Hearing the child’s words, the Grand Madam murmured blankly.
“An apology… Are you trying to save me because of something like that?”
The child shouted back angrily, “It’s not just something that! The one who caused the pain may not know, but the person who suffered carries that pain for a lifetime!”
Then the child glared at the Grand Madam with a fierce look and said, “What did my mom do wrong to deserve such torment? All she did was try to please you after marrying into your family!”
Looking back, the child was right. She had hated her daughter-in-law for no reason.
She had even attached trivial excuses to justify it.
‘It was because I thought Medelin Arzen was a good match for Erich. How foolish of me.’
The child seemed to see right through the Grand Madam’s thoughts.
“You tormented my mom just because you wanted that wicked witch as your daughter-in-law, right? You’re really a terrible person!”
‘A terrible person… could this child be a manifestation of my guilt?’
As the Grand Madam sank into self-reproach, the child continued.
“And my dad is the same. He did everything you asked him to do. He even tried to find Uncle, whom you were desperately searching for. Yet you still tormented him, calling him a bastard and a fake!”
The child’s words, digging up buried pasts, were painful.
However, since that was also her fault and guilt, the Grand Madam listened without interjecting.
“Did you know? My dad is your son too! He’s a twin with Uncle! He’s the child you abandoned a long time ago!”
Upon hearing this, the Grand Madam’s eyes widened in shock, followed by a hollow laugh.
‘I thought this was either a dream or an illusion because you appeared so suddenly…’
If the child was a manifestation of her guilt, then it would have been based on the assumption that she knew Erich’s true identity.
However, it seemed the child was unaware that the Grand Madam knew her son’s true identity.
‘That means… this child isn’t a manifestation of my guilt? Is it real?’
If that’s the case, how did such a young child end up here alone?
That question quickly turned into suspicion.
‘Perhaps they drugged me and brought in a similar child to play a trick on me.’
She soon decided to test the child by speaking a lie.
“You seem to be mistaken; my son isn’t a twin, and he has never been abused by me.”
At this, the child raised their voice.
“That’s a lie! Not only did you abandon my dad, but you also abused him, saying hurtful things!”
The child continued, trembling as they spoke.
“I love my mom more than anything in the world. So even as a joke, if she denies that I’m her son, it would feel like my heart will be torn apart. But Dad has heard those words from you for nearly 10 years. How do you think that made him feel?”
“…”
Seeing the Grand Madam unable to respond, Demian’s anger intensified.
“And because of what you did, my dad is being insulted and mistreated by others. Yet you still try to deny your mistakes and lie about it?”
The Grand Madam still wasn’t sure what the child’s true identity was.
But at the very least, she could no longer deny what the child was saying.
She sank down clutching her chest and began to sob.
“I should have just died instead of living like this… I’m just a burden to my son.”
Watching this, the child sighed and said, “Honestly, I don’t care what happens to you.”
Yes, that would be the case. Honestly, if it were her, she might think she deserved to die too.
The Grand Madam thought this as she gazed at Demian.
Even upon a second look, the child’s face, aside from the eyes, was remarkably similar to her son’s.
At that moment, the child’s small lips parted.
“Yet, my mom and dad are planning to cover up your sins at the state council meeting. To save your life.”
‘My life… that child is trying to save it?’
Then the child said, “I’m going to go now. Don’t think anything foolish; instead, reflect on how you’ll apologize. And since my mom doesn’t know about Dad’s secret, be careful with what you say in front of her.”
The Grand Madam, taken aback, opened her mouth in surprise, but the child vanished as if his business was done.
Left alone, the Grand Madam sat there with a dazed expression.
‘Honestly, when I realized that child was my son, I was just resigned to my fate….’
She stared at the spot where the child had stood, her face contorted.
‘Now I understand. I know what I need to do.’
After a long silence, a soft but clear voice came from her lips.
“…I’m sorry.”
The apology, unheard by anyone, echoed hollowly in the small prison cell.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Was it because the flowers made me feel good?
I gathered my spirits and thought about how to persuade the nobles at the national council meeting.
At that moment—
“Mom!”
The child burst through the door.
“Demian, weren’t you sleeping?”
“I can’t sleep!”
Then the child whined, “I want to go for a walk!”
Normally, when a child has trouble sleeping, exhausting their physical energy is a good solution.
I remembered how Demian would often take a walk in the garden when he couldn’t sleep at the Herde estate, so I nodded in agreement.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
As soon as I gave my permission, Demian quickly dashed out with his short legs.
“Demian, you need to go slowly!”
I quickly followed behind him as we headed to the garden.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Meanwhile, Erich had successfully persuaded the scholar and was on his way back to the mansion.
<Very well. Since the Duke has asked so earnestly, I will reveal it.>
‘Cornelia will surely be happy.’
Imagining Cornelia’s smiling face, the memory of the smile she had when she received flowers suddenly came to mind.
‘I should plant more flowers in the garden. Perhaps I’ll get to see her smile again.’
Lost in such thoughts while looking around the garden, he absentmindedly glanced at the annex where the Grand Madam’s quarters were located.
He soon felt a tightness in his chest.
‘I will see that person at the state council meeting.’
His mother, who had abandoned him, was someone he had longed for in his childhood.
However, Erich couldn’t bring himself to reveal that he was her son.
<Twin brothers are said to bring bad luck to each other’s lives. So, you should be grateful to be alive and not resentful for being abandoned!>
The former Duke’s attitude toward him had always been cold.
Because of that, he feared that even if he revealed he was her son, the Grand Madam would still hate him.
Moreover, after his brother went missing, he couldn’t bring himself to speak up, fearing that she would blame him for his brother’s misfortune.
And sure enough, when the truth was revealed, her reaction was icy.
<Is this what you wanted? Take it! And never show your face in front of me again!>
So when he left her in the prison, Erich had vowed not to act as her child anymore.
But…
<Alright. Then I’ll be direct. I plan to break your mother out of prison and send her to a monastery.>
When Cornelia said she would save her, Erich felt a mix of relief and fear.
‘What if that person reveals my identity? What should I do?’
As he stood there with a troubled expression, he heard a voice.
“Dad!”
He turned his head at the sound of the child’s voice, and his eyes widened in surprise.
Cornelia was walking toward him behind the child.
“What are you doing here? Why are you wearing such dark clothes? Did you sneak out for a night stroll or something?”
Erich flinched at the comment about his clothes and replied.
“Was it that obvious?”
Cornelia made an awkward face and replied, “No, I was just saying it. You really did?”
“You didn’t notice?”
“No, how could I notice? I just thought that outfit looked comfortable. So, where did you go?”
At that question, Erich let out a hollow laugh.
However, he couldn’t be honest with her.
After all, this needed to appear as a ‘coincidence’ rather than something he helped with.
‘That way, she will accept it happily.’
Erich opened his mouth.
“I went out to check on something.”
“Check on something?”
“Yes, I have a personal matter to look into.”
It was at that moment, when he was trying to brush it off casually.
“Can you tell me what that personal matter is?”
Since he had made it up, there was no personal matter to discuss.
So, Erich intended to respond that it was nothing to worry about.
At that moment, Cornelia continued speaking.
“You don’t look well; is something bothering you?”
At her words, Erich’s eyes widened.
‘How did she notice? I definitely didn’t show any signs…’
But he couldn’t just ignore her question, so he came up with a plausible excuse.
“I received an offer to sell the jade mine, and when I checked the amount, they lowballed me. It was about half the market price.”
“Oh, then it’s no wonder you’re feeling bad!”
He managed to get through that.
Just as he sighed in relief, Cornelia’s voice came through.
“Thank you!”
“Yes? For what…?”
“For sending me the bouquet.”
The moment he heard her unexpected thanks and saw the dazzling smile on her face, Erich felt troubled.
Because of the fierce pounding of his heart.
Moreover…
“I was really happy. They were all my favorite flowers.”
The fierce urge to kiss those lovely lips that spoke such sweet words surged within him.
