Chapter 3.1 – I Despise You

The next morning, Solnia woke up with a pounding headache that kept her face buried in the pillow for some time. Perhaps it was because she had taken one more sleeping pill before bed.  

‘Do not overdose. You must develop the habit of sleeping without medication.’

Her physician in Melfir had repeatedly warned her.  

Having taken so much medication over time, she could no longer fall asleep without a substantial dose. Despite the physician’s stern advice not to build further tolerance, there was no way she could sleep without medication in her current situation.  

“In this… situation…” 

Solnia muttered faintly as she lifted her head to gaze at the ornate ceiling adorned with intricate paintings.  

‘The Young Master decorated this room with care after his marriage.’ 

The housekeeper of the townhouse had said the previous night when guiding her to the room.  

Indeed, the couple’s bedroom was extravagantly decorated, as if to prove her words. The large and small ornaments on the mantelpiece, the oversized painting hanging on one side, and even the vase on the table all showed meticulous attention to detail.  

“Madam? Are you awake?”  

A cautious knock was followed by the door opening slightly, revealing Angie’s cheerful face.  

“How are you feeling?”  

“I’m fine.”  

“That’s a relief! The Master is preparing to go out. He said he’s going to visit the Duchess.”  

Without being asked, Angie reported every detail of her husband’s activities. The Duchess, of course, referred to the Duchess of Trovill.  

He was probably planning to visit his parents before returning to Melfir as soon as the Dowager’s party ended. Despite his outward appearance, he was a devoted son to his parents.  

Come to think of it, Luette Trovill was always warm and kind to everyone except her.  

“I was worried you might still be unwell, but I’m glad to see you’re better.”  

“Hmm?”  

“Let me help you get dressed! You’ll be going to the ducal residence with the Master, won’t you?”  

Solnia closed her slightly agape mouth. For a moment, she almost asked why she would go there, staring at Angie’s sunny smile.  

She had skipped all official events as a couple thus far, but she had forgotten that she could no longer do so.  

With the divorce looming, the situation had completely changed. That was why she was here in the first place.  

“Yes, I suppose I should get ready quickly.”  

Solnia spoke in a flat tone as she got out of bed.  

The events of the previous night came to mind as she watched Angie chatter away energetically.  

“Which perfume would you like, Madam? I’ve brought the ones that is commonly used, but since it’s warm today, perhaps a rose—”  

“Angie.”  

Angie, who had been prattling away to avoid even the slightest pause, widened her eyes at the soft call. Holding a bottle of perfume in each hand, she blinked rapidly, as if wondering what she had done wrong.  

“Tell me.”  

“…Yes, Madam.”  

“How did you find me last night?”  

“…Pardon?”  

Though she had been too distracted to think about it last night, something had indeed been strange.  

Even if she had taken some sleeping pills, there was no reason to cause such a commotion simply because she had taken one more digestive pill. Her current splitting headache was likely a lingering effect of whatever had happened.  

Moreover, she had been lying in a dusty, unused room where no one came or went, yet Angie had somehow found her.  

“How did you know I was there?”  

“Well… that’s…”  

So, there was something.  

“I overheard the maids talking in the kitchen.”  

“In the kitchen?”  

“Yes, Madam.”  

Avoiding Solnia’s gaze, Angie hesitantly recounted what she had seen and heard.  

While the couple met Alec in the drawing room, Angie had been directed to a smaller parlor where she enjoyed a simple meal and waited idly until their business was concluded.  

“I went to the kitchen to get some water because I was thirsty… and I overheard the maids talking about you.”  

When Angie entered the kitchen, two maids were interrogating another maid about what medicine she had given to the lady. Eventually, they admitted to having brought Alec’s medicine instead of a digestive pill.  

“I don’t know what kind of medicine it was, but I thought you might have taken something you shouldn’t have…”  

That was why Angie had asked around and eventually found Solnia.  

Solnia felt a brief surge of anger.  

So, not only had the maids known that she had nearly suffered serious harm, but they had also known that she hadn’t simply been asleep but had collapsed and couldn’t wake up. Yet, none of them had admitted their mistake.  

‘There was no need for them to. Even if they didn’t admit it, nothing would happen to them.’  

The treatment she received hadn’t improved. The servants of the mansion still looked down on her.  

But what kind of medicine was Alec taking? What kind of drug could cause such bizarre side effects?  

As Solnia unconsciously bit her lip, Angie asked cautiously, 

“Should we inform the Master?”  

“No. Don’t tell him.”  

Solnia’s response was firm.  

Even if Luette found out, nothing would change. On the contrary, he might get annoyed and ask why she was bringing it up now.  

Their already strained relationship couldn’t afford to worsen further.  

Unfortunately, they had to appear to be a perfectly in-love couple now more than ever.  

Only then could she protect everything—her parents’ inheritance and herself.  

“If he finds out, it’ll only cause unnecessary trouble. He might even throw a fit and fire the maids. Just leave it be.”  

Solnia added a faint smile to her words, and Angie quickly nodded in agreement.  

“Thank you, Angie. If it weren’t for you, things could have gone very wrong.”  

“…It’s nothing, Madam. It’s what I should do.”  

Angie’s ears turned red at the rare compliment. Bringing her along had been a wise decision. A maid better than her husband—what a thought.  

***

At the same time, Luette awoke feeling utterly exhausted. The bed in the guest room adjacent to the study, which he had chosen as his bedroom, was shorter and harder than he had anticipated.  

Sleeping in a crumpled position had left his entire body aching, as though he had been trampled by dozens of boots.  

“Are you alright, Sir?”  

Philip, his aide, who had arrived early, asked with a stunned expression.  

“I didn’t expect you to actually sleep here. No matter how busy you are, leaving the Young Madam alone—”  

“Just get to the point.”  

Luette cut him off, cracking his stiff neck from side to side.  

Philip placed a stack of documents he had been carrying onto the desk and said,

“These are the papers from Melfir. And here is the diamond you ordered.”  

Unlike the carelessly placed documents, the jewel box was presented with both hands. Inside was a tiara whose craftsmanship was evident at a glance.  

Its centerpiece was a diamond as large as Solnia’s eye, surrounded by smaller diamonds. Wearing it might even risk breaking one’s neck.  

The gaudy piece was perfect as a seventieth birthday gift for Dowager Heston.  

Luette closed the box and handed it back, asking, 

“Did Solnia see it? What about the letter?”  

“I believe she’s still asleep.”  

“Hah.”  

A crooked smirk appeared on his lips.  

While he had been crumpled up in the guest room bed, his wife had likely been sleeping comfortably in the spacious master bedroom.  

How many hours did she even sleep in a day? Had she spent her days at the villa doing nothing but sleeping?  

For someone who divided his 24-hour day into one-minute increments, the thought was utterly absurd.  

“Pass it on to the maid. Then prepare for departure to the ducal residence.”  

“Are you going alone?”  

“Let her sleep.”  

“Still, it would be better to wait until she wakes up and go together. The Duke and Duchess will also be waiting.”  

Luette shook his head. Solnia was a woman who never showed herself in public.  

Not only had she never responded to the capital’s invitations after their marriage, but even in Melfir, her outings were limited to brief visits to the village square far from the estate—and even those were rare.  

It was far better to go alone than to drag along a woman like that. He could always come up with an excuse.  

‘As you know, my wife is naturally frail.’ 

‘If nothing else, her health is my top priority.’  

A few meaningless remarks like that, paired with a convincing smile, would make everyone nod in agreement. His mother might even be pleased, thinking her son had finally matured.  

Besides, yesterday had been one of those days when Solnia’s hypersensitivity reached its peak. She had undertaken an outing she loathed, traveling all the way to the distant capital. No wonder she was irritable.  

And on top of that, she had been humiliated in front of his grandmother.  

‘You still seem half-asleep. Why don’t you go out and get some fresh air, my dear?’ 

‘I’m fine.’  

‘Perhaps you should look in the mirror as well.’  

‘….’  

At that moment, Solnia had looked as though she had been stabbed with a knife. There was no other way to describe her expression.  

To have shown up before the Dowager, once the queen of social circles, looking as though she had just rolled out of bed—it must have been mortifying. Especially with him present.  

‘Don’t speak to me like that. I’m not deaf.’  

Her sharp and haughty voice echoed like a phantom in his ears. Luette shook his head as if to dispel the memory.  

“Get ready. I’ll be down shortly.”  

With those words, Luette opened the door and stepped out. For a moment, he was speechless.  

Standing before him was none other than his wife, impeccably dressed.  

“Good morning.” 

She said with a gentle smile.  

Luette stared at her in disbelief. She wore a soft cream-colored dress with long sleeves, her chestnut-brown hair braided neatly into a bun.  

Solnia looked at him with concern. 

“Why did you sleep there? It must have been uncomfortable.”  

“….”  

Luette let out a dry laugh.