Chapter 34

Rabiana was being taken somewhere.

Five days after Alberto had given her the fur, he put her into a carriage. Over the thick coat she wore the fur he had gifted her.

She wore it for survival—both to show she didn’t ignore his gesture and to stay alive.

Where are we going?

Alberto only said there was somewhere to go and bundled her inside, giving no further explanation.

The toe of Alberto’s boot tapped Rabiana’s foot. A mistake?

She slid her foot back—tap, again.

Tap, tap. Clearly deliberate.

“Aren’t you curious where we’re going?”

“…Knowing won’t change anything.”

That detached acceptance was starting to bore him.

Alberto’s narrowed eyes rested on her clasped hands.

Clutching her tense fingers, yet acting calm…

“Even if I said we were off to bury you, you wouldn’t try to run?”

“…”

Instead, the words eased her fears: no psychopath would politely announce they were off to bury someone.

“I couldn’t run.”

“…”

“I can’t see. How could I? I’d just die.”

Fear aside, it was the truth. If Alberto meant to kill her, she would beg for life, but she doubted she could change her fate.

“You’re not going to kill me right now, are you?”

Once that thought settled, reason returned. Alberto wanted an heir. Until the child he desired was born, she should survive.

“How can you be so sure?”

“I’m not certain… but you want a child. You’ll keep me alive at least until it’s born.”

Alberto’s eyes widened involuntarily at the unexpected answer.

Rabiana didn’t notice his reaction, but he was genuinely surprised.

She clearly feared him—she flinched whenever he lay beside her, and he’d deliberately refrained from touching her. Yet in her mind, sharing a bed with him seemed a given.

Doesn’t she dislike it?

Does she really want to bear the child of a man she thinks might kill her?

“After the child is born… is your fate entirely up to me?”

“……”

Rabiana’s face went pale again, as though nothing had changed.

Alberto enjoyed teasing her, but seeing her on the verge of panic, he decided to stop.

“It’s a joke.”

Still, he admired her nerve. If she was trying to sway him for survival—well, he would gladly let her live.

“Breathe, My Lady.”

***

“Who do we have here? My dear cousin!”

With a hearty laugh, a broad-shouldered man spread his arms and hugged Alberto. Alberto returned the embrace out of courtesy and removed his hat.

He had brought Rabiana to the country villa of Bianca’s eldest—and troublesome—son, Alec “Lex” Devin.

“Lex, meet my wife, Rabiana.”

“Oh, heavens—my cousin actually married! A pleasure, My Lady. I’m Alec Devin, greatly cherished by your husband.”

Unaware that Lex offered his hand, Rabiana stood uncertainly. Lex leaned in close to her face.

Sensing the nearness, she clutched Alberto’s sleeve and hid behind him.

Lex’s eyes grew wide at the sight of her face.

“Where did you find her?”

He nearly grabbed Alberto by the collar. Alberto’s brow creased ever so slightly—did they know each other? Impossible…

“If you had such a beauty, you should have shown her off before someone stole her away!”

Of course. Alberto let out a faint, incredulous laugh.

Lex followed his cousin Alberto—whom his own mother despised—for one reason only: an eye for beauty.

There was an old joke that when Lex first started interacting with others, the first thing he ever said was, “I wish the world was filled only with beautiful things. Ugly people should just die.”

Exaggerated or not, it spoke volumes—Lex was utterly obsessed with beauty.

Among the genetically blessed Roen family, Alberto stood out even more for his striking appearance. Having grown up seeing only that face, Lex once bawled his eyes out the day he encountered what he subjectively deemed an “ugly” girl—for she was to be his future fiancée.

Perhaps that incident sealed it: Lex grew up even more obsessed with beauty, treated his betrothed like air, and lived life to the fullest.

“What a shame. I’d steal her away if I could,” he said, eyeing Rabiana.

Alberto ignored him and took Rabiana’s hand—not out of affection, but because he knew she’d be nervous in an unfamiliar place and intended to guide her.

Lex chattered incessantly. Alberto placed the documents he brought on the table.

Lex immediately leapt back in dismay.

“Work talk already? Come on, big brother. You should enjoy life a bit. It worries me—you’re no fun at all!”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“So why’d you bring your wife, huh? Aren’t you afraid I’ll steal her?”

Alberto chuckled. His cousin’s antics were amusing.

“You?”

“You think I can’t?”

“Try me.”

Alberto’s ever-calm demeanor grated on Lex. Even as someone who’d always admired Alberto’s face, he couldn’t help but see him as an infuriating rival.

Unwilling to deal with work yet, Lex made an excuse to fetch wine from the basement cellar.

Only after Lex’s voice had disappeared did Rabiana finally breathe properly again. She was overwhelmed, and questions swirled in her mind.

She gently tugged Alberto’s hand to catch his attention.

“Why did you bring me here?”

He’d said something about business, but she still had no idea what his “work” even was.

“To show you he’s alive.”

“…Sorry?”

“You were worried I killed Bianca’s eldest son, weren’t you?”

Rabiana flinched, her fingers trembling.

She had never directly voiced that fear. At most, she’d mumbled uncertain things like, “I-I’m nothing, really… Um, is he okay…?”

Yet somehow, he’d known.

How did he know?

A cold sweat trickled down her spine. It felt like there might be nothing she could hide from him.

Not that she had anything to hide…

“You two seem to get along well.”

“We’re not bad. As you can see, he’s not exactly overflowing with brains.”

Relieved by the friendly atmosphere, Rabiana felt herself begin to relax.

“I thought you really hated him, since you said the cleanup was such a hassle.”

Rabiana leaned back into the soft couch, her tension easing. As she caught her breath, the hand holding hers started to bother her.

How long is he going to keep holding it? It would be fine to let go now… though honestly, it wasn’t that uncomfortable.

And she didn’t really want to let go. So she pretended not to notice.

“What fun things were you two talking about?”

Lex walked in with an armful of wine and liquor, eyes full of curiosity.

When Alberto said it wasn’t any of his business, Lex puffed out his cheeks in mock offense. Alberto turned his gaze away as if he couldn’t bear the sight.

Lex always had a childish side. He was younger than Alberto anyway, so it made sense.

“Come on, let’s have a drink first.”

Lex poured the alcohol, the liquid rushing out without hesitation.

Rabiana leaned toward Alberto and whispered,

“It’s still daytime….”

Though her voice was low, it reached Lex’s ears clearly.

“The earlier you drink, the better! Don’t you like day drinking, Sister-in-law?”

“I’m not really into alcohol…”

“Huh? Why not?”

She hadn’t really had a chance. The first time was on their wedding night, and she’d tried it once again afterward, but hadn’t found it tasty.

“It doesn’t taste good…”

Pfft—Lex doubled over laughing. Surrounded daily by people drowning in booze, Rabiana’s honest reason felt surprisingly refreshing.

“She’s cute.”

Lex casually reached out and pinched Rabiana’s cheek.

“Your cheeks are so soft—”

“Get your hand off her.”

Alberto let go of Lex’s arm as if tossing it aside. Lex, showing his usual habits when dealing with women, gave an awkward smile. He silently mouthed a suggestion to Alberto.

“Let’s get her drunk and talk business between us.”

He gestured toward Rabiana with a glance. There wasn’t really any need for it, but Alberto figured Rabiana might find this meeting boring—and he didn’t feel entirely at ease leaving her alone either—so he reluctantly agreed. After all, they had come here for business today.

“Come on. Let’s drink.”

Clink!

The sound of glass cups striking echoed in the air.