Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Cadeline continued to converse with Berlia before returning to her home.

Time passed, and nighttime arrived. After all preparations for leaving had been completed, Berlia sat unresponsive in front of the tea table. On the table was a box of Cadeline incense candles. I obtained it by mistake, but I wasn’t sure whether I could really use it.

‘Perhaps this is excellent.’

Cadeline intended to exploit it with her connection with Dean, although Berlia had no such plans. Even if she used this fragrant candle to his body upon his return, it was evident that their relationship would not alter much.

The issue that might then be used was Cain’s connection. However, leaving these incense candles burning…

‘It seems like I’m seducing him.’

This evening, she will attend a great performance with him. Unbeknownst to her, Berlia continued to feel anxious. Then there was a knock heard.

Knock.

Cain was responsible. Berlia closed the box’s lid and stood up from her chair.

She quelled her heart’s quivering and walked towards the door. She maintained her expressionless face with every stride, fearing that if she saw Cain’s face, she would subconsciously adopt a timid expression.

Berlia opened the door gently and met Cain’s gaze. In the Ribella changing room, he had already fashioned his own outfit.

It was such a beautiful scene that it was tragic. In fact, I began to believe that the crowd would stare at Cain rather than the performers on stage. Berlia, however, questioned him with a pleasant smile, trying to be at ease so as not to get preoccupied with her thoughts.

“Can we now depart?”

“Looks like you are ready.”

Cain extended his hand to her. Berlia grasped his hand with caution. She can feel his body heat on the clasped hands.

If only I could hold his hand like this every day, life would be perfect.

Berlia entered the carriage with Cain while contemplating the impossibility.

Cain saw Berlia from the other side of the carriage as they traveled to the theatre. Berlia was unable to lift her head due to Cain’s constant attention upon her. Even though she pretended to be nonchalant, she could not pretend that nothing was happening while she was facing straight ahead.

“Is there anything on my face?”

Cain was questioned by Berlia, who was interested as to why he kept staring at her and also wanted to break the tense situation. It was a strain for anybody to stare at someone so openly, however Berlia didn’t mind receiving his gaze.

“I still believed that necklace would fit you. I never imagined you’d still be wearing this necklace after more than three years. I’d be pleased if you like it.”

Berlia instinctively lowered her head and inspected the necklace around her neck. A necklace encrusted with emeralds whose hue matches her eyes. It was the necklace given to her by Cain three and a half years ago. I did not purposefully wear this necklace to attract attention. Cain’s identification of the jewelry astonished Berlia.

“Did you… Did you remember it? Cain.”

Cain scowled slightly in response to her query.

“Did you believe I couldn’t recall?”

Berlia failed to respond to his query. Because, of course, I believed he would forget the day we met. Because Cain believed she was simply another passerby.

“That’s—”

“Ha… Is that so? Then—”

Cain sighed as he saw her response, which he believed she did not recall.

“Do you find me pitiful?”

Berlia interpreted the meaning of the sigh as a pitiful stare at her. Berlia kept her mouth shut. It was because I did not believe that Cain, who commanded everyone’s attention, would remember me on that lowly day.

“There is no way I could forget. I will never forget that day—”

At Cain’s comments, Berlia felt uncomfortable. Doesn’t his tone imply that his memories of her are highly precious?

Berlia understood with his later statements that her first assumptions were incorrect.

“At the time, I never really envisioned you becoming my sister-in-law.”

These words penetrated Berlia’s heart like a blade. Is it not true that three and a half years ago, out of pity for her ragged look, he never imagined that the impoverished baron’s lady who was given the necklace would dare to enter the Duke of Hildayden?

“Is that… so.”

At the moment, Berlia was unaware that she would become a Duchess and live a magnificent life. There was nothing wrong with his comments, therefore Berlia had no choice but to respond positively.

I did not hate Cain for his remarks that caused me pain. She despised the fact that she was compelled to stay motionless even after hearing these words.

She felt so pitiful that she could maintain a connection with Cain, even if he was just interested in her out of pity. But I had no choice. Since Berlia Hildayden has fallen in love with Cain Hildayden.

* * *

The carriage carrying the pair pulled up in front of the theater. As the two exited the carriage, theater personnel addressed them.

“Can you provide your ticket to me?”

Cain extended the invitation without speaking. The staff member who verified the invitation led the two individuals inside. There was darkness throughout the theater. At this stage, Berlia believed it would be impossible for anyone to distinguish her and Cain’s faces. It was because I feared that others would spread rumors if I attended a performance with him.

If it were known that the Duchess and the Duke’s brother had seen a great performance alone, it would be detrimental for both of them.

“These are your seats.”

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The seat assigned by the attendant was first class. The chairs were arranged such that just two individuals could see the performance. At this level, Berlia was relieved that nobody else would ever be able to see them.

“I hope that you’ll like the performance.”

The worker closed and exited the door. There were just two individuals remaining in the place. Neither Cain nor Berlia spoke until the start of the performance. The curtain was then raised and the performance started.

The play’s substance was surprising. As Cadeline said, it was rather extraordinary. However, the play’s quality was not the issue.

-I, I adore you. Celine.

-Athlon… I love you too, but we cannot be together

-Is it because you are the wife of my brother? If I don’t have a brother, then… Can you be my girl?

It was due to the similarity between the play’s growth and the relationship between Berlia and Cain.

-Do not say such things! What are you thinking? Regain your composure!

-Why do we need to if we love each other? Why can’t we be content?

The following is the plot of the play:

Athlon, the protagonist, cherished his brother’s wife. Eventually, the female protagonist, Celine, fell in love with him as well. So they secretly got together. However, the two cannot be together. Because the lady had loved the younger brother of her husband, and the man had loved his brother’s wife.

-Eiden, my husband cherishes me.

-I will love you more than my brother loves you.

Even Eiden, Aslon’s elder brother, was not a horrible guy. Therefore, Celine lives each day with regret for her spouse. But that shame was unable to eradicate the love that had built for Athlon.

-I love you too. What ought we to do?

As they establish their relationship in secret, Athlon offers to Celine that they go away and live together. However, Celine declines the offer. It was due to the remorse she felt toward Eiden, her spouse.

-Then, let’s go as a pair. What if we abandoned everything and departed?

-If we go, my spouse will be alone. How can we do that? He cherishes the both of us.

She declines his offer. Athlon ultimately murders Eiden, whom he perceives as an obstacle, in order to have Celine.

-Why, why? You murdered him! Athlon!

-Without him… you can be mine!

But they could not be happy together.

Because of my passion for Aslon, my innocent spouse perished at the hands of my brother. all due to me…

If Celine had not loved Athlon, Eiden would have survived. Celine, believing that she was solely responsible for his passing, took her own life.

-Celine, Celine!!!

Aslon sobs hollow tears in a world where neither his brother nor the lady he loves have died, and the play concludes.

It was a terrible conclusion. Berlia contemplated the scenario in which the actor portraying Athlon was sobbing uncontrollably.

‘If there is something different in my relationship with Cain and the story… is it that it’s only me who loves Cain?’

Nevertheless, even if that section were eliminated, the setting of the play was quite similar to the circumstances of the two characters. And this play’s conclusion was heartbreaking.

Therefore, neither Cain nor Berlia were able to talk even after the performance had concluded.

In the returning carriage to the house, just a rattling could be heard. Berlia was still contemplating the plot of the play.

‘In the play, Eidon was a good man, and he’s the victim. But that’s not like my situation. Dean is not like that. If Cain told me to leave, can I do that? Like that play.’

It was a pointless inquiry. But even with such irrelevant inquiries, Berlia had difficulty responding. Because if Berlia resigned as duchess, her family would be forced to return to their previous lifestyle. In the end, theater and reality were unlike in many ways besides appearance.

“How was the performance?”

Cain, who had been silent during the performance, asked Berlia a question about the play after it concluded. After seeing the awful conclusion, he too seemed to have some thoughts.

“It was a tragedy.”

The voice of Berlia was bitter. Even if Cain said that it would be best to abandon their connection, Berlia would be forced to nod her head since she had watched a similar performance. In her position, it was too perilous for Berlia to pass as a woman to Cain just because she was blonde.

‘Will he ever say my name again?’

Cain, however, communicated an entirely different message than Berlia had anticipated.

“Berlia.”

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“…!!”

He called her by name. It was the fact that Cain did not refer to Berlia as his sister-in-law.

“Am I allowed to visit your room tonight?”

It was intended to maintain the connection.

A carriage carrying the pair arrived at the estate. It was now far beyond midnight.