Chapter 9
The neat, precise handwriting dug even deeper into Aela’s chest.
The words, instructing her to sit quietly in one place like a living doll, pierced her heart colder than any harsh spoken words.
Though she had willingly stepped into this hellish fire herself, Aela felt fear creeping up inside her.
The glances and sneers of the servants she had faced moments ago, and the malicious maid who seemed desperate to tear her apart—every one of them made her skin crawl.
“Ah! Charlotte!”
As Aela rose to her feet, Kina, who had approached her side, spoke.
“Lady Laura said she would personally bring her here, so don’t worry.”
“Phew… alright.”
“Milady…”
“I’m really fine. Stop asking. My mouth hurts from saying it.”
Kina’s eyes shimmered with tears, but she nodded, struggling to hold back her emotions. Aela patted her head in gratitude.
Bang! Bang!
“Milady~ A woman claiming to be from the Blueanz family brought a little kitten here!”
“That woman… but!”
“Kina.”
“I understand.”
Click.
“I’m not deaf, so you may knock quietly on the door.”
“Oh~ alright~ I’ve informed milady, so I’ll go do my work now.”
“Very well.”
“That murderer’s daughter, pretending to be refined…”
Despite Lensi’s taunt, spoken as if deliberately within earshot, Aela could only endure it.
No matter how unpleasant, there was truth in some of the words.
A fact she could neither deny nor ignore. Aela once again fought the intense urge to purge the blood of Hans Blueanz running through her veins.
“Phew, let’s go, Kina.”
“Yes.”
Aela gently patted Kina’s back, who had endured as much as she had, and stepped into the central hall, where Charlotte was in Laura’s arms. By her side stood Kael, who must have arrived earlier.
Meow~
“Is that your way of saying hello? I’m glad too. Charlotte, I’m happy we can live here together. Come here.”
Meow~
Charlotte, who only knew Aela, immediately clung to Kael because she had been familiar with him since kittenhood. Aela watched with a smile as Kael pressed his lips to Charlotte’s forehead in an endlessly gentle expression of affection, raising her head to show her fondness.
“Miss… no, Duchess.”
“Laura.”
Meeting Laura’s worried gaze, Aela smiled and spoke first.
“Thank you for raising me like a mother. Thanks to you, I’ve been able to stay safe until now.”
“Duchess…”
Aela approached the now-teary Laura and embraced her. The once-large, warm arms that had comforted her as a child now seemed smaller than hers, a stark reminder of the passage of time.
‘Now that I’m an adult, it’s only natural that Laura has aged too.’
Patting her back, Aela gently pushed her, signaling it was time to go.
“Kina, take good care of the Duchess.”
“Don’t worry.”
“She’s the Duchess, after all.”
“No wonder she occupies the lady’s position so boldly.”
Laura, doubtful of her own ears, was shocked. How dare mere maids chatter so freely with their mistress present! If this had been the Blueanz estate, those women would have been punished without mercy.
But since the Duke of Hormons only cared for Charlotte in his arms and ignored the rest, Laura found it difficult to leave Aela standing there.
“Laura, why are you standing there dazed? Hurry up and leave.”
“Yes, Your Grace. I will withdraw now.”
Kael ignored Laura just as he had ignored Aela. The same Kael who always greeted Laura with a smile didn’t even glance at her.
Once Laura left, Kael moved forward, still holding Charlotte.
“Charlotte, we’ve prepared a room for you. There are maids to take care of you, so consider this your home.”
Meow!
Charlotte, not wanting to be separated from Aela, struggled in Kael’s arms.
“Here.”
Carefully, Kael set Charlotte down. She quickly ran to Aela, who embraced her warmly.
Meow~
“Charlotte.”
Aela pressed her forehead to Charlotte’s tiny, nuzzling head, eyes closed.
“Mateo.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Show her room and have her sleep there from now on.”
“Yes, sir.”
Aela didn’t lift her head until she could no longer hear Kael’s heavy footsteps retreating.
“How can she be worse off than a cat?”
“Oh, my! Your voice is too loud!”
“Quiet, everyone back to your positions.”
“Yes.”
Aela exhaled slowly and looked up.
“Mateo, Charlotte has never slept apart from me. If she does, she won’t sleep and will cry all night.”
“……”
Mateo, troubled, turned to look at Kina instead of Aela.
“I’ll report this to the Duke. For now, follow me.”
“…Yes, milady.”
Aela smiled faintly and followed. Charlotte’s room was more luxurious than the one Aela would use.
“Huh!”
Kina, exasperated, let out a small groan. Aela shook her head at her.
Kina pressed her lips together, her eyes burning with restrained anger.
‘This is too much! Was I really devoted to our lady? What a terrible child! I hope they regret this someday!’
As Aela entered the room with Charlotte, the space was larger than her own, with high-end furniture, a bed, and toys.
After Mateo left, Kina murmured quietly as she surveyed the room.
“This is utterly shameful. For someone with a duke title to do this… worse than commoners…”
“Kina.”
“Anyway, no one is around.”
“Remember, this is not the Blueanz estate. One careless word from you could endanger my life.”
Kina dropped to her knees and pressed her head to the floor.
“Kina, what are you doing? Stand up now.”
“I’m sorry, milady… I was too angry… I never intended to put you in danger.”
Aela set Charlotte down, gently helped the trembling Kina up, wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief, and smiled.
“I understand your feelings.”
“Ah, mi-milady…”
“With you here, I can at least endure this place. From now on, just quietly be my support. Kina.”
“Of course! I will be your shield, milady!”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
Natasha, who had been quietly listening from the wall, let out a small breath and left.
Mateo returned, relaying the Duke’s orders to Kina. Aela was to live only in her current room and Charlotte’s. Kina, moved, asked carefully:
“So, milady is not allowed to step outside the mansion at all?”
“That’s not entirely true. There will be occasional outings with the Duke.”
“Hah! That’s too cruel! Truly too cruel!”
“Kina, stop. Tell him thank you for me.”
As Mateo left, Lensi’s close ally Remi entered the room.
“Here comes our noble cat, Charlotte, more welcomed than the Duchess herself. Come here, we’ll clean you—”
Lensi approached, but Charlotte hissed and immediately scratched her deeply.
“Ah! That crazy kitten!”
“No!”
As Lensi tried to kick Charlotte, Aela wrapped herself around the cat protectively.
Thud!
“Milady! What is—!”
“Kina!”
“Ugh!”
Kina clenched her fists in frustration, approached Aela and Charlotte, brushing dust from her back.
“You! Lensi! Are you okay?”
“How can you ask that after seeing this with your own eyes! I’ll kill that cat!”
“Foolish.”
“What did you say!”
Aela met Lensi’s enraged glare, standing firm.
“After seeing the Duke care for this child, do you still threaten her life? First, your own will be at risk.”
“Hah! To be treated worse than some trivial creature, and yet only your mouth survives!”
“Lensi, let’s treat her wounds first.”
“If there’s a scar, I’ll never forgive her!”
“I’ll make sure there’s no scar. Leave her alone from now on.”
“You insolent—!”
Once quiet returned, Aela stroked Charlotte’s head, who glared fiercely at the door.
“Charlotte, you mustn’t do that anymore, understand?”
Meow~
“Kina, she seems to understand milady’s situation and cries pitifully.”
“….”
Aela met her eyes and smiled faintly at Charlotte’s rare, long, mournful cry, pressing her forehead to hers.
“Thank you, Charlotte, but I’m okay. Really, I’m fine.”
Kina turned away, clenching her lips tighter. Clearly, the Duchess was the one who wanted to cry the most.
Despite the maid’s arrogant attitude at dinner, Aela moved toward the dining hall.
Kael, seated at a distance, was already eating.
“….”
Aela’s appetite vanished at the sight of soup, stale bread, and obviously spoiled vegetable salad.
“Milady, please sit. We prepared this ourselves.”
“Indeed, though I can’t guarantee the taste.”
The smell alone made Aela gag.
She sat at the table, noticing the dirty dishes as well.
Amid the giggles around her, she exhaled deeply.
“Milady, how dare you disregard our efforts! Sob, sob.”
“Lensi, don’t cry.”
“So noisy.”
“I-I’m sorry, Duke.”
The laughing ceased, but Lensi, seeing Aela silently staring at the soup, approached and tried to feed it directly, pouring the dish onto her face.
“Gah!”
“Milady!”
Kina glared at Lensi, shoving her aside, and helped Aela, who was retching.
“Lensi! Are you okay?”
“Damn you…!”
“Do you find even my voice telling you to be quiet amusing?”
Seeing Kael’s fierce expression, no one dared to breathe.
