Chapter 6

6

I already knew who she was.

Lady Annabella Seymour.

She was the biological mother of Theodor and the sister of the late Duchess René Valenti, making her Theodor's aunt.

Apart from this fact, she had no connection to the family, yet she was the mistress of the household due to René Valenti's will.

The will requested that she take good care of her children.

Because of this, Annabella Seymour had not married even after turning forty and had been taking care of Theodor.

I had heard that she doted on Theodor as if he were her own child... which was probably why she didn't look at me kindly.

I subtly avoided her gaze and bowed. I didn't expect her to like me, but I didn't want to be hated any more than necessary.

"Welcome to the Valenti household, Lily."

"Thank you, Lady Seymour. I hope to have your guidance."

At least she gave me a formal greeting. I was relieved that she didn't openly snub me in front of the dukes' retainers and knights, and all the other people present.

"Then, Theodor, let's go inside."

"Yes, Aunt."

Theodor, who answered politely, glanced at me. His eyes momentarily showed a complex expression, but it seemed like my imagination.

I watched him turn away silently and then hurried to follow.

* * *

"This is the room where you will be staying. If you need anything, just pull the bell cord on the side table. Is there anything else you need to know?"

"No, I'm fine. You can leave now."

"Yes, then."

The maid of the Valenti castle led me directly to my room. After she left, I carefully examined the room. It was appropriately luxurious and elegant, with a pleasant and fresh scent.

I was relieved to be given a proper room, fearing I might be given a solitary cell in the basement.

Next to my room was a small room for my personal maid, where Charlotte was probably unpacking.

Charlotte, who was originally a maid, was now going to work as my personal maid. When I told the castle's chief steward, he didn't seem pleased.

'Anyway, no one here would want to serve me, right?'

The fact that Charlotte was an orphan and a maid was no problem for me. I didn't care if the people of the Valenti castle criticized me for my low birth.

Words like 'commoner's daughter' or 'lowly roots' no longer hurt me, as I had heard them so many times.

'From now on...'

I sat on the bed, looking up at the ceiling, lost in thought.

'It will be hard to get along like a normal couple.'

Theodor wouldn't come to me. Not tonight, not tomorrow, and not ever.

I had already anticipated that he would eventually want to divorce me. I had even considered the possibility that he might try to kill me. But it seemed he didn't want to kill me.

Still, anything could happen. His feelings might change... or Lady Seymour or his loyal retainers might try to poison me.

Now I had to worry about my life.

'Indeed...'

A shallow sneer crept across my lips, which were slightly twisted.

'Even though I escaped the Everett castle through marriage... I am still unhappy.'

I had expected this.

Where did my life go wrong? I had already pondered this countless times. If I had to pinpoint it, it would be when my mother, a maid at the Everett castle, spent a night with a wanderer and became pregnant with me. The wanderer left without even giving his name, foolishly.

Now, I no longer fantasize that my unknown father might be a prince from a neighboring country or that he might come to take me away. Such fantasies only make me more miserable.

'...I'll just live like a dead person in this household.'

I won't try to do anything, won't expect anything. If any emotions arise, I'll suppress them.

So, it's best to erase them from my mind. Like the trembling, pale eyes that looked at me.

And the memory of that short but intense night, which almost happened.

* * *

I sat quietly at the reception where no one welcomed me.

This reception was to welcome the new Duchess of Valenti. Of course, it was clear from the sharp gazes that no one here welcomed me.

Everyone despised or hated me. Some looked at me with curiosity or pity, but none of it was positive.

In the spacious banquet hall where the head of the Valenti household and his retainers gathered, I felt like a pebble that had rolled into the room, an outsider. My husband, who sat next to me... Theodor, didn't even meet my eyes.

Do I disgust him so much?

...I couldn't help but think this, then quickly shook it off, almost laughing bitterly. Of course. He must hate me. Every time he looks at me, he must think of the Everett family, of my father's face. Not just Theodor, but everyone here must feel the same...

...How much they must hate the Everett family.

This grand welcome reception, which the current state of the Valenti territory couldn't afford, was probably held out of consideration for the Everett family.

Thinking about this again made my stomach churn. I wanted to get up and run away, but I had to endure. Acting like a victim would only make me look pathetic...

"The food doesn't seem to suit your taste."

Then, a distorted voice came from beside me.

"Miss Everett."

...'Lady' or my name, no, 'Miss Everett.'

I subtly shifted my gaze to Theodor. I shouldn't look surprised.

"Let me make it clear, Miss Everett, I don't want you to call me by my first name."

"..."

"I don't plan to continue this marriage until my grave. I assume you feel the same. Since we don't want each other, let's avoid unnecessary emotional expenditure. Do you understand?"

Avoid unnecessary emotional expenditure.

In other words, there would be no human interaction between us. ...I hadn't expected anything different. But hearing it confirmed strangely made my chest ache.

No, it must be indigestion. What could there be between us to make my chest ache? It must be a delusion.

I answered in a small voice.

"Yes, I understand."

"Good, I see you understand."

"..."

I looked at him curiously as he gulped down the fruit wine in his silver goblet. The tone of his response and his attitude were somewhat... No, I shouldn't think too much about it.

It would be fortunate if he didn't try to kill me.

The reception ended in less than two hours. When I went up to my room, Charlotte was waiting with hot bathwater ready. I felt weak, probably because I hadn't eaten anything. When I wobbled a bit, Charlotte quickly supported me.

"Lady! No, my lady, are you okay?"

"...I'm fine. I just want to take a bath and rest."

"Yes, I've prepared everything. Please go to the bathroom."

...I realized I was alone with Charlotte in the room. Normally, two maids and three maidservants would assist her...

"Charlotte, did you prepare my bath all by yourself?"

As I entered the bathroom, I casually asked, looking at Charlotte. She flinched slightly, then forced a smile and looked down.

"No, other people helped. They all had urgent matters, so I was alone in the room..."

"You don't have to lie, Charlotte."

"..."

"Are the other servants isolating you?"

When I asked, Charlotte visibly panicked and her face contorted as if she were about to cry. I thought she was upset about being isolated. But that wasn't it.

"I'm really fine, my lady. I can do everything myself. I don't want you to hear bad things because of this. Don't worry, I'm tough."

She smiled through her tears, clenching her fists. I held back a laugh, feeling a surge of anger.

"Yes, you are being isolated."

"My, my lady, I really..."

Charlotte repeated that she was fine more than ten times. She was worried about me. She didn't want me to get involved in the servants' conflicts and cause unnecessary gossip, so she was willing to sacrifice herself.

"I understand why you're worried."

"..."

I took off my clothes and got into the bathtub. The large bathtub, carved from marble, was filled with hot water.

"If I cause trouble in this household, where everyone already hates me, I'll just be hated even more."

"I'm sorry, my lady..."

"Why are you sorry? I'm the one who's sorry."

"No, my lady, don't be sorry! It's just... because I'm an orphan... that's all..."

Charlotte was almost babbling. The kind-hearted girl had already decided to sacrifice herself for me.

But I didn't want to leave it at that. I couldn't.

The persecution Charlotte faced was familiar to me.

I had endured it countless times while living as Lily Everett.

Having someone in the same situation as me always by my side, seeing it right in front of me, made it... hard to ignore.

I had intended to do nothing in this household.

"Charlotte, do you want to go back to the Everett castle?"

"Wh-what? Why are you asking me that all of a sudden? I..."

Charlotte, who finally started crying, mumbled in a tearful voice.

"I like being by my lady's side. If I go back, no one will welcome me. No one, there's no one by my side..."

Hearing this, I realized something.

I wasn't the only one who found comfort in having Charlotte by my side.

Charlotte also found comfort in being by my side.

...It was like two wounded animals licking each other's wounds.

"Okay, I understand."

"Sniff..."

"You care so much for me."

"My lady..."

"Is it a big deal if my heart is a little hurt?"

I had intended to do nothing for myself. But it was hard to do nothing for someone who cared so much for me.

* * *

The next morning.

"Bring me the two maids and three maidservants who are supposed to assist my personal maid."

The chief steward, surprised by my order, looked at me with wide eyes.