MHC 04

Chapter 04

“So His Grace the Duke has permitted it, so there should be no problem.”

Helena, not entirely foolish, seemed to pick up on Chloe’s hostility.

“I said as before. If you’d like me to explain it in simpler terms, don’t hesitate to say so.”

At first, the reason Chloe treated Helena with courtesy was because of the lingering guilt she still felt toward her.

But now that even the smallest trace of emotion had faded, there was no reason for a duchess to show manners to a mere mistress.

“That’s enough!”

After being ignored more than twice, Helena finally exploded. She dropped the awkward politeness she had been maintaining.

Normally, such rudeness toward a royal and a duchess would warrant reprimand.
But this estate was not a place where common sense applied.

Since the standards wouldn’t be upheld anyway, Chloe simply gave up on them.

“You loved Calis, didn’t you?”

Having been repeatedly humiliated, Helena struck directly at the point.

Chloe nearly lost the composure she had barely been maintaining.

‘…How does she know that?’

Chloe had never directly confessed her feelings to Calis.
She didn’t think she could hide it perfectly, but she hadn’t expected him to notice.

“…Did he tell you that?”

If so, did that mean he knew—and still chose to trample her so mercilessly?

Even going so far as to bring the woman he loved right in front of her?

“How pitiful.”

At Chloe’s question, Helena smirked.

“Oh my!”

She exclaimed loudly, even clapping her hands, clearly amused.

“He was mine from the very beginning.”

“……”

“From the start, he planned to bring me here. Princess.”

From the beginning?

Chloe frowned at the incomprehensible words. When her previously composed expression finally crumpled, Helena looked deeply satisfied.

Growing bolder, Helena shrugged and continued.

“Well, it was forced at first, but he didn’t marry you just because he was pressured. There was a contract.”

“……”

“When the royal family made the deal with him, Cal told me he’d be marrying you. But he asked me to wait just one year—he said he’d bring me here after that.”

If Helena’s words were true, then Chloe’s marriage to Calis had been nothing more than a political arrangement.

Not simply a forced union by royal command—but a calculated agreement.

Helena didn’t seem to be lying. It wasn’t a story a commoner could fabricate, and everything aligned too well.

If there was one question, it was why Helena—knowing the truth—had written that “tragic Cinderella” story.

But Chloe quickly found the answer herself.

When he made the deal with the royal family, Calis had planned everything.
He had even adjusted the contract to ensure nothing would go wrong later.

He had never intended to give up his former lover. He had simply been waiting for this moment.

‘Then why…?’

Then why had he blamed Chloe so harshly?

Was it because he never wanted this marriage in the first place?

It turned out Calis had received an enormous dowry from the royal family. His title and lands had all been backed by them.

He got everything he wanted—power, wealth, and even love, bringing it here himself.

So why had Chloe been criticized and blamed for the past year?

“Pfft. Look at your face—completely shocked.”

“……”

“You’re so pitiful, Princess.”

As she stood frozen in shock, Helena’s mocking voice pierced her ears.

When Chloe finally met her gaze, she saw a familiar emotion on Helena’s face.

For one whole year—this was the feeling Chloe had been forced to endure in this household.

“The pitiful one is you, Miss Helena.”

“What?”

“Even after waiting a year, you won’t receive a perfect reward.”

Perhaps it was the blatant malice in Helena’s eyes—Chloe found herself losing her usual composure.

“As you know, you will never become the duchess. You may have his heart, but you will never stand at his side.”

Divorce in the kingdom was nearly impossible.

But since the temple, which oversaw such matters, fully supported Calis, it wouldn’t have been impossible for him.

The fact that he hadn’t pursued divorce and instead brought Helena in as a mistress meant he intended to maintain his life with Chloe.

Because the benefits of their marriage were too valuable.

“You can’t give him what he wants.”

“…You!”

Helena glared at her, eyes wide. The veins in the whites of her eyes stood out, twisting her once-lovely face into something vicious.

“Do you still think I’m the one to be pitied?”

The blunt question crushed Helena’s pride.

She wanted to slap Chloe right then and there—to teach her a lesson.

But reality restrained her.

Chloe was still the duchess and a princess. If Helena caused real harm, it could spell disaster.

All she could do was breathe heavily, trying to release her anger.

The servants around them began whispering at Helena’s emotional outburst.

Sensing the conversation was over, Chloe quietly turned her teaspoon upside down onto the saucer—a signal that tea time was finished.

The maid who had been about to pour more tea silently withdrew.

“…So cruel.”

Helena lowered her head so much her face was hidden. But her neck was flushed red like a ripe strawberry.

Her voice trembled with tears.

“You’re so cruel, Princess…!”

Covering her face with both hands, Helena began to cry—playing the tragic heroine.

“I just… hic… wanted to be friends with you… but you only said cruel things to me…!”

Now she was even playing the victim.

She had started the confrontation. She had crossed the line first.
And yet somehow Chloe was being painted as the aggressor.

The maids rushed over to comfort Helena. As her childish act worked, her sobbing grew louder.

At some point, however, her crying was drowned out.

Chloe alone recognized the familiar sound of approaching footsteps.

“Helena!”

A voice Chloe had once loved echoed through the room.

The man burst through the door. Seeing his beloved surrounded, he looked stricken with pain.

As if he himself were hurt, he sighed repeatedly while comforting her.

“Helena, don’t cry. It’s alright. I’m here now—I’ll fix everything.”

After gently patting Helena, Calis turned to Chloe.

The warmth in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by coldness.

“Chloe!”

“……”

“You were the one who asked to speak with Helena alone. I trusted you enough to allow it—and this is how you repay me?”

His brows furrowed sharply as he demanded an explanation.

Meanwhile, Helena’s sobs softened under his protection.

He took the opportunity to ask her what had happened—not his composed wife.

“…Sniff… The Princess—no, the Duchess—said… she doesn’t want to be friends with someone as lowly as me… And… that I could never become part of this family…”

Chloe was stunned.

It wasn’t entirely a lie—but it wasn’t the truth either.

The difference was too subtle to explain, and even if she tried, Calis would never listen.

His face hardened visibly as he listened.

Then he stood up abruptly.

Smack.

Before Chloe could say a word—

Before her lips could even move—

Her cheek burned.

The hand that had wielded a sword for years, that had defeated enemies and claimed victories—now struck her without mercy.

“Have you lost your mind?”

“……”

“I asked you, didn’t I? I told you to take good care of the woman I love!”

Her cheek throbbed, then went numb, as his humiliating words followed.

It was the first time in her life she had been struck.

By the man she had loved enough to give everything for.

At that moment, a hidden fragment of her heart flickered to life.

And then—pain spread through her chest.

She thought she was fine.

But her heart cracked once more.

‘I, too, have wanted to end this marriage more than once.’

In truth, Chloe had considered ending the marriage before.

But divorce was nearly impossible in the kingdom—and she couldn’t bring herself to ask for it first.

But after hearing Helena’s words, it was clear:

Calis had sacrificed nothing.

Chloe had never needed to bear the accusations of being “the selfish royal daughter who ruined his happiness.”

‘Now… I really will end this.’

Now that she knew everything, she could no longer continue this marriage.

In this kingdom, divorce required approval.

Only two people held that authority: the king, head of the royal family, and the high priest of the temple.

Though the marriage had been arranged by the royal family, once they learned what had happened here, they would be outraged.

Back in her room, Chloe lit a candle for the first time in a while.

Sitting at her desk, she opened a drawer filled with letters addressed to her.

‘Ah, not this one.’

Replies she had delayed for days—some likely urgent—but she had neither the time nor the will to read them.

Opening the other drawer, she found blank stationery.

She chose the most ordinary one—so the letter wouldn’t appear important.

‘I need to see Father.’

Keeping it brief, yet urgent—since someone might read it.

Next, she bribed a servant to send the letter.

It would take about five days to arrive.

Days passed, but no reply came.

Anxiety crept in, but she decided to wait a little longer.

Then, five days later—

A carriage arrived at the Arhen Ducal Estate.

It bore the royal crest.