~Chapter 28~
“Robert, why did you just stand there and do nothing?”
Johann ignored the flustered Carolina and gestured at the butler.
“…I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t ask for an apology.”
“…”
The butler silently lowered his head.
“When my aunt said she’d look after the duchy in place of my mother, do you remember what I told you?”
“…You told me to support Lady Carolina so the duchy wouldn’t fall into disorder.”
“And yet, instead of stopping her from running around the house like she owns the place, you egged her on.”
“Johann! How could you say that about your aunt?”
“Aunt, I’m talking to the butler right now.”
He didn’t allow her to interrupt.
“Your Grace, it’s all my fault.”
“You’re not at fault because you lacked something—but because you gave too much. You gave your loyalty to Carolina Sprecher, not to the House of Blumhardt.”
At those words, the butler, Carolina, and even the Duchess Dowager all looked at Johann.
“Johann, what are you saying?”
“Mother, Robert helped Aunt Carolina falsify the duchy’s account books.”
“…What?”
Isabella took the books from her son’s aide
with trembling hands and quickly flipped through them, frowning.
Johann was right.
‘Ever since I handed the household affairs over to her, she’s been funneling extra money to herself…’
How could she do that right from the start?
“Carolina! How could you do such a thing!”
“…Sister, I—”
“Like they say, old habits die hard. I guess you couldn’t let go of your spending habits from the Marquessate of Sprecher.”
“…Johann! Even if you’re upset, how can you talk to me like this? If your late father knew—”
“Don’t talk about my father with that mouth. If you have even a shred of conscience left, don’t.”
Carolina tried to bring up her brother, the late Duke, but it didn’t work.
Neither Johann nor Isabella were moved.
She had crossed a line.
“You even took money that was meant for Raphaella.”
“…T-That’s…”
“What? Carolina, are you serious…?”
Isabella stared at Carolina, shocked, not even finishing the rest of the account books.
“You already had more than enough clothes, but you used the budget for Raphaella to buy even more for yourself. You gave her hand-me-downs.”
“Your Grace, please. It’s all my fault!”
The butler stepped forward and knelt before Johann.
“You think just kneeling is going to fix this?”
“I’ll resign from my post as head butler of the Duchy…”
“You really think resigning is enough to make up for falsifying records? How naive.”
“I’ll accept whatever punishment. Just please spare Lady Carolina.”
“Don’t worry, your punishment will come whether you’re ready or not. So don’t presume to ask for leniency on her behalf.”
Johann smirked coldly.
“Johann, you heard Robert. He said it’s all his fault.”
“Robert, don’t tell me… you still…”
Carolina, realizing she was trapped, tried to shift the blame onto the butler, while the Duchess Dowager seemed to finally understand something.
“I’m sorry, Madam.”
Isabella let out a deep sigh.
She had suspected it, vaguely.
That Robert, when he was a young trainee under her father before Carolina married into the Marquessate, had feelings for her.
‘He tried hard to hide it, so she pretended not to notice. She never imagined that would be part of the reason for this mess.’
“Robert, I never thought you’d disappoint me like this.”
“…I have no excuse.”
They say you can’t hide love or a sneeze, but a butler of the Blumhardt Duchy should’ve done anything to keep it hidden.
As a retainer of the house, loyalty should’ve come before love.
Instead, Robert Burns gave everything—his heart and even the duchy itself—for his rekindled love.
It was foolish and stupid.
“Isabella, please forgive me just once! I swear I won’t ever do it again!”
“When you did it back then at the Marquessate, I thought it was just immaturity and influence from the late marquess’s lavishness. But now I see, I was too kind to you.”
As Isabella coldly rejected her, Carolina broke down crying like a child.
Her beloved brother, who always looked the other way, was gone.
And even if he came back from the dead, he couldn’t save her now.
“Take them away—those who embezzled
and falsified the duchy’s finances.”
At Johann’s command, knights brought by
Samuel dragged Carolina and Robert out.
Robert went quietly, but Carolina screamed the whole way, yelling that she was noble and demanding how they could treat her like a criminal.
“…This is all my fault.”
Even the head maid who served Carolina was taken away, and the sitting room fell silent, with only Isabella’s sigh breaking the stillness.
“Because I was focused on Penelope, I let Carolina run wild in the duchy.”
“It’s not your fault, Mother. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me.”
“You were busy as soon as you returned. It was my responsibility to manage the house.”
She waved her hand at Johann.
“If I hadn’t trusted Carolina so easily and paid attention to the household, Raphaella wouldn’t have suffered like this today.”
She thought about Raphaella, who must’ve had such a rough day.
“And I even scolded her harshly for going up to the fourth floor. I can’t face her now.”
“…If it was a misunderstanding and you sincerely apologize, she’ll forgive you.”
“I hope so. Anyway, I need to get her a
new dress right away.”
“Yes. Once things settle down, I’ll bring someone from the salon.”
“Good. I also feel sorry to her mother. Only a parent truly understands another parent’s heart.”
She promised herself to properly apologize to both Leah and Raphaella once everything was sorted out.
—
Leah sipped the warm tea the maid had brought her, trying to calm herself.
Raphaella, sitting next to her, still wore the dirty dress—even after Penelope had cleaned it a bit.
She had several little scrapes on her knees.
‘That brat, I swear!’
Leah trembled with anger thinking about Marco.
‘And that woman! If your kid’s a little monster, the least you can do is discipline him—not spoil him!’
She swallowed her rising tears.
“Rafi, was today really hard?”
“…A little?”
“No, Rafi. When something like this happens, you say ‘It was really hard.’”
Ria’s heart broke hearing her daughter downplay it just to avoid worrying her.
‘I came here to protect you, but I let you go through something like this—made you feel like you can’t even speak your mind.’
She felt terrible that her daughter’s heart was hurt as well.
“……It was really hard.”
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there, Rafi.”
“It’s okay now, because you’re here.”
Raphaella hugged her tightly again.
“No one is ever going to hurt you again. I swear.”
She whispered like a spell.
“Rafi, should we take a bath before dinner?”
She carried Raphaella to the bathroom.
While bathing her, she saw the cuts on her forehead and knees and got angry all over again.
‘How dare he do this to Rafi. That little bastard Marco.’
She’d raised Raphaella with all the love in the world, treating her like the most
precious thing.
“Mom, it doesn’t hurt at all!”
Raphaella noticed her mother was upset and tried to sound cheerful.
“…You’re hurt. Of course it hurts.”
“Marco got a nosebleed though!”
“He can suffer for all I care.”
“…Mom, aren’t you going to scold me?”
“Why would I? You deserve praise, not scolding.”
Leah kissed the top of her head and whispered.
“You should never hit someone without a reason—but if you’re in danger, you’re allowed to fight back with everything you’ve got.”
“Really?”
“Really. But if you can, always try to get help from an adult first.”
She wanted her daughter to be able to protect herself in case Leah wasn’t there.
—
The next morning, Carolina and Marco showed up at Raphaella’s room.
Not by choice, of course.
“What are you doing standing out there?”
Johann glared at Carolina, who was hesitating in front of the door.
“…Johann, do you really have to do this?”
“If you won’t apologize, then I won’t show you any more respect.”
“…Fine! I’ll do it, okay!”
Carolina finally entered the room, holding Marco’s hand.
Marco looked annoyed.
“Marco, do what Mommy told you to.”
“No! Why should I apologize to that commoner…!”
Smack!
Carolina slapped him.
It wasn’t hard, but it was enough to shock Marco.
“…Hurry up and apologize to Lady Raphaella!”
Still stunned, Marco stumbled over to Raphaella.
Raphaella stepped back, trying to hide in
her mother’s skirt.
Johann came over to her.
“Raphaella, there’s no one in the empire you need to be afraid of.”
He bent down and whispered.
“…Really?”
“Of course. You’re the only daughter of Duke Blumhardt.”
While he was speaking, Marco wiped away his tears and knelt in front of Raphaella.
Behind him stood the Duke of Blumhardt, tall and strong like a mountain.
