Isabella, brimming with confidence, kept on talking about her plans, leaving me a bit flustered as I was supposed to greet the other guests. Needing someone to take her off my hands, I deliberately led her over to Theodore.

“Theodore, don’t you think inventions like these magical lights should be covered under patent law?”

Both Isabella and Theodore widened their eyes at my comment, then enthusiastically dove into a debate. Relieved, I went back to greeting the guests as the party host. Soon, I was surprised to see Sir Wayne arrive with Ellen as his partner.

“You two… when did this happen?”

Of course, it made sense for them to cross paths—after all, he was the duchy’s first knight captain, and she was the dowager duchess’s maid. But at the last party, I don’t remember them even dancing together. Wayne blushed and spoke earnestly.

“Well, personally, I’ve admired Ellen’s beauty for quite some time.”

A man who’s shy yet manages to say what he means. I couldn’t help but clap in delight.

“That’s wonderful! So, you’re both on the same page, right?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Yes, we are.”

If I remember correctly, Ellen is older than Sir Wayne. Though Ellen looks young for her age, there’s a reality that society treats a woman in her forties differently than a man in his forties. So, while surprising, I was overjoyed for them. Choosing to ignore any concerns, I wholeheartedly congratulated them.

As I made rounds, chatting with the guests, I started to feel quite tired. I retreated to a tent near the entrance of the party area.

We’d set up tents throughout the garden for rest areas since it was a vast outdoor event. Everyone seemed too captivated by the enchanting night scenery to use the tents. Lowering the entrance flap for privacy, I saw someone else enter—it was Mother-in-law.

“Olivia, this party is like a dream.”

Her cheeks were flushed. Though she usually dislikes parties, she seemed to be enjoying herself tonight. Watching her golden hair glow softly in the candlelight, I realized she was aging, too.

“It’s a joyful night. I can hardly believe you’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

I gazed at Mother’s gentle smile and finally voiced words I hadn’t been able to say.

“I think I was able to do well because of you.”

We may have been family for a long time. I felt I’d built a deeper bond with her than I ever had with Ian. It seemed she, too, understood that tonight would be our last farewell. She listened quietly without any change in expression. Noticing her stillness, I felt an unexpected pang of guilt for finding her manner so similar to Ian’s.

“I’m not sure if I’ve been the daughter-in-law you’d hoped for, but…”

“Olivia, you were always the best.”

“I…”

I was about to humbly downplay her praise but stopped. Who am I to lessen her words? If my mother-in-law says I’m the best, then I’m the best. I let out a laugh.

“You were the best, too. I bet there’s no mother-in-law in Cadia as wonderful as you.”

“That’s a relief.”

Her smile softened, and after a brief pause, she said,

“I was the worst wife and the worst mother.”

I flinched, taken aback. I hadn’t expected her to say that. Yet she kept her serene smile.

“But at least, it’s a relief to have been a good mother-in-law to you.”

“…I truly mean it.”

Her face remained calm, but for some reason, her eyes looked sad. In a near whisper, she murmured as if confessing a heavy burden.

“Honestly, if I could, I’d want to be a good grandmother, too.”

Those words filled me with guilt. She had given me so much, and here I was, leaving her son with a broken heart.

“But Ian told me. He said he had no intention of having children with anyone, not just with you.”

I had already heard that from Ian. His plan to end the family line and relinquish the Keppel title—and how she had eventually agreed to respect his decision. Hearing of their reconciliation from both sides brought a fresh perspective.

“If it hadn’t been you, I might have felt disappointed when I heard that. I might have blamed Ian, resented him, even hated him.”

Mother took my hand. I hesitated, unsure whether to warm her cold hand with mine or if I should be so bold as to do so.

“But you said it yourself. Even if he had children against his will, Ian would not love them.”

Without hesitation, I wrapped both my hands around hers, unable to shake the memory of the day she’d collapsed. But unlike that time, she didn’t falter now. Instead, she spoke calmly with a gaze filled with regret.

“It felt like you were talking about me. About how I couldn’t bring myself to love Ian.”

“No, that’s not what I meant at all…”

“I know. But you were right. It wasn’t until then that I realized I had been on the verge of passing down the same pain I had once endured onto him.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. I knew how difficult each word was for her to express.

“For the family’s sake, I was ready to tell him to have a child just because everyone else did. I was willing to say the very things I hated hearing most.”

“……”

“Using the excuse that it was all for you.”

I couldn’t think of a single thing to say to comfort her. How could I be so foolish? To not even know what to say in a moment like this.

“I must have believed my son had to endure and protect the same things I suffered to keep, selfishly so. But then Ian said that if he had someone he loved and a child, he would pass down everything he could to them. His title, wealth, all his wisdom and love. But if he couldn’t do that……”

At last, gem-like tears began to fall from my mother’s eyes.

“He said he’d break this chain here and take revenge for me.”

Revenge. Could it be revenge against her miserable life, her lonely existence? Even amid this, Ian’s words resurfaced in my mind, leaving me unsettled.

‘Back then, the day you drank with me in the study, if I’d allowed it then…… well, at least at that time, you were thinking about leaving an heir, weren’t you?’

‘…… I found something more important.’

More than revenge, more than duty.

“To avenge a heartless mother. And here I am, only now truly wanting my son’s happiness—yet you’re leaving.”

My heart began to pound like a drum, louder than her voice. I released her hand, opening the locket on my ring with trembling fingers. I took out the hidden medicine and swallowed it quietly.

“What use is that empty revenge anyway? What he truly longed for was a future with you.”

Was that really true? Before I could even sacrifice for him, did I already mean more to him? I felt my heartbeat slow, and as I rose to my feet, my mother, watching my hesitant steps, spoke.

“Go on.”

I flinched at her words. It felt as if she wasn’t just telling me to leave this tent but to leave her behind in my life.

“Before I selfishly cling to you.”

I quietly slipped out of the tent. Not far away, I saw Ellen, who had been looking for her. I told her where she was, mentioning she had drunk more than usual, and then wandered through the lively garden.

Someone asked me to sing a song. I couldn’t remember who requested it first, but suddenly, many gazes filled with expectation turned toward me.

Truthfully, I’d prepared a few songs for this, but suddenly, I didn’t feel like singing any of them. All my usual songs were somewhat melancholy, not fitting for such a dreamy party atmosphere.

After a brief thought, I began to sing the song that suddenly came to mind.

~~I dreamt of living in a marble palace.
With countless retainers and servants by my side,
surrounded by many people.
I was their hope and pride.
I possessed countless riches,
a member of a distinguished family.
But above all, in the dream, what made me happiest
was that you still loved me.
That you still loved me.~~

People seemed lost in thought after I finished singing, and it took a moment for one or two to start clapping, with the others quickly following suit. I responded with a smile and quietly left. Feigning thirst, I headed toward the fountain flowing with fruit punch when someone offered me a glass. It happened to be fruit punch.

“Want some?”

It was Lady Avery. I hadn’t recognized her at first because of her unfamiliar short haircut. Did she think the same about me? I ran my hand through my hair for no reason. With a blank expression, she said,

“Unless you think it might be poisoned.”