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Chapter 14
“Huh?”
The count wasn’t the only one surprised.
‘He’s saying Theo can come live at the Killerster duchy?’
Yurita had assumed Zachary would oppose the idea, so she hadn’t even bothered asking.
Yet now he was personally offering to bring Theo here himself.
“Whether it’s homeschooling or whatever else, the duchy can handle it without issue. Just send Theo over.”
“Your Grace, are you really sure about this? He’s still a growing child, so he’ll be troublesome. He may even interfere with your married life…”
“Didn’t I say I don’t mind?”
“But—”
“I.”
Zachary leaned further toward the count and smiled faintly. Covered by Zachary’s shadow, the count’s body stiffened.
“Didn’t I say it’s fine?”
The moment the count saw Zachary’s blazing red eyes, all he could do was answer:
“…Yes.”
And so—
“My name is Theo Sinet. Please take care of me… sniff.”
The butler Toby’s eyes widened as he welcomed the master and mistress of the house back to the Killerster duchy.
A strange little snot-nosed boy was introducing himself right in front of him.
And apparently, the child would now be living in the mansion!
“Prepare a room for him separately on the second floor.”
“Yes, Master.”
“And give the duchess something for her wrist. An ice compress would be best.”
“Yes, sir.”
‘Zachary… noticed my injured wrist?’
At that moment, Yurita stopped Zachary as he was about to leave the house again.
“Where are you going?”
“Out.”
Yurita silently watched his retreating figure.
‘I can’t tell what he’s thinking.’
In the original story, rumors claimed that Zachary could make even a passing baby cry if he was in a bad mood.
Still, she had needed Theo rescued from there, so she had quietly accepted his decision.
‘…Doesn’t this mean he actually helped me?’
Zachary Killerster helping someone? Ridiculous.
But when she thought back on his recent actions, there really had been moments where he’d helped Yurita.
Maybe this situation wasn’t just some whim after all.
‘…When he comes back, I should talk to him.’
Holding the ice pack Toby had given her against her wrist, Yurita fell into thought.
But Zachary didn’t return until dawn that night. And strangely enough, he went out again before she even saw him the next morning.
‘Seriously, where does he keep wandering off to every day?’
There was never any chance to talk.
Yurita sighed softly and leaned her elbow against the windowsill.
Outside in the garden, Theo was observing the flowers.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
‘At least he looks healthier now.’
Seeing how Theo had stuck close to the gardener tending the flowerbeds since morning, he seemed very interested in gardens.
“Milady.”
At that moment, Toby approached and handed her a heavy pouch.
“What’s this?”
“Master instructed me to give this to you to hire a tutor for young Theo Sinet.”
When Yurita opened it, she found it filled with gold coins. It was enough to hire a private tutor for over a year.
‘…Back then I had to work myself to the bone just to earn gold like this.’
At the time, Zachary had been her debtor.
And now he was her husband.
This marriage to a villain—something she’d thought would only bring misery.
Yurita looked again at Theo outside the window, grinning brightly as he chased butterflies.
‘Maybe…’
Maybe this marriage held a little hope after all.
Yurita absentmindedly traced the money pouch Zachary had given her.
That night.
Creeeak. Creak.
As Zachary climbed the stairs after returning late, the wooden steps groaned loudly beneath him.
He looked exhausted. His hair was a complete mess, and his body was drenched in sweat.
He had just reached the fourth floor and was about to enter his room when—
Creeeak.
A door opened in the hallway.
Turning around, Zachary saw Yurita standing in front of her room holding a candleholder.
She wore a black lace nightgown, her long hair braided and draped over one shoulder.
“…You’re still awake?”
“Yeah. I don’t sleep this early.”
“Oh. Right.”
“You always come home late. Is there some special reason?”
“Well, you see…”
“If you’re out doing loan shark business, you don’t have to tell me. I don’t want to hear it.”
From the distance, she heard Zachary let out a faint laugh.
“Not today.”
‘Today?’
So on other days he really was doing loan shark work?
Yurita shook her head internally.
“Your brother… is he doing okay?”
“Ah, yeah. He’s adjusting. He really likes the garden here.”
“I see.”
“I’m going to hire a tutor with the money you gave me.”
“Good.”
Silence lingered briefly.
Yet neither of them moved to return to their rooms first.
Yurita spoke again.
“I wanted to thank you.”
At those words, Zachary lifted his head. Their eyes met across the candlelight.
“Thank you for letting my brother live here.”
“So this is the second time I’ve heard you thank me. Interesting.”
“What’s interesting about that?”
“You always look dissatisfied whenever you see me. Or furious, like the other day.”
“……”
Zachary continued.
“You don’t need to thank me. The Killerster duchy is the second most powerful house in the empire after the imperial family. I can’t tolerate anyone connected to this family being treated poorly outside. Your brother is no exception. And…”
Though only for a brief moment, Yurita sensed Zachary hesitating.
“My grandmother always told me never to make a woman angry.”
With those words, Zachary gave Yurita a slight smile.
At that moment, Yurita felt her heart suddenly skip.
“So then, are you still angry, Duchess?”
“…Of course I am. Thanks to what you did, my reputation among the noble ladies is still at rock bottom.”
“I see.”
“I’m going inside. Good night.”
Yurita turned around and hurried into her room.
Leaning against the closed door, she pressed a hand against her chest.
Her startled heart was beating rapidly.
‘Calm down, me.’
After taking a deep breath, Yurita recalled what had just happened.
‘Grandmother?’
Flap.
Yurita flipped through a large book resembling an album in the quiet morning sitting room.
The cover was bright red, making it look like something used to summon demons, but it was merely the Killerster family tree.
It contained lightly sketched portraits of the heads of the Killerster family throughout the generations and their siblings.
Zachary’s grandmother appeared near the back pages.
‘Yornan Killerster.’
She looked like a dignified elderly woman.
Her thick brown hair indicated that she had married into the Killerster family from outside.
A grandmother who seemed endlessly kind, yet likely firm in decisive moments.
‘Did she have a strong influence on Zachary?’
The smile Zachary had shown yesterday had seemed almost boyish.
Not very fitting for someone known as a villain.
‘She’s an unexpected variable.’
Yornan had never appeared in the original story.
‘Maybe she could work in my favor.’
Thinking that, Yurita absentmindedly flipped to the final page.
‘……!’
There were portraits of the previous Duke Killerster and his eldest son.
In other words, Zachary’s father and older brother.
‘…So they include deceased family members in this genealogy too.’
Suddenly feeling nauseous, Yurita closed the book.
His father and brother, whom Zachary was suspected of murdering.
And the grandmother who seemed to have influenced him positively.
The gap between those two sides was so enormous that Yurita found it difficult to decide how to judge him.
“Did you enjoy looking through the family tree, Milady?”
At that moment, Toby approached and spoke.
He was the one who had brought the family tree earlier that morning at Yurita’s request.
“Toby, do you know anything about Lady Yornan?”
“Yes. I actually met her and served her in this house before.”
“It seems Zachary liked her very much.”
“She was an exceptionally good person. She adored the young master greatly. If only she hadn’t passed away so tragically…”
“…How did she die?”
“Well…”
Toby hesitated thoughtfully before answering.
“In this household, one must not speak carelessly about her death. The master dislikes hearing about it.”
“Oh, I see.”
Suppressing her curiosity, Yurita quietly nodded.
At that moment, voices came from the direction of the garden.
When Yurita and Toby turned, they saw Theo standing outside with Zachary.
For a moment Yurita was startled and nearly ran out immediately, but she quickly regained her composure and carefully observed the two of them.
