~Chapter 56~
Baldwin frowned. He thought he had always hidden his true self and dark feelings well in front of Anais.
He kept everything harsh and painful deep inside, never wanting Anais to see any of it.
But now he couldn’t keep his face calm.
‘Why does she look like that…?’
Baldwin clenched his jaw.
Anais’s face and eyes were red—she looked like a mess.
Maybe they came home at the same time, because they both got out of the carriage together. Because of that, Baldwin could see Anais’s face up close right away.
The streetlights in the garden made it easy to see everything.
“I didn’t think I’d run into you here,”
Anais said sadly.
She wanted to go to her room and calm her red eyes before dinner.
‘So embarrassing.’
Anais tried not to look him in the eyes. It just made Baldwin more upset.
Baldwin gently stroked Anais’s eyelids.
“Can you tell it’s that obvious?”
Baldwin stared at her silently.
‘Who did this to her?’
Horace? Crenbell? Graham? The duchess of Constantine?
Why did anyone want to hurt such a small woman? Baldwin didn’t understand.
Every time he held her, he could feel how small she was. He was so grateful she was still alive and in his arms.
And yet—
“You wouldn’t believe me if I said it was nothing, right? I wouldn’t believe it either.”
Anais touched her cheek, then let out a sad sigh.
“…My father came to see me.”
The coachmen quietly disappeared, leaving them alone. The carriage and horses rolled away.
Baldwin’s brow creased.
Her father? Ah, it must have been that wretched Barnaby this time.
“He told me to divorce you. And go back to the Graham Marquis. Well, he had a reason—my mother is in Sezares Hospital right now. I think the Graham Marquis went there and threatened the hospital director.”
Anais gave a bitter laugh.
Her sad smile shook Baldwin deep inside.
Baldwin gently touched the corner of Anais’s eye. Her skin was hot and a little swollen. Anais shook her head in embarrassment, but Baldwin bent down and kissed the spot she had been touching.
He could smell her tears. The taste of salt lingered on his tongue. Baldwin breathed out quietly.
“You’re telling me not to cry, right?”
Baldwin nodded. Anais hesitated, then touched Baldwin’s cheek.
“I won’t cry anymore.”
Baldwin pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her slowly and gently. Anais grabbed his sleeve tightly.
It was a sweet kiss.
He was gentle, not rough like before. He kept touching and kissing her softly, like he was comforting her.
It was like he was whispering, “Don’t cry.”
But even as Anais felt comforted, Baldwin’s eyes secretly filled with anger.
There are some people who don’t deserve to be parents—like the Duchess Rosemarlin and the Barnaby couple.
Baldwin escaped his own hell by letting go of Rosemarlin. He no longer let her make him laugh or cry.
Ever since he saw the truth behind his parents, he stopped caring.
‘I hate it. That devil, just like my father.’
‘Shh, Your Grace. The young duke might hear you.’
‘How could he? He’s deaf and useless.’
After Baldwin learned to read lips, Rosemarlin started acting again.
‘My beloved son.’
Baldwin was sick of that. He came to hate the word “parent.”
When the old duke died young, only the duchess was left. Even when Rosemarlin ran away to the provinces, pretending it was travel, Baldwin didn’t care.
By then, he had emptied out all his feelings. But he knew that wasn’t easy.
Anais still carried her parents in her heart. She pitied them.
Baldwin felt sorry for Anais and wanted to hold her big heart in his small arms.
He wanted to punish everyone who hurt Anais. He had the power, but Anais never asked for it, so he couldn’t do anything. That made him sad.
That’s why, even now, he wanted to help her forget everything—using a way that would steal her mind away.
Baldwin softly touched Anais’s ear.
“Huu…”
Anais let out a wet, shaky sigh.
They kissed, forgetting they were still in the garden, and that the servants might see.
Anais acted like they were the only two people in the world.
Baldwin gently stroked the back of Anais’s neck. She made a soft, purring sound.
“Baldwin.”
Her weak, broken voice sent a chill down Baldwin’s spine. He pulled away, breathing heavily.
Their eyes met—she looked dazed.
Baldwin’s face relaxed. He looked like a gentle, loving husband.
Anais blinked her red eyes.
“Let’s go to our room, Baldwin. Hurry.”
Anais begged, and Baldwin smiled.
That was something he could do for her—something he wanted to do.
Baldwin picked up Anais in his arms.
“Kya! B-Baldwin!”
Anais squirmed and then hugged him tightly. Her shoes fell to the ground with a soft thud.
“Baldwin, my shoes! My shoes!”
Anais forgot Baldwin couldn’t hear, and called out anyway. Of course, Baldwin didn’t turn around.
Anais tugged at Baldwin’s clothes, then noticed the lights were still on in the house and shut her mouth.
She held her breath.
“Are we really going in like this?”
He couldn’t see her lips.
“Are you going to carry me across the lobby and up the stairs?”
Anais mumbled to herself and sighed deeply.
“Why is all the embarrassment mine, Baldwin?”
Anais covered her face with both hands. Baldwin smiled where she couldn’t see.
“I’ll have to hide my face.”
Anais muttered, giving up.
She wasn’t asking Baldwin for help—she was just talking to herself to hide her shyness.
Baldwin looked down at Anais in his arms. His gaze was soft. He walked faster.
Among the many eyes watching them, Duchess Rosemarlin was there too.
Standing on the landing above, Rosemarlin and Baldwin’s eyes met.
Baldwin’s eyes went cold. The duchess’s face tightened a little.
Rosemarlin started to say something, but Baldwin walked by without even looking at her.
Rosemarlin bit her lip and reached out, grabbing Baldwin’s arm as he passed.
Her grip was weak.
She probably knew he would shake her off.
When their eyes met again, Rosemarlin let go and staggered back.
All she saw in his eyes was deep contempt—not even blame, just coldness.
Rosemarlin stared at him blankly. Baldwin turned away from her and left.
She watched Baldwin’s long strides as he walked away, even after he disappeared.
“What did I do wrong?”
Rosemarlin trembled and muttered.
“Should I just accept that crazy marriage? Should I accept a girl with no manners like her?”
Rosemarlin clenched her fists.
Her heart was pounding.
She couldn’t forget the way Baldwin looked at her—how he held Anais so carefully in his arms.
“I’m the one who gave birth to him. I suffered so much after I got sick!”
Baldwin’s disability had become Rosemarlin’s sin. The old family elders were so cruel to her after Baldwin was born with his disability.
Their hate softened a little after Baldwin was born, but grew worse after he became disabled.
Rosemarlin endured it all.
“I deserve respect. I do! I deserve it.”
She muttered fiercely. But she knew she couldn’t stand up to Baldwin’s cold gaze.
“If only I could make her leave myself. I’m doing this for the family and for Baldwin. Gwenndolyn would be such a perfect bride!”
That’s why all her anger went toward Anais. It was a foolish choice, but no one could stop her.
Rosemarlin spun around, trying to hide her deep pain.
