Chapter 13
Helia and Caligo returned to the mansion a week later.
“…I feel a bit uneasy.”
She frowned.
Her stomach was a bit sore, even though she hadn’t eaten much for breakfast. It was unusual.
As she turned the pages of documents, she slowly rubbed her lower abdomen.
‘Is it already that time?’
She frowned and looked at the calendar. If it were a regular monthly periods, it would be far off, so it was strange.
Knock, knock.
At the sound of a knock on the door, Helia’s expression gradually disappeared as she looked at the mirror.
“Come in.”
“I’m here to assist with your preparations, my lady.”
Nodding lightly, the servants came in and laid out elaborate clothes.
“What about my mother-in-law?”
“Lady Mariah is busy preparing for the grand banquet. It’s a semi-annual event, so she’s already quite excited.”
“What about this dress? It’s not too extravagant and seems to match your taste.”
“Let’s go with that.”
She nodded lightly.
The servants, with their nervous faces, smiled broadly as they attended to her. Helia found this uncomfortable. They didn’t seem to mind her sharpness and lack of warmth.
“Oh, it suits you so well and calmly.”
Not knowing how to respond to the praise, Helia remained silent as always.
She closed her eyelids for a long moment.
The assembled maids quickly assisted in her preparation, applying a bright red lip gloss to her lips.
“You look beautiful.”
The maids smiled again and took two steps back.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“No.”
“Very well, then we’ll take our leave.”
The servant who nodded once again headed downstairs to greet the former Duke and Duchess.
Seeing the former Duchess busy decorating the banquet hall, Helia spoke.
Unlike usual, her face wore a perfect mask with a smile.
“It’s been a while. How have you been, Mother?”
Her voice was gentle and soft, unlike her usual sharpness.
“Oh, it’s been a while. How is your health?”
Maria Halos, the beautiful former Duchess, smiled brightly.
“Thanks to your concern, I’m in good health.”
“I heard that there were some troubles with the Viscount’s family, and I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s nothing. Thank you for your concern, Mother.”
“Oh, that’s not what I meant. I was referring to the central table.”
Even while talking, she was busy directing the servants.
She loved hosting banquets and always personally designed each concept.
The woman with her dark brown hair styled up certainly did not look like she was in her fifties.
“How is your relationship with Caligo?”
“It’s the same as always.”
“I wonder when we’ll get to see grandchildren. The family needs an heir too.”
At her words, Helia only smiled silently instead of answering.
“You don’t have much time left on the contract, do you? It’s a pity, but you know you have to keep your promises if you’ve received something.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good, so we took you in because you didn’t quite meet our standards. Although it’s not ideal, receiving some alimony is a must if you’re to divorce.”
Even at her words, Helia maintained her smile as if nothing was wrong.
Maria Halos held no malice. She was simply someone who had been raised and learned to think that one must receive something in return for what was given.
Knowing that, Helia wasn’t angry or annoyed.
She merely nodded her head with a doll-like smile, as she had learned over time.
“I don’t want to rush you, but honestly, I’d like to see it happen soon.”
“I’ll try a bit harder.”
“Right, I trust you because you’re diligent.”
She lightly patted her shoulder. Just as Helia was about to respond, a shadow fell long behind her.
“What are you doing here?”
“Oh, you’re here? Nothing much, just having a conversation with my daughter-in-law. I heard you left the Duke’s residence for quite a while.”
“I took care of the urgent matters without any issues.”
He naturally blocked Helia’s path and pushed her back.
Helia blinked slowly.
He gave a slight nod, indicating her to step aside. She naturally turned her body away in response.
Next was her turn to greet the former Duke.
As Helia moved away, Caligo turned his attention back to his displeased mother.
“I told you not to meddle in my marriage.”
“If you didn’t act so frustratingly, would I be like this? I should at least get what I invested in.”
“But you also approved of the marriage.”
Caligo spoke as if he were tired.
Although it was an arranged marriage, he had already received his mother’s permission beforehand. After all, it was she who had initially proposed it.
“Your younger brother is merely convalescing, and here you are, happily leaving the Duke’s residence for over a week. What a nice thing to do.”
Her scolding made his brows furrow slightly.
“There was a death in the family, so it was unavoidable.”
“A day or two should have been enough. Anyway, that malicious child didn’t seem too shocked.”
“I don’t think that’s the case.”
Caligo defended her.
She turned her head at his words.
“I don’t like the idea of having a child from an unknown street orphan, let alone a bastard. If only Kiel were as healthy as you…”
She sighed deeply.
Caligo pressed his heart, which had become as heavy as lead, with his palm. Talking to his mother always left him feeling frustrated.
Her actions and words, which favored his younger brother, were not new, but they had recently become especially unpleasant.
“I’d be afraid to leave the mansion if I heard that child acted vulgarly at the banquet.”
“Anyway, with only a year left, it’s about time to have a child. That way, you can pass on the position to Kiel. You know, it’s all for Kiel. As a brother, you should do at least this much for your sick sibling.”
Caligo, who would usually nod in agreement, turned away silently. He felt inexplicably frustrated.
‘Even off the battlefield, it’s still a battlefield.’
He wondered what the difference was between a battlefield where everyone wielded weapons in stuffy armor and a social gathering where people wore elegant attire and wielded sharp tongues.
“Did you drop it by mistake?”
“I threw it out of anger.”
Suddenly, her words came to mind as he saw a decorative ashtray in the distance.
‘Maybe it would be a bit relieving to throw it.’
Recalling Helia, who hadn’t looked pleased even after throwing it, Caligo stared at the ashtray and thought.
“Why are you silent?”
“I understand. And even if you didn’t do it, I am already thoroughly pressuring her.”
Maria Halos looked at Caligo disapprovingly and then sighed.
“What about dinner?”
“I’m not… hungry at the moment.”
“I see.”
“…If it’s okay, even an hour later, let’s have dinner together.”
The thought made her feel a bit better. Looking back now, she probably thought of it in her own way.
‘Maybe I should suggest dinner tomorrow evening.’
That seemed more pleasant than continuing this tedious conversation.
“I understand. If you have time, visit Kiel. Your younger brother misses you a lot. You’re healthy, so you should take good care of him.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Go on.”
Caligo slightly bowed and stepped back.
“How much money did you give to that person?”
His brows furrowed deeply at the low murmur. As he was about to leave the banquet hall, he turned back again.
“What are you talking about?”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you give any money to Viscount Richiano separately?”
Caligo had said he wouldn’t provide any financial support to him.
That was the only “little” thing he had wanted. The other conditions were insignificant.
He hadn’t touched the costs for the mansion or the budget allocated for the former Duchess. Supporting something like that was also within the Duchess’s authority.
Even though it was a five-year contract marriage, he had given her full control over that authority.
As he recalled Helia’s consistently cold demeanor, Caligo’s anger intensified.
‘Perhaps…’
While thinking, the former Duchess suddenly frowned deeply.
“What are you doing to my mother? Showing off just because you’ve been through some tough times?”
Caligo’s face, filled with displeasure, softened slightly as he relaxed his eyes.
“The contract terms should have been confirmed by Mother as well.”
“She didn’t give it. If she had, she’d have my head for sure.”
Caligo’s expression completely relaxed.
“That’s all right then.”
He left the reception room.
Maria Halos, who had a stern look on her face, bit her lower lip in frustration.
“Why must you make things complicated by dying? You should avoid being greedy for a child.”
She sighed deeply.
