TFLMLD 61

Chapter 61

Obsession That Crossed the Line

Sympathy for a woman who had a crush on her husband had already reached its limit.

“If you go any further, you’ll have to publicly apologize under the name of the Repler family.”

“…….”

“Evelyn, your reputation has already plummeted, so there’s nowhere left to fall—but isn’t Repler different?”

Evelyn’s face shifted through a spectrum of expressions. Trembling, she slammed her teacup down as if throwing it, then stood abruptly.

“If anything happens to Macaron, I won’t forgive you.”

To anyone watching, it might have seemed that Evelyn was the wife and I was some outsider caught in the middle. Even as she left, she continued to hurl venom at me.

“To repay kindness this way… you’ll regret it.”

Inside Repler’s carriage returning to the mansion, an oppressive silence settled like the depths of the ocean. Lael kept glancing nervously at Evelyn, breaking out in cold sweats at the thought that any sparks might land on her. On Evelyn’s face, tiny fractures gathered, radiating pure malice. Even after returning to the mansion, her mind was consumed entirely by thoughts of Calips.

‘How audacious.’

Evelyn’s inner turmoil had twisted her sanity. Back when all the young heirs laughed and cried at her every word, her gaze had been fixed solely on Macaron. After losing her mother and gaining a stepmother, Evelyn’s life fell into ruin. From then on, she had thrown herself into earning recognition from the Repler family. But all that returned to her was endless disdain and coldness. Amid a level of scorn greater than death itself, Evelyn had skillfully learned to use her appearance and social position to her advantage. No one knew that behind the “light” she projected to the outside world lay a deep shadow.

In the Repler household, she was merely an accessory for her half-brother—nothing more, nothing less. In short, all of Evelyn’s effort and sacrifice existed solely for Cain. But the cruelty of her stepmother and half-brother grew day by day.

Evelyn first met Macaron on a day when Cain had beaten her as usual. Standing before her swollen lips, a pair of unfamiliar shoes blocked her path.

“What’s going on here?”

The owner of the calm, unwavering gaze, like a noble swan, was Macaron.

“You deserve it, so he’s hitting you. Your Highness, please continue on your way.”

In an instant, with a thud, Cain’s face was sent flying. Cain, who had never bowed to anyone, became a mouse before Macaron. It was the moment the only person who could make Cain kneel and protect her appeared. Watching all this, Evelyn quietly placed Macaron in her heart. He was a ray of light, a savior. Macaron was cold but enviably accomplished; no one dared touch her while he was around.

Macaron, so perfect, never seemed to desire anything for himself. He floated like a lone star in the world. Evelyn found herself drawn to his detached aura. Deep in her chest, almost without realizing it, she had tattooed Macaron’s presence upon herself. Unlike herself, who struggled through hellish times just to attain the Repler family headship, he had always seemed untouchable. She envied his effortless composure. Standing beside him, Evelyn believed she could be the same.

But Macaron was far above her in status, and to stand by his side, Evelyn had to pour all her strength into achieving it. She carried out countless vile deeds, spilled blood, and even killed. Then came the news of Macaron’s death. Even when everyone claimed he was dead, Evelyn refused to believe it. She knew Macaron wasn’t the kind of man who would die so easily. But contrary to her expectations, he did not return for a long time.

Meanwhile, the Repler household pushed for an engagement between Evelyn and Spen. Her stepmother bullied her mercilessly, warning that if the engagement broke and tarnished Cain’s future, she would not be spared. But Evelyn, unable to forget Macaron, refused to go through with it. Her stubbornness was also directed at her stepmother and half-brother. She not only acted violently toward Spen but avoided meetings entirely, wanting to prevent even the slightest benefit to Cain. Fortunately, Spen had no interest in Evelyn from the start, and the meeting was only reluctantly begun due to family pressure. In the end, Spen readily accepted Evelyn’s proposal for an alliance. Evelyn would set the stage, and Spen would announce it.

“I have another woman I love. I will break off this engagement.”

On that day, despite being beaten for breaking off the engagement, Evelyn could not hide her smile. She celebrated the first day she had scratched Cain’s perfect life. Years passed. Macaron returned proudly to the Romanti Empire, accompanied by a young boy—his son. Even then, Evelyn did not collapse. She was merely relieved that his wife was absent. However, rumors of the monstrous prince prevented any formal proposal. The Repler family would not stand idly by while an abandoned prince was engaged.

Evelyn bled and struggled to stand beside Macaron and become the family head. Eventually, she surpassed Cain and reached the top of the Repler succession. Occasionally, she traveled to the Creed territory but never met Macaron. After yet another stretch of lost time, Evelyn received a birthday invitation. Outrageously, it was a party for Macaron’s wife. Evelyn, in despair, directed all her anger at Calips.

‘Why am I worse than that woman?’

Face, figure, wealth, family… Evelyn thought if she lacked in any area, she could at least accept it.

‘How hard I worked to stand on equal footing with Macaron…’
‘I worked to the point of death… and you take him with no effort?’

Now, possessing everything, Evelyn was confident she could stand by Macaron. She remembered every covetous glance from other men—but Macaron was different. And yet, she believed she would make him hers. A relationship built on intention could crumble with just a little shake. She assumed it would be easy.

But upon meeting Calips and witnessing the household’s attitude, her assumptions were wrong. A proud, high-ranking noble bowing sincerely to a lower-born woman was almost impossible. Sometimes necessity forced humiliation, but genuine submission was rare. Yet the mansion’s servants seemed to follow Calips sincerely.

A stone rolling in without effort must pay the price. And to think she allowed those around her to place themselves beneath her over a trivial connection to Macaron. Evelyn despised her audacity.

‘Just wait. I’ll take care of someone like you in no time.’

A determined expression crossed Evelyn’s lips.

The aftermath of Evelyn’s storm lingered in Lael’s mind. Despite having driven her out, Lael couldn’t feel entirely satisfied. She had underestimated the magnitude of Evelyn’s obsession with Macaron. Evelyn’s words, though faced confidently, cut deep like shards of glass. Macaron must have received reports of Evelyn visiting the mansion, yet he had said nothing. Lael considered speaking first but didn’t want to burden him further amid the Crown Prince selection.

Watching Coral and Kai holding hands outside the window brought a momentary clarity. Recently, Kai had been diligent in escorting Coral home in Macaron’s absence. Despite knowing Macaron’s affairs, the boy handled it bravely. Since everyone kept Macaron’s affairs secret from Coral, he simply saw Macaron as a father away on business.

Rumors of Macaron’s death had cast a shadow over the mansion, and with Seira also missing, the servants were uneasy, though they tried to act cheerful in front of Lael. Time passed as usual, and the sun rose over the Creed lands.

Heading to Macaron’s room for tea, Lael saw him rise from the bed. Even with her immunity, the aftereffects of poisoning wouldn’t vanish overnight. Seeing Macaron thinner than before pained her. Perhaps noticing her expression, he teased,

“Does this cup have poison too?”

The thought of that day made her dizzy, and she answered seriously,

“You won’t be poisoned again.”

His eyes widened.

“Do you really have foresight?”

Startled, Lael almost spit out her tea. Setting down the cup, she gathered her excuses.

‘I don’t know when, but I suppose I developed this ability.’
‘Then I’ll face plenty of troublesome situations…’

As someone who could not live with guilt, she was exactly in that predicament. Trying to speak calmly made her tremble.

“It’s not that… I just don’t want it to happen again.”

Why no response? Perhaps he noticed something. As she considered questioning him, his face showed playful mischief. But… does it look like there’s a heart in his eyes? Probably just her imagination. Lael had been nervous ever since Evelyn’s visit.

Macaron nodded and set down his teacup. His previously playful expression turned serious.

“It’s fortunate it happened while your wife was away.”

“Why is that fortunate?”

She had been so shocked by the news. The memories of her journey to the mansion, full of anxiety, still caused cold sweats.

“Because your wife wasn’t harmed. If something had happened to her…”

Eager to hear the end, Lael waited, but Macaron said nothing further.