If she gave a careless answer just to get rid of them, they would claim that it could not be verified, and then ask the same question again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

How was anyone supposed to endure that without going mad?

Exhaustion bred irritation, and irritation exploded into fury.

As if being confined indoors were not enough, she was unable to go out and ‘enjoy herself’.

“Ahhh!”

Finally, Drisena grabbed her hair and screamed.

She had to resolve the situation quickly.

If things continued as they were, she might actually collapse.

“And Siliar hasn’t even shown his face since that day!”

There had not even been an opportunity to soften him up.

No matter what she said to the constables who came to question her—

“His Excellency has ordered that no message be conveyed to him until the matter is concluded.”

That was all they would say.

“Thick-headed fools.”

Drisena muttered angrily and kicked over a chair.

He was her own son, yet how could he be so inflexible? No — if she traced the cause back, it was Martiana.

That wretched girl must have told him everything.

She was the only person who knew about the divorce papers when they were signed.

“Cursed Martiana. She can’t even speak—what on earth did she do to make my son act like this?”

Fine. Perhaps she couldn’t speak, but she could write. She must have scribbled something down for him.

She may have been mentally unwell, but she was physically fit enough.

Silar had taken her side for once. Of course she would have been thrilled. No doubt she exaggerated everything and was a shameless gossip.

“Insolent creature. Out of all things, to report her own mother-in-law? Let her show her face. I’ll tear out every strand of her hair.”

“…No. There’s another one.”

Another insolent one.

“You there. Has Ramelata returned yet?”

Biting her lip, Drisena turned to the maid standing nearby.

Amidst the chaos, her second daughter-in-law still had not appeared.

Whose fault was all this?

She had heard that the woman went out daily with the child.

Why can’t she even step outside?

“Yes, madam. She left this morning and has not yet returned.”

“How admirable. As useless as ever. When your mother-in-law is in such distress, shouldn’t you have come on your own?”

“Yes, madam…”

“Fine. When she returns, send her straight to me. I have something to tell her.”

“Understood.”

The maid bowed and hurried away.

There was a hint of relief in her haste, though Drisena did not notice.

She had already sunk onto the sofa, preoccupied with how to pass the time.

Usually, even if she didn’t leave the house, she would wander through it.

Now, even that was forbidden.

With Ramelata gone and her grandson away, there was no one to talk to.

“If only Martiana were here.”

She could have summoned her and lashed out at any time.

No matter what she said, the girl would never respond. For Drisena, she could not have found a more convenient target.

She could vent her frustrations freely, if not comfortably.

After all, who could fail to feel their temper flare at the sight of her face?

“Honestly.”

Still, once she had driven her out, it had felt refreshing.

“Surely she wouldn’t dare crawl back?”

With Siliar rescinding the divorce, the possibility was real.

Perhaps the matter had already been settled.

Without so much as considering Drisena’s opinion, despite living under the same roof.

“Must I endure that sight again?”

Drisena exhaled sharply.

A daughter-in-law she could never stand.

“If she dares return.”

Unlike Ramelata, she wouldn’t entertain dangerous thoughts, but she wouldn’t leave the girl in peace, either.

This time, she would treat her so badly that she would say, “I’ll leave on my own.”

Drisena ground her teeth.

Three hours later, she made her vow.

“The young madam has returned.”

The steward announced Martiana’s arrival.

***

The journey home felt strangely awkward.

She had travelled that road countless times during her seven-year marriage.

Perhaps it was because she had never expected to come back.

As the Vandyk estate came into view, it seemed unfamiliar.

In truth, she had rarely seen it from the outside before.

For the past five years, she had only seen it from the inside.

‘So this is what it looked like.’

She had also looked at the estate before leaving. Why did it seem so different now?

Gazing out of the carriage window, Martiana turned her lips up slightly in a faintly self-mocking smile.

It was a faintly self-mocking smile.

If she felt this way, it meant that she had not paid much attention to the ducal house in the first place.

“That’s true.”

Would she have cared about the household if she hadn’t cut herself off from the world?

Leaning back against the creaking seat, she fidgeted with her fingers.

Once the carriage stopped, she would have to face Drisena Vandyk.

Her mother-in-law.

She had tried to forget every unpleasant memory from the day she left. Yet that face alone seemed to grow clearer with time.

“Your Grace, we have arrived.”

Seated opposite her, Melissa glanced outside and informed her.

At the same moment, the carriage jolted to a stop. The sound of the coachman reining in the horses followed.

“Ha…”

Martiana drew in a deep breath.

They must have spotted her approach from afar. The butler and servants stood lined up at the entrance.

At the very end stood Drisena.

“Fu…”

She exhaled slowly.

Although she had come with such determination, seeing that face head-on made her chest tighten.

Perhaps it was a reflex she had developed over the years.

Whenever she came face-to-face with Drisena, pain would follow.

“Shall you step out?”

Melissa asked cautiously, having noticed her condition.

Even at first glance, it was clear that she was unwell.

Martiana clasped her trembling fingers together tightly and nodded.

She had come this far. She wouldn’t back down because of one person.

“What did I come here for?”

“I’ll step out.”

Those short words caused the carriage door to open.

The moment her foot touched the ground, she felt the evening air brush her skin.

And, as if waiting—

“How radiant you look.”

Drisena’s voice flew at her.

As crooked as her expression.

With her arms folded, she strode through the line of servants, tilting her chin.

Martiana had to bite her lip in response to the blatant arrogance.

Not because she was afraid. But because it was almost absurd.

Not much time had passed — how could she remain so unchanged?

Even after being reprimanded by Siliar, her pride had not dimmed at all.

“Your complexion is glowing. Perhaps you’re better suited to being outdoors? You look far better than when you were here. If that’s the case, why have you come back?”

“I suppose so. Even I did not expect to return.”

Drisena, asking casually at first, suddenly stiffened and turned toward her. As though she had seen a ghost, her eyes widened.

“What—what did you just say?”

“What is it, Mother?”

“Ah! Wh-what is this? What was that? I heard it just now!”

“Heard what, Mother?”

“Ah! What is this! The girl just spoke! Did you hear that? Did you hear it?!”

Clutching at her ears, Drisena raised her voice at the servants.

At the same time, she pointed at Martiana, as if demanding confirmation.

“You heard it? Butler, what is this? Is that truly Martiana?”

“It is indeed the young madam.”

“But how is she speaking—”

“Mother.”

“Good heavens!”

Martiana interrupted their conversation, unable to bear it any longer.

Drisena flinched as though she had been hit, her body trembling.

She seemed stunned by the unexpectedness of it.

‘Is it really that shocking?’

For Martiana, it was simply a matter of regaining her voice.

For others, speaking came as naturally as breathing.

Then again, Siliar had also been taken aback when he first discovered that she could speak again.

Perhaps it wasn’t so strange after all.

It wasn’t only Drisena.

Even the servants who had known Martiana for years were staring at her in astonishment. Yet she was not made uncomfortable by the situation.

If anything—

‘This is rather amusing.’

It was strange.

She had never felt this way before.

Perhaps it was because she had never seen Drisena so flustered.

The woman who had always seemed ready to devour her was now standing there, lost for words — because of her.

“Mother, I’ve returned.”

That was an unexpected delight.

She especially liked the way Drisena flinched each time she spoke. And the way her face went pale.

Had she had a cruel side all along?

To feel this flicker of satisfaction at someone else’s distress…

“I’m glad to see you again.”

Martiana smiled brightly.

The heaviness and reluctance she had felt when stepping out of the carriage had long since vanished.