Drisena’s two sons bore a striking resemblance to each other.

Their distinctive features were their father’s ash-brown hair and their mother’s vivid red eyes.

Passers-by might have found it difficult to tell them apart when they walked past.

Even Drisena herself would sometimes hesitate for a moment.

However, as they were not twins, they were not identical in every respect.

For example—

“Siliar, you’re a cat. Pameli, you’re more like a dog.”

Their cousin, the king, had remarked on this when he saw them standing side by side.

Yes, they were similar, but on closer inspection, their features differed.

Siliar gave off a sharp, piercing impression, whereas Pameli appeared softer and gentler.

Their speech reflected this, too. So did their gestures. Even their temperaments were different.

In fact, perhaps the only things they truly had in common were their hair and eye color.

And yet—

The child standing before Drisena now bore an unmistakable resemblance to them.

“I tell you, he’s unmistakably one of ours.”

Drisena smiled as she lifted the child onto her lap, gently running her fingers through his hair as she did so.

The longer she looked at him, the wider her smile grew.

There was something almost wondrous about it. Perhaps she was simply overjoyed to see him again after such a long time.

The last time she had visited the Pumilum estate, he had just turned one. So perhaps this open display of affection was only natural.

“Say it again. Who am I?”

“Grandmother.”

“Yes, yes.”

He spoke so well!

At that single word, Drisena covered her mouth in surprise. She had never realized she had that side to her.

The Duke’s estate had been childless for so long that she had never had the opportunity to discover it before.

“Grandma… play.”

With a lisping voice, Alex waved his short arms and legs.

Drisena nodded as she gathered him into her arms.

“Oh my, you want to play? What shall we do?”

“Mother, that’s enough.”

Ramelata stepped forward and lifted Alex from Drisena’s embrace. The sudden absence of weight made Drisena frown.

“What is this? Can’t a grandmother play with her own grandson?”

“You can later. For now, please speak with me.”

 Ramelata raised an eyebrow, her expression remaining firm. Her pink eyes, like her hair, were unexpectedly piercing.

They were so piercing that Drisena flinched before letting out a quiet sigh.

Was that really the way to look at one’s mother-in-law?

If it weren’t for the money she brought into the family, Drisena would have confronted her a long time ago.

“I don’t have much time. I’m supposed to see Siliar soon. And what exactly is there for us to discuss at such length?”

“If we start talking, it might become something significant.”

Ramelata sat down opposite Drisena and forced a smile.

However, her eyes did not smile.

Unaware of how grotesque her expression appeared to others, she held Drisena’s gaze.

Drisena frowned in irritation.

“What? I already gave you everything you asked for.”

“You did. But… there was a complication.”

“What complication?”

“I failed to k*ll Martiana.”

“…What?”

Drisena blinked for a moment.

Had her hearing failed her?

Had she misheard?

Something outrageous had just been said.

“What did you just say you did?”

Drisena demanded again, certain that she had misheard.

How could someone speak of killing with such serenity?

Especially someone who looked incapable of even crushing a bug?

But—

“Who did you say you killed?”

“I said I failed to k*ll Mart—”

“Ah! What nonsense are you spouting? Whatever you’re involved in, do not drag me into it!”

If she heard the full confession, there would be no way to undo it.

Drisena sensed that instinctively and rose abruptly to her feet.

Her son was the head of the guard. She could tolerate many things, but she had no intention of becoming embroiled in murder.

And his wife, of all people?

Absolutely not.

Who could predict what catastrophe would follow?

“If you’re planning something absurd, leave my house. I detest troublesome affairs!”

“Do you?”

Ramelata tilted her head slightly, still smiling.

Then, with eyes that had grown cold, she slowly looked Drisena up and down.

“If we stop here, there will be no more money for you, Mother.”

Her voice was like a razor.

She meant every word.

Drisena flinched, sensing this, and slowly lowered herself back into her seat opposite Ramelata.

That cursed money.

Ultimately, it was the only thing holding her back.

What other choice did she have? Nowhere else would she ever receive such a large sum.

Ramelata watched her, her expression suggesting that she had expected this reaction.

Then she spoke again.

“So, Mother.”

“….”

“Where is Martiana?”

Like a hyena—relentless until it had secured its prey.

There was no difference.

***

The great bell of the Grand Temple sounded, its deep toll resonating through the air.

From its urgent rhythm, it was clear that it was striking noon.

The sound brought everyone together at once.

At the echoing chime, Martiana slowly lifted her head.

She was still inside the small chapel.

She had no sense of how much time had passed.

She had entered that morning and remained in the same spot, even after Siliar left.

It must have been at least five hours.

“….”

Martiana let out a soft sigh in response to the lively noise outside.

She had been like this ever since her husband left.

Or perhaps ever since he had appeared.

Her heart felt unsettled.

It was beyond complicated.

“Ha…”

Their long conversation ended without resolution.

Silar had repeatedly insisted on taking her home.

Each time, she refused.

Martiana knew she had been stubborn.

From their exchange alone, it was clear that they were still married.

Logically, she should have gone back. A married couple could not live apart forever.

But—

But.

‘Go back to the duke’s estate?’

How could she?

‘Mother tried to k*ll me.’

She didn’t know why. She didn’t know what it was for.

But she was certain.

If she returned to the estate, the same thing that had happened outside it might happen again.

Another man might be sent. Or perhaps they would devise another method. There were many ways to take a life.

“I’m not going back.”

That was why Martiana repeated the same words like a parrot.

Wouldn’t anyone do the same?

Only a fool would willingly return to a place where they nearly died.

Besides—

“Mother prepared the divorce papers?”

Siliar reacted this way the moment Martiana told him that she had received them from Drisena. He could hardly believe what his wife was saying.

The idea that his mother had arranged his divorce seemed unbelievable to him.

“Why would she? She may not have approved of our marriage, but she would never ignore my will.”

If that were true, they would have divorced long ago.

Silar shook his head.

Deep down, he trusted Drisena.

That was why he had entrusted her with managing the estate while keeping Martiana away.

Martiana understood that.

She did not fail to see it.

A child does not need complicated reasons to trust a parent. And yet, to her, his reaction felt unbearably cruel.

“Are you saying I’m lying?”

It was only one sentence, but the hurt rushed in all at once.

Her heart stung.

Here, he had immediately assumed she was responsible.

“Not lying… Martiana, I don’t accuse someone based on suspicion alone.”

Siliar lowered his gaze, troubled.

“The one who sent the documents to His Majesty was you. The rest—”

“That only means someone used my name. Why won’t you listen to me? Do my words mean nothing to you?”

Martiana flared up.

It would be more accurate to say that a wave of sorrow suddenly overwhelmed her.

To her husband, the captain of the guard, objective evidence always came first.

Of course, in a criminal case, he could not accuse the wrong person without proof.

If her name had been on the documents, it was only natural that he would suspect her.

She knew that.

She understood it all.

‘But you’re my husband. Can’t you just take my side this once without asking why? Why can’t you just let this one go?’

She wanted to scream that his mother had tried to k*ll her. But even if she did, he wouldn’t believe her.

He wouldn’t truly listen.

Their relationship had become a never-ending cycle revolving around something that had gone wrong a long time ago.

If she went back home, she would end up waiting for him to come back.

“…No.”

She didn’t want that.

That time had been hell.

And now he was asking her to go back to it?

Unless he had a very good reason, she would never agree.

‘No.’

There was something she still needed to do.

She would find Licorice.

And so—

“Siliar.”

Martiana lifted her head and called his name.

A faint sheen of tears gathered in her violet eyes.

“Let’s end it here. Rewrite the divorce papers.”

Her voice, thick with tears, echoed through the small chapel.