Chapter 8 (Part 3)

Cardin didn’t respond, merely looking at her. His gaze seemed filled with thoughts, making it difficult for her to meet his eyes.  

Then, Cardin placed a hand on her shoulder.  

“Brienne.”  

He tilted his head to look directly into her eyes. His expression was slightly incredulous, as if he hadn’t expected her to think that far.  

“Do you think I want to sleep with you just to make you pregnant?”  

His straightforward words made her eyes widen. His deep, dark gaze bore into hers as he spoke firmly.  

“I told you, you don’t need to get pregnant.”  

“……”  

“I just like being with you.”  

Their eyes met briefly. At some point, a hint of desire flickered in his gaze. She lowered her eyes to avoid his and spoke honestly.  

“You might think it’s simple, but when I see you, I’m overwhelmed with guilt. Even if you say it’s fine, I can’t help but feel that because of me…”  

At that moment, Cardin took her hand.  

“Alright. Let’s use separate rooms, as you wish.”  

She looked at him in surprise at his sudden agreement. Cardin, seemingly resolute, spoke calmly.  

“But let’s always eat together. Okay?”  

There was nothing more to say. She nodded, and Cardin didn’t press further.  

***

By the time they arrived at the mansion, it was close to lunchtime.  

“Aren’t you hungry?”  

Cardin held her hand as he led her. When she shook her head, the attendant beside her bowed politely. His face looked tense.  

Damon glanced at Cardin, but Cardin only paid attention to Brienne.  

“You still like chickpea soup, right? Is there anything else you’d like to eat?”  

“I’m fine.”  

At that moment, Damon cautiously approached Cardin.  

“Your Grace…”  

Without even glancing at Damon, Cardin kept his focus on Brienne.  

“Are you sure there’s nothing else you’d like to eat?”  

What bothered her more was the atmosphere around them. Damon kept glancing nervously, while Cardin seemed oblivious to everything but her.  

Finally, she stopped before entering the mansion.  

“Cardin, you seem busy. Why don’t you take care of your work first?”  

Only then did Cardin turn to look at Damon. Damon, startled, stepped back.  

“I-It’s fine, Your Grace. I’ll head to the study first.”  

Damon bowed hastily, as if he had seen a ghost, and hurried into the mansion.  

Cardin turned back to Brienne. His expression was indifferent, yet carried his characteristic coldness.  

“You don’t need to worry about it.”  

“Still, you seem busy…”  

“I have plenty of time for you.”  

With that, Cardin personally opened the door before the butler could. The butler, looking flustered, stepped aside.  

The mansion was the same as ever. The familiarity brought back memories, leaving her with a strange feeling.  

No matter what had happened, it felt like this place would remain unchanged.  

As she slowly looked around, she noticed that the maids’ faces were unfamiliar.  

“Where’s Melin?”  

“I let her go.”  

Her eyes widened in surprise.  

“Why?”  

“She seemed to be colluding with my mother.”  

She hadn’t expected it. That Melin was one of Hernes’ people… It was hard to believe, so she asked again.  

“Really?”  

“Yes, it was all her doing—making you take that medicine consistently and even dragging my mother into it.”  

Her heart sank miserably. She had thought that, at least after coming to Devok, they had found some common ground. Sensing her expression, he smiled and cupped her cheek.  

“I’ll find you a good maid soon, but let’s eat lunch first.”  

Since Cardin had been mentioning lunch for a while, she could only follow him. Strangely, the path felt exhausting. Perhaps her body was already tired from traveling such a long way to Devok.  

Cardin, who had been smiling and talking about food beside her, suddenly stiffened when he looked at her face.  

“Are you feeling unwell?”  

“No, I’m fine.”  

She tried to walk ahead, but Cardin grabbed her hand. Startled, she stopped, and he stepped close in front of her.  

“You’ve been looking unwell for a while now, so why do you keep saying you’re fine?”  

She couldn’t find the words to answer.  

“Am I making you that uncomfortable?”  

Her heart felt heavy.  

“It’s not that you’re uncomfortable, but right now… I just want to be alone.”  

Cardin’s eyebrows furrowed, but only briefly. He quickly looked at her with his usual affectionate gaze.  

“I’ll have lunch sent to your room. Make sure you eat it.”  

Cardin instructed a maid standing nearby. The maid promptly guided her to her room. Cardin stood watching until she disappeared down the hallway, not moving an inch from his spot.  

***

A week had passed since they returned to Devok.  

Cardin greeted her with a smile, but for some reason, she didn’t have the energy to return a genuine one.  

She had regained her strength and seemed physically fine since arriving here, yet something felt off.  

On days when she overslept or felt unwell, Cardin often ate alone. But today, he made a request.  

“Let’s have breakfast together tomorrow. There’s something I want to talk about.”  

So she got up early and faced him at breakfast. He seemed deep in thought as he looked at her before speaking cautiously.  

“There’s an herbal exhibition tonight. They’ll be displaying rare herbs from various countries, as well as some familiar ones you used to gather. I thought you might like it.”  

Cardin looked at her with expectant eyes. She had been missing Peroy. It hadn’t even been that long since she left, yet she already felt nostalgic.  

“Tonight?” 

When she asked with a hint of liveliness, Cardin’s smile deepened.  

“I’ll make sure you’re ready on time.”  

Suddenly, unease crept over her.  

“Will Foyne be there?”  

“No. My mother won’t be there either. Only the people I invited will attend, so you’ll be comfortable.”  

She didn’t know anyone here anyway. If Cardin said it would be fine, she felt somewhat reassured.  

She could feel Cardin’s gaze. When she looked up, he spoke.  

“You’ll never have to face my mother.”  

“……”  

“And anyone else who treated you unpleasantly won’t be around anymore.”  

It seemed like Cardin was worrying unnecessarily, so she decided to speak.  

“There’s no need to go that far…”  

“There’s no reason to keep unpleasant people nearby. Especially not here.”  

Cardin seemed sick of this place too. He smiled as if it were nothing and handed some documents to a servant standing nearby.  

The servant soon handed the papers to her. Curious, she glanced at them, and Cardin explained.  

“Your father is at the Alked Mine. The work there is harsher than in any prison, and the only way out is death. It’s nearly impossible to escape.”  

The documents detailed the crimes that had led her father to be sent there. She thought it was a thousand times better for him to suffer and die there than to die immediately.  

“Thank you.”  

“No need to thank me. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”  

When she looked up, Cardin was smiling. He took a sip of water and met her gaze.  

Come to think of it, Cardin had wanted her father to pay for his crimes alongside her. That was why he had sought her out near the swamp—to make her father pay.  

It felt like everything had fallen into place. Yet she felt like she was floating on an island, unable to find direction, like driftwood lost at sea.  

Avoiding Cardin completely didn’t seem like the solution, so she had come to Devok with him. But her heart remained the same.  

That’s why even being here felt uncomfortable. It didn’t feel like her place, as if she were sitting on a bed of thorns.  

She wondered if she shouldn’t have come. Just as she began to regret it, she heard his voice.  

“Brienne.”  

“……”  

“Brienne.”  

She finally looked at him. Lately, she had been so lost in thought that she often failed to notice when people spoke to her.  

Cardin looked at her with a hardened gaze before softening his expression.  

“At the exhibition, I hope you won’t feel uncomfortable around me.”  

“……”  

“Outwardly, I want to appear as a husband who is loved by his wife.”  

She couldn’t find the words to respond. It was true that she hadn’t paid much attention to him. Looking back, her actions hadn’t shown much interest or love toward him.  

She had insisted on separate rooms, didn’t stick to the meal times Cardin had suggested, and hadn’t made an effort to connect with him.  

“I’m sorry.”  

“I didn’t say that to get an apology.” 

Cardin smiled, as if suppressing some emotion. If he had been angry instead, she might have argued back. But he seemed to be holding himself back.