Chapter 178
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
“…A human being wouldn’t do this.”
“I’ll be back soon, so wait here.”
“Then why!”
“Madam, please calm down. The Duke must have a reason for this.”
Byne stepped in front of her. Emilia looked up at him, her fists clenched tightly.
She tried to push him aside, but his much larger frame didn’t budge.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get past Byne to rush at Mikhail.
A murderous intent flashed in her eyes. It felt like the line she had drawn for herself had been broken.
Ah.
There was nothing she could change. She had known that all along, but still, she had held onto false hope.
Suddenly, pain shot through her, and she cradled her stomach with both hands, curling her body.
“Ugh, ah…”
“Madam, are you alright?”
Byne hurried to check on her. He tried to call for a doctor, but she shook her head.
“I’m fine, don’t call a doctor. Hah…”
Slowly, she rose and blankly stared at the door to the office.
“Sir Byne, was my mother really… gone?”
“…Yes.”
“How… how did she look in her last moments?”
“I’m sorry. I think it would be best for you to rest in your room for now.”
“Who can rest after hearing that? If there’s anyone who can, I’d love to know how.”
Emilia gave a hollow laugh. A fury she could no longer suppress washed over her like waves.
Meanwhile, the guilt she had once felt toward him seemed to fade.
“I’m sure the Duke did it because he was worried about you.”
“…Sir Byne, someone who truly cares for someone doesn’t act like that.”
They would stay by your side, not stop you from doing anything.
Emilia didn’t resist as she was escorted from the office to her room. She couldn’t.
There was only one thing in this place that could allow her to breathe and escape this horrifying mess.
As soon as the door closed behind her, she lowered her head and let out a deep breath.
When she lifted her head again, her expression was cold as ice. Her pupils dilated, and for a brief moment, a flash of light flickered in her eyes.
❖ ❖ ❖
Mikhail didn’t stop walking despite the pouring rain.
Kartho, who had been holding an umbrella over him, watched him carefully.
“Are you really going to go alone?”
Mikhail didn’t answer. He took the umbrella Kartho offered and got into the carriage.
He didn’t even understand why he had stopped her from going.
But seeing her expression, so broken as though the sky had collapsed on her, made him feel that seeing her mother’s state, she would truly lose herself.
He hadn’t been able to watch his own parents die either. But the pain, he understood it all too well.
Emilia might end up going mad, just like Dahlia. Without even realizing it, she might do things in her sleep, actions she never expected. There would be days when she lost herself and became someone else entirely.
Just thinking about it irritated him. He didn’t wish for her to be happy, but he didn’t want to see her in despair either. He wanted to break her, but the idea of truly seeing her broken was unbearable.
Mikhail planned to keep her trapped in the estate for now, even if it meant hearing her resentment. For now, accepting the truth was the most important thing.
Then, if he told her what Duke Loren had done to his wife, she would soon be able to abandon the family she’d held onto for so long.
But to do that, he had to go alone and assess the situation.
The carriage moved slowly through the heavy rain. The sound of rain beating against the carriage was louder than usual, thanks to the strong wind today.
A shadow crossed his face.
The endless downpour outside the window seemed to mirror her tears.
His chest tightened, and his breathing felt tight. He tugged at his cravat, loosening it.
“Hah.”
He couldn’t forget the look in her eyes.
It felt like he was facing the same contempt-filled gaze he had received from her a long time ago.
❖ ❖ ❖
Adrian sipped from his whiskey glass, humming a tune under his breath.
“What’s the status?”
“It’s taken care of. No one else will know.”
Senne spoke directly, his body smeared with blood mixed with rainwater.
“Must be the rain. The smell of blood is overwhelming.”
“It will wash away soon enough.”
“With the sky helping me like this, why can’t my mother just stay still?”
Adrian downed the whiskey in one gulp. The sharp alcohol slid down his throat, leaving behind a deep floral scent followed by a spicy aftertaste.
“I wonder what kind of expression she’ll have.”
He was curious. Once she found out that the man by her side was the one who had committed such cruel acts to drag her into hell, even that noble flower would wilt.
“Mother must be watching closely, right? I should’ve kept Count Chevron on my side. Once I get rid of a few, who will be left around me?”
Adrian didn’t like his mother’s way of doing things.
“Anyway, I hear the royal opposition is making a move. They still haven’t found the ringleader, so… I’ll just have to do what I can.”
If they caught and tortured the suspects one by one, something might eventually come to light.
Now that he thought about it, Leah had been unusually quiet. That shouldn’t be the case.
She had been ignored by his mother and had failed to debut, so she should have crumbled by now.
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