15: The Husband Returns Covered in Blood

When Aella’s consciousness returned from a distant place, the sight that greeted her was Kina, with her head hung low, clutching the tattered dress.

“Kina…”

“My lady!”

Kina lifted her head, her face drenched in tears.

“Sniff! Are you really planning to continue living like this?”

“…”

“Really! Is this what you want, my lady?”

“…”

“My lady… Please. I’m scared! If this keeps up… if something happens to you, I’ll… I’ll die too! You are like my life itself! I don’t want to see you living like this anymore. I’d rather be a fool who can’t think of anything!”

As Kina shouted with all her might and sobbed with her head down, Aella sat up and embraced Kina’s trembling body.

“Kina, it’s not too late. You can still leave this place.”

“…”

“I’m really okay…”

Seeing Kina’s distorted face as she pushed her away, Aella was at a loss for words. It was the first time she had seen such a fierce expression directed at her.

“Kina…”

“My lady, you’re too much. You know I could never leave you!”

“Kina.”

“If I leave you too, my lady… are you planning to let yourself waste away and die? Is that really what you want?”

“Kina…”

“Please! Please! You can be honest with me. Can’t you? Please… my lady.”

Aella held Kina, who was clutching her chest and sobbing, gently patting her trembling back. She wiped the tears welling up in Kina’s eyes.

“Okay, I’ll be honest. At least with you, Kina. I’m really in so much pain.”

“…”

“I don’t want to regret it, but every time I see myself regretting, I feel like I’d rather die. I want to kill the person who made me and Kael like this.”

“…”

“And… you know, Kina. I really… hate myself. I hate that I still love Kael.”

“My lady.”

“I’m really stupid. Even though I have to live like this for the rest of my life, I can’t let go of this feeling, so I really… I hate myself so much.”

“My lady!”

Kina hugged Aella tightly, crying together for a long time. Then she held Aella by the shoulders and looked into her eyes.

“I will do whatever it takes to protect you, my lady. Somehow! So you must never have such bad thoughts. Never. Okay? Please…”

Faced with Kina’s earnest expression, Aella smiled faintly and nodded, hugging Kina tightly once more.

“My lady! Don’t worry! I’ll try to fix this dress somehow!”

“How can you possibly…?”

“I know someone who’s a master in the fashion world! I’ll ask them for help.”

“Alright… Thank you, Kina. Now, go to bed.”

“My lady, I’ll stay with you.”

“You’re not a child, are you? You need to stay healthy to take care of me.”

“Goodnight, my lady.”

“Sweet dreams, Kina.”

After Kina left, Aella climbed into bed, holding Charlotte tightly, stroking her tiny head as she spoke.

“Charlotte, someday these feelings will dull, right?”

“Meow~”

“Thank you, Charlotte. Thank you for being by my side… really, thank you.”

Aella swallowed her tears.

***

Her husband treated her like she was invisible, and the servants treated her with disdain. Aella was becoming somewhat numb to her life as a duchess in name only.

When Kael left the house early, Aella would go out. She healed those in need and spent time with the children at the orphanage.

Even as a duchess, some praised her for continuing her work as the empire’s only healer, but others still whispered, calling her “the murderer’s daughter.”

Aella had grown accustomed to such treatment, and even though Rensi tormented her with increasingly vile and malicious tactics, Aella had developed a resilience to it. She pitied Rensi, who was filled with spite, and told her:

“You really are pitiful. You must be desperate for attention to cling so tenaciously to someone as unwelcome as me.”

“You’re just the daughter of a murderer!”

“Is that the only thing you can say?”

Rensi, wanting to strike Aella, found there was a limit to her patience.

Thud!

“Ah! Let go!”

“Who does a mere maid think she is?”

“Hah! I said let go!”

Thud!

“My lady!”

Aella, who hadn’t expected to be kicked to the ground, was taken aback.

“Hey, that’s too much, even for her…”

The gathered maids turned their gaze to the head maid, who merely ordered them to stop causing a commotion and return to their duties.

“You’re worse than beasts!”

“Kina…”

Clutching her stomach, Aella held onto Kina, who was shouting in frustration.

“Is there anyone here who hasn’t received help from my lady? Is there? You can’t do this! You shouldn’t!”

“Kina. Stop, stop and help me up, will you?”

Leaning on Kina, who helped her up, Aella placed a hand on her chest. After calming her racing heart, she took a deep breath.

“My lady! From now on, don’t heal any of these people’s injuries or illnesses! No matter how much they beg!”

As the whispering grew louder at Kina’s outburst, Aella quietly suggested they leave.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Shouldn’t you see a doctor?”

“Oh, come on. I healed myself, so I’m fine. How about we go boating today?”

“That sounds nice.”

“Thank you, Kina.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Aella climbed into the carriage and looked out at the clear sky. A flock of birds flew freely above.

“I wish I could fly freely too. Would I be free if I died?”

Whenever such thoughts crossed her mind, Aella thought of Kina, who watched her with worried eyes, and Laura, who often checked in on her. And Charlotte, who saw her as the whole world.

Today, Aella managed to pull herself together, for the sake of those who still loved her.

“Oh, right. Lady Laura sent a letter!”

Receiving the letter Kina handed her, Aella quickly read through it. The letter started with concerns about life at the Duke’s residence, which Kina had mentioned, and Aella let out a short laugh. She then read on about Count Blueanz’s recent activities.

‘Since visiting the Duke’s residence a few times, he hasn’t done much besides attending trade and noble parties… Still, I mustn’t let my guard down. Who knows what this vile man might do next, whose life he might target.’

Aella recalled the former Duke of Hormons, who had been found collapsed and bloody. Remembering the man who had cherished her like a daughter, having only one son, brought tears to her eyes.

‘Duke…’

Overwhelmed by longing and guilt, Aella clutched her chest.

“My lady?! Is your chest hurting again?”

“I just thought of the late Duke.”

“Oh…”

Smiling at Kina, who still looked at her with concern, Aella leaned back and closed her eyes.

“Still, getting some fresh air feels good.”

“Oh! My lady.”

“Hmm?”

“Princess Roden is coming tomorrow, she sent word.”

Nodding in response, Aella encouraged Kina to speak if she had something to say.

“What kind of person is Princess Roden?”

“She is beautiful and graceful. Her heart is as vast as the ocean.”

“I see.”

“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

“No.”

Aella smiled at Kina, who shook her head, and closed her eyes. Conversations with Princess Roden often began with sharing their happiest moments, discussing what had happened, and how they felt, leading to long, open conversations.

As they shared their emotions and comforted each other, they became close friends.

‘I suppose… calling her a friend. The princess and I are in different situations.’

Unlike herself, the princess was not considered an “enemy” by the man she loved, a fact that Aella envied a little.

Aella’s relationship with the one she loved was twisted, not by her choice. Gently opening her eyes, she placed a hand on her heavy heart and looked up at the clear sky, steadying her emotions.

“I’m okay. Yes, I’m okay.”

***

“Why do I have to ride a pony! Nanny! I want to ride a horse like Ren!”

The stubborn princess was giving the nanny a hard time again today.

“Your Highness, you almost fell off last time you tried riding a horse.”

“That was because it was my first time! Now it’s different! Hey! You there! Bring me a horse to
ride!”

“Your Highness, His Majesty the Emperor…”

“If I say bring it, then bring it! Why so much talk!”

“Your Highness, even if you insist, it is His Majesty’s order, so there is nothing I can do.”

“I hate everyone!”

When her anger didn’t work, the princess resorted to wailing as her last weapon. Just as her cries threatened to burst eardrums, a savior appeared.

“Why is Her Highness crying?”

“Lord Hormons!”

“Lord Kael!”

Mai ran to Kael, who picked her up and comforted her. Pointing at Ren on his horse, she began to complain.

“I want to ride a horse like Ren, but Nanny, Dad, Mom, and Brother won’t let me!”

“Is that why you’re upset and crying?”

“Yes! Sniff!”

“Don’t cry, Your Highness.”

“Lord Kael! Let me ride a horse! It’s okay if I ride with you!”

“Do you really want to ride a horse that much?”

“Yes!”

Patting the princess’s back as she nodded vigorously, Kael brought his horse over.

“I’m sorry for the trouble, Lord Hormons.”

“It’s alright.”

Kael smiled at the nanny, who looked apologetic, and placed the princess in front of him, holding the reins.

“Feeling better now?”

“Yes! I want to hold this too!”

“Your Highness, wait!”

“Giddy up!”

Before anyone could stop her, the young princess yanked the reins, startling Kael’s horse into a frenzy. The nanny’s scream pierced the air.

“Kyaaa~”

“Your Highness!”

As they were about to fall, Kael wrapped his body around the young princess and fell to the ground. Trampled by the panicked horse, he slowly lost consciousness.

***

Returning to the Duke’s residence later than usual, Aella was surprised by the unusual commotion.

“My lady!”

“…”

Aella saw the butler approaching her, his face pale with fear.

And then she saw Kael lying on the cold floor, his body battered and covered in blood, and her breath caught in her throat.