The Fake Madam Disappeared
Vol. 1 - Ch. 67

Morning always returned.

Baroness Nouvelle stood motionless, watching the rising sun before slowly moving her feet. 

It had been five nights since the Madam returned. Nothing had changed during that time except for one thing: Edmund.

Lately, high society had been abuzz, and the scandal had spread like wildfire, becoming the hottest topic even among the general populace of the Empire. The protagonist of this sensational story was none other than their master.

Duke Winter was preparing to divorce his current wife and marry none other than Princess Elizabeth.

When the rumor first reached the household staff, they dismissed it outright, waving it off as absurd nonsense. But when Edmund made three visits to the Imperial Palace,, more precisely, to the Princess’s residence, within five days, everyone fell silent, anxiously waiting for Edmund to speak.

Yet, he said nothing.

No one knew what was truly going on, so they focused on their own duties. Baroness Nouvelle was no exception. She quietly opened the door. On the still bed lay Damian, fast asleep.

“Madam.”

Daphne was seated in a corner of the room.

With Edmund’s permission, Daphne had spent almost all her time in Damian’s room except for sleeping, eating, and receiving treatment. But even then, her days mostly consisted of sitting in silence, staring into space.

Catching sight of the Baroness, Daphne greeted her with a soft nod.

“How are you feeling? You’ve been walking around again, haven’t you?”

“Yes.”

Doing nothing had accelerated her recovery more than expected. Now that her wounds had begun to heal, Daphne had been walking properly since the day before. Although she still limped slightly, she no longer needed to lean on the wall.

“Keep practicing, but don’t overdo it.”

“Okay.”

The Baroness stepped closer to Damian, checking his temperature and gently touching his hands and feet. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, his seizures had stopped since the day Daphne returned. But there had been no sign of improvement in his condition.

Today, he was exactly the same as the day before.

After completing a brief check-up, Baroness Nouvelle noticed Daphne had fallen asleep beside the bed and quietly closed the door behind her.

* * *

“Your Excellency.”

At Benjamin’s call, Edmund handed him his jacket and turned to look at him.

“…How’s your shoulder?”

“It’s fine.”

Benjamin, well aware that Edmund hadn’t used any mana stones, gave a small nod.

“Your Excellency.”

When Benjamin called again, Edmund sat down in his chair and gave him a steady look.

“Well… it’s just…”

“Speak plainly.”

It had been days since Benjamin began broaching conversations like this. And yet, he always seemed to circle around the real topic. Edmund hadn’t pressed him; he understood Benjamin’s hesitation.

But today was different. Edmund had just returned from another exhausting visit to the Princess’s residence, dealing once again with Elizabeth’s endless demands and threats. His body wasn’t tired, but mentally, he was drained. He wanted to send Benjamin away as soon as possible.

Benjamin raised his head, as if finally gathering the courage.

“I’ve heard the rumors. I know they sound absurd, but… out of concern, I must ask. Is it true that you’re divorcing Madam and planning to marry Princess Elizabeth?”

“It’s true.”

Rubbing at the ache in his brow, Edmund cut him off.

“The rumor is fact.”

“…I see.”

Benjamin, visibly shaken, nodded stiffly.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

After adjusting the jacket, he bowed and quietly left the room.

Edmund watched him go in silence, then turned to the pile of documents and resumed working. His eyes and hands moved automatically, without pause.

Once again, he skipped dinner, and by the time the words blurred in front of him, he realized how much time had passed. Out of habit, he pulled a cigarette from his inner pocket and lit it.

The window had been open since before he arrived, so the smoke drifted out easily, not hindering his work. Finishing one, he reached for another, only to find the case empty.

Edmund frowned, pulling out the now-light case and weighing it in his hand. He had gone through a pack unusually fast this time. He almost pulled the bell cord to call for more but stopped when he realized it was already dawn.

Still, he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep without it. Instead of heading to his bedroom, Edmund returned to his paperwork. 

Only when signing yet another document did he realize he hadn’t visited Damian once today. He rose and began walking alone through the quiet halls.

In the silence, only his footsteps echoed faintly. As he opened the door to Damian’s room, Edmund froze in place.

Daphne was there. She sat beside Damian’s bed, holding his hand, her head bowed low. The light from the hallway spilled into the room, casting a glow behind her slender frame. She flinched slightly in the sudden illumination.

Daphne turned her head and their eyes met.

“…”

Without a word, Daphne stood.

“If you’re here to see Damian, I’ll leave you to it.”

She walked away without stumbling. But to Edmund’s eyes, her steps were unsteady and fragile, as if she might collapse at any moment.

“Daphne.”

At the sound of her name, she wavered. Edmund reached out and caught her by the waist. They were now close enough to feel each other’s breath.

“…Let me go.”

She struggled weakly in his arms.

“Are you planning to collapse again?”

He frowned unconsciously. Her thin frame was unmistakable, even through the fabric. He’d been told she was eating and resting well, but she hadn’t gained any weight at all.

“I’ll walk you to your room.”

Daphne stopped resisting. She knew there was no use struggling as she wouldn’t escape his grasp anyway.

Turning her face away, she tried to keep her breath separate from his.

In the stillness, only Edmund’s footsteps echoed once again. He gently laid her on the bed and turned to leave.

“Your Excellency.”

She spoke.

“…Why do you still call me that?”

“Because we’re divorced.”

“Daphne.”

He moved closer to her.

“Are you angry?”

“Angry?”

She shook her head.

“Of course not. I was the first to agree to this divorce. Why would I be angry at Your Excellency?”

Her voice held no emotion. Like a hollow doll.

Thump.

A sudden sound snapped Edmund out of his thoughts.

Thump.

There it was again.

Then, he realized it was the sound of his own heartbeat.

‘Why?’

Why was he so uneasy?

“Don’t worry about me too much.”

“…Daphne.”

“Oh, I do have one condition.”

Still not meeting his eyes, she continued.

“Find Anna. She has no family. If she doesn’t want to be my maid anymore, that’s fine, but please, just find her.”

“…”

“That’s my only request.”

She let out a faint, almost bitter laugh.

“It feels like everything’s come full circle. Once you marry the Princess, I won’t be here anymore, so I’m saying this now.”

“…Daphne.”

Edmund called her name again, a vague dread creeping in. But she spoke first.

“Congratulations on your engagement. Truly.”

Truly.

Edmund blinked.

‘She congratulated me… sincerely.’

He repeated her words in his head.

“You finally get to marry the person you want. I feel like I’ve stolen too much of your time. I…”

“Enough.”

He cut her off instinctively. She looked confused.

Edmund stared blankly. The marriage with the Princess brought more harm than good. Any small political gain was barely worth noting. His goal had only ever been one thing: to get Daphne out of that place.

Only now did he realize… 

She was the only thing that truly mattered to him.

‘Why?’

Why had it taken him so long?

Why did his chest feel so heavy now?

Edmund was overwhelmed by a feeling he couldn't name.

“Your Excellency, I…”

“Daphne.”

He bent down and clutched her hair in his hand. Her plain brown hair slipped through his fingers. As he let go, it tumbled softly down.

“Even if we’re divorced, nothing has changed.”

“…”

“And let me make this clear. Don’t even think about running away.”

He placed his hand gently on her flat stomach. At his touch, her shoulders flinched and her expression stiffened.

“I have no intention of letting my child be born anywhere else.”

T/N: He already knew she wasn’t pregnant. He was just looking for excuses to make her stay and not leave his sight.