Chapter 10
10. You Said You Wanted to Be Alone with Me2021.10.03.
While Marina was clearing away the bathtub and handing it over to the other servants, Brody, who had gone up to answer the summons from the bridal chamber, finally returned after quite some time.
“Why were you so late?”
In response to the question, Brody answered.
“I had to escort Doctor Lorenson back.”
Marina, who had been momentarily speechless upon hearing those words, finally opened her mouth after a pause.
“……You took Doctor Lorenson to the young lady in the bridal chamber?”
“Yeah. Sir Arthur asked for the family physician…….”
Marina’s expression grew increasingly strange as she stared at Brody in silence.
“…….”
“Marina? Why’s your face like that?”
Marina muttered.
“Does Doctor Lorenson know?”
“Know what?”
At the bewildered question, Marina lowered her voice and shouted.
“The person next to Sir Arthur right now, pretending to be his wife, isn’t the young lady! Of course Doctor Lorenson would realize at first glance that it’s not Lady Christina—how could you just send him up there?!”
“!”
Brody froze, her eyes widening as she dropped the snack she’d been bringing to her mouth. * * *
Am I seeing things lately? Doctor Lorenson of the Julius family stared piercingly at the young lady, blinked once, and pushed up his glasses. Then he narrowed his eyes and looked at ‘Christina’ again.
“???”
Frowning, he wiped his glasses this time. And rubbed his eyes. The young lady looked somehow different from usual.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Doctor.”
From the side, Arthur extended his hand to the family physician.
“Ah! Sir Arthur.”
Lorenson tore his gaze from the young lady and quickly grasped Arthur’s outstretched hand with both of his, shaking it firmly. A bright smile bloomed across his face unbidden.
“It’s an honor. I’m Alvin Lorenson, the family physician of House Julius. Congratulations on your return amid such dazzling glory. Sincerely.”
“Thank you.”
“Please, speak comfortably. You’re family to the marquisate, after all.”
Arthur replied with a grin instead. The doctor beamed with感動, his eyes shining. He felt deeply moved, his chest tight with emotion. For such an outstanding son-in-law to join this Julius family. Having served House Julius for over thirty years, Doctor Lorenson held a certain affection for them. But it wasn’t affection laced with loyalty or reverence. It was more like the love of a parent for their foolish child—something along the lines of, My own worthless kid is the one I have to embrace. It had grown that way over time, after sharing the family’s tumultuous history for so long. Doctor Lorenson grinned from ear to ear as he gripped the hand of their handsome, proud son-in-law, Arthur, with extra strength. His duty as the marquisate’s exclusive physician was to care for the Julius family members, but with the household so small—just the marquis and marchioness, their one daughter, and the marchioness dowager living far away at the villa—he ended up tending to the mansion’s servants far more often. Maids struck by the marquis’s ashtray, servants whipped by the young lady. Those were mostly the patients under Doctor Lorenson’s care. Typically, a family’s exclusive physician looked after immediate family and their closest aides, but caring only for the marquis couple and their daughter would have left the position idle. The previous marchioness dowager, who had begun managing the family’s image, had insisted on keeping a resident physician in the mansion to ensure even the sick servants were well tended. Treating the household staff earned him their respect, and the Julius family paid him generously on top, so it was no loss for Lorenson. In truth, the reason Lorenson, the servants, and maids all received such handsome salaries was ostensibly for staff welfare, but really to ensure silence. Thanks to that, Julius barely maintained a positive public image. He’d suffered plenty cleaning up after the family’s scandals alongside Head Maid Mrs. Hurst and Head Butler Jim, but it felt gratifying—like raising a wayward son through hardship only to see him finally stand on his own. It was heartening that their proud triumphal general, hailed as the hero of the century, would carry on this childless line, and that the world was praising the century’s perfect couple, the beauty Christina and the hero Arthur. Our young lady is pretty, after all. Even if her temper was foul. Doctor Lorenson smiled contentedly. He’d worried who could handle her, but with a warrior like this, he could rest easy. Even that formidable lady wouldn’t dare act out with such a husband. And he was a strikingly handsome man, too. They suited each other well. How beautiful would their children be? Doctor Lorenson’s mind was already filled with visions of the next generation of Julius heirs he’d care for. Arthur spoke.
“The reason I called you here is that I think I overexerted my wife last night.”
Doctor Lorenson was inwardly startled. No, even as a doctor, this might embarrass the young lady. He deliberately avoided looking at her as he listened to Arthur. The rumor had already spread across the entire estate—that at dawn, Sir Arthur had personally carried the weary young lady in his arms into the mansion amid an atmosphere thick with the promise of a passionate night. Doctor Lorenson hadn’t witnessed it himself, only heard the tales. He’d dismissed it as exaggerated gossip, hard to believe, but it turned out to be true. Hadn’t they said it was a political marriage where they’d only done the ceremony and parted ways right after? Well, no matter. A loving couple was a good thing. Arthur continued.
“She caught a chill overnight, wearing just a thin dress. Standing the whole time in that shaking carriage must have been exhausting. She says she’s fine, just tired, but I’m worried since she suddenly collapsed. Could you examine her?”
Ah…… So that’s what happened? Right, they’d had the triumphal procession all night. I see. Still, hearing the young lady had collapsed out of nowhere worried Doctor Lorenson, too. She’d never had anything like that before. In any case, Sir Arthur seemed so considerate—it satisfied him.
“Understood. I’ll take a look.”
“And there’s a wound on my wife’s forehead. I’d appreciate it if you checked that first.”
“A wound?”
A wound? On a noble lady’s face? Doctor Lorenson whipped his gaze from Arthur to the young lady in shock. Arthur gently lifted the hair on her right temple with his hand, revealing the injury on her forehead. Doctor Lorenson hurried over, pushing his glasses atop his head to peer closely at the spot Arthur indicated.
“?”
And once more, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over him. Was the young lady always like this? Doctor Lorenson lowered his glasses again. Then raised them once more.
“?”
It was familiar, yet not the face he saw every day……
“!!!!!”
Doctor Lorenson suddenly gasped, his eyes bulging. What, what is this? How did this happen? Th-this girl is……! He was aghast. The ‘young lady’ was breaking out in cold sweat, flustered and avoiding his gaze. No doubt about it. Five years ago. The maid he’d treated after she was accidentally hit by the marquis’s ashtray. He couldn’t recall her name, but anyway. Doctor Lorenson’s hands trembled.
She’s not Lady Christina!
He wanted to doubt his own eyes. But beside the new wound Arthur had pointed out was the distinct crescent-shaped scar he himself had stitched up five years ago. * * * Alvin Lorenson’s face was beet red as he stormed down the corridor with heavy footsteps. Servants who had been about to greet him cheerfully as “Doctor Lorenson” froze, their eyes wide like startled rabbits at his expression. It was rare for the usually mild-mannered, kind physician—beloved and respected by the mansion staff—to wear such a look. Alvin Lorenson flung open the door to the office where the marquis and marchioness were without knocking.
“Master!”
In the office sat the marquis, rubbing his forehead in his chair; the marchioness pressing her fan tip to her furrowed brow; Head Maid Mrs. Hurst standing with her usual sullen face; and Head Butler Jim, who looked a decade older after just two days apart. Two maids stood before them, fidgeting anxiously. One was the maid who had summoned him earlier. Doctor Lorenson instantly grasped the situation from their motley, chaotic expressions. They all knew. I was the only one in the dark!
“Alvin…….”
Doctor Lorenson slammed the office door shut, turned on his heel, and hissed in a lowered voice.
“What is going on here?! Where is the young lady?!”
“…….”
The marquis, slumped in his chair like a statue, only moved his lips to mutter.
“Please, don’t say a word. I’m the one going mad here.”
‘…….’
Reina awkwardly touched her forehead while looking in the mirror. Back when she’d been hit by the ashtray the marquis threw…… Even then, Doctor Lorenson had been kinder to a mere maid than she deserved. But noble ladies clearly received different treatment from maids. She definitely felt like much better medicine had been applied more meticulously this time. He’d even given her extra ointment to apply regularly and promised to come every day to ensure no scar formed, as if it were a grave matter. It was novel to hear that with proper care, the scar might not remain at all. Five years ago, when she’d been injured, such things hadn’t mattered. Though in an inconspicuous spot, the wound from five years prior had left a small scar on Reina’s forehead.
“…….”
It would be fine, right? Doctor Lorenson was discreet…… Otherwise, the marquisate’s reputation would have been in ruins long ago.
“…….”
Reina had clearly felt it. There was the moment when the family physician unmistakably recognized her. But the seasoned Doctor Lorenson swiftly regained his composure, treating her politely as ‘Lady Christina’ with unflappable poise and quick wit, not slipping once. He’d probably gone straight to the marquis and marchioness by now…… And perhaps learned even more than the maids knew.
“…….”
It would be okay. It had to be. Reina unconsciously fiddled with the wound in her anxiety, repeating it to herself. ……Nothing will happen. I’ll be able to go back to Grandma…….
“I told you not to touch it.”
Arthur gently pulled away Reina’s hand from her forehead. Startled, Reina shrank back like a snail retreating into its shell, curling away from him.
“…….”
Her hand remained in his, unescaped. Reina averted her eyes as if she couldn’t even bear to look at that, glancing vaguely around the room.
“…….”
Arthur watched her quietly, then chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling in amusement as he asked.
“You said you wanted to be alone with me.”
He intertwined their fingers deliberately, showing off the clasped hand.
“……!”
Reina nearly jumped out of her skin.
“Yet now that it’s just us, as you wished, you’re the one avoiding me.”
Arthur tugged on their linked hands. Reina was helplessly drawn toward him and tumbled into his embrace.
Firm arms and a broad chest. The faint scent wafting to her nose was dizzying.
