~CMWDD 07~

Chapter 7

“Wow… what a… unbelievable face.”

Olentia could only stare, amazed and astonished at her husband’s face.

“You’ve shown me your true heart, my wife.”

Her husband’s red eyes were wholly focused on her—pure, without any trace of impurity.

No words like “beautiful” could describe it. Her heart felt so full it was about to burst.

How wonderful it would be if someone like this were truly her husband.

Thinking that, Olentia fainted on the spot.

After waking from that fleeting dream, everything became even clearer.

The repulsive Count Socor. And the cunning Countess Kikozelia.

It seemed she had to completely let go of any lingering feelings toward them.

Back in her room, Olentia looked at Bobby with eyes blazing like fire.

“Pack immediately! I’m leaving this wretched place.”

Bobby shook his head while gazing out the now darkened window.

“It’s too late tonight, Miss. It’s better to leave tomorrow morning.”

“Ah… that’s true.”

“What will you do? You didn’t happen to get a special marriage permit, did you?”

“You think that’s absurd too, don’t you?”

Olentia wandered around the room without direction before collapsing onto the bed. It felt as though every ounce of moisture, body and soul alike, had dried up completely.

Though she knew Socor would do anything for his own gain, she still hadn’t severed ties until now. If that was a fault, it was her fault.

Olentia swallowed her sadness.

This was not the time to wallow in sorrow.

She would never marry the Marquis Luxus just because the Count and Countess wished it. If she had to marry, she would do so with someone of her own choosing.

Resolute, Olentia lay on the bed under the soft blankets. She needed to sleep quickly and wake at dawn to leave the Count Armeniaca’s mansion, which she had grown so attached to.

The Armeniaca family of the Apricot Tree House.

The grand and beautiful mansion that had sheltered the Armeniaca people.

Only by leaving could she find a new path.

Olentia squeezed her wet eyes shut, trying to fall asleep.

Bobby watched her with pity, then turned off the lights and left the room.

In the spacious room, only Olentia remained.

Early in the morning.

Several carriages were lined up in front of the mansion for Olentia. One was a luxury carriage, and the rest were all cargo wagons.

Socor had surely prepared them in advance, knowing she would leave.

Olentia ground her teeth.

“So he really intended to mock me.”

The carriages were undoubtedly his last, petty gesture of goodwill.

With the help of the servants, Olentia loaded all the luggage that the maids of the annex had packed at dawn onto the cargo wagons. Since she planned to travel with only minimal belongings, it wasn’t much.

Bobby checked the luggage and said to her:

“Preparations are mostly complete, Miss.”

“Good. Let’s go quickly. I want to leave this place as soon as possible.”

Olentia hated Socor for what he had done to her. Though it was part of Kikozelia’s plan, in the end, it was his doing.

Moreover, the Armeniaca mansion held memories of her parents. Leaving it was painful.

Of course, a brief farewell was necessary to move forward.

Olentia took Bobby’s hand, who was heading toward the cargo wagons, and pulled him toward the luxury carriage.

“Let’s ride together. It feels lonely otherwise.”

Though it was unheard of for a servant to ride in a noble’s carriage, Olentia wondered if such distinctions mattered.

Bobby reluctantly nodded.

“Understood, Miss. I’ll always be by your side.”

Those words were a comfort beyond measure.

Just as Olentia was about to climb into the carriage with determination, voices came from behind—those of the butler and the few remaining longtime servants of the mansion. Socor, upon becoming Count, had driven out most of the old servants and replaced them with new ones, leaving only a few who had been there for years.

“Miss Olentia!”

“Are you really leaving, Miss?”

Their voices were filled with deep sorrow, and the feeling sank into her heart.

Olentia turned and looked at them, saying:

“I… I’m leaving. Take care.”

“Miss, you’ll come back, won’t you? You have to come back.”

“You all know why I’m leaving, right?”

“Yes. But I will remain at the mansion.”

“That’s right. We’ll stay and wait for your return.”

Their decision to stay felt as if it were for her sake.

It was comforting to know that the butler and servants would hold the mansion firm in her absence.

Olentia felt the depth of their loyalty and nodded.

It was truly time to leave the Count’s mansion she loved.

“I’ll see it again, for sure. I’ll make it happen.”

Climbing into the carriage and drawing back the curtain, Olentia looked at the mansion with its red-brick walls. Her father had brought the Tree of Knowledge from the holy land of Cassandra, and its fruit blossomed there abundantly. As a child, she and Socor had often eaten the fruit, thinking it delicious. Now, it was horribly bitter.

‘Socor must be watching from somewhere.’

She couldn’t understand why childhood memories of eating that fruit, and of Socor being kind to her, surfaced at this moment.

‘Olentia, even if you fall from your horse, I’ll catch you. Don’t worry.’

‘But you’d get hurt badly!’

‘It’s fine if I break, but you cannot. Uncle will scold me otherwise.’

‘Eh! Isn’t it just because you care about me too much? Be honest! Hehe!’

She must have been twelve then.

Young Olentia fully understood her cousin Socor’s heart. He would answer playfully, yet his gaze was always tender.

Now a young adult, Socor embraced the much smaller Olentia and said:

‘You caught me. Don’t show off too much, little one.’

‘Tch!’

Little Olentia stuck out her tongue, then refocused on riding. She could have learned from many tutors, but she preferred learning from Socor.

“…These aren’t even distant memories.”

Pulling the curtain fully closed, Olentia muttered bitterly. She lamented how things had changed between her and Socor.

Even as she resolved to stand on her own, such thoughts did not fade.

Olentia had already found a house in Noctifer and prepared all the furniture and essentials. She only needed to bring herself and minimal luggage.

The thought of truly living alone made her chest tremble slightly.

“She’s really gone.”

On the third floor of the mansion, Socor bit his lips as he watched Olentia leave. He couldn’t say why he did it. He knew she would leave the mansion eventually.

Seeing her go felt like leaving a child at the water’s edge. Perhaps he had taken her presence in the annex for granted.

‘Am I really softening up?’

That wouldn’t do.

Socor needed to pursue the couple’s interests more decisively than anyone. The previous Count had been an archaeologist, and the Countess a philanthropist, and they had been respected for having a scandal-free, harmonious relationship.

Nobles often had various romantic scandals, but the former couple proudly displayed their love without gossip.

Socor wanted to maintain a good reputation in the Bonus Empire with Kikozelia.

But it was proving far more difficult than he imagined.

Seeing Socor’s serious expression, Kikozelia gently brushed her long hair back.

“Get some more sleep. A tired mind clouds judgment.”

Her soft voice, concerned for him, annoyed him somehow. Strangely so, since everything Kikozelia did was with his consent.

Suppressing his discomfort, Socor stood by the door and said:

“I’m already awake. I must begin my work.”

Kikozelia, tidying the bed he had just left, smiled awkwardly.

“Yes. May God’s blessing be with you today as well.”

Her blessings were solely for the Count and Countess. Socor, aware of this, nodded and left the stifling bedroom. Work was the best distraction when the mind was restless.

“Don’t wander too long, Olentia.”

After all, she had to marry Marquis Luxus. Wandering was only a waste of energy. That was why he allowed her to leave the house briefly. She was in his grasp, after all.

Sighing, Socor headed to his office. For some reason, his steps felt heavy.

The capital of the Bonus Empire, Geranium.

Geranium had major hubs like Green Park and Gold Street, where central nobles lived, as well as Silver Town, Owen Square, and the Bonus Cathedral.

Most residents were either nobles or bourgeois, living leisurely and comfortably.

Until recently, Olentia, the heiress of the Armeniaca Count family, belonged to this world.

“The more I see it, the nicer it seems.”

Olentia murmured as she looked at her new home in the west outskirts of Geranium, in Noctifer. The house, bathed in golden light at sunset, was called the “House of Venus.”

Its proximity to Geranium made it convenient for social season activities. Its biggest advantage was the surrounding ancient walls, providing layered security.

Hiring numerous mercenaries, like at the Armeniaca mansion, wasn’t feasible, so this was a practical alternative.