11: Entry

Aella had been bedridden for three full days due to food poisoning. She had never been this sick before. For the first time in her life, she was so gravely ill that she could barely sit up in bed.

Kina, who had been feeding Aella homemade soup every day, handed her some bread and milk that Aella always made sure to eat.

“Please try to eat a little.”

“Okay… Thank you, Kina.”

“There’s no need to thank me.”

Aella smiled faintly at Kina, who looked at her with concern, and tore off a piece of bread to put in her mouth.

‘It’s good. I think my appetite is slowly returning.’

During her illness, Aella had been in such poor condition that even swallowing soup had been difficult. She had felt so weak that she had wanted to close her eyes and rest forever. And during those moments, a thought crossed her mind:

‘If I die, will Kael feel even a little sadness? Or will he be glad I’m gone? Or maybe he’ll be furious because he won’t have anyone left to take out his anger on?’

The mere thought of Kael being anything but sad over her death made Aella’s chest ache unbearably.

Now, however, her condition had improved enough that she could finish her soup and nibble on some bread.

“Even so, this is really too much.”

“Hm?”

“I mean the Duke! How could he not visit even once? He only sends knights to watch over you!”

Kina’s angry grumbling made Aella chuckle softly. As she sipped her milk, she recalled the dream—or what she thought was a dream—of Kael.

‘Was that really just a dream? It didn’t feel like one…’

The gaze that had looked down at her, the hand that had gently stroked her cheek, and the heavy footsteps that lingered for a long time before leaving just as Kina arrived—it all felt too vivid to dismiss as a dream or hallucination.

‘If that was a dream…’

Aella smiled bitterly. Even if it was a dream, she didn’t mind. If she could see Kael treating her as he had in the past, she wouldn’t mind living in that dream forever. She felt pathetic for thinking that way.

“Your Grace.”

“Hm?”

“Please don’t cry.”

“Oh…”

Aella realized that she had been crying without even noticing. She quickly brushed it off, telling Kina that her body still wasn’t fully recovered, and handed her the uneaten portion of the bread.

“I think I’ve had enough. You can have the rest, Kina.”

“Your Grace…”

“Hm?”

Kina looked like she had something to say. Aella smiled gently and encouraged her to speak.

“The butler told me that if you’re feeling better today, I should help you prepare to enter the imperial palace.”

“The imperial palace?”

“Yes, with the Duke.”

“Ah, I see. Alright. Could you help me wash up first?”

“Of course.”

Aella thanked Kina, who spoke with determination as she clasped her hands tightly. She finished the last of her milk to soothe her dry throat and tried to stand up.

Having been confined to bed for so long, Aella felt dizzy and collapsed back onto the bed.

“Your Grace!”

“I’m fine. It’s just… just a little dizziness. Ah, where’s Charlotte?”

“She’s with the Duke. Apparently, those maids tried to harm her again, but the head maid caught them, and both of them were punished.”

Kina relayed the news with a look of satisfaction.

‘At least that’s a relief. If only Charlotte can live comfortably here… But Kina…’

Aella looked at Kina with a face full of guilt. Kina, who was as precariously positioned in this household as she was, had been dragged into this hell and was suffering because of her.

“Kina.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Kina met Aella’s gaze as she tightly held her hands. When Aella remained silent, simply staring at her, Kina smiled and asked what was wrong.

“Thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to endure this.”

“Your Grace…”

“Truly, thank you, Kina. But if you ever find it too difficult, please tell me. I’ll find a better position for you… or maybe a good match…”

“Oh, Your Grace!”

Startled by Kina’s sudden outburst, Aella blinked at her in surprise.

“I will never leave your side until you are safe and happy. I will endure anything for you, Your Grace.”

“Don’t say that, Kina. Please… If you do, I’ll…”

Aella couldn’t finish her sentence. Kina sat down on the bed, clasping Aella’s trembling hands tightly with her own.

“Your Grace, you are as precious to me as my own life.”

“Kina…”

“As long as I’m here, I’ll be your steadfast support. No matter how hard it gets, please don’t have any dark thoughts. If something happens to you, I… I won’t have any reason to go on.”

“Oh, Kina!”

Aella threw herself into Kina’s arms, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist.

“Kina, all I can say is thank you. I’m so grateful to you.”

Kina held Aella close, her body trembling like a leaf, and gently patted her back.

“Now, Your Grace! This is your first entry into the imperial palace as the Duchess! I’ll make sure you look like the most noble lady there, so look forward to it!”

“Ah, haha. Alright, thank you, Kina.”

Seeing Aella finally smile as she used to, Kina felt her spirits lift as well.

“I’ll go fill the bath with water first.”

“Alright.”

Kina’s anger flared as she thought about the shabby room that had been assigned to the Duchess. It was worse than the servants’ quarters. The Duke, who persecuted Aella so cruelly within the estate while pretending to be a concerned husband in public, infuriated her.

‘One day, I swear! He’ll regret this and cry tears of blood!’

Grinding her teeth, Kina opened the door to head to the bath, only to spot the knight who had been bothering her.

Ian, the son of the butler and head maid of the Hormons household, and now the captain of the knights, was once again stationed outside Aella’s room. Kina let out a short laugh.

“Did the Duke order you to keep watch over Your Grace again today?”

“N-no, it’s not like that.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“I… uh…”

Ian, flustered by Kina’s sharp glare, was at a loss for words when Aella opened the door and their eyes met.

“M-Your Grace.”

“Kina, don’t be rude to Sir Dante.”

“Oh, no, Your Grace. It’s fine!”

“I apologize for being rude.”

“N-not at all!”

As Kina walked past him, Ian reached out as if to stop her but only muttered to himself.

“I’m not here to spy on Your Grace… Really… Haa.”

“Sir Dante.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Aella, who had been observing Ian’s dejected expression, could tell immediately. This man had feelings for Kina.

‘If it’s Sir Dante, they might… But…’

The thought that Kina, her personal maid, couldn’t easily be with Ian darkened Aella’s expression.

‘I’m a burden to Kina’s life. I’m so sorry, Kina.’

“Your Grace.”

“…”

“Please don’t misunderstand. I’m only here to ensure your safety.”

“I see. Thank you. And Kina… she’s always been like that.”

“Haha, I know. You don’t need to explain, Your Grace.”

Aella glanced around, then looked back at Ian, who had stepped closer with a serious expression.

“My parents deeply regret what happened to you, Your Grace.”

“Oh.”

“They had no choice but to follow the Duke’s orders. They are truly sorry.”

“Haha…”

“Y-Your Grace?”

“Thank you. Please tell your parents not to worry about it.”

Ian bowed deeply and left. Aella returned to her room, leaned against the door, and sighed.

“At least I’m not completely abandoned.”

A faint smile appeared on her lips as she touched her right cheek and closed her eyes.

“Kael…”

***

Rensi, who had been planning to torment Aella’s beloved cat in her absence, was caught by the head maid and not only punished but also lost all her credibility.

Rensi, who had once been second only to the head maid in influence, now found herself being mocked openly by the other maids.

‘D*mn them! Just wait! Once I win the Duke’s favor, I’ll turn you all into fish food!’

Grinding her teeth, Rensi stepped outside to run an errand for the head maid when she overheard a group of people talking.

“Is it true that the saintess became a dark sorceress?”

“Yes! That’s why the Emperor is secretly trying to capture her…”

‘Saintess?’

Rensi thought of Letia, the former saintess of the empire. Letia, a poor commoner, had been chosen by the gods through a sacred mark and had risen to power as a saintess, second only to the royal family.

However, she had broken the ultimate taboo as a saintess by using forbidden magic to save the man she loved. When this was discovered, she was stripped of her title.

‘I heard the man she saved abandoned her too.’

Clicking her tongue, Rensi smirked and continued walking.

‘I won’t be a fool like her. Besides, if she really is a dark sorceress, she can kill people with curses without even touching them.’

Rensi’s lips curled into a wicked smile as she stopped in her tracks.

“I’ll find her first.”

***

Aella climbed into the carriage heading to the imperial palace and gazed at Kael’s back as he rode ahead on horseback.

“Hyah!”

At the coachman’s command, the two white horses let out a cry and began galloping.

Inside the swaying carriage, Aella tried to maintain her balance. She looked out the window at the scenery she hadn’t seen in a long time and closed her eyes, quietly humming a lullaby her mother used to sing to her.

After some time had passed, Aella, who had dozed off, was startled awake by the coachman’s announcement that they had arrived at the palace.

Click.

As she stepped out of the carriage, she saw Kael holding out his hand to her.

“Come down, my lady.”

“…”

Seeing Kael’s endlessly kind smile as he extended his hand, Aella felt tears welling up. She barely managed to compose herself, took his hand, and stepped down.

Around them, many people turned their attention to the Duke and Duchess of Hormons, who were visiting the palace for the first time in a long while.

Despite the murmurs, Aella walked alongside Kael, who held her hand, and passed through the palace gates.

“They really do look like a perfect couple.”

“Who wouldn’t agree? Poor Duchess Blueanz, though. What crime is it to have a father like hers?”

Most of the whispers were in Aella’s favor, but those who disliked her, the empire’s only healer, sneered that the filthy blood of a criminal couldn’t be hidden.

‘As if I chose to be born as his daughter.’

Aella frowned, trying to suppress her frustration.

“Welcome.”

Kael released her hand as they approached the crown prince, who stood at the entrance. Slightly behind him stood the princess, who stepped back rather than standing at his side.

Those who were aware of the complicated relationship between the crown prince and the Duke and Duchess whispered among themselves but quickly scattered under the prince’s sharp gaze.