It was unexpected that her husband had drawn a clear line between Drisena and her.

Hadn’t it been almost five years since he did so? After they lost their daughter, he left Martiana entirely in Drisena’s care.

‘No… it would be more accurate to say he had not paid attention at all.’

Did either of them have the strength for anything at that time? They could barely care for themselves.

She knew that well. She had no desire to blame him for it.

If she started listing all his shortcomings, she would have to admit that she had not fulfilled her role either.

More than that—

‘Thank you.’

Strangely, she welcomed her current situation.

She knew it might seem strange, but she couldn’t help it.

Who wouldn’t be glad when someone stands by you, simply as one person to another?

Especially when that person is on your side against a mother-in-law who has tormented you at every turn?

Of course, that wasn’t the reason she had asked to hear the apology.

‘I wanted her to know.’

Indirectly.

She knows what she did. She knows she tried to k*ll her. So she had better be careful. Martiana will not simply endure it in silence, pretending ignorance.

She could not deny that a small, quiet part of her hoped Drisena might keep a low profile for a while because of it.

Judging by her reaction now, her decision had been the right one.

Drisena’s voice still trembled.

“S-Such a thing happened?”

“Yes.”

Martiana nodded without taking her eyes off her.

No sooner had she answered than Siliar added.

“You will also need to be questioned in relation to that matter, Mother.”

Drisena’s eyes widened.

“Again?”

They had just been discussing whether to end the investigation when the word surfaced once more. It was no wonder she looked fed up with it.

Her twisted expression confirmed as much.

“An item belonging to the ducal household was found in the possession of the culprit. As you have overseen household management all this time, please provide a statement on the matter.”

“What item? Do not fabricate some absurd pretext and drag our family into such a vile affair.”

“A testimony has already been given. The investigation will clarify the truth. I will send constables shortly, so please cooperate.”

“Then what about my outings?”

“That will depend on whether you offer your apology—”

Knock, knock.

A sound abruptly cut short the conversation between the mother and her son.

The three people at the table all turned towards the door as it opened.

It was the butler who had shown Martiana and Siliar to the dining room earlier.

He apologized for the interruption and spoke in a courteous tone.

“The Countess of Pumilum has arrived.”

At those words, Martiana shot to her feet.

***

“Martiana!”

A voice called out to her from behind.

It was Siliar, and his tone was unmistakably startled.

Of course he would be. She had rushed out of the dining hall without saying a word the moment she heard that the Countess of Pumilum had arrived. She knew how strange that must have seemed.

She understood it better than anyone. For years, people had whispered that she had lost her mind. This would hardly prove them wrong.

But she had no choice.

What else could she possibly do?

The Countess of Pumilum had arrived.

Was she not the one who had waited longest for her return?

More precisely, she had been waiting for the child who would accompany her.

She had to be there first. She had to be there first.

‘Licorice!’

If she was going to find you…

Martiana clenched her hands tightly and quickened her pace. Her gaze had been fixed in one direction from the start.

The entrance hall.

It was the only place she would find the woman and the child.

The closer she got, the faster her heart beat.

‘Ah…!’

She spotted someone in the distance.

At the bend in the corridor, a figure was casting a shadow. A maid stood before it, bowing her head in greeting.

Swallow.

Her throat tightened. Without realizing it, she slowed her steps and her breath climbed high into her chest.

“Hoo…”

Her heart continued to beat wildly.

Martiana pressed her hands together and bit her lip. The closer she got, the more her hands trembled. Her legs felt weak beneath her.

Was this anticipation?

Or fear?

‘I don’t know.’

She didn’t know anything.

She just wanted to see.

Driven by this desire, Martiana continued on her way.

‘Ah!’

She stopped abruptly.

Something had caught her eye.

The maid still stood at the entrance. The shadowed figure remained unchanged.

But—

‘Ah…!’

Before the jutting wall of the corridor lay a small child’s toy.

The moment she saw it, her heart nearly stopped.

‘My child…!’

Martiana clapped a hand over her mouth, fighting back the sob that threatened to escape.

If she took a step forward, she would undoubtedly start crying.

Struggling to steady herself, she forced herself to stay calm as she moved cautiously forward. Yet the closer she got, the harder it was to contain the tremor sweeping through her body.

It is there.

She still could not see clearly. She could not be certain that it was her daughter.

And yet—

‘My daughter.’

A child who looked exactly like her.

The mere thought of seeing such a creature made her heart quake.

The odds were fifty-fifty. Very well. Let her see. Let her see if it was really true.

If her memory failed her, or had she seen correctly?

Look this way.

‘Child. My child. Licori—’

“…?”

Martiana turned sharply around the corridor and blinked.

Her gaze met someone’s.

At first, she saw the maid standing there.

Then she saw the woman at the entrance.

And—

“Ah?”

That was it.

There were only two people standing there.

Adults only.

No matter how Martiana looked around, she could not see any children.

Martiana swiftly scanned the two adults. She spotted a small bag filled with children’s toys at their feet.

‘What is going on?’

The thought crossed her mind, and in that instant, her head cooled.

The mother who had been flushed with anticipation moments ago was gone.

What stood here now was a woman assessing the situation.

And—

“Sister-in-law?”

A young woman called out to her in an unfamiliar voice.

Martiana turned towards the sound. Standing there was a woman who had not yet taken off her thick outer coat.

She was small in stature, with a bright, ever-smiling face.

Martiana found her strangely unfamiliar. For a moment, she genuinely wondered who she was.

The butler had clearly announced the Countess of Pumilum.

‘Did she look like that?’

Martiana tilted her head slightly, a gesture that reflected just how unfamiliar the woman felt.

This was not surprising. Since Pameli and Ramelata’s wedding, she had hardly seen her. Even before that, they had never been particularly close.

The only thing Martiana distinctly remembered was the pink hair that cascaded over Pameli’s shoulders.

It had been so striking that Martiana once recognized her from inside a passing carriage.

“Countess of Pumilum?”

Martiana addressed her cautiously, the stiffness in her tone evident.

They had not exchanged visits or letters in all this time.

Ramelata laughed lightly.

“Ahaha, what’s that? Why so formal?”

“…?”

“Calling me the Countess of Pumilum, as if we’re strangers. We’re family. Please, just speak comfortably—Sister-in-law.”

“Again, that word.”

Martiana studied Lamelata quietly as she used the unfamiliar term with such ease.

It wasn’t incorrect, yet it unsettled her.

Was this the warmth that her mother-in-law had often praised in her second daughter-in-law?

Martiana had been compared to Ramelata countless times before, and had been told off for not measuring up. The memory lingered vividly.

For someone who had been secluded in her room for five years, such ease would be impossible.

This only served to make her expression grow firmer as she shook her head.

“No. I cannot address a guest so casually.”

“A guest? But we’re family! Are you uncomfortable with me? It’s been far too long since we last saw each other.”

Ramelata giggled and stepped closer to her.

“We’re sisters-in-law. We should get along well. After all, we’re the only daughters-in-law in this household. Shall we go out together sometime?”

Clapping her hands, Ramelata spoke with lively enthusiasm.

She seemed to be genuinely trying to be friendly.

Perhaps she simply could not endure a tense atmosphere.

Whatever the case, it made no difference to Martiana.

“Very well.”

In truth, Ramelata’s personality and words were irrelevant.

Martiana’s attention was fixed on one thing alone.

Even now, as she offered distracted replies, her eyes scanned her surroundings.

The child.

Only the child.

If her assumption was correct, the child should have been beside that chattering woman.

Where was she?

Where had she gone?

Had she run off down another corridor to play?

Or had she fallen asleep on the way and not been brought inside?

Or had she perhaps returned to the annexe before showing her face?

Why was only the toy bag here?

The question gnawed at her until she could no longer endure it.

She interrupted Ramelata’s gentle chatter.

“And the child? Where is she? I heard she came with you.”

And then she heard it.

“Ah…”

A sound of sudden understanding.

Then, a small, derisive snort.

A quiet, mocking laugh.