IVHMH 28

Episode 28

As I drew in my outstretched arms and legs and turned to my side, I saw Merbel and Roena sniffling with emotional expressions on their faces.

It was too dramatic and awkward for a morning greeting.

I could understand why Merbel was here, but why was Roena here too—especially this early in the morning?

“Young Lady, thank goodness. We were so worried about you.”

“Worried… about me?”

I sat up in bed.

‘Did something bad happen last night while I was unconscious?’

The absurd thought even crossed my mind that maybe my adoptive parents had sent an assassin after me.

“You slept for three days straight. We were really worried. Miss Roena said you’d be okay, but at one point, your fever spiked so high we thought something might really happen to you.”

“I was that sick? Roena, you came all the way here to check on me?”

“This is our villa. The Mares family’s villa wasn’t in good condition, so my brother and I brought you here instead.”

Roena explained everything that had happened while I was unconscious.

It was disorienting to learn that I wasn’t staying at our villa but at the Berato family’s villa. And apparently, Tirzent was here too.

From what Merbel said, if Roena hadn’t been there, it really could’ve been dangerous.

It was horrifying to think that I could’ve died again without even knowing it.

“Thank you for helping me, Roena. Now that I feel better, I should go back to our villa.”

“You can’t. You’ve just regained consciousness. You need proper rest now.”

Feeling uncomfortable about being indebted to them, I gently tried to refuse, but Roena was firm in insisting I stay here.

“I’m going,” “You’re staying”—the argument went back and forth for a while until something finally brought it to an end.

Growl. Growwwl—!

That sound did it.

They said I’d been sleeping for three days, and now my stomach and intestines were loudly protesting.

“Oh my goodness! I’ll go get you some soup.”

Merbel seized the opportunity and left the room.

My resolve to return to the Mares villa crumbled completely.

The bread and soup Merbel brought were the most delicious things I’d ever eaten.

Even if they’d brought me a rock, I probably would’ve devoured it. When your stomach’s empty, anything tastes good.

With my stomach full, I decided it was time to get moving.

As I swung my legs over the bed, Merbel panicked and stopped me.

“You mustn’t! If you need anything, just let me know.”

“I just want to take a short walk.”

“Moving around right after waking up is too much.”

Her overprotectiveness made me laugh.

Apparently, I had a severe fever, so I must’ve really been sick, but otherwise, I felt perfectly fine.

Since Merbel didn’t know about the tea Roena had given me, her concern was understandable.

That would remain my little secret.

“It’s thanks to your good care, Merbel, that I’m all better now.”

I said cheerfully, but Merbel still looked at me with suspicion.

Still, she didn’t stop me from going out.

I boldly stepped out but had to take it slow, each step a bit of a strain, until I encountered Tirzent downstairs.

When I saw him again, he didn’t exactly look pleased to see me.

He looked at me like I was an unwelcome guest, and it irritated me.

‘Why does he look at me like that? It’s not like I asked to be brought here.’

If anything, I got sick because of that tea—my body weakened after drinking it.

Though I should’ve thanked him for taking care of me, I was too sensitive after being sick for days.

Just as I ducked my head, determined to return to our villa, I heard him murmur something under his breath.

“You seem better now.”

I wasn’t sure if he was speaking to me or to himself—his voice was that quiet.

Wondering if I’d misheard, I raised my head and looked at him.

Perhaps he hadn’t expected me to look up, because our eyes met and Tirzent looked flustered and quickly looked away.

He soon composed himself and returned to his usual expressionless face, but that brief moment of surprise had been real.

The atmosphere turned awkward—neither standing still nor walking away felt right.

“…Thank you, Your Grace.”

Desperate to escape the situation as quickly and naturally as possible, I blurted out a thank-you.

“Hmph. Don’t push yourself.”

He didn’t meet my eyes and walked away after that emotionless remark.

His tone was cold and flat, but strangely, it felt warm.

I remembered the dream from the night before—how he’d held me in a comforting embrace.

“That was just a dream. There’s no way His Grace would do that.”

I cupped my flushed cheeks with both hands, trying to erase the foolish thoughts blooming in my mind.

But the warmth I’d felt in the dream had been so vivid.

“Tch. Still… I guess he was worried about me.”

Knowing that he wasn’t treating me like a burden, but was actually worried, eased my bruised pride.

It had taken a lot of effort to gain this freedom, but without Tirzent’s help, it would’ve been impossible.

‘Thank you for helping me. I promise I won’t let your efforts go to waste. Just like you saved me this time… I’ll save you too in this life.’

Looking in the direction he had gone, I reaffirmed my resolve.

Outside, the cool breeze helped soothe my flushed cheeks.

The Berato family’s villa was on a high hill. The wide-open view was breathtakingly beautiful.

Sunlight sparkled over the endless blue sea like scattered jewels.

“I want to go down there.”

Though the ocean looked close enough to touch, I’d have to descend the hill to reach it.

I didn’t have the strength to walk down yet, so I settled for gazing at it longingly.

To find out how Elicia was doing, Theus had visited the Mares estate several more times.

But neither Retisa nor any of the other servants knew anything.

Because of Aida, who disliked people paying attention to Elicia.

Aida didn’t want Elicia to return alive from the villa. She didn’t want her death to stir any public interest either.

It would be more convenient for the Duke and Duchess of Mares if Elicia just quietly disappeared.

If people started talking, rumors—often exaggerated—would spread.

Aida feared they might attract unnecessary suspicion.

Today again, Theus had to leave empty-handed, his heart heavy.

“Elicia, where are you? Please… just come back safe. I hope you’ll be here the next time I visit.”

Dragging his feet, he forced himself to turn away.

He had to leave the capital again for a few days on business for the merchant guild.

If only he knew where Elicia was, he’d go to her immediately—but there was nothing he could do for now.

All he could do was keep doing his best, so that he could one day be of help to her.

My daily routine had become nothing more than eating, relaxing, and sleeping.

Thanks to Roena and Merbel constantly bringing food, the chubbiness in my cheeks had started to return after having thinned out.

As I admired my plump cheeks in the mirror, a maid from the villa came into my room.

“His Grace the Duke would like to see you in the study.”

Without hesitation, I followed.

I hadn’t seen him since that day in the hallway.

Now that he’d finally called for me, I figured he had waited until I was fully recovered.

I was curious about why he had brought me here, but now that I was about to find out, I felt a little nervous.

When I entered the study, Tirzent motioned with his chin for me to sit.

The room, like its owner, was elegant and orderly—but had no warmth whatsoever.

‘Everything in here is brown-toned. Why does it feel so cold?’

That was the impression I got as I glanced around the room while he finished his work.

Brown usually gives a warm feeling, but perhaps because of the owner, this space felt devoid of warmth.

“What’s your impression?”

Startled, I turned to see him suddenly standing right next to me—his footsteps had been silent.

“Ah, I’m sorry. You were working, so I was just taking a look around.”

“You’ve got eyes. I can’t stop you from looking. So, what did you think?”

The fleeting warmth I thought I’d felt from him days ago now seemed like a total illusion. The man before me radiated cold indifference.

He crossed his long legs and sat across from me, staring as if determined to hear my answer.

He was unexpectedly serious about trivial things.

“It’s very neat and well-organized.”

“I like not just my surroundings tidy, but also my relationships.”

Before I could make sense of where this was going, he laid a piece of paper in front of me.

“Read it and sign it. You can add any conditions you’d like.”

I looked down and blinked several times, thinking I’d misread.

At the top, in big letters, it clearly said ‘Contract.’

I was confused as to why I’d be signing a contract with Tirzent.

Reading through it slowly, I realized it was essentially a marriage contract.

I’d heard that political marriages often involved this kind of agreement.

The main clause stated that even if I became crown princess or future empress, I was not to covet power.

“…What is this?”

“Can’t you read?”

It wasn’t that I couldn’t read. I just didn’t understand why he was giving me this contract.

Moreover, the terms were completely one-sided, all in his favor.

While saying I must not desire power, it even included a clause that I must bear an heir. How selfish could he be?

“Why should I sign this?”

It wasn’t meant to offend him—I was simply confused. But his expression turned sharp.

Without saying a word, he crushed me with just his presence.

‘No need to shrink back. I didn’t say anything wrong.’

I straightened my shoulders and forced my confidence back up from the ground.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to become the crown princess?”

Tirzent spoke as casually as if he were discussing dessert after a meal.

It was impressive—maybe even absurd—how lightly he mentioned something as serious as becoming the next empress of the Netor Empire.

I wasn’t sure whether to admire or criticize his attitude.

“Not anymore.”

I answered in a similarly light tone.

The only reason I’d brought up the crown princess proposal in the first place was to escape marrying Gustao.

Now that I’d achieved that, I had no need to marry Tirzent.

“Changed your mind already?”

He asked, clearly displeased.

He had rejected the idea so harshly before, treating me like a lunatic—how could he now act like I was the one at fault?

“Your Grace rejected the idea, so I gave up on it too.”

He was glaring so intensely that I didn’t dare remind him of that and decided to gloss over it.

My goal wasn’t to marry him but to take revenge for what had been done to me, and to prevent Tirzent and Roena from dying at the hands of vile people.

Since I couldn’t marry him, Gustao no longer had a way to elevate his status.

Which meant he wasn’t a direct threat to Tirzent for the time being.

Now all I had to do was steal the wealth Gustao had amassed in our previous life.

‘Without money or power, he won’t be able to do a thing!’

I was confident I could ruin Gustao’s business on my own. There was no need to marry Tirzent.

“Why the sudden change of heart?”

“Your Grace probably wants a quiet, obedient woman to stay cooped up in the palace. That’s not the kind of life I want. I want to meet someone I love and live a joyful, happy life.”

Telling him the full story would only make him think I was crazy again, so I gave him a reason he might accept.

Feeling the conversation had come to a clean end, I got up to leave—but then he made a new proposal.

And when I heard it, my jaw dropped.