Chapter 9 (Part 6)

Even as she ate, she could feel Cardin’s eyes on her. It was while she was finishing a piece of lamb that he spoke.

“We’ll head to the Averick Street estate tomorrow.”

That was where the Messerode family’s townhouse was located. It was also where his mother currently resided. Brienne widened her eyes in surprise, and Cardin continued calmly.

“I’ll send Mother elsewhere before we arrive. You won’t have to see her.”

She had no response. She had no desire to face Hernes, after all.

Cardin kept speaking, watching her closely.

“I’ve been too busy to deal with this until now, but it’s time for us to move in.”

Brienne nodded. She poked at her food with her fork, and Cardin added.

“It’s strange for us to live here after getting married.”

He placed a tomato on her plate.

“Where will your mother go?”

“I’ll send her south. There’s no reason for her to stay in Devok anymore.”

Though his words were firm, Cardin didn’t seem particularly pleased. His expression was neutral, but it drew her attention.

“Do you want more?”

“Huh?”

His lips curled into a charming smile.

“Weren’t you looking at this?”

Without waiting for a reply, Cardin piled even more lamb onto her plate. For a moment, her expression froze.

“I’m full now.”

“Just a little more.”

She sighed. Cardin leaned closer, smiling brightly.

“For my sake? Hmm?”

His handsome face lit up with a radiant smile, leaving her no choice. With a resigned expression, she stabbed a piece of lamb with her fork.

After a brief walk with Cardin, Brienne noticed his gaze harden as they returned to the room. But as soon as they entered, his lips met hers. His breath was slightly rough. As if he had been waiting for this moment, he didn’t hesitate to lift her into his arms and lay her on the bed. His tongue moved softly yet passionately, entwining deeply as though intoxicated by excitement.

Her mind grew hazy, her body trembled at his touch, and her breathing quickened. Her head tilted slightly as their lips moved in sync, and her excited breaths filled the air. Cardin’s hand naturally slid down between her legs.

At that moment, the doctor’s words came to her mind: Avoid strenuous activity for the time being. Almost instinctively, she grabbed Cardin’s arm.

He paused, pulling back slightly.

“Let’s just sleep tonight.” 

Cardin’s gaze gradually hardened.

“Is your body not feeling well?”

She had no choice but to lie. It seemed like the easiest way to avoid further questions.

“Yes.”

Cardin appeared to accept her explanation and slowly moved away from her. Though he still seemed unable to fully calm himself, he didn’t show it outwardly. Instead, he kissed her forehead before heading into the bathroom. Brienne turned onto her side, her thoughts swirling.

‘What should I do?’

She wanted to tell him about the pregnancy, but the timing always seemed to slip away. 

Should I just say it now? 

As the thought crossed her mind, she remembered Cardin’s worried words. 

What if he truly didn’t want a child? What if I enthusiastically told him about the pregnancy, only for his reaction to be lukewarm? 

The thought alone sank her spirits and drained her energy. 

She sighed. It wasn’t as if she could hide the pregnancy forever. Soon enough, her belly would start to show. Unconsciously, she placed a hand on her stomach and, before she knew it, drifted off to sleep.

***

The next morning, Cardin’s face stiffened as he read the newspaper.

“Is something wrong?”

Cardin irritably set the newspaper down.

“No.”

His tone was icy cold. Even within those brief words, his anger was palpable. When Brienne looked at him curiously, Cardin stood up. He softened his expression and kissed her cheek. The warmth of his gesture was unusually tender. Gently cupping her cheek, he spoke in a low voice.

“I’m going to see my mother for a bit.”

There was a mix of affection and sorrow in his eyes. When Brienne nodded, he smiled faintly and left the room. As soon as he was gone, she picked up the crumpled newspaper to see what had upset him.

“Dark Secrets of the Messerode Family? Can the future of the family be entrusted to such a cruel head?”

Below the headline were several photographs. One showed a young Cardin holding a whip, striking someone dressed in the uniform of the Messerode family’s servants.

Brienne dropped the newspaper instantly. It felt like she had glimpsed a side of him she never wanted to see. The shock was greater because she hadn’t expected it. Her hands trembled as she gripped the table for support.

‘Did Cardin’s father make him do this?’

No matter how she thought about it, it didn’t seem like something Cardin would do of his own accord. After all, the boy in the photograph was crying. Tears welled up in her eyes. Now she understood why Cardin hated his father so much. It was no wonder, given how cruelly he had been treated.

***

A carriage stopped in front of the townhouse on Averick Street. Before the butler could open the door, it swung open violently. Cardin stepped out, ignoring everyone around him, and strode quickly into the estate. A passing maid froze in place, startled.

“Where is my mother?” 

The maid bowed her head hurriedly under the weight of his cold, commanding voice.

“She is in the drawing room, Your Grace.”

Without hesitation, Cardin walked down the corridor toward the drawing room. As the arched doorway came into view, his pace quickened. His footsteps echoed loudly as he entered, but Hernes Messerode didn’t even blink. She sipped her tea gracefully, flipping through a book.

Cardin stopped in front of her, casting a dark shadow over the book.

“This time, you’ve crossed the line.” 

Hernes closed the book. The shadow made it impossible to read further. She set the book aside and looked up at him calmly. Her gaze was filled with barely restrained fury, her eyes glinting with madness.

“Now I understand why your father felt the need to confine and discipline you so harshly.” 

Cardin smirked faintly.

“Mother?”

His voice was deceptively soft, but his eyes were razor-sharp.

“What are you so upset about? All I did was share the truth with the newspaper.”

“I didn’t realize you kept all those photographs. I’m certain Father told you to dispose of them when he died.”

“Why would I throw away the only evidence proving how insane you are?”

“You’re quite amusing, Mother. Revealing your son’s true nature so thoroughly.”

Hernes’s lips curled into a peculiar smile.

“I didn’t know about them until recently, either. But when you told me to leave this house, I started packing and found the basement completely sealed off. So I decided to open it.”

Cardin slowly sat down at the table, looking at his mother with a mix of curiosity and disdain.

“There was no reason for it to be sealed, so I searched it. And there they were—proof of your madness.”

“Does it make you feel better?”

“It does, in a way. It helps me understand why I’ve always disliked you.”

Hernes smiled again. Cardin’s expression hardened.

“I’ve disliked you since the moment I first saw you.”

“…….”

“That’s why I let your father treat you the way he did.”

Cardin’s eyebrows furrowed. Hernes continued without hesitation.

“I even agreed with him that your personality needed to be crushed.”

“That’s enough.”

His voice was low and menacing, the kind that made the air around him turn cold. Hernes suddenly threw an empty potion bottle at him.

The bottle bounced off him harmlessly before shattering on the floor with a loud crash.

“You killed your father too, didn’t you?”

Cardin remained silent, watching her.

“I’ve always wondered. How could such a healthy man suddenly collapse and die?”

“…….”

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

Cardin looked down at the shattered glass on the floor. The bottle was completely broken, its original shape unrecognizable.

“Father once told me something.”

“…….”

“He said the best way to deal with obstacles is to eliminate them.”

“So you killed him because he was no longer useful to you?”

“Well… can I really say I killed him?”

“What?”

“Father could have easily won that duel.”

“…….”

“And have you forgotten?”

Cardin picked up a shard of glass. He licked the blue liquid still clinging to it.

“The Messerode family has always consumed this potion to build resistance.”

Hernes’s eyes froze.

“Even though it’s a deadly poison in small doses, we’ve been taking it since childhood. Both Father and I could have survived it.”

“…….”

“And it’s customary to coat weapons with this potion during duels.”

“But you….”

“Father died because he consumed more than the safe amount.”

“Why on earth would he do that?!”

Hernes’s eyes blazed with fury. Cardin smiled nonchalantly.

“Didn’t Father always say he didn’t want to live past fifty? That he wanted to be buried beside her.”

Hernes’s gaze dropped momentarily, her eyes filling with emptiness. Cardin let the glass shard fall from his hand onto the floor.

The faint sound of glass shards clinking together echoed softly. Cardin stepped forward, crushing them underfoot.