* * *
“I can’t trust that you’ll live as if you’re already dead.”
“I’d rather… ensure no heir is ever born—”
“That won’t do. I want you to spend the rest of your life living in fear and anxiety, knowing that I could kill Charlian and your child at any time.”
As Karl gave a small nod, Zeroth—his venting done—rose to his feet.
“When will you visit the estate?”
“Immediately. No—first thing tomorrow morning.”
“I expect to see you with a decent face.”
Julian, who had been waiting outside, followed after the Duke as he burst out of the marquis’s office.
He glanced back at the marquis, who looked a mess.
Since Zeroth had dragged him along only to go in alone, Julian had been on edge, half-convinced the marquis might be killed.
“What do you plan to do?”
“If he’s scared, then I’ll make it so he’s no longer scared.”
“Yeah, because that’s not terrifying at all.”
Julian shook his head, looking at Zeroth’s thoroughly pissed-off face.
He wanted to return to the duchy since his business in the capital was done, but thanks to Zeroth keeping him here, he was still stuck in the capital.
“Handle some affairs in my place.”
“…Do you even have a conscience?”
“Where else are you going to get paid this well?”
Julian’s jaw dropped at Zeroth’s remark.
“Do you even know I was basically locked in the office the whole time the Duchess was bedridden?”
“I didn’t realize the Knight Commander handled administrative tasks so well.”
At Julian’s dumbfounded retort, Zeroth simply praised him.
The truly important matters had already been reported anyway.
But staying idle like this only made the fear grow—that Sylvian might truly run away.
‘I overemphasized purity.’
There had been a reason to push so hard—because Sylvian didn’t know anything.
Zeroth wanted to make him see only him, but it had backfired.
He himself had been promiscuous, so he should never have treated Sylvian that way.
He hadn’t realized that would come back to strangle him like a leash.
“Two months.”
“That’s too long.”
“I’m giving you a two-month vacation.”
“I’ll gladly take it, then.”
Some sort of deal was struck inside the carriage on their way back to the duchy.
Zeroth’s eyes gleamed.
What had already passed couldn’t be undone.
In that case, the only option was to bury it under new memories.
He had to show the image of a loving, devoted husband.
“K… Karl?”
“It’s been a while, Duchess.”
Sylvian, who had cried himself to exhaustion the previous day, ended up fainting and waking early the next morning—only to be met by Karl, who had come to the ducal estate.
‘Why is he here?’
Without realizing it, Sylvian looked over to Zeroth, noting how his red eyes had grown even darker.
He clasped his hands tightly.
‘Are you insane?’
Karl, seated before him, looked pale, like a man on his deathbed.
“…Why did you do it?”
Unable to lean on the man beside him, Sylvian barely managed to speak.
In response, Karl stood and dropped to his knees at Sylvian’s feet.
Startled, Sylvian instinctively grabbed Zeroth’s wrist.
‘Fast reflexes.’
Just yesterday, Whisen had brought up divorce—and now Karl was here, face tightening as if trying to hold himself together.
Karl kneeling like this was clearly Zeroth’s doing, a move to resolve the situation quickly.
“I know nothing can undo what I’ve done, but I also understand that I was deeply, truly wrong.”
Watching Sylvian hold onto Zeroth’s wrist as if for dear life, Karl drew in a shaky breath.
“It was my fault. My mistake. I gave you an unforgivable wound, and for that I apologize. From now on, I will not attend any event the Duchess is present at. I will also pay reparations—seventy percent of my personal fortune. And beyond that…”
A never-ending list of restitutions spilled from Karl’s mouth as he acknowledged his guilt and begged for forgiveness.
“K-Karl?”
“Yes. Is there anything else you need?”
“What if Charlian refuses to marry you?”
At Sylvian’s hesitant question amid Karl’s endless reparations, he fell silent.
It would’ve been nice if he just ran off with that as the excuse.
But Sylvian knew Charlian too well.
If she ended up penniless, she’d probably laugh and ask how much she could sell herself for.
“That won’t happen. And if there’s something you want, I’ll find a way to get it.”
“…”
Sylvian looked helplessly at Zeroth.
Smiling, Zeroth said if there was anything he wanted, he’d even bring Karl’s head.
“You didn’t hate me? Or resent me?”
“Never. As I said, it was all a misunderstanding. That… incident too—it was because of my subordinate. I had no choice.”
Karl’s crime was now blamed on his subordinate, following Zeroth’s orders.
“Ah, so Karl didn’t want it either.”
‘Thank goodness.’
The quiet mutter stung the consciences of the two men who locked eyes.
Zeroth—for wanting to claim Sylvian. Karl—for seeking forgiveness.
Sylvian’s hand slipped from Zeroth’s wrist.
“If Karl didn’t know either, then the compensation is enough. It was just… just a mistake.”
“That won’t do, Duchess.”
Just as it seemed she might forgive everything, Zeroth stepped in.
It wasn’t about the money—he couldn’t let him off with nothing.
“He must pay the price for what he’s done.”
“Ah…”
Watching her face go pale at the word “wrong,” Zeroth was sure.
Just as Whisen had said, Sylvian believed herself tainted—worthless.
“His Grace is right. I’d offer all of my assets, but that would trigger an imperial investigation, and things would get messy.”
“Half… Just give half of what you have.”
‘That’s enough pretending to be a saint.’
The more slush funds, the better.
With this, he could even rebuild Martius’s estate.
If he bought new land and built a grand mansion, he might even be able to welcome a proper Omega lady without shame.
Despite his sorrowful appearance, Sylvian had already done all the calculations.
“Don’t worry.”
“It’s okay. It was a mistake, Karl. I don’t want to hate someone who’s sincerely sorry.”
At her trembling voice, Karl bowed his head again.
“I’ll serve the House of Rooster as a benefactor. If you’re ever in need, call on our name. I will be your shield, Duchess.”
He swore something he hadn’t even promised the Emperor.
That was how heavy his sin was.
“Your Grace, may I have a moment alone with the Duchess?”
“Alright.”
Sylvian tried to stop Zeroth, but Karl was faster—he grabbed her hand first.
“Eek!”
“Duchess, please look at me.”
At the gentle pat on the back of her hand, Sylvian flinched, but slowly opened her eyes.
“I did it thinking it was for revenge. I had no impure thoughts toward you. I didn’t do it to defile you. It was my wrongdoing, not yours.”
Watching her trembling fingers, Karl swallowed a bitter laugh.
Trying to persuade someone so terrified—it was wrong to begin with.
But he had decided to be useful to the Duke.
So he had to do everything he could.
“Until your fear and anger subside—I’ll stay on my knees before you. You can even strike me if you wish.”
Drip.
Drip, drip.
Karl couldn’t lift his head as her tears dropped onto the back of his hand.
“You are not the one who is tainted. I am.”
“B-but…”
“Who could possibly blame you for falling for my lies?”
“Hhng…”
Unable to hold back a sob, Karl raised his face despite himself.
Watching the hot tears streaming down Sylvian’s cheeks, his heart turned in turmoil.
To have hurt someone so kind—Karl was at a loss as to how to bear the weight of his sins.
“I will never allow myself to be happy.”
“Ngk—th-then—hic—no, don’t say that…”
* * *
