DTEYH 08

chapter 08

“Please Break Off the Engagement Because I Don’t Want to Die, Duke”

“I was told that they respect the intention to break off the engagement. However, since there are also public considerations, they suggested we wait for the right time and officially announce it around winter, and then exchange the formal annulment documents.”

A brief silence followed.

My father finally nodded as if he understood. As someone in the position of a duke, he seemed to recognize that public perception had to be taken into account.

‘That should be enough, right?’

I thought it was about time to leave the office. But my father, as if he still had something to say, stopped me with a question.

“But why exactly do you want to break off your engagement with Duke Romanov? It won’t be easy for you to find a match of that caliber.”

I felt like he was indirectly saying: Romanov is far too good for you.

If this was consideration, then it was indeed consideration. It was surprising—my father, who had always been indifferent to me, was speaking with unusual care.

After briefly thinking of an excuse…

“I don’t want to spend my entire life married to someone I have no feelings for.”

I blurted it out impulsively. It definitely wasn’t the kind of answer a typical noble lady would give.

“……”

A flicker of hesitation crossed my father’s face.

‘He looks less angry than I expected… more like he’s actually thinking about it.’

I waited for him to speak.

Soon, he nodded and said,

“If that’s the case.”

“Yes?”

“You may live alone if necessary.”

“…Huh?”

Startled, I made a strange sound with a blank expression.

“If no one suitable for you appears, then you may simply stay here for the rest of your life.”

“…?”

“Lindberg is overflowing with wealth. Supporting you in luxury would be no trouble at all.”

Wait. Wait a second.

That was an incredibly shocking statement. I was supposed to be the troublesome daughter he wanted to get rid of as quickly as possible.

‘…And I’m not even his real daughter.’

And yet he was saying I could live here forever?

It was strange—too strange. I couldn’t understand his intentions at all.

I pursed my lips, opened them, then ended up saying something irrelevant.

“I don’t even live extravagantly…”

“That’s just a figure of speech.”

Normally, it was hard to even speak a word to my father, but right now, I felt like I could ask something.

“Your Grace, I also have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you accept my request to break off the engagement?”

“…Would it be a problem if I accepted it?”

“I was just curious.”

Maybe he didn’t want to talk about it? Thinking that, I quickly shook my head.

“Never mind. I should get going.”

As I turned away, my father’s low voice—slightly strained—stopped me.

“It is the first time since your childhood that you have asked me for something.”

“……”

The air suddenly felt heavier.

I didn’t respond, but inwardly, I accepted it. It was true.

Since my fifteenth birthday, I had tried doing everything on my own, even causing trouble in the process, but I had never once asked anyone in this household for anything. Not even the servants, except for Hanna.

His voice came again, unfamiliar yet strangely gentle.

“I wondered how desperate you must be, for you—who had kept silent all this time—to come and ask.”

It was true that I was desperate.

‘Because I don’t want to marry Duke Romanov, have a child, and then die.’

My father’s attitude was so unfamiliar that I was flustered, but in any case, I had achieved my goal.

“Thank you.”

I gave a brief bow and turned away.

The moment I stepped into the hallway, a certain incident from the side story suddenly came to mind.

‘Soon…’

My father would be injured. Nothing too serious, just a minor injury, but still.

However… that incident would lead to the appearance of my three older brothers. Not knowing the exact severity of his injury, they would all rush back to the duke’s estate in the capital.

‘How long has it been since I saw them?’

I couldn’t even remember—it must have been months.

After our mother’s death, they had all left the capital residence, staying mostly in their respective territories under the excuse of fulfilling their duties.

They did occasionally visit, but…

I always avoided them awkwardly, overwhelmed by guilt like a frightened child. Eventually, they stopped looking for me as well. Only the third brother, Lucian, who was closest in age and had once been like a real sibling who bickered with me, continued to visit.

‘Even when I act awkward, Lucian still comes… though he’s not exactly kind about it.’

I asked Hanna, who was waiting beside me,

“When will the annex renovation start?”

“Milady, you even know about that schedule? As expected, you’re so attentive. The renovation is already underway.”

I froze slightly at her answer.

“…Already?”

“It’s the first renovation in almost three years. There’s a lot to do, but it has to be finished before summer. The workers are very diligent.”

“Hmm…”

I fell into thought for a moment, recalling the side story.

My father would go out to personally greet a close friend visiting the estate. On the way, he would pass the path beside the annex.

‘And then the temporary wall set up for construction collapses and he gets injured.’

Now that I knew it, I couldn’t ignore it.

‘And also…’

The thought of facing my brothers again because of that incident made me uneasy.

I wanted to prevent it if possible. But if I warned them outright, it might raise suspicion.

‘Maybe I could secretly remove the wall…?’

My father wouldn’t be injured today anyway, so there was still time to prepare.

But just then, my father suddenly appeared from the office and walked past me.

‘Huh?’

…Something feels wrong!

“Your Grace!”

He turned around.

“Yes?”

“Where are you going?”

Perhaps surprised that I was asking, he hesitated briefly, then answered quickly.

“Duke Reinhart is visiting. His carriage has arrived at the main gate, so I am going to receive him personally.”

…That incident is today?

My shoulders dropped.

‘I thought I still had time to prevent it.’

I watched his receding figure and swallowed hard.

Not long after, the entire estate descended into chaos.

“Prepare the sickbed immediately! Suzan! Bring hot water and plenty of towels!”

The head butler, Jordi, looked the busiest. He was usually very composed, but now he was running around sweating profusely.

‘He must be really shocked.’

Seeing the head of the household bleeding from his forehead was probably a shock even for a butler.

I grabbed a passing servant.

“He’s being taken to his bedroom, right?”

The hesitant young servant nodded quickly.

“Yes, Milady.”

“Alright, thank you. Go on.”

Watching the servant hurry off, I thought,

‘There are too many people right now. I’ll visit him when things calm down.’

I turned away, considering heading to the lab out of habit, but changed direction toward my adjoining room instead.

My three older brothers would soon appear. If I stayed in the lab, I would undoubtedly get scolded by Lucian.

“Ugh… I can already imagine it.”

Just thinking about him made me shake my head.

“Are you hiding in the lab again? You’re practically a witch!” he would say, getting all worked up.

Lucian had started to hate me at some point. He didn’t even bother hiding it.

The reason was obvious.

‘Because I was the one who caused our mother’s death.’

It was clear. Looking back, before our mother died, Lucian used to playfully tease me, but never treated me harshly.

‘In fact, when I first came here, he was the most welcoming one—saying he finally had a younger sibling.’