Chapter 84 …
The Villain’s Future Is Visible, and It’s Disturbing
When I opened my eyes, sunlight was already flooding the room.
‘Huh! How long did I sleep?’
Startled, I tried to bolt upright, but my body didn’t move the way I wanted it to, and I collapsed back onto the bed.
I had fallen asleep near dawn, yet I hadn’t dreamed at all—I’d slept deeply. Still, my whole body ached, as if I’d worked out hard the day before.
I quickly pulled the blanket up to my chin and looked around. In the large room, I was lying there all alone.
The empty space where someone had filled the bed felt strangely cold and lonely.
‘Did he already get up?’
Thinking that his stamina was impressive, I stared at the ceiling and quietly recalled what had happened yesterday.
Entering the hall, holding his hand as we exchanged our wedding vows, receiving everyone’s blessings—and then even sharing a bed together.
It was hard to believe that all of that had happened in a single day.
The pain I felt somewhere in my body clearly proved that last night’s intense happenings on the bed hadn’t been a dream.
‘Ah… what do I do. I think I was too true to my instincts.’
I thought that I hadn’t been in my right mind last night either.
Even while our bodies were entwined, my reason kept repeating that I shouldn’t do this—but instead of pushing him away, my body had clung to him even tighter.
I didn’t regret my actions now, but with the bright morning light, I couldn’t help feeling a little embarrassed.
As I let out a small, troubled sigh, I heard someone’s presence by the door.
Click.
Judging by the cautious way they peeked inside, it seemed they were worried about waking me.
“Alisha?”
Realizing I was awake, Alisha trotted over to me.
She beamed brightly, spread her skirt, and bowed her head in greeting.
“Congratulations on your first day as Grand Duchess.”
I said to her with a stern face,
“I’m really not in the mood for jokes. So don’t tease me, Alisha.”
She grinned at my words and lifted her head again.
“I didn’t even realize it was this late—I fell asleep.”
Alisha poured me a glass of water and helped me sit up in bed.
“His Grace told us not to wake you, so it’s fine. He said you’d be tired, and personally ordered that your meal be brought in once you woke up.”
“Siraz… ah, His Grace?”
“Yes.”
She nodded with a mischievous smile.
“What’s it like outside?”
Since I’d gone back to my room saying I was tired while everything was still hectic with the wedding celebration yesterday, I was curious about what was going on outside.
Surely the guests and soldiers weren’t still drinking themselves senseless… right?
If that were the case, I’d be reluctant to go out and would rather just lie down all day.
“It’s no different from usual at all. You’d hardly believe there was a wedding for His Grace yesterday.”
“Really?”
“Yes. His Grace got up like he does every morning, went to the training grounds, and then went straight to his office. In fact, it was the officials who were late—running over with pale faces.”
At Alisha’s words, I slowly nodded.
“They were saying that Lady Seville’s wedding was done in a flash, but that His Grace’s wedding was almost too simple.”
Considering that a grand duke’s wedding should have been held with splendor rivaling an imperial marriage, it was only natural that people would talk when it was carried out more modestly than even that of a minor noble.
Siraz had silenced them by saying there was no reason to hold a lavish ceremony during wartime.
Still, there was nothing to be done about the whispers behind the scenes.
After all, no one knew this marriage wasn’t real, but merely a sham.
And yet, despite that, we’d spent the night together. As last night’s events suddenly resurfaced in my mind, a faint sense of self-loathing crept in.
“Oh, right. Madam Schletz has finished her meal and is having tea. It seems she’ll be returning home soon.”
“Really?”
I quickly got out of bed and began preparing to go out.
I’d grown attached to her during this time, and hearing that she’d be leaving soon made me anxious.
In the reception room I headed to after getting ready, Mia was there as well.
“You’re here.”
Madam Schletz stood up to greet me. The way she offered such proper courtesy made it feel as though she truly regarded me as the Grand Duchess now.
The look in her eyes as she gazed at me seemed full of fresh emotion.
Having successfully seen the wedding through, there was a sense of relief—as though she’d completed her duty.
“It seems you had a good night. I’m glad to see you in high spirits.”
As I approached and took a seat, she spoke to Mia, who was standing behind her.
“That will be all. You’re very skillful with your hands.”
With a satisfied smile, Madam Schletz praised Mia.
Mia gave a small smile in return, bent her knees in a polite bow, and left the room.
Watching her go with a trusting gaze, Madam Schletz spoke kindly.
“My shoulders were stiff and uncomfortable, but thanks to that child, I feel much better.”
I smiled faintly as I watched the two of them.
Mia had once ended up attending to Madam Schletz by chance, and since then, she seemed to have firmly won her favor.
Although my suspicions about Mia hadn’t completely vanished, anyone could see that she was diligent and earnest when it came to her work.
“You’re leaving already?”
At my words, Madam Schletz smiled softly for the first time, her eyes crinkling.
“You must feel relieved now that the nagging is over.”
“No. There’s still so much I have to learn…”
Those words came sincerely from my heart.
I truly wished Madam Schletz would stay a bit longer.
Something I never would have imagined when I first met her.
Now, she felt like a strict yet comforting aunt—or perhaps a reliable patron supporting me.
“With that much, you’ll be more than capable of fulfilling your role as Grand Duchess. If anything difficult comes up, write to me anytime.”
“I will.”
When I replied with gratitude in my expression, Madam Schletz looked at me intently, her face showing a mix of emotions.
There was pride at how well I’d followed her guidance, but also an oddly worried look.
“In married life, there will surely be difficult and painful moments. Face them wisely.”
I brushed it off as the kind advice of an elder, yet it felt strangely unsettling—as if she were speaking after seeing my future.
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
If she knew that Siraz and I were merely a sham couple, she wouldn’t have said such things… I felt guilty, as though I were deceiving her.
A servant lightly knocked on the door, informing us that the Countess’s luggage and carriage were ready.
Mia, the other maids, and I all saw the Countess off.
Perhaps because of the contrast with yesterday’s noisy wedding, or because Madam Schletz had now left, the castle felt strangely empty and hollow.
As I was about to return to my room, Mia glanced at me nervously and parted her lips.
“Um… Your Grace.”
Seeing her fidget, fingers clasped together, it was clear she had something to say.
After dismissing everyone else, I walked with Mia through the garden toward the apothecary for the first time in a while.
“Mia. What is it?”
When I asked gently, she stopped walking, turned to me, and slightly bowed her head.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
‘Could it be about that? The carriage incident last time?’
I suddenly grew tense. I hadn’t expected her to make a serious confession at a moment like this.
“It’s about the kidnapping of Lady Seville’s carriage back then…”
‘I knew it!’
I swallowed hard and looked straight at her.
Because of that incident, I’d suspected Mia and even kept her close by my side on purpose.
As time passed and I lived with her, I’d started to wonder if I’d misjudged her, and my suspicion had gradually faded.
In truth, despite keeping her close, I hadn’t found a single piece of evidence to doubt her—and nothing else had happened to Seville since that day.
And yet now, from Mia’s own mouth, came talk of that incident.
“The person who kidnapped the young lady back then and died… was actually someone I knew.”
I nodded calmly and continued speaking in an even tone.
“Mia. Was he someone you loved?”
She nodded.
“We grew up in the same neighborhood since we were young, and when my family fell on hard times, he helped me a lot.”
I understood what she meant and nodded slowly. I’d even guessed it might be something like that.
“He said that to take revenge on His Grace, Lady Seville had to die, and he wanted me to help. His father was unjustly killed after being involved in some incident.”
“I see.”
I listened without agitation.
“When I said I couldn’t do it, he threatened to harm my family instead. So… so I told him in advance about the young lady’s movements.”
Mia wiped her tears with her hands and burst into sobs.
I let her cry for a while, then spoke again.
“Why did you suddenly decide to confess this to me? If you hadn’t said anything, I might never have known.”
Sniffling, she answered,
“You treat me so well, like a real younger sister. After a while, lying became unbearably painful. And even now… sob. It feels like I’m still deceiving you, Lady Garnet, and committing a sin.”
Something about her words puzzled me, and after thinking for a moment, I asked,
“What do you mean, committing a sin?”
Looking at her face, it seemed there was more to this story that I didn’t know.
“Actually…”
It felt like what came next was the real issue.
“Actually, Count Aaron already knew that I was involved in that incident.”
“What?”
This was something I’d had no idea about.
“Then why…?”
