ILTDAMH|CHAPTER 78

Chapter 78

Who is forgiving whom ?

Elena was still dazed from everything when Marican pressed the signed contract into her hands, then clasped them warmly.

“Elena, I didn’t get to taste your cookies this time, but I promise I’ll buy some next time. Until then—farewell.”

Elena stared at her blankly for a moment, then, as Marican turned to leave with Ruan, she rushed after her, seizing her sleeve.

“Duchess—I have to ask you something.”

“Hmm?”

“Why… why are you helping me?”

Elena couldn’t tell her about Cat, or how Cat had once acted as her escort on Ruan’s request. That had to remain a secret from her sister.

Marican hesitated, thoughtful, before answering.

“I think anyone who saw your situation would have helped. That other woman just now—she must have felt the same. I only hope that, with this contract, you’ll finally be paid fairly. That’s all I wanted.”

With that, she smiled and turned away.

Elena, watching her retreat, called out loudly, her voice ringing across the street.

“Thank you, Duchess! Please come buy cookies next time!”

Marican’s lips curved at those words. She remembered Cat’s bright face, insisting she would one day open a shop with Elena, and she smiled. I haven’t even tasted them, but if Cat swore they were good, then they must be. I hope they save enough quickly and open their shop.

“Wife? What are you thinking about?” Ruan asked gently.

“Oh, Ruan, sorry. I was just caught up in it all. I didn’t expect to get dragged into something like this, but thanks to you, it worked out. If you hadn’t been there, I’d have had to run out to the guards for help.”

“I only did what was natural. Didn’t I tell you? In this Empire, no one dares lay a hand on you.”

What…? You’re making me sound like someone truly important.

Marican flushed, embarrassed, and quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, let’s find another dessert shop. Charles said there’s a place just around the corner that has excellent cakes.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

Together, they turned down the alley—only for Marican to bump into a woman coming the other way.

“Oh! I’m so sorry, madam.”

“N-no, it’s fine. Wait—Mer? Is that you?”

The familiar voice made Marican lift her head. The worn, aging woman before her was unmistakable.

“…Mother?”

“Mer! My beloved daughter!” Penelope’s eyes filled with tears as she clutched Marican’s hands. “You’re alive, thank the heavens! Do you know how much I worried?”

Her clothes were ragged, her face lined with years, but her voice was achingly familiar. Penelope.

There had been times—rarely—when Marican thought of them. No matter how firmly she’d cut ties, they were the people who’d raised her for eighteen years: her mother and her sister.

Yet when grief had nearly broken her—when she thought Ruan was dead—it wasn’t them she had longed for, but the people of the Ducal House. Only later, when she had regained stability, had thoughts of her birth family briefly flickered back.

But then came Lucianne.

Lucianne, who had come to Phenomenon Village and, not even recognizing her own blood sister, tried to seduce Ruan. After that, Marican severed the last thread of sentiment toward them.

Still, she had known it was possible she might one day cross paths with them again. Under the same sky, in the same Empire, how could she not? She had promised herself that if that day came, she would treat them as strangers.

She had not expected it to come so soon.

“Mer,” Penelope whispered breathlessly, her eyes darting toward Ruan. “Truly, it’s you… Where have you been? The Duke scoured the Empire for you. And yet here you are, safe. Thank heaven.”

Ruan’s eyes hardened, but Marican’s face remained still.

“I’m afraid you’ve mistaken me for someone else, madam.”

Penelope faltered, taken aback by the cold dismissal.

“Mer, don’t tell me you’re pretending not to know me because I look so shabby? Do you have any idea how long I searched for you after you vanished? Where were you all this time? Why didn’t you contact me once you returned safely?”

Contact? Marican laughed inwardly. You claim you worried about me?

She said flatly, “Did you not hear my story from your precious Baroness Beanon’s daughter?”

Penelope flinched. “Oh, Mer… you speak with such bitterness, just like your father. So heartless. That little quarrel years ago, and you still call your sister by her title? Your sister has done nothing but worry for you. If only you had half her devotion, I’d have no cause for concern.”

Worry? That’s what you call it? She couldn’t even recognize her own sister and instead tried to seduce my husband.

Marican bit back her words. She didn’t need to dignify Penelope with a reply.

Penelope looked her up and down, muttering under her breath. “Your sister said you’d grown so thin she barely knew you, but she must have been sparing your feelings. You don’t look much changed. Honestly, you could at least keep the weight off if you lose it.”

So you still feel shame, at least—you didn’t mention Lucianne’s little stunt with Ruan.

Penelope stepped closer, whispering spitefully in Marican’s ear.

“However you lost the weight, it hardly matters if you still can’t control your appetite. Look at you now, plump again. I don’t know what the Duke sees in you, why he bothered searching so desperately. Remember this, Mer: whatever sweet words he whispers, all men are the same. If you keep this figure, he’ll turn his eyes to another woman soon enough.”

Marican couldn’t stop the laugh that slipped out. Of course. Just like Lucianne. You’ve never changed either.

To you, I was always the target of your scorn. Never enough. Always the unwanted daughter.

And to you, Lucianne has always been the only one who mattered.

“Mer,” Penelope snapped. “Do you hear me? You’re just like your father—never answer when spoken to. It’s infuriating.”

At last, Marican’s eyes sharpened.

“Madam, perhaps you didn’t hear me the first time. I am not your daughter. Do you not recall? You cast me aside to secure your cherished Lucianne’s place as crown princess. You abandoned me. So do not call me daughter again.”

Penelope’s face contorted.

“Mer, must you be so petty? Are you still holding on to that? We were under pressure, we had no choice. I’ve long since let go of the hurt from that time. I forgive you. Can’t you forgive me in turn?”

Forgive? Marican’s eyes blazed. Who is forgiving whom here?

“I have nothing to be forgiven for,” she said coldly. “You were the one who threw me out.”

“Fine, fine, I was wrong. There. Are you satisfied?”

The words were tossed like scraps to a beggar.

Marican forced her rising fury down.

“No, madam. Don’t offer apologies you don’t mean. I already told your daughter—we are no longer family. And as far as I know, you had the paperwork drawn up yourself, erasing me from the household registry. Or was that not true?”

“That—” Penelope stammered. “That was Lucianne’s idea. She thought it was the only way to appease the crown prince at the time. It wasn’t my choice.”

“Either way, on paper we are nothing to each other. So stop pretending otherwise. And one more thing. My dowry—my aunt only took the gold, leaving the rest in your household. I’d like that returned.”

Penelope’s eyes widened in outrage.

“Mer! Over such a trifling matter? You have everything now, everything! And you’d still claw back what little your mother and sister have left? You’ll let us starve while you live in luxury at the Duke’s side? How cruel can you be? No wonder you’re treated this way—it’s your fault. Everything has always been your fault!”

Marican stared at her, suddenly calm. So it was all my fault, always. That’s what you told me. I used to believe it. But now… I know better. It was never me. It was you.

The last shred of filial sentiment in her chest snapped and fell away.

“You needn’t worry,” she said quietly. “I have no intention of reclaiming it. Keep it all. In fact, I should thank you. Because of you, I found the greatest husband, and a family who loves me more than blood ever did. Consider the gold and the gifts my final present to you. And now… farewell.”

Penelope lunged forward, seizing her arm. But Ruan stepped between them, peeling Penelope’s hand away with steel in his eyes.

“Baroness. Do not harass my wife again. If you persist, I will strip away even the last bit of charity she spared for your household. This is the only warning you will receive. Think of it as the last courtesy due to the woman who bore her.”

The icy weight of his words made Penelope recoil. She turned and fled, vanishing into the crowd.

Marican watched her go, her knees suddenly weak.

“Wife!” Ruan swept her up into his arms before she could stumble.

“R-Ruan, I’m fine. Put me down.”

“No. What if you collapsed? I won’t risk it.”

“I’m not that fragile,” she protested softly. “Please, set me down.”

Reluctantly, he lowered her.

“I expected we might meet someday,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “but not so soon. And… it hurts, realizing people truly don’t change. Ten months apart, and the first words from my mother’s lips were blame, not concern. Not even a question about whether I was well.”

“Marican,” Ruan said gently, “I told you before. They are not your family. Don’t let them wound you. Shall I take revenge for you?”

The fierce glint in his eyes made her laugh despite herself.

“Ruan… thank you. Just hearing you say that is enough. Maybe because you were beside me, her words didn’t hurt the way they once would have. Let’s forget her. Let’s buy our dessert instead. I have one more place I’d like to stop by. Will you come with me?”

“Of course. Wherever you go, even to hell itself, I’ll follow.”

He took her hand tenderly, and together they walked on.