To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 113

“It’s estimated to be about two months.”

“Her period was always irregular, and because of a long-term illness since childhood, her pulse was unstable. Even the physician didn’t notice”

“Did you know? My daughter still doesn’t know she lost her child. She passed out right after hearing those cruel words from you.”

Graham stared at Ian, who looked like he had lost his soul, and remembered the previous night. They were wondering whether to stay overnight at the banquet hall because of sudden rain. Just then, a servant said the coachman who had gone with Aisha urgently needed to speak with them. What he told them made the people of Parden pale in shock as they rushed to the carriage.

‘Bring hot water now! Damn it! Why is it always at times like this that we don’t have it?!’

When they arrived at the Parden estate, it looked like an earthquake had hit. Servants were running everywhere, the physician was shouting and in the middle of it all was his precious daughter.

‘F-Father.’

Her face looked so pale and fragile, it was surprising she hadn’t fainted again. It looked like she would break with just a touch. Aisha had already fainted once, but after waking, she somehow managed to stay conscious and asked for her father and family.

‘Be careful… Be very careful. Ian… Ian might hurt you…’

Even while barely breathing, Aisha tried to explain what had happened with Ian. Count Parden realized his daughter was worried she might not be able to warn the family. It tore his heart apart.

“Marissa was right. My children are the most precious thing in the world”

After that, his memory was blurry. He remembered Daniel shouting at the physician to do something as Aisha passed out again. Then everything was filled with the pale image of his daughter and the metallic scent of blood that even covered the smell of rain.

“I should never have treated you like a child. I should’ve admitted you could harm my family. I ruined everything.”

Count Parden came to his senses at dawn when Aisha’s breathing finally became stable. Though she still hadn’t opened her eyes, the physician said her life wasn’t in danger, so the Count went to his study.

He opened the safe and carefully packed documents he had hidden away, along with old letters tucked inside books.

‘Gone?’

‘Yes. Only Lady Sophia returned last night. Count, did something happen to the young master?’

It wasn’t hard to guess Ian had gone to the Farne villa. The moment he found out Ian wasn’t at the Marquis’ estate, this was the next place that came to mind.

Count Parden stared at the frozen Ian, then placed the bag he had brought onto the table. He opened it, pulled out an old letter from the top, and handed it to Ian.

Ian accepted the letter with trembling hands. Honestly, he didn’t care what it was. But once he saw the handwriting was his father’s, he couldn’t stop his eyes from reading.

“To hell with Graham. He deserves to suffer forever. I was a fool to ever think of you as a friend.”

The Parden estate was located on the eastern coast of the Empire. A small bay connected it to the main river running through the entire Empire. Though small, the estate could transport goods easily along the river, making it relatively wealthy.

The estate’s lord, Count Parden, was quite famous for someone of his rank. His father had been a merchant who became a noble thanks to Emperor Nicholas I, after helping win a trade war. But the current Count had surpassed even his father, building an enormous fortune through excellent business skills. Though he hadn’t entered central politics yet, many believed he would soon use his wealth to rise among the capital’s nobles.

For now, however, he still lived in his hometown with his wife and only son, Graham.

“Graham! Where are you going again? What if your father finds out?”

The Count, wanting to protect his hard-earned wealth, strictly educated his only son. He hired tutors for every subject and even managed his sleeping schedule.

“Father’s out. He won’t be back until evening. I’ll go out for a bit. Please ask Mother to explain things to the tutor!”

But the Count was always busy, so it was hard to keep a close eye on Graham. That’s why, whenever his father was away, Graham would ask his gentle mother, Olivia, to let him go outside.

As soon as he left the house, he ran to a nearby field his usual meeting place with childhood friends.

“Daphne! Marissa!”

Sure enough, two girls were waiting in the distance: Marissa and Daphne. They were from families in the Parden estate. They weren’t commoners, so they could spend time with Graham from a young age.

“Graham, I missed you!”

The moment Graham waved, the lemon-haired Daphne ran and hugged him. Daphne was from a fallen noble family, barely clinging to its title, but she looked like a princess from a fairy tale.

“D-Daphne… Marissa’s watching.”

“So what? It’s just us.”

With golden hair, peachy cheeks, and big blue eyes, Daphne looked like a fairy. Graham fell for her at first sight and confessed his feelings at fifteen. Now, at sixteen, they were sweethearts.

“It’s fine. It’s not like this is the first time.”

Marissa shook her head as she watched them hug. She had light brown hair and eyes. Though not a noble, she was the daughter of a wealthy merchant family. Compared to Daphne, she was simpler but still beautiful especially her intelligent eyes, which were enough to make many village boys secretly blush.

“Still… sorry, Marissa.”

Graham blushed, embarrassed as he apologized. Marissa stared at him for a moment, then turned her head slightly. Her eyes showed a hint of bitterness.

Noticing Marissa, Daphne placed both hands on Graham’s cheeks and turned his face to her.

“Anyway, Graham. There’s a weird rumor going around.”

“Rumor?”

“That you’re going to get engaged to the Baron of Wizef’s daughter.”

“What? No way! Where did you hear that?”

“It’s all over the village. Marissa, you heard it too, right?”

Marissa hesitated, then nodded. Graham shook his head firmly, denying it, and Daphne finally smiled when he loudly insisted it wasn’t true.

“Okay. I believe you.”

“Thanks, Daphne. For trusting me.”

“But say it clearly now. Who are you going to marry, Graham?”

“Of course, you, Daphne!”

Graham answered without a second of doubt. But Daphne’s face turned sad, and she spoke with teary eyes.

“But the Count and Countess don’t like me.”

It was true. Graham’s parents didn’t think well of Daphne. Though they interacted with her family, they were put off by their arrogance and excessive spending. Even Olivia, who usually gave in to her son’s wishes, had said Daphne was too much like her parents.

“Don’t worry. I got their permission.”

Graham had begged and even went on a hunger strike. His father had beaten him, but after Graham refused to back down despite broken canes, the Count finally gave in.

“What? Really?”

“Yeah. But there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

Being the clever merchant he was, the Count added a condition one that would be hard to fulfill and would take time.

“He said I have to go to the academy now. If I graduate in the top ten, I can marry you.”

“No way!”

Graham was happy just knowing he had permission, but Daphne wasn’t. She immediately recognized the academy as a trap.

“The academy is near the capital. We won’t even see each other. And it takes five years to graduate! Do you even know how smart the students are? There are geniuses from all over the empire. How can you be in the top ten?”

“I know! But I can do it for you, Daphne. Just wait five years”

“Graham You said you’d make me happy. I want to marry you now. I want to wear pretty dresses and live in a lovely house starting tomorrow.”

As Daphne whined, Graham panicked. He also wanted to marry right away. But when he once asked Daphne to run away with him, she refused. This was the only way now.

“Forget it! If you’re not going to marry me now, don’t even talk to me! Got it?”

“D-Daphne!”

When Graham didn’t agree right away, Daphne pouted and ran off. He turned to follow her, but Marissa grabbed his sleeve.

“Leave her. She’ll be back soon.”

“But…”

“This isn’t the first time. If you always chase after her, your parents will hate her even more.”

She wasn’t wrong. Graham’s parents already disliked Daphne, and it only worsened whenever Graham insisted on being with her.

“You’re right, Marisaa. But I still have to comfort her.”

Graham gently pulled away from Marissa’s hand and ran after Daphne. Watching the two childhood friends run across the field, Marissa sighed and muttered softly.

“If it weren’t for your foolish kindness, Graham, I never would’ve fallen for you.”

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