Chapter 2:

Betrayal (1)

Cecilia Fanning.

In the empire’s high society, she was famous for her dramatic life.

First, she had lost both her parents, Count and Countess Fanning, when she was only ten years old.

After becoming an orphan, Cecilia had no relatives to turn to. In accordance with her late father’s will, she was entrusted to the household of Viscount Osburn, one of her father’s closest friends.

The girl who had once been the object of everyone’s sympathy grew up and surprised society once again by marrying a commoner named Evan March.

People couldn’t understand her choice, but Cecilia didn’t care.

She felt a deep kinship with Evan, who, like her, was an orphan with no family in the world.

Her childhood friend, Rosena Osburn, who had practically grown up alongside her like a sister, had also wholeheartedly supported their marriage.

For that reason, the fact that Evan had no noble title had never bothered Cecilia in the slightest.

Then, two years ago, everything changed.

‘Pardon? Evan is… the Duke of Hayes’s long-lost son?’

‘That’s right. The cufflinks Evan possessed are proof. They’re something my son Gilbert gave to his mother.’

At the sudden summons to the Duke of Hayes’s estate, Cecilia learned that Evan was the only son of Gilbert, the former Duke.

The ducal family revealed that Evan’s mother had been a maid in their household and presented a birth certificate bearing her signature.

Furthermore, the keepsake Evan had treasured from his mother was also confirmed to have belonged to Gilbert.

Elise, the matriarch of the ducal family, immediately recognized Evan as a member of the house. And when Gilbert Hayes passed away, Evan became a duke overnight.

Naturally, Cecilia also ascended to the position of Duchess.

From the daughter of a count to an orphan, then the wife of a commoner businessman, and finally a duchess.

Everyone assumed that she would finally live happily ever after.

But that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

“Evan, it’s already this late. Why don’t we go to our bedroom together—”

“Cecilia, please. I told you not to disturb me.”

Ever since becoming a duchess, Cecilia had been spending her days in unbearable loneliness due to her husband’s cold treatment.

Evan had always been busy with business, but after becoming a duke, he grew even more irritable, and the time they spent together as a married couple had all but disappeared.

Gathering what little courage she had, Cecilia had finally come to his study, but as always, Evan made no effort to hide his annoyance.

“B-but you heard what the physician said, too. Today is an important day…”

Normally, she would have read Evan’s mood and quietly withdrawn, but she couldn’t bring herself to do that today.

It had already been five years since their marriage, yet they still had no children.

Cecilia was growing increasingly anxious.

Especially since Elise, Evan’s grandmother, openly demanded a child and constantly made Cecilia’s life miserable.

‘How many times must I tell you? What do you intend to do if that cunning Rainer Hayes ends up taking the dukedom away from us?’

Elise detested Rainer, her husband’s illegitimate son, with a passion.

Her anxiety that he might one day seize the ducal title was directed squarely at Cecilia.

‘It’s a grave failing for a wife to be incapable of properly supporting her husband.’

‘I-I’m sorry…’

Whenever Cecilia heard Elise’s reprimands, she felt as though she were suffocating.

Today was the day the physician she had desperately searched for and finally managed to meet had recommended that she and Evan spend the night together.

But Evan’s response was icy.

“What about the physician? Why should I have to do that?”

His indifferent attitude, as though the matter had nothing to do with him, made Cecilia feel hurt.

Nevertheless, she swallowed her disappointment and tried explaining again in a gentle voice.

“Why? Because your grandmother is also waiting for a child…”

“Haah, that again? Aren’t you tired of bringing it up?”

Evan sighed and pointedly tapped the piles of documents scattered across his desk.

Cecilia immediately shrank back.

“Use your eyes and look around. I’ve already got mountains of work to deal with.”

“A-are you really that busy?”

“Good grief. What’s the point of explaining it to you? You wouldn’t understand any of it. I know perfectly well that you spent your time living under Rosie’s roof without learning anything worthwhile.”

At his sarcastic remark, Cecilia lowered her head.

She had made up her mind that today, no matter what, she would spend the night with her husband.

But standing before him now, she felt utterly insignificant.

“Now that you understand, go and look after Rosie for a change. Your friend is struggling to raise a child on her own, yet you’re ignoring her just because you want one of your own? Do you really want to live so selfishly?”

“That’s not what I…”

Cecilia’s face flushed at Evan’s words.

As he said, Rosena had given birth and was raising her child alone.

Rosena had originally been engaged to the eldest son of a prestigious noble family related to the imperial household.

However, when it was revealed that he was an impostor who had deceived everyone about his identity, her entire life came crashing down.

By then, the child in her womb had already grown considerably, leaving Rosena with no choice but to endure childbirth and raise the baby without a husband.

Thinking about how she had wanted to have a child of her own while her friend was in such a difficult situation, Cecilia suddenly felt as though she really was being selfish, just as Evan had said.

“I’m sorry for bothering you. I’ll leave now…”

“Yes. And please, stop coming into my study. Just looking at your face makes my headache worse.”

“…All right.”

Cecilia left Evan’s study as though she were being chased out.

She tried her best to ignore the grumbling coming from behind her and continued down the corridor.

“Haah…”

Once again, the day had passed just like that.

With her shoulders drooping, Cecilia trudged toward her bedroom.

‘Does Evan not want children?’

She couldn’t help feeling miserable, as though she were the only one in a hurry to have a child.

Of course, there was pressure from those around her, but more than anything, she wanted to hold a baby who resembled Evan in her arms.

If only Evan could understand even a little of how she felt.

If he had simply offered her a few warm words, something like ‘I understand how you feel, too,’ she wouldn’t have felt quite so lonely.

‘…No, that’s not it. He’s probably just very busy right now.’

Cecilia wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and tried to comfort herself.

Evan still loved her.

He was simply tired and had lost his temper for a moment.

Like someone hypnotizing herself, Cecilia repeated those words over and over.

But without her realizing it, an irreversible misfortune was already drawing near.

A few days later, late at night.

“This… this can’t be…”

Cecilia stood frozen outside Evan’s study, covering her mouth with one hand.

“Mmm, Evan…”

“Haaah, do you like that? Hmm? Tell me. I like you so much more than I like Lia.”

Evan was passionately showering kisses upon a woman lying across his desk.

The neat and composed appearance he maintained during the day was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he looked like a man consumed by animalistic desire.

Clothes were scattered carelessly all around the room.

The mere fact that he had refused to share a bed with Cecilia while holding another woman in his arms was enough to drive her mad with disbelief.

But when she recognized the woman in her husband’s embrace, it felt as though someone had slapped her hard across the face.

The woman was none other than the friend who had grown up alongside Cecilia like a sister.

Rosena Osburn was in her husband’s arms, letting out coquettish moans.

She often visited the ducal estate with her son, Jeremy, and stayed for a while.

‘Evan seems to have grown distant? Oh, come on. That can’t be true. Don’t you think you’re just bothering him too much, Lia? You can be a little insensitive sometimes, you know.’

‘You think so…?’

‘Of course. Evan’s only human. If you keep interfering with him too much, he’ll get tired of it. Men hate that sort of thing more than anything.’

Even today, when Cecilia had confided her worries, Rosena had answered with such a casual expression.

But the shock didn’t end there.

“Should I give you another child? How about a daughter this time?”

“If you do, it’ll be perfect. Jeremy already looks like me, so our daughter can take after you, Rosie.”

Evan smiled contentedly and pressed his lips against Rosena’s neck.

For a moment, Cecilia nearly collapsed right there on the floor.

‘Jeremy… is Evan’s child?’

All strength drained from Cecilia’s legs.

Although they weren’t related by blood, she had always cherished Jeremy, Rosena’s son, as though he were her own nephew.

Jeremy, too, had always been affectionate toward her, smiling brightly whenever he saw her.

That innocent little boy who used to run into her arms…

He was her husband’s son?

“Ah…”

Cecilia stumbled backward and fell to the floor with a heavy thud.

At the sudden noise, Evan and Rosena, who had been shamelessly entwined with each other, froze.

Only then did the two notice Cecilia sitting on the floor through the narrow gap in the open door.

“C-Cecilia?”

“KYAA!”

Evan, who had been covering Rosena with his body, sprang to his feet in utter shock.

In his haste to grab his trousers and put them on, he lost his balance and fell flat on his backside.

“Ugh!”

“Evan! Are you all right?”

Even as she watched Evan sprawled on the floor, groaning in pain, Rosena didn’t know what to do.

She was practically naked, and all she could manage was to curl up on the desk, desperately covering herself with both arms.

Faced with this ridiculous yet utterly humiliating sight, Cecilia couldn’t utter a single word.

Gripping the doorframe, she struggled to pull herself upright on her trembling legs.

“H-how… How could… How could the two of you…”

Cecilia forced the words out through her trembling voice.

It felt as though her heart were being torn apart. She thought she might actually vomit blood from the pain.

“How could you two do this to me?”