Chapter 57: Crime

The name of the Duke of Merdellia always wrapped the office in an oppressive silence.

Power that had mastered the pinnacle of swordsmanship, and the authority that corresponded with it. People always revered and feared it.

In the quiet office where only the sound of turning pages could be heard, Viviana placed her pen down with a smile on her lips.

‘I never thought I would smile this often.’

Originally, she was someone far from laughter. Even the smiles she showed in social circles were fabricated, and her memories of truly laughing were faint. Perhaps the only time she felt intense emotions was when she severed the head of an enemy general?

However, everything changed after she met Tina. As the nights grew deeper, she found herself often smiling at the thought of her, and the emptiness she had always felt could no longer be found. Just the fact that Tina was by her side seemed to fill the void in her heart.

Yes, just as she had expected.

Tina was surely someone who brought happiness to those around her.

“I’m suffering too. So stop holding on and break down already.”

Viviana resolved to break Tina’s sturdy mask and reveal the real self hidden deep inside her. Only then could she truly restore Tina’s self-esteem with all her heart.

The ultimate reason she was doing all this was simple. She would make Tina realize that she didn’t need to wear a mask to live in the world, that she could live as her true, lovable self.

By constantly building up her self-esteem, someday Tina would surely be able to face people, not with her pretentious side, but with her true self.

And then, Viviana would visit her mother again. After transforming Tina, who had a lazy nature, into a diligent person who fulfilled her responsibilities, she would show her mother this new, hardworking version of Tina, and surely win her approval.

That would be the moment to persuade her mother. Viviana would propose that Tina stay at the Duke of Merdellia’s house for good.

There were few places as prestigious as the Duke of Merdellia’s household—perhaps only the imperial family could compare. Many of the proud aristocrats were desperate to form connections with the Duke’s family. Just by staying here, the benefits were considerable. Viviana was confident that if she could gain her mother’s trust, she could keep Tina here.

Tina thought she could leave after a month… but unfortunately, Viviana had no intention of letting her go so easily.

As much as she wanted to reveal Tina’s true nature to the world, it was also her responsibility to carefully ensure that no other women got close to that addictive charm.

“When will you cry, Tina?”

It seemed like she was almost there.

Viviana hid a sly smile and thought to herself.

The image of Tina shedding beautiful tears from the corners of her eyes.

At the sight of that sinful scene, for some reason, her body began to feel warmer.

‘How much more must I torment you to make you cry in despair?’

When will you finally break—

“Lady Viviana!!!”

With a loud noise, the door burst open. Standing there was Alphonse, the chief butler of the Duke of Merdellia’s house, radiating the dignity of an elder.

Viviana furrowed her brow at his disturbance, but crossed her arms and waited for him to speak. Knowing his usual calm demeanor, she assumed something urgent had occurred for him to be this agitated.

Alphonse, catching his breath for a long while, looked at Viviana with pale, sunken eyes. Sensing something was wrong from his ominous expression, Viviana grew uneasy inside.

“My lady… the young lady of the Blanc family…”

“What?”

At the unexpected mention, Viviana’s eyes widened in shock as she rose from her seat.

“Why is Tina’s name suddenly coming up?

Could something have happened to her?

‘No way, was she kidnapped?’

That can’t be.

I’m sure Iris was in charge of protecting her. Even though Iris has a cold personality, in that field, she possesses abilities so monstrous that she is called a monster. It wouldn’t be easy to overpower someone as powerful as her, so who could possibly neutralize Iris and threaten Tina?

Cold sweat began to trickle down.

Was this instinct, intuition, or perhaps foresight?

I felt that something was wrong.

“Lady Blanc is in the bathroom…”

“Her hand…..”

With Alphonse’s last words, my consciousness snapped.

All I could remember was my heart pounding as if it were about to burst, and my desperate body running towards where Tina was.

***

“She is alive.”

With the doctor’s words, Viviana collapsed onto the floor.

She, who once stood tall and swung her sword amidst enemy lines, crumbled with just one diagnosis. The doctor, faced with this unexpected sight, couldn’t help but be deeply shocked.

However, Viviana herself couldn’t even realize that her knees had hit the ground. For now, she was just breaking out in cold sweat, trying to calm her trembling body by running her hand over her chest.

“Aah… thank goodness…”

The feeling of terror still lingered clearly in her mind.

Had there ever been a time in her life when she had felt so frightened? She had no idea what would have happened if the doctor had uttered the wrong words.

Viviana, now wanting to pray to a god she didn’t even believe in just for the fact that Tina hadn’t died, clasped her trembling hands and gazed at Tina, who was lying peacefully with her eyes closed on the bed.

Even her sleeping face exuded breathtaking beauty, but there was no time to think about that in this situation.

“…When did her face become so pale?”

Tina’s lying appearance was anything but good.

Her lips were quite blue, and she looked strangely emaciated.

If only I had paid a little more attention.

Deep regret repeatedly tormented her mind. But the irreversible mistake had already been made. Viviana tightly shut her eyes and turned her gaze toward the doctor.

“Is there any threat to her life?”

“It’s a miracle that the wound didn’t pierce the artery. However, because her vein was injured, she lost a lot of blood.”

At the doctor’s words, Viviana’s mind went blank. She had never allowed a single drop of blood to be shed from Tina’s hands, so she couldn’t accept this situation.

“…What is her condition?”

“Although we performed emergency treatment, we don’t know exactly when she’ll regain consciousness due to the delay in the transfusion.”

“She won’t… die, right?”

“No.”

At the doctor’s certainty, Viviana could barely manage to calm her heart. Perhaps it was fortunate that only her vein had been injured. The worst case scenario had been avoided.

“There’s one more thing…”

The doctor hesitantly spoke, and Viviana glared at him with wide eyes.

“Speak now.”

“Even without the wrist wound, the patient’s physical condition was already poor. It seems she hadn’t been eating properly.”

“…….…”

“I heard from the rumors that meals were provided in abundance, so I think it could also be a psychological issue.”

Viviana bit her lip. The taste of blood filled her mouth, but what was far more bitter was the pain tightening around her chest.

The child, who originally ate well, had only one reason for skipping meals to the point of affecting her health.

It was because of her.

She had caused this.

“…I see. And?”

“There’s nothing more. For now, the best thing we can do is continue giving her IV fluids and wait for her to wake up.”

The diagnosis was over, with the doctor visiting every morning.

In the endlessly chaotic situation, the doctor left, leaving only Viviana, Iris, and the peacefully sleeping Tina in the room.

“…Iris.”

Viviana’s calm voice echoed through the room. Iris, resigned to the inevitable, closed her eyes and bowed her head towards Viviana.

“Yes.”

“I’m sure I told you not to let Tina get even a scratch.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Since she was already under mental pressure, it was a situation that needed to be considered. Even though Iris had no excuse, regrettably, she had no intention of apologizing.

“But, my lady, isn’t this situation because of you?”

“…What?”

“Doesn’t my lord know as well?”

“…You.”

A loyal subject must be able to speak harsh truths to the lord they serve. Despite the fierce killing intent emanating from Viviana, Iris firmly continued speaking.

“If my lord hadn’t insisted on breaking the young lady, none of this would have happened. I have committed a crime as well, but so has my lord—”

Swoosh—!

In an instant, Viviana rushed forward and grabbed Iris by the collar, lifting her up. Iris squinted her eyes as she felt the suffocating pressure.

“Ugh!!”

Viviana glared at Iris with eyes burning with anger. Her grip trembled as if she would crush Iris’s neck at any moment, but in the end, Viviana closed her eyes tightly and let Iris go.

“…The sin of failing to protect Tina, I will face it later.”

“…At your command.”

Although she didn’t feel entirely wronged, the overwhelming guilt weighed far more heavily on Iris. The words she had once spoken, calling her a whore, kept echoing in her mind, piercing her like a sharp blade.

Whenever she recalled the face of Tina, who had been deeply hurt at that time, she felt a sharp dagger carving into her heart.

In the silent bedroom, as Viviana and Iris clenched their fists in deep regret and despair—

Knock knock—

A brief knock sounded. Shortly after, Alphonse cautiously entered the room, surveying the atmosphere.

“My lord… A guest has arrived.”

“…Do I look like I’m in the mood to receive guests?”

“However—”

Before Alphonse could finish, someone pushed him aside and rushed into the room.

Iris instinctively drew her dagger, thinking it was an ambush, and moved to block Viviana.

But when Viviana saw who the intruder was, she quickly pushed Iris aside.

Iris, now sprawled on the floor, looked at the intruder with a bewildered expression.

The woman had skin as pale as Tina, who lay unconscious on the bed.

Her red, swollen eyes had dark shadows beneath them, and her once-bright blue eyes now trembled with worry and anxiety.

Yet, despite all this, she was still a beautiful woman.

The woman rushed toward Viviana and, with all her strength, slapped her across the face.

Slap—!

With a sharp sound, Viviana’s head snapped to the side. Alphonse stood with his mouth agape in shock, and Iris was equally stunned.

“You, you… you wretched woman!!!!!”

The woman’s desperate and exhausted voice filled the room.

She was a woman who looked exactly like the beautiful Tina, lying in the bed.