Seeing his pupils, which seemed like they would never waver, begin to shake, she was certain. She really was ill. And that she would soon die.

“Isn’t that so?”

She expected herself to be angry, but instead, her mind grew cold.

“It would be convenient for you if the woman who followed you like a stalker died, wouldn’t it?”

“……”

“Or is it pity that you’re feeling?”

Pity, a word that didn’t suit him. Raphael was the kind of person who wouldn’t blink an eye if someone died in front of him.

“Ah, my mistake. It wouldn’t be pity, would it.”

For some reason, now that she knew everything, she wished he wouldn’t pretend anymore.

“You know my situation better than anyone, so you don’t have to act anymore.”

“Amelia.”

“Don’t call me by my name.”

It was the name he never called her when she wanted him to. Calling her now was pointless. She didn’t want it anymore.

“I won’t cause any more trouble. So you don’t need to watch over me all the time.”

He must have been curious. Wondering if the woman had changed because she was about to die.

“Then, good night.”

What disappointed her more was that Raphael did not hold her back. He just silently watched her go. It was probably natural since everything was out in the open.

The marital bedroom was the same as always. Silence lingered, and neither of them spoke a word. They both forcibly closed their eyes and waited for sleep to come.

***

Her conversation with him last night felt like a distant dream. When she woke up in the morning, she was hungry, and the usual routine began. She couldn’t believe she was sick. To think she was perfectly fine, yet at the same time, she was about to die.

“What was the purpose of bringing me here?”

To experience death once again?

“Mother!”

The door swung open abruptly, and she was startled by the booming voice. Amelia was taken aback by Leonel, who had burst in despite not being invited.

“Leonel?”

“I’m glad you’re not sick……”

The child’s face, stained with tears, conveyed how deeply troubled his heart had been. Amelia gently stroked his cheek, wiping away the tear streaks.

“Father said…… it’s okay……”

He was sobbing so much it seemed he didn’t even understand what he was saying. It looks like he kept his promise to make up a story for Leonel.

“Were you very worried?”

“Yes……”

Seeing the child’s tear-filled eyes, Amelia’s heart softened. If he knew this was all a lie, he would probably be deeply saddened. After learning of her condition, she considered changing her plans. Should she take the child and leave the Siegfried household?

There was no need to show Leonel her death. But then…… Leonel would surely blame himself for not staying by her side until the end.

“There must have been some misunderstanding.”

If only she could take care of Leonel for a little while…… That wouldn’t be too much to ask for, would it?

“Shall we go have breakfast?”

“Yes……!”

The child who was said to be emotionless had now become a crybaby. And despite the tears, he quickly returned to a bright smile.

“Father must not have come.”

Just as Leonel said, the dining room was empty. When she begged him not to appear, he didn’t even pretend to listen. Now that everything was out in the open, things had gone back to how they were before. Amelia couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh at the situation.

“It was true.”

Whether it was out of pity or something else, his strange behavior had indeed been because of her impending death. Should she applaud him for his honesty?

“Mother?”

“No, let’s eat.”

Worried that Leonel might be disconcerted by the emotions of adults, Amelia smiled at him as if nothing was wrong. It’s better when the person who ruins the mood is gone.

“What is this……?”

“There has been an order to strictly manage Her Highness’s diet.”

An order? Who would issue such an order? She frowned at the food in front of her, which looked like herbal medicine. It had the perfect appearance and smell of an herbal concoction.

“I never ordered this.”

“It’s an order from His Grace, the Grand Duke.”

Raphael’s order? Now that he doesn’t attend meals, is he tormenting her with food? There was no such thing as this kind of new way of harassment.

“I don’t want it, bring something else.”

“I’m sorry. I received a strict order not to……”

“What?”

Amelia raised her voice at Ann’s words, who said she couldn’t change the food. So she was supposed to just eat this? Something composed of things she didn’t even know?

“It’s a healthy meal…… Nothing strange has been added.”

A healthy meal? She felt like she understood the intention. Was he trying to avoid responsibility by making minimal effort?

“I don’t need it. Can you tell him not to pretend to be kind?”

Seriously now, it was laughable that he was trying to take care of her.

“Can’t change it? Then I won’t eat it.”

If the future could change over a single bowl of soup, Amelia wouldn’t have died. This was nothing short of a mockery.

“If you don’t want to be fed by me, it’s better if you eat.”

“You’ve come.”

It was Raphael, whom she hadn’t expected to appear. It was absurd that he’d push such food on her and remain nonchalant.

“From now on, eat this before every meal.”

“I don’t need it.”

“Eat.”

What is he trying to do? Wasn’t he the one waiting for her death more than anyone else? Is this his way of showing he made the least bit of effort?

“Amelia.”

“Yesterday, you clearly……”

“Eating it would be good for you. If you want to keep doing as you wish.”

It was almost a threat. What he meant by ‘if you want to keep doing as you wish’ was… if she didn’t eat this, there would be many restrictions imposed on her.

“It seems difficult to eat all of this.”

“Eat as much as you can.”

She had no choice but to pick up the spoon in the atmosphere that made it clear he wouldn’t leave until she ate. As soon as she put it in her mouth, the bitterness and a strange fishy taste that hit her tongue nearly made her gag.

“It’s good for your body, so don’t even think about spitting it out.”

This was exactly like the herbal medicine her mother used to make for her when she was a child. Surely they didn’t expect her to eat this every meal.

“From now on, you’ll eat this three times a day. No exceptions, even when you go out.”

“What?”

“There is a container for you to take with you when you go out.”

Jane, seizing the moment, shook something like a lunch box in front of her. Only after she had eaten about half in front of him could she finally eat other food. Behind her, a discussion about reducing the portion ensued.

“Mother, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“No, no……”

“It’s because she’s weak that she’s eating this. There’s no need to worry.”

Couldn’t he speak a bit more kindly to the child?

“What is this?”

Amelia pretended not to notice the letter Raphael was handing her, despite the glaring seal of the Chester Merchantry on it.

“A letter that has come for you, wife.”

“Why do you have it? Don’t tell me… if I hadn’t eaten, you wouldn’t have given it to me?”

His silence seemed to confirm her suspicion. Amelia quickly took the letter, half-expecting him to snatch it back.

“What does it say?”

“Don’t concern yourself with it.”

When he intruded with a flushed face, Amelia hid the letter behind her back. She thought he would stop his strange behavior now that everything was out in the open, but she couldn’t understand why he was acting this way.

“Make sure to take it with you when you go out.”

“……Alright.”

It seemed she wouldn’t be allowed to leave without taking that tasteless, medicinal soup with her. It would probably only last a few days…

“Are you going out?”

When she saw Ann and Jane’s bright faces, Amelia turned her head with a stiff expression. It was as if they were about to make sure right there that she was eating properly. She had to tell another kind lie to Leonel, who was holding her back, worried about whether she was really sick.

“Ah, I’m tired.”

“Tired?”

“I’m not sick.”

The maids reacted the same way. Now they were sensitive to every word she said. She could guess what kind of orders Raphael had given.

“That medicine……”

“It’s soup.”

“Yeah, I’ll eat that soup after I’ve looked at everything.”

The good thing about going to the merchantry was that no one could follow her. Amelia hurriedly opened the door and stepped inside.

“You’re here.”

As soon as she saw the Master, she felt like she could finally breathe. She gulped down the tea in front of her and slumped into a chair.

“It seems the journey here was difficult for you.”

“Ah…… difficult in a different sense.”

She wondered what she should do in the future. She didn’t have the confidence to gulp down that tasteless thing three times a day, every day.

“There’s…… no dessert today?”

Usually, whenever she visited the Master, the table would be bending under the weight of all the snacks provided… Strangely, the table was empty today. Amelia, who had been excited at the thought of something sweet, was disappointed.

“I thought you’ve been eating too much. It’s not good for your health.”

“Even the Master thinks so?”

Why has the number of people worried about my health increased so much?

“How’s the old downtown?”

“Everything is prepared. But… do you have problems related to your health?”

Do I look that sick? I looked fine in the mirror… Maybe he heard about the maids’ overprotection?

“Problems? If there are problems, then sure…”

It was Raphael who was tormenting her in all kinds of ways.

“My husband is trying to kill me.”