Chapter 11
Alberto’s gaze, which had been sweeping over Rabiana’s bowed form, stopped at her hands. They were trembling.
She was trying to hide the faint but unmistakable trembling by gripping the fabric of her skirt—he saw it all clearly.
The anger that had surged to his throat slowly began to subside. Though Alberto was usually rational and cold, he was still human—capable of pity.
He did feel guilty about using a blind woman for his convenience. He knew that, from her perspective, his proposal must have been a bolt from the blue. His anger quickly died, replaced by a pity born of understanding—understanding that Rabiana was struggling to adapt in a foreign land, a foreign place.
But Alberto was not the type to let pity dictate his decisions.
“We’ll be going hunting tomorrow. The women as well. It’s a dangerous place—not suited for you. Do you still want to stay here?”
Rabiana simply nodded. Alberto let out a deep sigh, his chest tightening with frustration.
“Do as you wish. But take responsibility for everything that follows.”
With that, he walked past her and left the room. Clack. The door closed with a slight gust.
So cold, so merciless—Rabiana couldn’t help but shiver.
***
“I was wondering why Alberto kept his wife hidden—turns out it was because she’s such a beauty.”
Rabiana’s unexpected appearance at the dining table brought an awkward silence. Though Alberto had introduced her as his wife, no one had realized she was blind.
Questions of “Why?” popped up in everyone’s minds, but no one dared voice them. It was Luis, ever the smooth talker, who tried to break the tension with a half-joking, half-serious remark.
Rabiana was flustered by the compliment and waved her hands, accidentally knocking over her water glass. Having lived so isolated from the world, being called beautiful was foreign to her.
She hadn’t seen her own face since the age of ten, and even Lawrence had never commented on her looks. She had no idea how she had changed—whether she was pretty or plain, she had never even thought to ask.
“Careful.”
Alberto, seated beside her, instinctively caught the glass. His quiet voice was more of a warning than a scolding.
Thanks to the comment, Rabiana—more flustered inside than she appeared—took a short breath to calm her startled heart.
She felt awkward. Receiving compliments wasn’t something she was used to.
‘What should I say?’
Her mind went completely blank.
A long silence followed Luis’s compliment. The one to break it wasn’t Rabiana—it was Alberto.
“I ought to be a little worried she’ll run off with someone else, don’t you think?”
“You? Worried?”
Luis sneered, and Alberto shrugged nonchalantly.
Luis turned to Rabiana again with a grin.
“This guy treats women like a bother. One day he suddenly started meeting noble ladies and turned them all down. People were talking—”
“Mmph.”
“Luis, you’re too much. What wife would enjoy hearing about her husband’s past?”
It was Scarlett who covered Luis’s mouth. She glanced at Rabiana with eyes full of interest. But her sharp gaze didn’t just observe—it judged. She was clearly on guard.
Just moments earlier, Scarlett had been frustrated that she hadn’t had the chance to show off her piano skills.
She had practiced relentlessly for this one opportunity. Of course, that one person was a newly married man—but such trivialities didn’t matter to Scarlett.
She didn’t believe marriage meant she had no chance at Alberto’s affection. What she truly wanted wasn’t the title of Duchess of Roen—but Alberto’s heart.
As Luis had mentioned, Alberto had suddenly started attending formal matchmaking events, and before Scarlett had the chance to confess her feelings, he had married.
That event had caused quite a stir in the northern social circles.
Even though Alberto was known for his prickly and rude demeanor, he was still a highly desirable match.
“By the way, the Duchess gifted us some wine. Should we open it for dinner?”
Luis, as if remembering something, went to fetch the wine. Scarlett continued watching Alberto and the woman seated beside him closely.
Despite scolding Luis earlier, Scarlett wholeheartedly agreed with his sentiments.
The great Alberto—marrying a blind woman? It was simply unbelievable.
Unless it had been love at first sight or some intense passion.
“Where are you from, Duchess?”
Scarlett smiled at Luis as he poured the wine, gently pressing the base of her cup with her fingers. Once he moved on, she turned to Rabiana with an inquisitive tone.
“Ah… Anbis.”
“Anbis?”
If it was Anbis, then it must’ve been that small province down in the southern regions. Scarlett had heard of the Selden family before, but it hadn’t left a lasting impression. The fact that she could barely remember it meant it was probably an unremarkable house.
Scarlett hesitated. Would it be too much to ask how the two had met, or what led them to marriage? Asking something that personal during a first meeting would be rude—especially since Alberto was someone who valued propriety.
While she mulled it over, Alberto took Rabiana’s wine glass and helped her. That gesture alone made Scarlett’s gaze tighten—but what followed was even more surprising.
Alberto took Rabiana’s hand in both of his and guided the wine glass to her fingers. Then, as she brought it to her lips and took a sip, he watched closely. His expression remained cold, but to a woman in love, that gaze seemed impossibly tender.
Scarlett couldn’t believe it. It felt like something precious had been taken from her.
She had liked Alberto, but never allowed herself to want too much. He was the head of House Roen—someone far beyond her reach. So when she heard about his engagement, she accepted it, even if it broke her heart.
Sure, she cried the whole day when the news first came. But she told herself she would move on.
Except… her acceptance had a condition.
That his bride would be someone even she could admit was worthy.
“My Lady, you spilled a bit.”
“Ah… I’m so sorry.”
“It can be wiped up.”
The fact that that kind of woman had Alberto… the fact that she was getting his attention—Scarlett’s pride was crushed.
***
Knock knock.
The half-hearted knocking made Rabiana turn her head.
It had been just yesterday that she recklessly showed up at the Robinson estate. Now, early in the morning, after breakfast and some time sitting alone on the bed in her room, the sound of someone at her door only added to her tension.
Who could it be?
She was about to ask when the voice came first.
“It’s me.”
“Ah…”
“What’s with that reaction?”
The sound of the door opening and closing followed. But there were no audible footsteps approaching.
Alberto, leaning casually against the door, immediately sensed the lack of strength in Rabiana’s voice just moments earlier.
“Judging by your tone, you’re disappointed it’s me.”
At just those words, Rabiana flailed her hands in flustered denial. It seemed to be a habit of hers—her body always moved before her words when caught off guard.
“Well, whether you are or not, I don’t really care.”
“….”
“We’ll be heading out for the hunt soon. Would you like to come along?”
Though Alberto phrased it like an invitation, Rabiana knew better—it wasn’t a real offer.
She hadn’t forgotten how upset he’d gotten when she showed up at the gathering and how he’d used the excuse of hunting being too dangerous. To a man who loved hunting, a blind wife was nothing but a hindrance. Rabiana was well aware of that.
She didn’t want to get in his way.
She also felt a little sorry for having made things difficult for him, if only to avoid being pitied by the household staff. So she had planned to simply remain quiet until it was time to return home.
“I think I’ll stay here. I’m not feeling well.”
Truthfully, she was fine, but Rabiana said the words anyway. The lie pricked at her conscience, but she justified it as necessary in this situation.
And really, this tactic was something Alberto himself had taught her just the day before.
‘Just because we’re married doesn’t mean we have to attend everything together. I can just say you’re sick.’
With a faint smile, Rabiana rubbed her shoulder.
“Must’ve slept wrong.”
“It’s going to be a long outing.”
“Okay.”
“The women are joining too.”
“Alright.”
That meant she would be the only one left in the mansion. The thought struck her again. But Rabiana had already braced herself for this since yesterday, so it didn’t shake her.
It was only natural. She couldn’t see, and going to a hunting ground would be dangerous—even fatal—so leaving her behind made sense.
“I’ll be waiting.”
For a moment, Alberto said nothing. Then came the sound of his footsteps drawing closer.
He shut the open window and leaned down in front of Rabiana. She had been attuned to every sound he made, so the sudden nearness of his breath startled her, and she instinctively pulled her face back.
“It’s cold.”
Alberto took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
That was it. Without saying whether he’d return early or late, he turned and left the room.
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Ay yok ben bu davarla uğraşamam. Ayrıca 9 yıldır görme engelli olmasına rağmen sanki sadece bir iki yıldır göremiyormuş gibi davranıyor. Travması olduğunu anladım da 9 yıl az bir süre değil.