TVOWW 11

Chapter 11 

Mine
2022.01.07.

“Another person’s scent?”

For a moment, I thought I had misheard.

Why does his voice sound hostile?

And yet, the hostility didn’t feel like it was aimed at me. My wrist, still red with faint marks, felt hot all of a sudden, and I instinctively pulled it back while asking awkwardly,

“Do I smell that strange to you?”

“I’ve always been sensitive to scents.”

Johann’s eyes briefly flicked to my wrist before he looked straight into mine.

“So, who was it?”

It wasn’t that I had no answer—but the heavy, pressing tone in his voice made it hard to speak. Then Johann repeated in a colder voice, his smile completely gone.

“Who.”

“…I did meet Baron Bologne in the library. Is that who you mean?”

His gaze darkened. Tilting his head slightly, he asked,

“So, what did you think of Erich?”

I knew this question would come.

In the original, Estelle would report everything about his subordinates to Johann.

I guess she had expectations of her husband, who had been kind to her since their first day of marriage. But of course, I wasn’t about to walk into that trap.

Strange, but knowing the script makes me feel calmer.

“Baron Bologne seemed like a very good person. At first, he seemed startled that I came to the library, but later on, we even got along well enough to talk about books.”

Johann’s brow twitched upwards slightly, as if displeased.

“What kind of books did you talk about?”

“Just books in general. Nothing major, really.”

“So, it was fun then.”

He gave a graceful smile, but it seemed oddly twisted at the corner.

Ah. He doesn’t like that I got close with one of his men.

Too much familiarity between his subordinate and me could cause problems. I’d heard that often back in Libertane, so I could recognize it quickly. Smiling brightly, I waved my hands.

“Nothing much happened after that. He just recommended a book and left.”

“Lies.”

Johann’s large hand moved gracefully toward my face. His thumb slowly traced beneath my eye.

“What’s this tear stain, then?”

“Oh, this?”

Maybe it was because of his earlier touch, but even the smallest contact now made me overly sensitive. Covering my flushed cheek, I hurried to explain.

“Dust got into my eye, so I teared up.”

It was true that Erich and I argued, but the tears really were from dust. So technically, I wasn’t lying.

“I’ve always been the type to tear up easily, even over little things.”

When I reached up to touch my eye, Johann covered my hand with his and interlocked our fingers. I could feel the firm bones of his hand. After a pause, he spoke—but not at all what I had expected.

“Don’t you feel wronged that people hate you?”

My eyes widened. But the answer wasn’t difficult.

“Who exactly hates me that much?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Hmm. Honestly, I don’t really know.”

I shrugged, meeting his crimson eyes.

“No one here has hated me that much. And even if they did, I wouldn’t feel wronged.”

“Why not?”

“Well, isn’t it natural for them to dislike me here?”

Johann tightened his grip on my hand.

Was that too unlike a daughter of Libertane?

But truthfully, I hadn’t really experienced anything unfair or unbearable since coming to the Blanchet household. I couldn’t even fabricate such feelings.

“I’m not even the real daughter of the Libertane family, and I didn’t bring a dowry. Libertane isn’t exactly a powerful ally that could help House Blanchet either…”

Saying it aloud made my situation sink in deeper.

I really am useless.

If not for being a target of revenge, I wouldn’t have been able to marry Johann at all.

“And it’s not like I have influential social connections or any remarkable talents.”

The details made it sound even more pitiful.

Not everyone has the distinction of being dumped twice.

I was rejected by Estella’s fiancé right after being adopted, and then my promising engagement with the Crown Prince collapsed too.

Even if it wasn’t my fault, I can’t help but look like the problem.

“So why would anyone see me in a good light? If I were them, I wouldn’t want someone like me as duchess either.”

The summer breeze swept between us. Johann kept holding my hand tightly, his eyes fixed on me.

“And yet, don’t you think you were still worth bringing here despite all that?”

“You mean… I was worth that much?”

“Yes.”

He smiled arrogantly, tucking a strand of my hair back in the gentle wind.

“Do I look stupid to you, Duchess?”

“Uh… no?”

“I never make a deal that puts me at a loss. And I chose you.”

Beneath the sunlight, he brimmed with self-assurance. The sight was so striking that I almost lost myself staring.

“What if I’m your first mistake?”

But you’ve already failed. Because hurting me won’t wound the Libertane family. Even if you killed me painfully, they’d probably just think it fortunate I wasn’t their real daughter.

But of course, I can’t say that aloud.

Strangely, my voice came out slightly wet.

“Honestly, even you can’t succeed at everything forever.”

“No chance.”

Johann lifted my chin so that I couldn’t look away.

“I don’t make mistakes.”

“…”

“If you won’t believe in yourself, then believe in me.”

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it echoed in my ears. His gaze was arrogant, yet kind, almost comforting.

Now I get why Estelle fell for him in the original.

The warmth of the sun, the gentle heat of his touch, the gaze that made me feel like I was special. It was all such a perfect lie that even knowing it was fake, I wanted to believe it.

“I should go inside now.”

Before things could grow heavier, I rose from my seat.

“If you ever struggle with anything, tell me.”

“Anything at all?”

“Yes, anything. Whatever comes to mind.”

His voice softened.

“For example, if you wanted to visit your parents.”

“Already?”

Most noblewomen avoided visiting their family for a while after marriage. He only shrugged.

“If you want to go, then go.”

But right now, the Duke and Duchess of Libertane must be in prison.

They wouldn’t have been executed yet, since they’re still nobles…

But it wasn’t a situation where their daughter could just come visit. From Johann’s perspective, it wouldn’t be good for me either—it might let me learn the truth.

And yet, he mentioned it.

A chill ran down my spine. The mastermind never does anything without purpose. I had the dreadful sense that something was happening beyond my knowledge.

I have to seem as harmless as possible right now.

I quickly shook my head.

“No, I’m fine. Besides, I still haven’t fully settled into House Blanchet.”

“But you must miss them, don’t you?”

His crimson eyes gleamed sharp, as if piercing through me.

“Oh, not really. It doesn’t bother me.”

“Is that so?”

Yohan stood up and took one of my hands in his. I stared blankly at him.

“But still, don’t get too used to holding everything in.”

What he placed in my hand was a small bag of cookies. As soon as I looked at it and then met his eyes, Yohan’s lips curved up into a smile.

“This is in return for that time.”

It must have been that the cookies I’d given him before had left quite the impression.

“You really don’t have to bring me things like this…”

“I want to. That’s why I’m giving it.”

Yohan covered my fingers around the cookie bag, making me hold it firmly.

“And this—you have to eat it all by yourself.”

“I don’t usually share food with others anyway.”

“Even so, this one is just for you. It’s yours.”

The sharp edges of Yohan’s eyes softened as he smiled, and my heart pounded wildly again.

“Can’t I give some to the Duke too?”

At that, Yohan nodded.

“Sure, to me too.”

A strange feeling welled up from the tips of my toes. I held the cookie bag tightly with both hands.

“Th-then, I’ll eat them well. Thank you.”

With that, I rose and left the shade of the tree in the garden. I tried not to look like I was running away, but every step felt like I was fleeing. Still, Yohan’s smiling face wouldn’t leave my mind.

‘Why am I like this?’

All it was… was a few sweet words and a bag of cookies. Those words probably weren’t even sincere. His plan for revenge against me surely hadn’t changed.

‘My cookies, mine.’

I clutched the bag as if I’d lose it otherwise, as if it might shatter. Ridiculous as it was, it felt like—for the first time—I had something that was truly mine. The thought was so strange, I felt like I needed to be alone.

Duchess Rosaria of Libertan gripped the prison bars tightly. For a duchess who had never suffered a day in her life, the prison was unbearable.

‘How long must I stay in a place like this?’

The sudden downfall of House Libertan. No matter how wicked they had been, they were still dukes. Even if they were branded with the grave crime of treason, even if their fortune was gone, they should at least have had the chance to defend themselves.

“No one has applied to visit the Duke and Duchess of Libertan.”

The allied houses, once relied upon, had long since turned their backs when the Libertans fell into enormous debt. Their only lifeline, the Emperor, had abandoned them as well.

“His Majesty has refused an audience with the criminals.”

Until the trial just before their execution, the Libertan couple could do nothing but rot in their cells. Everything was happening far too quickly.

‘Yes… this is just like…’

It was just like when the Blanchet family, whom they had hated so much, fell from grace. As if someone had arranged their downfall in advance. Biting her lip hard, Rosaria turned to the Duke.

“My dear, haven’t we heard anything yet from the spy we planted in House Blanchet? You said he’d bring that girl out.”

Although most of their spies had been wiped out, one had survived—by sheer luck.

“Be patient. Matters like this don’t resolve so quickly.”

“How long do we have to stay here? At this rate, we’ll be executed!”

Rosaria pressed her husband with anxious eyes. She had even offered to confess to everything if only she could meet Estelle. But Duke Blanchet had mocked them with silence.

“Don’t you know that girl? The moment she hears news of us, she’ll come running.”

“That’s true… Yes, there’s no way she’d just sit still.”

Rosaria’s mind flashed with the image of foolish Estelle—the adopted daughter who, no matter how much she was loved or tormented, always only watched Rosaria’s mood.

‘Then why do I feel so uneasy?’

Lately, memories Rosaria had never even realized were in her mind had been surfacing, making her restless and afraid. But she shook her head quickly.

‘I’m just imagining things because I’m stuck in prison.’

Estelle—so long as that girl was around, somehow a way to resolve things would appear.

Erich arrived at the office. Yohan was seated as always, perfectly put together, working on documents. Without lifting his eyes, Yohan asked,

“Did you meet my wife?”

“Yes. We crossed paths in the study.”

“And your impression?”

“As expected. She’s immature, pampered by the Libertans’ love all her life.”

Erich couldn’t help but recall the moment he had met Estelle. A woman he thought he was free to despise, yet he had caught an innocent, guileless smile on her face—and he had hated himself for standing there in that moment.

‘It was just a fleeting lapse.’

So, to deny the unease stirring inside, Erich spoke more harshly. There was no way he could possibly pity Estelle.

“Her mere existence is unpleasant. The entire time I dealt with her, I could hardly endure how disgusting it felt. But fortunately, as you predicted, my lord, she seems easy enough to use for our plan.”

Yohan set his hands together atop the desk. It was nothing special, yet the measured movement created a strange rhythm that left onlookers tense.

“So that’s why you said those things?”

“…Pardon?”

“You called her an unworthy wife.”

Yohan’s red eyes sank heavy with displeasure.

“Why did you spout such words carelessly?”

“…That… was my mistake. I failed to control my emotions.”

Erich assumed Yohan’s reprimand came from the risk of ruining their plan. If Estelle somehow realized the Libertans had already fallen, it would be disastrous.

“I’ll be more careful next time.”

“No. That won’t be necessary.”

Yohan’s voice was slow but firm.

“You’ll have a new task. I’ll be absent from the Blanchet estate for a while, so there’s no need for you to be so cautious here.”

“What task is that?”

“Investigate the orphanage tied to Rexius Polman and Viscount Gaspier.”

The sudden assignment widened Erich’s eyes.

‘If it’s just investigation, why send me?’

Usually, Yohan handled major matters himself, but this hardly seemed urgent enough for Erich, his closest aide, to deal with. It even felt hastily put together. Still, Yohan always had his reasons.

‘This task must have a purpose too…’

Just then, Erich noticed something out of place in Yohan’s office.

A bear-shaped cookie.