Chapter 2
2. What kind of person was your husband?2021.09.05.
The glass ashtray that had struck Reina’s head and rolled across the floor came to a stop after hitting the wall. Steadying her mind to keep from unconsciously clutching her bleeding head, Reina bent her waist as if asking what had happened.
“Did you need something?”
Fortunately, her voice came out calm. A soft voice rang out from ahead.
“You’re late. What kept you?”
As far as Reina was concerned, she had come the moment she was summoned, but contradicting that was out of the question. Reina bowed her head toward the silhouette of the young lady with long hair cascading in the darkness.
“I’m sorry.”
Gratefully, Mrs. Hurst added a brief excuse.
“Madam has finished her lecture.”
The young lady laughed.
“Oh, really? You should have said so sooner.”
You should have given me a chance to speak. It was just a thought. Her mouth faithfully replied.
“I’m sorry.”
Drip. A drop of blood gathered on her chin and fell. The young lady crossed her long legs and looked at Reina through the mirror.
“Pick it up.”
Reina quickly picked up the ashtray stopped near the wall and approached Christina’s side. Confirming no blood had stained it, she bowed her head and offered it with both hands, but Christina clicked her tongue and gestured with her chin to another spot. Turning her head to where Christina indicated, Reina finally noticed the comb that had fallen to the floor. She placed the ashtray back on the table beside Christina, then turned without delay to pick up the comb. While she was at it, she discreetly wiped the blood flowing from her forehead with the black part of her sleeve. Reina approached Christina again and politely offered the comb with both hands. But Christina didn’t take it, simply staring at the extended comb before lifting only her eyes to look at Reina. Under the soft glow of the high-quality beeswax candle, the noble young lady’s beautiful features came into Reina’s view.
“…….”
Flawless, translucent skin. Dazzling golden hair that curved in waves. Mysterious emerald eyes that seemed to hold the green of a newborn sprout bathed in sunlight, framed by long lashes. Red lips that bore only the faintest, rare smile, demure and composed. It was a face so breathtakingly pretty, yet so exquisitely sensitive.
“…….”
How had Madam and Mrs. Hurst thought to place me, of all people, as a stand-in for someone like this? Among the maids, she might be called a beauty, but Reina was a plain, unkempt girl with no such delicate, refined qualities.
“…….”
Christina, who had been looking up at Reina, turned her gaze to the mirror and spoke coldly.
“Leave us.”
Mrs. Hurst bowed with a “Yes” and vanished out the door. Until then, Christina had simply stared into the mirror. The suffocating air. Even after the head maid’s footsteps faded away, some time passed before Christina finally spoke.
“Brush my hair.”
Reina answered “Yes,” withdrew the hand holding out the comb, and moved behind Christina. She gently drew the lady’s lustrous hair out from the chair and let it fall, readjusting her grip on the comb. Golden strands like silk threads flowed luxuriantly between Reina’s fingers. The glass ashtray on the table filtered the candlelight, casting sharp patterns over it. Five years ago. The seventeen-year-old Christina, who had caused a scene in this very spot refusing marriage, overlapped with her current self. ……Back then, it was the Marquis who had thrown the ashtray at the young lady. Come to think of it, I was the one who took the hit instead that time too. Well, no one remembers that.
“……Hibiscus all right?”
Christina silently pointed with her fingertip to another perfume on the vanity. Anemone. Reina picked it up. From the bottom up, slowly, careful not to tug her hair with the comb. Reina warmed the perfume slightly on her fingertips and began stroking and combing through the lady’s locks. Each pass of her fingers and the comb left the hair gleaming with luster. Amid it all, the young lady’s dry voice flowed out.
“What kind of person was your husband?”
“…….”
Reina’s gaze lingered on Christina’s reflection in the mirror. Without looking at Reina, Christina continued while staring at the dried flowers on the vanity.
“I called you because I wanted to hear.”
“…….”
……Husband. Reina’s memory, comb in hand, rewound to that distant past. · · ·
「If anyone objects to this marriage, speak now and raise your hand, or else thereafter remain forever silent.」
「In sorrow or in joy, in sickness or in health, while young and even when aged…….」
「Until death do you part…….」
「Do you two take each other as husband and wife, to serve, cherish, and love?」
「…….」
「Sign the marriage vows.」
· · · The night she had trembled clutching the veil, hoping the darkness would hide the fake bride’s face even a little. In the silent bridal chamber, only a single candle burned. Recalling Mrs. Hurst’s words not to remove the veil until the candlelight fully extinguished, Reina gripped the veil with trembling hands until her knuckles turned white.
「…….」
Lady Christina wouldn’t have trembled like this. She wanted to feign composure so her excessive shaking wouldn’t seem suspicious, but it wasn’t easy.
「…….」
To forget her fear, Reina thought of why she was here. Her grandmother, who had rushed into the burning house to save the collapsed Reina, was now wandering between life and death. The House of Julius had offered a fortune in medical bills and the family physician in exchange for this one night. If it meant saving her grandmother, Reina could do anything.
「……Are you afraid?」
Reina flinched at the man’s voice from the darkness. The man, faintly visible through the veil, watched her for a moment, then seemed to chuckle softly before indifferently turning his head away.
「……A foolish question.」
「…….」
Fortunately, to this stranger who knew neither her face nor her temperament, Reina appeared merely an ordinary village girl afraid of her wedding night. Under the flickering dim light. In Reina’s heart were both the wish that he wouldn’t recognize her and everything would pass smoothly, and the hope that he would realize she wasn’t the “Marquis’s daughter” and storm out in anger. Reina squeezed her eyes shut, trying desperately to think only of her beloved grandmother. The man, who had been silently quiet, spoke again after a while.
「……If you’re going to respond.」
His low voice continued quietly after a brief pause.
「We can’t delay any longer.」
「I’d like to wait more if possible.」
「But the night is short, and I have no time…….」
Reina remained silent. He removed the heavy ceremonial ornaments and a few jewels from his attire, placing them on the table, then approached. Standing before the trembling Reina, he looked down at her for a moment.
「This night will be a bit harder for you…….」
「I’ll try, but you’ll have to endure it all the same.」
「……Endure it.」
「I’m sorry in advance.」
Those words had seemed a little unexpected. For the first time, Reina lifted her eyes to look at him.
「…….」
Tall stature, a face like sculpted marble. Mysterious gray eyes holding a quietly burning light. He reminded her of a winter wolf on the snowy plains.
「……My introduction is late.」
「My name is ‘Arthur.’」
「……You must have seen it when signing the vows earlier.」
As if the whole thing was absurd, he dipped his head slightly with a faint smile.
「I am to be your husband.」
Was it a joke? Or did he expect some clichéd exchange of names?
「…….」
Reina couldn’t say a word. Not just from fear. If possible……better not to let him hear her voice. Unfazed by her lack of response, he calmly supplied it instead.
「……You don’t need to tell me your name.」
「…….」
The candle went out. Thud. The veil fell limply at his touch. Feeling cool hands encircle her nape, Reina closed her eyes.
· · · She’d thought it would be utterly horrific. It’s just one night, nothing much, no one pays this much for a maid’s first time. She tried to comfort herself, but deep down, she expected to feel miserable, ashamed, violated. But he was courteous, considerate of her in every moment. This must be how a lady like Lady Christina is treated so preciously. It felt like glimpsing a new world she never knew. It wasn’t easy. But he treated her with such politeness it bordered on guilt-inducing. ……Thanks to that, no deep wounds lingered in Reina’s heart. · · ·
“…….”
Returning to reality, Reina quietly resumed her paused movements, brushing the lady’s hair a couple more times before speaking.
“He was…….”
After a brief pause, Reina continued.
“Quite handsome.”
“…….”
At the deflating answer, Christina, who had sat like a statue, glared coldly at Reina’s reflection in the mirror. As if to say, ‘You think I called you to hear that crap?’ Her eyes were icy. Reina smiled faintly and met Christina’s face through the mirror.
“……Don’t worry too much. He wasn’t a bad person.”
“…….”
Christina didn’t reply. Reina continued her gentle, soft brushing as she began her story. * * * After time with Christina ended. Mrs. Hurst, waiting outside the door, called Reina aside and confirmed her suspicions. She promised double wages if Reina kept her mouth shut to others, stayed quietly away from the mansion for a while, then returned. What Reina hadn’t expected was the addition: care for her grandmother, originally promised only until this year, extended five more years. Surprised, Reina’s eyes widened as she covered her mouth with her hand.
“Thank you……. Thank you!”
Bowing her head repeatedly to Mrs. Hurst with a grateful face, Reina happily withdrew from the closed door of Christina’s bedroom. * * * Reina returned to the maids’ attic at dawn. The time when all the maids, who had barely snatched some sleep before dawn, had risen again for work. A tiny ray of sunlight was just entering through the narrow attic window, always drafty. Leaning against the closed door, Reina confirmed she was alone and smiled.
“Yawn—ah…….”
She stretched her arms behind her back with a long yawn, then moved toward her bed. Not working but getting double pay…… What a windfall. She had planned to bid farewell to those caring for her grandmother after this year, but now five more years. She’d prepared in various ways anticipating the support cutoff, but this gave her much more leeway. Perhaps soon she could look for that rundown seaside house with the money she’d saved.
‘I should visit Grandmother tomorrow.’
She thought, then changed it to resting fully for a day first. Her weary body, not having rested properly for even five full hours over two days, was drawn to the bed. Thinking she should catch a quick nap before the other maids returned, Reina rubbed her stinging eyes. ……A month away should suffice? She didn’t have much luggage……
‘I’ll pack just what to take home and rest.’
Reina crouched before her bed and began sorting her belongings. Thud. As she organized her few items, her hand brushed the document box, slightly dislodging the lid. Reina’s gaze stopped on the scrapbooks peeking from the gap.
“…….”
Gazettes yellowed and layered with years. Touching the worn, soft edges lightly, Reina smiled as she traced the time embedded there. My one-night husband. I resented you bitterly during that month of spring cleaning, but now I’m happy thanks to you. I’ll gratefully accept this final gift. I wish you happiness upon your return. Your former wife.
