Translator: Nox

Chapter 78

78

Four People

The room, lit only by a single lamp on the desk, was filled with a diluted, soft darkness.

Leila sat on the bed, hugging her knees, staring blankly at the light. Night had deepened before she knew it, but sleep wouldn’t come. The more she tossed and turned trying to force herself to sleep, the clearer her mind became.

Startled by the rattling of the window in the fierce wind, Leila whipped her head around.

Even though she had personally locked Phoebe’s cage, for a moment she thought it might be Phoebe bringing a letter. She knew Phoebe no longer flew to the Etman house window, and the duke who had newly tamed Phoebe was not in this Arbis.

Leila let out a sigh of relief and patted her chest before getting out of bed and draping a shawl over her shoulders. She didn’t have any particular intention of doing something. She just couldn’t bear it anymore. The anxious silence. The memories of her childhood days wandering the world alone that assaulted her suddenly. The loneliness, sorrow, and fear reviving in the present.

Pacing around the room, Leila went to the kitchen and drank a glass of water. But her lips soon dried up again and began to tremble. She tried to calm her mind by counting the days until Uncle Bill would return, but it only made her feel more hopeless. It was ridiculous. Uncle Bill had only been gone a day or two. Why now did the fact that she was alone hurt so much?

Leila checked the firmly locked doors and windows once more, then sat down at the dining table with a cup of warm tea.

‘How pitiful.’

Claudine’s words mingled with the whining wind, echoing in her ears like tinnitus. No matter how many sips of tea she took, it only made the chill in her chest feel bigger, so Leila set the teacup down weakly.

If only she could vent her frustration by kicking roadside stones and branches like before and forget it all. On the way back, Leila had walked with her head bowed deeply, gazing only at her shadow stretched long in the moonlight.

She felt guilty and ashamed.

No matter what insult or hurt Claudine inflicted on her, it felt like she no longer had the right to feel pain or upset about it. Because she had stolen Claudine’s fiancé. Even if it was something she hadn’t wanted, she was still the shameless one who had done it.

She had fallen into a state where she could no longer proudly call herself a decent adult.

Realizing that so sharply made her hate that man unbearably. Her only consolation was that at least she had avoided the tragedy of playing maid in front of Claudine in his presence. Of course, he must be disappointed. Having missed out on such an entertaining spectacle.

Leila poured herself another cup of hot tea and took off her glasses, placing them at the end of the table. Pressing hard on her throbbing eyelids brought out a long sigh.

Now Leila thought she understood. What she was to Matthias von Herhardt. He, who was still perfect to everyone else, was dumping only his dark, shadowed, twisted emotional dregs on her alone.

He would never show Claudine such a side in his lifetime.

Leila bit her lip and stood up from the chair resolutely, as if shaking off stray thoughts. After checking the doors one more time, she peered out the window, where the forest beyond was sunk in pitch-black darkness.

She hated that man.

All the emotions that had tormented her heart all day had solidified into hatred toward the duke. The hurt he had inflicted on Kyle, and the pain in her own heart equal to that hurt—Leila kept them all as hatred toward him. She knew it was somewhat unfair. She knew not all of this could be blamed solely on the duke. But even so, Leila wanted to hate that man. It was okay to do so.

Should she thank you for that?

Only as dawn deepened did Leila curl up in bed again. For a moment, she thought it would be nice if that man hurried back. So she could hate him to her heart’s content. So her heart wouldn’t feel this sad and tormented.

“You’ve grown a bit more in the time we haven’t seen each other, Kyle. You’re a proper young man now.”

Katarina von Herthart’s face was full of kind smiles as she looked at Kyle standing beside her personal physician. Kyle smiled back at her. He was always so upright and likable.

“Thank you, Dr. Etman. For bringing Kyle to see me like this.”

“No, no. We’re the ones grateful to have the chance to visit and pay our respects. Isn’t that right, Kyle?”

At his father’s subtle question, Kyle nodded eagerly. That gentle smile once again brought a smile to Katarina von Herthart’s face.

She had thought from the day she heard Kyle had returned to his hometown that she must see the boy at least once. Fortunately, it was the day Dr. Etman was making his rounds, so she had suggested he bring Kyle along, and the father and son had gladly come to Arbis together.

Lady Norma had only a slight cold, so there were no health issues, and the visit didn’t take long. Most of the time was filled with warm conversation and laughter. Knowing well how much Lady Norma had doted on him since childhood, Kyle did his best to appear bright and healthy.

Leila.

Whenever he thought of that name, the wavering in his eyes was fortunately well-hidden.

Leila had lied.

No matter how many times he replayed that reunion in his mind and agonized over it, that was the only conclusion Kyle could reach. Once the visit ended, he planned to find an opportune moment to slip away and meet Leila. He had to find out why she had told such a lie.

The visit ended only after Lady Norma, overcome with drowsiness, bid them farewell. Kyle hurried out of the bedroom, his heart racing, when a maid who had been waiting outside approached.

“Lady Brandt is waiting for Dr. Etman and his son.”

At her unexpected message, the eyes of the father and son widened simultaneously.

“Lady Brandt is waiting for us?”

“Yes. She invited you to have tea together.”

Even as Dr. Etman asked again, the maid replied calmly.

“Let’s go.”

Her eyes were stubborn, as if she wouldn’t back down no matter what they said.

With Elise von Herhardt leading, the middle-aged noble ladies had gone out to the city, leaving the afternoon drawing room quiet. Pale winter sunlight stretched long across Claudine, who was embroidering by the fireplace, and Leila, sitting opposite her reading a book.

It should be over by now, I suppose.

Claudine glanced toward the drawing room door and set her embroidery hoop down for a moment. The way she looked at Leila, who was focused on her book, was almost affectionate, like an adult gazing at a naive child.

Matthias would return tomorrow. And Claudine was not so foolish as to deliberately show her fiancé the sight of his mistress being humiliated.

If today was the last day, she ought to give a fitting gift.

A soft smile settled on Claudine’s curved lips.

Over the past few days, Leila had quite faithfully played her role. She still had that pride unbecoming her station, but that was just her consistent self from childhood; she showed no sign of being arrogant, relying on Matthias as her backer. If anything, she was more docile and polite than before, so she could be called a modestly shamefaced mistress.

A shamefaced mistress.

As ridiculous as a virtuous thief, but it was the praise most fitting for Leila. If she continued to behave so properly, even seeing the girl after the marriage wouldn’t be much of a problem.

“If only you could have married Dr. Etman’s son, Leila, that would have been wonderful.”

At Claudine’s sudden remark, Leila looked up, a bit flustered.

“Pardon?”

“I mean it exactly as I said. Kyle, was it? I suddenly thought that marrying him and studying at the university in the capital would have been the best life for you.”

Leila’s puzzled face frowned, but Claudine didn’t stop.

“You two suited each other so well. He was the man who could have made you the happiest, too.”

“Miss.”

“Mrs. Etman is truly a cruel woman. Did she really have to tear you and Kyle Etman apart like that?”

“I’m sorry, Miss, but that is all in the past now. Kyle and I……”

“I know, Leila.”

Seeing Leila’s face still seemingly oblivious, Claudine smiled, feeling a touch of sadistic pleasure.

“You and Kyle Etman are no longer in that relationship. It’s become irreversible, and that’s what I find most regrettable.”

Even if he came back to take you away, you couldn’t leave. You’ve become a pitiful creature bound to the man who clipped your wings.

Instead of saying that, Claudine looked at Leila with even kinder eyes.

How pitiful.

She could sigh it over and over, offering deep sympathy.

To have become the mistress of the man who ruined her life—what a truly pitiful Leila. Consider this tea with Kyle Etman, who might have been your good husband, as my little gift to you.

At the summons of the butler Hessen, the servants of the duke’s residence hurriedly gathered in the lobby hall. The Herhardt duke, who wasn’t expected back until tomorrow evening, had returned earlier than planned.

“Oh, welcome back, Master.”

Hessen, who had hurried out to the entrance, greeted him in an uncharacteristically flustered manner. The servants bowing their heads behind him were much the same.

Matthias responded with a light nod and strode across the lobby hall.

“Madam is out, and Lady Norma is taking a nap.”

“Then, Lady Brandt?”

“Lady Brandt is in the small drawing room on the second floor.”

Hearing Hessen’s report, Matthias changed direction toward the second-floor corridor. Though he was concerned about Leila playing maid, Hessen couldn’t bring himself to speak up and simply followed his master. They ran into the Etmans just as they turned into the corridor leading to the drawing room.

“Good day, Your Grace.”

Dr. Etman greeted Matthias first upon seeing him. Kyle at his side also bowed politely.

“Lady Brandt invited us for tea time, so we were heading there.”

Reading the question in Matthias’s gaze, Dr. Etman answered courteously.

“I see.”

Matthias nodded with his habitual smile.

“Come along.”

After giving Kyle Etman a brief glance, Matthias led the way to the drawing room. The Etman father and son followed a couple of paces behind.

Hessen’s face, watching the scene, had gone as white as a sheet. He knew he had to stop this absurd encounter, but he had no idea what to say or how, so he just moved his lips soundlessly.

“……M-Master!”

The moment Hessen finally managed to speak, Matthias opened the drawing room door. Beyond the frozen Matthias and the Etmans stood Claudine and Leila, equally rigid.

God help us.

Swallowing that despairing sigh, Hessen squeezed his eyes shut.