Chapter 47
First Fight (1)
“Marriage is built on trust. You’ve always been someone I could trust, and that’s why I chose this marriage.”
“……”
“But now, I’m not so sure. With everything that’s happened… can I really trust you anymore?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I’m not saying this to hear an apology.”
Riena let out a sigh as she stared at the closed door. Most likely, Amy and the other maids were waiting outside.
Considering the shouting that had erupted earlier, they had probably heard a good deal of the conversation.
Two men and one woman—it might not be the truth, but to outsiders, it could easily look like a sordid love triangle. The kind of gossip that spreads like wildfire.
Cassel had claimed the duchy only hired trustworthy people, but rumors had a way of leaking out, no matter how careful one was.
“There are too many ears around. I have a lot to say, but… let’s stop here for today.”
“Ria…”
Riena stepped back, evading Cassel’s outstretched hand.
“My head is spinning. I think I need some time to myself.”
“……”
“You probably need time too. Until we’ve both sorted things out… let’s stay apart for now.”
“…Alright.”
It had been Riena’s idea to suggest this. And yet, something about how readily Cassel agreed irritated her again.
Just what was he trying so hard to keep secret?
She wanted to question him further, but she swallowed the impulse.
“Well then… see you later. I need to rest.”
Riena walked past Cassel and exited the sitting room. He reached out to her again, but in the end, his hand never touched her.
〈Raul, help me. Please.〉
In her dream, Riena clutched Raul’s sleeve desperately. She had been watching for a moment when he was alone before approaching him.
But instead of the gentle smile he always wore, Raul sneered coldly and brushed her hand away.
〈Help you? What could the Marchioness of Belliard possibly need from someone like me?〉
〈Raul, please…〉
Her voice trembled with unshed tears as she pleaded.
〈Please just listen to me.〉
〈Now? When you’ve always looked down on me like I was nothing but some lowly knight?〉
〈Lowly knight? When did I ever say that?〉
〈Maybe not in words. But the way you treated me—what else was I supposed to think?〉
Riena’s chest tightened. She didn’t understand why he was saying these things, why he was treating her like this.
〈Why would I think that way about you? I’ve always been proud of you—joining the Imperial Knights, becoming such a great knight. I’ve never once looked down on you.〉
〈Really? Then what about all the letters?〉
〈L-Letters?〉
Riena’s eyes widened in confusion.
〈I don’t know what you mean. I’ve never sent you any letters.〉
〈Then what? Were the letters I received from a ghost? Every time I wrote to you, you sent back replies full of scorn.〉
〈That can’t be… I swear, Raul, it wasn’t me. I never got any letters from you, and I certainly never sent any replies like that. Why would I lie to you?〉
〈Well, the handwriting was unmistakably yours.〉
Riena shook her head vehemently, but Raul didn’t look convinced.
He gave a bitter laugh and ran a hand through his hair.
〈Fine. Let’s say the letters were forged. Then why did you never agree to see me when I came to the marquessate?〉
〈You… came to see me?〉
Raul furrowed his brows.
〈What do you mean, ‘you came’? Why are you acting like this is the first you’re hearing of it? You refused to see me every time, sending servants to turn me away at the door.〉
〈I never heard a word about you coming, Raul.〉
〈So you’re saying someone deliberately kept us apart? That the Belliards had you pretend to ignore me without your consent?〉
Riena nodded eagerly. Raul clicked his tongue in disbelief.
〈Why would the Belliards do that?〉
〈That’s exactly why I need your help.〉
She lowered her voice and looked around.
〈Raul, I’ve been deceived by Johannes.〉
〈Deceived?〉
〈Before we married, I really believed he was a good man. Even when I first rejected his proposal, he didn’t push. He helped me. You know it was thanks to Johannes that I was able to leave Dyke and come to the capital—and meet Aunt Leticia too.〉
〈And then?〉
〈Even after that, he continued to be kind. I thought… even if I didn’t love him, I could live a peaceful life with him. That’s why I accepted his second proposal.〉
At last, Riena couldn’t hold back her tears. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
〈But right after we married, he changed.〉
〈What do you mean, ‘changed’?〉
〈He…〉
Choking back tears, she forced out the words.
〈He didn’t even treat me like a human being. If something upset him, he’d hit me. Lock me in my room. Without his permission, I couldn’t do anything. The rest of the Belliards know, but they all pretend they don’t.〉
〈……〉
〈It feels like I’ve been thrown into hell alive. Raul, please, help me get out.〉
〈…Is all this really true?〉
Riena rolled up her sleeve and scrubbed the skin above her elbow. Beneath the powder concealing it, a large bruise emerged.
〈…!〉
She grabbed Raul’s clothes with trembling, desperate hands.
〈I swear on everything—I have no one else I can trust. Just you. Please, Raul. I don’t know when I’ll get another chance to leave the mansion. Take me away.〉
Raul stood frozen, overwhelmed by her words.
〈If letting me stay at your place is too much, at least take me to Viscount Donovan’s estate. Please. We’re friends, aren’t we?〉
〈Ria, I… I don’t know what to do. I can’t act on your words alone. Are you asking me to go against House Belliard?〉
〈That’s not what I meant…〉
〈If I take you away now, and the Marquess raises an issue… I’m finished. How is a baron supposed to oppose a marquess?〉
〈Raul, please…〉
〈Milady, there you are. I was looking all over for you.〉
At that moment, a voice called out from behind, and Riena flinched.
It was beautiful—objectively so—but to her, it was the most terrifying sound in the world.
Raul quickly released her hand and bowed low.
〈I greet the Marquess of Belliard.〉
Riena turned around slowly.
At the end of the shadowy hallway stood Johannes, smiling as always.
With graceful steps, he approached them. Flawless, elegant—everything about him screamed perfection.
Some compared him to the god of beauty. Others called him a being beloved by the divine.
But to Riena, he was nothing short of a nightmare. Her body trembled like a leaf in a storm.
He reached her side, wrapping an arm around her waist, and greeted Raul.
〈It’s been a while, Sir Berna. What were the two of you discussing so intently?〉
The smile on his face was gentle, warm, pleasant.
Raul hesitated briefly, then answered.
〈Just catching up. It’s been some time since I last saw Ria.〉
〈Ria?〉
Johannes’s voice sharpened.
〈Ah, I mean the Marchioness now. We’ve known each other so long that the informal name just slipped out. I’ll be more careful.〉
〈Not at all. It’s rather charming. I’m glad my wife has such an old friend.〉
〈Still, it’s not appropriate.〉
There was satisfaction on Johannes’s face. He turned to look down at Riena.
〈But why are you crying, my dear?〉
He brushed her damp cheek with a gloved hand.
〈How upsetting this must be.〉
〈……〉
With a gentle kiss to her cheek, Johannes turned back to Raul.
〈I’d love to let you two chat a little longer, but we really must go. If you’re willing, perhaps we can arrange a time for all three of us to meet again.〉
〈I’m sorry we couldn’t talk more. I’ll wait to hear from you.〉
〈Then we’ll be off.〉
With his arm still tightly around her waist, Johannes led Riena away. She resisted, but he was too strong.
Desperately, she turned to look back at Raul.
He stood there with clenched fists—and finally called out behind them, his voice edged with resolve.
