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Episode 10
It’s said that raising a child means crying a lot, but hearing my own son casually stab my heart with his words was something else.
I had to use every bit of self-control I had to keep my voice from shaking and to stop him from noticing how hurt I was.
But the wound in my heart was already there.
“Bliss, you barely even showed your face to me after the funeral. But you want to call her ‘Mom’? A woman you’ve only lived with for three years?”
Instead of answering, Bliss just glared at me stubbornly.
While I was still reeling from the pain, Julia gently pushed Bliss away.
“Young master, please don’t do this. Sob… What if Madam—no, Lady Charlotte—punishes you because of this…?”
“Mom, why are you calling me Young Master? My name isn’t Young Master. It’s Bliss!”
This was unbelievable.
At the same time, I was furious, and I was also insanely jealous of Julia.
The Bliss I knew had never protected me like this. He always hid behind me instead.
Patience, sacrifice, and understanding have always been my responsibilities as a mother.
Just like now.
I bit my lower lip hard and closed my eyes for a moment.
I knew exactly what Julia would do within a week. That was the only reason I managed to stay calm.
“Fine, Julia. If that’s how it is, I’ll allow you to stay at the mansion for now as Bliss’s nanny.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much, Madam!”
Julia cried fake tears as she hugged Bliss tightly.
Behind me, Dolores and the servants groaned in frustration.
They clearly thought I was making a terrible decision.
I deliberately looked away from Bliss in Julia’s arms.
“Dolores.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“In front of all the servants, whip the former butler and former head maid before throwing them out. And confiscate every bit of property they stole from the Marquis family.”
“Understood.”
I turned around and walked back into the mansion, hiding my reddened eyes.
No matter how desperately the former servants begged behind me, the pain in my heart wouldn’t go away.
Tears quietly rolled down my cheeks.
Thankfully, Bliss didn’t see them.
That night.
Bliss’s bedroom.
Julia had successfully returned to the mansion by sacrificing the former butler and head maid, just as she’d planned.
But she was in a terrible mood.
She paced back and forth in front of Bliss’s bed.
“Seriously! How could Charlotte do this to me? Not only did she turn the Marchioness’s room—my room—into an empty room, she threw away all my belongings! Do you know how much those things were worth?”
“Mom, technically, she didn’t throw them away. She donated them. That’s what the new butler said.”
“Is that really the most important part right now?!”
Her sharp voice cut through the quiet room.
It was a side of Julia that Charlotte would never have imagined.
Bliss flinched and shrank back.
He was sitting on the bed in his pajamas, swinging his legs moments ago.
Now he looked terrified.
Still angry, Julia stomped over to him.
Before he could react, she grabbed both of his arms.
“Do you realize that because of that stupid woman, I don’t even have a proper room and have to share yours?!”
Bliss immediately lowered his head and started trembling.
Just as he had done for the past three years.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I was wrong.”
But Julia wasn’t satisfied.
“That’s not it. You’re only saying sorry with your mouth. I know that.”
“No, really… I’m really sorry…”
Tears streamed down Bliss’s face.
When Charlotte had spanked him before, he’d barely cried.
These were tears of fear.
And Julia knew exactly what kind of tears they were.
She gently stroked his head with a sweet smile.
“That’s right, Bliss. From now on, only say things that make Mom happy.”
“I don’t want to hit you either, if I can help it.”
Bliss stayed silent.
Julia brought over a glass of water.
With a loving smile, she sat Bliss on her lap and held the cup to his lips.
He drank obediently.
Julia’s mood swings weren’t anything new.
Bliss had long since given up trying to understand them.
She whispered into his ear.
“Now, what did Mommy tell you before?”
After finishing the water, Bliss nervously answered.
“You said… If I had been someone else’s child, you wouldn’t have cared about me at all. You said I’m your son, not Charlotte’s.”
“That’s right. Good boy.”
Julia stroked his hair.
A satisfied smile appeared on her lips.
‘Nobles aren’t anything special. At the end of the day, he’s just a child.’
She couldn’t bully grown noble adults.
But a small, weak child like Bliss?
That was easy.
No matter what kind of troublemaker he might become later, from the age of five until now, he had been nothing more than a doll in her hands.
A doll she could tear apart or throw away whenever she felt like it.
‘Though sometimes I play the role of a loving mother when I’m in a good mood.’
At least one thing was fortunate.
Julia never planned to keep this up forever.
And sure enough, three days later, she made her move.
Early morning, late spring.
The air was chilly.
Julia ignored it as she slipped a key into the lock of the treasure vault.
Years ago, the late Marquis Arista had given this key to Julia instead of his wife, Charlotte.
But strangely, the vault wouldn’t open.
For someone who had spent years freely draining its wealth, this was unexpected.
After struggling with the lock for a long time, Julia finally snapped.
“Why won’t this damn thing open?!”
“Because the owner of the house changed the locks.”
Hearing a familiar voice, Julia froze.
She thought she was alone.
She quickly looked around.
Standing in the hallway was Charlotte.
Moonlight illuminated her cold face.
Startled, Julia instinctively blurted out her name.
“Charlotte?!”
Charlotte laughed.
“Why are you so surprised? Is there somewhere in my own house I’m not allowed to go?”
Only then did Julia realize she’d wasted her effort.
She immediately put on an innocent smile.
“Marchioness, please don’t misunderstand. I only wanted to check the vault before returning the key to you.”
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
Julia finally dropped the act.
She dramatically threw the useless key at Charlotte’s feet.
Clang!
The key hit the floor.
“Lady Charlotte, have you completely lost your judgment? If you kick me out, do you really think Bliss will stay quiet?”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Don’t you know what kind of child he is? He’s eight years old. He needs a mother. Not a legal mother—a mother he can trust and rely on.”
Julia smirked.
“You don’t seriously think you can suddenly become close to him now, do you?”
“Oh my, you can’t even answer. Looks like I hit a nerve. How pathetic.”
Charlotte’s eyes blazed with anger.
“If you truly loved Bliss, you wouldn’t be treating his legal guardian like this.”
Julia laughed mockingly.
“Love? Me? Love that brat?”
“Why would I love him? He’s not even my real son.”
“To me, he’s nothing more than a source of money. Just like your dead husband was.”
Julia expected Charlotte to beg her not to let Bliss hear that.
After all, learning the truth would devastate him.
And Charlotte had always been a fool to let her into the mansion in the first place.
But what happened next was completely unexpected.
“…Mom?”
A trembling voice.
A familiar face.
Only then did Julia notice Bliss standing in the darkness.
Charlotte hadn’t come alone.
Hidden in the shadows with Dolores and three servants, Bliss slowly stepped forward.
Silent tears rolled down his face.
The situation was obvious.
He had heard everything.
Julia’s face instantly turned pale.
“Bliss, wait, that’s not what I meant.”
But Bliss didn’t give her a chance to explain.
He turned and ran toward his room.
“Bliss! No!”
Julia tried to chase after him.
“Stop right there.”
Charlotte grabbed her before she could move.
For the first time, Julia saw Charlotte’s expression clearly.
It looked like a demon crawling out of hell.
She looked ready to tear Julia apart.
“H-Hii! I-I mean…”
But Charlotte wasn’t interested in excuses.
She immediately grabbed Julia by the hair.
“AAAH! What are you doing?! Talk like a civilized person!”
“What am I doing?”
Charlotte scoffed.
“Hey. I heard you’ve been beating my son behind my back.”
Julia’s entire body stiffened.
But she wasn’t about to confess.
She blinked innocently.
“What are you talking about, Madam? Beating him? Me?”
“Yes. You hit my son.”
“That’s impossible! I may not have given birth to Bliss, but I’m still his mother!”
