Not knowing the betrayal of that day spoiler

Not Knowing The Betrayal Of That Day

Chapter 45

“Are you alright? I heard you were sick.”

The maid placed the steaming teacup in front of Tessa. It was the same tea that Elena recommended the other day.

“Thank you for your concern. I’m fine now…”

“Then I’m happy. I thought Tessa had forgotten me.”

At Elena’s words, Tessa took a deep breath. It was true that she had completely forgotten about the Marchioness. She might have forgotten if Janet hadn’t brought up the Marchioness. Tessa quietly bowed her head to Elena.

“I’m sorry… It’s just…”

“It’s a joke, it’s okay. Why must you take everything so seriously? Thank you for coming back like this.”

Elena smiled softly and took the teacup. Tessa followed her, picked up the teacup, and drank the tea. The moderately warm tea lingered softly in her mouth. It was said that it was a good tea to calm the mind and body, but when she really drank the tea, her heart, which had been pounding with tension, seemed to calm down.

“So what are you doing these days?”

Elena asked, pushing the well-baked scones in front of Tessa. At the unexpected question, Tessa let out a flustered noise unknowingly.

“Are you doing nothing?”

“Ah… I don’t really know. I never thought I had to do something…”

Ever since she was forcibly brought to Jutert, Tessa’s daily life had been very monotonous. It was because she had a limited range of options given to her in the first place.

Being the wife of the Marquis but only in name, she didn’t have any responsibilities. But that didn’t mean that she was allowed to go out or engage in other activities like the other wives. Meetings between the wives were rare. In a way, it was as if she was completely isolated.

In that order, Tessa simply stayed in her room with nothing to do, just staring blankly out the window. At other times she slept or went out for a short walk without anyone attending to her, but she would occasionally get caught and beaten by the Young Marquis, leaving her bedridden for several days.

It was from when the seventh wife, Janet, joined the Jutert house two years ago that she could do what was called activities.

She was one of the few people who had liked Tessa from the start, and she offered tea time as soon as she met Tessa, and since then Janet had often suggested picnics too. So Tessa was secretly waiting to meet Janet.

“Is there nothing you want to do?”

“…I don’t know either. I have never done anything, so…”

Even after the Jutert estate was captured by Hert, Tessa’s daily life was similar to before. The only thing that changed for her was that she often spent time with Hert. Tessa had breakfast with Hert today as well. But that was all. From the day she came here and until now, Tessa was just sitting by the window, staring out blankly.

“Well, can you write and read?”

“If you’re interested, I can teach you to write. You can’t just come and chat every time.”

“How is it? Are you interested?”

Tessa was silent for a moment. Suddenly, she wondered if she could learn to write. She had nothing else to do, and she was going to be abandoned by Hert someday. But then again, if she were to learn how to write, what was she going to write? Well, she could read a book or write something like a diary, but even that makes her think twice.

‘I have nothing… to write…’

Of course, there was a time when Tessa also wanted to learn to write. Because she also wanted to be an intellectual who reads books and shares opinions. But her will has long since faded and crumbled, as she’s been living half-dazed through the past few years.

By now she was even scared. What could she learn to write? Can she learn to write properly? She can’t be this stupid…

Tessa opened her mouth with an infinitely unconfident voice.

“I think… I think I should ask the Lord.”

“Tessa, if you want to learn to read, why seek the Lord’s permission?”

At Elena’s point, Tessa shut her mouth again. Why did she ask Hert for his opinion? Well, that’s because he’s the one holding her life… But she could not tell this directly to the Marchioness.

“Don’t do that, just go ahead and learn it. Though if you don’t like writing, I can teach you something else.”

“How about cooking? From simple bread and cookies to bourguignon, stewed meat in wine. It might be pretty fun. Time flies.”

Elena responded with a gentle tone. Clearly, right now, Tessa seemed more interested in cooking than writing. Shall she twist it this way then? Elena pointed to the kitchen located in one of the spires. The small and cozy kitchen seemed to have been touched by people for a long time, just like the room they were in.

“I also enjoy cooking. After living in a place like this for a few decades, you end up doing things you wouldn’t have done before.”

“So, what’s your answer?”

“Don’t think too hard. Because it’s really easy and fun to do. Why don’t you try baking cookies while you’re here? You can give it to people.”

Tessa sighed briefly, “Ah.” Suddenly, she remembered the sweets that Hert had bought this morning.

Cookies were one of Tessa’s favorite snacks during the orphanage days. But Tessa couldn’t put the cookie in her mouth easily. It was because she was feeling nauseous for some reason. But she barely ate one, because Hert was staring intently at her until she ate.

Tessa lowered her gaze and looked down at her hand. A hand that hasn’t done anything properly in years.

First of all, she was worried. Can she do it? Could she be causing trouble to the Marchioness? Will people accept her cookies? What will Hert think when he sees the cookies she made? Would he think that she could not stand still and do futile things?

Several thoughts ran through Tessa’s head.

Then Elena added her words once more.

“There is nothing more appropriate than cookies to give to the people you are grateful towards. Make it this time and take it. They will definitely like it.”

Gift. Tessa paused at the word. There was certainly nothing better to express your feelings than a gift. And if there was a chance, Tessa always wanted to give Mani and Janet something as a gift. Because there wasn’t just one or two things she was thankful for. And if possible, she wants to give Hert something too.

“…But I’ve never made cookies before…”

Tessa opened her mouth carefully in a hesitant voice. At this, Elena smiled a little.

“Tessa, I’m here to help, so what are you so worried about?”

“…… But, I think I’m bothering…… the Marchioness.”

“I wish Tessa would come to me often in the name of learning to cook. Don’t be too burdened. I do this because I want to.”

At Elena’s soft tone, Tessa slowly nodded her head.

* * *
“Who did she go to see?”

At Lange’s reply, Hert looked away from the document he was reading. Marchioness Jutert…? Oh, he meant the first wife? She was not a very suspicious figure, though. But before that, the key was how Tessa met the Marchioness. No matter how he looked at them, they didn’t seem to have anything to connect them.

“The Marchioness lives in isolation in a spire. Without one to interact with. But how does she know Tessa?”

“She was one of the husband’s wives, so they must have known of each other’s existence. They said this was their second meeting and it didn’t seem like the Marchioness really wanted anything and approached Tessa.”

“…I know. What could she get from her if she approached her…”

It was Tessa who still acted like a person who had lost her lifeline. Although she was treated more luxuriously here than anyone else, Tessa acted like someone who would be thrown out at any time. At one point, she believed in Hert and was likely to ask for something from the employees, but instead she still bowed her head to them.

‘What the hell are you thinking with that little head?’

He thought she was clever, but now when he came back, there was no one as foolish as her. It was like that with every action she did. What kind of noble lady showed respect to the employees and bowed her head? Hert sighed and narrowed his brows.

‘Haa, I’m going to die from all this worrying…’

Hert put the papers down and stood up. Lange looked at him as if asking where he was going, and then his face changed to a no-nonsense look.

“I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.”

“Then are you saying that I am telling a lie, sir?”

Lange was at a loss for words at his brazen superior’s actions. He can just plainly say he wanted to see her. Hert would not want to say that for his pride, so Lange just pitied his innocent self who was working hard under him who was the most terrible superior in the world. His sense of betrayal was overwhelming. He can’t believe he received this kind of treatment after a year of devoting himself to working under him.

“You are doing too much. If you are going, take a look at the rest before you go!”

“…Why don’t you just give up and stick with this all day?”

Lange groaned in a low voice. He was prepared to hear what he said. But Hert’s reaction was blunt. He put on his coat and muttered a little.

“In my mind, I want to, but…”

“I don’t think I can stand it.”

‘What can’t you stand…?’

“Anyway, after this, you can just take care of it and finish it properly.”

Hert strode out of his office.

Lange, who was eventually left alone in the office, dropped his forehead into his hands. These days, he was shocked to see another side of his superior. The dog of Marquis of Borwen, whose name makes people tremble when they hear his name, was now acting like this at the mere mention of that woman…

‘I should have taken a step back when he threw away some kind of sweets as a present in the morning.’

Lange was seriously wondering if he has to cling to Tessa as a lifeline from now on.

Not Knowing The Betrayal Of That Day

Chapter 41

Four days have passed since Young Marquis Jutert disappeared. No trace of Ferdale could be found anywhere. As the number of soldiers recruited to the search team increased little by little every day, everyone naturally kept quiet and was careful about their actions. The atmosphere in the Jutert estate was gradually sinking like that.

Except for one place.

“Oh my God, Tessa! Look at this. Isn’t that really amazing? It is something that cannot be easily obtained even in the royal capital. No, wait… This is the newest of all new things! I didn’t expect to see it here. Tessa, how about this? I think it would suit Tessa as well.”

Tessa looked around the room with a puzzled expression on her face. The entire parlor was filled with luxury goods carried by merchants. It was the first time she had seen such a sight, and she was not accustomed to all this. Why was this happening for her?

It started that day. The day she woke up in a room inside the castle, not in a room in the annex. From that day on, things began to unfold for Tessa in ways that she could not understand.

The maids who attended Tessa grew from three or four, including Mani. Then, at least once a day she dined with Hert. Everyone in the castle treated her with respect.

That wasn’t all. Today, many merchants, such as shopkeepers and fabric dealers, came to the Jutert Castle for Tessa. And now, even Janet is out to help Tessa to advise her.

However, rather than advising Tessa, Janet seemed to be thrilled with the objects and fabrics that filled the room.

“Oh my God, this is a trendy fabric. It was brought in from the East, and these days, it goes well in the royal capital, right? I heard that it is difficult to obtain because the quantity is limited.”

Janet said in a slightly louder voice, holding up a wide open cloth. At this, the owner of the textile shop, who was waiting next to her, bowed his head and responded.

“Oh my, you have a great eye. You know right away. Yes, it is the fabric that is sweeping the royal road these days. As you said, the quantity is limited, so not everyone can have it. How hard it took us to get one too. I’m so moved to know that you are aware of this.”

Janet immediately waved the cloth to Tessa.

“Tessa, why don’t you use this to match your outfit? It’d be a good fit for Tessa too. The fabric itself is not heavy and light, so it is suitable to wear when the days are good.”

“…I don’t know, I’m fine…”

“I assure you, yellow and bright colors are perfect for Tessa. You will definitely regret it if you miss it. Let’s look at this cloth…”

Janet looked at the items with a hawk’s eye. She was looking for accessories to wear with the clothes made later. Then she picked out the green emerald earrings and a necklace.

Small diamonds were tightly wrapped around an emerald to make those water drop earrings, and the necklace was a large square emerald hung on a line of diamonds. They looked pretty expensive.

“This is how you will wear it. You look just like a spring fairy.”

“No, Madam! It’s a really great match. It’s a combination I never imagined for my eyes. If you do it exactly as the wife said, it will be very beautiful.”

The merchant who had come to sell the jewelry quickly helped Janet. But Tessa couldn’t nod her head easily. She has not been able to accept this situation for a while, so where does she have the mind to choose and decide on clothes and accessories? It wasn’t Tessa who even paid for these things. It was Hert.

Due to the disappearance of the Young Marquis, it was impossible to sit here and spend Hert’s money favorably where the atmosphere was not good. Not only she doesn’t have the value or qualification for that, Tessa didn’t have that kind of experience in the first place. It wasn’t something she could make an easy decision about.

As Tessa’s complexion hardened and her expression grimaced, Janet tilted her head.

“You don’t like it? Shall we choose something else then?”

“Tessa too. At times like this. You just have to choose them all. That’s why this event was made.”

Janet walked up to Tessa and, with a knowing expression, she whispered softly in her ear.

“What are you hesitating about? It was sent by His Excellency. Why are you trying to refuse? So, you have to pick as many as you can.”

“But, Janet. For me, this…”

“You’re taking too long. It takes a lot of time to choose a fabric, to measure it, and to choose the right piece of items. So go ahead and choose. I’m sure Tessa has a taste too.”

Janet pointed to Tessa at a bunch of fabrics and items, and she smiled. But Tessa couldn’t smile as easily as she did. She was only pushed by the emptiness.

What is all this?

‘Hert… What are you thinking?’

Hert has been really weird lately. Not only had he been so kind, but he was also treating Tessa like a noblewoman. How ironic. Why would he spare no expense for the woman who betrayed him.

Even Tessa was being treated like a lady for the first time since coming here.

It is the deceased Marquis Jutert who officially gave her the name of a lady, but it was Hert, the one who killed her old husband, who’s giving her the treatment.

Anyone who knew nothing of the way Tessa was being treated would think that she was the Madam here. She couldn’t really explain it other than that. Thanks to this, even the merchants who came to this place called Tessa ‘Madam’.

‘You didn’t have to do this…’

In fact, what happened today started with a small incident.

For the past few days, Tessa has been resting on her bed, relaxing, not needing to dress up in anything other than her pajamas. Only today did she get Kennis’ permission to move so she could get out of bed.

But when Hert saw Tessa dressed in her clothes, he frowned.

‘Are those the only clothes you have?’

At first, Tessa did not understand Hert’s question. Because the clothes she was wearing were no different. It wasn’t pretty, ​​but these were the clothes she usually wore.

But suddenly today, Hert, who came to eat with Tessa, saw her attire and asked. Then he called the maids, pulled out all of Tessa’s clothes, and gave a look of exasperation.

‘What about that outfit last time?’

‘…Janet, no, it was lent by another wife…’

‘What about yours?’

‘Damn it, buy your clothes now. No, I have to tell them to prepare everything.’

So that’s how it happened. Hert even called Janet to help Tessa.

Tessa looked down at Janet’s clothes, which she borrowed in haste instead of her own to wear today. It was not a dress with jewels and gold embroidery like the last time, but it was an expensive dress made by meticulously stitching high-quality fabrics.

However, since it was not hers, the clothes did not fit well in some places, so it was uncomfortable, and she felt like she was wearing something she shouldn’t be wearing.

Most of all, didn’t Hert say it with his own mouth that day?

He said, ‘Next time, don’t come wearing clothes like this.’

Tessa fiddled her fingers. She was not used to this kind of situation. It didn’ suit her. If it was possible for her to just get out of the place, then she would have done so over and over again.

It still was. She wanted to leave everything to Janet and run away. She thought Janet would be a better fit for this position than her.

Janet decided to take the reins from Tessa, who wouldn’t speak and just kept her head down. Otherwise, she would be sluggish and nothing would happen. She was strongly told by the new lord.

“Tessa, if you keep not choosing anything like that, I’m going to buy everything I want. I could buy all of these things right here. Then, no matter how much I try, it will cost His Lordship a lot of money.”

It was a lie. There was no way that the man’s property would be shaken by buying all the things in this place. Janet knew that the wealth he racked up under Marquis Borwen was comparable to that of the household. Moreover, even counting the Jutert family wealth that he had this time, it was a staggering wealth.

Mentioning Hert, the effect was great. Janet laughed to herself as Tessa’s eyes widened and she quickly fidgeted.

“So, don’t sit still and choose. There are so many fabrics, shouldn’t we at least make one dress that Tessa wants?”

At Janet’s words, Tessa couldn’t help but nod her head. If it’s just one… She knew, in fact, that even if she said she wouldn’t, Janet wasn’t one who would give up. If so, she’d be better off at least choosing the one that’s likely to cost less.

‘Yes, let’s pick just one.’

Tessa didn’t want to use Hert’s money. His money would just be wasted on her. How could she use his hard-earned money? To her, a traitor, just feeding her and putting her to sleep should be enough. He didn’t have to spend money like this.

As Tessa picked out one of the most common fabrics, Janet shook her head resolutely.

“No, it’s not good quality or color.”

“You think I don’t know what you’ve chosen from the one in front of you? What do you mean that’s what you want! Choose again, again!”

It was Janet, who immediately understood Tessa’s intentions to end this situation by choosing anything cheap. Janet picked out only the things that were pleasing to her and pushed them in front of Tessa. So Tessa chose the most basic ones no matter which one she looked at.

Shouldn’t it be at least just the most basic one? She also has a face as the advisor.

Tessa looked at Janet, picked a fabric that looked as cheap as possible, and put it down again.

Not Knowing The Betrayal Of That Day

Chapter 40

“Let’s not talk. What am I going to say to Lady?”

In the end, Lange raised the white flag first. From the night he had been tormented by this woman, his bones started hurting so badly. He got up from his seat. He wanted to get away from this woman as soon as possible.

“Besides, don’t come to me so suddenly like this. People will get it wrong when they see it. What are you going to explain if there are rumors later?”

“Well, should I say that I have an affair with you?”

“I beg your pardon?”

At Janet’s absurd reply, Lange furrowed his brows. What the hell was this woman talking about? Seeing Lange’s expression, Janet smiled as if she was really pleased, pulling up the corners of her lips.

“It’s a joke. A joke. Like the past and now, Sir is not susceptible to jokes.”

“Stop talking like that, even if it’s a joke. How unpleasant. I’m not even your nanny to play with.”

“Because you’re really sensitive. I just joked about it once. But isn’t it pretty good? After all, I think everyone will be deceived if there are strange rumors that I’m also sleeping around.”

At Janet’s sly reply, Lange gasped in laughter. Was that supposed to be a joke? Absolutely not. From now on, he would lay the groundwork in advance. Because that woman was good at that kind of work. But that didn’t mean he should just stumble over it.

“Don’t make me out to be unscrupulous. I will be like the scum who covets someone else’s wife—”

“Oh, are you cursing your superior right now?”

Lange bit his mouth quickly. Seeing it, Janet burst into laughter. It’s said that the enemy of a man is another man, that’s scary. Lange’s fists trembled at her sarcasm.

But he admitted that he had just gone too far. Because the scum he was talking about was his superior. As long as his superior was such a man, he shouldn’t have said that.

‘What’s wrong with Sir…!’

Lange turned his back, resenting Hert for not being here. Anyway, he was thinking of leaving this place. Otherwise, he will be swayed by Janet as he did before. But as he walked, he heard a voice calling for him.

“You know, Geoffrey.”

“What else is this time?”

“Isn’t it more convenient to say that we’re sleeping together?”

Janet smiled and pointed to a man in the distance. There’s an old saying that went like this—speak of the devil and he shall appear. While Lange was still beside Janet, Hert saw them together and was quickly approaching this way. Lange put a hand on his forehead unknowingly and let out a sigh.

When Hert hadn’t returned for a long time, Tessa nodded her head, then fell asleep. The room was full of sunlight, and it was warm even without a big fire, and as she lay down after eating, her body became tired and she fell asleep.

Tessa had a dream related to the past. After her reunion with Hert, she dreams of the memories of her past more and more frequently.

In her dream, Tessa was walking in the field. A green field of colorful flowers over the hill at the back of the orphanage was where Tessa often went to play, avoiding the eyes of the teachers.

Of course, there was also the young boy, Hert, in the field.

‘Her, isn’t this flower so pretty?’

‘This pink flower!’

Tessa pointed her finger at a flower under her feet. Where she pointed, a small pink flower was in full bloom. Tessa started crouching down and looking at the flowers. When she lightly tapped the petals with her fingertips, the flowers swayed as if they were dancing.

‘How did it get here? It’s a flower I’ve never seen in this area.’

‘It must have come with the wind. The seeds are light and get blown in the wind.’

‘Is it like that? No, the bird might have brought it. There are many ways seeds can travel the world!’

‘Yes, it might be as you say.’

Perhaps because she liked the pink flower, but Tessa looked at it for a long time. Hert waited patiently for Tessa.

A cool wind blew. Under the clear sky without a single cloud, the two looked at the leaves of grass moving in the wind.

‘Her, you know. Sometimes I think that we’re also like seeds.’

‘…What are you talking about?’

‘We came here after traveling like seeds too. Just as this flower settled here, sprouted, and finally bloomed, we also flowed to Fitzgerald Orphanage, settled down and sprouted. And if we wait patiently, won’t the day come when flowers bloom?’

At Tessa’s words, she could feel Hert smirking. What, why was he smiling? Tessa turned her head to look at Hert, and he answered slowly.

‘I really hope so.’

At that, Tessa laughed softly. Then she brushed off her skirt and stood up and held out her hand to Hert.

‘Let’s walk a little more. The weather is so nice today!’

Hert did not refuse. He smiled softly, as if in response to Tessa, as he took her outstretched hand and stood up. She felt the warmth of his hand clasping her.

The girl and the boy roamed the whole field, laughing and chatting eagerly. They even made wreaths to cover each other’s heads.

Tessa, who was looking up at the blue sky, suddenly spoke.

‘Her, what do you want to become when we grow up?’

The answer did not come soon. Hert looked up at the sky with a thoughtful expression on his face. Then he answered as if he had made up his mind.

‘…A knight. I will become a knight and protect the people I love.’

‘That’s really cool? You look like a knight from a fairy tale.’

At Hert’s question, Tessa smiled as if she was happy just thinking about it.

‘Um, I… I just want to become an adult quickly. So I will leave this orphanage and live in a small house on my own terms.’

‘No, of course I’m going to live with you, right?’

Tessa turned her head to meet Hert, who was lying right next to her. You are my best friend. I wish we could live together. At Tessa’s words, Hert smiled softly.

‘Yes, let’s live like that.’

A soft voice. The lightly folded eyebrows were gentle, and the blonde hair reflected in the sunlight gleamed dazzlingly. His eyes were as pure and clear as if she was looking at the one and only jewel in the world.

Unknowingly, Tessa reached out to Hert.

But before Hert could even reach her, she gradually drifted away into darkness. It was a sign that the dream was coming to an end. Tessa was saddened.

Even though she knew it was a dream, she wanted to stay there a little longer. She wanted to go back to the time when everything was happy. But she knows she can’t.

Tessa woke up to the touch of someone touching her. In the darkened room, she saw Hert caressing her cheek. She woke up and called his name.

“Yes, it’s me, Tessa.”

“Why, did you meet me in your dreams?”

At Hert’s quiet tone, Tessa closed her eyes again and nodded her head. Yes, you were there. Her pronunciation mumbles and flows haphazardly out of her mouth. Even so, Hert slowly nodded his head as if he understood Tessa’s words and tidied Tessa’s hair.

“What was your dream?”

“Long ago… A dream where we played in the field…”

“It’s a good dream.”

The man’s hand was smooth and gentle, which made her feel good. Tessa gave her body to the hand and smiled a little without realizing it. It really feels like going back to that time. On a thundering day, Hert stroked her hair like this…

Tessa recalled the warm and gentle boy and called to him.

The man’s hand stopped, but Tessa continued her words.

“I’m really sorry…”

“Looking back, I… think I had… done nothing… for you. I’m sorry…”

She sold such a man as a slave through her ignorance. What should she do with this? Her tears were about to come out of her eyes.

Half-asleep, Tessa continued to say sorry to him, while she had no idea what she was talking about. But it will be fine. Because this will be a dream, too

Now Hert wasn’t the one to come into her room and stroke her hair. So this had to be a dream.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep it…”

Her tears flowed and wet her pillow. Tessa then let out a small cry. When Hert appeared in her dream like this, Tessa couldn’t hold back her weeping. She kept getting reminded that she had messed everything up. And it broke her heart that she could never go back when she was happy.

‘Yes, let’s live like that.’

As Hert said, she really wanted to live that way. He becomes a knight, and she gets a small house and lives there with him.

She didn’t want more. Just one thing. She just wanted that. But why has she become like this now?

She didn’t want gold and silver treasures and power like others, but her life was a mess.

Maybe it was because the desire to live with Hert was overflowing. Or did she want happiness like everyone else when she was just an orphan abandoned by her parents?

She doesn’t know which of the two. Because there was no one to answer her question in the first place. So it was even more sad. She’d rather have given up sooner if someone told her…

Tessa wept for a while, then fell asleep again.

Her vision went dark. She was still there, within the darkness.

Not Knowing The Betrayal Of That Day

Chapter 43

“It seems like it’s going well between you and His Excellency.”

“No. The Lord and I… There’s nothing…”

“That again. It can’t be nothing. If there’s really nothing between you, then he wouldn’t be so nice. They say you eat together at the castle. And sleep together.”

Tessa suddenly blushed when she heard that he was sleeping with her. As Janet said, for the past few days, Tessa and Hert have been sharing the same bed. Because Hert naturally came to her room and hugged her and fell asleep.

Because of this, Tessa often couldn’t sleep because of the man’s hot, hard chest that she felt behind her back. Because she suddenly did not know Hert’s intentions by starting to sleep with her.

“Can I wait for the good news soon?”

Tessa asked quietly at Janet, who smiled like a playful shepherd boy.

“But, Janet. Why am I… Do you think I will get along with the lord? The lord can hold another woman at any time… It’s just—”

“It’s not going to happen.”

Tessa lifted her crouched head in response to the very resolute reply. When their eyes met, Janet hurriedly excused herself.

“Oh, it’s just a feeling. And you’re a charming person, Tessa. If I had been a man, I would have adored you.”

At Janet’s words, Tessa looked at the teacup. Lies. There’s no way he could love a traitor. That… Because it’s really stupid.

Despite Janet’s call, Tessa was silent for a long time.

Her heart was pounding and her voice was not coming out.

* * *
When Hert arrived at the outskirts of Jutert’s estate, he couldn’t shake the thought that he had returned to the atmosphere of the village.

After leaving the detailed investigation to his subordinates, he climbed the highest observation deck in the village and looked around the village as a whole. It was a quiet town. It was also a small town with nothing special about it.

Hert quietly looked at the ridge beyond the setting sun. It took him more time than expected. At this rate, it will be night when he’d return to the castle. He didn’t say he would be late, but it’ll be fine. He muttered to himself unknowingly.

Although the investigation has been narrowed down over the last several days, it’s still not easy to find the insider traitor who supposedly helped the Young Marquis escape.

So it was even stranger. The Young Marquis and the traitor were just like ghosts. Such neat work was not common. Thanks to that, he thought it was like a well-crafted puzzle aimed at him.

Hert looked down at the whole village and narrowed his brow. Then he saw the villagers going about normally as they would in the evening, and he stood there for a long time and looked down at the hamlet. He felt strange that there was a time when he wanted such an ordinary life.

As time passed and even the sky became dark, a movement appeared from behind.

“It’s Mogen Bosch, sir, and here’s my report. Confirmation of the villagers has been completed. There was nothing special or suspicious. What are your next orders?”

“…Could it be a lie?”

“It doesn’t appear to be.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Without hesitation, Hert turned his back and started going down the observation deck.

He hated to admit it, but by this point, it was safe to say that the Young Marquis had already left the domain. But in what way? Few were able to run away without a trace like this. It was clear that there was an escape expert next to the marquis. And in general, such escape experts are usually…

Hert, who came down, was trying to get on the horse, but found something and stopped. Mogen, who was following him, asked.

“Is something the matter?”

“Hey, do you have any money?”

Hert looked back at Mogen and asked.

Hert extorted money from Mogen and approached a street vendor. What the merchant was selling were small, colorful sweets. It is a traditional snack of the Messieaux Kingdom, and it was a snack that was often seen in the streets. It was also something that caught his attention earlier.

“Give me everything you’re selling.”

Throwing the gold coin to the merchant, Hert bought all the sweets on the stand. The merchant smiled and took the gold coin.

Hert thought for a moment as he watched the merchants diligently packing the sweets.

‘I hope you like it.’

In fact, Hert didn’t like sweets very much. Rather, it was Tessa who liked sweet treats. All these sweets the merchant was selling were also Tessa’s favorites.

‘Her, how great would it be if I could eat snacks all day long?’

‘One is just too sad! When I become an adult later, I will eat a lot of snacks.’

Since their days at the orphanage, Tessa has been unable to eat sweets. She said it was her dream, which he heard shortly after they met, to live in a house made of sweets.

So, Hert sometimes gave Tessa a snack that was his share. It was good to see Tessa eating deliciously.

‘She’s still very skinny. I have to keep feeding her.’

Hert thought of Tessa’s body as she was exposed to bones. Every night he slept with her in his arms, he was very concerned about her slender body.

This time, Hert intended for her to gain weight as much as possible. That way, she won’t pass out easily. Her face will be brighter than it is now.

Then she may not say that she was going to die.

In the documents posted by the non-commissioned officer Lange, there was a detailed report on how Tessa had been treated within the territory for the past seven years.

When Hert first saw it he denied the truth behind Tessa’s past. But after seeing the scars on her back, he had no choice but to believe it. Those wounds were the marks of being beaten by others. Self-harm could never inflict such scars.

‘If you were sold and became a noble lady, you should be living well…’

After he gave up on this denial, Hert grew furious. The traitor who sold her was actually severely abused over a long period of time. He didn’t like it, it was ridiculous. And it was driving him crazy.

So he had no choice but to go to Lange and ask again. Are the things listed in this document correct?

Lange said it was. Another wife who was with her also spoke with him. No, she told Hert very precisely and in detail about Tessa’s situation.

She spoke of how badly the Young Marquis Jutert had tormented her.

‘So thank you, Your Excellency. You saved her. You saved Tessa from that abuse.’

After that, his recollection faded. Hert suddenly entered the room with Tessa, and he was stroking her cheek as she slept. And there he heard Tessa say sorry to him.

Hert had a tingling in his throat again and didn’t say anything.

He couldn’t speak.

Hert made sure that Tessa was asleep again and quietly left the room. And he sent a letter to Marquis Borwen. There must have been something the damn woman didn’t tell him.

Of course, just because Tessa had been abused for seven years didn’t mean Hert forgave her. It was true that she sold him, and for the past seven years she had suffered enough to die just like her, too.

It was just… A little consideration. He wants her to live.

Hert returned to Mogen’s place with the sweets the merchant had packed. Mogen made a strange expression as he looked at the appearance of his superior who kept sweets in his arms.

“What are you doing? Let’s go.”

Hert mounted his horse. At that, his men and soldiers also rode on their respective horses.

Mani said as she combed Tessa’s hair. She knew who Mani was referring to. Tessa looked out the window without saying a word. The sky was pitch black outside. Hert, who left in the morning, did not return until late in the evening. It was now midnight. It was natural for her to be worried.

After brushing her hair with the balm and tidying her hair, Mani put the comb into a drawer and added her words.

“Don’t worry too much. He will be back soon.”

Because Hert was strong. Tessa groaned inside, as if to comfort herself. Hert was a strong man. So he came back alive from the many deaths and hell, and he reappeared before her. So today, he would arrive safely and appear in front of her. He was just late today.

“Just lie down. You must have been very tired from Mrs. Bellodem’s torments all day.”

“…Mani, it’s, ah, nothing.”

As Tessa lay on the bed, Mani backed away leaving the minimal light behind. Thanks to that, Tessa was the only one in the room with the soft candles flickering.

It felt strange to be alone in this spacious bed after sharing a bed with Hert for the past few days.

‘If Hert can just return quickly…’

The dark night was becoming the most awaited time of the day for Tessa. It was the time when she’d fall asleep with Hert.

In fact, Tessa was busy thinking about Hert all day. The actions he was showing to her and the circumstances that resulted from it. Everything about it was perfect for her to misunderstand, which made Tessa chew on Hert’s actions and words no matter what he did.

No matter how many times she thought to not do it, after a while she was blank and she was busy thinking about Hert and misunderstanding.

What if he really had feelings for her?

But wasn’t that absurd?

Hert could just be doing it simply out of sympathy for her. It had been a while since Hert had noticed the scars on her back. She actually had no way to keep hiding it. Now they use one bed every night, how much longer could she have hidden it?

Not Knowing The Betrayal Of That Day

Chapter 49

“Actually, the documents and contracts there are just tricks. An external cause, or something like that. They just… They were only used as part of a large watch. Can you become a gladiator slave just from one contract? It’s funny.”

“Then you mean it was planned?”

“If the goal was simply to enslave him, why would they make it complicated? If they just sneak up on him and throw him in, it’s over.”

Beatrice lifted the curtain that was covering the window and looked at a dimly lit building in the distance. Not yet? She fixed her gaze and continued her words. The cigar in her hand was burning little by little.

“You still remember the arena five years ago?”

“Yes. Lee walked right there to catch Duke Callahas’ tail. Didn’t you meet your knight there too, Lee?”

“I remember well. At that time, the arena was lending money to several nobles. Behind it, an illegal slave auction was secretly held. Evil bastards. Anyway, one of them was Baron Settebien, a vassal of Duke Callahas.”

The Marquis’s words made the man let out a short ‘ah!’. It was because of the vague connection of why things had come to that point.

“At that time, Baron Settebien lost a large portion of his business and was forced to sell his famous daughter for them to eat…”

“One of the investors in the business was Marquis Jutert.”

“Yes. If he could not repay his debts within a short period of time the perverted Marquis demanded that the Baron give up his daughter… I mean, the Baron loved his family more than anyone thought, so he started looking for a girl of that age with red hair and green eyes and sent her on behalf of her daughter.”

“…But if something like that is discovered, there is a greater risk than what the Baron will lose.”

“There are always loopholes in contracts. Maquis Jutert asked for the daughter of Baron Settebien, but he did not exactly specify the name of the Lady in the contract. And when did the old man have time to look into the Lady’s face? She was rumored to be pretty, so he just mentioned to send his daughter. In fact, he wouldn’t even have known about her. The Baron could not pay the debt. Anyway… Because they are a bunch of morons.”

Giggling, Beatrice put a cigar to her lips. Huu, once again, a hazy smoke filled the carriage.

The man looked at the Marquis and the papers alternately. Those documents were the contracts signed by Hert Shine and Tessa Jutert from seven years ago, unbeknownst to others.

“Anyway… As a substitute for the Baro’s daughter, this girl was caught. She was unlucky. After all, she’s an orphan, so it won’t bite them in the back later. But there is one unexpected problem. There’s this one guy that was stuck with the girl every day. He even uses his sword so well that he looks forward to the future.”

“From there, things started to get interesting. The Baron needed the girl, and he needed the money. So what to do? It’s a big catch. What a strike. He has to grab it fast, don’t you think?”

“…It’s a cruel story.”

Seeing the contract stamped with a red mark symbolizing slavery, the man muttered lowly. On the other hand, the Marquis just laughed as if it was funny. The world was a kaleidoscope, easy to see on the outside but actually hard to understand. Beatrice exhaled smoke and raised one corner of her mouth.

“That’s how they were deceived…”

“It’s better to make him move on his own feet with an appropriate excuse. For the substitute for his daughter, the product must be clean and good. Later, he’ll have to keep her mouth shut that she’s a substitute. It’s easier to use and throw her away if he gently coaxes her or catches her weakness so that she doesn’t even think about revenge. It should always be done neatly.”

The last words sounded like they had some power. The Marquis put the cigar to her lips again. Her dark gray eyes sank heavily. For that reason, the man opened his mouth, trying not to look at the woman’s face as much as possible.

“So the woman was deceived and sent as a substitute for the Baron’s daughter, and the man misunderstood and thought that the woman was the one who sent him off to be a gladiator slave?”

“Correct. It seems like there was a small instance of miscommunication in the middle… Well, the result was the picture the Baron wanted. Was it too bad? But what can they do? What could a girl who was only seventeen years old at the time do? Even if she had been deceived, she had already sold herself to the Baron, and even her best friend was taken as a gladiator slave. There is nothing one can do alone in the place where everyone had planned it so. The Baron would have wanted it like that.”

Baron Settebien must have been happy that things went smoothly. Not only did he pick up an orphan similar to his daughter, launder her identity and make her a substitute, but he also got an additional orphan, an orphan without any problem, and sold him the arena to earn money.

The Marquis glanced at the contract in the woman’s hand. The red fingerprints that appear to be Hert’s handprints were clearly stamped on the bottom of the contract. Stupid bastard. Why did you let your thumbprint be taken? You should have kept it safe even when you’re asleep. Beatrice laughed at Hert.

The contract was an external cause, but that did not mean that it had no legal effect. Above all, the documents prepared by the baron’s broker to make Hert a gladiator slave were neat and perfect.

A slave contract with his finger stamped on it, a document with the seal of an acquaintance who endorsed him—Tessa—and a certificate from the head of an orphanage who has been recognized for her social status, and even the seal of the local lord who allowed this to happen.

On the surface, there were no problems with the documents.

It was the same with Tessa’s case. The baron’s broker prepared the documents and formally adopted Tessa to the Settebien Barony as well. There was no problem because it was common for nobles who supported orphanages to collect orphans and use them as consumables for military service or other things.

‘Of course, after a while, the orphanage was completely destroyed and the traces were erased.’

The Marquis snorted inside, thinking about the childhood of the two people who had neatly disappeared from this world.

Then the man asked with a questionable voice.

“By the way, did Marquis Jutert stand still, knowing that it was a substitute for the Baron’s daughter? I think the old man must have gone wild because of his strict noble nature.”

“Ah, that. The Baron is dead, so it’s just a dog chasing a chicken. The duke, who was afraid that his tail might be caught because it was about the arena, suddenly killed Baron Settebien. After all, isn’t it just a loss? Even if she was a substitute for the Baron’s daughter, as that woman entered as the second wife, most of the Baron’s business had gotten absorbed into the Jutert Marquisate.”

Because of this, Marquis Jutert could not expel Tessa even though he knew she was a substitute. Because Tessa’s presence was needed to take over the Baron’s business.

After all, the castle was wide and it wouldn’t have been a problem to remove one woman from his eyes, so it wasn’t too much of a loss. So he would have overlooked his son’s abuse of women.

Beatrice put a cigar to her lips.

“Isn’t it amazing? That it was connected in this way. After all, it’s at the arena that he and I met.”

“…You’re so naughty, Lee.”

“So as soon as I found that woman, I sent someone to protect her.”

“You didn’t tell him right away. From what you’ve said so far.”

“We were in the middle of a war at the time. You want me to let go of the best bastard on the battlefield? And I was definitely trying to give him a clue. He was the first to leave without listening.”

At that moment, Beatrice raised her index finger and brought it to his lips. The man held his breath and followed the Marquise looking out the window. A light was on in a building that had just been turned off. The two shared their eyes at the same time. Beatrice rubbed the cigar on the floor and put it out.

* * *
On the way back, there was no word between the two of them. Tessa just looked down with her reddened eyes. Today, she finally thought that Hert must have gotten tired of her.

She has already shut her mouth to his question several times, including today. His patience must have run out in no time. Even if he himself is frustrated, how much more can he do?

Tessa bit her lower lip. She raised her nails and began to pinch the back of her hand. She promised that she would not die, but it was difficult to bear the feeling of shame that poured out every time this moment came. She just wanted to disappear from the world as soon as possible. Stupid. Tessa could barely hold back the tears that were about to rise.

‘Why are you crying again? Did you do anything right for you to…’

She felt her chest tighten. It was hard for Tessa to accept that she was the only one when everything had changed.

The old husband and the Young Marquis disappeared and Hert returned, and she thought that she had to change too, but the problem was that she was constantly complacent with reality and wanted to ignore the remaining problems.

It was absurdly stupid. She must have been the only woman this incompetent and stupid. She thought she knew why the people in the castle had turned away from her.

Tessa hated herself so much.

At that moment, Hert, who was going ahead, abruptly stopped walking. Tessa almost stopped and bumped her nose as she didn’t see him stop in his tracks.

Tessa was startled and looked up at Hert carefully. His blue eyes had faded from exhaustion for a moment. Upon seeing it, Tessa’s heart ached.

“Keep doing that. Keep it all in and don’t speak.”

Then, as if determined to do something with her, Hert reached out towards Tessa and grabbed her cheek. Then his contorted face was revealed. Tessa faced Hert with anxious eyes.

“Instead, promise me this one thing.”

“Never betray me again.”

Hert barely put one of the things he had been thinking about all the way into his mouth. He kept thinking and thinking. Because of that, his throat was tingling and it was difficult to speak.

Couldn’t she tell him that she felt this way too? Hert gently caressed Tessa’s face with a trembling hand.

“If you promise me that…”

“I will try to forget what happened between me and you seven years ago.”

Of course it won’t be easy. He would never be able to forget it all.

But for some reason, Hert wanted to do that. Otherwise, he thought he would regret it. This moment now.