Chapter 59

When Bleria stepped outside, her legs gave out. Eos tried to hold onto the table but couldn’t stop herself from collapsing. She sprawled on the carpet, trying to catch her breath.

The door creaked open without a knock, and she felt a presence behind her. It was obvious who it was. Eos spoke.

“Didn’t you call me an ungrateful fraud?”

“…”

“You clearly said I schemed to steal someone’s position and deliberately deceived Duke Haven—“

“The door’s open.”

When Eos fell silent, the sound of the door closing followed. The man laughed softly as he approached.

“You really are naive. How could a commoner fool a duke, no matter how deliberate they might be?“

“I was just… stupid.“

“Just ordinary. Most commoners are, aren’t they?“

“Then why on earth would he—“

“Do you need to know that?”

The genuine confusion in his tone drew a sharper line than any cold words could. Eos lowered her head.

“You weren’t harmed by being deceived, were you? If anything, it probably made it easier for you to immerse yourself. Did she say anything strange?“

“She apologized… and told me not to stay with the young duke.“

“So her reaction finally changed, huh?”

He laughed aloud. Then, with hands that had noticeably softened, he helped Eos to a sofa. Eos felt no gratitude.

“It worked out, so relax. Don’t tell me you looked this gloomy before her, too. She’d think it was odd. …Well, whatever. As long as you played your part well.“

“...”

“You’re not comparing her to Celia just because they share a hair color, are you?“

“Celia is…“

“She just didn’t grow up well-fed, so she’s smaller than most. But she’s the same age as you. And I’m not doing this to make her miserable.“

“I know.“

Eos’s reply was weak.

By now, it was clear that the man harbored animosity only toward Gopher Allnight. But that didn’t change the fact that Eos had contributed to ruining someone’s life.

Until now, she’d been able to proceed without guilt, thinking her target was a lowly con artist.

When he noticed her trembling hands, he clicked his tongue.

“Stop worrying about someone who just resembles Celia. Focus on her instead. She’s been through something bad.“

“What happened to Celia? Is she in trouble?“

“Same as always. Seizures.”

Seizures.

The familiar yet forever alien word sent a chill down her spine.

“I managed to treat her in a rush, but it’s getting harder to hold out. To solve it fundamentally, you know what’s needed, right?”

It was a terribly clichéd story.

To cure Celia’s illness, medicine was needed. And that medicine was far beyond what Eos’s meager skills could afford. The man standing before her was the only one who could procure it, even with great effort.

There was no room for trifling morals. Seeing the determination gleam in Eos’s eyes, the man smirked.

“That’s the look I wanted.“

“You’ll get the medicine after this is over, right?“

“We signed a contract, didn’t we? No matter what, your sister will be cured.”

Yes, that was enough. Eos steeled herself against her wavering resolve.

“What should I do now, Mixel?”

***

Bleria and Gopher relocated to the study.

Tap, tap. The sound of fingers drumming on the table seemed irritable. Bleria stared at the floor with an expressionless face, waiting for him to speak. At last, the silence broke.

“What do you want from me, Bleria? You went silent for days like you were exacting revenge, then suddenly barged in.“

“I was really unwell. Ask Heaven’s staff to confirm if you don’t believe me.“

“I’m not saying I don’t believe you. Why are you here?“

“...”

“Are you afraid because I said I’d care for Eos Liche?”

When Bleria didn’t answer, Gopher let out a hollow laugh.

“Do you not want Eos to die?“

“Yes.“

“Oh, really? So your goal is to hand over your position to Eos Liche and get executed?”

It wasn’t entirely accurate but wasn’t far from the truth.

The prolonged silence made him rake his face with his hands. When his eyes met hers again, they were steeped in a deep betrayal.

“…So, I’ve been dealing with a saint this whole time.“

“...”

“Why feel guilty? Even when things were at their worst, no one from Heaven came looking for Eos Liche.“

“They just need time.“

“Bleria.“

“Everyone knows by now. There’s no going back to before, Gopher. It wasn’t my position to begin with. So I don’t want to thrash around, harming others.”

Gopher started to argue but suddenly stopped. He stared at her as if he’d realized something.

“You’ve been using formal speech this whole time…”

He trailed off and sighed.

“You do that sometimes. When something overwhelming happens, you pretend it’s not your problem and walk away. Like that changes anything.“

“This won’t harm you. Her Grace is already considering a new marriage prospect—“

“You wouldn’t mind if I married Eos instead?”

Gopher abruptly stood.

“Even though you love me?”

The rawness of the words hit like a physical blow.

Without realizing it, Bleria gripped the armrest of the sofa. Gopher’s gaze caught the movement. Even as she reminded herself not to falter, she couldn’t meet his eyes.

Once again, this was how it unfolded.

You, who had finally calmed me down and let me find peace, now try to provoke me with cutting words as if solving everything with deceit. Knowing that, Bleria’s voice trembled.

“Why are you speaking like that? What does it matter how I feel? I get it—it’s more convenient to marry someone who holds a weakness over you. But we’ve long passed the point of convenience, haven’t we? I don’t understand why you’re acting like this.”

Even if I bring up my feelings in this situation, what meaning does it hold besides causing me more pain?

You don’t care. It’s not essential to you. You were shaken when you saw Eos smile. The grip on the armrest in her hand grew tighter.

“In the end, you were always planning to expose my story when things got dangerous, weren’t you? You intended to claim you were deceived, report it to Heaven, and demand compensation. That’s why you kept the diary in the drawer…”

Ah, I hadn’t intended to bring that up. Bleria trailed off, but the words had already left her mouth. There was no way Gopher hadn’t understood.

“Bleria.”

A softer voice spoke nearby, close and low, just below her face. Even without turning her head, she could picture Gopher bending forward.

“You opened the drawer?“

“…Yes.“

“Did that letter suggest you open it?”

So he knew about the letter as well. Bleria, nearly resigned, let the words spill out carelessly.

“No matter where it came from, it doesn’t change the fact that you kept your diary nearby.“

“So, you feel betrayed?“

“...”

“Look at me, Bleria.”

Bleria didn’t turn her head, but Gopher’s voice softened slightly. A hand, bare from when he had removed his glove, rested atop hers on the armrest.

“I won’t lie. I kept the evidence as a precaution. But what’s the result? You know I haven’t used the diary as a weapon.”

He behaved as though he had just realized why Bleria was acting out.

It is as if knowing the reason could solve everything. As if a few gentle words and affectionate touches could tear down any firm resolve.

So far, he hasn’t been wrong. Bleria had been weak to such things. But this time, no amount of comfort could change her mind. Slowly and heavily, sorrow welled up inside her.

She blankly stared at Gopher’s hand, which was stroking hers.

“If you expected me to have disposed of the diary, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but that wasn’t the case, was it? You know I don’t think you’re someone I can’t trust. What matters is that I haven’t betrayed you.“

“Then the pendant.”

The sudden mention caused Gopher’s expression to darken.

“After inquiring about your affairs from the nanny, guiding me toward that person, deceiving me, making me uneasy, and then acting as if you were offering goodwill—was that not betrayal?“

“Who told you that? No, I don’t even need to ask. It was Mixel Luke, wasn’t it?“

“Does that matter?“

“It’s not true.”

Gopher clenched his jaw hard enough for the muscles to stand out, then spoke again.

“The intent is obvious. Do you trust Mixel Luke more than me?“

“I want to trust you, but I can’t.”

Bleria bowed her head, tightly shutting her eyes before opening them again. Her eyelids trembled.

“I don’t know what I am to you, why you act this way toward me, or what you want from me—not a single thing.“

“...”

“If I think about it rationally, by now—or long before—it would’ve been reasonable for you to abandon me. There’s no reason it absolutely has to be me for you…“

“Is there truly no reason you can think of?”

Interrupting her, Gopher firmly gripped her hand. She felt as if her heart was tumbling out of rhythm.

“You must have thought of something, even for a moment.“

“I’ve never once—“

“You have to look me in the eyes to say that, Bleria.”