No Evil Lady in the World (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 77

“So Housekeeper Jocelyn refused marriage, then.”

At Meiana’s words, one corner of Sediloi’s lips seemed to twitch upward, but quickly settled back into place.

“Given the circumstances, that must certainly be the case. You’ll understand if you look at Jocelyn. Even back then, she thought of nothing but dedicating herself to the ducal house. At least, that’s how it’s been since the very first moment I can remember. Could it have been different before that? The reason Jocelyn despises and disrespects Ariante is because of Liriya—because she wasn’t of noble birth. But that’s merely a surface reason. Jocelyn believes she defiled our family by giving birth to Verbo. She refused Father’s proposal from the start to avoid exactly that, yet what was destined to happen unfolded regardless.”

Sediloi couldn’t recall the details of those days clearly—it was simply because he’d been too young. But the atmosphere then—the strange, restless tension that seemed to permeate the entire household—remained vivid in his memory.

His mother’s worried expression—she who had once been the previous duchess—and Jocelyn, who hadn’t shown her face for several days… All of it made young Sediloi deeply uneasy.

“It may sound foolish, but back then I adored and followed Jocelyn devotedly. Mother was kind too, of course, but Jocelyn truly treated me like a prince. So when she locked herself in her room and wouldn’t come out, I suppose I threw a tantrum. I charged straight into Jocelyn’s room. The maids tried to stop me, but I pushed past them and opened the door. If I hadn’t gone in at that moment, she would have taken that medicine.”

“Medicine?”

Meiana echoed. But she quickly guessed what kind of medicine Jocelyn had intended to take—the one and only method to erase an unwanted pregnancy. It might have cost her life, yet she wouldn’t have cared.

Sediloi continued.

“I lunged at Jocelyn, and in the process, she spilled the medicine she’d been holding. It wasn’t hot, but it poured over me, causing quite a commotion… Mother and Father rushed in, and I had to be carried back to my room in a maid’s arms. A few days later, Mother and Jocelyn left together for somewhere.”

That day’s memory remained crystal clear; even now, whenever Sediloi closed his eyes, he could see his younger self sobbing desperately, held tightly by a maid until he nearly choked.

His gentle mother and Jocelyn, who meticulously cared for every aspect of his life—both vanishing at once was nothing short of a catastrophe for the young boy.

Meiana, listening to the story, furrowed her brow.

“What did His Grace say…?”

“He only said Jocelyn was unwell and needed to go away for treatment. Mother would accompany her on the trip and they’d return soon. That was all. I cried every day, and just when I’d grown exhausted from weeping, they truly came back. And… Mother was holding a newborn baby in her arms.”

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