Chapter 9 – Part 2

The secret alliance had woven itself seamlessly into their everyday lives. Marsden and Olivia’s closest confidants were part of it, as were Gael and Viscount Bartram.

Viscount Bartram was not an especially clever man. Though some might mistake him for innocent, he didn’t bother to distinguish between right and wrong. He had merely been a puppet, moved by the influence of his bitter and vengeful father, who grew more spiteful with age.

“I can’t even remember what he looks like anymore.”

Gael stood before someone’s door, struggling to recall Viscount Bartram’s face.

The viscount had vanished a few years ago, supposedly fleeing from his own estate. Investigations revealed that after his father’s death, he had practically fled the estate. Gael had once crossed paths with him on a shabby road. The viscount, cloaked and desperate, had pleaded with him to pretend they hadn’t met.

“Count Abyss, murder is wrong.”

With those words, he had fled, and Gael hadn’t bothered to stop him. Whatever crimes the viscount had committed were not his concern. He didn’t care about the dirt-stained fingernails or anything else about him.

‘What should I do?’

It was a woman he saw every day, yet today, knocking on her door felt incredibly difficult. Gael stood before Ronae’s room, his hand raised hesitantly.

He couldn’t get her irresponsible words out of his head—that she no longer desired his heart. The woman who had told him she would accept any punishment showed no sign of fearing abandonment.

“I don’t know what to do.”

In the end, Gael turned his back and walked down the corridor. He had rehearsed how to start the conversation dozens of times, but when he finally stood in front of that door, nothing came to mind. It was as if the scared figure was now telling him that he had become the weak one.

“If I tell her to just leave the child behind, will she get scared?”

Gael muttered softly. However, he was worried that he might not be able to play that card carelessly because he feared that she might actually accept the proposal. Yes, he was worried.

Gael entered the study. He walked to the bookshelf in the eastern direction and gently pulled out a pink book. The bookshelf then parted, revealing a new space behind it. Gael stepped inside, lit a candle, and the bookshelf closed silently.

On the floor, papers with various patterns were scattered. They were all efforts he had made to break the curse cast by Ronae. Ever since the day Ronae confessed, almost like a confession, that she had cast a curse on him, he has worked without missing a single day to find a way to undo it. That was also the reason he had joined forces with the despised Buck Rodley. But…

“I never truly loved you, not even once.”

He couldn’t forgive those words. How could you betray me and cause such deep wounds?

Gael resented Olivia. The smile she only showed to Marsden was repulsive.

“Argh!”

Gael screamed as he flung the papers away. The papers fluttered helplessly before falling to the floor. Even that sight further fueled Gael’s anger.

“How did I come this far…”

It had been two weeks since Olivia returned. There were also two weeks left until Ronae would give birth. He instinctively knew that his fate would be decided at that time. Whether it would be Olivia, Marsden, or himself, someone was going to meet their end.

But honestly, he couldn’t afford to be the one to fall. Being expelled from the capital was already a disgrace that would be talked about for decades. If he were to abandon Ronae in that situation, it would only further damage his reputation. Yes, so…

“Liv… You brought this upon yourself.”

Gael bent down and gathered the piles of papers with both hands. The wound he had suffered recently throbbed, but it was bearable. If it meant preserving his life, he could endure this much.

He stacked the papers neatly on the desk, tapping them into order. Then he twisted the center of the stack with both hands. The thin paper tore easily in his rough grip.

Gael continued tearing the papers. He tore and tore until he was exhausted. Until Ronae came looking for him, searching from place to place.

“Gael?”

Ronae’s voice faintly reached him, perhaps because she had heard that he had gone to the study. It was strange. No matter how sealed the place was, Ronae’s voice always carried well.

He admitted it. Even if he managed to break the curse, they had already come too far. He couldn’t let go of Ronae.

Gael extinguished all the candles. Then, as before, the firmly closed door swung open wide.

“Gael…? Why are you…”

In Ronae’s startled eyes, confusion quickly filled the void. It was understandable. Standing in a dark room cluttered with various objects, it was a wonder she didn’t scream.

“Ronae, let’s get married.”

“……”

“Let’s accept the child in your womb as the heir to the count’s family. Whether it’s a son or a daughter, I’ll place them in the position of head of the household. How about we get married in about… two weeks?”

Ronae’s hands, which were wrapped around her belly, trembled pitifully. She barely managed to move her lips.

“Why… are you suddenly talking about marriage?”

“You asked me first whether I would take responsibility as the child’s father. This is my answer. What’s so strange about it?”

As Gael approached her, Ronae instinctively stepped back. Disliking the sight, Gael closed the distance in a single step and tightly embraced her with both arms.

“Ronae, it’s happening as you wished. So why are you afraid of me?”

Ronae didn’t embrace him in return. The more she didn’t, the tighter Gael’s arms locked around her, imprisoning her in his grasp.

“Things are going your way. I’ll make you the most beautiful bride in the world. My heart and body are both yours.”

There was madness and elation in Gael’s voice. Ronae could only let out soft, trembling breaths.

“I’m telling you that I’ll forgive you. You’ve won. My heart and body are both yours. So stay by my side, always.”

Gael didn’t mention the word “curse” at that moment, but Ronae understood well enough.

Gael had given up on breaking the curse. He had chosen Ronae over Olivia.

“For the time being, things will be a bit noisy inside and out. You must stay at the count’s estate. Do you understand, my Ronae?”

And that was precisely what Ronae feared the most.

* * *

Glenn left Olivia in the care of Melanie and Illehan and stepped out into the garden with Bay. Even though Bay had been busy working as Glenn’s right-hand man, he had rushed over, showing that both of them were deeply concerned about Olivia.

“She’ll be alright. She’s someone who has endured all kinds of wounds. She’ll recover soon.”

“But… I’m worried. I didn’t mean to, but I saw the wound on the Marchioness’s abdomen earlier.”

Bay closed his eyes as if in pain. Glenn felt the same turmoil.

“Was it a wound from the incident?”

“I believe so. There were… too many wounds.”

While Melanie and Bay had been tending to Olivia’s wounds, Glenn had been facing away from the bed, so he hadn’t seen the wounds up close.

Glenn covered his mouth as if to suppress his emotions. Otherwise, he felt he wouldn’t be able to contain his deep anger.

He couldn’t escape the question of why. Though their master was lacking in many ways, she hadn’t done anything so wrong as to deserve such suffering. If anything, if she had any fault, it was that those who were supposed to guide her had failed her. It was all his fault.

“Why did she… get those wounds?”

“Since you said you’d tell us, we’ll wait,” Glenn said, patting Bay’s shoulder. He, too, was frustrated, but he couldn’t push their injured master too hard. Besides, he believed they’d be informed soon enough.

“For now, you should proceed with the plan and infiltrate Count Abyss’s manor. No one can match your skills in disguise.”

“Understood.”

“And…”

Glenn turned slightly to look behind him. Sir Illehan, leaning on his cane, was walking toward them.

“Sir Illehan.”

“Yes, speak.”

“There’s something I need to ask of you.”

Glenn straightened up before Illehan. He had given it a lot of thought but couldn’t find anyone more meticulous in his investigations than Illehan.

“What are you so troubled about? That’s not like you.”

Illehan was the only one who had remained calm among those who had come to the duke’s estate today. Glenn respected his composure, knowing that Illehan had witnessed everything from the death of his friends to that of their children.

That made Illehan perfect for this task.

“Please investigate Troy Marsden.”

“Me?”

“Yes. After the Marchioness went missing, Duke Marsden also disappeared. I need to know what he did during that half-year that could have led to my master being harmed.”

* * *