Knock, knock.
“…”
Jane knocked on the bedroom door several times.
But there was no response from inside.
Is she asleep?
Maybe her lady was exhausted after working so hard for the first time in a while.
Thinking back—
She had looked unusually tired when she came out of the study.
Honestly,
Jane didn’t want to wake her.
But—
Her master would be returning soon.
If her lady was going to greet him,
She needed to start preparing now.
Normally,
by this time,
her lady would already be ready—
and would have called for her.
But today—
There had been no word.
For eight years,
She had never missed greeting or seeing him off.
It was something she valued deeply.
Jane hesitated for a long time.
“…Excuse me.”
Creak.
She carefully opened the bedroom door.
The curtains were tightly drawn.
and the room was completely dark.
The atmosphere felt heavy—
almost difficult to approach.
Jane swallowed nervously
and walked toward the bed,
where she sensed someone.
Her lady—
was lying there,
completely covered by the blanket.
It felt unfamiliar.
“Milady, the master will be home soon.”
Jane spoke as gently as she could.
“…Mm…”
Her lady mumbled something.
But it was too quiet to understand.
“Pardon?”
Jane stepped closer.
“…I don’t want to today.”
Something was wrong.
Her lady—
who never missed greeting him—
was refusing.
Even her voice sounded strange.
Just earlier at lunch,
She had seemed perfectly fine.
“Are you feeling unwell, milady?”
“No… I’m just… tired.”
“Then what about dinner?”
“I don’t feel like eating.”
“But you should at least have something—”
“Jane… I’m sorry, but please leave.”
“…Ah… yes. Please rest well, milady.”
Her voice was strained.
Her tone—
sharp.
Completely different from usual.
If she had always been temperamental,
Jane wouldn’t have thought much of it.
But the Marchioness of Blanchett
was not like that.
Something had clearly happened.
But there was nothing Jane could do—
except to pray for her lady’s well-being.
* * *
“Welcome home, my lord.”
Gerard removed his knight’s jacket—
and immediately felt something was off.
Why isn’t she here?
He quickly looked over the people who had come to greet him.
Her maid was there—
but not his wife.
“Where are my wife and Abel?”
“The young master fell asleep after his lesson today.
And milady seems to be tired after organizing the study.”
The old butler bowed politely as he answered.
“I see.”
It wasn’t unusual for Abel to nap.
But—
His wife had never missed greeting him before.
Was organizing the study really that exhausting?
She didn’t need to push herself…
“I’ve prepared your bath. Dinner will be ready once you return.”
The butler took his jacket naturally.
“Thank you.”
“And milady…”
The butler glanced briefly at Jane before continuing.
“She said she has no appetite and will skip dinner.”
“…What? Is she unwell?”
Gerard turned directly to Jane.
“No, she only said she was tired. I believe she overexerted herself in the study.”
“…You should have made sure she didn’t push herself too hard.”
Gerard lightly scolded them.
Then—
instead of going to bathe—
He turned toward the bedroom.
He needed to check on her first.
Knock, knock.
“My lady, are you alright?”
No response.
Is she asleep?
He carefully opened the door.
Darkness greeted him.
It felt thick—
as if it could spill out of the room.
He took a small lamp from the servant beside him
and stepped inside.
He approached the bed slowly.
His wife—
was still completely covered by the blanket.
“My lady, I’m here.”
“…”
“Were you very tired today?”
He gently pulled down the blanket.
It came off easily.
But instead of her face—
He saw only her back.
And somehow—
That back looked stubborn.
“You must be very tired. But you still need to eat something.”
“…”
From instinct alone,
he knew—
She wasn’t asleep.
Then why—
Was she refusing to respond?
Anxiety crept in.
“Please show me your face, my lady.”
Unable to endure it,
He gently turned her toward him.
She didn’t resist.
“Even if you’re tired, I’ll have food brought here—”
Then—
He saw her face.
And froze.
For a moment,
Chloe looked at him—
Then tears
began to fall.
“…Hic…”
“My—my lady! What’s wrong? Are you hurt?!”
Panicked,
Gerard wiped her tears with clumsy hands.
He checked her all over—
but found no injury.
That kindness—
only made her cry more.
“Doctor! Call the doctor immediately!”
He shouted toward the door.
* * *
After the commotion,
The physician arrived.
After examining Chloe,
He spoke to Gerard:
“She seems to have overexerted herself. With proper rest and nutritious food, she’ll recover. She also shows mild dehydration, so please make sure she drinks small amounts of water frequently tonight.”
“…I understand.”
Chloe listened blankly.
But nothing sank in.
She just wished—
This was all a dream.
That’s why—
She had tried to sleep in the darkness.
But reality—
mercilessly dragged her back.
And yet—
It still didn’t feel real.
“My lady.”
Gerard had already seen the doctor out
and returned to her side.
Not yet… please don’t come closer yet.
She needed time.
She didn’t know how—
or where—
to begin.
Should I scream at him?
Ask how he could make me this miserable.
Or threaten divorce?
But what if he actually agrees…?
Her thoughts tangled endlessly.
Unaware of her turmoil,
Gerard spoke gently:
“You heard the doctor. I’ll have something light brought in. You must eat at least a little.”
“…”
“Are you thirsty? Here—have some water.”
He handed her a glass.
Her hands trembled
as she took it.
She drank quietly.
Gerard watched her—
worried.
In truth—
He was shaken.
He had never seen her cry like this.
It made his chest ache.
“…My lady… I’ve never seen you cry like that before. Were you really in that much pain? Or… did something happen?”
The moment she lowered the glass,
he asked urgently.
“Well…”
“Yes, my lady. Please tell me.”
“…”
He was ready to listen.
But she—
couldn’t speak.
The words were there—
but wouldn’t come out.
Did you marry me because of Leila’s request?
That wasn’t all.
What was this letter?
Why did you keep it?
What did you reply?
There were so many questions.
But—
She was afraid.
Afraid she wouldn’t be able to endure the answers.
If she had to learn the truth—
It wouldn’t be from him.
She would rather ask Leila.
In the darkness,
She had thought about it over and over.
What should I do?
What would Sister Catherine do?
After countless useless questions—
She came to a conclusion.
She needed to confirm the truth with Leila first.
Only after that—
Would she confront him?
That would be the wise thing to do.
But deep down—
She knew.
It was just an excuse.
She was running away.
She still didn’t have the courage
to face reality.
And it felt like someone was mocking her—
for thinking she had changed.
In the end—
There was only one answer.
She had to go north.
“I… had a dream.”
A dream—
of eight years.
A dream where she was loved.
“In that dream… Leila…”
It was time to wake up.
She needed to go—
to the beginning of all this.
To Leila.
To ask her—
what all of this meant.
“…What about Leila?”
“She died.”
