MHYFMAMD Ch 48

Before her was someone who shouldn’t have been there at this hour.

 

The man who had been walking toward her stopped in front of the open door. As he slowly looked at her, Tenesia felt her breath catch in her throat.

 

“You’ve been pretending, but you ended up opening the door, didn’t you?”

 

“It wasn’t me.”

 

Tenesia knew he wouldn’t believe her. Nevertheless, she had no choice but to tell the truth.

 

Even if it meant receiving a cold gaze from Dietrich.

 

“So, are you saying that what I’m seeing right now is all an illusion, Lady?”

 

She had prepared herself for this, but his mockery pierced her heart more sharply than she expected.

 

“You must have struggled to hold back your urge to open it all this time. I suppose I should commend you for planning it so thoroughly, considering you failed once.”

 

“I didn’t open it. It was already open when I arrived.”

 

“It was open… all by itself?”

 

A sarcastic laugh echoed down the hallway.

 

“No, Tenesia. You’ve already used that excuse before. This time, you’d better come up with a more creative explanation if you want me to believe you.”

 

The blatant mockery struck her hard in the head.

 

“Why would I lie to Margrave? It was like that last time, and it’s like that now.”

 

“Really? How would I know if there’s something you have to get behind my back?”

 

“…”

 

“Let me ask you just one thing.”

 

He reached out and placed his hand on the wall beside her head.

 

“Why are you so interested in closed-off rooms?”

 

Tenesia momentarily lost her words. It wasn’t because she had nothing to say. It was because the curse prevented her from speaking the truth.

 

“I was curious.”

 

Tenesia, having no answer to the question, finally spoke out in frustration.

 

“Because there are unspecified rooms that are prohibited from being used.”

 

“That’s not all, is it? When I saw you just now, you had the look of someone who knows exactly what’s beyond this door.”

 

Dietrich was particularly keen. It wasn’t just a natural trait; he had honed it through years of survival in the battlefield, always doubting and questioning.

 

Just like right now. Tenesia held her breath.

 

She couldn’t speak the truth. The curse would silence her as it pleased. Her throat tightened like it was being squeezed shut.

 

“Perhaps you’re mistaken. The corridor is quite dark, isn’t it?”

 

“You’re so thorough that I’m sure there’s no way funds from the Haberfeld estate would ever disappear into corruption.”

 

He mocked, moving closer.

 

“Stop dodging the question and answer. What is it you want? Why are you eyeing this room so eagerly?”

 

“…I’m not aiming for anything.”

 

That was the truth. If anything, she had a mountain of questions she wanted to ask.

 

Why had the room she once used been closed?

 

Why was it no longer in use?

 

“Do you want to take Grace’s place so badly?”

 

“What?”

 

Tenesia gaped in disbelief.

 

“That’s ridiculous. I’ve never thought of such a thing.”

 

“Really? Didn’t your actions show otherwise?”

 

His voice grew sharper, almost as if he were about to snap.

 

When it came to anything related to Grace, Dietrich turned into a completely different person, as though he were no longer the same person she knew.

 

The intense emotion he displayed seemed as though he couldn’t control his feelings. He was usually so rational and objective, but now he appeared to be a stranger.

 

“You need to answer if you want me to trust you. If you keep avoiding my questions, I’ll just interpret it however I want.”

 

“I didn’t open it.”

 

After a long silence, only the same repeated words came out. It was essentially the only answer she could give Dietrich.

 

But Tenesia’s answer was enough to unsettle him.

 

“Oh, this time, I suppose I’ll need to negotiate with you. Maybe then you’ll reveal what’s really going on with you.”

 

His rough voice scraped at her ears.

 

“If you’re so desperate to play the lady of this house, then I’ll let you.”

 

“Wait… Dietrich!”

 

Dietrich suddenly grabbed her wrist and forcefully started pulling her along. His grip was strong, and she was helplessly dragged along behind him.

 

“Where are you taking me?”

 

“If you’re so eager to play the lady of this house, you should first take care of your most important duty and responsibility.”