Translator: Nox

Chapter 39

“When you’re young, there’s a certain romance in living somewhere secluded with just the two of you. They say even the Queen stayed on some island when she was pregnant with the Princess.”

Rosalyn spoke as if the island where the Queen spent her honeymoon was some deserted wasteland, but in reality, it was a fairly large resort with a population of over four hundred thousand. That bizarre perspective was undoubtedly a direct reflection of the views held by the older women of Linden’s high society.

“She’ll have to suffer a bit to realize how precious what she has now really is.”

Though she had only just come of age, Rosalyn had a long-standing habit of speaking as if she had lived through everything the world had to offer. It was a verbal tic she had inherited from her mother, the Marchioness. Occasionally, the parents’ habits were mirrored so clearly in their children.

Vanessa gave a weak smile and swallowed the rest of her discomfort.

“I suppose so.”

“That girl really hasn’t matured at all yet.”

When Rosalyn spoke like this, she was the spitting image of the Marchioness of Winchester. Every time Vanessa realized that, she felt a secret pang of anxiety. Children were bound to resemble their parents, after all—and the only person Vanessa had as a parent was her uncle.

Did she look like the same breed as her uncle in the eyes of others? Perhaps she had been influenced by his behavior or way of speaking without even knowing it. Whenever that thought crossed her mind and made her shudder, she felt utterly hideous and pathetic.

No matter how unfairly her uncle treated her, she still had to be grateful that he had raised her safely until now. In particular, his support in allowing her to finish her studies at Saint Louis was a great grace—even if that decision hadn’t been made entirely for her sake, but was merely a way to stash her away in a boarding school until she was old enough to be married off.

“Now, Vanessa. Stand over there.”

Rosalyn, who had pulled a long veil from a ribbon-decorated box, pointed toward the full-length mirror with her chin. Vanessa, feeling somewhat dazed, let herself be led by Rosalyn’s maids.

Her hair was styled as if for a wedding ceremony, and before she knew it, a bouquet of fresh white flowers was placed in her hands. A light layer of makeup was applied to her cheeks and lips.

“You’re so beautiful.”

“Look at this.”

The maids, who had meticulously smoothed out every wrinkle in her dress, stepped back in unison with exclamations of wonder. Pushed toward the mirror, Vanessa finally raised her eyes to face it. Within the glass stood a pale woman. A monster who had trampled her friend’s loyalty, her uncle’s expectations, and her parents’ honor into the dirt.

Are you very happy now? The woman in the mirror seemed to stare back and ask. Just as Vanessa was about to clutch her trembling arms, Rosalyn stepped in front of her, holding the veil.

“Lift your head a little… Good, stay right there.”

Deep green eyes, so like her brother’s, sparkled with a serious light. A diamond-encrusted tiara sent by Lord Roden was placed upon her head, and over it, a long, pure white veil descended carefully. With trembling hands, Rosalyn lifted the lace that covered half of Vanessa’s face.

“Oh, Vanessa.”

Rosalyn’s eyes, which had been churning with complex emotions, finally grew wet. She opened her arms wide and pulled Vanessa into a tight embrace. She struggled to find her voice, stuttering in a rare display of emotion.

“Really… you look so…”

“Are you okay?”

“…Enough to make me want to go kill Lord Roden right this second.”

Vanessa held her friend tightly as she began to sob against her cheek. Rosalyn cried a great deal and laughed a little while talking about the past. As Vanessa tried to soothe her friend, a faint smile finally bloomed on her face, which had been on the verge of tears as well.

She hadn’t expected happiness from the start. For someone like her, struggling just to avoid total misery was the best she could hope for.

And perhaps, this was enough for a life.

---

“The contractor will visit tomorrow. They sent word that although the schedule is tight, they can make it work by adjusting the distribution channels.”

“That’s a relief.”

“I’ve sent word to the Admiralty that you will visit tomorrow afternoon. That document completes everything that needs urgent attention.”

“Good. Well done.”

The old man, who bowed politely even at the dry praise, spoke up as if suddenly remembering something.

“And some information has come in regarding the young lady you asked me to look into last time.”

“Young lady?”

“Lady Vanessa of the Somerset family.”

The hand flipping through the documents went still, as if he had momentarily forgotten he had even made such a request.

Though the young Duke maintained his upright posture and showed not a hint of agitation, the Battenberg butler knew he was waiting for him to continue.

“Everything else seems fine, but there are some strange circumstances regarding the inheritance. The heir was abruptly changed about a month before the deaths of the former Earl and Countess of Somerset. However, it is said that the will was prepared as a notarized deed, so the probate process was bypassed.”

“The lawyer who notarized it?”

“His name is Georges Header, but his current whereabouts are unknown. His name is registered with the Bar Association, but…”

“……”

“Shall I look into it further?”

“I don’t believe I gave you permission to sit.”

It was before the warmth of the butler’s seat had even faded. The woman sitting gracefully across from him blinked in surprise at his rebuke, then simply gave a beautiful smile.

She seemed completely unbothered by the fact that the hem of her robe, which she had loosened with her own hands, was spilling carelessly onto the floor.

“I didn’t come here to ask for permission.”

“To someone you’ve never even been introduced to?”

“Oh, surely you don’t mean to say you don’t remember me?”

A small, white hand covered her mouth as she let out a forced gasp of surprise. Theodore, following that hand with his gaze, recalled a memory from not too long ago. The woman’s face was still indistinct in his mind, but he remembered her exceptionally white, slender neck with perfect clarity.

The woman who had stood beside Edgar at that old train station, curtsying as she recognized him, and…

“I’m Haley. Hailey Morton.”

Theodore stared indifferently at the hand extended toward him across the table. Even in the face of a direct rejection, Haley withdrew her hand without showing a trace of embarrassment.

Her hair, pulled back tightly without a single stray strand to emphasize her neckline, was striking. The deep-cut neckline of her blouse added to the effect.

If she had done this on someone’s advice, she was bold; if it was meant to provoke base desires, she clearly understood the nature of men. Or, at the very least, she wanted to appear to be that kind of woman.

“I’d like to ask how you managed to be here.”

Unlike Hailey Morton, who sat there as if it were nothing, the location was anything but trivial. This was the most expensive private club in Linden, a place where entry was strictly forbidden to those without titles.

At his question, Hailey Morton looked around before leaning forward slightly.

“Are you truly curious?”

When he met her gaze in silence, her round eyes curved into a soft smile.

“The person who runs this place owes me a small favor.”

“You clearly have no talent for business, My Lady. To waste a debt owed by a titan of Linden society on something like this.”

“I trust the Duke will settle the bill on my behalf.”

Theodore let out a short, dry laugh at her bold reply. His black hair fell handsomely over his brow. He brushed the hair out of his eyes with a touch of irritation.

“How did you know I was here?”

The woman, who had been shameless throughout, finally put on a look of slight distress.

“…I don’t wish to lie to the Duke. For the sake of the trust between us.”

“Is there even such a thing as trust between us?”

“I’m not just asking you to pay the price unilaterally. I have a proposal.”

Theodore slowly rubbed his eyes with the fingers he had used to touch his brow. It was a stupid question. He didn’t even need to ask; this was undoubtedly Edgar’s doing. Given how Edgar had been prying into all sorts of tedious details lately, it seemed it had all been a setup for this moment.

Just then, a waiter placed tea and cream in front of the woman. Hailey Morton smiled as she picked up her teacup.

“Since I’ve come all this way, surely you can buy me a cup of tea?”

He signed the bill the waiter had brought and stood up.

“Finish your tea and go. I’ll let this slide this time for Edgar’s sake.”

“You won’t even hear my proposal?”

The woman tilted her pretty face gracefully and blinked. Theodore draped the jacket he had taken from the waiter over his arm. He was about to walk away when he stopped dead at the sound of her voice behind him.

“You’re seeing a woman seriously, aren’t you? The one from the South.”

It was a trivial subject. Normally, he would have laughed it off and ignored it.

“If that’s true, you’re going to need me soon.”

Theodore turned back, the annoyance on his face undisguised. Hailey Morton stared at him with clear eyes, a secret smile soon spreading across her lips.

“Just as I need you, Your Grace.”