Can't Come Back - Chapter 47
“What nonsense are you talking about, you wench!”
Dean’s voice rose in response to Riley’s statements. Of course, he didn’t trust a word she said.
“…!”
Berlia’s pupils shook violently as she took in the scene. Riley never said anything so absurd based just on conjecture, as there was no evidence.
Could Riley have witnessed something? Did she have any proof? Berlia shifted her attention nervously between Cain and Dean.
Cain, on the other hand, had not changed except for a hard face. He was convinced that no one would accept her story.
“You’ve gone so far as to plan a conspiracy.”
Riley’s story was not believed by Dean or the other servants.
“Please transfer this lady to the Royal Guard. I will demand that you be executed immediately.”
‘…What did he say?!’
Riley’s face flushed at Dean’s words. This was not at all what she had expected.
Riley was unaware that she had pricked Dean’s pride, leading his rage to flare. Dean had revealed to all the lords during the duchy’s 300th anniversary feast that an heir had been conceived. However, the infant was denied access to the outside world due to the actions of a maid.
In a few days, stories would spread that the Hildayden Duke House had lost their beautiful kid, who had just beenconceived after a long wait, due to a simple maid.
That fact embarrassed Dean much. He would be associated with negative rumors in the minds of others. He wanted to rip Riley, who was standing in front of him, to shreds. Dean thought she deserved to die after seeing her propagate the affair without any basis.
“Wait a minute, Duke! I’m pregnant with your child! The child who will succeed the Duke!”
Riley screamed in agony in response to Dean’s unexpected words. Dean, on the other hand, was unconcerned. Riley had long since passed him by in his heart.
“There isn’t any necessity. You could have given birth to the child and avoided the life of a maid if you had kept quiet. You’ve been too conceited.”
“Please, I was mistaken! Duke, please save me! I’m willing to do anything! Please save me!”
Riley knelt, pleading for her life. Everyone else’s gaze, including Cain and Dean’s, was incredibly frigid. Riley was so detained and transferred to the Royal Guard.
* * *
“The criminal Riley will be executed for killing the Duke’s child and attempting to harm the Duchess!”
Riley was sentenced to death during the trial a few days later.
“I’m telling you, I have a baby in my womb! Do you not feel sorry for the baby?”
She cursed the judge. It was a request to have the death sentence overturned since she was pregnant. But the judge didn’t even look at her with sympathy and spoke coldly,
“So your child is valuable, but the Duchess’s child is not. I’m even more certain that the death penalty is appropriate. Take her away immediately.”
“Wait a minute! The child was not the Duke’s child! The Duke was unable to bear a kid! The child in the Duchess’ womb belonged to someone else! It’s Cains’… an illegitimate child!”
Riley screamed that Berlia had committed adultery in a final act of defiance as the judge did not pause. Nobody in the room, however, was going to believe her.
“She’s crazy. She was insane till the very end. Take this criminal away immediately!”
“Yes, I understood.”
“Argh! Allow me to go! I tell the truth!”
Riley was sentenced to death in this manner for the crime of causing injury to the Duchess. The news was also relayed to Berlia and Cain. Berlia couldn’t get over the grief of losing her kid and the reality that the person who had wounded her was a maid she had worked with for a year.
She was sedentary every day for almost a week, unable to eat properly. She could hardly get soup to her lips just now. Dean had utterly lost interest in Berlia. Dean had a habit of leaving the mansion for days on end and not returning, meeting other women and enjoying his leisure time. Dean was unconcerned about Berlia’s emotional state following the loss of a child.
‘I didn’t even hope or wish for it, but this is the type of person my husband is.’
She first felt some remorse for Dean. Cain, her boyfriend, was his brother. Of course, Dean was the first to mingle his body with other women, but she constantly wondered if it was okay for her to do so as the Duchess.
However, Dean’s actions this time surpassed her expectations. It felt as though all of the affection that was present had vanished. She felt disappointed in him as a person.
‘Even his rage at Riley’s behavior was not motivated by hurt. It was because they had wounded his pride. He has never expressed concern about me.’
Cain was Berlia’s true love. Cain, her lover, couldn’t stay in this home indefinitely. Berlia saw Hildayden’s Ducal House as meaningless without Cain.
‘But what about me?’
She seems to have made a choice. She seems to have recovered some vitality in the last few days after appearing tired.
“Berlia, did you not eat properly again today?”
“Ah, Cain.”
Cain had just opened the door and entered her room. Cain, Berlia’s lover, was naturally by her side while she lay unwell. He had reduced his customary tasks at the royal castle in order to focus on her.
“I did eat a little.”
Cain’s face was concerned when she responded.
“Little, you’re still in the rehabilitation process. You must eat healthily, especially at this time.”
“…I get it.”
Cain spooned some soup into Berlia’s mouth. She appeared to accept food a few times before shaking her head.
“I’m sorry, but I’m out of appetite…”
Berlia expressed remorse to Cain. She, too, desired to eat correctly and rise as Cain desired. But she just couldn’t pull it off. Because of the recent events, she was both psychologically and physically drained. Today, though, was a little better.
“You’ll get better gradually, Berlia.”
Cain took Berlia’s hand in his and looked her in the eyes. His eyes were warmer than everyone else’s. It was a look of affection for her.
“…Cain…,”
Berlia felt compelled to generate confidence when she met his gaze. He was always the one who encouraged her. He was responsible for her current state. She would have collapsed in this position if it hadn’t been for Cain.
She would not have considered leaving her husband, who disregarded her, and would have continued to live an unhappy married life.
Things have changed. She no longer wanted to accept the life that was handed to her; she wanted to make her own choices. Above all, she desired to live her life as Cain’s lover rather than as the Duchess of Hildayden. She paused for a beat before speaking.
“Cain, I…”
“Do you have something to say?”
Cain stopped, wondering whether Berlia had anything to add. He glanced at her, waiting for her to say something else. Berlia gulped hard and opened her mouth, as if she had made up her mind.
“What if…I get divorced from my husband?”
“Divorce?”
Cain was taken aback by her unexpected statements. She had never mentioned divorce to him before. Cain was aware of the reason. It was due to her family. Because she was the Duchess of Hildayden, her family was able to live a prosperous life. Cain was well aware of this, therefore he couldn’t easily propose that they leave Hildayden together.
“My husband has always wanted to evict me from the Duke of Hildayden’s mansion. I’m not sure when it will happen again, even if it didn’t happen recently. Above all, I know we won’t be able to stay in this mansion forever. We can’t keep holding covert meetings indefinitely.”
Although she hesitated at first, the words began to flow once she began to speak. Berlia went on with her story.
“My husband no longer considers me to be a wife. To him, I’m just another piece of furniture in the house. What is the point of remaining in this mansion under these conditions? I have no reason to stay here, especially if you ever have to leave the mansion.”
Berlia’s voice sounded serene. There were divorces among the empire’s elite from time to time. Divorce was quite simple if both couples consented and there were no children. But if that happened, Berlia would be forced to live the rest of her life as a divorcee.
Many people would disregard her if she was no longer the Duchess. The nobles were bound to whisper about her.
Cain didn’t want his sweetheart to face censure from others. But Berlia seemed to be up to the task. Cain was still concerned about her family. He was well aware that she had agreed to the marriage for the sake of her family. Cain inquired as to her thoughts.
“But what about the rest of your family?”
“Everything is well with my family. They provided me with the confidence to pursue my dreams. And, thanks to your good friend, I don’t believe we need to be concerned.”
“What exactly do you mean? My friend?”
Cain was perplexed. He had no idea what Berlia was talking about.
“Princess Claudia has graciously agreed to look after my family.”
“Claudia?”
It took him by surprise. Cain had not anticipated hearing Claudia’s name from Berlia. He waited for her to proceed.