Chapter 21

He was not the kind of man who would accept excuses, as she had come to know. Scarlett immediately dropped to her knees. Leading a blind woman into the forest and leaving her alone was no small matter. She could very well be socially ruined.

Though she put on a pitiful expression, inside, Scarlett was cursing Rabiana.

How did that blind woman know Alberto was there and open the door like a ghost? Wasn’t this exactly what she wanted? She was so cornered she was starting to indulge in paranoid thoughts.

The day Rabiana disappeared, Alberto had clearly been agitated. He tried to hide it, but his gaze kept drifting to the door.

When the sun began to set and Luis suggested searching for her, Alberto had dashed out like he’d been waiting for that very cue.

Everyone had gone out to search for Rabiana. If the social circle ever found out it was Scarlett who had left her in the forest, her reputation would plummet.

The only reason she’d been able to act confidently in front of Rabiana was because Rabiana hadn’t blended in well with the group.

Rabiana wasn’t a sociable person to begin with, so Scarlett had even calculated that if she just managed to keep things quiet, everything would pass over without incident.

“I only took Lady Roen into the forest to tease her a little, really… I didn’t think she’d go that far in.”

“……”

“You know, Lord Roen, how I feel about you…”

“That’s enough.”

Alberto had no interest in listening to Scarlett’s justification.

He had always known that Scarlett harbored feelings for him. He’d pretended not to notice precisely because he had no intention of returning them.

He hated troublesome things, and nothing was more troublesome than a woman who liked him.

Even when going on arranged meetings with other women, he had always excluded Scarlett, believing that she would cause trouble later in marriage.

Look at this—just one incident, and she’s already done something he utterly despised. If he had agreed to her proposal to have children after marriage, she would’ve gone wild—no doubt about it.

“You don’t owe me an apology. Apologize to my wife.”

“….”

“Whatever you say, whatever excuse you give, the vile thing you did doesn’t change. Out of old times’ sake I’m still treating you politely—apologize to my wife and leave.”

“Lord Roen—!”

Tears welled in Scarlett’s eyes. Alberto looked at her dispassionately and issued his dismissal. It was a chill she had never felt from him, who had always shown her courtesy.

“Do not come near here ever again.”

Struck by that thunderous decree, Scarlett collapsed to her knees. She had never heard a kind word from the man she loved, and now she was met with contempt. Alberto remained calm and quiet, but she could tell his former kindness was gone.

“Duchess Roen.”

If she could turn back time, she would. The realization of her foolish deed crushed her.

“I was wrong…”

Alberto took hold of Rabiana’s wrist. Scarlett clutched at his trouser leg, sobbing, but he shook her off dryly and led Rabiana up the stairs. The side of his face was twisted as though with anger.

***

The moment they reached his study, Alberto released her wrist. His face, turned toward Rabiana, was grim; she could not see it, yet sensed the tense atmosphere.

“Honestly.”

He exhaled shortly, as if suppressing his emotions.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“……”

“Why didn’t you tell me how you ended up in that forest?”

Rabiana stayed silent, like a bee that had swallowed honey. Her silence only stoked Alberto’s anger.

If she had at least blamed Scarlett, he could have grasped the situation and saved his yelling for someone else. He recalled the words he had thrown at Rabiana:

‘You may be my wife on paper, but don’t delude yourself—you need to know your place.’

‘Why on earth did you crawl into that forest? When you can’t even see?’

They were words he’d said out of sheer frustration.

‘You really didn’t know?’ And even now, it was the same.

“You really didn’t know that woman was trying to mess with you?”

“…Even if I had known, I still would have gone.”

“What?”

“You may think I’m pathetic, Your Grace… but Scarlett was the first person to approach me when I was all alone.”

Alberto felt like his head was about to explode at her foolishness.

“Wake up.”

“……”

“I don’t know what delusion you’re living in, but the kind of friendship you’re dreaming of is only possible with people who are on the same level.”

Level…

Rabiana chewed on the painful word. She had never thought she was on the same level as Alberto’s acquaintances, but hearing him say outright that she wasn’t qualified hurt deeply.

The peace and warmth she had felt with him in this study felt like it was shattering into pieces.

“You should have at least told me.”

“……”

“If I hadn’t known, I wouldn’t have said all that to you…!”

One of the biggest reasons Alberto felt like going insane was that her foolishness had led to her getting hurt.

He had known nothing. He’d simply thought Rabiana had gone out for a walk because she was bored or frustrated.

But to think she had gone because she believed he had called for her. It was something he had never even imagined.

He was now curious about what went on in this woman’s head. What kind of thought process led someone to act so stupidly and helplessly?

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Rabiana quietly accepted Alberto’s previously calm but now raging anger. Because there was nothing else she could do.

“…Because she’s your acquaintance, Your Grace.”

“What?”

“I didn’t want to ruin things between you two. She’s someone you’ve known, and like you said, there’s no need to share everything with a wife… I just didn’t want my words to destroy the years you’ve built together.”

It was presumptuous of her. Pointing out the faults of someone close to him…

‘Why should I introduce you when we’re going to separate anyway?’

Just as Alberto had once said, Rabiana was someone who would disappear from his life eventually. But Scarlett was different. She wasn’t someone passing through—she could be deeply intertwined with his world, more than Rabiana could ever know. She wasn’t an outsider.

Hearing her honest thoughts, Alberto slowly regained his composure.

“You’re foolish.”

“…”

“And overstepping.”

“…”

“No matter what you say, it is my decision who I maintain ties with. Do I seem like the kind of idiot who’d be swayed by the words of a woman here on a time limit?”

Rabiana began to shrink. She had never been under the illusion, but hearing it aloud was like waking from a dream. His earlier words echoed in her head—“Don’t do anything.”

Then what was she supposed to do? What on earth…

“…I’m sorry.”

“Can you stop saying that?”

“…”

“Just—can’t you not say it?”

The only thing Rabiana could say was an apology. Saying she didn’t like this situation wasn’t something she was allowed, and arguing back felt impossible—he was right, after all.

But when he even refused her apology, it made her want to cry.

He really must hate her.

With every word and every action of hers seeming to displease him, Rabiana quietly left the study. There was nothing more to say. Thud. The sound of the door closing felt like her heart dropping to the floor.

As expected, Alberto didn’t stop her.

***

Like a lie, the distance between them grew. Alberto no longer brought her to the study—perhaps he no longer intended to. He never came to fetch her again.

Rabiana kept rereading the last braille book he had given her, trying her best not to leave the bedroom.

The two had not shared a marital relationship. Then again, Alberto only returned late at night, so there was never an opportunity.

“I’ll be going on reconnaissance.”

It was while Rabiana was reading that same braille book for the fifth time that Alberto opened the door. He exchanged her book for a new one and left behind only those words.

Rabiana knew—it was his way of telling her to stay put.

“My Lady! These are letters and gifts for you!”

Julia followed behind the butler with a bright, beaming smile. Gifts were placed all around the room.

Having heard everything through Julia’s words, Rabiana climbed down from the bed with a confused expression.

“What is all this?”