ITAYA 37

ITAYA | Chapter 37

Posted by Ruby, Released on September 27, 2025

~Chapter 37~

I lay on the bed, tired. After bathing in a tub full of scented oils Ella prepared just for me, all my muscles felt relaxed and soft.

Madam Rosemarlin seemed like she had returned just to find faults. She missed nothing, scolding the staff for every small mistake. You could feel her determination:

‘I am the mistress of this house!’

Baldwin said she would leave soon, but the way she acted, she looked like she’d live here forever.

But I didn’t think she would really clash with me. Baldwin and I both left early for our offices every morning and only came home at night.

Honestly, that made me more confident I could deal with Madam Rosemarlin.

“Tomorrow, it’s finally over.”

Usually, after a wedding and banquet, it’s tradition to go on a honeymoon for about a week.

So, the morning after tomorrow, we would leave for our week-long trip.

I tried to remember my honeymoon with Egbert. I suddenly burst out laughing.

Back then, Egbert insisted we go to a small city-state called Brandon.

I didn’t know at the time, because I was lost in the dream of a new marriage. But Sophia had joined us on that honeymoon.

Thinking about that made my blood run cold.

Egbert pretended to be a busy businessman in Brandon. He had meetings every day, always leaving me alone.

Honestly, even though I loved Egbert, I always knew he was not capable.

Back then, I thought he was at least trying his best, so I tried to see it positively.

“I was really naïve.”

And while I was spending time alone, Egbert was enjoying the honeymoon with Sophia.

I never would have known, until Sophia told me herself.

‘Back then, the Marquis said this: He couldn’t breathe, thinking about spending a week with a woman as stiff as a log. He was glad I was there. Not everyone with a smart head is really smart, you know? How could you not know what your own husband is doing?’

Her laughter rang in my ears. The way she looked at me, full of mockery.

‘In the end, you’re just a thief after someone else’s husband, Sophia. Do you think Egbert will ever be your man? Even if you have his child, you can’t register it until I allow it. And when Egbert dies, you can’t get a single coin unless I let you.’

Throwing childish words back and arguing with her didn’t make me feel better.

It just made me feel dirty, like I had fallen to her level.

That’s the worst part about cheating. It turns even the innocent partner into someone just as low.

For three years, I was no different from Sophia and Egbert.

Inside the house, I struggled. Outside, people ridiculed me. They pretended to pity me, but in the end, they grouped me together with them.

My name was always on their lips.

‘Did you hear? This time, Marquis Egbert bought a prostitute, even though he already has a mistress. Oh dear, the poor Marchioness. How does she put up with it?’

That’s how it was.

Because of that, I wasn’t really looking forward to my honeymoon with Baldwin. I just hoped it would be normal—nothing special, nothing different from others.

Thinking about the past, I closed my eyes, and then heard the door open.

The red candles the maids had lit to create a romantic mood were melting, their thick tears running down the sides. The warm light shone on Baldwin as he came in.

His shirt was loose, showing his strong chest. It was the same chest where I had broken down last night.

Everything else faded, and only Baldwin stood out.

These thoughts were pointless.

Egbert and Baldwin were different people. But the memories that surfaced slowly changed color.

“Baldwin. Will you come here?”

I opened my arms.

My body ached after spending all night with Baldwin, but I still wanted to hold him.

“I’ll give you a hug.”

My voice was as soft as a whisper in the wind, but Baldwin heard it clearly.

Before I knew it, he was lying next to me, snuggling into my arms.

I turned and hugged him tight. His breath tickled my bare skin. I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. There was a sweet tension between us. I could feel his big hand wrapped around my back.

With trembling fingers, I stroked his hair.

His soft hair slipped through my fingers.

Baldwin and I had chosen Hertel for our honeymoon. Hertel was a port city by the sea, a popular tourist spot—known as the second heart of Estus.

We didn’t have time to plan an overseas trip, so this was our best option.

And the Constantine family had a villa there.

‘I want to go somewhere with no people.’

So no one could ever trick me again.

‘If something urgent comes up, we can postpone the honeymoon. But if we do go, I want to spend the time with just the two of us.’

No one else could make an excuse to join us.

That was the “normal” I wanted, and Baldwin gave me exactly the honeymoon I wished for.

Just the two of us, alone.

He said it was all just business. That this marriage had no special meaning.

Maybe I just wanted to erase and heal the past through this marriage.

I guess I’m selfish.

Feeling Baldwin’s lazy touch stroking my hair, I closed my eyes again.

Peace settled over me like a warm blanket.

Madam Rosemarlin stood by the window, staring at the pink dawn, arms crossed, tapping her arm with her fingers.

[Don’t interfere.]

Rosemarlin remembered Baldwin’s warning, and bit her lip hard. How could he act so cold, after being born from her body?

At some point, her relationship with Baldwin had been ruined.

She didn’t know why Baldwin kept turning away from her, but seeing him marry whoever he wanted drove her crazy.

Baldwin’s disability gave Rosemarlin fear. She had worked so hard to become someone worthy of the Constantine family, but Baldwin ruined everything.

Well, maybe that was the fault of a mother who raised her child wrong.

But Anais wasn’t the answer. She could be replaced anytime.

‘If she can’t be fixed, I’ll get rid of her before she ruins Constantine.’

Rosemarlin could never watch Anais destroy everything she had built.

Thinking about Anais at the banquet made Rosemarlin frown.

Anais’s straight back and clear eyes. That faint smile she had.

‘How dare she.’

She could see Anais’s proud attitude clearly in her mind.

‘So rude.’

Acting like she was truly the Duchess!

But Anais hadn’t even gotten Rosemarlin’s approval.

‘How arrogant.’

That kind of attitude was not right.

Rosemarlin had no plans to step down from the castle she built. Anais should show proper respect and understand the years Rosemarlin had lived.

Only then could Anais become the true Duchess of Constantine.

Rosemarlin rang the bell.

“Yes, Madam?”

The head maid hurried in, bowing her head. She was one of the few in the mansion who understood Rosemarlin.

Most of the old staff were already gone.

Seeing the maid’s wrinkled face reminded Rosemarlin of the many years that had passed.

“It’s harder than I thought, coming back after so long. Too much has changed.”

“Is that so?”

“Especially with someone new in the house, I have to be careful. Mrs. Zelita, I don’t think the Duchess has received the proper training for her role.”

The head maid closed her mouth.

She had no right to judge her superior.

Rosemarlin continued,

“The Duchess needs real education. You’ve worked here a long time, so you must have heard rumors. Do you know of any good etiquette teachers?”

The head maid stayed silent for a moment, then replied,

“Has His Grace approved this?”

Rosemarlin’s eyebrows twitched.

“It’s the mistress’s business. Does that need permission too?”

Her cold tone made the maid’s proud face waver. When Rosemarlin spoke like this, it meant she had no plans to back down.

“…I’ll look into it.”

“No, never mind. You seem against what I’m doing. I’ll take care of it myself.”

Rosemarlin added coldly,