Chapter 10
I had no choice but to stop walking when I saw Iello like that. At that moment, he looked unbearably lonely.
“Mother, I still remember all the memories with you clearly. That’s why I miss you, but I also can’t forget you.”
As if he didn’t notice my presence at all, Iello calmly spoke about how much he missed his mother.
“Do you know what’s the saddest thing? That I can’t see you anymore. What am I supposed to do now?”
“……”
“I know I shouldn’t say this… but honestly, I hate her. If the youngest hadn’t been born, Mother wouldn’t have died.”
‘I’m sorry… you lost your mother because of me…’
As he said, if I hadn’t been born, the Duchess might still be alive.
‘If that had happened, Iello would probably still be in his mother’s arms, living happily.’
Because of that, I understood his feelings. But at the same time, sadness flooded my heart.
“Mother, do you know what’s funny? Levi and I don’t have any trace of you left. The only one who carries your image is that child. That’s why I hate her… but I can’t stop looking at her.”
“……”
Was it because someone who had always been by his side suddenly disappeared? I couldn’t fully measure his sorrow, but just looking at him, I could feel his longing and pain.
“Mother… no, Mom. I’ll be good. So please… can’t you come back? I won’t bully my sister anymore. Please come back. I miss you, Mom… hic… sob…”
Iello, who always seemed calm about everything, began to cry bitterly. His shoulders shook as tears poured down. He kept calling for his mother.
“Hic… Mom… Mom…”
‘I’m sorry… I’m really sorry…’
The more he sobbed, the heavier my heart became. It felt like a huge stone was pressing down on my chest. I bit my lip and repeated the words I couldn’t say out loud.
‘I’m sorry for making you lose your mother. But can’t you try to understand me too? I know it’s selfish… but in this life, I want to be loved too. You can hate me if you want… just don’t push me away.’
Unlike the shining stars in the sky, the terrace felt dark and heavy.
The next day.
“Oh my goodness, feel her temperature! Young Miss, are you okay?”
“Huu…”
No, it hurts so much! It feels like my insides are burning!
Maybe it was because I wandered around at dawn. I ended up catching a cold.
With a high fever and sweat pouring down, Dana and the maids looked extremely worried.
“We need to call the physician right away!”
Molly ran out of the room with a pale face.
Dana and Flynn busily checked on me. I rubbed my face against Dana’s hand and whimpered.
“Dana… huu… (Dana, it hurts so much…)”
My body was hot. I couldn’t breathe properly. It was so painful.
And I wanted to see Dad…
Each time I breathed, a harsh wheezing sound came out. It felt like something was blocking my chest. Dana’s face turned pale.
“Flynn, contact the Lord immediately!”
“Yes, Dana!”
Flynn hurried out.
I watched her back as she left and hoped Lucero would come quickly.
‘Why aren’t you coming, Dad…’
Maybe it was because he was always by my side. Without him, I suddenly felt empty and lonely.
Tears burst out, and I rubbed my face against Dana’s hand. She quickly picked me up.
“Young Miss, it hurts a lot, doesn’t it? Please endure just a little longer. The physician will arrive soon.”
Dana gently stroked my back again and again, as if she wished she could be the one who was sick instead. Her eyes were teary as she whispered softly.
Just then—
“I brought him!”
“Let me see the Young Lady!”
Molly returned with the physician.
“Yes, here.”
Dana quickly handed me over.
The physician looked shocked the moment he saw me and immediately began examining me.
“Did the Young Lady go outside in the cold air?”
“No, she stayed in the room.”
“Her body feels cold. It seems like she was exposed to cold air…”
He trailed off and looked at me, as if he knew I had gone somewhere.
‘It was my fault for going out at dawn… but I didn’t know Iello would cry for that long…’
To avoid being discovered, I had hidden quietly in the small room next to the terrace and waited until he left, listening silently to his sorrow.
The maids surrounded me anxiously and kept pressing the physician with questions.
“Should we raise the room temperature?”
“Or give her more medicine? She took some this morning, but it should be fine, right?”
“Can she eat? Even if she’s sick, she must eat.”
“Should we prepare nutritious food?”
The physician looked flustered.
“Please calm down! The Young Lady will be fine. Let’s give her medicine first.”
He quickly fed me some liquid medicine. The maids stroked me gently so I could swallow it.
Maybe it was the medicine.
Soon, sleepiness washed over me.
“Young Miss, when you wake up, you’ll feel much better. Have sweet dreams.”
“That’s right! You took your medicine, so you’ll be fine soon. When you wake up, shall we play with your animal friends?”
They forced bright smiles to reassure me.
Because of that, I felt both comforted and guilty.
‘Thank you… and I’m sorry.’
And like that, with Dana and Molly patting me gently, I closed my eyes.
Granato Ducal Estate – Study.
“Brother, the youngest is sick.”
Levi, who had been reading beside Iello, shared the news. Iello turned his gaze toward him.
“So?”
“So? Father isn’t here, and now the youngest is sick. The atmosphere in the house is strange!”
“That has nothing to do with your studies.”
“Seriously! Do you have no heart?”
Levi glared at him.
“If it were me, I’d go see her out of guilt.”
“She’s probably sleeping now.”
“Then will you go when she’s awake?”
“I don’t know.”
“What does that mean!”
“I don’t know. Mind your own business.”
As if he didn’t want to talk anymore, Iello closed his book and stood up.
“Brother, where are you going? Class is about to start!”
“That’s none of your concern.”
Ignoring Levi’s shout, Iello walked out.
After walking for a while, he stopped in front of a door.
‘I ended up here after all.’
Without realizing it, he had come to Lucero’s room—where Allegria was staying.
He hesitated.
The door was just within reach, yet opening it felt difficult.
It felt as if Allegria was sick because of him. Guilt and confusion filled his heart.
‘Is it because of what happened at dawn?’
He clenched his fist.
He knew. When he confessed his feelings about their mother, Allegria had been there, watching him silently. She had heard all his resentment.
At first, he was irritated that she had seen his weakness.
But now… he felt uneasy, thinking she might be sick because of him.
After staring at the door for a long time, he finally reached for the handle.
Click.
The door opened.
On the right, Allegria was sleeping, breathing harshly.
“Huu…”
She frowned in her sleep, as if having a nightmare. Tears clung to the corners of her eyes.
Iello carefully wiped away her tears.
Then Allegria smiled in her sleep and rubbed her cheek against his hand.
His movement froze.
He silently looked down at her.
‘Don’t you hate me?’
He truly wanted to ask.
She couldn’t speak yet, but she must know how hostile he had been toward her.
And so, Iello could only keep staring at Allegria.
Pietra Eastern Farm.
“Gasp, Your Grace! The goods have all rotted!”
“Yes, they have rotted. As if someone deliberately tampered with them.”
Lucero’s face darkened as he looked at the export goods. The fruits, meant to be shipped tomorrow, had all turned black.
“Plio, does this make any sense?”
“Your Grace…”
“All the affected goods turned black. Can this truly be called a natural phenomenon?”
It was such a strange sight that even Plio and the retainers could not speak easily.
“We replaced the damaged goods for now. But if this happens again? How will we handle it then?”
No one answered. The atmosphere grew heavy.
Just then—
“Your Grace! A message from the estate! The Young Lady is sick!”
Someone ran up, gasping, and handed Lucero a letter.
“What? My daughter?”
Lucero’s face turned terrifyingly cold at the news.
After reading the letter, he immediately mounted his horse.
“We return to the estate. Now.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
Just as he was about to leave—
“Please wait, Your Grace!”
Plio spread his arms and blocked his path.
