~Chapter 129~
Richard leaned back on the sofa, rubbing his face tiredly, and from that alone it was clear how absurd he found this situation. His reaction was nothing like what Hilda had expected, which only made her tense.
She had imagined he might throw them out at the door, or treat Ancia as though she were his possession, or at the very least mock them for coming all this way just to ask after her well-being.
But Richard’s response wasn’t arrogance or mockery—it was closer to despair.
“Everyone, leave.”
At his quiet, flat order, the Duke’s household staff—including even the butler—filed out of the reception room.
The Countess’s guards and attendants looked uncertainly at Hilda and Nathan. Hilda herself wondered what this meant, when Richard’s next words struck like ice.
“For my wife’s honor, I don’t wish to take innocent lives. Send them out.”
“Go,” Hilda ordered firmly. “Don’t come back until I call for you.”
Because it was about Ancia, she didn’t hesitate. Soon only the three of them remained.
Both Hilda and Nathan sat in silence, waiting for him to speak.
But for Richard, just facing the two of them made his patience unravel.
Barely holding back murderous thoughts… that’s all I’m doing, he realized bitterly.
Until this moment, he had been calm. He already knew how close Ancia was to the Count’s family. She had always spoken fondly of them, often with longing. And they too had cherished her, sending dowries and gifts fit for the highest nobility even though they were only guardians.
Richard knew they had come simply to make sure Ancia was safe. But he had no intention of letting them see her. His plan had been to meet them face-to-face, assure them she was well, then send them away.
Yet the instant he saw Nathan’s face, all the doubts and fears he had suppressed broke loose and tormented him.
He remembered the doctors’ words:
“She’s three months along.”
“At most, four months.”
“Judging from the baby’s weak heartbeat and lack of movement, there’s no way she’s five or six months, as the Duchess claims.”
When asked if they were certain, nine out of ten doctors swore they’d stake their lives on it.
They had added that perhaps, because Ancia was small and frail, the baby grew more slowly. But still, they insisted her claim was unreasonable.
My wife would never lie.
It must be one of those rare exceptions.
Clinging to that faint hope, Richard had blinded himself, forcing himself to believe only what he wanted.
But after Ancia’s rejection, even his fragile self-control was fraying. He couldn’t even look at her sleeping face anymore, afraid she would turn away. Each day was torture.
And now, here were these two, standing before him with their elegant airs, showing their concern for Ancia so openly it felt unbearable.
The very people who made him doubt his wife had dared to enter his home with faces full of “pure love.” Rage boiled inside him.
“If you came here planning to take her away after seeing the baby’s hair color—forget it. You won’t know until summer.”
The words were so blunt and shocking that Hilda and Nathan froze, unable to react at first.
Exhausted and stressed beyond measure, Richard finally spoke his ugliest thoughts.
“If it’s platinum blond, there’s no problem. And even if it’s brown, perhaps there was such a shade among our ancestors.”
Nathan snapped.
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”
Richard’s voice grew sharper.
“I will never let go of my wife. No matter how much you hover, you won’t get even a strand of her hair, Young Count.”
Nathan didn’t cower. Instead, he saw clearly: Richard was like a wounded beast, baring its teeth to protect what it cherished.
Hilda burned with anger, but Nathan stopped her and spoke calmly.
“Then let me apologize if I caused misunderstanding. We only came because we were worried about the Duchess.”
Richard’s eyes still burned with fury, but when Hilda tried to shield Nathan, the young count stepped forward and bowed deeply.
“I know this foolish brother has provoked you by coming here. But please, I beg you to understand—even so, I could not stay away from my sister.
Please, show a little mercy.”
Richard sneered.
“If you truly are her brother, that makes things even worse.”
Yet Nathan didn’t lift his head.
Richard’s voice dropped.
“Do you know why I’ve spared your life? If my wife were not safe, I’d have no reason to let you live.”
His words made clear: though Ancia wasn’t present, nothing would be done that went against her will. She was safe.
Hilda still felt the unfairness of it, but she knew as long as Nathan stood before him, danger was real. Nathan too understood his mere presence was a provocation. They had no choice but to retreat.
Nathan said steadily,
“When spring comes, all misunderstandings will be resolved. Invite us then, and I’ll gladly return.”
Richard gave no reply, only looking away. It was an uneasy end, but at least he didn’t treat them as enemies.
Hilda, however, wasn’t finished.
“I must see the Duchess.”
“Mother!” Nathan cried, alarmed.
Richard’s fury flared again, but Hilda stood straight and unyielding.
“Even if my son may be misunderstood… why am I forbidden from meeting her? I will not leave unless the Duchess herself sends me a letter.”
She was blunt and unshakable.
Richard muttered,
“You must have two necks, to risk one so easily.”
Hilda’s eyes narrowed.
“This isn’t something worth my life. And if your hand were truly that light, this land would already be covered in corpses. So if you want to send me away—give me a proper reason.”
Richard winced as if from a headache. Strangely, her stubbornness reminded him of Ancia.
A letter… perhaps I could use that as an excuse to see her.
He rose slowly and left the room, not sparing a glance for the Count’s attendants as he headed toward the annex. His pace quickened. He had sensed a presence outside earlier, and now he was certain who it must be.
At the annex, the knight unlatched the heavy door for him. Someone had just passed through.
Richard climbed to Ancia’s chamber—and there he saw who had been eavesdropping outside the reception room.
“Is that true?” Ancia asked softly.
“Yes, my lady,” Bianca admitted nervously. “The Countess and Young Count said they won’t leave unless they see you… ah!”
Richard hadn’t wanted to behave violently before Ancia. But his reason and instincts twisted together, and before he realized it, he had seized Bianca and dragged her out.
“Why are there so many rats in my house?”
“Duke!” Ancia cried.
Bianca struggled, but Richard ignored her.
“Let her go!”
“No. I cannot.”
His harshness shocked even Ancia, who screamed his name in panic.
Richard’s voice was cruel.
“How much must I discipline you before you understand? Even a dog, when trained, at least pretends to obey.”
His anger poured onto Bianca. But she, once stabbed by him before, showed no fear. She glared back.
She didn’t care about being dragged—if Ancia saw Richard’s danger more clearly, perhaps that would be for the best.
“They were your wife’s guests, but you planned to send them away without her knowing. I had to tell her.”
Richard gave a twisted smile.
“A dog that bares its teeth for its master isn’t bad. I might even praise it.”
His eyes darkened.
“But a dog that fails to protect its master… only ends up boiled.”
