang out.  

Turning her gaze, she saw her twin brother Alec standing there.  

True to his title as a proper young head of the family, his neatly combed blonde hair and perfectly tied cravat left nothing to criticize.  

Alec strode over and lightly embraced Luette.  

“You should’ve let me know you were coming. I had no idea.”  

“I didn’t have time to send a letter since I had to rearrange my schedule. How have you been?”  

“Of course! I’ve been doing great, as always.”  

Alec, who greeted Luette like an old friend, suddenly widened his eyes when he noticed Solnia.  

“Oh?”  

“…Hello.”  

“My goodness, Solnia.”  

After a brief pause, Alec approached her with a face full of emotion and spread his arms wide.  

Reluctantly stepping into his embrace, Solnia allowed him to hold her as he took a deep breath and patted her back.  

“I can’t believe it. I didn’t think you’d come to the capital.”  

“……”  

“Seeing you again feels like a dream.”  

True to his reputation as a brother who adored his sister, Alec began to pour out his emotions.  

Remaining expressionless in his arms, Solnia only managed a faint smile after he finally let her go.  

“It’s good to see you, brother.”  

“How have you been? Are you feeling better?”  

“I’m fine, as always. My body and mind are both fine.”  

“Grandmother should’ve been here. She’ll be so happy to know you’ve come.”  

“……”  

At those words, the dull headache that had been creeping in turned into sharp needles stabbing her head relentlessly.  

Alec knew everything. He knew exactly how Solnia had been treated all her life.  

And yet, he could still lie so casually.  

Did he truly know nothing? Or was he just pretending to be oblivious?  

“It’s a surprise gift. After all, it’s her seventieth birthday.”  

Solnia said this as she turned her head toward Luette.  

“Why don’t the two of you chat for a bit? I’ll go get some fresh air.”  

She couldn’t bear it any longer.  

Perhaps it was because she had taken more sleeping pills than usual, or maybe it was the realization that she was now in hell, but her headache grew worse, and her stomach churned.  

As she left the drawing room, she could feel Luette’s gaze on her back, as if accusing her of cowardice for leaving alone.  

But she ignored it. After all, it was his decision to set foot in this house in the first place.  

“Bring me some digestive medicine.”  

“Yes, Young Lady.”  

Solnia spoke to the maid standing at the entrance of the drawing room before turning away.  

She had intended to head to the garden, but her gaze was suddenly drawn to the staircase leading to the second floor.