CHAPTER 30 – The Sixth Day
Something stirred inside her belly—slow at first, but steadily growing stronger.
What had begun as a faint squirming began to swell in size and heat. A wave of warmth bloomed from her solar plexus, spreading like fire through her bloodstream until it engulfed her entire body.
Her whole body burned, but it was the searing pain deep within her chest that drew an involuntary groan from her lips.
“Ugh…”
“Madam!”
“Madam, can you hear us?”
Voices buzzed in her ears, though their words were indecipherable.
They sounded like a child’s babble, warm and gentle like a lullaby—yet at the same time, eerie and oppressive, like something crawling under her skin. All the sounds tangled together in a dissonant mess, rattling her skull.
“Ugh…ugh…”
“Madam, please! Wake up… hic…”
“Housekeeper, did the doctor say anything new?”
Ah… that was Jena’s voice.
The dissonant chorus vanished in an instant, replaced by distinct, individual voices she could now clearly make out.
Bella wanted to reassure Jena—I’m okay, don’t worry. But her voice never reached them.
I’m fine. I’m conscious. I can hear you all…
But the frustration was overwhelming.
No matter how desperately she tried, the words refused to leave her lips.
Though she was fully aware, her eyes wouldn’t open. Her limbs might as well have been shackled—her body refused to respond.
“It’s already been three days. We can’t keep hiding this much longer.”
Karen’s calm voice followed.
Three days. She had already been unconscious for three days.
Time had passed without her knowing. She had assumed, at most, a day or two had gone by.
“None of the doctors who’ve come have been able to diagnose her illness, and we can only do so much to keep everyone quiet…”
“Madam was insistent about not informing anyone until the last moment… What should we do?”
“It’s only a matter of time before the vassals find out anyway. Young Master Kaelan’s already started replying to their letters.”
After Bella collapsed and began coughing up blood, the staff had assumed she’d recover quickly.
She hadn’t shown any alarming symptoms prior to this—no complaints of pain, no signs of illness. Just working hard as usual.
Though worry filled the hearts of the servants, most believed she would soon open her eyes and resume her duties.
She’s been pushing herself too hard lately, taking on all the estate’s affairs.
Barely sleeping, always working… She looked exhausted.
Remember when Lady Reina and Master Haldeir made a mess of the office? She didn’t even get angry.
She must’ve been hurting more than she let on.
And didn’t she go to the Imperial Palace recently on urgent business? First time she went without the Duke.
She’s been drinking more tea than usual, too. I noticed the storage room is full of empty tins now—Chef even yelled at the assistant chef about it.
Well, it’s not like having too much tea is a bad thing, right?
Anyway, I just hope Madam wakes up soon…
“She’s been unconscious for three days. Don’t you think it’s time Brother Kaelan officially assumes the role of acting head? The duchy can’t just remain in limbo while we wait for her to wake up.”
“Exactly. Uncle Perdo stated in his will—if anything happens to that woman, Uncle Kranos and Kaelan are to lead the duchy together.”
“I overheard the maids saying Brother Kaelan went into the office today…”
“What? Haldeir! Is that true?”
“Haldeir, answer us! Is it true?!”
Both Anna and Reina turned to Haldeir with brightened expressions.
Caught off guard by their intense stares, Haldeir flinched before nodding and shared what he knew.
“Uh… yeah. I stopped by Stepmother’s room earlier and overheard the butler and a maid talking. Apparently, Kaelan sent a reply to the vassals.”
“Wow, seriously?! That’s great news! Wait… but why did you go to her room, Haldeir?”
“Huh? I-I just…”
“You went without telling me? Why?”
“Reina, calm down. I… I kept thinking about the moment she collapsed—coughing up blood. I was worried…”
The image of Bella coughing blood and crumpling to the floor haunted Haldeir.
She’d changed so much recently—more composed, less desperate. He thought she’d grown stronger.
But to see her collapse so suddenly, so helplessly—it shocked him.
He’d been holding onto Reina, trembling as he watched Bella struggle to speak even as her strength gave out. The words she forced out, despite the pain, echoed in his mind:
“…Don’t… let them… know… Outside… don’t tell… anyone…”
She didn’t cry out in pain. She used her last ounce of strength not to scream, but to warn them.
To protect them.
Since the Duke’s disappearance, it hadn’t even been half a month that Bella had been managing the household alone.
Why is she doing this?
Why go so far—for our duchy?
We’ve always hated her. So why does she care so much about this family?
Is it just because of Father’s will…?
Even as she was carried limp and pale to her bed, Haldeir’s eyes hadn’t left the doorway.
She hadn’t even glanced at them.
If food had caused her to cough blood, it would be natural to suspect poison. But Bella had eaten the same meal as the children.
Yet even as she collapsed, even in her last words, she hadn’t looked at them once.
That could only mean one thing.
“She doesn’t worry about us anymore.”
That was the conclusion Haldeir reached.
He had always been attuned to Reina’s moods—watching her expressions, guessing her thoughts. Even as a child, he’d learned how to read people quickly.
So when things shifted, he noticed.
Like the time Reina trashed the office. Bella hadn’t said a word—not even a “be careful.” She just told them to leave.
She hadn’t even asked if Reina had hurt herself.
She stopped worrying about us back then.
She didn’t care about them—but she still protected the duchy.
What kind of contradiction is that…?
“Halde?”
“Huh? Oh, Reina…”
“Were you even listening to me?! Did you hear anything I said?!”
When Reina got angry, her eyebrows shot up and her cheeks flushed red.
Her brows would knit together, and she’d glare like she wanted to bite him.
That kind of anger usually faded if he soothed her a little.
“I’m sorry, Reina. I’m just… shaken. I’m not as strong as you. That was the first time I’ve ever seen someone cough up blood…”
“You’re older than me! Why are you such a softie? Don’t worry—there wasn’t any poison. We’re fine.”
She sighed and pulled him into a warm hug. But her next words showed her true nature—selfish and always centered on those she cared about.
“Seeing blood scared you, huh? Let’s ask Emma to bring some pudding. Something sweet will help you forget all about it!”
“Yeah… let’s do that, Reina.”
Bella would never belong in that “family.”
She hadn’t belonged even when the Duke was around. She certainly wouldn’t now.
And maybe—just maybe—Bella had finally come to accept that too.
“Madam, it’s been two more days… It’s the fifth day now. How are you feeling today?”
Jena’s voice floated gently over her, her hands wiping Bella’s arms with warm towels.
Sometime during the past few days, Jena had begun telling Bella little stories while tending to her—updates from the mansion, tidbits of gossip.
“I believe in you, Madam. If the gods are watching, they’d never let something like this happen to someone like you.”
“…”
“You’re so kind… You always speak to servants like me—even just a maid who cleans your room.”
“…”
“You share leftover treats… you gave us bonuses… You even remembered my name…”
Her voice trembled. Soon she was sniffling again.
At first, Bella had felt guilty. But by now, Jena’s teary rituals were almost… endearing.
All she had done was speak to a hardworking, freckled girl. Who would’ve thought that meant so much?
If I’d known how much it meant to you, I would’ve done it sooner.
Life after her regression had brought much joy—but also regret. So many missed opportunities.
Why couldn’t I act like this before?
Had I just looked around a little… I might have seen girls like Jena.
Why did it feel like everyone was against me back then?
“Madam, you’re okay, right? You’re going to wake up, aren’t you? I’ll clean your room even better from now on!”
“…”
Jena clasped Bella’s hand tightly.
“Just once… If you’d just open your eyes, just once. Say you’re okay. Or even blink. Just so I don’t have to be this scared…”
“…”
“But I believe in you. I really do. You’ll wake up. You promised me. You said you’d be okay.”
Yes, Jena. I’ll wake up.
I didn’t come back just to fall here.
And then, another day passed.
It was now the sixth day.
Jena continued her gentle care, wiping each of Bella’s fingers with a soft cloth, chattering away about life in the mansion.
“Anyway, Sera’s such a klutz—she dropped an entire basket of laundry and made a huge mess. Good thing Laura and I helped clean up or it would’ve been chaos. Oh! Wait… is that boring? Maybe I should talk about—”
Flinch—
“…Huh?”
Bella’s index finger twitched—just barely.
Jena’s eyes widened.
