Chapter 35

. Adultery

January 4, 2024.

Despite the gravity of her words, Essika’s tone sounded rather casual. Schubert frowned and immediately asked,

“Betrayed? That girl actually dared to betray you?”

One thing Schubert had always been wary of regarding Yuri was that, despite appearing calm and accommodating toward Essika, there had always been something unpleasant about what lay beneath her demeanor.

It was almost as if she were deliberately going along with everything while hiding some other intention.

Having studied commercial psychology since childhood and learned how to read people’s minds, Schubert had always found Yuri unsettling.

That was why he had once subtly voiced his opposition when Essika wanted to bring Yuri with her after marrying into the Klaus family.

Of course, Essika at the time hadn’t even pretended to listen.

“Yuri became the head maid here, and she has been sticking close to the Grand Duchess and trying to torment me. She’s also seducing my husband, Kallian. I’ll tell you the details later.”

Essika calmly drank her tea.

Schubert’s insides churned upon hearing her words.

“How dare she forget the kindness she received and turn against the Brigitte family?”

It was obvious without Essika having to say anything how deeply she must have been hurt by Yuri’s betrayal.

Essika had always been lively on the outside but tenderhearted within.

How many hardships must she have endured before she could speak about it so calmly?

“I’ll go and tell the Grand Duchess immediately and have her throw that girl out—”

“I’m sorry, Oppa, but this is a matter concerning Klaus. It’s also a matter between Yuri and me.”

“But, Essika.”

Essika finished her tea and set the cup down with a soft clatter.

“The Grand Duchess doesn’t allow outside interference. Especially not interference from the Brigitte family.”

Essika continued,

“So, Oppa, you only need to proceed as I instructed in my letter.”

Schubert stared blankly at Essika.

She certainly seemed different from how she had been before.

What could have happened to Essika all this time?

Essika smiled with a chilly look in her eyes.

“She’ll pay the perfect price for her betrayal someday.”

It seemed Essika had no intention of answering his question.

But Schubert had trusted his younger sister both in the past and now.

“You’ve really changed a lot since marrying into the ducal family, Essika.”

He nodded before continuing.

“I’ll do as you wish. Don’t worry.”

At Schubert’s reassuring answer, Essika smiled brightly.

“Thank you, Oppa.”

Essika, sitting with her brother and drinking tea together for the first time in a long while, looked like an entirely different person from the immature girl she had once been.

Her face seemed even more beautiful than before her marriage, and everything from the graceful way she drank her tea to her controlled expression, which revealed almost none of her emotions…

Anyone looking at her now would have recognized her as a proper Duchess who had mastered the etiquette expected of noble ladies.

Schubert found the sight bittersweet, yet strangely reassuring.

At least she won’t let anyone walk all over her.

“Oh, right. Did you purchase the land in Elmure that I mentioned last time?”

“Yes. Here, I also brought the documents for the land.”

Schubert handed Essika the deed he had received after purchasing the property.

With Chyhen currently receiving so much attention, land prices in Elmure had become extremely cheap by comparison.

Essika unfolded the deed and asked with slight surprise,

“But this is larger than what I asked you to purchase.”

The document showed a plot roughly twice the size of the land she had originally intended to buy.

“I added some of my own money. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve given you a wedding present since you got married… Please accept it, Essika.”

Essika’s eyes shimmered.

Her eldest brother, Schubert Brigitte, could be somewhat stiff, but deep down he was considerate and always looked after his younger siblings.

“Thank you, Oppa.”

A plot of this size would provide her with an enormous foundation for the future.

Seeing Essika express her gratitude, a smile also appeared around Schubert’s lips.

“Oh, and there’s something I’d like to ask you, Oppa.”

“Of course. Ask me anything.”

Essika finally brought up the matter that had been weighing on her mind for a long time.

“The incident that happened when I was eight… in Hasetsu. I don’t remember what happened, so could you tell me about it?”

At the unexpected question, Schubert’s eyebrow twitched.

**

The next day, Kallian woke with a splitting headache and frowned.

He pressed a hand to his brow for a moment before squinting and slowly sitting upright in bed.

But the blanket, which should naturally have come up with him, seemed to be caught on something and failed to move completely.

Kallian slowly turned his gaze to the side.

Then his hand jerked in shock.

“……”

Yuri Anesis, who normally wore her blonde hair neatly pinned up, was lying beside him, her disheveled hair partially covering her face.

Her bare white body was visible, with only the blanket precariously covering her chest.

Kallian froze in shock and remained motionless for a long while.

What happened last night?

“You have also managed your territory excellently thanks to your great reputation, Your Grace, and you have earned His Majesty the Emperor’s trust as well. Even when I was in Anesis, I always wanted to meet you at least once.”

Only fragments of Yuri’s face came back to him—the way she had smiled brightly while pouring liquor into his glass.

His head still throbbed terribly, and Kallian couldn’t think clearly.

“……”

A moment later, Yuri opened her eyes, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed as they trembled.

When her red eyes met Kallian’s, they widened slightly in surprise before she shyly averted her gaze.

Her reaction made Kallian realize with certainty what had happened.

Last night, I slept with Yuri Anesis, Essika’s friend.

The back of his head felt numb, as though he had been struck by something.

“…Damn it.”

The irritated words escaped his lips involuntarily, making Yuri flinch before slowly sitting up.

She pulled the blanket up with one hand to cover her chest.

“Your Grace… I…”

Kallian’s gaze returned to Yuri.

She curled in on herself, lowering her head deeply as she spoke in a trembling, almost tearful voice.

“…It wasn’t Your Grace’s fault. It was my fault for not being able to refuse you when you were drunk.”

Her voice trembled.

Kallian wasn’t angry with her.

He was angry with himself for getting so drunk that he had lost all sense and actually committed adultery with Yuri.

He had always been interested in her, and there had even been a time when he had been attracted enough to give her an Allet ring.

But even so, he had never crossed the line.

He had merely enjoyed their precarious exchange of mutual interest and stopped before things ever reached the point where he would have to take responsibility.

Yuri watched his expression before speaking sorrowfully.

“It was all my fault, so please don’t blame yourself.”

“…Yuri.”

Kallian pressed his forehead with one hand and spoke with a sigh.

Seeing tears running down Yuri’s cheeks, Kallian felt somewhat sorry for her.

Seeing a woman who had spent the night with him trembling and crying naturally stirred a man’s sympathy.

“You did nothing wrong. If anyone is at fault, it is entirely me.”

Yuri was the head maid serving the Klaus family, while Kallian was her master—the Duke.

“Your Grace! Sob.”

At his words, Yuri looked at Kallian through tear-filled eyes.

Then she threw herself into his arms.

Kallian instinctively flinched when she suddenly embraced him, but after a moment, he awkwardly raised a hand and patted her back.

There was a faint trace of blood on the white sheets.

The realization that he had been Yuri’s first man made an even greater sense of responsibility weigh upon him.

“What… what should we do now? I don’t know anything…”

Yuri’s trembling voice came from within his arms.

She must have been shocked by what had happened as well, and he needed to calm her down.

Moreover, there was no way this could be allowed to reach Essika.

Kallian’s eyes shook violently beneath the impact of this sudden, thunderbolt-like situation.

**

“You let her brother in?”

At Riona’s question, the maid bowed deeply before answering.

“Yes. Young Baron Schubert Brigitte just left after finishing tea time.”

Riona did not bother hiding her displeasure.

“So she thinks she can behave as though this were her own home simply because I was away. How insolent.”

Essika Klaus, the daughter of an insignificant baronial family.

That lowly bloodline should have known its place and allowed itself to be trampled upon.

Yet she dared to hold her head high.

And now she seemed to be shaking even Kallian’s heart.

Riona could no longer leave her alone.

Once the profits from the development of Chyhen begin coming in, I’ll drive her out of Klaus even if I have to return the dowry she brought with her when she married.

“But where is Yuri? I don’t think I’ve seen her all morning.”

Riona searched for Yuri with a sharp gaze.

She had not seen her since last night.

At that very moment, the door opened, and Yuri entered with her head bowed.

“Were you looking for me, Grand Lady?”

Riona’s cold eyes slowly traveled from Yuri’s face down to her feet.

Then her lips moved.

“Did you spend the night outside, perhaps getting wet with the night dew?”

At those words, Yuri’s hand twitched.

Riona was the same woman who had once beaten Yuri’s calves with a switch until she fainted simply because Yuri had spoken as though she were interested in Kallian.

If Riona suspected anything, Yuri had no idea what might happen to her.