Chapter 38
“Save me…”
All the strength drained from my body. My weak legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor.
“Milady, please stand up.”
Nicole looked at me with a troubled expression, but I ignored her.
I don’t care. Dignity? What’s that?
“I’m tired… I just want to rest.”
“Let’s end today’s lesson here. Why don’t you rest in your room for now? Someone might see you like this.”
With gentle hands, she wrapped a blanket around my shoulders.
Last night, before going to bed, I’d been determined to start investigating the masked men’s identities as soon as I woke up.
But then I remembered—I had swimming lessons scheduled today.
Nicole must have noticed that my stamina had improved, because she decided to increase the difficulty. Thanks to that, any thoughts about masked people or investigations vanished. I just wanted to lie down and never move again.
“Young Lady, please, let’s go inside.”
With Marie’s help, I dragged myself to my room.
I’ll think after I wash up.
“Father, are you busy?”
I cracked open the office door, peeking in with only my eyes visible.
A deliberate display of my cute daughter act—strictly out of necessity.
“If it’s only for a moment, that’s fine. Come in.”
Oh? Looks like it worked. My father welcomed me with a kind smile.
“It’s been a while since you came to me first. What is it today? Shall I have them bring some tea?”
“No, that’s all right. I just wanted to ask something.”
“What is it?”
His expression already said, ‘I knew you were up to something.’ I ignored it.
“Has our family ever done anything to make another house hold a grudge against us?”
“Why would we ever do something so foolish?”
His bewildered look told me he wasn’t lying.
Hmm. Honestly, it would’ve been easier if we had offended someone—at least then I’d have a clear suspect.
“Then, maybe not a grudge, but… is there any house we don’t get along with?”
“…Something happened to you, didn’t it?”
Too obvious, huh? His face hardened instantly.
“So? Is there any house like that? Who are they?”
“There isn’t. Everyone appears friendly on the surface. But remember—our House Lambert is one of only four ducal families in the Empire. If an opening appears, anyone would try to drag us down.”
…Great. That just made my headache worse.
So basically, every noble family is a potential enemy.
“What exactly happened, Yvonne?”
“Nothing, really.”
I couldn’t tell him yet. For all his flaws, Father truly cherished me.
If I said too much, innocent nobles could get caught in the crossfire.
I’d have to narrow down the suspects first. And until then, I’d better avoid walking around alone.
“If anything happens, you must tell me immediately. …Have you seen Nathan?”
“I saw him when he came home yesterday.”
“Did you two speak alone? Did he say anything to you?”
His tone was oddly urgent.
“He just asked how I’ve been.”
“I see… All right. In any case, tell me right away if something happens. I have work to finish.”
“Yes, I’ll head upstairs too.”
He seemed almost eager to end the conversation. Probably just an excuse to avoid talking further. Fine by me—I didn’t have more to say anyway.
As I left, my legs nearly gave out halfway up the stairs. Maybe learning to swim wasn’t such a great idea after all.
After his daughter left the study, Duke Lambert let out a deep sigh.
Did something happen to Yvonne again?
He didn’t know what kind of trouble she’d faced this time, but it was probably his son’s doing—again.
It was strange. There were always threats, but never proof. If he got angry without evidence, Nathan would just act innocent again.
“I never should’ve brought him here…”
He muttered under his breath, cigarette between his lips.
And yet, Nathan was the most suitable heir.
He had ambition for the family, and when he caused trouble, he never left traces behind.
In a world where only the ruthless survived, that was a strength.
And he was his only son.
No—Duke Lambert would have brought him in even if he were a daughter. Because he had the face of the woman he once loved—Anna.
“Anna, thank you, as always.”
“There’s no need to thank a mere maid, young master.”
It was twenty-one years ago, before Frederick Lambert inherited the title of Duke.
Anna had been a maid then. From the first moment she saw him, she’d fallen hopelessly in love.
But her low birth kept her from approaching him. Instead, she poured all her affection into her work, serving him with absolute devotion.
Her efforts earned her the position of his personal maid.
Frederick couldn’t help noticing the way her cheeks flushed whenever she was near him. That warmth made something inside him stir—so he kept her close, again and again.
In time, they became lovers.
“It feels like a dream…”
Whenever fear crept in, Anna would cling to him, seeking reassurance.
After enough reassurance, fear turned to certainty. She started dreaming of the day she’d become a duchess. Every day felt like paradise.
Until one day—
“I’m getting married. To Lady Adeline.”
Her dream shattered in an instant.
“But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. I still want you to attend the wedding.”
Of course, a man who’d been pampered all his life had no real sense of compassion.
The morning of his wedding, Anna disappeared from the ducal house without a word.
A year later.
Frederick, now Duke Lambert, still felt a faint regret over her disappearance—but he never went looking for her.
He told himself that leaving her alone was the kindest thing he could do after marrying another woman.
While he was away in the province, the household received joyous news.
“She’s given birth to a daughter, my lord.”
His wife, Adeline, had delivered their child—Yvonne. He hurried back to the capital.
“Forgive me, my lord,” said the coachman nervously. “The horse seems unwell.”
Strange. As they passed through a small nameless village, the horse slowed, then stopped completely.
“We’ll rest here for tonight,” he decided.
A nearby inn caught his eye. He entered—and froze.
“You…”
The woman showing him to his room was Anna.
“You vanished without a word. Are you working here now?”
“This way, sir. Please enjoy your stay.”
She ignored him entirely and left.
Her cold indifference stung, but exhaustion won out. He fell asleep on the bed.
Before dawn.
Frederick woke and wandered into the hallway in a daze.
Was this a dream? His body moved on its own, his mind floating elsewhere.
And then—he opened a door he shouldn’t have.
Anna was there.
When the sun rose, the bed beside him was empty—as if no one had ever been there.
“…Insanity.”
He remembered the night before—his own reckless, beast-like behavior.
It hadn’t felt like him. Almost as if something else had taken over.
But what was done was done.
No one must ever know.
He had a wife. A daughter. His reputation. A commoner like Anna could only be a liability.
He splashed cold water on his face, forcing his expression back to normal.
When he returned, his servant greeted him with a pale face.
“I came to wake you, but you weren’t there, my lord.”
“I woke early. Went for a walk.”
“Ah… so diligent as always.”
Perfect crime, complete. The duke smiled faintly.
But secrets never last forever.
Six years later, just when the memory had faded—
‘If you don’t want your son to die, come and take him.’
The letter came from Anna.
A son?
Frederick’s heart pounded with guilt and confusion.
No… maybe he’s not mine.
He nearly tore the letter apart—but stopped.
A son…
His wife Adeline had only given birth once, and her frail body couldn’t bear another child.
And though some dukes allowed daughters to inherit, Frederick was far too traditional for that.
He longed for a son.
When he arrived at the address Anna had written, he was speechless.
The place was far from the inn where they’d last met—tucked deep within a rough, forgotten village.
He knocked. The door creaked open; it wasn’t even locked.
And there she was.
“Mother hasn’t woken up since yesterday…”
A young boy spoke in a flat voice.
Next to him—
“Anna…”
She was cold. Lifeless.
“What illness did she have?”
“…I don’t know.”
It wasn’t anything he recognized. Her body was shriveled, as if something had drained every drop of life from her.
It wasn’t starvation. It was something else.
“What’s your name, boy?”
“Nathan.”
The duke stared at him—at the small nose, the thin lips, the brown hair so much like his own. Only the blue eyes were Anna’s.
There was no doubt.
“My son.”
“Forget what happened here. From this day forward, you are Nathan Lambert. A noble must carry himself with pride.”
“Yes.”
His mother had just died, and yet the boy agreed so easily.
Frederick didn’t notice how unnatural that was.
He didn’t realize this obedience was the beginning of their downfall.
[Comments]
→ “When will a single sane man appear in this novel??”
→ “Theo’s the only semi-normal one left.”
→ “Keyword: semi 😂”
→ “Cheating then blaming it on ‘I was bewitched’ — classic move.”
→ “King of self-justification right here.”
→ “Forget Raphael, the dad’s the real villain 😤”
→ “^ This. I hate him more than the son now.”
