I Hate You the Most in the World!

Shocked, Duke Marren turned around and left the underground as if he had lost his composure. Left alone, Riett stared intently at Duke Kreutz.

“Riett, I’m sorry for you too.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

Riett lowered her head.

“I know that you didn’t do such things.”

Her red eyes were filled with a stronger determination than usual. Seeing that, Duke Kreutz couldn’t maintain his composure as he did in front of Duke Marren.

“…Riett, I’m grateful, but this time I think I’ll have to disappoint you.”

“…”

“Quickly, go after your father. This place is too dangerous with you here.”

Fierce voices resounded from both sides. Criminals were shouting in indignation and anger.

However, Riett sat down resolutely in front of the iron bars, ignoring them.

“I can’t leave here until I hear the truth.”

Duke Kreutz knew Riett well. Once she made up her mind, she wouldn’t give up even if a storm swept over her.

But this time was an exception.

“Riett, don’t hurt this old man’s heart anymore.”

“Then tell me the truth!”

“There is no truth. Everything you’ve heard so far is the truth.”

“Mister killed his wife and left her body on the mountain, and he concealed the truth by telling others that she died giving birth to Evan, right?”

Riett listed all the stories she had heard so far, her disbelief evident in her words.

“I’d rather believe the Duchess was struck by lightning and died.”

“…”

“Mister, you praised my insight before. Although I’m young, I can distinguish an unbelievable lie.”

In Riett’s trust, Duke Kreutz weakly sat on the cold floor.

In front of Riett, he couldn’t maintain his tough facade.

Especially, he had been glancing towards the door since earlier.

“Are you waiting for Evan?”

As the gaze repeated, Riett realized that Duke Kreutz was waiting for someone.

“I’m sure he’s …… disappointed in me.”

“He said he would not see you.”

Duke Kreutz’s pupils trembled greatly.

No matter how much he pretended to be calm, his son’s cold reaction was shocking.

“You’re truly merciless..”

Though it was cruel, Riett thought she needed to move Duke Kreutz’s heart through Evan.

“I don’t know why you’re lying, but you don’t even consider Evan.”

“…”

“He would have to live with the fact that his father killed his mother.”

Although she said it to provoke Duke Kreutz, it was sincere.

She was worried about Evan as much as she was angry with the pathetic man from yesterday.

If the duke’s guilt was confirmed without any changes, it would be the gazes from people around Evan that he would face in the future.

“Evan would have to live with the label of a murderer’s son.”

“…”

“You told me. If it’s believed that Evan doesn’t have enough qualifications, others will seize the opportunity.”

Riett’s red eyes pressured Duke Kreutz.

“Do you think Evan, the son of a murderer, can inherit the title of a duke?”

Eventually, Duke Kreutz crumbled.

Even without speaking, all emotions could be felt through his expression.

She wondered if she had been too harsh, but if things continued like this, not only would the charges be confirmed, but a death sentence would be handed down to the duke.

That had to be prevented at all costs.

“Haah.”

He let out a deep sigh and massaged his forehead.

Profound anguish could be felt in his gestures.

“…Even if I tell the truth, I don’t know who would believe it.”

Gradually, it seemed that Duke Kreutz developed a willingness to speak the truth.

“I know that what I saw and felt about you was real.”

“…”

“So please tell the truth.”

Duke Kreutz looked at Riett before him.

The demanding gaze for the truth was no longer that of a young child.

For some reason, he felt a desire to tell Riett the truth, buried deep within his heart.

Perhaps he wanted to convey to Riett, whom he had treated like a daughter, that he was not capable of such actions, or maybe he hoped the story would reach Evan.

Finally, Duke Kreutz reminisced and opened his mouth.

“It’s a story that happened over fifteen years ago.”

* * *

Duke Kreutz was preoccupied with the constant matchmaking discussions that were happening around him. As the most handsome young duke, he was considered the empire’s most eligible bachelor. Despite meeting the noble maidens from various aristocratic families every day due to his family’s urging, none of them caught his attention.

However, one day, he met Madeline Bellacris.

Madeline was the eldest daughter of the Bellacris Marquisate, and she was as composed and quiet as her elegant appearance. Compared to the other maidens he had met so far, she was remarkably modest. She didn’t possess captivating looks or enchanting charms that could sway people’s hearts. Yet, there was something unique about her.

After a rather dull dinner gathering, before going to sleep, Duke Kreutz’s mind was briefly filled with Madeline’s soft voice. And suddenly, he felt a desire to hear her voice again.

They had a few more encounters, and Duke Kreutz was instantly captivated by her. When he expressed his affection for Madeline, everything progressed swiftly. The Bellacris Marquisate actively pushed for the marriage proposal, as they could finally marry off their quiet and unremarkable daughter.

“Please marry me, Madeline,” 

Duke Kreutz extended the ring, and Madeline’s expression seemed somewhat sad.

He should have stopped the marriage then.

Blinded by love, Duke Kreutz could do nothing but feign ignorance of Madeline’s sorrowful expression. He believed that it was just a passing phase. Although he knew she didn’t love him, he thought that if he poured his sincerity into the relationship, her heart would eventually change. 

He spent each day with that belief.

However, it was all a delusion, and Madeline’s expression grew darker as the days went by.

“Hmpf..”

One day, Duke Kreutz discovered Madeline crying in the early morning. He approached her and held her tightly, but she didn’t push him away or accept his comfort.

Duke Kreutz realized that she was withering away day by day.

It was on one of those painful days that Madeline approached him with a different atmosphere.

“I have something to tell you,” 

Madeline said, her tone different from usual. Duke Kreutz felt a sense of unease, but he pretended to remain calm and asked, 

“What is it?”

“I… I’m pregnant.”

As her husband, it should have been a cause for celebration, but Duke Kreutz’s expression became incredibly rigid. It seemed as if it would shatter at any moment.

“I assume you already know… the child isn’t yours.”

When she revealed her pregnancy, Duke Kreutz knew that the child was not his. Ironically, he felt sadness as overwhelming as if his world was crumbling, but there was no anger or betrayal. Perhaps he had anticipated this outcome.

“I’m leaving.”

“…Are you saying you want a divorce?”

“No. I will never be allowed to divorce within our household.”

Her words held true.

The Bellacris Marquisate was conservative and valued honor. That’s why she had married him, despite having someone she loved. However, the Marquis would never accept her divorce if she carried another man’s child.

“I’m running away.”

“…”

“With that man.”

Madeline poured out those cruel words as if all her pent-up emotions had exploded at once. Duke Kreutz realized that she didn’t just lack love for him; she resented him.

His mouth felt incredibly bitter. But he couldn’t let her go like this.

“Even if you run away, you’ll be caught soon.”

The man Madeline loved was a powerless commoner. That’s why he couldn’t openly declare his intentions to marry her within her family’s influence. There was no way such a person could completely escape the Bellacris Marquisate’s pursuit.

“…It’s not your concern.”

Madeline spoke with a firm voice. She must have thought he was trying to stop her. However, Duke Kreutz no longer had the will or justification to hold onto her…

“I will help you.”

There was something he wanted from her.

“How can you…?”

“I have the means to hide you.”

Madeline couldn’t easily deny Duke Kreutz’s words.

“But I have one condition.”

“…What is it?”

“Leave the child behind.”

It was to endure the loss after she left. And above all, if he had no child, he would have to marry again without love, and his unhappy life would repeat itself. It was a conclusion he truly wanted to avoid.

“Fine.”

Madeline didn’t hesitate much. What mattered to her was not the child but the person she loved.

Once their agreement was settled, the scenario unfolded smoothly according to Duke Kreutz’s plan.

“Everyone, step back. I will personally receive the child.”

No one suspected anything. Duke Kreutz was known to be deeply concerned about his wife’s critical condition, so it didn’t seem strange for him to want to protect her until her last moments.

While everyone stepped aside, Madeline safely gave birth to the child and handed him over to Duke Kreutz.

The child had black hair, resembling Madeline.

“Are you sure…… you can go now?”

Duke Kreutz looked at Madeline and asked.

Her complexion was pale as if she would collapse any moment now.

“I… have to go. He’s waiting for me,” 

Her desperate expression once again shattered Duke Kreutz’s heart. But as she said, this was their only chance. He opened the escape route he had secured for her.

“As I said, there is a ship with a blue flag. If you board that ship… you can escape the Truto Empire without anyone knowing.”

Madeline nodded, as if understanding, and disappeared. That was the last image of her that Duke Kreutz remembered. And he looked down at the little boy, like a bloody lump, left in his hands.

“Evan…”

He called the name they had chosen for the child in advance. He worried whether this hollowed-out heart could be filled by a child who resembled her. He wondered if he would come to mind and start hating the child more, or if he would become sad.

“Ah…”

At that moment, the child waved his hand. When Duke Kreutz reached out and gently stroked the boy’s smooth cheek, the child, oblivious to everything, smiled brightly.

Watching that scene, Duke Kreutz smiled back.