‘It’s cold…’

I woke up to the freezing air seeping through my thin nightgown. The pain felt like my skin was being torn away. Winter arrives even on this island. Though it lasted only a month, the cold was fierce precisely because of its brevity.

I gently opened my eyes and looked around to find every window in the room wide open. As I pulled back my blanket and got out of bed to close them, a sighing voice spoke behind me, sounding impatient.

“You’re awake, my lady.”

Julia Blando. Born to the Blando barony, her family had served House Borde for generations. With Karlien’s trust, she had risen to head maid and feared nothing. Entering the mistress’s room without permission deserved punishment, but she didn’t care.

The authority to discipline servants belonged to Karlien. She firmly believed he would overlook any “mistake” she claimed to make. That’s how low my position was in this mansion.

“Oh, Julia. Good morning.”

I forced a smile, pulling up the corners of my mouth, but Julia simply turned her head away indifferently. This happened all the time. 

Not just Julia—other servants also hurried to avoid my gaze. If I took offense at each slight, I’d have no heart left, so I chose to ignore it. That wasn’t what mattered now.

‘What time is it?’

I remember waiting for Karlien, who hadn’t returned to the mansion until late. Given my missing memories after that, I must have fallen asleep while waiting. As I tried to recall last night, Julia emerged from the adjoining bathroom and mechanically announced:

“I’ve prepared your washing water.”

“Thank you.”

The bathroom basin was filled with clear, transparent water. When I dipped my hand in, it felt pleasantly lukewarm against my skin. After washing my face and returning to the bedroom, nothing had changed. The cold still filled the room completely.

The windows remained wide open. This had been happening regularly since winter arrived, and I recognized it clearly as contempt for my slum upbringing.

“Didn’t I tell you yesterday? Don’t open the windows without my permission. Do you find my words amusing?”

When I addressed Julia with an annoyed, reproachful tone, she reluctantly responded in a small voice:

“…My apologies.”

Then, smiling brightly like someone who knew nothing, she added:

“Surely our generous mistress would naturally forgive a servant’s mistake?”

“Once might be a mistake, but this isn’t the first time. If this happens again, you’ll face punishment.”

I knew nothing would change no matter what I said, but I couldn’t just silently endure it. Yet Julia showed no fear at my warning. 

It had been this way since I became the mistress of the Borde marquis household. I was expected to be a lenient mistress, naturally overlooking their “mistakes.”

This was because Karlien pathologically hated conflicts within the mansion. He disliked it so much that he had specifically requested:

‘Try to overlook minor mistakes when possible.’

He had said this in front of the servants, so they all knew. That’s why they could be so disrespectful yet confident with me. Whether Julia heeded my warning or not didn’t matter. Tomorrow would surely be no different. I just needed to resolve the current situation.

“Close the windows.”

The moment I spoke, maids waiting outside rushed in and closed all the windows at once. Now it would be a little less cold. 

After the head maid and other servants withdrew, only Jane, the maid who helped with my appearance, remained. As I quietly felt her hands brushing my silver hair, I suddenly remembered something I’d forgotten and asked her:

“Has the Marquis returned?”

“Yes. He came in just now.”

“Is he still in the mansion?”

“Yes.”

“I should go see him. Help me prepare.”

Since Karlien came home at dawn and left at dawn every day, I hadn’t properly seen him in ten days. I wanted to meet him as soon as possible. 

My hands became busy selecting a dress. I didn’t want much—just one simple thing: to enjoy a cup of tea sitting across from each other like an ordinary couple. That was all.

The dress I chose was a vibrant yellow that reminded me of his eye color. I didn’t forget the sapphire necklace he had given me, which I’d worn constantly since receiving it. At this hour, he would certainly be in his study.

As I approached his study, light leaked through the slightly open door. Just as I raised my hand to knock, I heard the voice of Lord David, Karlien’s assistant.

“Lady Veronica Litension has returned from the Kingdom of Fortin.”

Veronica Litension. His first fiancée. When I heard those words, my head went blank, like I’d been struck with a blunt object. 

She was the eldest daughter of Count and Countess Litension, who had suddenly left for the Kingdom of Fortin without a word, just a month before her wedding to Karlien. That was three years ago.

I unconsciously stepped backward and bumped into the wall. Karlien must have heard the sound, because his sharp voice called out:

“Who’s there?”

I desperately didn’t want to be caught eavesdropping on their conversation. I turned around and ran forward blindly, entering the first room I saw. 

Fortunately, it seemed to be an empty room without an owner. My heart beat irregularly and rapidly, making it difficult to breathe properly.

“Hoo… Hoo… Hoo…”

My legs trembled. It had been a long time since I’d sprinted like that. Thankfully, they didn’t pursue me. 

Only after slightly opening the door and confirming no one was there did my legs give out. I collapsed where I stood, waiting for my breathing to return to normal before quietly making my way back to my room.

* * *

“Should I go after them?”

Hearing movement outside the door, Lord David, Karlien’s assistant, asked with such urgency that he looked ready to dash out immediately. 

Baron David Sobrado. 

As Karlien’s assistant, he too was from the Oscuro Imperial Orphanage and a top graduate of the Oscuro Imperial Academy.

He had secured his position as the assistant to the young marquis through his abilities alone, and over time, the young marquis naturally became the marquis. Because of this, he resented those who occupied positions undeserving of their abilities. Veloena was one of them.

“No need. It’s obviously one of the mansion’s servants.”

Karlien couldn’t imagine that Veloena had heard those words. Normally, she would still be asleep at this hour. As Karlien dismissed the matter, David, who had been ready for action, relaxed. Then he continued where he had left off.

“Don’t you miss Lady Veronica, my lord? She was your fiancée, after all.”

It would be a lie to say Karlien wasn’t affected by the news of Veronica’s return. Nevertheless, David pretended not to notice and pressed with another question.

“What does that have to do with me now?”

“Are you satisfied with your current marchioness?”

“Whether I’m satisfied or not, she is my partner.”

Karlien spoke with deliberate sternness, rebuking David. In response to these repeated denials, David retorted somewhat defiantly:

“There’s always divorce.”

“If she doesn’t want it, I have no intention of bringing up divorce first.”

Karlien’s words were filled with firm resolve. David stared at him with a look that seemed to say, “What am I to do with this stubborn lord?” Karlien deliberately ignored that look.

Veloena. To Karlien, Veloena was like a major assignment. She was the only person he could neither get close to nor completely distance himself from. 

Getting close was burdensome because of her feelings toward him, but he couldn’t distance himself in case she turned out to be Princess Leonora’s daughter. How should he treat her? 

No matter how much he thought about it, he simply couldn’t figure it out.

* * *

When I returned to my room, my body felt weak, perhaps because the tension had drained away. What expression did he make when he heard Lady Litension had returned? 

He must have looked wistful. No, I couldn’t be certain of anything yet. Only Karlien and his assistant Lord David knew the answer. For now, I decided not to think about uncertain matters anymore.

I was heading to my study to handle the work I couldn’t complete yesterday. Servants were whispering and exchanging glances with each other. Curious about what they were discussing, I leaned in to listen, and my heart sank to the floor when I heard what they were saying.