SFML 02

Chapter 2

Cecilia Panning.

In the imperial social circles, she was known for her dramatic life.

First, she lost her parents—the Count and Countess Panning—the year she turned ten.

Left an orphan, Cecilia had no relatives to rely on. Following her late father’s will, she was entrusted to the household of Viscount Osborne, a close friend of her father.

The young girl who once drew everyone’s sympathy shocked society again when she came of age and married a commoner, Evan March.

People couldn’t understand her choice, but Cecilia didn’t care.

As an orphan himself, Evan made her feel a deep sense of kinship.

Her closest friend—raised alongside her like a sister—Rosena Osborne, had wholeheartedly supported their marriage.

Because of that, the fact that Evan held no title at the time never mattered to her.

Then, two years ago, everything changed.

“What? Evan is… the Duke of Hayes’ lost son?”
“Yes. Those cufflinks he carried are the proof. They were something my son, Gilbert, gave to the child’s mother.”

Summoned suddenly to the House of Hayes, the truth was revealed: Evan was the only son of Gilbert Hayes, the former duke.

The ducal family disclosed that Evan’s mother had been a maid of the household and presented a birth certificate bearing her signature.

The keepsakes Evan had cherished as his mother’s belongings were also confirmed to have belonged to Gilbert.

The duchess dowager, Elise, immediately registered Evan into the family, and when Gilbert Hayes passed away, Evan became duke overnight.

Naturally, Cecilia ascended to the position of duchess as well.

From a count’s daughter, to an orphan, to the wife of a commoner businessman—and finally, to a duchess.

People believed she would now live in nothing but happiness.

But that was a complete illusion.

“Evan, it’s already so late. Shall we go to the bedroom—”

“Cecilia, please. I told you not to interrupt me.”

After becoming duchess, Cecilia spent her days in profound loneliness, met with nothing but her husband’s cold indifference.

Busy with business before, Evan had grown even more irritable after becoming duke, and their time together as a couple had all but disappeared.

Summoning her courage, Cecilia went to his study, but as always, Evan didn’t bother hiding his annoyance.

“B-but you heard what the physician said too. Today is that important day…”

Normally, she would have backed down, reading his mood—but not today.

It had already been five years since their marriage, yet they still had no child.

Cecilia was growing desperate.

Especially Evan’s grandmother, Elise, who openly demanded an heir and harassed Cecilia at every turn.

“I tell you this every time. What will you do if that sly Rainer Hayes steals the dukedom at this rate?”

Elise despised Rainer, her husband’s illegitimate son.

Her anxiety about losing the title was directed entirely at Cecilia.

“A wife who can’t properly support her husband is committing a grave fault.”
“I-I’m sorry…”

Every time she endured Elise’s scolding, Cecilia felt suffocated.

The physician she had desperately sought out had advised them to share a bed—today of all days.

But Evan’s reaction was icy.

“A physician? And why should I bother?”

His detached tone made it feel like it had nothing to do with him at all.

Cecilia felt a pang of hurt, but she swallowed it and spoke gently once more.

“Because Grandmother is waiting for a child too…”

“Hah, that again? Aren’t you sick of it?”

With a sigh, Evan deliberately tapped the pile of documents stacked on his desk.

Cecilia shrank back.

“Use your eyes. I’m already buried in work.”

“A-are you really that busy?”

“Why bother explaining? It’s obvious you wouldn’t understand—living off Rosy’s family and never properly educated.”

At his mocking words, Cecilia lowered her head.

She had been determined that tonight, they would finally go to the marital bedroom together.

But standing before him, she felt unbearably small.

“If you understand, go take care of Rosy instead. Your friend is raising a child alone, and you ignore her just because you want your own baby? Is that how selfish you want to live?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Cecilia’s face burned.

As he said, Rosena was raising her child alone.

She had once been engaged to the eldest son of a prestigious noble family related to the emperor.

But when it was revealed that he was a con artist who had falsified his status, her life collapsed overnight.

The child in her womb was already far along, and Rosena had no choice but to endure childbirth and childcare alone.

Compared to her, Cecilia’s desire to have a child suddenly felt selfish—just as Evan said.

“I’m sorry for bothering you. I’ll go now…”

“Yes. And please stop coming to my study. Just seeing your face makes my headache worse.”

“…Okay.”

Cecilia fled his study as if chased away.

Ignoring Evan’s muttering behind her, she dragged herself toward the bedroom.

So this is how today ends again.

Her shoulders sagged as she walked.

Does Evan not want a child?

It felt unbearably lonely, as if she were the only one desperate.

There was pressure from others, yes—but more than anything, she wanted to hold a child who looked like Evan.

If only he had understood even a little.

If he had said just one warm sentence—“I understand how you feel.”

Then she wouldn’t feel this alone.

…No. He must just be very busy.

Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, Cecilia tried to comfort herself.

Evan still loved her.

He was simply tired, momentarily irritated.

She repeated it to herself like a spell.

But without her knowing, an irreversible misfortune was already closing in.

＊ ＊ ＊

Several days later, late at night.

“This can’t be…”

Cecilia stood frozen outside Evan’s study, one hand clamped over her mouth.

“Mmm… Evan…”

“Hah… You like it? Hm? Say something. You’re way better than Ria.”

Evan was passionately kissing the woman sprawled across his desk.

The refined man of the daytime was gone—what remained was a beast steeped in desire.

Clothes lay scattered carelessly around the room.

It was maddening enough that he had rejected Cecilia, only to hold another woman—but when she recognized who it was, it felt like a slap across her face.

“Ah… it’s so good… I feel like I’ll die from how good it is.”

The woman in Evan’s arms was Rosena Osborne.

The friend who had grown up with Cecilia like a sister.

Rosena often stayed at the ducal residence with her son, Jeremy.

“You think Evan’s grown cold? No way. Maybe you’re just being too clingy, Ria. You are a bit bad at reading the room.”
“Do you think so…?”
“Yeah. Evan’s only human. If you interfere too much, he’ll get tired of it. Men hate that the most.”

She had even said that earlier today, with a perfectly calm expression.

But the shock didn’t end there.

“Should I have another baby for you? How about a daughter this time?”

“That’d be perfect. Jeremy looks like me, so our daughter should look like you, Rosy.”

Smiling in satisfaction, Evan kissed the nape of Rosena’s neck.

Cecilia nearly collapsed.

Jeremy… is Evan’s child?

Her legs gave out.

Though not related by blood, she had loved Jeremy like a true nephew.

The child who smiled brightly and ran into her arms…

He was her husband’s son.

“Ah—!”

Staggering, Cecilia fell backward, the thud echoing loudly.

At once, Evan and Rosena froze.

Through the open doorway, they finally noticed Cecilia slumped on the floor.

“C-Cecilia?”

“Kyaa!”

Startled, Evan sprang up from atop Rosena.

As he scrambled to pull on his trousers, he slipped and fell flat on his backside.

“Ugh!”

“Evan! Are you okay?”

Rosena hovered helplessly over him, unable to move.

Barely clothed, she crouched on the desk, covering herself with her arms.

Before this absurd and miserable sight, Cecilia couldn’t say a word.

Clinging to the doorframe, her legs shaking violently, she forced herself upright.

“H-how… how could you… how could you do this to me…”

Her voice trembled as she spoke.

It felt as though her heart was being torn apart, as if she might vomit blood at any moment.

“How could you do this… to me?”