[CHAPTER 67]
***
For the past few days, I locked myself in my room and read nothing but pharmacology books.
I needed time to focus on something and sort out my mind.
Only after preparing myself to accept whatever truth I might face did I call Greta.
“Let’s go to the library.”
“It’s hard to interpret the book with only the dictionary I have.”
“Are you only going to the library?”
“Yes.”
“We won’t stop anywhere else like last time, so don’t worry.”
Greta hesitated and slowly nodded.
I put on a cloak and went with her to the public library located on the west side of the bustling district.
Just as I said, we found the dictionary, opened it, and began decoding the ancient text.
When I asked Greta to help, she did so without complaint.
We worked side by side for a long time, translating the book, until a new foreign language appeared and blocked our progress.
“Hmm, we need another dictionary.”
“Let’s split up and look for it.”
“Then please check the inner section, Madam.”
“I’ll take the outer part.”
Greta positioned herself near the entrance.
That worked out even better for me.
Because the real reason I came to the library would be deep inside.
Pretending to browse, I checked the category signs on the ceiling.
Literature, philosophy, history… newspaper archives.
‘Found it.’
The public library had a space where newspapers published in the duchy were stored.
There were even newspapers from a hundred years ago, and ones that had shut down long ago.
I dug through the shelves packed with old newspapers.
‘I need to find the newspaper from the year the Duke’s inauguration took place.’
Because then—
‘Their family has always been extremely secretive.’
‘There was even a newspaper that shut down after printing the current Duke’s portrait.’
I would be able to see that article.
An urgency surged in me to confirm it before Greta noticed.
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
Only the fast, rough sound of paper flipping echoed.
Not this one, not this one, not this one…
My hand suddenly froze.
With trembling eyes, I read the large headline over and over.
“Birth of the New Duke of Kallard!”
This was it.
“…”
I took a short breath and crouched between the shadowy desks, spreading the newspaper open.
The article pretended to congratulate the young Duke’s inauguration, but it was filled with mockery toward the Kallards.
But my eyes stayed fixed on the portrait printed in the middle.
Below the image was the caption:
“The New Duke of Kallard”
His delicately drawn silver hair, the jewel-like violet eyes beneath deep-set lids, and his refined, sharp features.
The man stood slightly angled, wearing a formal uniform embroidered with gold thread, staring straight ahead with an emotionless face.
It was small and painted years ago, but not so long ago that he couldn’t be recognized.
“Aizen…”
The man in the portrait was undeniably my husband, Aizen Kreuz.
Not someone with the same name.
The same person.
“…Ha.”
I closed my eyes for a moment and let out a trembling breath.
Honestly, I had suspected it to some extent.
There were too many people around me connected to the Kallards, the family avoided showing their faces in public, and considering Aizen’s suspicious behavior…
I had guessed that he might be the Duke of Kallard.
But having it confirmed like this made my heart freeze over.
Because deep down, I had hoped he wasn’t.
‘At the very least, I hoped you were truly my family…’
That you had deceived me because of circumstances you couldn’t avoid.
That you yourself weren’t a lie.
Moments with Aizen flashed by like a panorama.
When I fell for him at first sight, when he visited me after I was unjustly locked in the room, when we danced in the ducal estate’s garden, when I learned horseback riding, when he nursed me while I was sick… even when we kissed during the fireworks.
Drop.
A small tear fell on the back of my hand.
I thought I would burst into tears, but surprisingly, that was it.
I didn’t ask Aizen in my head why he lied.
No matter how much I thought about it alone, I wouldn’t get an answer.
I folded the newspaper and returned it to the shelf.
Then, with shaky legs, I went back.
Greta was waiting, having brought a dictionary.
“Madam, you don’t look well.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“By the way… did Aizen say he was having dinner with me today?”
With a faint, powerless smile, I murmured:
“If he isn’t, please tell him I’d really like to eat with him.”
“I…”
The word “dear” lodged itself in my throat like a thorn and wouldn’t come out.
I swallowed hard, clenching and unclenching my hand before finally giving up and adding:
“Tell him I miss him very much.”
* * *
The calm before the storm.
Aizen felt that was exactly their situation.
Everything piled up between them was about to burst, and he couldn’t predict how destructive it would be.
As the days passed, it became more likely that Jena had figured out the family’s true identity.
Even gathering the family for a meeting yielded no solution.
“I think you should tell her the truth yourself,” Renee said with a sigh.
“Keep her only in charge of the antidote research and bring this life to an end, Aizen.”
Even she didn’t feel comfortable abruptly ending their fabricated family life.
But when she went to subtly dissuade Jena at Aizen’s request, the girl only smiled and refused to answer her questions.
“Jena is the type to choose truth even if it hurts instead of happiness built on lies.”
“It won’t matter if you try to stop her.”
“I agree with Renee,” Wilhelm added.
“I’ve grown fond of the girl, but we can’t keep her forever.”
“The moment the antidote is complete, everything will come out anyway.”
Aizen didn’t deny their words, but he didn’t agree either.
Wilhelm quietly watched his stubbornly silent son and remembered something.
The day he visited Jena’s room and happened to witness them almost kissing.
At the time he was too flustered and distracted by the gift he brought, so he let it pass.
But later, he wondered—
“Aizen, did you perhaps develop real feelings for her?”
That maybe the kiss wasn’t part of his gentle, loving husband act.
“…”
Aizen didn’t answer.
He only looked away, his eyes wavering.
His son, who had matured early, suddenly looked like a clumsy, emotional teenager.
Both Renee and Wilhelm widened their eyes.
“Duke, dinner is almost ready,” Ralph said as he entered with a knock.
Hearing Jena’s message from Greta, Aizen immediately stood.
He bowed respectfully to his parents and left the ducal office.
Ralph escorted him to the entrance and quietly suggested:
“How about giving Lady Jena the memory-loss medicine one more time?”
“Ralph.”
“Forgive me. I retract my words.”
Sensing danger in Aizen’s cold voice, Ralph stood straight and saluted.
After crossing to the viscount’s residence alone, Aizen headed to the dining hall with a hint of tension.
Jena, who had arrived first, waved brightly.
“Honey! You’re here?”
“Yes. Did you wait long?”
“Nope, I just got here too.”
Aizen glanced at her unusual cheerfulness as he sat across from her.
Soon the table filled with appetizing dishes.
Jena picked up her utensils and began diligently cutting the meat.
She picked up a bite-sized piece with her fork and held it out to him.
“Say ah.”
Aizen obediently opened his mouth and accepted it.
Jena smiled with satisfaction and used a napkin to wipe sauce from his lips.
It was typical of her kindness, but considering the recent circumstances, it was a bit confusing.
“Come to think of it, did you know we’ve never had a drink together?”
“…Really?”
“Yep, so I asked them to bring us each a glass of champagne.”
“Is that alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Jena signaled to the maid behind her, who soon arrived with two glasses on a tray.
“I didn’t know how much you drink, so I asked for something mild.”
“Do you drink well, Madam?”
“Hmm, probably average, but I’m not sure right now.”
Her strange tone made Aizen pause.
When their eyes met, Jena suddenly pointed to the floor.
“Oh no, I dropped something!”
“…”
“Good job bowing.”
Aizen blinked, baffled after instinctively lowering his head, then let out a small laugh when she giggled.
Clink.
Their glasses met.
The fizzy, sweet drink flowed smoothly down his throat.
Watching Jena laugh continuously, Aizen felt relieved.
Since she could still laugh and joke around like this, the storm wasn’t coming just yet.
He might have more time until she made up her mind.
“Honey, are you busy later?”
“No, why?”
“Then let’s go for a walk after dinner.”
“Alright.”
Aizen agreed without hesitation.
After their meal, they went out to the garden.
With the lights from the house and the moon above, it wasn’t too dark.
As they walked arm-in-arm, Jena suddenly stopped in front of a flower bush.
“Let’s play a wish game.”
“A game? How?”
“You know that petal fortune thing we saw in the capital.”
“We take turns plucking petals.”
“Whoever picks the last one wins.”
Petal fortune telling in the capital.
Aizen flinched at the unwelcome subject.
But Jena’s blue eyes sparkled with excitement, so he couldn’t refuse.
He reluctantly picked a flower.
They decided the order with rock-paper-scissors, and Aizen went first.
Aizen, Jena, Aizen, Jena, Aizen, Jena…
“Wow, I won!”
Jena plucked the last petal and cheered.
She swung her arms happily, and Aizen clapped for her.
“Congratulations, Madam.”
“Hehe, I must be lucky today.”
“What’s your wish?”
Jena carefully put the petals in her pocket, then turned to him with a bright smile.
“From now on, you won’t lie to me.”
A cold breeze brushed Aizen’s cheek.
His neck stiffened with a chill, but Jena still wore a smile.
Her clear voice echoed through the quiet garden, where only the two of them stood.
“Aizen, is your real name Aizen Kallard?”
The question fell before he could stop it or prepare.
And Aizen froze on the spot.
