ELND Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Even If I Have to Risk Everything

“A chance to stand by my side…?”

I asked cautiously.

It wasn’t just the butler’s seat he was referring to—I had a strong feeling it meant something more.

Adrian’s gaze deepened as he looked at me.

“If it were me, I would never leave Your Highness lonely.”

“Adrian…”

“I can make you happier than you can even remember from your failed marriage.”

At that, Adrian lowered his head slightly, as if emotions had surged.

After a moment of steadying himself, he looked back at me and spoke firmly.

“…Even if I have to risk everything.”

It was so Adrian—gentle, polite, and sincere.

In his deep blue-violet eyes, I could feel his genuine emotion.

We locked eyes for a while, silently. But eventually, I slowly shook my head, looking downward.

When I lifted my gaze again, a bitter smile had already spread across Adrian’s lips.

“……I see.”

He muttered, and then slowly opened his lips again.

“May I ask why?”

After sending Adrian off, I was left alone, staring blankly at the pond.

His words kept echoing in my ears.

The more I thought about it, the more questions popped up in my mind and vanished again.

Has Adrian really cared for me all this time?

I had thought it was just admiration for his master—but when did it become this…?

Was it because of my guilt over the divorce?

I didn’t have a clear answer to that, but one thing was certain.

He wanted to stand by my side not as a butler, but as a lover.

“…….”

For someone like me, who had to survive alone in this unfamiliar world after leaving this city, Adrian’s offer was truly a blessing.

And he was too good for me—a genuinely wonderful man.

He was charming and endlessly kind to me.

Perhaps Adrian was the only person who could heal the wounds left by my husband’s betrayal in my previous life.

So why had I rejected him?

“It wouldn’t matter who it is, not just Adrian. For now… I don’t want to seriously think about anyone but myself.”

Remembering that inner thought, I involuntarily shook my head.

Even as I listened to his confession, imagined a future with him, and then rejected his offer…

Ridiculous as it was, Cedric’s face kept popping into my mind.

I wondered what expression Cedric would make if he saw the current situation.

Did I feel meaningless guilt toward a husband-in-name-only?

I laughed at myself.

“Cedric wouldn’t care who I’m with anyway.”

He had grown weary of Rebecca.

Of course, after the divorce and pretending to be a showy couple, Cedric had been a bit more lenient with me.

But that was merely out of courtesy toward his ex-wife.

I had no intention of letting myself get distracted by his kindness and ruin things.

“Don’t get sentimental. The most important thing is surviving in this world.”

Repeating that to myself, I immediately turned away from the pond.

As I walked from the courtyard toward the garden, I resolved to consider Adrian’s offer positively.

It was far better than lingering over a husband who spat at me.

“Adrian also said to take some time and think about it again…”

I shook my head at my tangled thoughts and continued walking.

I happened to be on a narrow path beside the mansion, a secluded walkway from the backyard to the garden—perfect for solitary reflection.

Pausing to listen to birds singing atop the trees, I was about to continue when a shadow fell across my dress.

“…Who is it?”

Looking up to identify the figure, my face twisted in dismay.

“Why are you… here?”

“This… it’s been a while, Rebecca.”

The Duke Bold’s lips curved into a vile smile.

“You’ve been making me burn up inside…”

“……”

“You’ve been strolling so leisurely, enjoying yourself, huh?”

Through the slanted eyes of Duke Bold passed a distasteful, sinister glint.

A strong scent of alcohol emanated from him.

I frowned. Duke Bold pressed his palms together and blew air through his mouth, chuckling.

“Ah, the smell of alcohol really hits even from here.”

“……”

“I drank a little on the way. Meeting someone as remarkable as you made me nervous.”

I let out a quiet scoff at his malicious smile.

“Quite a sight.”

“……”

“And it suits you well, too. As if you’ve always lived like this in the backstreets.”

At my words, Duke Bold’s eyes sharpened.

He glared at me with full hostility. After a long moment, he let out a hollow laugh.

“When you clung to my leg begging, now you become the head of a grand family and mock my origins.”

“If that’s all you ever taught me, then it’s natural.”

“……What?”

“No matter how much you are my daughter, if you were of no use, you’d be discarded immediately. That’s what Father always told me.”

“……”

“So you’re not suddenly appealing to family bonds now, are you?”

“……”

“Then truly, truly… I’d be disappointed.”

Sneering, I watched Duke Bold flush with anger.

I quickly masked my amusement and glared at him.

“I told you clearly—not to show up here on your own.”

Clenching his teeth, Duke Bold exhaled a long breath, forcing himself to suppress his anger.

Then he smirked.

“Right… appealing to family bonds, huh? I couldn’t even show such a pathetic side.”

“……”

“I never had that kind of paternal affection for you anyway.”

A vile smile spread across his face.

His eyes showed the truth behind his words—cold, empty, devoid of any emotion.

“Therefore, I must take what I am owed.”

“Take what you’re owed?”

His words began to irritate me.

Frowning, I asked, and he raised his eyebrows with a brazen smile.

“Oh, Rebecca. You act as if you’ve forgotten our agreement.”

“……”

“You’ve forgotten what you promised to give me in exchange for becoming the wife of the Duke Twins?”

Duke Bold’s eyes gleamed wildly as he stepped toward me like a madman.

At the same time, in the Grand Duchess’ wing corridor.

With Rebecca absent, the chambermaids of the Grand Duchess’ wing, avoiding the head maid’s watch, were quietly laughing together.

“By the way, the servants of the House of Light…”

“Ugh, those arrogant brats! So annoying.”

At the mention of the House of Light’s servants, one maid immediately complained.

There was an unspoken rivalry between the servants of the two houses.

The servants of the House of Darkness called those of the House of Light “elitist snobs.”

Conversely, the House of Light called the House of Darkness’s servants “incompetents who can’t even serve the Duke’s family properly.”

Their subtle feud had worsened recently, ever since Grand Duchess Rebecca moved to the House of Darkness.

No matter what anyone said, the servants of the House of Light refused to believe that Rebecca had changed.

Of course, it was hard to believe.

Even the House of Darkness servants had endured Rebecca’s past mischief.

But now, to them, Rebecca had completely transformed.

Rebecca had become the pride of the House of Darkness servants as the sole Grand Duchess residing there.

They genuinely cared for their mistress.

Yet, the House of Light’s servants still ground their teeth at her…

It was no wonder they appeared hostile to the Dark House’s staff.

“If only we could meet them in the demon realm without rank, we’d have dealt with them halfway by now.”

One maid stretched, clearly itching for action.

“Exactly. The human world is nice, but sometimes I wish we could just go back to the demon realm and let loose!”

“Right… it is a bit dull here in the human world.”

Five or six maids nodded, looking bored.

For these half-demon maids, the Twins family was practically royalty.

Though they suppressed their true nature to live in the human world, half their blood was still demonic.

Having grown up on the harsh fields of the demon realm, the regimented human lifestyle felt tedious.

Mina, sighing heavily, moved toward the window.

“Still, the House of Light servants seem a bit different lately.”

Mina glanced back slightly as she spoke.

“Eh, them? No way.”

“Really!”

“What’s different?”

“I met Dennis the other day. He said, though he hated admitting it, he thinks the Grand Duchess has truly changed.”

“That snob actually said that?”

“Yes!”

Another maid nodded.

“Princess Bianca still seeks only Your Highness, so even they are starting to believe now!”

Mina finally perched on the windowsill.

Fixing her gaze outside, she quietly listened to the other maids’ chatter, chuckling.

“Huh…? That’s Her Highness… Who is she with?”

Mina frowned slowly.

The two figures outside didn’t feel ordinary.

“That’s… Duke Bold?”

Recently, Rebecca had been avoiding contact with her father, Duke Bold.

Mina, sharp-eyed, had surely noticed.

On the last day he visited, Rebecca’s expression had been icy.

Watching carefully, Mina’s face twisted with anger.

“That insane…!”

Startled by her curse, the other maids tilted their heads.

Mina’s eyes radiated unprecedented malice.

Seeing her horns flare, the maids rushed to her side.

“What’s wrong?”

“Wh-why are you suddenly so fierce…?”

Their eyes followed Mina’s gaze.

On a secluded path, Duke Bold had grabbed Rebecca by the shoulder, threatening her.

As they took in the situation, the maids’ own hostility began to rise.

“To dare touch our Grand Duchess in the house of the half-demon Twins family…”

“Now we can warm up too, right?”

“Don’t ask—just kill him.”

With teeth gnashing, their eyes glinted sharper.

Finally, preparing to move, Mina snapped her fingers.

“Girls, change into pants quickly.”

A faint glint of madness passed through Mina’s eyes as she smiled.

“We have one crazy man to deal with.”