39: Human Greed Knows No End

“Why isn’t she here yet?”

Kael, who had arrived early in front of the imperial palace, stood with his arms crossed, staring at the road where Aella’s carriage was supposed to appear.

Checking his wristwatch, Kael frowned. Enough time had passed for her to arrive, yet there was no sign of the duchy’s carriage.

“This is ridiculous…”

Unable to wait any longer, Kael was about to climb into his carriage when—

“Your Grace! Something terrible has happened!”

“?”

Kael turned his horse toward the deputy commander who came running toward him.

“Didn’t you say you couldn’t attend today due to personal matters?”

“To avoid hitting a child who had fallen on the road, the coachman pulled the reins too hard, causing the horses to panic and overturn the carriage. Madam… fell and was crushed beneath it.”

“!”

“She has been taken to Hasur Hospital…”

Kael struck the reins of his horse fiercely and galloped off.

Aella Blueanz had fallen from the moving carriage and was crushed beneath it. Even though she possessed healing abilities, if she were to die under the weight of a carriage—

“That must never happen! Hyah!”

Kael’s hair whipped in the wind as he raced to the hospital. Upon arrival, he stormed into the crowded emergency room, frantically searching for Aella.

“Your Grace!”

“!”

Spotting the coachman, who was in terrible condition, Kael grabbed him by the collar.

“Where is she?”

“S-she’s over there. I’m truly… I have no excuse.”

Kael released the trembling coachman roughly and headed toward Aella’s bed.

Rip!

“…”

Aella lay on the bed, her entire head wrapped in bandages. Her right arm and leg were in full casts.

Seeing her barely breathing, Kael let out a short laugh.

“Well, as expected of the daughter of Count Blueanz. You certainly have a tenacious life force.”

“…”

“Aella Blueanz, you can’t die so easily. Absolutely not.”

“…”

Kael, who had been glaring coldly at Aella, turned to the doctor who had approached him.

“What is her condition?”

“It’s truly a miracle. Thanks to her healing abilities… If she were an ordinary person…”

The doctor’s voice trembled as he struggled to continue, prompting Kael to ask if there was any damage to her brain.

“We won’t know until she regains consciousness. For now, we’ll move her to a private room and monitor her condition.”

“Take good care of her.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Once Aella was moved to a private room, Kael left her in the care of a nurse and instructed the coachman to inform Matteo of the situation. He then headed to the imperial palace.

“Lord Kael!”

“Your Grace! The Duchess…”

Kael relayed the news of his wife’s condition to the imperial family, who rushed toward him in concern.

“Ah, thank the gods for protecting the Duchess. What a relief.”

“I apologize for causing unnecessary worry, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t say such things! Kael, go back to your wife immediately.”

“But His Highness the Crown Prince’s…”

“Man! Even though the Duchess has healing abilities, how can she forget the pain of falling from a carriage and being crushed beneath it? Go! I’ll visit the hospital myself after the ceremony.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Kael straightened his back and left, suppressing the urge to laugh at the Crown Prince’s poorly concealed concern for Aella.

“Aella Blueanz, even though you’re the daughter of a criminal, you have so many people looking out for you. How fortunate.”

Kael muttered to himself as he looked up at the sky.

“If only my mother had healing abilities like you… would she have survived?”

Kael recalled his mother’s desperate attempt to save only him as their carriage tipped over.

[Mother! Grab my hand, please!]

[Kael… Be happy with your father, and Ella. My precious child.]

[Mother!!!!]

Kael remembered screaming as his mother fell with the carriage into the endless abyss of a cliff. Snapping out of the memory, Kael’s eyes burned fiercely.

‘Mother… Aella Blueanz must never be happy. She is the daughter of the man who killed my father, the husband you loved. To me, Aella Blueanz is nothing but someone I want to destroy.’

Kael’s bloodshot eyes glowed as he let out a long breath and walked away.

—

Just before the carriage crushed her, Aella desperately called Kael’s name in her heart.

The moment her head and body were pinned under the carriage, she felt excruciating pain as if her entire body was being shattered. Deep down, she wished for death.

But to her surprise, she regained consciousness in the hospital.

And the man she loved said these words to her:

[Well, as expected of the daughter of Count Blueanz. You certainly have a tenacious life force.]

[Aella Blueanz, you can’t die so easily. Absolutely not.]

Kael’s cold voice echoed in her mind, and Aella stared at the ceiling, tears streaming down her face.

“If only… I had died. If I had, both Kael and I… could’ve been at peace. Oh, Princess… No, Her Highness the Crown Princess… I would have caused her so much grief. Kina… sob… But I’m so afraid of living. To keep being hated by Kael… If this keeps happening, I wonder how much longer I can endure.”

Aella sobbed quietly into her hands, but when she heard footsteps, she quickly wiped her face.

Knock, knock.

“Your Grace.”

“Come in.”

Kina entered, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

“Oh dear… Kina, your face.”

“Your Grace! How much pain and suffering you must have endured!”

“Hoho, I’m fine now. I’m sorry for worrying you. Sir Ian, thank you for coming as well.”

“It’s nothing, Your Grace.”

“Your Grace…”

Aella thanked Matteo and Natasha for visiting as well, offering them a faint smile.

“This is the place.”

“…”

When Count Blueanz, the person she least wanted to see, entered her view, Aella dismissed everyone else from the room.

“You look absolutely pitiful.”

“…”

“Infertile and now in this state. Even that man, who said he wouldn’t take a second wife…”

“Father.”

“What?”

“Have you ever loved me or Mother sincerely, even for a moment?”

Aella didn’t need to hear his answer. His mocking expression as he looked down at her said it all.

“Your mother was just a tool to inherit the countship, and you were nothing more than a means to make money. But now that you’re ruined, you’re useless to me.”

“…One day, you’ll meet a fate more miserable than Grandfather’s.”

“Haha! I’ll look forward to that day.”

As the count left, Aella clenched her fists tightly, glaring at his retreating back.

“Your Grace.”

“Laura…”

Laura approached with a serious expression. Aella tried to reassure her with a smile, but Laura’s eyes were filled with tears.

“Laura, I’m fine. So don’t make that face. It makes me uncomfortable.”

“Your Grace, it’s not too late.”

“?”

“Please, leave Duke Hormons immediately.”

“What are you talking about, Laura? Explain clearly.”

Looking around, Laura whispered into Aella’s ear. As Aella listened, her expression grew grave.

“Is what you’re saying true?”

“Yes… Starting today, that dark sorcerer will begin the curse ritual…”

“Laura, I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor…?”

Laura’s eyes widened as Aella suddenly plucked a strand of her own hair.

“Give this strand of hair and my photo to that woman. Can you do that for me?”

“Wh-what are you saying…!”

Aella pressed a finger to her lips and continued.

“Please.”

“Your Grace… are you planning to die in Duke Hormons’s place?”

Laura clutched her chest as she spoke, but Aella only smiled.

“Why… Why don’t you ever think about me or Kina? Why, Your Grace?”

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Laura. But I can’t let that devil take Kael’s life.”

“Ah, Your Grace… sob…”

“Don’t cry, Laura. Honestly, I have no hope for the future, and I’m scared of living.”

“…”

“And I sent my child ahead of me. In a way, I’m no different from that man.”

“What do you mean…!”

“Isn’t it true? I lost Kael’s child… If I’d been more careful…”

As tears welled in Aella’s eyes, Laura hugged her tightly.

“My poor lady… If the gods spare you, I, Laura, will gladly throw myself into the fires of hell in your place.”

“Oh, Laura… Laura, will you grant me this last request? Please.”

Unable to refuse Aella’s desperate plea, Laura nodded, tears streaming down her face.

After comforting Laura and sending her away, Aella didn’t tell Kina the truth about what had happened.

‘I’m sorry, Kina. I’m so, so sorry. Please be happy with Ian… Live happily even for my sake.’

Aella asked to be left alone, lying down as she stared at the ceiling.

“They must be targeting Kael’s life… for the wealth and honor of the duchy. That’s why even Kael…”

Closing her eyes, Aella let out a sigh and murmured softly.

“Human greed truly knows no end.”