B-ronken-R-ing 159...

Inés allowed her gaze to drift down the letter. "And that is enough for now. No matter where I may be, no matter what revelations come my way... I know you will always protect me. Everything will be fine as long as you are with me."

Cárcel's words sounded like sheer nonsense, but in that moment, it hardly mattered. She was willing to embrace anything he said, no matter how absurd it seemed.

"The issue is... I cannot bring myself to part from you again," Cárcel's letter continued. "I must leave now, I know this... but my heart compels me to continue writing. It is because I know that I will have to depart once this letter ends."

Inés bit down on her lower lip. Write more, then!

Almost desperately, she moved her eyes to the next sentence. "I promise to request an extended leave next time. Please be well while you are in Mendoza."

Despite the loving words, Inés's face was grumpy as she read on. However, as she neared the end of the letter, she could only stare at the paper blankly.

"There is one final thing I must convey, Inés.

I would like you to know that you can tell me anything at any point in time. Whether it takes ten years or more, it does not matter. Even if you are planning on telling me far in the future, I will wait for you, just as I have always waited for you to awaken in the mornings... and I will love you the same.

You could never bring me anything but joy, Inés. You could do anything to me and hide everything from me... and perhaps some days will bring anxiety and uncertainty to me as they dawn. But I will always cherish the time watching you before you awaken, as much as I love seeing your beautiful eyes open and meet mine.

I truly hope that these words bring peace to your heart... You have nothing to apologize for, and you need not tolerate anything less than perfection from me. You need not forgive me until I realize the full extent of my folly.

I was a fool to forget about everything you have given me. My idiocy led me to torment you.

Inés... please, forgive me."

Inés could sense Juana's movements behind her. "Madam?" she called out.

For a prolonged moment, Inés remained silent, her eyes remained glued to the letter. He had some nerve to advise her on when to forgive him then seek her forgiveness. However, annoyance was not quite the right word to describe her current state of mind. The truth was, there was nothing to forgive in the first place. He knew nothing about her, she grouched to herself. What gave him such confidence? Why did he always prioritize her comfort and well-being above all else?

She had seen the anxiety and fear etched in his eyes.

At length, she finally spoke. "Juana, fetch me a pen and some paper."

"Are you planning to write to Lord Cárcel right away?" Juana inquired, surprised. "What about your breakfast?"

"I'll have it later. Also, make sure that Alfonso doesn't leave. I need him to deliver my response to Calztela."

Brimming with excitement, Juana set down the pen and paper next to Inés and raced out of the room. Without a moment's hesitation, Inés picked up the pen and began to write.

"To Cárcel Escalante de Esposa.

I read your long-winded love letter. Next time, don't bother with one and simply inform me of your safe arrival. Also, don't you dare pretend like you're fine again, or I'll make you regret it.

Inés Escalante de Perez, writing from Mendoza."

After composing a brief six-sentence letter, she folded it up neatly and sealed it in an envelope. Then she reached for another sheet of paper and began writing on it furiously, as if the previous letter had been a mere warm-up. Her face was now a mask of cold resolve, a stark contrast to the blush that had colored her cheeks while reading her husband's letter.

"To my disloyal, unreliable rat,

I noticed that Cárcel has a new scar. I knew that he wouldn't explain it, since he had hurried to change the topic the moment I touched it.

It's fine. I never expected him to be honest. But you, Raúl, have truly disappointed me with your lack of loyalty.

Do you recall the ancient song of Perez about the coin? It appears you have many masters, just like that coin. But remember, a coin that becomes dull and worn from being touched by too many hands is eventually deemed counterfeit and discarded.

Continue on this path, and you'll become a useless coin to both me and Cárcel.

Tell me exactly what happened and remind yourself where your loyalty should lie. Prove to me that you are truly in my service and nobody else's.

"Inés Escalante de Perez, from Mendoza."

As Inés was finishing her intimidating letter, Juana skipped into the room with uncontained enthusiasm. Undeterred, Inés sealed her letter to Raúl and placed both letters on the tray Juana presented.

Juana glanced at the letters. "You wrote one for Raúl as well?"

"Yes."

"My goodness!" Juana exclaimed. "He'll be absolutely thrilled."

"Perhaps," Inés replied ominously, knowing that he would be anything but.

Failing to catch onto the underlying meaning, Juana nodded in agreement. "Of course he will be! It's a letter from you, after all. Do you remember those letters you wrote when you were younger, telling him to do some chores? That fool kept them in his safe!"

Inés snorted inwardly. She doubted he would want to treasure a letter full of threats.

Oblivious to her lady's sour mood, Juana continued, "Anyway, Lord Cárcel is such a hopeless romantic. I still can't believe he called you sol de mi vida! How delightful!"

A slight blush found its way back onto Inés's face, cracking the icy mask she had worn while writing the threatening letter to her trusty servant. "It's a common term of endearment, nothing more." In truth, it didn't matter if it was common or not. She liked it nonetheless.

Juana shook her head stubbornly. "Common? Not at all! It's something reserved for the love of your life. But... I guess some men will profess their undying love and then call you cute."She snorted, obviously recalling her own past experience. "Did he think I was his pet dog or what?"

Inés raised an eyebrow. Juana's attitude was starkly different from how much she had adored that man back when they were lovers.

"Are you implying something about Cárcel?" she asked.

"Certainly not!" Juana yelped. "I'm pointing out that Lord Cárcel is being honest and vulnerable with his feelings, instead of being prideful. That makes him a true gentleman. A real man doesn't need to protect his pride because he knows his worth."

"I see," Inés murmured.

"And we all know that your husband is the most remarkable man in all of Ortega!"

Resting her chin on one hand, Inés gave an unamused nod.

"I mean, just think about that wretched man from Perez," Juana continued, her teeth clenched in rage. "That little pest... He had a sense of inferiority, I swear. He fought me on every little thing..."

"Really?" Inés interrupted. "If memory serves me correctly, you were the one who argued with your handsome lover on everything."

After a short pause, Juana shook her head. "I was stubborn and proud, that's all. As you know, I'm a cold-hearted woman who distinguishes right from wrong."

"But you have a fiery temper."

"There's nothing more cold-hearted than fire. Don't you know that fire can destroy houses and lives?"

Inés blinked. "I don't know if you have noticed, but you are quite terrifying whenever you speak of that man."

"Terrifying?" Juana's eyes blazed with anger. "You know what's really terrifying? A man who treats a woman's life like it's his amusement. A man like him deserves to be consumed by flames."

For a moment, Inés wondered if things might be better now if she had helped Juana get married earlier. But she quickly dismissed the thought. Having a husband would probably do little to reduce Juana's temper. Besides, this was only a transient phase. Juana was temperamental enough to despise her lovers one day then adore them the next.

Inés found it baffling how Juana had managed to marry and live with that man in her other life. It wasn't that she was unwilling to side with Juana-they had grown up together, after all. However, Juana truly had an extraordinary temper.

Still, Juana always showed her the utmost kindness and affection, Inés thought, glancing at Juana. She then took a moment to reflect on Juana's words.

Indeed, Cárcel Escalante was remarkable. A man of his stature didn't need to cloak himself in pride to maintain his dignity.

Yet, sometimes, Inés wondered if he couldn't act prideful. Perhaps she had stomped on his pride too much during their youth... Maybe that was why he could never utter a harsh word to her.

Unfortunately, there was no way to be sure. Sighing, Inés gave Juana a look of mild annoyance. "Do you intend to linger here all day?"

Juana, oblivious to the subtle reproach in her words, exclaimed, "I'm just so amazed, that's all! You've grown into such a remarkable, mature lady... I can't believe you ripped off Lord Cárcel's clothes with those delicate hands of yours! And to think you made such passionate love, leaving this room in such disarray, good heavens..."

Inés wondered if Juana was teasing her, but there was no trace of mischief in her tone. She sounded more like a longtime nursemaid or Arondra, tearfully reminiscing about a lady she had raised as her own.

This, of course, only applied to her tone. The actual content of her little speech was bordering on impertinent. A caring nursemaid would probably say, "How you've grown, my lady! You've matured into such a beautiful woman! Oh, it's hard to believe you're married!"

Juana gathered a handful of Inés's hair, running her fingers through it. Inés glowered up at her. "Shouldn't you be attending to your duties? You seem far too busy teasing me instead."

Juana paid no heed to her words. "It's amazing just how much you love him, too. I wish you could have seen your own face while reading his letters!"

Inés grimaced. "I would rather not."

"At first, I thought Duchess Valeztena had upset you with her reproving letter! You looked so furious... But now I see that you were so overwhelmed with joy that you didn't know how to react!"

"That's not true," Inés retorted. "I was simply...surprised."

Once again, her words went unacknowledged. "Oh, your blush was so endearing... Even your ears turned red!" Juana gazed at Inés as if she was the most adorable creature in the world.

"Do you take me seriously at all, Juana?" Inés sighed.

Although the situation was vexing, Inés lacked the energy to reprimand Juana. It felt like Cárcel had taken everything with him when he left for Calztela-her strength, her resolve, and even her ability to muster anger.

"Of course I do!" Juana responded heatedly. "What I mean is, I've been so worried about you, and now things are improving! Everything is."

"But Cárcel is not even here," Inés muttered under her breath, as if his absence rendered all improvements meaningless.

With a soft chuckle, Juana leaned in closer to whisper, "Lord Luciano sent a messenger this morning."

Inés turned to her, eyes wide with surprise. "Не did...?"