4: Unhappy Marriage

A cold voice pierced Aella’s ears once again.

“Aella Blueanz.”

Aella, whose mind had drifted far off, returned to reality and found herself face-to-face with Kael Hormons, who had approached close enough to touch. His cold gaze bore down on her.

“Aella Blueanz, I will never call you fondly like I used to.”

Kael’s words, spoken as if to confirm her despair, pierced through Aella’s heart. Grasping her aching chest, Aella lowered her head deeply and forced strength into her trembling lips.

“I’m sorry. No, I apologize, my lord.”

“I don’t want to hear your voice. Shut your mouth.”

“……”

“I will make you my duchess.”

“!”

At his unexpected response, Aella raised her head, only for her chin to be roughly grabbed by his large hand.

“Ugh!”

“My lord! What are you doing right now?!”

“!”

Hearing Kina’s voice from behind, Aella turned her head.

“Kina! I told you not to come!”

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help it. My lady, your expression looked as if you were walking to your death. But why, my lord? Why are you doing this to my lady?”

“Ask your lady yourself. And how dare you raise your voice at me? You’re quite insolent. As expected of a servant from the Blueanz family.”

At his voice, dripping with mockery, Aella’s flustered gaze turned to Kina, who was looking at her with a worried expression.

“Go inside, Kina.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Once Kina disappeared from sight, Aella placed her hand on her chest and bowed deeply.

“Please forgive the child’s rudeness.”

“From now on, do not utter a single word in my presence. Don’t even respond. Just nod your head.”

When Aella nodded, a cold voice commanded her to lift her head. As soon as she complied, her throat was seized.

‘It wouldn’t be so bad to die by Kael’s hand and join my mother. Yes, rather than living miserably as a sl*ve… as a s*x sl*ve… it would be better to…’

“Are you wishing to die by my hand, Aella Blueanz?”

“……Ugh!”

“I won’t k*ll you.”

Aella struggled to open her eyes. Though she didn’t want to see it, the moment she faced reality, tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.

“I’ll drain your blood. Slowly.”

Even though her vision was blurred by tears, Aella could feel it—the complete resentment directed at her.

Closing her eyes again, Aella decided to accept her fate humbly.

‘If this is what it takes to atone to Kael… If I can beg for the Duke’s forgiveness…’

As Aella stood still, shedding only tears, Kael’s grip on her slender neck tightened further. His brow furrowed, and his anger deepened as Aella remained silent, shedding only tears. He wished she would scream, ask why he was doing this to her, or beg for mercy. Aella’s quiet acceptance only fueled Kael’s rage.

Smack!

When Kael finally let go, Aella collapsed powerlessly to the floor.

“You’ve got more grit than I expected. Ha! That’s fitting for the daughter of Hans Blueanz.”

Aella remained silent. After all, she wouldn’t be able to speak in Kael Hormons’ presence from now on.

“Get up.”

As she tried to stand, pain shot through her twisted ankle, and Aella let out a small cry before collapsing again.

“Trying to pull tricks, are you…?”

Kael’s gaze fell on her reddened ankle, visible through the hem of her dress. Aella was frail—so frail that even a slight bump would leave her bruised, and a fall could break her bones.

Clutching her increasingly swollen ankle, Aella immediately cast a healing spell.

“Hah. Ah. Hah. Hic. Hic.”

She tried not to cry. She had already anticipated this outcome, but facing the harsh reality in front of her, Aella couldn’t hold back her tears.

“Quiet.”

“……”

“You don’t even have the right to cry.”

“……”

“I want to k*ll your father.”

Hearing the raw emotion in his voice, Aella wanted to ask him to k*ll her instead. Her lips moved, but no words came out—only the sound of sobbing.

“Get up.”

Slowly, Aella stood up. When he told her to lift her head, she had no choice but to meet his gaze. The reality she wanted to deny and Kael’s indifferent expression were right in front of her. But to Aella, that expression was even more painful.

‘You mean nothing to me anymore.’

That’s what his expression seemed to say.

“Your shameless father will soon come to me and say this: ‘Won’t you finally take my daughter as your wife?’”

“……”

“I’ll accept. And I’ll show him. I’ll show him his precious daughter slowly withering away in the Hormons’ mansion.”

Aella barely suppressed a laugh at his words.

‘If I hadn’t heard the truth from Laura…’

Aella tightly clenched the fabric of her dress with both hands.

“Does it hurt your pride?”

Kael reached out and roughly grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up.

“……”

In Kael’s eyes, the once shyly smiling Aella was now filled with despair.

“Don’t worry. I won’t k*ll you. Through you, I’ll show your father that there’s something worse than death—living without being able to die.”

‘Yes, Kael… If this is what it takes to calm your anger, even just a little…’

“Get out.”

When Kael released her chin, he wiped his hand with a handkerchief as if he had touched something filthy. Even at this, Aella only bowed her head and spread her dress slightly to the sides in a gesture of respect.

With her gaze fixed on the ground, Aella turned and took a step. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. Her heart was already torn to shreds.

“Ugh!”

Perhaps the healing spell hadn’t worked well, as pain shot through her ankle, causing Aella to stagger. Watching her walk unsteadily, as if she might collapse at any moment, Kael’s eyes hardened. He clenched his lips tightly, and his fists trembled with tension.

Though Aella had disappeared from his sight, her sorrowful expression, as if she would bear everything for him, lingered in Kael’s mind.

“…D*mn it! D*mn it all!”

Kael looked up at the sky, his expression filled with pain.

***

Kina, who had been pacing in front of the door, turned her gaze at the sound of footsteps. Seeing Aella limping with her head bowed, Kina couldn’t help but cry out.

“My lady!”

“Kina, be quiet.”

“My lady.”

“Let’s go to my room first. Help me.”

“Yes.”

With Kina’s help, Aella entered her room and sat on the bed.

“My lady, why… Why would the young lord do such a thing…?”

“Just… Wait. Just wait a little.”

Aella looked up and smiled, but her lips trembled as much as her voice. Instead of replying, Kina simply nodded. Aella thanked her with a faint smile.

Tick, tock—

In the now-quiet room, the ticking of the clock hands echoed loudly.

“Hah, Kina. What I’m about to say is the absolute truth.”

“Yes.”

“Come, sit here.”

When Aella patted the seat next to her, Kina hesitated but eventually sat beside her. Aella gently held Kina’s hands, which were resting on her lap, and began to recount everything that had happened, as well as the reasons behind Kael’s behavior.

“No matter what, this is too much! The young lord can’t treat you like this! I can’t understand him at all! No matter what your father did… Hic. Why?! Why does it have to be you, my lady?!”

“Kina. I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie to me! Do you even know what you look like right now? You look like you’re about to die!”

“Kina. Please… Please. I’m begging you.”

At Aella’s desperate voice, Kina fell silent.

“Kina, I’m going to marry Kael… No, the young lord.”

“My lady! No, you can’t! You absolutely must not! You’ll be miserable!”

“I know.”

“My lady… Do you even realize what you’re saying?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Please… Please stop smiling like that. It’s driving me crazy.”

As Kina sobbed and pounded her chest with clenched fists, Aella pulled her into an embrace and patted her back.

“Thank you, Kina. I’m really okay. Soon, I’ll be okay.”

“My lady. Hic. Hic. If only I could take your place and bear the punishment instead…”

Aella wiped Kina’s endless tears with a handkerchief and gently cupped her flushed cheek.

“Before I leave, I’ll ask Laura to find you a good match…”

“No, I’ll go with you.”

“Kina.”

“I can’t let you go to the Hormons’ mansion alone.”

“……”

“I’ll protect you as best as I can. Trust me, my lady.”

Aella couldn’t help but feel deeply moved and guilty at Kina’s words.

“Kina, do you even realize what you’re saying? You’re saying you’ll walk into the fire with me.”

“Even if it’s a hellfire or a desert without a drop of water, I’ll follow you and serve you. That’s my duty as your personal maid.”

“Oh, Kina!”

“My lady. Hic. My poor lady. Hic. God is so cruel. So cruel.”

After calming Kina, who cried like a child, Aella stood up.

“Where are you going? I’ll come with you…”

Aella placed her hands on Kina’s shoulders and shook her head.

“I’m going to see my mother. When Charlotte returns, prepare some snacks for her. I’ll be back soon, so please listen to me this time. Okay, Kina?”

“Yes, my lady.”

After leaving the room, Aella placed her hand on her throbbing ankle.

Whoosh!

The healing spell, which hadn’t worked properly in front of Kael, emitted a strong light, soothing her swollen ankle.

“Hah.”

As she straightened her back, dizziness overcame her, and Aella leaned against the wall.

“Get a grip. This is just the beginning. You have to endure. I can do this. I’m not alone. Kina, Charlotte, Laura… and Mother are with me.”

With a faint smile, Aella walked to the backyard, where her grandmother, grandfather, and mother were buried.

“I’m here. Grandfather, Grandmother. And Mother.”

Aella smiled brightly.

“Mother, I’m going to leave here soon and enter the Hormons’ mansion… as the duchess…”

Forcing a smile, Aella’s eyes filled with tears.

“Mother, I’ll be fine. So please don’t worry too much. As long as Kina and Charlotte are by my side, I’ll be okay…”

Tears began to flow uncontrollably as Aella lowered her head.

“Mother… I think I’d rather die now. I don’t have the strength to keep living. Hic. Hic. Mother…”

Covering her face with both hands, Aella collapsed onto the grass and began to sob.

Drip.

Whoosh—

“Mother…”

The sudden rain felt like her mother’s tears to Aella.

“Mother, please take me with you. I have no hope left to keep living here. Mother. Mom…”

Aella’s swaying body collapsed onto the grass.

Whoosh—

“My lady!!!”

Amid the pouring rain, Aella faintly heard a voice calling out to her.

“Kina… Laura…”

And then, Aella lost consciousness.