Chapter 10
“I really must be going now!”
The coachman warned that if they didn’t depart immediately, they would have to pass through the forest deep into the night.
At his urging, Chloe hurriedly took her seat. Kuhn also leaned partway into the carriage.
“Travel safely, Chloe. My dear friend.”
As Kuhn offered his final farewell, he gently extended his hand. Understanding his intent, Chloe placed her hand over his.
Her unusually pale hand was so clear that not even a vein was visible. Kuhn handled it as though it were something sacred.
“I’ll write to check on you soon.”
It was a common farewell exchanged between friends. For Chloe, who had once been a princess, such gestures were even more ordinary.
But somehow, Kuhn’s felt different.
Though their lips only brushed briefly, it felt unusually long, and despite its gentle ending, it lingered deeply. She had never desired another’s lips before, but for some reason, she imagined that if she were to share a kiss in the future, it would feel like this.
A friendship born not of obligation, but of genuine emotion. She wondered if people like that always parted with such intensity.
The journey to the North took a day and a half. Normally long and exhausting, it felt unusually short today.
In the distance, the duke’s mansion came into view. Its grandeur and elegance pressed heavily on Chloe.
Leaning her head against the window frame, she stared outside.
Returning to a place that felt like hell… it was truly despairing.
Yet the carriage continued toward its destination. Soon, it arrived at the mansion gates.
As she stepped down with the coachman’s assistance, Chloe immediately sensed something was off.
Most of the duke’s household stood lined up at the gate. At the center stood her husband, Kallis.
Unless it was a coincidence, this was clearly meant to welcome Chloe.
But Helena, standing awkwardly behind, looked displeased. The other servants also seemed reluctant.
In other words, this was Kallis’s doing alone.
“Chloe!”
Kallis greeted her brightly, arms wide open as if ready to embrace her. Yet, perhaps mindful of his lover’s presence, he instead kissed the back of her hand.
Such unwanted excessive kindness was exhausting. Already tired, Chloe quickly grew drained.
I’d rather be alone.
Making her intentions clear, Chloe immediately went to her room.
But the oblivious Kallis followed her inside the mansion, even opening her door for her.
Though she had been away for days, the room was spotless.
“I had everything cleaned so you could rest comfortably.”
His proud voice followed, his shoulders lifting as if seeking praise.
“Ah… thank you.”
“You must be tired from the journey. Let’s have a meal. I had the chef prepare your favorite dishes.”
“……”
“Oh, and after dinner, I’ve prepared a floral bath. Your favorite lilac scent. You should relax and unwind.”
Kallis continued listing all the things he had done for her as though reciting achievements.
Perhaps embarrassed by her lukewarm response, he soon left the room.
Something’s strange.
Kallis was definitely acting oddly today.
Where was Helena, the woman he loved so dearly? Why was he acting as though he’d returned to the past?
By a cruel twist of fate, Chloe soon learned the truth.
That night, troubled by what had happened at the royal palace, Chloe couldn’t sleep.
Thinking a walk might help, she wandered the hallway at dawn.
…A light?
One room was lit in the darkness.
Only when she approached did she realize it was Kallis’s bedroom.
If she were caught lingering outside his room late at night, it would raise suspicion. She turned to leave—
“Ah…!”
A cry slipped through the slightly open door.
Unable to resist, Chloe looked.
Inside, a blatant display of naked bodies unfolded.
Lewd sounds struck her ears.
“Kallis…!”
“Haah… Helena.”
The man Chloe once loved—and the woman beneath him.
They were entangled in an indecent act.
Leave. I have to leave.
There was no reason to watch such a disgusting scene.
Yet her body wouldn’t move. Frozen in place, Chloe was forced to witness everything.
No.
Her childhood tutor had once said:
That intimacy between lovers was noble. Beautiful beyond compare.
But what she saw now contradicted that.
Two beasts, tangled together, crying out.
Teacher… is that truly noble?
Their twisted love, nurtured in the house she built, after betraying her?
No. No. No!
She wanted to gouge out her eyes. Tear off her ears.
If she could, she wanted to tear them apart.
The woman’s high-pitched cries. The man’s ragged breaths. The sounds of flesh colliding.
Finally, they screamed together as if the mansion would collapse.
Kallis collapsed over her.
The filthy act ended.
Afterward, they sat side by side.
Helena leaned happily against him. Kallis held her tightly, then lit his pipe.
Helena spoke first, smiling blissfully—about how good it felt, how her back might give out from days like this.
Then suddenly, her expression changed.
“Why did you act like that with her earlier?”
Her tone turned sharp.
“With who?”
“Who else? The princess.”
Chloe.
Kallis hurriedly put out his pipe and hugged Helena.
“Sorry. But think about my situation too.”
He began explaining.
“What if she told the king everything? What if she pushes for a divorce?”
“Then you divorce, and I become the new duchess?”
Her answer was naive—and greedy.
Kallis smiled anyway.
“If that happens, we could lose everything. The title, the lands, our income… even all our savings might go to alimony.”
Helena’s expression stiffened.
“…I don’t want to lose everything. I want to keep this life.”
“Exactly. That’s why I have to pretend to care about her. Even if it disgusts me.”
“Okay. I won’t be upset. The one you really love is me, after all.”
He kissed her forehead tenderly.
…That’s why.
Chloe stood there, unable to smile.
That’s why I had to get permission for a divorce.
The happiness she felt from meeting her friend—it had only been temporary.
Reality struck her coldly once more.
Back in her room, Chloe collapsed into sleep.
She only woke when someone knocked.
Servants entered, saying they had come to assist her.
“…I’ll prepare myself alone.”
After sending them away, she slowly got ready.
When she reached the dining room, she was over an hour late.
Yet Kallis and Helena were waiting.
“Chloe, I was worried.”
“I was late on purpose.”
“We should eat together. We’re family.”
Chloe didn’t respond.
She turned her head—and met Helena’s eyes.
“Yes. We’re family.”
Helena smiled sweetly.
