IGBD 66

chapter 66

“Could it be….”

Serrett trailed off.

Could it be that he still hasn’t realized his feelings for Lydia? Could he not know that he likes her?

Serrett didn’t know exactly when Yuan had started loving Lydia. From the rumors she’d heard and from Lydia herself, she had assumed that Yuan had loved Lydia vaguely since childhood.

But what she was seeing now wasn’t the reaction of someone in love. Could a man who had experienced such intense love really be unaware of it?

“You can’t not know love. When you love someone, you immediately realize it. That’s when you know—this is love.”

Serrett had never once been confused. She knew it clearly—she loved Yuan Fractuster.

Whenever she saw Yuan, it felt like the world was repainted in bright colors, and he occupied her thoughts every moment. She was always curious about him, wanted to be near him, and felt affectionately for him.

She centered everything around Yuan and felt as if half of her soul belonged to him.

A feeling impossible to ignore. That was the love Serrett knew.

Yuan thought deeply for a moment, tilting his head to one side.

“Is it really such an intense feeling that you can recognize it immediately?”

“Yes.”

Serrett nodded.

She thought that Yuan’s love for Lydia would be similar to her own love for him.

He had caused no harm to Lydia, married a woman he didn’t love to give up the duchess’s position, killed his wife immediately after having a child, and ultimately placed the child into Lydia’s arms.

She thought all of this was only possible because of his blind and intense love for Lydia. She believed that such overwhelming love made all these things achievable.

But now, the thought that what she knew might not be true clouded her mind like fog.

Wasn’t he going to marry her to have a child instead of the infertile Lydia, then discard her? He wouldn’t have made such plans without realizing his feelings for Lydia.

‘Lydia and that cat… Be careful of Lydia Elliott.’

For some reason, Christine’s words popped into her mind.

The story about Lydia killing the white cat that Yuan had been fond of. Could it be something from a past life…?

No, that’s impossible. Killing a cat and killing a person are completely different. It would be unreasonable for Lydia to act independently to kill the duchess in the duchy—unless Yuan allowed it.

Serrett stared at Yuan with a firm expression.

It made more sense to think that this was the act of Yuan realizing his feelings too late, rather than Lydia acting on her own initiative.

It would have been better than divorce—both for the family and for Lydia. At least she would avoid the stigma of an affair.

It was entirely plausible for the cold and calculating Yuan Fractuster.

But if he still hasn’t realized his feelings for Lydia, why did he marry me? If it wasn’t to have a child instead of Lydia, why did he choose me?

A new question arose, throwing Serrett’s mind into confusion again. At that moment, Yuan’s voice came.

“This is difficult.”

Yuan’s face was stern as he pondered. Seeing his stern expression, Serrett murmured softly, echoing his words.

“It is difficult.”

Why did you choose me? Why me? Why on earth me…

Yuan lifted his gaze to look at Serrett. How did this woman know so much about love? Could she have felt such strong emotions for another man?

At that moment, Yuan realized something as intense as love—jealousy. His wife’s jealousy of another man surged through him.

“I’ll sleep here tonight.”

Yuan lay down on the bed. He found it ridiculous that all he could do was stubbornly sleep next to his wife, but he had no choice. Even this small act of pettiness was all he could manage.

“Your Grace.”

“This much, the wife will yield.”

Hearing Serrett’s troubled voice, Yuan closed his eyes.

Serrett, who had been staring at him silently without permission, finally spoke.

“I’ll allow it just for tonight.”

For some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to drive him away today. Serrett carefully lay down next to Yuan.

Turning from her back toward him, Serrett looked at the sleeping Yuan. The lights were still on, so his face was clearly visible.

A straight forehead, a well-defined nose, and perfectly shaped eyebrows. Serrett’s gaze traveled over his face.

“Yuan, are you asleep?”

Serrett called softly.

All that came from the deeply sleeping Yuan was the sound of his quiet breathing.

“If you still haven’t realized your feelings for Lydia, that means you’re not planning to kill me right now, right?”

For now, it was safe to be by Yuan’s side. Feeling relieved but bitter about thinking such thoughts, Serrett let out a small laugh.

She hoped that from the start, it hadn’t been a calculated deception. At least she hoped the marriage wasn’t for the purpose of killing her.

Then perhaps she could eventually forget the wounds caused by the man she had loved madly.

The wounds that had seemed they would never heal might eventually mend. Though the scars would remain.

“Good night.”

Serrett offered a bitter farewell and closed her eyes.

“Your Grace, the culprit has been caught.”

Derick, the aide, rushed into the study with an urgent voice.

Yuan lifted his gaze from the documents, frowning slightly, and stood. Since Serrett had been attacked, Yuan had been working from home instead of going to the office.

“Caught?”

“It seems to be a vagrant roaming the Berun household.”

“A vagrant?”

“Yes. He ran as soon as he saw the police, which seemed suspicious, so they chased and caught him. Apparently, some strands of blond hair were stuck to his clothes.”

Yuan muttered a low curse.

The thought that Serrett’s hair had been on that man’s clothes made him extremely uneasy. The vague image of the situation aroused both anger and frustration.

“Where is he now?”

“At the police station.”

Yuan nodded and strode out of the study. He instructed a servant to bring clothes and told Derick to prepare a carriage.

While waiting in the lobby for the servant, Serrett appeared with another servant she had sent on an errand.

“Are you going out?”

Watching the servant help Yuan into his frock coat, Serrett asked.

“The culprit has been caught.”

“Caught?”

Serrett’s eyes widened at Yuan’s words. Finally, they had caught him.

Yuan predicted that Serrett would insist on going along, and he was right.

“I want to go too.”

Serrett wanted to see the culprit herself. She was also curious whether he was connected to Lydia.

“I figured as much.”

“Wait. Don’t leave me behind.”

Before Yuan could respond, Serrett ran up the stairs.

Watching her dash ahead, Yuan frowned.

“Don’t run. You’ll get hurt.”

“I’m not running.”

Even while running—Serrett’s obvious lie made Yuan smirk.

A short while later, dressed for going out, Serrett ran down the stairs, her face flushed with excitement.

“I told you not to run.”

Yuan sighed at the sight of her in front of him. No matter what he said, his wife wouldn’t listen.

“Who’s the culprit? Who did it?”

Serrett ignored Yuan’s question, only focused on her curiosity.

“They say it’s a vagrant roaming the Berun household.”

Yuan extended his arm to Serrett.

She naturally took it, looking at him with curiosity.

“A vagrant?”

Serrett could not contain her curiosity and asked many questions as they left the lobby, including motive and age.

Yuan said they would need to go to the police station for details since he didn’t know fully yet.

The two rode in the carriage to the police station.

The presence of the duke and duchess caused a stir at the station. While a duke appearing was one thing, a duchess coming here was unusual, making everyone tense.

“You wish to see the culprit?”

The officer glanced uneasily at Serrett. It wasn’t a place for a lady, but she spoke calmly:

“I think it’s best for them to identify me in person.”

“I suppose that could work.”

The officer then looked at Yuan.

“Your wife will accompany you?”

Yuan nodded slightly, indicating it was fine. He knew Serrett’s determination would not be easily swayed.

“Yes, we’ll escort you.”

With Yuan’s approval, the officer respectfully led them toward the underground cell.

The stairs to the cell were dark, smelling of mold and dust. The noises of cursing and spitting made Serrett understand why the officer had looked uneasy—it was hardly a place suitable for a lady.

Walking down the corridor, whistling and laughter echoed. Serrett felt targeted by the prisoners’ taunts, and Yuan’s expression grew fierce.

The officer quickly struck the bars with a baton to quiet them.

“Do you know who you’re dealing with? Shut… up!”

Aware of the duke and duchess, the prisoners swallowed their rough words.

Seeing the prisoners, Serrett tensed but tried not to show it, instinctively staying close to Yuan.

Feeling her tension, Yuan gently held her hand. Her small hand made his chest flutter unexpectedly.

Serrett glanced at their joined hands. Ironically, she was relying on the man who could have killed her.

But he had no intention of killing her now. Serrett held his hand firmly.

The officer stopped in front of the bars and looked at them.

“This is the person.”

Serrett and Yuan’s gaze fell on a man behind the bars. He appeared to be about fifty, dressed in rags, with long hair and beard.

Serrett approached the bars. The man’s head was bowed, hiding his face.

She wanted to see his face clearly. Perhaps he was someone she knew from a past life.

“Serrett, come here.”

Worried, Yuan called her back just as the man suddenly lunged toward Serrett.