IGBD 30

chapter 30

“My feet must hurt. Let’s head back.”

“Mm, okay.”

At Jeremy’s words, Serret turned her body around. The siblings chatted softly as they made their way toward the banquet hall.

When they arrived, Serret spotted familiar faces on the second-floor balcony.

It was Yuan and Lydia. The two were standing opposite each other, engaged in conversation.

“Huh?”

Jeremy also seemed to have seen them, his expression startled.

And in that very moment—

Lydia wrapped her arms around Yuan’s neck and threw herself into his embrace. In the moonlight, they looked every bit like beautiful, tragic lovers.

So they were having a secret tryst.

Serret sighed at the sight before her.

She should have seen this after the wedding. That way, it would have been the precious moment where her husband was caught being unfaithful with another woman.

“Gasp.”

Serret wasn’t all that shocked, but Jeremy inhaled sharply in surprise.

Then, in a rush, he covered Serret’s eyes with his hand.

“Jeremy.”

Serret tried to pull his hand away, but instead he grabbed her shoulders and turned her away from the hall.

“Don’t look, Serret. Don’t look at anything.”

His hand, shielding her eyes, trembled faintly. Jeremy’s voice shook too, making Serret quickly push his hand aside to see his face.

“Jeremy, are you crying?”

His face twisted as he let out a sniffle.

“Serret, this won’t do. Just break it off. Let’s call off the engagement.”

Jeremy wiped his tears with his palm and looked at her.

“What?”

“I’ll take care of everything, so just annul it. I’ll take responsibility.”

He hung his head, still sniffling.

“Jeremy, look at me. Look at my face.”

Serret cupped his cheeks and lifted his head. Seeing his tear-streaked face broke her heart.

It had been his fault this situation came about, but seeing him in such misery, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

“As the eldest son of the Inohater family, I’ll go to the duke myself and say it. That we’re calling it off.”

“I’m not breaking it off. I won’t.”

“No matter how I think about it, this isn’t right. I’ll get a job right away and pay off the debt. Even if it takes decades, I’ll repay it.”

“…Jeremy, listen carefully to me.”

She hesitated at his desperate offer to quit school and start working immediately, then finally spoke.

“I don’t plan on keeping this marriage for long, either.”

Looking him straight in the eyes, she continued.

“Huh?”

Jeremy blinked, puzzled.

“One year. I’ll live with His Grace the Duke for just one year, then I’ll divorce him.”

“What?”

Jeremy’s eyes widened.

“If I stay married for one year, I can get the deed to the house back.”

“You… made a contract with the duke?”

His eyes grew even larger.

“Uh, yeah. This is a contractual marriage.”

It was really a contract she had made with herself, but Serret lied a little to reassure him.

If she told him the truth, it would only break his heart.

“I see… So that’s why…”

Jeremy misunderstood her words completely. He assumed there had been an actual contract between her and Yuan, and that the condition was for the deed to be returned. That must have been why Yuan had given back the title deed but not the house deed, he thought.

“So, it doesn’t matter to me. Whatever His Grace does with another woman.”

In fact, it was even better. The more he did things like this, the easier it would be. Serret smiled faintly.

“…But are you really okay? You used to like him.”

Jeremy asked cautiously.

“That was in the past. I used to like him a lot, but not anymore.”

Once, she had truly loved him deeply. But now, he was nothing but loathsome—a man she hated.

For the man who had killed her, she had no feelings left. Her lips twisted into a bitter smile.

“Really?”

Jeremy studied her face.

“I told you, didn’t I? I just want to hurry and get married, hurry and divorce, and then return to Moshelli. I want to live happily with Father and you.”

“Let’s do that. You deserve happiness.”

“Mm. I will be happy.”

It would be different from that horrible previous life. She vowed to herself.

This life, she would surely be happy.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“I’m sorry, Yuan.”

Pulling her arms away from his neck, Lydia stepped back from him.

“….”

Yuan only sighed, saying nothing.

“I’m really sorry. Because of me, you’ve been so troubled. Hic…”

Tears welled up as Lydia wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and fled the balcony.

“Ha…”

Yuan sighed and frowned. Things that hadn’t bothered him before were now bothering him.

He had only wanted to set things right, but instead he made Lydia cry. Every time she cried, it felt like proof of his own inadequacy.

When he was young, he had once made Lydia cry. He didn’t remember why, but his father’s words from that day were still vivid.

“So, Yuan, you’re not a gentleman.”

His father had said it with a smile, but to perfection-seeking Yuan, it hadn’t sounded like a joke at all.

Not a gentleman? The young Yuan couldn’t stand such a thought.

As a child of the Frektuster family, he had to be flawless in every way.

With a stony expression, he left the balcony and descended the stairs.

Because of Lydia’s tears, Yuan once again felt like a worthless man. The thought made his face remain grim.

On the way down, he ran into Serret and Jeremy. Relieved that the two were together, he approached them.

“Your Grace.”

Jeremy’s gaze toward Yuan was strangely sharp. Yuan was puzzled, but then Serret spoke.

“I saw Lady Elliot coming down the stairs. So Your Grace was on the second floor too.”

“I had something to discuss.”

Yuan answered while sneaking a glance at Serret.

“Just the two of you? What could you possibly be discussing alone?”

Jeremy’s tone was pointed.

“I’m rather tired. I’ll go back with Jeremy first.”

Before Yuan could respond, Serret spoke up. At her words, he took her hand and placed it on his arm.

“No. Let’s go together. I’m tired as well.”

“…Alright, then.”

Serret nodded. For some reason, having her at his side calmed Yuan.

Serret Inohater. Why does this woman, of all people…

Finding himself ridiculous, the corner of his lips twisted wryly.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Back at the duke’s residence, Serret bathed and then sat at the table. Opening her diary, she gripped her pen tightly.

Keeping a journal had always been one of her habits. After returning in time, she had been too busy to write, but now she resolved to do so again.

Attorney Delavine had told her that a consistently kept journal could serve as important evidence. That meant today’s sight of Yuan and Lydia had to be recorded.

Serret began to write.

March 23
Attended the 30th anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor’s coronation and the celebratory banquet.
It was a meaningful day. Received a personal letter and medal from His Majesty…

I saw Yuan and Lady Elliot together on the balcony. They were talking at first.

But soon after, they embraced.

Jeremy saw it too, and so did I.

Serret stopped short of writing that the sight had filled her with hatred. This diary was meant to serve as evidence. Sadness would sound more natural than hatred.

Though her heart was brimming with loathing for the pair—

The sight of them embracing hurt me deeply. Could it be true, the rumor that they are in love? What if it isn’t just a baseless rumor? My heart aches so much. Does Yuan truly not love me at all?

Setting down her pen, Serret murmured with a faint smile.

“Please keep it up, Lydia. So that I can safely get my divorce.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Meanwhile, Lydia sat on the floor, burying her face in the bed and sobbing loudly.

“Yuan, how could you treat me like this? How could you?”

She cried and pounded her fists weakly against the mattress before gasping for breath, overwhelmed by her emotions.

The pain was suffocating. Yuan’s attitude toward Serret, especially in front of Jack, filled Lydia with anxiety and unease.

She knew Yuan well. His behavior tonight wasn’t like him.

‘It bothers me.’

Those words he’d said on the balcony scratched at her nerves. Why would it bother him? Normally, he never cared about rumors.

Serret Inohater? That worthless girl? Was Yuan worried about her feelings? Worried for her instead of Lydia?

Why? Yuan Frektuster was supposed to think only of her, care only for her.

Wasn’t he marrying Serret out of obligation—to repay her father’s life-debt?

That’s what he had said. That he had to marry Serret Inohater because of her father’s debt.

“Don’t tell me… he loves her? How could Yuan love anyone but me?”

Lydia couldn’t believe it. In her mind, Yuan belonged entirely to her. Her clenched fists trembled as she gripped the sheets.

She couldn’t erase the memory of Yuan’s faint smile when he had spoken of his fiancée, nor the guarded way he’d behaved around Jack.

She shook her head violently. No, it was impossible. Absolutely not. Love? Ridiculous.

There had been too many eyes watching, and since they had even received His Majesty’s blessing, any scandal in the marriage would tarnish the Frektuster family’s honor. Surely that was why Yuan was being cautious.

“Yes, that’s it. There’s no way Yuan loves her. He’s always treated me so well.”

Since childhood, she had always been his priority. No matter what tantrums she threw, Yuan accepted them all.

Even when she stole his books or demanded his snacks, he yielded.

His kindness had always made her feel like a princess out of a fairy tale.

She chose to believe in that. Wiping her tears, Lydia steadied herself.

At that moment, a knock sounded, and her maid Anita entered.

“My lady?”

Seeing her mistress sitting on the floor, Anita rushed toward her.

As she approached, Lydia stood up with a hardened face.

“What did you just say, Anita?”

Lydia’s eyes turned icy as she glared at the maid.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Startled, Anita apologized at once.

But Lydia wasn’t interested in apologies. Her anger lashed out at innocent Anita.

With a sharp crack, Lydia struck Anita across the face.