Chapter 80: Edelweiss’s Funeral

In the heavy atmosphere, Edelweiss’s funeral was held at Saint Bell Cathedral.

The Duke of Stern still couldn’t believe it—he blinked repeatedly.

Originally, this was where her wedding should have taken place.

The child who was supposed to enter with him, holding his hand, now lay cold inside a glass casket.

An elderly lady’s comment about how unfortunate it was for someone so young, and hushed whispers asking if she had taken her own life due to a broken engagement, tormented him.

His eyes, dry from sleepless nights, stung sharply.

The Duke pulled out Edelweiss’s diary, which the butler had handed him.

The date of her birthday immediately caught his attention.

[Year 310, December 19

Father didn’t say happy birthday again this year. Or maybe… he doesn’t even know it’s my birthday.

He always says it first for my sister’s birthday… If I had been born with purple eyes like hers, would I have been loved?

Would Father not have hated me then?

No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to reach his heart. Maybe if I brought glory to the Stern name, he’d finally look my way.

Just once… I want to be acknowledged by Father.]

The Duke couldn’t bear to turn the page.

That one line—“I want to be acknowledged by Father”—

was slicing his heart open.

“Is that Lady Edelweiss’s diary the Duke is reading?”

“It’s strange, isn’t it? She was someone who kept a diary every day, and yet she didn’t leave a s*icide note…”

“You don’t think… it could’ve been murder, do you?”

The noblewomen’s chatter grew loud and irritating.

“…Murder?”

Now that she thought about it, something had seemed odd.

If Edelweiss had jumped herself, her body should’ve landed face-down.

But the butler who first found her had described the scene differently.

It looked more like someone had pushed her.

BANG!

The doors flew open as if they were being broken down—Tessen stormed in, drawing every gaze.

The Duke of Stern turned toward him.

His face was twisted in grief, filled with rage and sorrow.

“You dare!”

Tessen lunged at Rosemary, who was standing beside him crying.

“Kyaa—!”

He grabbed her by the collar and hoisted her into the air.

Rosemary choked and flailed, her pupils rolling upward.

“…Tessen! What do you think you’re doing!”

The Duke tried urgently to stop him—

“…You killed my sister?”

—but everything froze at the words Tessen growled.

What did he just say?

Who killed who?

“Bring her back! Who do you think you are, killing my sister and crying like some innocent victim?”

Tessen’s voice was low and rough, like an animal soaked in pain. He gripped her tighter, veins bulging in his hand.

“How could you? Do you even call yourself human? She adored you! You were her only sister, the one she trusted most!”

He spoke with such force that his lips cracked and bled.

“Of all people, you shouldn’t have done this…”

He finally threw Rosemary to the floor.

She collapsed, coughing and gasping.

“Where’s your proof…? I didn’t do anything! I’m innocent!”

Gone was the mourning girl who’d sobbed at the funeral.

All that remained was a bold, disheveled woman—

one who looked unafraid, like someone who had already destroyed the evidence.

Like someone who had committed murder.

“…Proof?”

Tessen turned to the Duke of Stern.

His gaze held a mix of scorn and regret.

“…What are you saying… What are you talking about?”

The Duke asked in a hoarse voice.

It couldn’t be. Not Rosemary. Not sweet, kind Rosemary.

Edelweiss had loved her deeply. That much was always clear.

She drank the lily tea Rosemary gave her without complaint.

She had even postponed her coming-of-age ceremony at Rosemary’s request.

She never blamed Rosemary—not even after the incident that left her limping for life.

Not even once.

Tessen gave a signal.

A figure entered the room—

Jane.

Edelweiss’s personal maid, brought in from the streets when she was young.

“Father, no! Why would I do something like that? Please, listen to me!”

Rosemary sprang up in a panic as soon as she saw Jane.

Jane calmly began to speak.

“The day Lady Edelweiss passed, I delivered a letter from His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Lady Rosemary came to Lady Edelweiss’s room afterward.”

“…She said she wanted to be alone with her, so I stepped out.

But then I remembered there was something else His Highness had asked me to say, so I went back upstairs.”

“…That’s when I heard them arguing. It sounded serious, so I didn’t enter right away.”

Jane’s voice trembled as if she were recalling a nightmare.

“…I saw Lady Rosemary push Lady Edelweiss off the balcony—and smile afterward.”

Silence.

Inside the cathedral, not a single breath could be heard.

The Duke of Stern’s legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed to the ground.

“No! It’s not true! Father, you don’t believe that, do you? She’s Edelweiss’s personal maid! She’s framing me! I did argue with her, but I left right after!”

Rosemary shouted in desperation, her voice cracking.

Jane bowed deeply, her forehead pressed to the floor.

“I… I have something else to confess. I’ve been giving Lady Edelweiss lily tea under Lady Rosemary’s orders.”

“…”

“She told me to make Lady Edelweiss infertile. I know I’m shameless to say this now after betraying the one who took me in, but… I wanted to clear Lady Edelweiss’s name.”

The Duke’s vision blurred.

He still couldn’t speak.

His fingers tingled.

It felt as though something heavy pressed against his chest, suffocating him.

“Dear god…”

Gasps and murmurs spread among the mourners.

“How could anyone do such a thing…? To her own sister who became lame trying to protect her…”

“So she was behind the Crown Prince’s breakup too. That woman…”

The blood in his veins seemed to flow backward.

He covered his ears.

He didn’t want to hear any of it.

…No, it can’t be.

The words spilled from his trembling lips—

a final, desperate denial.

But in his mind, he couldn’t erase the image:

Rosemary, smiling as she pushed Edelweiss.

Edelweiss’s terrified gaze as she fell over the balcony.

“…How scared must she have been.”

The Duke knew.

Ever since the accident that left her limping, Edelweiss had feared the feeling of her body being off the ground.

Even stepping onto stairs was terrifying for her.

He crouched down, bracing himself against the floor.

“Duke.”

All eyes turned toward the man seated near the front—

the Marquis of Blossomweaver’s consort.

He slowly stood, posture upright, gaze frigid as he looked down at Rosemary.

“Do you know why your bastard daughter killed Edelweiss?”

His voice was sharp enough to cut.

“Because she’s not your child. She’s Benjamin Sandor’s daughter.”

His killing intent was barely contained.

“She poisoned Edelweiss out of jealousy and killed her to steal the title of noble daughter.”

The color drained from Rosemary’s face.

The man reached into his coat and tossed a letter onto the floor.

“A letter from Serena Widen to Benjamin Sandor.”

“…”

“So, how does it feel?”

His voice grew colder.

“To learn that the niece you protected all your life… murdered your real daughter.”