WGMFTR | Chapter 27

Episode 27

Ilian said that Katrina wouldn’t be able to come.

“Countess Rodrigo.”

“Oh come now. We’re family—no need for such formal titles. Just call me Katrina.”

It was easy to see why Ilian had spoken so highly of Katrina, calling her his one and only sister.

Katrina Rodrigo, who married Count Rodrigo, the admiral guarding the southern seas of the kingdom.

The union between Esteban, who holds the fertile southern plains, and Rodrigo, who maintains peace at the major ports, was widely seen as a powerful and even threatening alliance.

“It’s nice to meet you. I rushed here in a hurry to attend the wedding, and now I get to meet this woman instead.”

Despite appearances, Katrina’s bold personality quickly won Lydia’s favor.

Still, she truly lived up to her title of ‘older sister’ that Ilian had feared as a child—her sarcastic tone was as sharp as a finely honed blade.

“Anyone who’s not family should step out now. I’ve already sent someone to stop Ilian since he left in a hurry, so now, let’s see…”

“What in the world is going on here?”

A cold voice echoed from afar—the very person responsible for this entire commotion. Lydia had never seen Ilian Esteban’s expression so icy and rigid before.

“He’s here. That was fast.”

Katrina sneered and shrugged.

They say that when a person is extremely angry, their head cools and they become calm.

As if to confirm Lydia’s state, their briefly locked eyes softened momentarily, but the icy expression returning to the marquis’s face made it clear again.

“I told you never to set foot in this mansion again.”

“I am still the rightful matron of this house.”

“Respect for the matron comes only when I feel inclined to give it.”

Ilian’s words grew extremely curt.

Lydia felt like she had stepped into a family quarrel and now wanted nothing more than to quietly return to her room.

But Katrina, who clung to her side as if seeking someone to gossip with while watching the situation unfold, made that impossible.

“Still, look how fast he rushed back to protect his wife. If it were just me, he would’ve walked away without a second glance, thinking I could handle one woman on my own.”

“She’s a princess. Are you really allowed to kick her out like that?”

“Oh my. Just a moment ago, I thought Ilian had found the perfect match—someone who wouldn’t back down in a power struggle. And now here you are, worried about her. What a kind heart you have. But if you show that kind heart to Madeline Ines, she’ll stab you in the back.”

Even though Katrina’s words to her were clearly laced with mischief, Lydia didn’t know how to respond and simply offered a smile.

“Take her out.”

Before anyone realized it, the situation had escalated to the point where the marquis’s knights were summoned.

Yet Katrina seemed thoroughly bored, looking down at her nails as if she had expected all this.

“Ilian! If your father saw this mess, he would…”

“My father never cared about household affairs even when he was alive.”

Lydia was also slightly stunned.

Watching Princess Madeline now pretend to cry pitifully, she couldn’t help but sense the sheer determination in her to cling to this mansion no matter what.

“If it’s money you need, I’ll give it to you.”

“Do you think I came here for money?”

Katrina, who had been observing their confrontation, spoke mockingly from the side.

“The King of Ines is dead, and now all she’s left with is an empty title, floating in the air. I’m sure it’s true she ran out of money. With that personality of hers, even returning here was probably a huge blow to her pride.”

Though spoken like a commentary, the snide explanation was definitely whispered, but Ilian, who was standing relatively close, seemed to have heard it.

His eyes briefly showed disbelief as he looked toward Katrina.

“She, of such questionable origin, dares to take the place of the marquess’s wife without even my permission or greeting, just to covet the estate!”

Lydia wanted to say that, if anything, it was the marquis himself who had slyly used the solemn family ring to place her in the position of marquess’s wife.

But before she could, Madeline, who had been led away by the maids, suddenly broke free with unexpected strength.

She grabbed a decorative glass bottle—placed conveniently for such a moment—and hurled it directly at Lydia.

Crash—

Before anyone could stop her, the bottle flew.

The distance made it seem like she must’ve used magic or secretly practiced to throw it so accurately, but naturally, the bottle missed.

However, a shard from the bottle, which hit the wall behind Lydia, grazed her cheek.

A sharp sting prompted her to touch her cheek, and a thin smear of blood came off on her fingers.

“Ah… geez.”

She should’ve dodged.

She had been too complacent, thinking there was no way it would actually hit.

As she looked up again, she saw Ilian Esteban’s jaw tighten and blue fury ignite in his eyes.

A gasp and panicked question from the side drew Lydia’s attention away from the marquis.

“My goodness. Are you alright?”

While Lydia stood motionless, staring at the blood on her hand in disbelief at the surreal situation, Katrina moved quickly.

“Here, use this to wipe it.”

As Lydia reached for the extended handkerchief, someone snatched it away.

She blankly watched the white handkerchief slip from her grasp.

“Why were you just standing there?”

Ilian, who had somehow gotten that close, snapped at her.

Though his words were sharp, the handkerchief touching her cheek was gentle.

Lydia, noticing his intense concentration, couldn’t tell who he was really angry at, or why he was taking it out on her, and replied irritably.

“If I could dodge that perfectly, I’d be training to be a knight.”

Really, how was she supposed to react and dodge that?

And frankly, moving further away might’ve made it hit her straight on.

She tried to make her case, to explain the logic behind it, but was cut off again.

“You shouldn’t have engaged her in the first place.”

“She’s the one who barged into the house. What was I supposed to do when we crossed paths?”

‘She’ was still there, fuming and refusing to leave. Like some vengeful ghost stuck in the mansion.

Seeing Lydia respond to every point without backing down made Ilian let out a brief, hollow laugh. He then lowered his hand from her cheek and finally lifted his head.

“I’ll have the family doctor check you out, so you handle this, Sister.”

“Oh my. Would you look at that. The boy who could barely talk back to me is now ordering around his noble big sister like a servant…”

The grip pulling Lydia closer tightened slightly.

“Sister.”

Even in that one softened word, Lydia could feel just how many emotions were packed into it.

Because he stood so close, she couldn’t see his expression, but Katrina’s face grew a little more serious.

Crossing her arms and letting out an exaggerated sigh, she replied.

“Fine. It’s been a while since I’ve had a cozy chat with my beloved stepmother. I was bored to death on the way here anyway, so this is perfect.”

“To be honest, I don’t think this even warrants a doctor…”

“Come on, Lydia.”

Lydia, excluded from the confusing exchange, tried to voice her opinion, but her words vanished as Ilian pulled her toward the stairs.

“See? If only you had introduced me to your precious wife earlier, all this could’ve been avoided.”

“You met her today.”

“Such a bad temper. I don’t know who you take after to be this nasty.”

Katrina shot Ilian a cold look, then turned to Lydia with a radiant, gentle smile and warmly said,

“It was lovely getting to know you today.”

“…Yes. Same here.”

Lydia felt dazed. She had expected someone with a personality as cold as Ilian’s, like a bitter winter wind, to treat her with similar frost—but here she was, being treated warmly.

There’s no harm in earning someone’s favor, but in this short time, she had no idea why or how she had managed to do that, leaving her full of questions.

As Lydia kept glancing back at Katrina while walking away, Ilian spoke.

“Don’t get too close to her.”

“Why not? She seems like a good person.”

“She’s sharp.”

That brief reply explained everything.

Oh, right. The two of them were only pretending to be married for a purpose.

Everything Lydia gained from being in the position of the marquess’s wife was meant to vanish without a trace—no, it must vanish.

Yes. Lydia needed to keep her wits about her.

Since this situation was probably a hassle for the marquis too, she had to move even more quickly to clear away the storm cloud hanging over the master of this house—a cloud called “curse.”

Just like the other tasks she had taken on before, she needed to approach and complete this one with focus, as a mission to be accomplished.