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Chapter 77
Duke of Ashilonia’s Mansion
Tap, tap.
A man in polished shoes stepped down the stone staircase leading to the underground.
The dimly lit dungeon, with torches placed at intervals, was unbearably eerie.
Finally, the man’s footsteps stopped.
He had halted in front of an old iron cage.
“Still sleeping, I see.”
His muttered voice carried a surprising warmth—so gentle that it was hard to believe this was the same man who had locked his wife in the dungeon.
Even so, Sophia didn’t respond to Caesar’s voice.
She merely pulled her blanket tighter over herself.
The place where Sophia was confined was surprisingly luxurious.
A large bed with a soft mattress, blankets damp from the humidity but clean.
A fine carpet on the cold floor, and a desk and chair.
There was also a clothes rack with dresses hanging neatly and a vanity overflowing with jewelry.
Everything was, without a doubt, top-of-the-line—just as one would expect in the bedroom of a duchess.
Even though she was now trapped within damp stone walls and behind rusty iron bars.
“I brought your meal.”
Caesar pushed a plate through the small opening in the cage.
On it were a bowl of thin soup, two bland pieces of bread, and a sloppy salad.
Far too humble a meal for a duchess.
“The kitchen staff mentioned your appetite has been declining, so they’re worried,” he said.
But Caesar’s mockery did not stop there.
“And here, for the table—some flowers.”
Alongside the meal, he had placed a lavish bouquet of roses.
The sweet scent floated through the dank, fetid dungeon air.
“Well then, enjoy your meal.”
Finally unable to suppress his smile, Caesar chuckled lightly as he turned to leave.
His footsteps echoed cheerfully down the stairs.
Sophia, face buried in the blanket, bit her lower lip tightly.
‘Insane man…!’
Since being kidnapped on the way back from the imperial ball, Sophia had been living like this every day.
‘How foolish can I be to allow this?’
The man who once claimed he would strip her of everything had suddenly changed overnight.
Because he said he was infertile and could not have children.
For years after, Caesar treated Sophia coldly, acting toward her as if she were a stranger for eight long years.
And she had thought such a heartless man might easily grant her a divorce now?
‘At the very least, he should have told me once we reached the townhouse.’
Not trapped in a sealed carriage with no way to escape!
Sophia quietly sobbed, biting the tender flesh inside her mouth over the painful mistake.
Oh, foolish, stubborn, pitiable Sophia.
How deeply did you love Caesar?
How much did you trust him?
How could you think the man who abandoned you was even human?
He was worse than a beast!
Trapped behind rusted iron bars, Sophia could only watch as the furniture from her duchess’s bedroom was moved one by one.
All she could do was collapse on the bed and weep, clinging to the only thing left—these dark memories.
It had been even more terrible when she learned about Maybel officially meeting him.
“I’ll go in your place. Soon, you’ll be so badly injured that you won’t be able to move.”
Caesar showed no restraint in hurting Sophia’s body.
At that moment, she felt as though everything she had held onto until the very last moment was crumbling.
‘I’ll kill him.’
All that remained for Sophia now was hatred.
‘By any means necessary… I will kill him!’
Her clenched fists trembled violently with rage.
Her pale pink eyes shimmered with murderous intent.
A few days passed.
Having spent the past few days with Winter, Maybel realized she couldn’t continue like this.
‘We don’t have nearly enough things for Winter!’
So today, she decided to head to the city with Winter.
“Hisin, I’m ready!”
It seemed Hisin had become her personal guard for outings, and he was accompanying her today as well.
Hisin’s anxious face brightened at Maybel’s words.
How adorable will she be today?!
He turned, tense like a knight facing a formidable enemy.
And when he saw Maybel…
“Ugh…”
Hisin gripped his large hand tightly, as if it were a pot lid.
Maybel, in her red cloak, held the door handle and looked up.
She carried her beloved rabbit-shaped bag as usual.
‘Oh my god!!!’
Hisin felt as if invisible cuteness had slammed him into the wall.
Not literally, of course, but the shock was real enough.
‘There must be a limit… this is too cute!!!’
Her pigtails, curled and rolled like dumplings, were adorable.
Her red-checkered dress paired perfectly with the red cloak!
Today, Maybel looked like the heroine straight out of a fairy tale.
And today, her cuteness was doubled.
“And this is Winter, who will be living with me from now on!”
She proudly presented the tiny creature, like showing off a beloved child.
“Kiggko~”
Winter smiled, scrunching its nose as if introducing itself politely.
Harmless yet terrifying in its little roar!
Hisin could do nothing but kneel and concede defeat.
“I could die happy…”
“Eh!”
Maybel leaped at the heartfelt declaration.
Meanwhile, Winter watched the metaphorical white-hot Hisin burn before it with complete indifference.
Letters appeared above Winter’s head.
[Pathetic.]
[No. Trust.]
[I protect. Me.]
[Maybel.]
It spoke seriously, but the cape it wore made it look utterly adorable rather than threatening.
The cape, made by Sheila, was meant to cover Winter’s shaved fur and make it feel more confident.
Whether it was because it matched Maybel’s outfit or hid its bare skin, it stood proudly before the mirror.
Now, acting grown-up was futile; Winter would surely sulk if scolded.
“Alright, then. I’ll trust only you, Winter.”
Maybel chuckled and stroked Winter’s head.
“Grurung~”
Winter made a contented sound.
Just then, Zigmunt, having taken his medicine, came out to see them off.
“Be careful out there.”
“Yes!”
“Always watch out for people. Never leave Ella or Hisin’s side. It’s fine to let Winter down; there’s a harness. Always hold an adult’s hand. And don’t worry about saving money—buy everything you want. This is extra pocket money, and also…”
Zigmunt’s worried scolding went on for quite a while.
“I will! I’ll be careful!”
Maybel hugged Zigmunt’s leg, signaling him to stop.
Even this time, he couldn’t resist her charm and quietly closed his mouth, reluctant to speak further.
There was still so much he wanted to say.
Maybel wasn’t usually an obedient child, and lately, he found himself even more unsettled by it.
‘Is this how parents feel watching a child leave home…?’
Lost in thought, Zigmunt spoke to Winter, who was nestled in Maybel’s arms.
“Don’t get too excited over new things and run off. If you go, go alone. Don’t make Maybel chase after you.”
“Ya.”
Winter responded curtly to Zigmunt’s sharp tone.
Instantly, a vein bulged on Zigmunt’s temple.
“…Did you just say ‘ya’?”
“Yaa~?”
Winter tilted its head and let out a thin cry.
Maybel giggled.
“Winter’s cry sounds just like a cat! That’s why I really thought it was a cat at first!”
“Meow~”
Encouraged, Winter made a cute sound.
“…Really?”
Zigmunt, giving Winter a suspicious glare, added:
“Don’t ask for useless things. Buy only what’s necessary. This is your money, after all. Understand?”
“Ya.”
“You little—!”
“Grand Duke!”
Zigmunt, flustered, lunged forward, but Hisin quickly blocked him.
“Let go! It said ‘ya’ to me!”
Zigmunt swung his arms in frustration.
It irritated him that a male was clinging to Maybel so stubbornly.
And that Winter kept wrapping its tail around Maybel’s arm every chance it got!
“That—he did that on purpose!”
But there was no one on Zigmunt’s side here.
“What are you doing to a child! You’re an adult!”
“Ah~ when you see it, Grand Duke, you’re not so kind yourself~”
Following Hisin, Ella also sided with Winter.
“Let’s go quickly~ don’t let anything messy get on our Miss~”
Ella nudged Maybel forward.
Maybel, slightly sulking, turned her head.
She seemed upset that Zigmunt and Winter weren’t getting along.
Maybel patted Winter’s back and murmured:
“It’s okay, Winter. Honestly, I like playing with you more than doing research.”
At that moment, Zigmunt, who had been fuming at Hisin, completely lost his composure.
Playing with you… more than… me, the day-before-yesterday beast…?
“We… had fun together…”
The shock was so great that Zigmunt nearly collapsed.
Hisin clicked his tongue, observing Zigmunt.
“See? You can’t dislike what the Miss likes.”
Having given his sharp advice, Hisin promptly followed Maybel down the wide corridor, leaving Zigmunt alone.
