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Chapter 63
Servis quietly stared at Andion’s face as he sat on Karia’s lap through the open carriage window. In that peaceful moment, Karia’s words thrown outside the window froze her like ice.
“Brace yourself. That child might one day become your daughter.”
It was a remark thrown in anger, but Servis felt a chill run down her spine. She had vaguely dreamed of becoming the wife of Rubiduf Pandeon, but those words implied that she would be taking over Karia’s place—the place Karia had held all this time.
The carriage moved on, leaving Servis behind. From afar, she watched Lamia wail loudly in frustration. Reality hit her all at once.
“D-Duchess!”
The Pandeon mansion, which she had not visited for weeks, felt entirely different now. She hadn’t announced her visit, but the guards didn’t stop her from entering. The servants and maids hurriedly cleared her path, bowing as she strode down the hallway.
Karia carried a child in her arms—a child who looked uncannily like her—and a large, imposing knight followed them closely.
“-Duchess?”
Without pausing, Karia walked straight to Duke Pandeon’s study. She had heard he had been reclusive lately, skipping parties, so it wasn’t entirely a surprise. Seeing Hessis Livne step out of the study confirmed that Rubiduf Pandeon was inside.
“Step aside.”
“Are you here to see the Duke? If so, you can wait in the reception room…”
“Step aside.”
Karia spoke in an angry tone and, at the same time, Aquil pushed aside Livne, who had blocked the door. Hessis was easily shoved with one arm and called after her in a flustered voice.
But Karia wasn’t in the mood to exchange pleasantries with a man she considered an enemy. She set Andion down and, without knocking, swung the door open.
Inside, sunlight poured through the large front windows, illuminating a massive desk. Behind it sat a man with wide blue eyes.
“-Madam?”
Rubiduf, whose face had grown harsher over the past weeks, couldn’t hide his surprise at Karia’s sudden appearance. Yet his gaze, which hadn’t left her as she approached, shifted as her hand raised.
Smack!
With a loud slap, Rubiduf’s face turned to the left. He placed his hand on his burning cheek, stunned.
“Your daughter came to my house today.”
“-Lamia?”
“I repeatedly refused visits, yet your knights stubbornly ignored my instructions.”
Karia narrowed her red eyes and glared fiercely at Rubiduf. Seeing the fire in her eyes, Rubiduf slowly regained composure.
This was the first time he had ever seen her this angry. Even when discussing divorce, Karia spoke logically rather than flying into a blind rage. What could have made her this furious?
Hearing the commotion, Hessis rushed over, panicked at Rubiduf’s red, burning cheek.
“Duchess! To slap him without warning?! Even if you’re divorced, this is outrageous!”
“Livne, do not interfere.”
“But—”
Hessis continued to call her ‘Duchess’ without pause, but before he could protest further, Rubiduf stopped him. Previously, he would have prevented Karia from speaking while chatting with his officers, but now, after the divorce, his attitude had shifted.
“Is this why you’re so angry?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“The reason… your daughter will explain.”
Karia frowned at the sound of footsteps in the corridor. She had noticed the princess’s carriage following her after she left. The group had arrived soon after her departure.
The door opened, revealing Lamia and Ansen with the Pandeon knights. Seeing Karia facing Rubiduf, Ansen’s face turned pale, and he dropped to his knees with a thud.
“It’s entirely my fault. I brought the princess to where the Duchess is without permission. Please punish me.”
“-Sir Miller, explain what happened.”
“Lamia hit that child!”
Rubiduf frowned as the tension in the room thickened. Lamia stomped forward and pointed at Andion, standing next to Karia, with a fierce, unrepentant expression.
“But it’s that child’s fault! He said Lamia isn’t the stepmother’s daughter! He said she’s nothing!”
Lamia’s face flushed red as she yelled at Andion. All eyes in the room turned toward the smallest child present.
Rubiduf and Hessis had also noticed the boy from the moment they entered. He looked so much like Karia that it was impossible not to recognize the resemblance.
Receiving everyone’s attention, Andion clutched his mother’s skirt, his watery eyes on the verge of tears.
“I… I only told her to leave because the princess came without notice. She kept insisting she was my mother’s daughter… I only corrected that, and I didn’t expect the princess to get so upset.”
“You! Don’t lie!”
Lamia shouted in indignation. Just moments ago, the little boy had mocked her, and now in front of adults, he was playing the victim!
The more she got angry, the worse things became. Her father sighed deeply, holding his forehead, while Karia’s expression hardened further.
As Lamia reached out to Andion, Aquil stepped in front of her.
The intimidating knight’s expressionless glare frightened Lamia, and she ran back to Ansen.
“That’s enough!”
Rubiduf’s voice, restrained but forceful, echoed. Standing up, he gave Lamia a terrifying glare. Knowing firsthand how scary a father could be when angry, Lamia swallowed hard and hiccupped in fear.
But Rubiduf didn’t scold Lamia in front of everyone. Instead, he approached Andion, lowered himself to the child’s eye level, and asked with concern:
“Did it hurt much? I’m sorry. It’s my fault for being busy and not teaching her properly. I’ll make Lamia apologize properly. I promise.”
Andion clutched Karia’s skirt tighter and looked up at her. Silently, she stroked his head, giving him her unspoken permission. Andion stepped back behind Karia and spoke in a small but firm voice:
“It hurt, but… it’s okay. I’m still little. I was just sad because it felt like I lost my mother. The apology is enough. Just don’t come to our house again.”
“Good. She won’t come uninvited again.”
“And I’ve heard the Dukes’ house is a place of painful memories for my mother. Please don’t send people to bother her every day.”
“-I’m sorry. I didn’t think that far. I promise it won’t happen again.”
Rubiduf reached out to pat the clever child’s head, but Andion hid behind Karia.
As Rubiduf withdrew his hand, Karia’s anger had significantly eased, though the previous warmth hadn’t returned.
“Madam, truly…”
“I’ve been foolish all this time.”
Her eyes locked with Rubiduf Pandeon’s.
“I’ve endured humiliation and insult for too long—not just with you or within the Pandeon house. I never truly lived enjoying what I had. I thought being humble would make everyone recognize me.”
“I understand the hardships you’ve endured.”
“No. You wouldn’t understand, nor do I expect you to. But I will never let my children live that way. Remember this. If the princess comes to my house again, we will meet in the palace.”
The rumor that Karia had visited Pandeon and slapped the Duke would spread quickly. Naturally, if not, she would take action herself—a warning to the noble society that she would no longer tolerate injustice.
Karia bent down and held Andion in her arms. Aquil approached quietly, offering to take the child, but she refused. This child was her treasure, and she wanted everyone to see it.
“Stepmother, where are you going?! Lamia is really wronged!”
“-Lamia.”
Lamia followed Karia as she left the room. She still had things she wanted to say. But how could someone be so cold?
This was impossible. Karia had been angry the moment she saw Andion, refusing even to ask about Lamia’s well-being.
