Iris looked down at Kaidrich, who was too humiliated to raise his head, and spoke softly.
“To be honest, your apology means nothing to me.”
After all, Iris had no intention of accepting apologies from her family.
“It’s just... curious.”
The prestigious Valentine name they had always wielded to attack and exploit her—
“To think that the name Valentine was only worth this much.”
That name, which was supposed to be so important, they never strived to uphold it, nor to become worthy of it.
Perhaps the Valentine name was insignificant from the start.
Or maybe it was merely a tool to strike down others.
“It’s not something to be proud of.”
Kaidrich suddenly raised his head to glare at Iris.
“Are you resentful of me?”
His gray eyes carried emotion.
Ironically, the gaze that had never wavered before now seemed to tremble slightly.
Perhaps he was trying to find a trace of the past in the present Iris.
Not that I care,
Iris sneered at those stormy gray eyes.
“But you have no reason to expect me to understand your excuses.”
“You...”
Kaidrich’s lips trembled as he barely held back his shame.
“You, the Count Valentine, delude yourself into believing you did your best as a father.”
“...”
“But Father,”
Iris deliberately used the title coldly, flashing a bitter smile,
“You were never a good husband. You failed, in every way.”
Kaidrich’s face flushed deep red.
“Still, I will remember this moment forever—your last.”
Iris glanced once more at the pitiful figure of Kaidrich kneeling before her.
“Now everyone knows how pathetic you really are.”
With that final word, Iris turned away, abandoning him.
“Let’s go, my lady.”
“Alright.”
She took Cedric’s hand and left without a trace of hesitation.
Kaidrich stood frozen, staring after them blankly.
The image fading from his sight was etched so deeply he couldn’t look away.
“Iris.”
Since the moment he saw her at the banquet, Kaidrich had been filled with anger—unexplainable even to himself.
At first, he thought it was simply because she wouldn’t listen to him.
But...
Iris was walking away, holding Cedric’s hand gently.
Strange as it sounds, as the Duchess of Leonthaim, Iris shone brilliantly.
In that graceful, upright posture, Kaidrich saw a reflection of his beloved wife, Setina.
Setina, with her soft blonde hair and gentle blue eyes.
No.
Iris’s shy smile as she looked at Cedric—
She’s different from Setina.
Setina was quiet, kind, and elegant, even if not flashy.
Iris...
His chest tightened.
His longing for his wife haunted his eyes.
The first impression Kaidrich had of Setina was of a fragile girl who never laughed loudly,
Too weak to roam outside freely.
From the moment they met, Kaidrich thought she was so fragile that he wanted to protect her.
Strange to say, Miss Clarington, you are too weak.
So, Count, do I displease you?
That’s why... I want to protect you.
Though he had despised weakness all his life, Setina changed him.
But that dream didn’t last long.
Marriage was reality.
Watching his wife wither from their misunderstandings, Kaidrich began to regret.
But it was already too late.
Setina died, leaving behind an angel named Liliana.
Our Liliana. Love her so she never feels my absence.
Setina passed away on the last day of the grand Festival of the Sacred Steed.
...I love you, Kaidrich.
That was the first and last time she called his name and made a request.
Kaidrich held the angelic blonde baby and wept for a long while.
Setina.
I did my best.
I faithfully fulfilled your last wish and raised Liliana like the world’s most precious treasure—
More precious than a princess.
But Iris could never be that.
In truth, Kaidrich believed Iris was not his child.
He could not cherish the one who divided him from Setina.
After all, she didn’t even resemble him.
Raising her as his own was all the duty he would do.
But Setina.
Kaidrich clenched his teeth hard.
The wound in his heart ached more than the shoulder pierced by the emperor’s blade.
‘From Iris... I keep seeing glimpses of the version of you I had forgotten.’
Chapter 7 – The Name of Iris
Iris held Cedric’s hand as they quietly left the imperial palace together.
The Leontheim carriage awaited nearby, but the simple joy of walking hand-in-hand made them linger a bit longer.
“My lady. I’ve kept my promise. How did it look to you?”
“Hmm... it was good.”
Spring blossoms, blooming early, lifted their heads above the branches around the palace.
“A lot of emotions stirred at once.”
“That’s more than enough.”
“But still... I understand now what you wanted to give me.”
As Iris looked up at Cedric, he naturally turned his gaze to meet hers.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
Whenever their eyes met like this, Iris’s heart thudded with a soft intensity.
Because Cedric asked me to call his name.
Even if it had been said out of politeness, maybe it was okay to gather a bit more courage. Maybe it was alright... to call him by his name first.
“...Cedric.”
Startled, Cedric’s eyes widened.
Flustered by his reaction, Iris quickly added, cheeks flushed red.
“We agreed I’d call your name instead of saying thank you, remember? So...”
“Indeed. I’m glad we made that promise.”
All Iris had done was call his name.
Yet even that simple gesture made Cedric’s ears turn red with joy, and a bright smile appeared on his lips.
Is he really happy...?
That cautious feeling within her continued to grow.
Is it alright... for me to take small steps closer to him like this?
After all, she was the one who killed him.
Unconsciously, the current image of Cedric smiling overlapped with a pale, dying face from another time.
I love you.
Blood staining his pale hands—Cedric, who died protecting her.
I don’t know about anything else, but not being able to remember your face clearly now... that angers me.
If he had been alone, he—this story’s rightful protagonist—would never have died.
Do I even deserve Cedric’s love, when it’s so overwhelming it doesn’t feel like mine to have?
Guilt pierced her chest.
Cedric’s love was so good, so kind... it felt almost too much for someone like her.
To Iris, this moment felt like a delicate bubble—ready to burst and disappear at any time.
I’m probably not someone you need by your side.
Until now, everyone who had stayed with Iris had done so because they
needed
something from her. She believed the same was true for everyone—people only stayed when they had something to gain or needed someone.
But Cedric is different.
Unlike Iris, who needed Cedric without question—Cedric didn’t have any reason why it
had
to be her.
If one day his love were to change, there would be nothing Iris could do to stop it.
Would I be able to endure a world without you in it...?
The more she changed things, the more the world moved faster than before.
The original story is shifting.
And yet... Iris’s name still wasn’t in the original.
A flower that blooms early is always the first to fall.
Perhaps this fleeting happiness was only racing toward its end.
“There will be a festival tomorrow.”
As if sensing something, Cedric held her hand more tightly.
“Do you enjoy festivals?”
His grip was large and firm, bringing with it an inexplicable sense of calm.
As if, just by holding this hand, nothing could ever go wrong.
“...No,” Iris said quietly, glancing up at him.
“I don’t really like crowded places. And you, Your Grace?”
“I don’t either. They tend to be tiring affairs.”
Cedric lifted their clasped hands and gently swung them playfully in front of her.
“As expected of husband and wife. We truly do share many things in common.”
His crimson eyes curved gently, twinkling with warmth—seeking her agreement.
“Or perhaps... we’re starting to resemble each other?”
The boldness in his voice made Iris laugh softly.
“Either way is fine with me.”
She lightly tightened her grip on his hand. Warmth and gentle pressure held them together.
“Then... if it’s alright with you, how about taking a walk tomorrow instead of going to the festival?”
“A walk?”
“Yes. I think we could still enjoy the festival spirit that way.”
At this rate, nothing seemed able to come between the two of them.
“That’s a lovely idea,” Cedric replied, a refreshing smile touching his lips.
“I’d love to take a walk with you.”
The way his eyes crinkled as he smiled—it was as if he was still a boy, full of bright, honest joy.
Meanwhile, Liliana had yet to return to the Valentine estate, aimlessly wandering near the imperial palace.
What happened after I left...?
The event had been so shocking that, surely, if she wandered a bit, she would hear the rumors.
From the open gardens of the imperial palace, the light chatter of noble maidens enjoying a tea party drifted through the air.
“...Isn’t it utterly ridiculous?”
“Exactly. I always thought he was pure, but I never imagined he could be so selfish.”
Liliana’s senses sharpened as she eavesdropped on their conversation.
“To be honest, we should’ve realized earlier when he kept spending time alone with other women despite having a fiancée.”
“...We all tried to see the best in him until now. But the truth has finally surfaced.”
Turning away, Liliana pressed her hands lightly against her lips to hold back the tears.
They’re all too harsh.
Among them were even some of Liliana’s friends—Emilia, whom she trusted most of all!
I was right all along.
But the tears she couldn’t hold back slipped down her cheeks.
“A person who abandoned their own family—what loyalty can they possibly have?”
“And that brother who stood up for his own honor—at that time, I was so deeply disappointed.”
Liliana bit her lip tightly, struggling to keep silent.
No one wants to understand my situation. They don’t know how hard I suffered back then.
Instead, they were busy gossiping, tearing her down like a mere rumor.
“Oh, did you see the dress the Duchess of Leonthaim wore this time?”
“It’s not even a trendy dress lately, but I keep thinking about it—I want to try wearing it.”
“The salons are flooded with orders for dresses similar to hers! We should all try one sometime.”
In stark contrast, the talk about Iris was filled only with admiration and praise.