IMLTVS Chapter 22

Chapter 22

I suddenly raised my hand, ready to crush the flower, but then hesitated. I bit my lip slightly and pulled my hand back.

“No.”

It shouldn’t be my hand that destroys them. That wouldn’t satisfy me. That would just be an impulsive outburst of anger.

I only wanted to return to them the rightful consequences of their actions—without the sacrifice of an innocent third party. Simply killing or torturing them wouldn’t be enough. That would end too quickly.

A brief, meaningless act of revenge wouldn’t make them regret their so-called love.

I lowered my hand and, before leaving the garden, called the gardener.

“Pull out all those marigolds. I don’t want to see them anymore.”

As I walked back to my room, I thought to myself:

If I simply acted like a jealous ex-fiancée, they would become tragic lovers, making their love seem eternal and noble.

I couldn’t allow even one of them to hold onto such a beautiful memory.

I wanted them to feel the full force of their mistakes, to regret their love completely.

“They dared to reach beyond their status, ignoring reality. They will pay the price until they are sick and tired of their little love affair.”

Clatter, clatter.

Dishes bumped into each other as water splashed over them.

Unconsciously, Raina hummed to herself before suddenly covering her mouth, startled. She tried to calm down, but the lightness in her steps as she carried the dishes was impossible to hide.

She knew things would be difficult. The cold gaze of Lady Carmilla had never been kind.

“…Bern…”

But just thinking about standing by his side, truly being with him, filled her with a deep, inexplicable strength.

No matter what obstacles came her way, she felt an unshakable confidence that she could still be happy.

“We won’t have to meet in secret anymore. I can stand proudly by his side. And if we have a child…”

A bright smile spread across Raina’s face.

“I’ll be able to give that child Bern’s last name. They will be his legitimate child.”

She had never even dared to imagine such a thing before. No, she had imagined it—over and over again—only for those day dreams to end in hopeless despair.

Now, she felt butterflies in her stomach. It was almost too good to be true.

Then, as if her mind wanted to dampen her happiness, a memory surfaced.

“You will regret this. Are you ready to walk into hell?”

Lady Carmilla’s cold, unwavering certainty echoed in her mind.

Just recalling the sharp hostility in her gaze made Raina’s heart tremble.

Her hands slowed as she wiped the dishes dry. The excitement that had filled her face just moments ago started to fade.

She stopped for a moment, her expression darkening. Then, with a deep breath, she forced herself to move again, shaking off the uneasy thoughts.

She didn’t want to worry about the future.

“I can’t let go of this miracle.”

The mere thought of someone else standing beside Bern, taking his gentle gaze and warm embrace, made her heart ache as if salt had been rubbed into an open wound.

“I won’t back down.”

She had suffered too much simply for loving him.

The maids treated her coldly. The master and mistress of the house looked at her with disapproval.

For years, she had been pushed into the shadows, forced to stay out of sight.

But when Bern found her a place to live, she had finally been happy.

It felt like a fairy tale—a tiny cottage in a peaceful village where they could pretend to be a real married couple.

The world outside didn’t matter. They could share small moments of happiness, and time flowed like a dream.

She could forget the harshness of reality.

Maybe that was why she had ignored the truth.

From the moment she was born, loving Bern had been a sin.

One rumor was all it took to shatter her dream.

The news of Bern’s engagement had made Raina’s hands tremble so much that she dropped the cup she was holding.

But what could she do?

She couldn’t stop him. She couldn’t beg him not to marry.

Many sleepless nights passed as she wondered:

“You say you love me, but will you say the same to your fiancée?”

Yet, in the end, Raina said nothing.

If she acknowledged reality, the dream would end.

Like Cinderella at midnight, she would turn back into nothing—a mere servant girl, forgotten and discarded.

She couldn’t voice her pain.

She told herself she would accept everything.

If he married someone else, fine.

If he whispered love to another, fine.

If he visits less and less, fine.

As long as he didn’t forget her.

As long as he still loved her, still came back to her.

Even if it was just a tiny piece of him, she wanted to hold onto it.

But even that small piece was mercilessly ripped away.

The people who wanted to take Bern from her had never been satisfied.

They hadn’t stopped until they drove her away completely.

The home Bern had lovingly given her was shattered by pounding fists.

Glass windows shattered.

Loud footsteps hunted her down.

She had never feared for her life so much.

She hadn’t wanted to hold a grudge. She hadn’t.

But tears fell anyway.

She couldn’t help but hate them.

They wouldn’t even allow her a single piece of him.

Just one small piece—was that too much to ask?

So when Lady Carmilla came to see her, Raina couldn’t remain composed.

She could no longer pretend to be innocent and naïve.

Now that Bern’s engagement had been called off, why had she come?

To push her away again?

Raina smiled.

For a commoner, that was the only expression she could show to a noble.

How far would she have to be pushed before they would finally accept her?

Would they only stop once she had disappeared completely?

But then, Lady Carmilla said something unexpected.

She asked Raina to call her Lady Carmilla De Demeter.

Raina hesitated but obeyed.

As soon as she said the name, her heart pounded wildly.

The realization that she would soon become part of that noble family filled her with dizzying excitement.

It was a feeling too intoxicating to resist.

For the first time, she felt as if she had wings, ready to fly to Bern’s side.

She would no longer have to bow to those who had looked down on her.

Just days later, Bern returned with a troubled expression.

“I’m going to introduce you to my family as my wife,” he said.

He wanted to take her to his home and gain their approval.

Could she do it?

Normally, the mere thought of stepping into that house would have terrified her.

But now, after saying Carmilla’s name, after imagining herself as Bern’s equal—she found the courage to say:

“Yes. I want to.”

That feeling was too sweet, too powerful to let go.

Bern cupped her face, still looking worried.

“It won’t be easy. But if this is what you want, I’ll make it happen. No matter what.”

Raina buried her face in his chest, breathing in his scent.

“Yes, Bern. I’m ready. This is a miracle, and I won’t waste it. I want your parents to accept me.”

Then, she whispered her deepest wish.

“I want to be Raina De Demeter.”

Her hopeful eyes looked up at him.

“I want them to see me as a worthy wife, as your true partner. No matter how hard it is, I want this.”

Bern’s gaze softened, though there was a shadow of worry in his eyes.

“Alright. If that’s what you want, I’ll stand by you. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”

Then, he sent a message to Carmilla.

For the first time in a while, the Demeter household was lively.

After a long period of tension, their master, Lord Lyman, finally had something to be happy about.

Bern had sent word that he was bringing someone home.

Lyman assumed it was Lady Carmilla and was too delighted to question it further.

He ordered the house to be decorated, and put on his finest clothes, and his wife eagerly prepared the best tea.

At last, the butler knocked on the door.