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Chapter – 16
Dolorasa stared intently at Graham, who was slightly shorter than she was.
“Do you like your mom that much?”
“I do. I like her the most in the whole world.”
“I like my dad the most.”
“I don’t like my dad. Dad is….”
Graham didn’t know exactly why he disliked his father, or how he disliked him. Adultery was a concept too difficult for a child his age to understand.
He only knew that his father, Theodore, had abandoned both him and Rachel, and that it had made them sad and hurt. That much, he hated.
Thoughtful Dolorasa didn’t pry any further.
“I don’t have a mom, so I don’t know why moms are so nice.”
“…You don’t have a mom?”
Living without a mother—how could that be possible? She couldn’t even imagine it.
What if her own mother disappeared? Just imagining it made her shudder. It was a terrifying thought. Graham would surely hate a world without his mother and grieve for a very long time.
He began to feel sorry for this little girl named Dolorasa.
“Moms are really great. They smell nice, they’re soft and squishy, gentle and warm, and it feels good when you hug them. It’s nice when they pat your head, and I like it when they smile. They’re really, really great.”
“That’s different from dads. Dads aren’t soft or squishy.”
“Yeah. Dads are hard. Sometimes it even hurts when you hug them.”
“Right! If they hug too tight, it really hurts.”
“But moms don’t hurt. They’re soft and fluffy.”
“Hmm… that sounds nice. I want to be hugged by a mom too.”
At Dolorasa’s words, Graham tensed up. He didn’t like the idea of his mom hugging someone other than himself.
“I’m not lending my mom to you.”
“Who said anything about borrowing her?”
Dolorasa spoke coolly, but there was a hint of regret on her face.
The two little children spent a long time imagining what it would be like to be held in Rachel’s soft, gentle arms.
Rachel moved to the place Sian had prepared for their conversation.
Sian was someone who knew how to guide a conversation with elegance. Walking with him was never boring.
“You said his name was Graham, didn’t you? He seems to love his mother very much.”
“He does. He’s kind, gentle, and follows me well.”
“Kind and gentle.”
Sian recalled the way Graham had looked at him at the mansion’s entrance. The boy’s eyes had seemed ready to lunge and bite if anyone harmed his mother even slightly. “Kind and gentle” didn’t quite fit a beast like that.
If Sian hadn’t acknowledged him as someone protecting his mother, Graham might have actually bitten his leg.
“Has he learned the sword?”
“No. He likes stories about knights, but he’s a quiet child who mostly enjoys drawing and reading. He’s never even said he wanted to learn.”
With eyes like that, and he hadn’t learned swordsmanship?
If Graham were trained, he would undoubtedly become an exceptional swordsman—or knight. On top of that, he had the desire to protect his mother. He might even surpass Sian one day.
His heart began to race again—the same feeling he’d had when he first realized how remarkable Rachel was.
I want to teach him.
Sian liked gathering capable people around him and working with them. He didn’t usually nurture talent; teaching wasn’t his strong suit.
But I want to try teaching Graham. Is it because he resembles Dolorasa? I want to watch a child’s talent bloom and grow beautifully.
How wonderful that would be. He chuckled softly.
It’s rare for both mother and child to capture my interest at once. The Elrosa family is truly something.
After a brief pause, he spoke.
“Madam, if it’s not too presumptuous, may I teach Graham swordsmanship?”
“What?”
Rachel’s eyes widened at the sudden proposal.
She had never expected this.
More than anyone, Rachel knew Graham had talent with the sword. Even without proper instruction, he had grown into a killing machine. With a great teacher, he might truly become the knight he wanted to be.
Sian was among the finest swordsmen in the empire. Experienced, powerful, yet calm and humble—he would surely be an excellent mentor.
And meeting Sian under the pretense of sword training would naturally bring him closer to Dolorasa as well.
From Rachel’s perspective, it was a perfect offer.
Except for one thing.
“As I said, Graham is a quiet child. I’m not sure he’d want to learn the sword. Why are you suddenly making this offer?”
“Graham has the two things needed to learn swordsmanship. I became greedy. I wondered what it would be like to make this child’s potential bloom with my own hands.”
“The things needed for swordsmanship?”
“Yes. Talent—and the desire to protect someone.”
The desire to protect someone…
She thought of Graham wanting to protect her. Perhaps sword training might ease his heart.
After a brief moment of consideration, Rachel nodded.
“Thank you for offering first. I’ll ask Graham what he thinks.”
“Thank you.”
When they arrived at the indoor garden, servants set out tea and refreshments, then withdrew. In the spacious garden, only Rachel and Sian remained. Somewhere, birds were chirping.
After quietly sipping his tea, Sian spoke first.
“I’ll ask directly. Why did you shift the tax evasion and asset concealment crimes committed by Theodore Elrosa onto his mistress’s father?”
It was a blunt question, asked without warning.
Rachel’s eyes widened briefly, but she quickly composed herself.
“…So you noticed. Will I be punished as well?”
“That depends on your answer. Until recently, Theodore was suspected of treason. Your actions could be seen by the Noble Council as preparations for rebellion.”
After a short pause, Sian continued more firmly.
“I don’t understand. Why lessen the crimes of a husband you despise so much? Was there another motive? Be honest. That’s why I called you here today.”
His golden eyes gleamed threateningly—the same gaze he’d used when looking at Theodore at the banquet. Eyes that allowed no lies.
Sian was the most powerful noble in the council, second only to the emperor. With a single word, he could erase the charges pinned on Kal—or punish Rachel for shielding Theodore.
Rachel stiffened. Her shoulders and back went rigid, and her voice trembled.
“I wanted Theodore and Jane to fight. If only Kal is punished and Theodore escapes, Jane would misunderstand and think Theodore blamed everything on her father alone.”
She paused before continuing.
“…At first, I thought I wouldn’t care what they did. But seeing them behave so shamelessly right in front of me… I’m sorry. Seeing something so ugly made me want to separate them at all costs.”
“You want your husband to suffer?”
“Yes. That was the best revenge I could think of.”
“Hm.”
Sian leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs and folding his hands on his knee.
She did it to take revenge on her husband.
It was a reasonable answer. Most people want to hurt someone back when they’ve been hurt.
But the person sitting before him was Rachel Elrosa. For her, the plan felt too ordinary, too simple.
The most satisfying revenge against someone who hurt you was simple:
Live happily, as if they had never mattered at all.
The thought that the person who left you is living better without you gnaws at a person painfully. It hurts them while leaving you unscathed.
And Theodore was immature, reckless, and romantic. If he suffered enough, he might even become obsessively attached to Rachel.
Sian thought she would know this.
Unless she’s drawing an even bigger picture—hurting Theodore while also living happily herself.
Rachel was smarter than Sian gave her credit for.
He let out a deep sigh.
“Very well. I’ll let Kal take the fall for the tax issue. I’ll also cover it from the council’s eyes and ears.”
Rachel’s face brightened with relief.
“Thank you very much, Your Grace. I won’t forget this kindness.”
“It’s nothing. Have you prepared the divorce papers?”
“Yes. I prepared them in advance. I planned to give them to Theodore when I see him.”
“Do not give the divorce papers to Count Elrosa.”
“…Pardon?”
If she didn’t give him the papers, he couldn’t stamp them. Without his seal, the divorce couldn’t proceed.
Seeing her confusion, Sian explained.
“Count Theodore Elrosa will not want a divorce. Even if he receives the papers, he’ll tear them up or refuse to sign.”
“That can’t be. Theodore would never—”
“Didn’t I tell you? A person’s heart doesn’t move the way one wishes.”
Come to think of it—
In the original story, Theodore refused to divorce even after being caught cheating. Pride, his mother’s nagging, Jane’s status—there were many reasons.
As Rachel pressed her lips together, Sian smiled faintly.
“Instead, there is a very good way to force a divorce—whether he wants it or not.”
Rachel’s eyes sparkled.
