Chapter 3.17

As he turned to leave the bedroom, his gaze was caught by the cluttered table, which contrasted with the tidy room.  

More precisely, what drew his attention was a small pill container amidst the scattered papers. It was the same medication Solnia had persistently taken since at Melfir.  

He had never asked her about the pills. He felt he already knew without asking.  

A woman who had supposedly suffered from mild madness would naturally take such medication. Especially since Solnia was…  

“What brings you here?”  

At the soft question, he turned around to see Solnia sitting up. She gripped the blanket tightly, her wary gaze fixed on him—a look that was so very her.  

“I thought you were asleep.”  

“I just woke up.”  

That made sense. If she had been awake earlier, she would have been startled the moment he stood before her.  

“I came to discuss the upcoming schedule, but we can talk about it tomorrow.”  

“Ah.”  

Solnia let out a small sound of realization and nodded.  

“Actually, I wanted to talk about that. About returning to Melfir…”  

“I understand. We’ll discuss it tomorrow.”  

“…”  

“You wouldn’t want to face me like this, would you?”  

Only then did Solnia notice her blanket-wrapped appearance and hastily pulled it tighter. It was a futile gesture. Wearing only a slip, her pale, round shoulders were already exposed.  

Narrowing his eyes, Luette briefly glanced at her protruding shoulder bones.  

“I don’t particularly want to keep looking at you like that either.”  

“…”  

“And I’m a bit tired, so let’s talk tomorrow morning.”  

He was suggesting they have breakfast together. When Solnia nodded, he left the bedroom without another word.  

Solnia stared at the closed door for a while. His attire had been impeccable, yet something about him seemed off, as if he were truly tired.  

She touched her forehead with her hand. The earlier confusion seemed to resurface.  

Though the sudden sensation had startled her awake, she couldn’t open her eyes. Someone had been standing right in front of her. The faint, familiar scent confirmed it.  

She refused to believe it could have been Luette Trovill. There was no way her husband could have been the one scrutinizing her so thoroughly without even looking.  

Lowering her hand from her forehead, Solnia clutched the blanket tightly. Her gaze fixed on the door he had exited.  

Could it really not have been a dream?  

If it wasn’t a dream…  

‘What, do you think that man would care about your safety?’ 

The voice she hated hearing even in her dreams rose sharply in her mind, as if it had been waiting for this moment.  

‘Foolish girl. That man doesn’t care about someone like you.’

Before the voice could fade, Solnia reached for the table. Pulling out a single sleeping pill from the tiny container, she popped it into her mouth. It was the easiest way to find peace.  

***

The next morning, the couple sat across from each other in the breakfast room, which looked unnecessarily grand thanks to the sunlight streaming through the tall windows.  

“Good morning.”  

“Did you sleep well?”  

Their greetings echoed from one end of the long dining table to the other. Smiling warmly, as usual, they dismissed the servants, citing the need for a private conversation.  

The butler, oblivious to the truth, smiled contentedly as he closed the door to the breakfast room. The moment he did, Luette’s expression vanished.  

“I met Grandmother yesterday.”  

Similarly emotionless, Solnia was the first to speak.  

“I tried to persuade her in my own way, but it wasn’t easy. As you know, once Grandmother sets her mind on something, she sees it through no matter what. And above all—”  

“That’s enough. We’ll stay in the capital.”  

“What?”  

Solnia’s eyes widened. Luette ran a hand through his hair with a small sigh.  

“I’ve decided it’s better to stay in the capital than to arouse unnecessary suspicion by opposing the Dowager’s wishes. After all, our original purpose for coming here was to prove our relationship. Staying until that is sufficiently established isn’t a bad deal.”  

“…”  

She had been relieved when he told her to convince the Dowager, but now, hearing that they’d simply stay, she found herself momentarily at ease.  

However, as soon as the word “deal” left his lips, she let out a bitter smile. He wasn’t wrong.  

“That’s a relief. I was wondering how I’d persuade you.”  

Either way, it was a weight off her shoulders. That brief relief lightened her heavy heart, like water soaking into a sponge.  

Her slightly refreshed smile was unguarded. Luette, watching her face, asked,  

“I was thinking we could stay until your coming-of-age ceremony. Surely the Dowager would want to host her only granddaughter’s celebration herself, wouldn’t she?”  

“…”  

The fork in Solnia’s hand, which had been reaching for the sautéed vegetables, froze mid-air. Luette noticed the momentary pause.  

It was the same fleeting moment he had observed at the mansion and at the party—the subtle shift in the atmosphere.  

“Solnia?”  

“Yes. That sounds like a good idea.”  

“…”  

“Most likely.”  

Solnia returned to her usual indifferent expression and resumed eating as if nothing had happened.  

“By the way, there’s an event we’ll be attending this weekend.”  

The conversation left no room to breathe, but Solnia swallowed her bite and asked,  

“Are you referring to Viscount Timberland’s hunting party?”  

“How did you know?”  

“Gwen mentioned it. She said it would be an important occasion.”  

Solnia dabbed her lips with her napkin, then looked at him. Perhaps because of the sautéed vegetables, her plump lips glistened.  

“It’s not that important. If anything, it’s a bothersome event.”  

“Bothersome?”  

“They’re ostentatious and talkative people.”  

Solnia seemed to understand immediately and nodded.  

Watching her, Luette suddenly felt the reality of their relationship. They were companions aboard the absurd ship of a contract marriage, seeking to escape their respective realities.  

In that sense, his past judgment had been correct.  

No matter what, Solnia was the perfect partner.  

Proud, yet detached. Ruthless, yet indifferent to others. A perfectionist who was quick to grasp situations.  

Above all, she was the one person who most fervently wished for them to divorce completely.  

“We’ll have to be careful, then.”  

“To some extent.”  

And Luette Trovill was no different.

***

“This is Mr. Larry, the head chef.” 

Gwen introduced, and a slender middle-aged man bowed politely toward Solnia.  

“Mr. Larry has been working in the ducal kitchen since he was seventeen. He might look frail, but I assure you, his skills are unmatched.”  

“Frail, you say? What nonsense to spout in front of the Young Madam.”  

“You can’t deny it, can you?”  

Gwen and Mr. Larry seemed to get along well. Their playful bickering was quite endearing. Solnia smiled softly as she looked at him.  

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Larry. I’ll be in your care during my stay.”  

“Of course, Young Madam. If there’s anything you’d like to eat, please let me know.”  

“Thank you.”  

After being introduced to the rest of the kitchen staff under Mr. Larry’s supervision, it was already noon. The greetings with the servants, which had started early in the morning, had only just concluded.  

The two women left the kitchen and walked down the long corridor toward the lobby hall. Warm sunlight streamed in through the row of windows.  

“You’ve worked hard, Gwen. Thank you.”  

“It’s nothing. I just did what I had to do. More than anything, I’m so happy to see you looking more spirited, Young Madam. And now that you’ve decided to stay here, I’ll do my best to ensure you take only good memories from this social season.”  

Gwen flashed her characteristic warm smile. 

Was she able to get along with everyone because she was such a genuinely kind person? 

Solnia fleetingly thought so. The ducal household’s servants seemed to share a strong bond, almost like family.  

“You all seem quite close. Is that true?”  

“Yes. Most of us have lived and worked together for at least five years, so we’re as close as family.”  

Gwen smiled proudly, as if the household’s servants were her pride.  

“I heard you’ve worked at the ducal household for a long time too.”  

“Hmm… It’s been just over thirty years now.”  

Judging by her appearance, which suggested she was in her forties, and her familiarity with Luette, Solnia had assumed it had been a decade or so. The unexpected number of thirty years caught her off guard.  

“Th-thirty years?”  

“Yes. With these two hands, I’ve fed and cared for the young masters. They’re hands with a long history.”  

Gwen held up her plump hands with a cheerful laugh.  

“So, you were his nanny?”  

Solnia asked in surprise, and Gwen nodded.  

“But why haven’t I seen you before? As far as I know, his nanny was…”  

“Miel. Isn’t that right?”  

At the mention of the familiar yet distant name, Solnia clapped her hands, and Gwen burst into laughter.  

“I had to return home for a while due to some circumstances. While I was away, Miel took care of the young masters.”  

“I see. Then perhaps we might have met long ago.”  

At Solnia’s words, Gwen seemed to ponder for a moment before smiling brightly.  

“That might be true. By the way, aren’t you hungry? It’s already noon.”  

Now that she mentioned it, Solnia realized she was feeling a bit peckish. She also recalled that she hadn’t eaten anything since waking up.  

“Shall I prepare a meal?”  

“Something simple, please.”  

“Without bread, I assume?”  

When Solnia gave her a questioning look, Gwen shrugged and replied.  

“Angie told me. She said the you often have meals without bread, Young Madam.”  

With her signature warm smile, Lady Gwen promised to prepare the meal and hurried back down the corridor they had just walked.  

Solnia watched her retreating figure until she disappeared from sight, then moved toward the window.  

It was a day with a clear, cloudless sky. Beneath the vivid blue sky, green lawns stretched out, and maids carrying baskets hurried about.  

One of their faces seemed familiar. Upon closer inspection, it was Angie. She seemed to have already befriended the ducal maids, laughing and chatting freely with them. Her expression was carefree.  

Solnia knew she should return to her bedroom to prepare for the upcoming weekend, where she would need to gather information about Viscount Timberland and his wife. Yet the peaceful scene before her held her in place.  

It was amusing to experience such peace amidst the forced stay in the capital.  

Solnia took a deep breath where she stood. The slightly cool air filled her lungs. As she exhaled deeply, savoring the rare serenity, a memory suddenly surfaced.  

“…What is this?”  

Startled by the sudden flashback, Solnia instinctively waved her hand in front of her eyes, as if to dispel it.  

But the sensation of a hand on her forehead only grew stronger. A cautious, slightly cold hand that had approached silently and rested gently.  

“Madam.”  

The voice calling from behind startled her. She turned around quickly to see a young servant standing there.  

“I’m sorry for startling you, Madam. I thought you had heard me approach.”  

“No, it’s fine. But…”  

Solnia narrowed her eyes, trying to recall the servant’s name.  

Dark blond hair, neatly trimmed… His name…  

“Eddie?”  

She hesitantly called out the name, and the servant’s face lit up, confirming she was correct. Feeling oddly proud, Solnia asked,  

“What is it?”  

“The mail you mentioned earlier, Madam. I’ve just delivered it to the courier. I wanted to inform you.”  

The servant spoke with a brisk and polite tone, and Solnia nodded in response.  

“Thank you.”  

“You’re welcome, Madam! If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to call me!”  

“I will.”  

The servant left only after Solnia dismissed him. She watched his light footsteps for a moment before turning her gaze back to the window.  

The divorce agreement had been sent.  

Though it was a bit late, there shouldn’t be any issues with finalizing the divorce on time. Of course, the key would be successfully navigating the coming-of-age ceremony, but that was a matter for later. She could prepare for it slowly.  

For now, Solnia decided to focus on the immediate task at hand: the hunting event with Viscount Timberland and his wife this weekend.  

Fortunately, Luette Trovill seemed more committed to their arrangement here in the capital than he had been in Melfir, so there was nothing to worry about.  

But by the afternoon, Solnia would realize something.  

Luette Trovill was putting his utmost effort into this relationship—but in a slightly peculiar direction.  

END VOLUME 1