Chapter 17…
“Even the butler, who was said to be my brother-in-law’s milk brother, turned out to be a traitor.”
I clicked my tongue.
This wasn’t something I could solve right now.
“No, actually… there’s something even more necessary than a bodyguard.”
I sank deep into thought.
Erios came to see me, saying he had something to tell me.
“Perfect timing,” I said. “I actually have something to say too. Come in.”
It was convenient.
As he entered my room, his expression was blank.
Not that he was ever expressive to begin with—but still, there was something quieter, heavier about him this time. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
“Well, not like I care what’s going on in that head anyway.”
“I came to apologize,” Erios said.
“No matter what punishment you decide on, I’ll accept it. I almost ruined everything because I let my emotions interfere. If you can’t trust me as Artea’s guardian, it’s understandable.”
“I see. I learned a lot from this incident too.”
“Right… I guess I really am—”
“I can’t do comfort talk. If that’s what you came for, go somewhere else.”
His voice wavered slightly, as if caught between restraint and emotion.
“I didn’t come for comfort.”
“Then what?”
“…You’re really—”
“Never mind that. Listen to what I have to say first.”
The butler being my brother-in-law’s milk brother—how was trusting him a sin?
The culprit was obvious, so why blame the victim?
I didn’t want to hear Erios digging into self-blame, so I waved my hand dismissively.
“I think I should marry you.”
Erios froze in place. His handsome brows furrowed, and after a moment he almost spat out his words.
“Bellona… are you serious right now?”
“Why so surprised? Weren’t you the one who proposed first? Or did you change your mind already?”
“That’s not it…”
Maybe it was too sudden for him, because he fell silent, unable to respond.
Instead of studying his expression, I looked up at the clear, cloudless sky and added softly:
“It’ll be better to raise her together than for me to do it alone.”
There might come another day when I’d have to leave Artea behind unexpectedly.
And besides, Artea wanted to be with both me and Erios.
So really, the answer had been there from the start.
I’d just been ignoring it.
“But there’s one condition,” I said firmly, meeting Erios’s eyes.
“When Artea grows up, we’ll get divorced.”
“…Divorced? What are you talking about?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. We’re only getting married because of Artea.”
Confusion flickered in his gaze, but I didn’t look away.
“I want it clear that our marriage will be in name only.”
To be honest, ever since my sister and brother-in-law died, there had been talk about me and Erios marrying.
What would happen to the child left behind?
Wouldn’t it be best for the late duke’s brother and the late duchess’s sister to raise her together?
“But I avoided those talks—telling myself I just wanted Artea to have a strong home to come back to.”
Let’s be honest.
If it were someone else, maybe I’d have considered marriage seriously.
But I immediately ruled out that possibility because the man in question was Erios, my ex-boyfriend.
I didn’t want anyone thinking I was using my niece as an excuse to get close to the Duke of Killiet.
“I still remember how people treated my sister like a scheming Cinderella just because she married the man she loved.”
My sister had been a good person—
even after our family fell into ruin, she’d tried her best to give me something better.
Even when we shared simple bread and slept under shabby blankets,
she’d tell me stories about the stars at night and make me feel happy.
“But no one cared about that side of her.”
They only saw her as a beautiful face who got lucky and caught a duke—
a cunning woman who’d snared her way into nobility.
My heart had shattered then.
That’s why I started my magic tool business after leaving the Tower—
to give my sister a little protection, to make sure the Killiet family couldn’t look down on her.
Even after earning immense wealth, those scornful looks never fully disappeared.
“I’ll become the duchess,” I declared.
“Like you said, I’ll be able to fend off the women who want to push Artea aside and replace her with their own children—and stop you from straying too.”
I spoke firmly.
“I won’t stand by and watch that child get cast out—or erased.”
She was my sister’s child.
It was my turn to give back what my sister had given me.
If I became duchess, I could control the household atmosphere directly,
stop any new duchess from appearing,
and make it easier to pass down my magic tool business to Artea someday.
“I’ll make sure she enjoys everything she deserves—without having to wonder if the person beside her secretly hates her.”
“…”
“She deserves to have both of us—the uncle she loves, and me, the one who’ll protect her.”
After a long silence, Erios finally spoke.
“So… for Artea’s sake alone, you’re planning to step into the Killiet family—even though you’ve never cared for things like marriage?”
“That’s right.”
“Even though I’m the ex who dumped you coldly and told you never to see me again?”
“Yep.”
“You’d throw away your life for your niece?”
Erios stood up.
A faint, crooked smile tugged at his lips as he looked down at me.
“I thought I knew you, Bellona. I didn’t realize you were such a saint.”
“I’m not. I know I couldn’t stand it forever—that’s why I said only until Artea comes of age.”
“And what changes after that?”
“By then, Artea will understand.”
“Understand what? That men and women can marry without love?”
“Exactly. So until then, make sure we look like a happy couple in front of her.”
I couldn’t understand why his tone suddenly turned sharp—mocking, almost angry.
He was the one who proposed first,
the one who said we should marry for co-parenting.
So why did he look so irritated when I agreed?
“She’s already anxious enough,” I said. “So just show her our best sides.”
“I don’t know how good either of us will be at acting, but fine. I get it.”
He turned to the door.
Just before leaving, he stopped and asked:
“Bellona. You’re sure you won’t regret this?”
Without looking back.
“Yeah.”
I answered crisply, my words landing squarely on his retreating back.
He opened the door and left, and I stayed there with my eyes closed.
“What the hell is that man thinking?”
Calm, rational, pretending to be mature.
Pretending, pretending, pretending.
“At least he wasn’t this bad before.”
Why was he angry? Why was he so unsettled?
He wouldn’t tell me, even if I asked aloud.
“Doesn’t matter.”
The only thing that mattered to me was Artea.
I had to protect her—build her a place she could rely on.
Whatever Erios was thinking didn’t matter.
“He’s not really my husband anyway.”
We were just partners.
Partners in raising a child.
Nothing more.
