I, Who Was Betrayed By The People I Loved Most - Chapter 7

Let me say this first—I love Leticia.

Marrying her was not a mistake. Even now, I take pride in that decision.

Leticia is sincere, intelligent, and beautiful. As the Duchess of Rubert, she is as capable a wife as any man could ever ask for.

But— That alone isn’t enough to satisfy a man.

Men have their own ways of maintaining balance.

Day after day, I’m buried in official duties. At home, I walk on eggshells around a wife who is almost too composed, too rational.
Even when I want to lean on her, something holds me back—a quiet pressure that keeps me at a distance. And so, I found my own… escape route.

A moment of comfort, however fleeting— If it could ease the tension in my heart, help me breathe a little easier… then I could face tomorrow with strength again.

Yes.
This was my form of effort.

An affair? Infidelity? —Don’t be ridiculous.

I’ve never once betrayed Leticia.
This was merely… a necessary adjustment. A way to maintain the harmony of our home.

And now, standing before me is Camille—Leticia’s niece, the girl we raised like our own daughter since she was thirteen.

At some point, she had grown up.
Her eyes, once innocent, now held shadows… and a quiet allure.

Each day, she became more beautiful, more womanly.
And one day, she pressed close to me—almost playfully, almost like a plea.

In that moment, when I felt her softness—I couldn’t push her away.

“Uncle Oswald… I’ll be married in a few years. I’ll leave this house and never be able to stay by your side again. So, just for now… please, look at me.”

Her voice, a soft whisper, brushed against my ear.

I knew.

I knew she was Leticia’s niece.
A girl I had helped raise.
If I touched her, there would be no going back.
Of course, I understood all of that.

But still— Isn’t it shameful for a man to refuse when he’s being wanted?

As long as no one finds out, no one gets hurt.

This is just play. A harmless flame.
Camille said so herself.

It’s only for now.

The one I love is Leticia.
So this isn’t betrayal. It’s just… maintenance.
I’m preserving our balance—for Leticia’s sake.

And Camille— She knows, doesn’t she?
She understands she’s only a passing comfort.
She said that was fine.

So, isn’t it alright to touch her, just a little?

The moment my fingertips brushed her cheek, Camille smiled faintly.

That wasn’t a smile of a girl.
That was a woman’s smile— The kind that tempts a man.

…And no, I didn’t feel guilty.

There are things Leticia could never do.

Because I love her, there are parts of myself I could never show her.

But with Camille—someone I don’t love— I can cross that line.

Yes, this is just a small act of deviation, so I can continue being a good husband.

A necessary ritual to preserve the peace of our home.

Honestly, I think I’m quite clever.

Everyone needs a little breathing room in life, after all.