ISGJV 40

Chapter 40

I was close with most of the children at the orphanage, but among them, I was closest to that child.

More precisely, that child followed me with particular devotion.

“Haena unni is closest to me! She’s my sister!”

She fought with the other kids just to be close to me.

Even after I left the orphanage first and became independent, we kept in steady contact. And when that child—who was a year younger than me—also became independent from the orphanage, she was the one who suggested that we live together.

I had been used to living with many people, and living alone felt lonely.

‘So I was happy and grateful for that suggestion.’

Like an idiot.

The price I paid for trusting someone I had known for over ten years was harsh.

The money I had saved since high school through tutoring and part-time jobs, plus the support funds I received when I became independent from the orphanage—

All of it, my entire fortune, disappeared.

I didn’t have the luxury to wallow in frustration or despair, because the lease on the room I was staying in at the time was set to expire in just a few days.

‘So while looking for a live-in private tutor position… I ended up coming here.’

Until now, I had deliberately tried not to think about what happened back then.

It was probably because the memory was too painful and difficult.

The reason that child suddenly came to mind now was likely because I had seen the pickpocket kids earlier.

Children who weren’t related by blood, yet lived like real siblings in circumstances far harsher than mine back then.

So different from the relationship between me and that child.

At least that level of trust was beautiful—and enviable.

As I was lost in thought, an unexpected remark from Edmund reached my ears.

“Why do you look like that?”

“What do I look like?”

“Like you’re… about to cry…….”

At his words, I touched the corner of my eye. It was dry.

“I’m not crying? Is your eyesight getting worse or something?”

“I didn’t mean you were literally crying, just that your mood is—. No, never mind.”

Edmund, who normally would have pressed me with questions, retreated easily this time for some reason.

Come to think of it, it was strange.

‘Why did I find the courage to think about that child?’

For me, this definitely required courage.

It was too painful, too hard—and the wound hadn’t even scabbed over, let alone healed.

That was why I had deliberately buried it away and tried not to think about it.

‘It’s… not as hard as I thought.’

Of course, it still hurt a little and was difficult, but it felt lighter than expected.

As if I were someone who had already healed and overcome it to some degree.

‘Could it be because I’ve completely fallen into another world, that it actually became easier……?’

If that were the case—

If it really were—

‘Maybe it’s okay for me to stay here like this.’

At the very least, I wouldn’t have to return to that horrific situation from before I fell into this book.

For the first time, that thought crossed my mind.

What pulled me out of my deep thoughts was Edmund’s surly voice.

“You know, if you keep living like that, you might end up in real danger.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Those pickpocket kids from earlier. If you keep being that soft, you might suffer badly someday.”

For some reason, Edmund’s words didn’t sound like they were referring only to those kids.

It almost felt like he was talking about how kind I’d been to him.

I was a little touched…….

“If I tossed you into a big city right now, I feel like you’d get scammed out of your entire fortune and be crying within a day.”

Cancel! Cancel!

My emotion is canceled!

“W-What did you say?! What would happen to me?!”

“Scammed. Or robbed, or something like that. It worries me.”

Edmund was serious.

I, on the other hand, jumped in place.

“That’s not true! Why would I get scammed? Didn’t you see how I handle things? I’m extremely thorough and cold-hearted!”

“……If that’s true, then why are you making such a fuss? You look like someone with a guilty conscience.”

“I don’t have one! Not at all! What would I even feel guilty about?!”

Even as I said it myself, my face heated up, turned red, and my voice grew oddly loud and shaky.

Anyone would think I was making a bigger fuss precisely because I had a lot to feel guilty about.

Which was also true.

Noticing this, Edmund let out a small snort of laughter.

Then he said casually,

“Can’t be helped.”

“Huh? What can’t?”

“It’s already come to this.”

What does that mean?

Then, unusually kindly, Edmund explained.

“My uncle did whatever he wanted, but anyway, you’re a ‘Cohen’ now.”

“Ah.”

He was talking about our marriage.

We hadn’t held a wedding, and we were both far too young, but legally, we were indeed a married couple.

“I’m the legitimate head of the Cohen family, so…….”

With his gaze fixed out the window as if it were nothing, Edmund tossed out the words.

“I’ll just have to keep an eye on you so you don’t get scammed.”

“Huh?”

I tilted my head.

Just now, didn’t that sound oddly nuanced?

From Edmund’s perspective, that had taken an enormous amount of courage to say.

“I’ll just have to keep an eye on you so you don’t get scammed.”

From now on, always.

Even after escaping this place, becoming a real duke, and after that—

But Edmund didn’t voice the rest of that thought.

‘When the time comes that you’re no longer in danger, and you can survive without suspecting people…… then I’ll properly…….’

They were young, and there was still a long, long time ahead.

Unaware of Edmund’s thoughts, Kasia stared blankly for a moment, then quickly flared up.

“My goodness! Why would you need to watch me? Do you think I’m such a sucker that I only ever fall for scams?”

Without responding to Kasia’s outburst, Edmund avoided her gaze.

If he met her eyes now, he felt like all his feelings would be exposed.

Kasia’s face reddened even more as she shouted.

“Got it? I’m not a sucker! How dare a kid talk to his noona like that!”

Then, the red eyes that had been turned elsewhere until just moments ago looked straight at Kasia.

As if trying to see through her skin and into her very core.

Enough to make Kasia flinch in surprise.

And then—

“Huh?”

Edmund straightened up.

Kasia was bent forward at the waist, mid-argument.

As a result, Edmund’s suddenly risen gaze was now higher than hers.

The sensation of Edmund looking down at her like that was unfamiliar to Kasia.

That strange feeling made her face flush even more.

Then Edmund’s lips parted.

Their usual bickering took on a slightly different atmosphere.

“……No.”

“What—what do you mean, no?”

“You’re not my noona.”

“Why not? I’m definitely a year older than you— Ah!”

Mid-sentence, Kasia realized the mistake in her own words.

Edmund smiled confidently.

“Today’s my fourteenth birthday. That means we’re the same age now.”

“Well, that’s… true, but……!”

‘But the contents inside are already in my twenties! How dare a kid—!’

That was something she couldn’t confess.

Kasia could only fume on her own.

Then Edmund added one more line—unexpectedly, sharply—striking straight into Kasia’s chest.

“Not noona. Wife.”

“……Huh?”

Kasia froze on the spot, like a pillar of salt.

“You’re my wife. Am I wrong?”

It felt as though a massive wad of cotton had smashed into the back of Kasia’s head.

Inside the carriage returning to the villa, I could hardly gather my thoughts.

‘What was that? What did I just hear?’

My head felt foggy. My chest felt as though it were tightly stuffed with something huge and fluffy.

‘He definitely… definitely…… Edmund called me his “wife”…….’

Objectively speaking, it was a fact I already knew.

From the moment we first met, we had been legally married.

Hadn’t I myself emphasized that I was Edmund’s wife to interfere with Moretti before?

And yet, I hadn’t expected Edmund to say it with his own mouth.

More precisely…… I hadn’t expected hearing it from him to feel this unfamiliar and strange.

‘What is this? What is wrong with me?’

I’m not planning to hide that legal husband under a chair and sit on him, am I?

But my sudden confusion didn’t last long.

When we arrived at the villa, an unexpected situation was waiting for us.

The head maid greeted me with a flustered expression and cried out,

“Please come quickly, young madam! The Duchess is here right now!!