Chapter 56
How on earth was I supposed to predict and prevent every illness in advance?
And who said staying indoors meant never getting sick?
Besides, it’s actually better to get chickenpox when you’re young. Children build stronger antibodies that way, protecting them better in the future.
Yet this man was nitpicking even over something like this. It was infuriating.
The real problem hurting Lily wasn’t a virus.
It was the adults—those who mocked her for not crying when her parents died, and who claimed “treatment” meant locking her away all alone.
I couldn’t hold back anymore and raised my voice.
“You keep talking about responsibility, but do you even understand what Lady Lily’s real problem is? No—before that, do you truly care about her at all?”
“Adelia, wait…”
Chade, worried, tried to stop me, but I brushed his hand away and went on.
“If you really cared about her, you wouldn’t have locked her away in that cold annex where no one ever visits! Do you have any idea how she felt—losing her mother and being left to grieve for months without even seeing her family? She’s only ten years old!”
As I spoke, tears welled in my eyes.
What had this man been doing until now? Why was he here only to tear apart Lily’s heart that I had worked so hard to heal? Why was he trying to send her back to that hellish place?
“And if your wrong decision harms Lady Lily, how will you take responsibility for that?”
“Your words go too far, girl. How long do you think I will tolerate you?”
The marquis’s eyebrows shot up sharply, his patience at its limit.
Chade tugged at my sleeve again, silently begging me to stop.
But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.
“If you want to punish me, then go ahead! But do not lock Lady Lily in the annex again. If you do, her illness will only grow worse!”
This time, tears streamed down uncontrollably.
Everything was a first for me.
It was the first time I’d been treated with such humiliation. The first time I had fought so desperately for a patient.
Though, in truth, I had seen something like this before.
I remembered a senior doctor once being attacked by a parent suspected of abusing their child.
‘Why are you just standing there, senior? You’ve done nothing wrong!’
‘What kind of parent is this—blaming and even hitting the doctor who’s helping their child!’
The senior had only smiled bitterly at me then.
‘Hamin, if I made a scene there, what about the child? What about my patient?’
At the time, I couldn’t understand his smile. But now I did.
‘He didn’t care if he was beaten, as long as the child was safe.’
If he couldn’t take full responsibility for that child’s life, at least he could protect their wounds.
And now, just like him, I was staking everything to stop Lily from being locked away again.
The marquis stayed silent for a long moment.
He had spent so long scolding and crushing us, but now he said nothing—his silence was even colder, more chilling.
Finally, he spoke.
“Yes, I do care for Lily. And if I truly care for her, then do you know what I must do? It’s to drive a fraud like you away from my niece and nephew.”
With biting words, he looked to the knights and shouted:
“What are you waiting for! Arrest this woman who has insulted both the Blaine duchy and the Graven marquisate!”
Reality was crueler than any novel.
All my resistance, all my efforts to protect Lily—it felt like none of it reached anyone.
I closed my eyes bitterly.
‘I’m sorry, Lily. I couldn’t protect you.’
At that moment, a cold voice cut through the room.
“Stop.”
It was Chade. He stepped in front of me protectively, facing the marquis.
“What do you think you’re doing, Chade? Are you still siding with that woman?”
“…I think you’re mistaken, uncle.”
His voice was calm, though strained.
“I am the acting head of the duchy. Which means, the knights answer to me.”
Startled, I glanced around.
Sure enough, the knights had not moved an inch despite the marquis’s orders.
“Have you lost your mind? These outsiders you’ve brought—”
“I’m sorry, but there is nothing wrong with the people I brought.”
Chade threw the papers he’d been holding back at the marquis’s feet.
“The reason I stayed silent after reading those documents is that I realized they were falsified by someone inside this house.”
“…What nonsense is this?”
“I have not forgotten the debt we owe you for helping the duchy after Mother died, uncle. But…”
His voice grew firm.
“Everything that happens in this duchy is under my authority. Please do not cross the line any further.”
At those icy words, the marquis’s face twisted with fury.
“Do you even understand what you’re saying?”
“I do. I can personally prove that Lily has been healing. Do I need anyone else’s testimony?”
“…”
In this world, authority was the most absolute weapon.
But Chade, though young, understood that great power came with great responsibility.
Watching him, I grew anxious.
‘Can he really oppose his own uncle like this? And what if the extended family hears about it—will they stay quiet?’
It was thrilling, but also terrifying—because I feared my presence might cause an even greater rift.
I wavered, unsure whether to stop him or let him continue.
But just then, the office doors burst open. Someone unexpected entered.
“So, everyone’s already here?”
A deep voice rang out. Fully armed knights streamed in behind him.
They split to either side, forming a path.
Down the middle strode a man in a grand cloak.
“Heres, it’s been a while.”
The moment I saw his night-dark hair and gleaming golden eyes, I knew.
Leopold Blaine.
The head of the Blaine duchy, and the master of the vast North.
“The master of the North greets you.”
At his presence, every servant and maid in the office bowed without hesitation.
“Leopold… why are you here…?”
“When I entrusted the children to you, Heres, this is not what I meant.”
“…”
“Read this.”
The duke handed over a thick file he had brought.
The marquis silently accepted it and began to read.
Meanwhile, the duke turned to Lily.
“Lily, go back to your room for now. Don’t worry—you won’t be locked in the annex again.”
He gently patted her head. Lily sobbed softly and nodded.
Mabel naturally moved to escort her, but—
“Wait, Mabel. You will stay here.”
Startled, Mabel froze. The duke then pointed to another maid.
That maid bowed and immediately took Lily away.
Mabel stood stiff, then spoke, her tone sharper than before.
“…Do you have something to say to me?”
“Mabel.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Kneel.”
At the cold command, Mabel dropped to her knees without a word.
Leopold Blaine watched her in silence, then pulled a small dagger from his cloak.
He tossed it to the floor in front of her. The metallic clang echoed through the room.
Then, in an even voice, he said:
“Use that—and end your life here and now.”
