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Chapter 6 – Why Are You Apologizing?
2021.12.21
For some reason, Betty’s fussing over me seemed to have become even more excessive lately. Even after dinner, she immediately prepared me a snack.
“Madam, shall I bring you more of the dessert you like?”
“I already had dessert after dinner.”
“Then perhaps some simple cookies would be nice?”
“Mm, sure. Please.”
Come to think of it, I realized Betty had always tried to feed me a lot. Was this also one of Johann’s orders?
‘If the target of revenge starves to death, that would be troublesome too.’
Still, I didn’t mind constantly eating delicious food. Back when I lived in the Duke of Libertan’s household, I thought I just wasn’t someone who enjoyed eating. I had no favorite dishes and very little appetite. But it turned out that was only because I’d never had truly good food.
‘Who knew food could taste this good.’
Not knowing when I might lose access to meals like these again, I made sure never to skip one.
‘Dinner tonight was delicious too.’
Especially the scallops the chef had taken special care to prepare—they melted in my mouth. Betty soon returned with snacks, as if she’d had them prepared in advance. But her bright smile from a moment ago had faded slightly.
“Betty, is something wrong?”
“N-no, nothing at all, Madam.”
Then she asked me,
“By the way, did you say you were going to the study before bed today?”
I nodded.
“Yes, I heard it’s one of the places in the estate I’m allowed to go freely. Or… did the Duke object to me entering the study?”
Unlike ordinary noble wives, I was a fake wife and had nothing to do in this mansion. Everyone knew we weren’t truly married, so I had no real authority here.
‘But if I want to escape, I have to do something.’
So I’d decided to go to the annex library. The Blanchet Duchy, which the villain had painstakingly rebuilt, had such a massive annex that even it contained a huge study.
‘Not sure if I’ll find what I want there.’
But it was better than doing nothing. I could always pretend I just wanted to read. Still, moving without the villain’s permission seemed unwise, so I asked beforehand.
“If that’s the case, you can tell me honestly.”
After all, a fake bride wandering freely could be irritating.
“Oh, no, that’s not it. Master has given permission as well.”
Betty hesitated, then spoke slowly.
“…Just in case, if you happen to meet someone in the study, I’d like you to ignore them.”
“Why? Who is it?”
“Someone known among the servants for being ill-tempered and strange. So if they say anything odd, please ignore it.”
“How odd are we talking for you to warn me like this?”
“They’re the best in the mansion when it comes to making unpleasant remarks.”
I didn’t know who it was, but I nodded at her kind warning.
‘Could they be a character from the original story?’
Still, I didn’t recall anyone from the study appearing in the novel.
Despite Betty’s warning, I didn’t feel much sense of danger. Honestly, my reason for going to the study was to gather information—specifically about black magic.
‘Johann is a black magician.’
A boy who had lost everything had only one way to get revenge—by becoming a black magician, a figure forbidden in the Empire. With the help of his reclusive grandfather, also a black magician, Johann sacrificed everything to gain such powers. He then used black magic to disguise himself and slowly destroy the Libertan Duchy from within.
‘If I recall correctly, it was a spell that interfered with facial recognition.’
If the Duke of Libertan recognized Johann from the start, his revenge could have been ruined. That spell was probably meant to prevent that.
‘He must have lifted it by now.’
Either way, black magic had been a crucial tool in Johann’s revenge. And I knew nothing about it—likely because, in the original work, it wasn’t directly related to my character.
‘If I want to escape, I need to know about black magic.’
If I could learn a weakness, things might be much easier.
‘If it’s not in the study, so be it.’
Still, knowing how arrogant the villain was, he might have kept black magic books even in a place I could access. Johann’s study was the largest room one floor below. The huge doors made it easy to find.
Creak— As I went to open them, I almost collided with a man coming out.
“Excuse me.”
He was a tall, handsome man with long navy hair tied in a ponytail and grayish-blue eyes. He stepped aside politely but froze when he saw my face.
“Pleased to meet you. Are you the lady of the house who arrived recently?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
He placed his right hand over his chest and inclined his head slightly.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Baron Erich Blonieux, the master’s aide.”
He was a finely-featured man, almost more pretty than handsome, but his sharp eyes and expression made him seem cold.
‘If I remember correctly… Erich Blonieux.’
He was Johann’s shadow, taking care of his dirty work. Like Johann, he hated the Libertan Duchy and, along with the head maid Patricia, was one of the characters who despised me most.
“Nice to meet you, Baron Blonieux.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
From his eyes leaked a barely contained hatred.
“What brings you to the master’s study, Madam?”
“Oh, I just came to find a book to pass the time.”
Erich was one of the important characters who knew the backstory.
‘He’s from one of Libertan’s vassal families.’
The Blonieux family had served the Libertan Dukes loyally for generations, a principled house that had advised them wisely. But the wretched Duke of Libertan had used and discarded them, eventually wiping them out under false charges of treason—likely to prevent them from becoming dangerous when Blanchet was framed for rebellion.
‘Typical Libertan Duke behavior.’
I understood his hatred, but having it aimed at me so openly was uncomfortable.
‘This must be the “ill-tempered” person Betty warned me about.’
“How do you find the Blanchet estate? Are you comfortable here?”
“Yes. I haven’t been here long, but everyone is very kind.”
“It certainly seems that way to you.”
Unlike Johann, Erich wasn’t skilled at hiding his emotions.
“When I see you casually wandering into the master’s study just because you’re bored…”
Even as he sneered, I smiled politely.
“Was I not allowed to come here?”
“Not exactly. It’s a place even senior staff may enter.”
He looked at me mockingly.
“But it seems you don’t understand your situation, Madam.”
“…”
“This is not Libertan. You can’t just roam around smiling like you own the place. I’d like you to remember that.”
He was pointing out my status. My marriage to Johann wasn’t normal—I had been brought here as a bride in exchange for paying Libertan’s enormous debt to Blanchet. I hadn’t brought a dowry like other brides. Even if I hadn’t been hated, I wouldn’t have been treated like a proper duchess.
“You never know when your precious Libertan Duchy will meet its end.”
There was a strange thrill in his voice, especially when he mentioned Libertan.
‘So the day has finally come for Libertan to fall under treason charges.’
Even without proof, his certainty suggested the outcome was already set.
‘So I’ve not only married into my enemy’s house, but the family itself is about to be destroyed for treason.’
A truly abnormal marriage. Still, I had my grievances.
‘Not that we’re actually married—we’re just pretending.’
In the Empire, for a marriage to be recognized, both parties must submit a signed marriage registration, though a family head can sign on someone’s behalf. Johann had taken the signed papers but never filed them—just to mock me for believing we were truly married.
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Erich crossed his arms arrogantly and looked down at me.
“I kindly explained it, thinking you might not understand, but perhaps you’re even more ignorant than I assumed.”
“…I understand.”
Lowering my gaze, I nodded.
“Sorry for coming to the study without permission. I suppose I got a little too excited and forgot my place.”
He still looked at me coldly.
‘Even though I had permission.’
I’d asked Betty, and she had confirmed with Johann twice. But saying so wouldn’t change anything—someone who hated me wasn’t going to care.
‘This is nothing new.’
Life in Libertan had been far worse. I’d been treated like dirt for daring to dream of replacing the beloved legitimate daughter.
‘Compared to that…’
Verbal insults hardly left a scratch. True wounds came from other things. At my meek reply, Erich frowned.
“So now you know your place?”
“Well, maybe not to the extent you’d like, Baron.”
“Then you must be someone who speaks too easily.”
Why was he so determined to pick a fight? Did he need to see me cry to feel satisfied? Should I force a tear or two? But tears don’t come on command, even though I was good at crying.
“If you had any sense of shame, you’d walk through this house with your head down.”
Biting my lip slightly, I considered what reaction he wanted.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“For not being the kind of lady you’d like me to be. That must be my fault.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
“You’re apologizing?”
Taking it as a positive sign, I met his gaze and clasped my hands together.
“I might never be the perfect lady you want me to be, Baron, but I’ll try harder not to cause trouble.”
The emotion in his eyes rippled violently. He clenched and unclenched his fists, jaw tight.
‘Did I say the wrong thing?’
Apparently, my being a Libertan daughter and apologizing meekly only made him angrier. Maybe he’d have preferred me to scream in outrage.
“…What exactly…”
His voice was tight with strain.
“What exactly do you know, to be apologizing like that?”
His refined face twisted in pain.
“But there’s nothing I can do except apologize.”
At my calm reply, Erich finally left.
“You don’t know a thing.”
He spat the words like a curse and walked away.
With the nuisance gone, I no longer felt like lingering in the study after hearing Libertan’s downfall.
‘Let’s give them no excuses.’
So, following Betty’s advice, I returned to my room to sleep—until Johann knocked on my door late at night.
“Wife, are you asleep?”
Even at this hour, he was immaculate in a suit, holding a lavish bouquet of red roses. My eyes widened at the sight. He waved it slightly, smiling lazily.
“I just finished something I’ve been planning for a long time. Thought I’d give my wife a bouquet to celebrate.”
As I suspected, the Libertan Duchy must have fallen today.
‘Good.’
Those vile people deserved ruin. Even if it complicated my life, I was genuinely pleased.
“I wonder if my flowers will please you.”
He stepped closer and placed the bouquet in my arms.
‘No scent?’
Looking closely, I realized they weren’t real flowers at all but artificial ones—the stamens made of gemstones.
“They’re beautiful.”
Gemstone roses—typical villain spending. I even wondered if the petals were made of jewels, but sadly, they were not.
‘As a gift, artificial might be better than real.’
I recalled a birthday bouquet from Libertan that had a bug inside, nearly giving me a heart attack. I quickly checked these roses—thankfully no insects.
Johann’s eyes glinted faintly red as he asked,
“I’m glad they seem to please you.”
“Yes. This is the first gift you’ve given me.”
The first proper gift I’d received from him made my heart flutter a little.
‘Is this to seduce me?’
Maybe he even knew I hated bugs and chose artificial flowers on purpose.
“I’ll treasure them.”
Taking a rose from the bouquet, he tucked it behind my ear with a sweet smile.
“It suits you perfectly. Makes the gift worthwhile.”
“That’s a compliment, right?”
“Of course. It’s the thing I want most from you.”
“Then I’m glad… if I’ve given you even a little of what you want.”
Strangely, his smile seemed to stiffen, and I thought I felt a faint tightening at his fingertips.
‘Is he hungry?’
If he’d just orchestrated Libertan’s downfall, he probably hadn’t had time to eat. Knowing his personality, he might even have skipped meals on such an important day.
‘Food is important.’
Luckily, Betty had given me cookies earlier. They weren’t a meal, but better than nothing. Moving the bouquet aside, I offered him the cookies.
“They’re nothing special, but would you like some?”
“Bear-shaped cookies?”
“Well, there are rabbits and chicks too.”
His expression grew more complicated, perhaps because it was odd to have cookies appear in my room. After all, noble ladies didn’t usually keep snacks by their bedside.
“You said you just finished something you’ve planned for a long time.”
“So you’re giving these to me?”
“Yes. This is all I have to offer you right now.”
Admittedly, they came from the duchy’s kitchen, which was a bit embarrassing, but I decided to be shameless.
“Congratulations. I’ll pray for your continued success in everything you do.”
Johann’s eyes darkened. He stared at the cookies for a moment without speaking, and silence stretched between us.
‘Well… on a day like this, he’d probably prefer something grander than cookies.’
They were probably a ridiculous gift for someone who’d just succeeded in revenge.
