Chapter 14

“My lady, let’s go inside now!”

“All right.”

Betty led me back inside.

With Sasha gone, the atmosphere in the manor had grown much quieter than before.

It was clear just how much the servants had cherished Sasha.

“Oh, right. The Duke of Scarlett sent you a letter, ma’am.”

“My father…?”

At the mention of the Duke of Scarlett, my body went rigid.

“Yes. It seemed urgent, so I left it on your desk.”

“All right, I should go read it.”

Once I entered my room, I saw the letter Betty mentioned.

Seeing the Scarlett family crest stamped in red, I felt my breath catch in my throat.

What could he possibly want from me this time?

“Haa…”

I used a paper knife to open the letter and peered inside.

[Lirie, listen well.

Rumor has it that the ducal couple hasn’t even spent the wedding night. Are you finally dragging the Scarlett name through the mud?

Always remember that you are a member of Scarlett, and act accordingly.

As I have always told you, you must produce an heir for the Duke of Winderton. I trust you have not forgotten the reason for this marriage.

I will send you a certain medicine. Use it well on the Duke of Winderton.

Lirie, you are a Scarlett. I’m sure you’ll know how to use it wisely .]

“My father has finally lost his mind.”

What had come with the letter was an aphrodisiac.

A potion meant to incite desire.

He was telling me to use it to seduce Edward, to sleep with him, and to produce an heir.

But an aphrodisiac? No matter how desperate, this was madness.

If I got caught, it wouldn’t just end with divorce—there could be a full-on feud between families.

‘If I get caught, he’ll abandon me…’

If this failed, my father would throw me away.

He’d say I was the one who acquired the potion, I was the one who used it on Edward—he’d place all the blame on me.

‘I have to get rid of it. I can never use this.’

I wanted to dispose of it right away, but if the servants at Winderton Manor found out about it, it would be a disaster. I had to handle it carefully.

‘For now, I’ll hide it.’

I stared at the vial of potion, then put it away in the drawer.

‘I’ll ask Betty to take care of it safely.’

I closed the drawer and whispered quietly.

“I’m sorry, Father.”

Unlike those who took such pride in being a Scarlett, I was just an outsider who despised not only the Scarletts, but all of them.

***

Peaceful days followed.

So peaceful, in fact, that it felt strange—like the calm before a storm.

One day, I was walking in the garden with Betty, savoring the beauty of nature and enjoying a rare moment of happiness, when suddenly the butler and the maids rushed toward me in a swarm.

“What’s going on?”

Seeing their cold expressions, Betty recoiled in fear.

“We need you to come with us, madam.”

“Is it urgent?”

“The Duke is asking for you.”

When I heard that Edward was calling me, I sighed and followed them.

The weather outside was so bright, but it felt like a cloud was hanging over my head.

Once I went inside, sharp eyes turned toward me.

‘What is going on?’

The servants had never liked me, but this was different.

Even this morning, they hadn’t looked at me like this.

For their gazes to change so suddenly—my whole body broke out in goosebumps.

‘But this is my bedroom…?’

The butler led me, and to my surprise, we arrived at my own bedroom.

I’d expected Edward’s study or perhaps the drawing room. It was unsettling.

“Your Grace, the Duchess is here.”

“Send her in.”

When the door opened, the scene before me was astonishing.

“What… what is the meaning of this?”

My hands trembled as I looked around at the chaos in my bedroom.

The vanity was in shambles, the drawers all thrown open.

‘All the drawers are open…?’

I swallowed hard as I looked at the wreckage.

But there was nothing to worry about.

I had made sure Betty disposed of the potion my father had sent.

Still, cold sweat trickled down my back.

Swallowing my fear, I carefully looked at Edward.

“Was something else going on that I didn’t know about?”

Edward’s face was completely calm.

I didn’t know exactly what was happening, but I decided to act shamelessly.

“I asked what you were doing, Your Grace.”

“Are you telling me you don’t know anything?”

“…Was there a reason for you to make such a mess of my bedroom?”

Edward simply swallowed hard, biting his lips as he stared at me, unblinking.

Then, in front of all the servants, he handed me a clear vial containing the potion.

“Are you still going to say you don’t know anything?”

“Th-that’s…”

What Edward held in his hand was the very vial my father had given me.

In my confusion, I could only open and close my mouth, unable to utter a word.

‘Why is that in Edward’s hand?’

It wasn’t just any servant—I’d asked Betty to take care of it, so I thought it had been dealt with properly.

Yet here was the vial I thought had been thrown away, now in Edward’s hand.

Edward wasn’t calm; he was restraining his anger because the servants were watching.

His trembling arms and the way he forced down his fury told me just how angry he was.

What I saw in Edward’s eyes was pure disgust.

‘Ah, this really is the end…’

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Were you planning to seduce me like this? With such a vulgar trick?”

“No, it’s not like that!”

He’d never believe me, but I had to try to explain.

I never intended to use that thing.

How could I use a potion meant for animals on a human? That was something no decent person would do.

That’s why, even knowing how frightening my father’s anger could be, I hadn’t used it.

“Last time you tried to win me over by selling out your family, and now you’re trying to seduce me with a potion fit for beasts… Truly, you’re a disgrace to the House of Scarlett.”

Edward trembled with rage.

“Your Grace, please. Listen to me. I never meant to use that potion. My father gave it to me, but I made sure to dispose of it.”

“Do you really think I’d believe that?”

Of course he wouldn’t.

If I were Edward, I wouldn’t believe it either.

Edward remained cold, even as I spoke.

I understood, but tears of frustration wouldn’t stop falling.

I thought I’d run out of tears in childhood, but now they streamed endlessly down my cheeks.

As the servants watched our fight, I could hear their sneers and whispers.

But I didn’t move—I just kept pleading with him.

“Please. Please, believe me…”

“Don’t try to bewitch me. You’re just another disgraceful Scarlett!”

Edward, unable to control his anger, slammed me against the wall.

Unprepared for his strength, I hit the wall hard and let out a faint cry.

“Agh…!”

“At the very least, I believed you were a noble. I thought you wouldn’t stoop to such things, unlike your father. But in the end, you’re nothing but a Scarlett, deceiving people with wicked words and doing disgusting things behind their backs!”

Edward, having lost all reason, lashed out at me with verbal daggers.

His anger left me unable to move.

“Please, just listen to me!”

I could see Betty, trembling behind me, trying to come closer, but all I could focus on was the furious Edward before me.

“Please, just listen. I never once thought of using the potion.”

“That doesn’t matter anymore.”

Divorce—anything but that.

If Edward cast me aside, I’d be sold off to some old noble or left to die in misery.

‘I can’t, I can’t let that happen.’

I had to stop the word “divorce” from leaving Edward’s lips no matter what.

“All that matters is that I have no obligation to protect you, and from now on, you will no longer be treated as the mistress of Winderton Manor.”

Edward’s words pushed me straight into the depths of hell.

As I collapsed to the floor, my legs giving out, he looked down at me with contempt, then left the room with the vial and the letter in hand.

The moment Edward left, the butler and maids followed him out.

Left in the wrecked bedroom were only Betty and me.

“My lady, I’ll clean up right away.”

“…..”

Betty glanced nervously at me as she began tidying up the wrecked bedroom, but I couldn’t even think about getting up from where I’d collapsed.

‘I feel like I’m going to suffocate.’

Who on earth brought that vial back into my room? Someone must have seen Betty disposing of it.

Knowing Edward’s personality, there’s no way he would have searched through my things himself.

Someone must have retrieved the discarded potion and reported it to Edward.

“My lady, are you all right?”

“ I never intended to use the potion.”

“It’s my fault. I should have handled it properly…”

Betty was the only person in Winderton Manor I could trust.

While Betty put the fallen cosmetics back on the vanity, the bedroom door opened.

“Mother…”

The one who entered was Lady Eteil, her gaze sharp and hostile.