Chapter 16
Dolorasa stared straight at Graham, who was a little shorter than her.
“Do you like your mom that much?”
“I do. I like her the most in the whole world.”
“I like Dad the most.”
“I don’t like Dad. Dad is…”
He didn’t know exactly why he disliked his father, or how. To young Graham, adultery was a difficult concept to understand.
All he knew was that his father, Theodore, had abandoned him and Rachel, and that it had made them both sad and hurt. He didn’t like that.
The thoughtful Dolorasa didn’t press further.
“I don’t have a mom, so I don’t know why moms are good.”
“…You don’t have a mom?”
Living without a mother? How could that be? She couldn’t even imagine it.
What if her mom disappeared? Just imagining it made her shudder. It was a terrible thought. Graham would surely hate a world without his mother and grieve for a very long time.
Graham felt sorry for this little kid named Dolorasa.
“Moms are really nice. They smell good, they’re soft and squishy, gentle and warm, and it feels nice when they hug you. It’s nice when they pat your head, and when they smile too. They’re really, really nice.”
“That’s different from dads. Dads aren’t soft or squishy.”
“Right. Dads are hard. Sometimes it even hurts when they hug you.”
“Yeah! When they hug too tight, it really hurts.”
“But moms don’t hurt. They’re soft and fluffy.”
“Hmm, that sounds nice. I want to be hugged by a mom too.”
At those words, Graham stiffened. He didn’t like the idea of his mom hugging someone other than him.
“I’m not lending my mom to anyone.”
“Who said anything about borrowing her?”
Dolorasa spoke primly, but she looked a little disappointed.
The two children spent a long time imagining being held in Rachel’s soft, gentle arms.
Rachel moved to the place Sian had prepared to talk.
Sian was someone who knew how to guide a conversation gracefully. Walking with him was never boring.
“Was his name Graham? He seems to love his mother very much.”
“He does. He’s kind, gentle, and listens to me well.”
“Kind and gentle.”
Sian recalled the way Graham had looked at him when they made eye contact at the mansion entrance. He had looked like he would rush forward and bite if anyone harmed his mother even slightly. “Kind and gentle” didn’t suit a beast like that.
If Sian hadn’t acknowledged him as someone protecting his mother, Graham might have lunged at him and bitten his leg.
“Has the child learned swordsmanship?”
“No. He likes knight stories, but he’s basically a quiet child who enjoys drawing and reading. He’s never said he wants to learn.”
With eyes like that, and yet he hadn’t learned the sword.
If he did, he would surely become an outstanding swordsman or knight. On top of that, Graham had the desire to protect his mother. He might even become better with a sword than Sian himself.
Sian’s heart raced again. It felt the same as when he realized how exceptional Rachel was.
‘I want to teach him.’
Sian liked gathering capable people around him and working together. He liked working with them, but he wasn’t good at nurturing talent. Teaching wasn’t his strength.
‘But I want to teach Graham. Is it because he resembles Dolorasa? I want to watch a child’s talent bloom beautifully and grow.’
How wonderful would that be? Thinking that, he let out a small laugh.
‘It’s rare for both mother and child to captivate me at once. The Elrosa family is truly something else.’
After a brief pause, he spoke.
“Madam, if it isn’t rude, may I teach Graham swordsmanship?”
“…Pardon?”
Rachel’s eyes widened at the sudden suggestion.
She hadn’t expected it at all.
More than anyone, Rachel knew Graham had talent with the sword. Even without proper training, he had become a killing machine. If he learned swordsmanship properly from a great master, he might become the knight he truly wanted to be.
Sian was one of the finest swordsmen in the Empire. Experienced, strong, calm, and humble—he would surely be a good teacher.
And if she met Sian regularly under the excuse of sword training, there was a good chance she would naturally grow closer to Dolorasa as well.
From Rachel’s perspective, it was a perfect offer.
Except for one problem.
“As I said, Graham is a quiet child. I don’t know if he’d want to learn the sword. Why are you making this suggestion so suddenly?”
“Graham has both things needed to learn swordsmanship. I became greedy. I wondered what it would be like to make this child’s potential bloom with my own hands.”
“You think Graham has what it takes to learn the sword?”
“Yes. Talent, and the desire to protect someone.”
The desire to protect someone…
Rachel thought of Graham wanting to protect her. Perhaps sword training might help ease his heart.
After a moment of thought, Rachel nodded.
“Thank you for offering first. I’ll ask Graham what he thinks.”
“Thank you.”
When they arrived at the indoor garden, the servants placed tea and refreshments on the table and withdrew. In the spacious garden, only Rachel and Sian remained. Birds could be heard chirping somewhere.
Sian quietly lifted his teacup and spoke first.
“I’ll ask directly. Why did Theodore Elrosa shift his tax evasion and asset concealment crimes onto his mistress’s father?”
It was an abrupt, blunt question with no warning.
Rachel’s eyes widened briefly, but she quickly composed herself.
“…You noticed. Will I be punished as well?”
“Depending on your answer. Until recently, Theodore was suspected of rebellion. Your actions could appear to the noble council as preparations for revolt.”
After a brief pause, Sian continued in a firmer voice.
“I don’t understand. Why did you lighten the crimes of a husband you hate so much? Did you have another intention? Speak honestly. That is why I called you today.”
Sian’s golden eyes flashed threateningly—the same gaze he had used on Theodore at the banquet. Eyes that allowed no lies.
Sian was the most powerful noble in the council and second only to the Emperor in authority. With a single word from him, the crime pinned on Kal could disappear—or Rachel, who had protected Theodore, could be punished as well.
Rachel tensed. Her shoulders and back stiffened, and her voice trembled.
“I wanted Theodore and Jane to fight. If only Kal was punished and Theodore wasn’t, Jane would misunderstand and think Theodore pinned all the blame on her father.”
Rachel paused, then continued.
“…At first, I planned not to care what they did. But seeing them behave so shamelessly right in front of me… I’m sorry. Seeing such ugliness made me want to separate them no matter what.”
“So you wanted your husband to suffer?”
“Yes. That was the best revenge I could think of.”
“Hmm.”
Sian leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs and folding his hands over his knee.
‘She did it to take revenge on her husband.’
It was a reasonable answer. Most people want to hurt someone who has hurt them, in the same way—or worse.
But the woman sitting in front of him was Rachel Elrosa. The method was too ordinary, too predictable, to be her true plan.
The simplest and most satisfying revenge was this:
‘To live happily, as if the person meant nothing to you.’
The thought that someone who left you is living better without you gnaws at a person and causes immense pain. It hurts them without hurting yourself.
And Theodore was reckless, immature, and romantic. If he suffered enough, he might suddenly become obsessively attached to Rachel like a madman.
Sian thought she would know that.
‘Unless she’s planning something bigger. A way to make Theodore suffer while she herself lives happily.’
Rachel was wiser and sharper than Sian gave her credit for.
He let out a deep sigh.
“Very well. I’ll leave the tax issue on Kal’s shoulders as you wish. I’ll also blind the eyes and ears of the council.”
Rachel’s face brightened in relief.
“Thank you very much, Your Grace. I won’t forget this favor.”
“It’s nothing. Have you prepared the divorce papers?”
“Yes. I prepared them in advance. I plan to give them to Theodore when I meet him.”
“Do not give the divorce papers to Count Theodore.”
“…What do you mean?”
If she didn’t give him the papers, he couldn’t stamp them. And without his seal, the divorce couldn’t happen.
As she blinked in confusion, Sian explained.
“Count Theodore Elrosa does not want a divorce. Even if he receives the papers, he will likely tear them up or refuse to stamp them.”
“That can’t be. Theodore would never—”
“Didn’t I tell you? A person’s heart doesn’t always work the way one wants.”
Come to think of it—
In the original story, even after being caught cheating, Theodore denied it and refused to divorce his wife. Because of appearances, his mother’s nagging, and Jane’s status.
Seeing Rachel press her lips together, Sian smiled faintly.
“Instead, there is a good way to force a divorce, whether he wants it or not.”
Rachel’s eyes sparkled.
