Chapter 6

When he heard that Clarice, who had been injured, had regained consciousness, Patrice felt a sense of relief he had never felt before.

Clarice's injuries were not life-threatening, but healing power varies from person to person and can be greatly influenced by one's mental state.

When Patrice heard Clarice muttering, "No more, I can't take it," all he could do was pray that she hadn't given up on living.

If she regains consciousness, I will apologize to her and release her as she wishes.

Patrice thought this, accepting that if she said she didn't want to see him, it would be justified.

However, although Clarice initially rejected him, she later allowed him to visit.

But the fact that she apologized to him still pains his heart.

It was pitiful that she made him think he should apologize to her, and he was angry with himself for his incompetence.

After capturing the thieves, Patrice immediately had the servants in the castle investigated, and it was confirmed that Clarice's complaints were true.

Some male servants had been slacking off when Patrice and the others were not around and had been harassing the female servants.

Samond, who was aware of this, had not taken any action and had reported to Patrice that there was no problem.

Samond genuinely believed there was no issue, and Patrice, who had completely trusted Samond, bore a heavy responsibility.

When Patrice talked to Samond this time, it felt as if he was looking in a mirror, making him feel sick.

To others, especially to Clarice, he must have looked no different from Samond.

Gordon, who was accompanying him on a patrol of the territory, turned around when he heard Patrice's sigh of regret.

"Sir, is something the matter?"

"Nothing in particular."

"Is that so? By the way, how is Lady Clarice feeling?"

"…She seems to have started practicing walking."

"So soon!? That's quite impressive. She faced the thieves with a bow and a sword…"

"But she shouldn't be pushing herself too hard."

Patrice answered irritably, annoyed by Gordon's admiring mutter.

Gordon sighed in exasperation.

"Sir, you should praise her, not criticize her. With a healer attending to her, she won't overexert herself."

"…You're right."

"Of course. Everyone wants their efforts to be recognized. My wife, for example, gets very insistent about being praised even for cutting a tiny bit of her hair. She says it's an effort to look beautiful. And in the early days of our marriage, she often asked me questions about what I did that day, who I met, and so on. She said it was the best way to get to know me quickly by understanding my daily activities and social relationships…"

Gordon, who had experienced his first love far too late, was trying to give advice to his superior.

He wanted to say that Patrice should talk to her about anything, but he didn't expect him to act on it immediately.

When he heard that Patrice had been reporting his daily schedule to Clarice every day since the next morning, he laughed, holding his head and his stomach.

Serious people can be very troublesome when they get stuck.

Therefore, when he learned that Patrice had accepted Clarice's request for a divorce when he delivered her to the capital, Gordon felt very frustrated.

A few days after returning to the capital.

Patrice, returning from another visit to the earl's residence, sat in his study chair and sighed deeply.

The doctor said that Clarice's injuries were almost healed and that further examinations were unnecessary.

The next examination would confirm that she was well enough to return to Carriere.

Then there would be no reason to keep her in the capital.

Patrice sighed deeply again, opened the top drawer of his desk, and took out a sealed letter as if it were a treasure.

It was the letter Clarice had given him when she left for the earl's residence.

He had memorized the contents of the letter without reading it.

In the letter, Clarice expressed her gratitude for Patrice's kindness, apologized for her foolishness and inadequacy, and requested a divorce.

She must have truly believed this, not out of malice.

However, all these words were accusing Patrice.

It was Patrice who should be grateful for her kindness and apologize for his foolishness and inadequacy.

If he were to make amends, he should grant her the divorce she desired.

He should set her free.

She didn't want status or honor; she just wanted freedom.

The Clarice he met by the stream in the forest seemed free.

She rode through the forest on horseback, practiced with branches as mock swords, and was so lively and enjoyed life.

Blinded by her brightness, Patrice had failed to see the shadowy side of Clarice.

She had probably been hiding in Carriere to escape her tyrannical father, who had denied her femininity from birth.

But that was only temporary freedom, like a bird in a cage.

Perhaps it was only after the previous earl's death that Clarice truly gained her freedom.

It was said that Clarice had declared from the beginning that after enjoying a single season, she would return to her territory, live quietly, and never marry.

After the incident, she had sent him many letters.

Patrice had only read the first one, which requested the annulment of their engagement, and dismissed it, ignoring the rest.

At the time, he had given reasons like the honor of the royal family and her own honor, but now he realized it was for his own pride.

He had imposed his own mother's image on Clarice, putting her in the "woman" category and rejecting her from the start, just like her father.

(And yet, Clarice...)

Patrice gently stroked the unusually bulging envelope and took out a charm with a magnificent hawk embroidery.

Clarice had embroidered it carefully and was still praying for the safety of Patrice, who had been a cold husband.

Three years ago, during the war with the Kingdom of Escume, Queen Rachel had sent a charm with a hawk, a symbol of victory, to King Felix.

Patrice had seen the hawk descend to his brother Felix with his own eyes.

Still, Patrice had doubted Rachel, who was a princess of the Kingdom of Brighton.

"Women" could lie easily.

Especially if it was a spoiled princess who had been forced upon her beloved brother as a condition for reinforcements.

But after the war ended in victory, Rachel, introduced to King Felix, was nothing like the rumors.

At that moment, he realized that rumors were unreliable.

In the end, he hadn't grown at all.

What could he have seen in Clarice, given his tendency to avoid interacting with people as much as possible?

Patrice was angry with his own foolishness and, to calm his anger, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and took deep breaths repeatedly.

At that moment, there was a knock on the study door, and Patrice straightened up and responded.

It was the butler, Silvès, who entered.

Silvès rarely disturbed Patrice when he was in his study, so it must be something important. Patrice immediately gestured for him to continue.

But unusually, Silvès hesitated.

"What is it, Silvès?"

"Um, how is Lady Clarice… how is she feeling?"

"She is recovering well. I'm sorry to have worried you."

"No, not at all…"

He didn't mention the scars that would remain.

To Patrice, it was not a problem at all.

But it frustrated him that he lacked the words to convey this.

Certainly, the unpleasant memories and the emotional scars would remain with Clarice.

"I must apologize to both you and Lady Clarice."

"…Apologize? What do you mean?"

Patrice, frowning in confusion, made Silvès gulp.

But, driven by his usual earnestness, Silvès could not keep it to himself.

"I… believed the rumors and, on the day of the wedding, when Lady Clarice arrived at this mansion, I did not welcome her or offer my congratulations. I treated her very rudely. My attitude influenced the other servants in the mansion, and the next morning, I sent her back to the territory as if to drive her away."

"Rumors?"

Patrice knew what Silvès was talking about.

He just couldn't believe it.

Silvès, who had saved him as a child and was his savior, had been a loyal and dedicated servant.

The idea that he had been swayed by rumors was hard to accept.

"We… I thought you were marrying Lady Clarice for your honor… that she was…"

"Enough, Silvès."

Patrice's voice was very calm, but Silvès flinched and fell silent.

Seeing this, Patrice shook his head unconsciously.

Patrice was quite angry, but not at Silvès, but at himself.

All of this was the result of his own insensitivity and lack of consideration.

But Clarice had faced her hardships at the manor without a single complaint.

It was Patrice, not the thieves or Samond, who had crushed her courage.

It was too late to regret now, but he could still guide things in the right direction.

As Patrice made this decision, Silvès, with renewed determination, spoke up.

"Sir, through this experience, I have realized how shallow and foolish I am. The letters from Serge praised Lady Clarice, but at first, I couldn't believe them. When I learned that her injuries were from protecting Serge… Serge is very worried about her. Not just Serge, but the letters from the servants at the manor, which are addressed to me, have also arrived."

With that, Silvès took out several letters from his pocket and placed them on Patrice's desk, then bowed deeply.

"I no longer have the right to serve you and Lady Clarice. Please allow me to resign. Until you find a replacement—"

"No, please stay, Silvès."

"But, Sir…"

"It's not your fault. It's all my fault. I caused the misunderstanding among you and the injury to her—my wife. So, if you haven't lost your patience with me, please continue to serve me."

"…Your words are too kind for me."

Touched by Patrice's words, Silvès bowed deeply again, his voice trembling with tears.

Patrice, usually a man of few words, was speaking so much for Clarice's sake.

Silvès, who knew about Patrice's difficult childhood, understood the significance of his words and pressed his aching chest.

After Silvès left, Patrice began writing a letter to his brother, the king.