Episode 150

I stared straight ahead, remaining silent for a long time.

The tears had finally stopped.

Perhaps I had cried so much that my tear ducts had dried up.

My mind was blank, void of any thoughts.

Or rather, it was more accurate to say that I didn’t want to think about anything.

The room was steeped in a long silence, as my mother didn’t speak first.

I just sat there quietly for what felt like an eternity in the tranquil atmosphere.

Then, suddenly, as my emotions settled, my mind snapped back to reality.

I turned to look at my mother, who was smiling at me gently, just as she always did.

“Where is Father?”

As my thoughts began to clear, I realized that I hadn’t seen the rest of my family when I got out of the carriage earlier.

“He’s out on business.”

“And my brothers?”

“They’re out as well.”

I was relieved.

At least none of my other family members had seen me in such a state, aside from my mother.

Of course, I would have preferred that even she hadn’t seen me like this, but at that moment, I couldn’t hold back the tears.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes… I’m much calmer now.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Um, do my eyes look very red?”

I asked my mother with an awkward smile.

“A little.”

My mother gently stroked the area around my eyes with a warm hand, her expression conveying that she understood everything I was going through.

I held her hand against my cheek, feeling the warmth of her touch. It brought me a sense of calm and comfort.

With this, I finally gathered the courage to speak to her.

I released her hand, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes.

Then, as I opened my eyes, I began to speak.

“I’ve parted ways with the Duke.”

“Parted ways? Do you mean you’re getting a divorce?”

My mother looked shocked as she asked me to clarify.

“Yes. As per our original agreement, it was the right thing to do once I recovered. It was only right that I left after getting better.”

“But Ayla…”

“I know what you’re going to say, Mother. You know that my heart is with the Duke, don’t you?”

My mother nodded.

“But… I realized that not everything can be solved with just feelings.”

“What do you mean by that? Did the Duke say he wanted to part ways with you?”

Even as she asked, my mother looked as though she couldn’t believe that would be the case.

“No. I’m the one who suggested we part ways.”

“Then why?”

I remained silent for a moment, staring at my mother.

I had initially wanted to delay telling her about the situation because I didn’t want to worry her.

But now it seemed like the right time to finally tell her everything.

It was all over, after all.

The Crown Prince had assured me that if I complied with his wishes, he wouldn’t harm anyone close to me.

By divorcing Lloydin, I had ensured that everyone would be safe.

After organizing my thoughts, I began to speak.

“There’s something I haven’t told you, Mother.”

With those words, I began to recount everything that had happened. I told her everything, down to the last detail, just as I had told Lloydin the day before.

As she listened, my mother was overwhelmed with shock and said nothing.

I waited patiently, giving her time to process everything.

“How could something like this…?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry.”

“Does your father know?”

“Yes, Father knows. But I haven’t told him about this latest development yet.”

“Ayla…”

“I’ll tell him later. Now that everything is over.”

I forced a bright smile toward my mother, trying to reassure her that I was alright.

“Are you truly okay?”

“Yes?”

“Are you really okay?”

My mother looked at me with deep concern, clearly not convinced by my attempts to reassure her.

“…I’m fine. It’s all over now.”

I kept repeating that it was over.

It’s over. Everything is over.

But the truth was, I wasn’t okay at all.

My heart didn’t feel relieved or joyful.

Even though it was supposed to be the end, I still felt like I was living in despair.

And my mother could see right through me.

But since there was nothing more I could do, I kept telling her—and myself—that I was fine, forcing a smile.

“I’m really okay. So please, don’t worry too much. After all, I’m your daughter.”

“…If you say you’re okay, then I won’t say anything more.”

With that, my mother pulled me into a tight embrace.

As soon as my face pressed into her shoulder, the forced smile on my lips disappeared.

But when we pulled apart a moment later, I quickly lifted the corners of my mouth again.

“Rest until your father comes home.”

“Yes, Mother.”

After my mother left the room, my expression fell once more.

I lay down on the bed to rest until my father and brothers returned.

But since my body wasn’t tired, I couldn’t sleep at all. I just lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling.

*

It wasn’t until evening that my father and brothers finally came home.

As soon as they saw me, their faces lit up with joy.

During dinner, we engaged in casual conversation, and the atmosphere was warm and cheerful.

But as dinner drew to a close and I showed no sign of leaving, my father and brothers began to look puzzled.

“Ayla, shouldn’t you be heading back now?”

Luke, unable to hold back his curiosity, asked me this while the rest of the family looked at me in confusion.

“I’m not going back.”

“What?”

“I’ve decided to divorce the Duke. So there’s no need for me to return.”

“What are you talking about? Divorce?”

My father and brothers stared at me in shock at my sudden declaration.

“I’ve already told Mother, and I’ve explained everything that’s happened.”

At my words, my father and Jade exchanged glances.

“What’s going on? What happened?”

Luke, who was still in the dark about everything, asked with a bewildered expression.

“I’ll explain it to you too. There’s no need to keep it hidden anymore.”

“Ayla, but…”

Jade looked at me with a worried expression, as if trying to stop me from speaking.

I gave him a small reassuring smile, signaling that it was okay.

Then, I began to explain everything that had happened to Luke in detail.

“…That’s how it is. I’m sorry for keeping it from you all this time.”

For once, Luke seemed at a loss for words, clearly in shock.

After a moment, he ran a hand down his face and asked in a serious tone.

“And that’s it?”

“Huh?”

“Are you really okay with all this?”

After hearing everything, both my mother and now Luke asked me the same question: if I was truly okay.

I could feel the love and concern from my family, and it warmed my heart.

“Yes, I’m okay. So—”

“Hah, this is driving me crazy.”

But suddenly, Luke interrupted me with a heavy sigh, ruffling his hair in frustration.

“You don’t look okay at all. So stop saying that you are.”

“What?”

“You don’t look okay.”

His words left me stunned, as if I’d been struck, and I stared at him in disbelief.

“Father, Mother. This isn’t right. Why is Ayla…”

Before I could even process his words, Luke turned to our parents, his voice rising in frustration.

“I really am okay, Luke.”

I quickly tried to calm him down, still taken aback by his reaction.

“Okay? What part of this is okay? You don’t look okay at all.”

He raised his voice slightly, clearly exasperated.

“I really—”

“If you say you’re okay one more time…”

His sharp tone made me clamp my mouth shut.

The unexpected turn of events caused the atmosphere in the room to grow tense.

Luke paced around, looking agitated, with a stern expression on his face.

“Luke. Sit down.”

“Father, I…”

“I understand how you feel. But sit down.”

Our father’s stern gaze made Luke reluctantly take his seat again.

“Ayla.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Did the Duke agree to this?”

“…Yes. He said he would honor my wishes.”

“…I see.”

A heavy silence fell over the room, and no one’s expression looked good.

Father seemed deep in thought, remaining silent for a while.

We all sat quietly, waiting for him to speak.

“It’s late. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

“But Father—”

Luke stood up abruptly, his voice rising in protest, but Father cut him off with a single word.

“Luke.”

With that, Luke sat back down, though still visibly upset.

“We all need time to think. We’ll discuss this further tomorrow.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Understood, Father.”

“…Okay.”

One by one, we all responded, and Father was the first to rise and leave the dining room.

Mother followed after him, and Luke shot me a frustrated glance before trailing behind them.

Now, only Jade and I were left in the dining room.