Chapter 28

“What?”

“He was assassinated by his mistress. Can you believe such a disgrace?Viscountess Leshian was shocked and returned to her hometown. If it were me, I would be too embarrassed to ever return to the capital.”

“Why, why was he assassinated?”

“I don’t know. But it’s strange. As you know, Viscount Leshian doesn’t seem like someone who have a mistress.”

In the social circles of Martessen, it was quite common for noblewomen or men to have other lovers after marriage. It was often openly displayed since there was nothing secretive about it. However, there had never been any rumors of Viscount Leshian having a mistress.

And rightfully so, Viscount Leshian’s personality wasn’t like someone who would have a mistress. Those who had seen him would all know it. He was a man who was distant from worldly matters, almost like a priest. Moreover, he had Viscountess Leshian.

Marina continued to talk incessantly, but Lariana couldn’t concentrate due to the memories that suddenly flashed through her mind.

“How should we handle Viscountess Leshian?”

“I don’t know. You take care of it.”

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t attract attention.”

Cain’s voice, whispering playfully as he nibbled on her ears, echoed in her mind. It couldn’t be, it couldn’t possibly be.

“Lari? What’s wrong?”

Marina’s face was filled with concern. Marina approached Lariana, who had suddenly turned pale, and placed her hands on her forehead and cheeks.

“Why are you so cold? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, I just suddenly feel tired. I think I need to rest for a bit.”

“What did the Dowager Duchess do to make you so miserable…”

“No, it was only at first. It’s been fine lately.”

After being rescued by Cain at the tea party, Marcella had been quiet.

She had thought that her mother-in-law’s change was solely because of Cain. But could it be related to Viscountess Leshian as well?

Lariana’s mind became complicated, and she couldn’t help but end the private tea time that she had just begun after marriage.

She waited for the day when Cain would come to find her, and she gathered her resolve. No, it couldn’t be. Cain wouldn’t be that cruel.

* * *

Lariana’s blood ran cold as she waited for her husband. She had so many questions. Marina was her only connection, and their knowledge about Viscount Leshian’s situation had its limits.

Of course, Viscountess Leshian was not without fault. But was her mistake enough to drive her husband to death?

Lariana, lying on the bed, looked through the arched window at the rising moon. Time, which seemed like it would never end, quickly passed, and the time for his madness to disappear was approaching.

“Lari.”

A familiar voice reached her as she lay on the bed. Cain approached silently, as if he thought she was asleep, and lay down on the bed, stifling the sound of his footsteps. He buried his head in his wife’s shoulder and took a long breath.

“…Cain.”

“I’m sorry. Did I wake you up?”

“I’ve been waiting.”

Lariana got up from the bed and sat down.

“I wanted to hear those words too.”

Cain, who sat up with her, gently brushed away Lariana’s flowing hair. His warm touch was just like before, but it was difficult to meet his gaze because thoughts of Viscount Leshian’s incident kept coming to mind.

Being perceptive, he quickly sensed the change in his wife.

“Why don’t you look at me?”

“Did you kill Viscount Leshian? I’m afraid that you killed him.”

The question that had been lingering in her chest for almost a month couldn’t easily come out of her mouth. It felt like her mouth was sealed shut.

“…Viscount Leshian has passed away.”

She tried to remain calm, but the end of her trembling voice barely came out.

“Oh… that’s unfortunate. But why did you suddenly bring up that topic?”

“Viscount Leshian was a long-time servant of Delacroix.”

“A dog that the owner can’t even recognize should die.”

His voice, which was no different from usual, gradually became colder, and Cain soon poured out cruel words.

Not liking the topic of their conversation, he frowned slightly. His eyes were like a deep abyss. It was the face she usually saw during his madness.

Lariana tensed up. Fear and dread enveloped her body in an instant.

“By the way, how is my mother doing?”

If she were to say that she wasn’t getting along with her mother-in-law… would Marcella also suffer the same fate as Viscount Leshian?

“Did my mother give you a hard time again? Damn it.”

When there was no response to his question, Cain cursed.

Lariana was taken aback. Her vision became blurry. If she blinked, tears would pour out uncontrollably.

“My mother has been giving you a hard time again.”

He pressed his lips against her teary eyes. Cain even felt her tears taste sweet.

“Cain. It’s not true. I, I get along well with your mother. How can I make you believe me?”

Lariana reached out her hand to Cain’s cheek. The corners of Cain’s lips went up as he kissed her hand.

“If you share the warmth within you, maybe I’ll believe it…”

* * *

That kind of marriage life repeated endlessly like a hamster wheel. When his madness disappeared, they would indulge in each other in the bedroom, and when his madness manifested, she would hide alone, watching out for Marcella’s gaze.

Cain neither affirmed nor denied the connection between Viscount Leshian’s death and himself, but Lariana was convinced. She believed that he was involved in Viscount Leshian’s death.

Marcella slowly tormented Lariana, as if testing how much her son would endure.

Lariana gradually grew accustomed to her mother-in-law’s abuse. She crumbled countless times, feeling defeated, but she gradually became immune to humiliation. Finger-pointing, ridicule, shame, and disdain. Lariana was thoroughly conditioned to it all.

At some point, Lariana realized that she spent more time with her mother-in-law, Marcella, than with her husband, Cain. For her, the absolute presence was not her husband, but her mother-in-law. Obedience was the only answer.

“Lady, good morning.”

“Yes.”

Lariana also knew that Jena entered the bedroom every morning with a cheerful voice, but she couldn’t muster the strength to respond.

As Jena entered the room, she opened the curtains, and the sunlight was so dazzling that it stung her eyes. It was the height of summer.

“Lady, please wait a little longer for breakfast. I think the preparations are running a bit late today.”

Jena turned her head and spoke. It was strange. Jena always met Lariana’s eyes as if it were a habit.

“…Jena? Look at me for a moment.”

Lariana got up from the bed and grabbed Jena as she approached.

“Why? What happened?”

She forcibly turned Jena’s body to examine her face. It was bruised and covered in wounds. Her lips were swollen, and there were marks of abuse on her eyes and cheeks.

“Why is your face like this? Who did this to you? What happened?”

In response to her lady’s angry voice, Jena acted as if nothing was wrong.

“It’s nothing, really.”

It was clearly evidence of a fight. Lariana pulled Jena to the vanity chair and paced back and forth.

“It’s nothing? With such a beautiful face covered in wounds, what am I going to do? It will leave scars.”

“It’s really nothing. Please don’t worry.”

Lariana took out a healing cream from the vanity drawer and began to apply it carefully to Jena’s wounds.

“Did the maids insult me again? I told you to ignore them.”

While Lariana scolded Jena, tears welled up in Jena’s eyes.

“Why are you crying? It makes me sad.”

“Lady, it’s me who’s truly sad. You are such a wonderful person, and yet… do you remember how your father raised you? I would have preferred you become Prince Lejandro’s mistress….”

“Jena, never say such things. What if someone hears you?”

“I’m just that upset. Today, today I couldn’t bear it anymore.”

“What did the maids do this time?”

Lariana gently spoke to Jena in a soothing voice like a baby.

“The breakfast was spoiled. Even I, the maid who serves you, had a proper breakfast. Everyone in the Delacroix estate enjoys good food. Even the young servants who had trivial jobs. So why should you receive such treatment? Why should you be subjected to such food?”

The negligence of the servants was becoming excessive as time went on. Even Lariana, who used to turn a blind eye, could no longer endure it.

In order to protect Lariana, who had no allies in the Duke’s Delacroix estate, only Jena struggled.

Surely Jena must have fought to receive fresh food instead of spoiled food. Seeing Jena’s bruised face, Lariana felt a pricking sensation in her chest.

“Please tell Lord Cain about this.”

“I don’t want to bother him with trivial issues.”

Jena, with tears in her eyes, wiped her face with her sleeve, trying to hide her emotions.

“I’m upset. Please don’t worry about me. Today, I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

“Just bring me the spoiled food next time.”

Lariana, dressed in a negligee, gently added while covering Jena’s face with a damp towel from the vanity.

There was no point in speaking to the mad Cain; all she would hear was his tantrums. And if she spoke to the sane Cain, he might even kill the servants.

She just had to endure a little longer on her own.

“Jena, when you bring the spoiled food next time, just come up without hesitation.”

“Why would you want to eat such food?”

“I won’t eat it.”

“Really?”

“Don’t worry, but you must bring the food, okay?”

Lariana smiled warmly and turned to look at Jena. Unsure of what her lady had in mind, Jena could only nod her head.

Her lady had always been witty and clever since childhood. So it seemed like there might be a trick up her sleeve. Jena wiped away her tears with determination and stood up from her seat.

“I will bring the meal today!”

And not long after that, another spoiled breakfast arrived. It was just before the moon reached its full phase.

The expression on Jena’s face, carrying the breakfast tray, was not a pleasant one. Lariana sensed the condition of the breakfast.

“Lady, you told me to bring it as it was, so I did.”

“Let me see.” Read ahead here.