Chapter 6

“Ah, Edwin, you must not know since you’ve only just returned.”

Edwin’s face was smiling, but his eyes… somehow, they didn’t seem to be. When our gazes met, only then did his eyes follow with a smile.

‘My ability is telepathy, Lady Ivnes.’

Maybe it was because of those words from back then, but every time I saw his eyes, I’d gotten into the habit of checking whether he was using his powers. Were his pupils black, or had they turned red like when he used his ability?

Right now, they were deep black.

But staring into his eyes too long couldn’t be good for my sanity. His eyes were such a dark red that once you looked into them, it became hard to look away. Still, I kept checking his eyes. If I didn’t, I felt uneasy.

“Your father personally recommended this man for you. From what I hear, he lost his wife not too long ago.”

Trying to sound indifferent, I kept speaking casually.

“Yes, that’s right. Marquis Renold was widowed half a year ago, so he has no wife now.”

I forced a smile at Father’s words, and for some reason, that seemed to delight him. He gestured excitedly. I hadn’t planned to sit in the parlor for long, but since he motioned for me to, I had no choice but to take a seat on the sofa.

“Marquis Renold is a truly good man. Just recently, a magic stone mine was discovered on his estate.”

“I see.”

“Yes. If he forms a bond with our family, he’s agreed to hand over the mine.”

It was such an obvious reason that I could only laugh. A magic stone mine was worth more than most jewel mines. With magic stones, even those without abilities could use powers. Of course, it wasn’t all-powerful, but at least basic abilities could be used.

“He said once you marry, he’ll transfer it to you.”

“I see.”

“Of course, you don’t really need something like that, do you?”

“That’s true. Still, wouldn’t it draw less suspicion if I held it for a while?”

Magic stone mines weren’t hard to embezzle from. The mine itself might stay in place, but once the mining rights were sold, that was that.

But for someone planning to escape, things like that didn’t matter.

“You’re right. Perhaps it’s better to transfer it to the family once you’ve had your first child?”

All I could hear in those words was that Father wanted to swallow up the Renold family too.

“Alright.”

Still, I wondered how a man past sixty like Marquis Renold could even think of having an heir. I’d heard he already had a grown son holding the title of young marquis.

“I’m glad I didn’t turn you into a doll. The other children are so selfish, they never listen to a word I say.”

Father laughed heartily and drank the black tea in his cup. He sat at the head of the table, Edwin to his right.

And I sat to Father’s left.

Standing behind Edwin was—

“Abelon looks like he’s in good spirits.”

“Doesn’t he?”

“Yes.”

It was Abelon. Turned into one of Father’s dolls, his self was gone—alive but not living. Perhaps he had inherited our stepmother’s powers too, as Abelon still wore the same smile he’d had in life.

Creak, creak.

Abelon tilted his head in response, the sound of marionette strings rubbing together.

“Good… morning. Ivvv… nes.”

When Abelon spoke, I had to force a smile. He was already dead, but his eyes were still just like when he was alive.

The skin around his eyes was bright red, maybe because of that, all I could feel was that his smile was fabricated, and he no longer seemed human.

It felt strange. We used to fight and argue constantly, yet why did he weigh on my mind now?

Maybe it was fear that I too might end up like that—or maybe it was pity. I didn’t know.

“I don’t want you to marry Marquis Renold, My Lady.”

While I was tangled up in these emotions, Edwin suddenly dropped a bomb. Duke Rosmond looked startled, staring at him.

“Edwin, what’s this about?”

“I just reunited with My Lady, and I don’t want us to be separated so soon.”

“Hahaha. Don’t worry about that. Even if you get engaged now, the wedding won’t be for another half year at least.”

Duke Rosmond laughed, unable to hide his desire, as if already intoxicated by the magic stones. I looked to see if Edwin was about to use his power again, but he had already turned his gaze to Father.

Because of that, I couldn’t tell if he was using his ability.

“Regina, take your sister to her room.”

“Yes, Fa…ther.”

Regina, who had been standing behind me, smiled her crafted smile and guided me away. Watching her stiff, creaking movements, I blankly rose from my seat. Only then did Edwin fix his cold gaze on me. I smiled reflexively, and he mirrored it with that same fabricated expression.

And so, I headed to my room with Regina.

* * *

Knock knock.

This was my office.

“Come in.”

It wasn’t like I had nothing to do in the estate. Even after Abelon was officially named the heir, I still had responsibilities to fulfill.

There were several businesses under my name within the family, after all.

And that was still the case.

“Lady Ivnes.”

“Welcome, Edwin.”

Now that Edwin had entered, it seemed best to push thoughts of business aside for the time being. I deliberately tried to focus on his face again.

I still wasn’t certain if he was truly a telepath, but judging by his peculiar expression, the chances were high.

More importantly, if he really was a mental-type Awakened, hiding his ability would be the norm. After all, concealing one’s power made it easier to manipulate others to one’s liking.

“What brings you here?”

He hadn’t come alone. Behind him were attendants, my aides, and some of Abelon’s former people—now apparently reassigned as Edwin’s aides—all entering my office.

“There’s something I need to inform you of.”

I set down the fountain pen I’d been holding and looked at Edwin. He rolled his eyes and gave a grin.

“I’ll be taking over all the duties you were managing, My Lady.”

His words stirred a strange feeling in me. Perhaps because most of those responsibilities involved the businesses I had personally built.

“I see.”

It was a waste.

But not more valuable than my life. As long as I could somehow rebuild the seed money, I could always start over with new ventures.

But once lost, life couldn’t be recovered.

‘That’s my business! My money! Do you know what I went through to build it?!’

‘My Lady, please be reasonable. Didn’t you start those ventures with the funds provided by His Grace, the Duke?’

‘Who do you think you are to take what’s mine?! You were a stray dog no one wanted!’

Suddenly, a scene from the original story I’d nearly forgotten came to mind. In the source material, Ivnes and Edwin had exchanged those very words.

If I resisted now, Edwin would torment me in far more brutal ways.

If it was going to be taken from me anyway, it was better to hand it over in a way that made it seem like he was receiving my concession, not robbing me.

Once I left the estate to live in hiding, these businesses would mean nothing.

They were things I would eventually let go of—better to let them go now.

“Then, should I just give everything to you?”

“…Lady Ivnes?”

“What’s wrong?”

Edwin, instead of looking pleased, widened his eyes in clear surprise.

“Truly… I can take all the businesses you’ve built? Without them, you won’t be able to become the young duchess. Even knowing that?”

“Yes. Just handle the paperwork through your aide, alright?”

His lips parted, as if he were at a loss for words, then he looked down and exhaled sharply, almost mockingly.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

“Good. Then would you leave now? There are too many people in here—it’s uncomfortable.”

At that, those who had sided with Edwin to strip everything from me exchanged uneasy glances, then left the room.

Edwin also turned to leave, but glanced back.

“My Lady, are you truly unaffected by this?”

A red hue rimmed his irises once more.

“It wasn’t mine to begin with.”

I tried to clear my mind.

This wasn’t mine. It was always destined to belong to someone else. Even the businesses I started weren’t with my own capital. If I could rest now, wasn’t that a blessing?

I kept telling myself that good things come from letting go and continued looking at him.

At that, he seemed genuinely taken aback, his power fading as he turned away.

“Ah, Edwin.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

He turned to meet my gaze, looking as if he expected something.

“What’s the side effect of your ability?”

If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve read Even If We Die Together more thoroughly. For him to have dropped so many hints about his ability and its side effects, and yet I didn’t know—it was frustrating.

“You’re curious about that?”