# 41 -
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Lydia trembled as she ran down the stairs.
How dare you—Seret! That vile!
She didn't know what exactly happened, but she was sure of one thing:
Siret got it.
Could it be that the maid who planted her in the palace had confessed to everything?
“Miss Elliot.”
A familiar voice called out from behind her.
Hearing Yuan's voice, Lidya's throat knotted, but she didn't turn around and continued to go down the stairs.
“Lydia.”
He called her name.
It was the first time he had called her name in a long time.
Lydia finally turned to him, tears streaming freely from her eyes.
Yuan walked down the stairs and stopped in front of her.
When he saw her tears, confusion appeared on his face.
Don't doubt me, Yuan. You can't do this to me.
Tears continued to drip from Lydia's eyes.
“You didn't bring a cart.”
Yuan motioned to a nearby groom to prepare the carriage.
That simple, caring act made Lydia sad.
Yuan was so kind to her, and yet that woman, Seret, dared to insult her!
She had known that Seret was cunning from the moment she had appeared at the Imperial Palace ball in all her finery—but this was beyond imagination.
What would I do if Seret blinded Yuan's eyes and blocked his ears, separating us?
I hate her. I really hate it.
Seret Enohater is terrible.
“You think I stole it too, don’t you, Yuan?”
Lydia said sobbing, resting her head on his shoulder.
She needed his warmth—his comfort.
But Yuan stood silent.
He didn't say it wasn't her, nor did he extend a gentle hand to comfort her.
When she was young, Yuan would rush to comfort her whenever she cried like this.
Do you also doubt me?
Do you believe in Seeret Enohater and disbelieve me?
Lydia felt betrayed, so she took a step back from him.
“You think I stole Seret’s ring too, don’t you, Yuan? Really? Do you really think so? I didn’t. I didn’t do it.”
“I don’t know why Seret is doing this to me. She framed me. We were friends.”
Tears streamed down Lydia's cheeks as she spoke.
"Syrett said it was all a misunderstanding. And I choose to believe her."
Yuan's voice was cold and reserved.
He meant it as a reassurance, but Lydia heard it siding with Seret.
She wanted to burst into tears.
“A terrible thing happened to me.” Lydia said sobbing.
“Miss Elliot.”
“How could Seret do this to me…?”
Lydia felt dizzy with rage.
She was insulted—and right in front of Yuan.
Her body trembled; She had never experienced such a situation.
“It's over now, Miss Elliot. I don't think you stole the ring.”
Yuan spoke in a calm, measured tone, as if he was comforting her.
Lydia looked up at him.
Do you believe in me? No psirite?
Yes, of course. Yuan would never doubt her.
He must know that Seret arranged all this.
Natural—he loves me more than that woman.
Reassured, Lidya threw herself into Yuan's arms.
As long as he believes her, that's enough.
That's all you need.
After she cried like that, Yuan must now be angry with Seret.
A smile of satisfaction crept onto Lydia's face.
At that moment, Yuan pushed her away.
The pushing was hard enough to surprise her, but after a moment the carriage arrived.
Lydia thought he had pushed her because of the cart, so she immediately pushed away the strange feeling.
“As long as you trust me, Yuan, that’s all I care about.”
Lydia said as she looked up at Yuan.
Without saying a word, Yuan walked towards the carriage, opened the door, and then turned to her.
“Come on, come up.”
At a nod, Lydia extended her hand towards him.
Yuan silently held her hand and helped her up.
With her hand in his, Lydia stepped lightly into the carriage.
As soon as she sat inside, she looked at him and said.
"I won't tell anyone about this. I don't want ladies or nobles to seduce Seret. I still love her—even if she did this to me."
She sobbed as she looked at Yuan.
It wasn't that she wouldn't say anything—it was that she couldn't.
If things had gone according to plan, she would have said that a long time ago.
Yuan's expression stiffened slightly.
He put his hand on the roof of the car, leaned slightly, and stared into her eyes.
The scent of his perfume, which she loved, filled her nose.
Lydia wished he had kissed her—a tender kiss of consolation.
But that hope was mercilessly shattered.
“Seret will soon bear my name.”
Yuan's voice was calm but firm.
He did not want this case to turn into a scandal.
Even if Lydia said she wouldn't speak, he couldn't completely trust it.
He had to make it clear—
Seret is now a Freaktwister.
No one is allowed to desecrate that name.
“She is no longer Seret Enohater. She is Seret Freaktwister.”
“Yuan…”
Lydia's eyes twitched as she looked at him.
I felt there was a warning in his tone—never touch Seret.
“Go home safely.”
Before she could say another word, Yuan closed the carriage door.
When the carriage started moving, Lydia sat inside with an absent-minded face, holding the hem of her dress.
“Yuan has changed.”
Her pale blue eyes turned bitterly cold.
***
Inside the box, the blue sapphire ring sparkles with dazzling beauty.
With all the twists and turns surrounding this ring, it became clear that the end of this marriage was certain.
“A marriage doomed to failure.”
Seret muttered as she closed the box.
At that moment, a soft knock sounded—and Yuan's voice followed from outside.
“Seret.”
When she heard his voice from behind the door, Seret remembered the image of Yuan hugging Lydia at the bottom of the stairs and comforting her.
Of course, he must have felt sorry for her; The woman he loved was insulted.
“However, I feel fine now.”
She said it lightly, as if she was teaching Lydia a lesson.
But deep down, there was a trace of bitterness.
Seeing Yuan with Lidya was not pleasant—
Even if she doesn't love him anymore.
Ignoring the twinge, Seret got up and moved toward the door.
When I opened it, Yuan entered with an expressionless face.
“Did Lydia return home safely?”
Seret asked as she moved towards the table on which the ring box was placed.
"Yes."
Yuan replied as he followed her.
“My aunt was very surprised. Go to her too.”
“And you… are you okay?”
At his words, Seret turned around.
Yuan was staring at her with his hands in his pockets, his features revealing nothing.
For the first time, Sereret wondered honestly.
Whose side is this man on?
“Who do you believe? Me or Lydia?”
“I believe Freaktwister.”
Yuan replied without any hesitation.
This answer made her smile softly.
What a fitting answer for Joan Frecktwister.
He said he only trusted himself—
Which of course means Lydia's side.
She wasn't expecting anything else.
“I also only trust myself.”
Seret smiled slightly as she looked at him.
Yuan approached her.
Then he opened the ring box on the table and took out the ring.
Seret watched him silently.
He took her hand and put the ring on her fourth finger.
Then he stayed for a moment, his fingers running over her hand, before placing a kiss on the ring.
“It won't be a ring you'll wear for long.”
He said softly, looking up at her.
Not long?
Seret understood what he meant after a while.
As soon as she gives birth to a child, he will kill her—
Of course it won't be a long-lasting ring.
“Even if you don't like it—”
“How could I not like it? I like it.”
How could she not like it? This ring will help her in her plan for divorce.
Seret looked at him with a graceful smile.
“You don't have to do everything that is asked of you.”
"What?"
His words were vague, and Seret tilted her head slightly.
“Learn how to say no. You are now a Freaktwister.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Seret nodded.
Yuan stared at her for a moment, then turned to leave.
He told her to rest, and left.
When he came out, Seret looked at the ring on her hand.
It felt like a chain was holding her back.
She quickly took it off and put it back in the box.
***
“What a strange scene. Who would have thought that this chaos would erupt before the wedding day.”
Mrs. Oxenbury let out a heavy sigh.
As for Yuan, he just smiled calmly without saying anything.
Indeed, it was strange—as his aunt said.
The reason for all this was Lydia.
The strangeness had begun from the moment she suddenly appeared in his office.
He didn't know what she was up to, but one thing was certain—
Siret did not allow herself to be trampled silently.
Where did the innocent Miss Mocelli disappear?
Yuan let out a faint laugh.
However, this was reassuring.
At least she wasn't acting like a fool.
In order to survive as Duchess Freaktwister, she must be this tough.
“I've never heard of such a thing—a woman trying on another woman's wedding ring! Seret may have been a good person, so she covered up for her, but it looks like she really stole it. Seret is too kind.”
“Seret was wise.”
Yuan defended her.
If she continued to publicly accuse Lydia and humiliate her further,
When Lydia let it go.
Yuan knew her temper well.
With the Emperor's support, she would have punished even Seret's maid immediately.
“To manage the Great Frickster Palace, it must be a bit tough.”
Mrs. Oxenbury clicked her tongue, a worried expression on her face.
“You will do well.”
“Does that naive girl from Mushili really have the ability to do this? Yuan, don’t just be busy outside. Take care of the household as well.”
"Good."
“The greatest power given to a woman is the love of her husband. No one dares to ignore a woman whom her husband loves.”
"Good."
“Don’t just say ‘Okay.’ After marriage, even if it’s uncomfortable, you have to share a room with your wife for a few months, Yuan. Nothing cements a lady’s status more than that.”
“Please say the same to Seret, aunty.”
Yuan said with a smile.
Even if he wanted to, Seret would most likely refuse.
One day she was begging to break off the engagement.
Now she is getting married with the intention of divorce.
"Of course, of course. I'll tell her that."
Mrs. Oxenbury shook her head affirmatively.
He wondered what expression Siret would make when she heard this.
Yuan thought about this, and a slight line appeared on his lips.
“You must be surprised. Would you rather have dinner in your room tonight? I’ll have them send the food.”
"Keep it simple. My heart's still pounding—I don't know if I'll be able to eat or not."
“Okay, aunt.”
Yuan got up from his seat.
Frecktwister Palace spent that night in anxious silence after the commotion of the wedding ring.
As faint whispers filled the servants' halls,
Yuan ordered the butler to silence the tongues.
There is no good to be expected from leaking rumours.
There was enough talk to occupy my mind already—no need to add more.
Yuan lay in bed earlier than usual, closing his eyes in the darkness.
He thought of his aunt's advice—
He decided that, as soon as he got married, he would share a bed with Siret.
That night, Yuan had a nightmare.
He dreamed of Siret lying inside a coffin.