“I apologize, madam. The Duke has urgent matters to attend to…”

 

It seemed he wouldn’t come again today.

 

Eve could read the unchanged indifference in the maid’s vague reply, and she let out a small sigh. Her disappointment, not entirely hidden, was evident in that faint exhale.

 

To be disappointed was to have expectations, and that embarrassed Eve in front of the maid. However, she had experienced too many disappointments in her life to be ashamed of such feelings now. She had changed so much over the years.

 

Even today, on her birthday, she hadn’t received an answer about her husband’s visit.

 

How many times had this happened? Was this the fourth? The fifth? When was the last time she had the joy of celebrating her birthday, which she loved so much?

 

Suddenly, she remembered that there was only one birthday party that she had celebrated with her husband, and she couldn’t help but smile wryly.

 

Yvonne de Fontaine had been abandoned in this remote villa.

 

Eve herself, the maid before her, and everyone in this mansion knew it. Moreover, she would remain alone for the next year and the year after, no matter how momentous the day.

 

At that moment, the maid carefully presented something.

 

“This is a birthday present from the Duke. He said it would suit you well, madam.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Eve’s emotions welled up for a moment. As she carefully unwrapped the gift, a necklace of emerald green peridot was revealed.

 

After looking at it for a while, Eve stood up abruptly.

 

“I won’t wait any longer.”

 

She clutched the necklace and left the room.

 

“If I go myself, Arsen won’t be able to refuse. I just have to ask him to congratulate me on my birthday.”

 

After all, he had sent her a present every year until now. That must be a sign that he hadn’t completely cast her out of his heart.

 

They had shared a life together. She had lived as his only fiancée, his only partner.

 

That’s why she had done her best to please him, even if it meant changing herself to the point where she couldn’t recognize herself. Eve firmly believed in the time she had dedicated to this sacrifice.

 

When Eve finally left the detached villa and appeared in the main mansion, there were whispers among the servants. She thought it was natural for them to be surprised, considering it was the first time the Duchess had appeared from her seclusion in the villa.

 

But as Eve stood outside her husband’s study, the servants’ astonishment was soon overshadowed by something else.

 

“Arsen, I told you. I don’t like peridot.”

 

A grumbling voice seeped through the crack in the door, followed by a sweet, affectionate tone, and then the familiar voice of a man.

 

“But Cecille, it seemed to suit you so well. I put so much thought into my choice.”

 

Her husband and his lover were in the room together.

 

That fact alone was enough to disturb her, but the conversation they were having plunged Eve more deeply into shock.

 

“You put that much thought into it? Then your gift to your wife must have been a bit regrettable.”

 

“What does it matter? Since Cecille’s and her birthdays are on the same day, it’s okay. But I’ll think more about choosing one just for you, Cecille.”

 

“Sure, and then you’ll pick peridot again? Like last year, when you gave it to your wife. She probably didn’t even notice that it was the same stone. Hehehe.”

 

So all the birthday gifts he had given her were things he had chosen for his mistress and that she discarded?

 

“And last year’s was peridot, too, so…”

 

Eve couldn’t stand it any longer. Mindlessly, she pushed the door open.

 

“Oh, my!”

 

“Yvonne?”

 

Sitting lovingly on the sofa and whispering sweet nothings, the two were taken aback by Eve’s sudden appearance. But it didn’t take long until Arsen, her husband, stood and approached her.

 

“Yvonne, what brings you here?”

 

“…Arsen.”

 

Arsen’s demeanor remained nonchalant, leaving Yvonne unsure of what to say. She hesitated, afraid that whatever she said would only diminish her own value.

 

“If there’s something to do, you could have sent someone. Why come all the way here yourself? You’re not in the best of health either. Please return to your chambers.”

 

“Oh, Arsen, today is my birthday.”

 

When Arsen tried to send her away, Yvonne was surprised and spoke up quickly. She felt her lover’s cold gaze on her.

 

Arsen quickly reached out and patted Yvonne’s shoulder, lowering his voice as he spoke.

 

“I know, I know. It must be unpleasant for you to see your husband with his lover on a day like this. But you are my wife. My only wife. So you have to bear with it.”

 

Yvonne hesitated at the phrase ‘only wife,’ and Arsen noticed and continued to speak.

 

“I won’t let anyone else into this house except you. Do you know how many people would like to be in your position? Yet I keep you in this role, even though you cannot even bear a child.”

 

His words left Yvonne’s pupils clouded with confusion.

 

“I… I don’t want this position just for its status.”

 

“I know. What relationship do we have? We see each other occasionally. You knew I wouldn’t say much about it.”

 

“….”

 

Could that be enough? Could that be the reason she had to put up with this? If the roles were reversed, would Arsen have put up with it?

 

When Yvonne fell silent, Arsen furrowed his brow in annoyance and dropped a bombshell.

 

“Cecille is pregnant.”

 

“…. What?”

 

If it was Cecille, it must have been her mistress. She was pregnant? Yvonne’s heart sank at the revelation.

 

“It means that what you couldn’t give, she did.”

 

“But I… I have…”

 

“You also have an obligation to provide for the future of our family and your own. When the child is born, he or she will be your heir as well.”

 

Yvonne could only stare at her husband with unsure eyes. Was this really the right thing to do? To bear it… could she be the only one to bear it?

 

Then Arsen gestured with a touch of annoyance.

 

“Anyway, right now the priority is Cecille and the child in her belly, so if you have anything else to say, let’s talk later. And from now on, when you come out of the guesthouse, tell me first. It’s for your own good.”

 

“But Arsen, I’m still…”

 

“Just leave now, Yvonne.”

 

Arsen pushed away Yvonne’s clinging arms. When he looked at her with such cold eyes, Yvonne found herself speechless, as if her lips were sealed.

 

She was afraid of making trouble for him. Afraid of being hated by her beloved husband. Afraid of disgracing her parents and being condemned by the Duke and Duchess.

 

“I understand…”

 

There would be another chance to talk later, as he had said. She could slowly talk about everything, about the child and about the lover. After all, he had said that even the creation of a lover was for the sake of a successor. So…

 

Yvonne forced herself to turn around and slowly left the room. As her weakened hands slipped, her necklace fell off, but she didn’t notice as she walked away.

 

Despite her years of experience, Yvonne still clung to a fragile thread of hope. Perhaps it was because of her weakened body and mind.

 

But the gods were cruel and mocked her.

 

“Oh, my necklace.”

 

Even the necklace, which was no different from the woman her husband had chosen as his mistress, she couldn’t bring herself to throw away, thinking of it as a gift from him.

 

Eventually, Yvonne returned to the room in search of the dropped necklace. And there she was confronted with an inescapable truth.

 

“Arsen, you seem to be quite fond of this woman. Will she make me jealous?”

 

“Oh, Cecille. This lovely lady here.”

 

The sound of cheerful laughter reached her ears, and Arsen spoke.

 

“I didn’t marry Yvonne for love. I’ve never felt anything like love. Yvonne is actually… not my type.”

 

“Really?”

 

Cecille showed interest, and Arsen continued to talk excitedly.

 

“Exactly! And back then she was such a chatterbox. I taught her to be more obedient, like she is now. But on the other hand, she’s too obedient, so it’s not great either, you know?”

 

“Hahaha, you’re really naughty.”

 

“The naughty one is Yvonne. As a woman, she doesn’t fit into either category. We’re just good friends.”

 

Cecille chuckled softly at his words.

 

“I guess there’s a limit to everything. It wouldn’t be funny even if I were a man now.”

 

“That’s true. Besides, she’s weak and can’t even bear a child. What good is a duchess who doesn’t carry on the line?”

 

“That’s right. You’ve been through a lot, too.”

 

“Yes. I only married her as arranged by my family. And putting her in the position of Duchess is thanks to the power of the Laurent family.”

 

Then, in a hushed tone, Arsen revealed something secret.

 

“Besides, I’ve been sending money to Yvonne every time she says she’s sick.”

 

“…. Really?”

 

“Yes. But what’s the use of giving good medicine to someone with a weak body? It’s better to use the money to buy her gifts, right?”

 

“That makes sense.”

 

When she heard those words, she could hardly believe her ears.

 

“Besides, at this rate, she won’t have many years left. Is it really worth spending money on her?”

 

Yvonne felt dizzy and staggered. Every word felt like a dagger piercing her heart.

 

What is this? Are all these words true? Has he been using me, and now my family, for his own desires from the beginning?

 

Whose fault is it that I cannot bear a child? Whose fault is it that my body has become weak?

 

From the beginning, all Yvonne could do was watch her husband commit constant adultery without end, and she was left to look after the affairs of the duchy when he carelessly left for the capital.

 

Still, she endured it all because she was the Duchesse de Fontaine. She feared that tarnishing the name of the Fontaine family would bring harm to the Laurent family as well.

 

And besides, she loved Arsen. Apart from him, she had never considered anyone else, nor had she had the opportunity to do so.

 

It was natural for both families to hope for their union. But his gentle and noble demeanor had also managed to touch the heart of Yvonne, who had had little contact with other men.

 

So she had believed that Arsen would at least respect her. That he would treat her with some courtesy, knowing that she was his wife. But she was wrong. Completely wrong.