“Why should I be held responsible? Your family is the one who did wrong. I lost the child because of them. And what you need to do as a husband is simply comfort me. Ha… Dertosse. I genuinely think you’re something else.”

“Something else?”

“…Never mind. Leave. And don’t touch anything regarding Mother and Illia. I’ll handle that myself.”

“…Do as you like. Ha. I don’t even know what you want from me anymore. Haven’t I comforted you enough at this point? I carried you here myself, and you still want more from me.”

Like a child who tires of a toy quickly, Dertosse shook his head from side to side as he looked at her. Whether even comforting her had become a bother, he finally lifted himself off the bed.

“I came rushing all the way to the marquisate for you, Evie.”

“…And?”

“What do you mean, and. Either way, I’m doing my best.”

“……”

“So stop nagging me. I’m starting to find that behavior of yours a little tiresome.”

“What?”

She looked at him, her lips trembling. Nagging. She stared back at him in disbelief, and he cleared his throat for no particular reason.

“Go back to being the sweet, obedient girl you used to be. I liked that version of you.”

“You treat me like a doll.”

“Then behave in a way that keeps you from being treated like one. I can’t stand women who whine. Evie, the reason I chose you was because you were obedient. But I’ll overlook today out of generosity.”

He really was out of his mind. She had thought Dertosse was acting strangely all day, but this man had truly lost it.

Whether things were going well with Lady Rechel or not, the fact that he was so openly showing his contempt for her was remarkable. Was it a talent of sorts, to say nothing but things that sounded less than human?

‘Just like before.’

But he seemed even more unhinged now than before. At least back then… perhaps because the child had not been lost before Dertosse had poisoned her, he had never spoken to her quite like this.

Of course, the Dertosse of that time had forced himself on her while she was pregnant, even after she had refused on the grounds that it might harm the child. He had been quick to shout at her to fulfill her duties as a wife, no matter how much she struggled and said no.

‘I had almost forgotten. No, for just a brief moment I thought you were capable of thinking like a normal person. But… Dertosse. This is who you’ve always been.’

Thinking of it that way, one part of her felt oddly at ease. He was trash that could never be recycled, after all. If anything, the normal behavior he had shown recently was the part that made no sense.

“Dertosse.”

“Yes. Have you come to your senses now?”

When she stared at him steadily, Dertosse came closer and smoothed down her disheveled hair. Goosebumps of revulsion rose wherever his hand passed, but she held herself still.

“…I’ll handle things regarding Mother and Illia myself. Leave that matter entirely to me.”

“Fine, I don’t mind. Make sure there’s nothing left for me to worry about while you’re at it. You have no idea how busy I am with matters outside.”

“……”

“It’s been convenient for me too, having you take care of things.”

“Right.”

“Then rest. And have the physician prescribe something to help you recover.”

As though he had said everything he needed to, or perhaps because he simply didn’t want to stay with her any longer, Dertosse turned to leave.

As though the time he had spent carrying her here and showing brief concern was more than enough comfort for a wife who had just lost a child. There was not a moment’s hesitation in his movements.

“But Dertosse.”

“Yes.”

“I said I would handle things with Mother and Sister myself.”

“Right.”

“Then where are you going? Can’t you stay by my side for at least a day?”

“I have plans this evening.”

“…Plans. Can’t you cancel them? Today…”

Whether her words had finally worn out his patience, Dertosse looked down at her with an expression of irritation.

“You haven’t fainted… and you’re not alone. You have a maid and a physician here. What reason is there for me to stay?”

“But… I lost the child.”

“…I know. It’s unfortunate. But it’s an appointment I can’t cancel.”

“Who is it with?”

“…You don’t need to know. Stop being a bother. I said I’d give you whatever you want, Evie. Why do you have to make things so exhausting.”

She found herself genuinely curious about the workings of a person’s mind.

Especially the mind of that man, Dertosse. The way he could flip his words so easily made her feel like he was a completely different person from the man who had cried out in alarm at the sight of her just moments ago.

But ordinarily, a sane person cannot understand a mad one.

And a mad person cannot understand a sane one either. They make no effort to understand anyone but themselves. Just like now. Other people’s feelings don’t matter. Only they themselves do.

And so she let go of the hem of his clothes, which she had been holding onto with a kind of desperate longing.

“…All right. Go. I’ll wait for you.”

“Don’t wait. I’ll be late.”

It was no different from saying he wouldn’t come back. Dertosse felt not even a trace of guilt. If anything, he seemed worried she might say something more, and walked out quickly.

The door closed again, and an even more awkward silence settled over the room.

“…My lady.”

“Rezef. Your work here is done as of today.”

After a long stretch of quiet, she looked at him as he called to her softly, and sat up.

“When you say my work is done…”

“Thank you for moving as I needed, even without being told.”

She walked to the desk in the room. Just as she had expected, the desk was a mess of papers scattered about as though a battle had been fought there. She had known from the start it would end up this way, but seeing it laid out so brazenly still made her want to laugh.

“Really… I have no fondness for the people of this household.”

She swept the papers to one side, sat down, and unlocked the desk drawer with her key. Neatly organized documents came into view. Among them, she took out the one Mary had given her a few days ago and held it out to Rezef.

“Here.”

Rezef, who had been slowly approaching, looked back and forth between the document and her with a puzzled expression.

“This is…”

“It’s where your family is being kept safe. Go to them. Go and never be separated from them again.”

“For… for me…”

“Your family never left this country. They’ve been hiding nearby all along, so you could find them easily. Under different names. I hear they’re very worn down… go to them right away. But leaving this country is something you’ll need to think over a little more carefully.”

She held out to him the location where his family was staying, a place for them to live for the time being, and a small pouch of jewels.

“Oh…”

“And one thing I’ll say… don’t even think about revenge.”

“……”

“I understand that your situation is deeply unjust, but to settle that injustice, Rezef. You are too weak.”

He looked at her in silence, then accepted the documents she had given him and slowly looked through them.

“Why… why would you do all this for me.”

“In a place filled with revenge and unhappy people, at least one person is allowed to be happy.”

“…Oh.”

In the past, because of you, I ended up losing so much. Because of the documents you fabricated, I had to bear the false accusation of infidelity, and I lost my child. Poison was even forced down my throat.

But I don’t hate you.

‘He also had people he needed to protect. And…’

She looked at him quietly.

A memory of something Rezef had said in the past came back to her. After the trial had ended, as she walked out while being cursed at by every member of the marquisate and pointed at by others, Rezef had bowed his head before her.

He said nothing else. Only that he was sorry.

‘Perhaps that one word changed your future. At the very least… I hope you don’t spend your life consumed by revenge.’

One person being destroyed by revenge was enough. That person was her. Rezef was nothing more than one of the pieces her mother-in-law had used. And yet he had been human enough to feel sorry.

“…I… I always despised the nobility. Even though I was part of that world myself.”

“I understand. If not for the nobility, your family would never have been torn apart.”

“So I thought they were all the same. But… you are different. If anything… I am only sorry I could not do more for you.”

“You already did your best. If you hadn’t brought up the physician’s badge, Dertosse might have… called for another physician. Forget what happened here now. Forget me too. And live happily. With your family.”

At least let one of you be happy.

She gave a small smile.

“…Truly…”

“I hope we cross paths someday by chance. You, happy with your family.”

“…Thank you. If there is ever anything I can do to help again, I will… come find you without fail.”

“All right.”

Whether this would truly bring him happiness, she didn’t know. But she had decided to wish it for him.

With that, she stopped looking at him.

Only then did Rezef, who had been lingering, make his way out.

“I’ll see him out.”

“Mary. You were the one who gathered that information, so explain it to him. And tell him to keep a low profile for the time being.”

“Understood.”

With those words, Mary stepped outside. Only after they left and the door closed did she call for Karla.