episode_0053

For a moment, I denied reality.

The child born from Bernacien’s womb had black hair and black eyes. At least he wasn’t an immigrant like me, but he was born with a color that shouldn’t have been there.

A thousand thoughts flashed through my mind.

The looks in the eyes around me were strange.

The attending physician, the midwife, and even Attila, who was soon to come to examine the child, all stared at the white lotus and the child as if they were monsters.

It was obvious what kind of misunderstanding they had. The only person in this mansion with black hair and black eyes was Baekryeon, and even if you think about it with common sense, you can only come to one conclusion.

This child, perhaps… may be a life that originated from the wrong seed.

‘I have to make an excuse…’

I absolutely cannot make any excuses. Even if I desperately try to explain, the suspicions will only increase.

This black hair and black eyes were a terrible stigma. Even if he could prove his innocence completely, he would always be followed by suspicion.

‘…their suspicions are justified.’

The biggest problem of all is that Baekryun and Bernacien actually came into contact frequently. Their meetings were frequent enough that Herais personally warned her.

Of course, the relationship between the two was innocent, but there was no obligation for others to completely trust them.

Even when the marriage between Bernacien and Herais was announced, there were people who sympathized with Baekryun. To third parties, the relationship between Baekryun and Bernacien was a black box in itself.

‘What should I do…’

Even if it was proven that she was the child of Hereis, it was uncertain how a child with such considerable flaws as a princess would grow up.

It was dizzying to imagine the child’s bleak future.

Baekryeon unconsciously placed her hand on the child’s fluffy black hair. Then, coincidentally, the child’s small hand moved, and a light weight settled on his fingers.

The moment that warm body temperature touched her, Baekryeon had no choice but to clench her teeth.

“… It can’t stay like this.”

Chomp!

He opened the curtain and walked quickly. As he left the Duchess’ bedroom, disgusted gazes continued to follow him.

Baekryeon tried hard to erase those gazes from her consciousness.

Thud, thud, thud.

Climb the stairs. Force open the door to Herreis’ room on the third floor.

Hereis was quenching his thirst with wine. Judging by the clown’s slightly reddish complexion, he seemed to be slightly drunk.

“… Why.”

Herais chuckled as he looked at Baekryeon, who was clenching her fists.

“Are you here to laugh at me? How ridiculous must I have seemed to you all this time, ugh…”

“What?”

“Haha…”

It was a mockery that seemed insane. It was filled with emptiness and anger at the same time.

The fetus that came out of the womb of the woman he loved had a unique and special characteristic. And the woman who had to explain the characteristic died with a relieved face.

So, I understand his feelings. Of course, I understand more than that.

Even though she understood all of that, anger surged inside Baekryeon. It was the first time in a long time that she felt this kind of passion.

Baekryeon strode forward and grabbed Herace’s collar.

Boom!

Then, Baekryeon, who had pushed Herais to the corner, let out a trembling voice outside her lips.

“Are you doubting Berna…? You, her husband… You, the one who should trust her the most…!!!”

Baekryeon raised her voice almost as if appealing. However, Herais responded with a firm response.

“How can you believe it? Even the ‘real’ foreigners have a hard time finding the black color, but it came from Belle’s stomach!”

“You…!”

Baekryeon was speechless.

It was a situation where persuasion through words was impossible.

Every single word Baekryeon uttered was like tearing at Herreis’ heart. There was absolutely no room for reason to intervene.

‘I guess I can’t ask for help from the temple.’

The temple possesses a special relic that can determine paternity. However, a certain amount of blood from both parents is required, and there is a high probability that Bernacien will be revealed to be a witch during the determination process.

The price for this will most likely be the destruction of the clan.

So, Baekryeon had no choice but to consistently repeat empty claims.

“I… no. I swear I’ve never had more than necessary relations with Berna.”

“I guess so. There’s no way to prove it though.”

“…”

It’s impossible.

In fact, Baekryeon also knew vaguely.

That if he were in Herais’s shoes, he might have reacted the same way.

He was simply consumed by anger and appealed to emotion, trying to ignore the possibility that it might sound like a deception to Herreis.

Therefore, there is no perpetrator in this place.

Only the victims were left trying to control their agitated emotions.

“… So, what do you want? Herace. What do you want to do with that child?”

“I…”

Herreus closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath.

“At least, I’m not going to throw it away.”

“Are you serious?”

“…”

Herreis nodded.

However, Baekryeon could only look at him with suspicion. It was difficult to figure out his intention to take in the black-haired, black-eyed child, since his suspicions had not been cleared up yet.

“… Okay. Then I’ll leave the mansion. If I stay, I’ll cause unnecessary misunderstandings…”

“No, you have to stay. If you leave, then everyone will be sure of your infidelity.”

“You…?”

‘Your denial.’ At the moment when Herais said that, Baekryeon noticed that he had not shaken off his suspicions.

“Keep your position. Act innocent. If you have any shame, if you didn’t enjoy playing with us, do what you have to do.”

Herreis’ remarks did not end there.

“And I forbid you from meeting the child. I will leave the child’s care to Attila. The child’s residence will be on the 4th floor, so you must refrain from going up there from now on.”

Each and every command was absurd. However, Baekryeon secretly realized that even these were the very minimum mercy that Herace had squeezed out.

It was the law that a child born of an illegitimate child from an aristocratic family and those related to them could be summarily executed without any repercussions.

However, the fact that such a decision was made can only be explained by the fact that there is still some shred of faith left in Bernacien.

Baekryeon answered in a calm voice.

“… I will accept it, Your Majesty.”

Baekryeon no longer spoke to Herace.

◇

After Bernacien’s simple funeral, Baekryeon became the most out of place presence in the mansion.

The master of the house, Herreis, neither made public nor denied the suspicions about the relationship between the butler and the duchess. As a result, opinions were divided even among the servants.

But soon, the opinions of the servants became almost unified. The scales in their hearts gradually tilted toward the truth of Baekryeon’s denial.

At the center of it all was Attila.

He cleverly leaked the circumstances of the time, preached conspiracy theories, and isolated Baekryeon. The woman who claimed to be Bernacien’s best friend was now the one who most actively tarnished the deceased’s reputation.

Meanwhile, Herais did not interfere with the affairs of the mansion. He locked himself in his workshop and devoted himself to studying magical tools. That way, he forgot his pain.

However, the Duke’s presence was essential to the mansion. From managing the estate to the affairs of the mansion, if the final decision maker is absent, nothing can be done.

Because of these circumstances, Herreis put forward a representative for the Duchess.

Attila, Bernacien’s close friend and a man who was particularly concerned about Hereis, who was shut away in the workshop, won the authority to act on behalf of the Duchess.

It was January 1st, year 507 of the Imperial Calendar.

A month later, in February, a snowy afternoon.

Baekryeon sat in front of Hailey, silently letting the white snow pile up on her shoulders.

“Kkiing… Kkiing…”

Hayley groaned as if she was anxious. After Bernacien passed away, she became inactive and languid, and now she was so skinny that it was pitiful.

The once abundant yellow hair has also fallen out considerably. Anyone can tell that he doesn’t have much time left to live.

Even the guy was an old dog now.

The passage of time was truly uncaring. Relationships were easily broken. If even Haley, who had been bound by ill will, were to disappear, Baekryeon would become a complete stranger here.

“…”

“…”

Baekryun and Hailey stared at each other in silence for a long time.

Baekryeon became curious again. The Hailey I saw was older and more shabby than before. The blue scarf that Bernacien had given her was also dirty and had lost its former luster.

This change in Hailey is also noticeable, and I wondered how Hailey views herself.

It must be pathetic. You must feel sorry for it.

Aren’t you just a ghost who remains in the mansion, unable to make up your mind, trapped in the past with regrets, like a river being swept away by the current?

It was when Baekryeon was mocking herself.

“Kkuu…”

Phew.

Hailey licked Baekryeon’s hand. It was unlike the guy who would thrust his fangs at anyone who got too close.

It was soft and warm.

Even though Hailey’s spit was dripping down my body, I didn’t feel particularly dirty.

So Baekryeon started to complain for the first time in a while.

“You know that the mansion is changing, right?”

Every day, dealers raid the mansion. Many people come and go with luxury goods.

Since Attila became the Duchess’s agent, the mansion began to receive countless favors.

“If it were before, I would have stopped it… Well. Now, I don’t know. In this mansion. In the world. Do I have any meaning at all?”

After a brief chat, I said hello to Hailey.

“I heard Letia is growing well. Although she can’t come down from the 4th floor right now… When she becomes worthy of being a princess, she will be able to come see you.”

Attila said that Letia would only be debuted when she became a perfect lady that no one could dare find a flaw in.

If she grows up to be a lady who can overcome the rumors of infidelity and her weaknesses of black hair and black eyes, I will let her out of the mansion.

It couldn’t be an empty promise since Herais agreed. He had also invited several famous tutors for this purpose, so he had to believe it.

“When that time comes… Shall we go for a walk? With Letia.”

“Wow!”

Hailey jumped up and barked.

He’s a smart guy.

Sometimes I feel like there’s a person inside Hailey.

“… Yeah, that’s a promise.”

“Heh, heh…”

Hailey’s tail swept the snow off the ground like a broom.

After confirming that positive gesture, Baekryeon stood up quietly.

The time has come to fall back into routine.

Sometimes I regret it.

I wonder what it would have been like if I had just a little courage at that time.

My last conversation with Hayley ended that way.