“Hey. It’s troublesome if you’re already so shocked. You probably haven’t heard what your own daughter has done yet.”

“Rose?”

The Marchioness Roberfon raised her head, half-dazed.

Come to think of it, just earlier Katharine had mentioned Rose’s name upstairs, saying something utterly incomprehensible.

“Fortunately, my innocence has been revealed.”

Farnese, reading the questions and anxiety appearing on her face, personally answered.

“I hear your daughter jumped out the window herself to frame Katharine as a traitor.”

“What did you say?”

“Katharine, who was present at the scene, was naturally singled out as a prime suspect and endured all sorts of hardships in the underground prison, unjustly framed, and has now barely returned from the brink of death.”

Though she appeared fine on the outside, her inner self must have been thoroughly rotten and festering by now.

In a situation where it wouldn’t be strange at all if she collapsed and fainted right away, Katharine was desperately trying to keep her spirits up.

The reason she had deliberately stopped by her family home before leaving Kan Kingdom for good was probably because she wanted to see Marchioness Roberfon’s face, rather than to gather necessary belongings.

Although she was a stepmother, one could tell from her kind eyes that she was inwardly concerned about her mother who would be left alone in this vast mansion.

“Then what happens to my daughter? What will happen to our Rose now?”

Unaware of her feelings, Marchioness Roberfon’s mind was filled entirely with worry for Rose.

No matter how much they say blood is thicker than water, couldn’t she spare even a little thought for the one who had barely escaped being burned alive?

Farnese rose from his seat without responding further to Marchioness Roberfon’s words.

Of course, for now, since Rose had a child in her womb, it would likely be wrapped up with some moderate punishment and social disgrace.

Even the Kan royal family, who had relentlessly persecuted the innocent Katharine as a criminal, would want to cover up this incident as much as possible.

But even so, there were things that could not be undone.

‘The relationship between Charlen Riche and Rose Riche.’

Even if they work hard to forgive each other and regain affection, those two will never be able to trust each other like before.

The seed that started with a small distrust will gradually spread its stem enormously, and in the end, it will destroy each other.

Farnese intended to clearly observe from afar as those two slowly crumbled.

“Excuse me. Marchioness Roberfon, are you inside?”

At this moment, someone knocked on the front door with an unfamiliar voice.

Marchioness Roberfon, who had been groaning unpleasantly with her face in her hands, stood up hesitantly.

Sophie ran out with hurried steps and opened the front door.

“Who…”

“We’re from the royal court. I apologize for the sudden visit, but please excuse us for a moment.”

As Sir Alonzo Raugel said this, Charlen revealed himself from behind him.

Stubbornness and obstinacy that still couldn’t accept this absurd situation were evident in his two eyes.

He inhaled sharply upon seeing Farnese standing in the reception room, then finally stepped into the entrance.

As he did so, he said,

“Is Katharine inside now?”

Katharine, who had said she would go wash up and left the reception room, slowly looked around as she climbed to the third floor where her room was.

A nostalgic scent permeated the entire house.

The green wallpaper and oak cabinets that were her mother’s taste.

Everything was the same, from the old portraits of ancestors densely decorating the walls to the stair railings with their paint antiquely peeled off.

Just in case, she turned the doorknob of the room her mother had used when alive.

With a light metallic sound, the door opened very easily.

‘I wonder why the Marchioness Roberfon didn’t lock it, when Mother’s room must have been an unwelcome presence to her?’

Katharine took a deep breath as she entered.

Though her mother’s scent was no longer there, it was neatly organized as if someone had cleaned frequently.

Katharine had loved playing in this room since she was young.

The windows were made of stained glass like a chapel, so it was pretty when light came in, and there were various instruments like spinets and cellos, allowing her to naturally learn to play.

She had a very faint memory of drawing pictures while sitting behind her mother as she played the piano in an elegant dress.

‘This house will be the last too, I suppose.’

The only regret was that there were hardly any items left to cherish long memories of her father and mother, even though she wanted to take something with her.

Katharine left the room without further delay and hurried to the bathroom.

Bessie, the maid who was now middle-aged, was adding herbs to the hot bath water.

She was a woman who was no different from Katharine’s nanny.

“Thank you, Bessie.”

“No need for thanks. Hurry and warm yourself up. Your face has turned pale blue.”

She was inherently tight-lipped and never spoke idle words unless absolutely necessary.

Her uniquely kind silence, allowing rest without asking anything, was so appreciated.

“The cleaning of Mother’s room, was that you, Bessie?”

“Who else would it be if not me? All the maids who worked back then are gone, so I should at least stay and do it.”

Bessie said as she wiped Katharine’s chapped back of hand with a soft towel.

Katharine rested her arms on the edge of the bathtub.

“Bessie, I’m getting married soon.”

“Is that so? That’s good.”

“Aren’t you going to ask who I’m marrying or where I’ll be living?”

“I have enough sense for that. With the Renel Empire carriage parked out there, it would be stranger not to notice.”

“What a boring reaction. I wanted to surprise you.”

Bessie bowed her head slightly, playfully pretending to apologize.

“Yes. I’m sorry that I have a personality that doesn’t get surprised by most things.”

“Come with me. To the Renel Empire.”

Katharine waited silently for an answer to come from her lips, resting her chin on her hand.

Bessie paused her hand for a moment there, then picked up the cream again with a nonchalant appearance.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to decline.”

“Why?”

“I’m just an old maid. Even if I followed you, there’s nothing I could do.”

“Don’t say that, Bessie.”

“I’ve made it my job to sweep, clean, and guard this mansion. So don’t worry and go to the good country and live well, showing everyone. Do you understand?”

Katharine nodded silently while exchanging a final, polite handshake with Bessie.

That series of actions somehow felt like a solemn ceremony bidding farewell to the young Katharine until now.

The bath after several days not only cleansed her body but also seemed to wash away the stress weighing on her mind.

Katharine combed her hair with Bessie’s assistance and changed into a cobalt blue dress that was calm yet good for activity.

Looking out the window, the sun was already setting between the mountain ridges.

It seemed too much to depart today.

“Bessie. There are many spare rooms in the house, right? Could you prepare for the coachman and knights to stay overnight?”

“Yes. I was going to do that even without you saying so.”

“Thank you. I should go downstairs now. His Majesty will be waiting for me.”

Katharine checked her appearance one last time and headed to the reception room on the first floor.

As soon as she crossed the threshold, she saw a familiar back.

Katharine felt the heavy worry she had somewhat relieved during the pleasant bath just now weighing down on her chest again.

“Your Majesty?”

The Marchioness Roberfon was gone, and Charlen and Farnese were sitting maintaining a distance from each other.

Whatever conversation they had been having, Charlen’s face was flushed with excitement as if about to burst, while Farnese’s expression was unreadable as always.

Charlen, who had risen from his seat, surveyed Katharine’s slightly damp hair and her cheeks flushed with heat with a strange look.

“…You’ve come. Katharine.”

“Did you really come all the way here? What about Rose? What about the confused people?”

Charlen roughly brushed back his bangs and took a deep breath, looking troubled.

Then he spoke in a persuasive tone, as if trying to gain Katharine’s understanding.

“Rose is completely out of it and still can’t communicate. It will take some time for the people’s confusion to subside too. Like them, I need time as well. Time to have a calm conversation with you.”

Katharine shook her head with a hardened face.

“I thought you might feel a little guilty, but you truly don’t have even a speck of remorse for me.”

“Who said I’m not sorry?”

“If you felt even a little sorry for me, you wouldn’t have been able to come here with such bright eyes. And as I told you, Your Majesty can no longer be involved with me.”

“I know! I’m just asking for a conversation, why do you keep…!”

“Hey.”

Farnese spoke in a savage low voice as if crawling along the bottom of the sea.

“Who are you raising your voice to?”

Charlen was about to raise his voice out of old habit but forcibly closed his trembling lips.

He rubbed his face repeatedly and said to Farnese.

“Please, could you leave for a moment? Just for a very short while.”

“If you have something to say, say it with me here. I’ll keep my mouth shut accordingly.”

“Are you not understanding what I’m saying? I’m telling you I have something I must say to her.”

“That’s why I’m saying to say it here and now. Why? Got some nonsense to spout that I shouldn’t hear?”

In the precarious atmosphere where they seemed about to hold knives to each other’s throats at any moment, Katharine picked up a fan placed on the console and tapped it.

At that, Charlen reluctantly took a step back, watching her reaction.

Katharine gave Farnese a detached smile.

“Your Majesty. I’m fine. If you go out for a bit of fresh air, everything will be sorted out when you return.”

Farnese stared at Charlen for a while with sharply honed eyes, then nodded as if he had no choice.

“…Call me right away if anything happens.”

“Yes. I will.”

Farnese gently stroked Katharine’s cheek once and then left the reception room.

Katharine probably thought nothing of it, but that gesture from Farnese just now was nothing short of a silent warning to Charlen.

That this child is now as good as mine, so don’t try anything foolish.

Left alone in the reception room, Katharine let out a troubled sigh as if facing a difficult challenge.

“I don’t know what you’re going to say at this point, but I’ll listen.”

She sat down naturally in the seat of honor and added one more thing.

“At least I’m not vile enough to coldly abandon someone like you did back then.”