Chapter 93………………..
“This much.”
The low voice rose with anger.
“Wasn’t it enough that you already took this much from me?!”
Irene spat the words out like she was chewing them to pieces, glaring at Tyrein, who couldn’t bring himself to say anything.
“I gave up everything I could give. Until there was nothing left you could take, even if you wanted to. And yet—why do you now try to take my son as well?!”
Eight years ago, everything she had built crumbled like a sandcastle. Her family, honor, and power, along with the years she had lived.
Even after enduring all of that, she had never wanted anything. Even the things he had given her were not what she had desired. Did he think she had lived so quietly all this time for no reason?
It was solely for Ian’s sake. And yet—what did he say now?
“He got caught up in an incident? Then why must that child be the one to suffer? What on earth have you been doing all this time?!”
Tyrein silently accepted the torrent of resentment hurled at him. It had been so long since Irene last saw him without a smile that she struggled to calm her quickening breath.
There had been a time when their relationship was good. She wasn’t ignorant of why he had chosen a different path. She could not understand it, but there was one thing she was certain of. Thinking back to the past, when she had tried to gather the shards of her shattered trust, Irene let out a hollow laugh.
“I believed in you.”
At those words, the man’s face immediately stiffened. He blinked as if he couldn’t believe what he’d heard, but Irene drove the dagger in mercilessly.
“I believed you would at least protect Ian!”
Her eyes gleamed with venom. For someone who had once smiled in resignation, her gaze now was impossibly fierce.
“How could it be you of all people, doing this to me? What sin has that child committed? Nothing but the sin of being born as my son!”
Her eyes, bloodshot with rage, revealed a truth she could no longer suppress. Gripping his collar, her anguished cry was desperate. Tyrein had seen his sister remain calm even when being arrested as a traitor; now, unable to remain silent any longer, he finally spoke.
“…I’m sorry.”
His eyes sank as he uttered an apology he had no right to give. For as much as he cherished her, he could only ever stand as a sinner before her.
“This is all my failure. It won’t happen again.”
He barely managed to force the words from his reluctant lips, but Irene only shook her head in disbelief, her voice trembling as though on the edge of panic.
“I… I only wanted to live. In that world where you can’t survive unless you trample others.”
At the age of eighteen, she had entered the palace as queen, surrounded by a cold husband and countless concubines, and endured seventeen long years. It had been a grueling, lonely path. Blood stained her hands, and enemies piled up beyond count—like the sand by the riverbank.
Yet still, she had clung to life. For no reason other than to see her son rise to glory. Because if he failed to claim the throne, he would surely die. The struggle for the crown almost always ended in death. She could never let her son meet such a fate.
Or so she had believed.
But when everything was taken from her and she was confined to this manor, she had once seen Ian painting. With brush in hand, he was so absorbed that he didn’t even notice the door opening, nor her standing there watching.
It was then she realized—
She had never once asked him if he wanted to be king. She had only ever told him he must become one. Had she ever truly considered his will? Seeing his face so alight with joy, she had felt her strength leave her, though the sight was not unpleasant.
“I’m happy right now. So you don’t have to worry about me.”
All she wished was for him to be happier than she had ever been.
“But then why must the sins I’ve committed fall on him as well? Why must Ian suffer like this?!”
Her grip on Tyrein’s collar slackened. He flinched under the piercing gaze fixed upon him.
“Tell me the truth.”
She was calm again, but to Tyrein, her words sounded like: Kill him or spare him, it’s up to you. Her face was set in determination, as though disaster would follow if he didn’t answer properly.
Seeing that expression—the same as when they were children—he felt himself weakening, and cursed silently.
“What is happening to my son?!”
He could no longer hide it.
“When I was unconscious, a lot must have happened.”
Cordelia gave a bitter smile and downed her drink in one go. Riness, who had just finished explaining everything, picked up a cookie from the basket.
“That’s what I’m saying. Ugh, at that time I really thought something had happened to Mr. Eperman.”
The mansion Cordelia and Noah had woken up in was Tyrein’s residence. Riness had stayed there since resolving the incident, while Tyrein had barely been seen for days, busy sorting out the aftermath.
As soon as Hannah learned Noah had regained consciousness, she had been overjoyed. As expected, she seemed to know all too well about Noah’s complicated family circumstances.
“You two must be connected. One of you wakes, and then the other too.”
Hannah had likely spoken without thinking, but for Cordelia—who had something to hide—the best she could do was smile awkwardly.
“Sorry. I forgot this isn’t even my body.”
“Where on earth did you leave your mind? Seriously. I mean, yes, it was true your body was in danger, but still…”
No doubt he had wanted to return to the temple as soon as the mission ended, but instead he had stayed behind. Hearing his grumbling, instead of words of concern, Cordelia just chuckled. Then her expression hardened.
“What happened to Emilia?”
“The one who pushed you down the stairs? Well, she’s probably in prison by now.”
The indifferent reply came back. Cordelia absently touched her left temple, then suddenly stood up.
“What are you doing?”
“I need to see Tyrein. There’s something I have to check.”
“Wait, just hold on. He should be arriving any minute now.”
“Huh?”
When she looked at Riness questioningly, he avoided her gaze. Soon, the sound of wheels rolling and horses neighing echoed from outside.
What’s going on? Confused, Cordelia froze when she heard footsteps rapidly approaching.
The drawing room door burst open.
“Cordelia!”
“Sisters?!”
Faces she never thought she’d see here—Zerania and Kalia—rushed in with frightening speed. It all happened in an instant.
“Wha—?”
“You little—seriously, you—!”
Zerania’s hand pinched Cordelia’s cheek mercilessly, stretching it like soft dough, while Kalia smacked her on the back.
“Ow! That hurts!”
“It’s supposed to hurt! What were you thinking, doing something like that?!”
Kalia’s voice thundered through the room. Meanwhile, Riness slipped out the door with a sly wave, leaving Cordelia trembling with outrage.
Unbelievable! He just left me alone in here—?!
“Sir Tyrein told us everything.”
Zerania’s voice was calm, but Cordelia felt as though her chance to explain had been cut off before it even began. Her eyes darted nervously.
“No, I mean, I really thought it would be fine, you know? I just wanted to find out who pushed me down the stairs…”
“Enough!”
Her sister’s sharp interruption was followed by a light slap on her cheek. Cordelia blinked. Uh oh. Am I in for a worse scolding? When my sister’s angry, it’s terrifying. Ugh.
But instead of more punishment, warmth enveloped her. Zerania pulled her into a tight embrace, and Cordelia felt the faint tremble in her sister’s body.
“I’m just so glad you’re safe…”
Again and again, she murmured how relieved she was. Staring blankly at the crown of her sister’s head, Cordelia was at a loss. Kalia sighed and added,
“Do you even realize how worried we were? When we first heard the news, we were terrified. We came rushing straight from the estate.”
Though her words scolded, her hand gently patted Cordelia’s back, softer than before. Surrounded by her sisters on either side, Cordelia hugged them both tightly.
“Sorry for making you worry.”
“As long as you’re safe. When did you wake up, anyway? Yesterday you slept like the dead.”
“Just a little while ago. I barely had any injuries, but apparently I slept for two whole days. I was shocked too.”
“It’s just the tension wearing off. You could’ve died, you know.”
Cordelia tried to brush it off lightly, but Kalia muttered grimly,
“Rick was furious, too. I haven’t seen him look like that in ages. He swore he wouldn’t let this go.”
“Him?”
“He should’ve treated you better when he had the chance, honestly…”
Zerania shook her head, then suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, right. Prince Ian was badly hurt, wasn’t he?”
Cordelia blinked slowly.
“What exactly did you hear?”
“He was stabbed deeply in the abdomen. Luckily his organs weren’t damaged, but there was poison on the blade, so he struggled a lot with the antidote…”
That matched what Cordelia had been told. Thinking of Noah—no doubt asleep upstairs—she felt strange.
“He must’ve suffered a lot, huh?”
No matter how much she tried to smile and act unaffected, her chest tightened painfully, especially when she thought of Noah.
What do I even want to do about you? Why does my heart keep lurching like this, leaving me feeling so awful?
Cordelia suppressed the urge to tear at her hair. Taking a deep breath, she looked at her sisters.
“Sis.”
“Mm?”
“No matter what I do… you’ll always be on my side, right?”
“…Why are you setting it up so ominously? You’re scaring me.”
Cordelia smiled faintly. In her bright blue eyes, sparks flickered.
“There’s someone I need to finish dealing with.”
