He found it strange that Breti acted as though nothing had happened, when most would have been startled or even upset.

‘Even if she had slapped me on the spot, I wouldn’t have had the right to protest…’

Yet, rather than striking him, Breti seemed to brush it off as if it were nothing at all. Karsten scrubbed a hand over his face, his expression tightening. Something was hovering at the edge of his memory, leaving him feeling uneasy.

‘What is it?’

What exactly was it that he couldn’t remember?

Even after returning to the bedchamber, Karsten’s mind remained as dark as if it had been painted black. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had forgotten something important.

The moment he opened his eyes the next day, he went straight to Breti’s room to finish the conversation they hadn’t had the previous day.

“My lady went out early this morning with Madam Meliover.”

But the butler’s answer told him Breti had already left at dawn with Meliover. The frustration he had been holding back since yesterday only deepened.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

From early morning, Meliover and Breti had boarded a carriage bound for the Allecci shopping district.

“Mother, are you really sure you’re all right? I’m so worried.”

As the carriage rolled along, Breti looked at Meliover with concern. Meliover, as if to reassure her, reached out and stroked her cheek.

“Don’t worry so much, my dear.”

That morning, Meliover had come to Breti’s room the moment she awoke, taking her by the hand and suggesting they go to the capital’s festival.

Breti, noticing that Meliover’s complexion wasn’t good, had suggested they go another time, but Meliover wouldn’t be swayed.

Though she had reluctantly agreed to come along, Breti’s worry only deepened at how pale her mother looked.

“But Mother, it seems like you’ve been getting worse lately…”

“I’m truly fine. I just want to show you the capital’s festival as soon as I can.”

At last, the carriage came to a stop in the bustling Allecci shopping district. Even in the early morning, it was already crowded with people enjoying the festival.

Breti stepped down first and reached out her hand to Meliover.

“Thank you.”

Seeing Breti care for her so sincerely left Meliover’s heart in turmoil.

‘What am I going to do…’

In truth, Meliover had deliberately taken Breti away from the Duke’s estate. She was driven by an urgent need to separate Breti from Karsten by any means necessary.

When she heard yesterday that the two of them had suddenly disappeared, Meliover’s heart plummeted. Ignoring everyone’s attempts to dissuade her, she went to look for them herself, blaming herself the entire time for ever allowing them to be together.

After walking in the rain for what felt like an eternity, she finally spotted Karsten’s white horse. She quickly searched the surrounding area and then saw them.

Beneath a large tree on the slope, Karsten suddenly pressed his lips to Breti’s.

After the kiss, she saw the look in his eyes.

‘Karsten…’

Had he ever looked at anyone with such raw sincerity before?

Meliover could still recall the intense emotion she had seen in his gaze the previous day — a feeling she had never seen him express before. His eyes had never held even a fraction of that kind of affection when he looked at Sierra. But his gaze was completely different when he looked at Breti.

‘That boy isn’t the type to open his heart easily…’

He was very cautious about letting anyone stay by his side. Someone like him would never open his heart to Breti overnight.

If there was one thing Meliover knew best, it was that he did not allow others to touch him easily.

One reason she had brought Breti with her was so that she could keep a close eye on her. But Meliover already knew, even without doing so, that Breti was an exceptional young woman.

This could mean only one thing: Karsten’s impenetrable heart had been unlocked.

‘It’s certain now… Breti is someone special to Karsten.’

When she came to that conclusion, Meliover felt the world tilt and blur before her eyes.

“Ah…”

Her knees gave way, and she collapsed where she stood.

“Mother!”

When Breti noticed Meliover faltering, she hurried quickly to her side. It was clear that she had not just stumbled. When she clutched at her chest, just above her heart, Breti immediately called out to Bagi.

“Bagi, find an inn nearby right away—somewhere Mother can rest!”

“Yes, my lady!”

“Mother, take a deep breath.”

Meliover took a deep breath.

“Well done. Just a little more, Mother—hold on for just a little longer.”

Although Meliover’s breathing had slowed, her heartbeat remained irregular, and Breti’s sense of urgency grew.

Soon, Bagi returned, out of breath.

“My lady, I’ve secured an inn!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Breti bent down and lifted Meliover onto her back.

“My lady, allow us to carry her—”

“It’s fine. Just lead the way to the inn.”

Breti ran through the Allecci, her arms tightening around the fragile figure on her back. The sharp jut of bone beneath her palms hurt her heart.

The moment they arrived, she laid Meliover down on the bed. Thankfully, her condition seemed to stabilise.

Sinking onto the bedside chair, Breti clasped her hands together and buried her face in the mattress. Hearing the quiet, even sound of Meliover’s breathing, Breti finally released a long sigh of relief.

“My dear.”

A while later, Meliover opened her eyes and reached up to stroke Breti’s hair.

“Mother!”

Breti quickly lifted her head.

“How do you feel? Is your breathing all right? You’re not in pain, are you?”

“My dear, you breathe first.”

“Haa… Mother…”

Seeing her so calm again blurred Breti’s vision. At last, she buried her face in the pillow and began to cry.

“My dear…”

Meliover’s heart grew even heavier at the sound.

‘What am I going to do with these precious children…?’

There was Breti, who wasn’t her real daughter, yet cared for her so deeply. And there was Karsten, who had brought a stand-in for her daughter because she had begged to see her. The warmth in their hearts touched Meliover.

Gently stroking Breti’s back, Meliover spoke.

“My dear, let’s go home now.”

“Yes, please calm down and rest, Mother.”

Hearing this, Breti hastily wiped away her tears and nodded.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

“Mother!”

The moment they arrived home, Karsten came running out. From the look in his eyes, the servant’s report—that she had been in pain while out—had clearly alarmed him.

Supported by Breti, Meliover gave him a faint smile and took his hand.

“Karsten, your mother is fine.”

“Mother…”

The raw pain in his voice only served to intensify the weight in Meliover’s chest.

“I should go up and rest.”

For a moment, Karsten and Breti’s eyes met. But then Breti was the first to look away, guiding Meliover toward her room.

“Mother, would you like some water?”

Breti did not leave her side for even a moment.

Although Meliover had become more stable, her illness had not improved significantly. Whenever Breti sensed the slightest irregularity in her breathing, she would place a hand over her heart and guide her until her breathing became regular again. She kept a cool cloth pressed to Meliover’s feverish forehead and changed it frequently in an attempt to reduce her temperature.

Three days later, Meliover finally began to recover. Once Breti was certain of this, she clasped her hand tightly and called to her in a soft voice.

“Mother.”

At the sound, Meliover gave her a faint smile.

“My dear, go to your room now. You’ve worn yourself out these past few days.”

“No. I’m staying with you.”

“You’re so stubborn…”

All at once, Breti’s grip on her hand tightened, her eyes brimming with tears. Droplets pattered onto the bedding.

“Please… don’t be sick, Mother.”

Meliover cupped her tear-streaked cheek and smoothed her hair.

“All right. I won’t be sick.”

She promised, her voice rich with affection—as though she truly saw Breti as her own daughter.

‘She cares for me this much… how could I ever hate her?’

It had been a long time since Meliover had recognized and accepted that Breti was not Laterna. Before she knew it, she had started to think of her as her own daughter.

Therefore, watching the shadow of misfortune gather over Breti and Karsten was unbearable.

‘What am I going to do with the two of you…?’

The contempt and scorn that she would inevitably face was clear before her eyes, and her worry only deepened.