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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Shameless Lover
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Compared to Anita, Hans was dressed neatly as he frowned.
“I gave up everything for you, didn’t I?”
Having stolen money from the Everett barony and fled, he couldn’t return to his position as a noble bastard.
Anita stroked her slightly bulging belly and lowered her head.
‘I thought he was a responsible man...’
By the time she realized he only lusted after posing as a noble and starting a business, it was too late.
She was already pregnant, and she’d handed over every penny she’d saved to him.
The once-kind Hans now showed his true colors after ruining everything, constantly berating her.
Anita, who knew his bottom nature all too well, shook her head.
“No. I thought I knew you, but I was wrong.”
“Liar.”
Hans chuckled and yanked her wrist.
“You have to do as I say. I’m the benefactor who saved your life, aren’t I? What do you think will happen if I tell the Queensguard Count about you? I’ll get paid to keep quiet. But you’ve got baron’s blood in you.”
Anita denied it to the end, but Hans dragged her toward the first-class cabin.
“Please show me your first-class ticket.”
“I have an acquaintance inside, so I’m just going to say hi. Step aside if you don’t want to get fired.”
Pushing the attendant aside, Hans barged in and started wandering around the first-class cabin.
“Hans, stop it.”
Anita, her face drained of color, pleaded, but he was relentless.
“Anita? Is that you?”
In the end, he ran into Cynthia.
Hans, spotting his new money source, grinned from ear to ear and bowed to Cynthia and Masera.
“Do you know Anita? I’m Hans Everett of the Everett barony. Her lover.”
“Lover?”
Cynthia’s red eyes turned to Anita, who was carrying heavy luggage. Her clothes were shabby compared to Hans’s, and she looked gaunt.
Cynthia approached Anita, who looked terrified, and whispered softly.
“Anita, you look awful. What’s wrong? Is that guy really your lover?”
“Yes...”
“Is he the father?”
At Cynthia’s subdued question, Anita’s eyes widened in shock.
“How did you know I’m pregnant? My clothes hide it...”
“I found out by chance at the mansion back then. It’s one of the reasons I spared you.”
Her warm voice nearly brought tears to Anita’s eyes.
Unlike what she’d feared, Cynthia didn’t threaten her about showing up like this.
“Mr. Everett. Why don’t we grab a meal together? It’s on me.”
Cynthia proposed, eyeing Hans with a sharper gaze.
“...Pregnant women need to eat well.”
Masera’s eyes shifted to Anita and her heavy load at the offhand remark.
Soon, Masera glared at Hans with extreme displeasure.
Hans, sensing the mood, awkwardly took Anita’s luggage.
Masera asked with an expression of utter incomprehension.
“Attendants will deliver luggage to your cabin if you hand it over. Why carry it around?”
“Well, we’re not first-class passengers...”
“Then why are you here?”
At the sharp question, Hans pointed at Anita with his chin.
“Anita was excited to see her old lady, so I came to say hello.”
“Pathetic.”
Masera sighed, his intentions transparent, and turned away.
He didn’t object to Cynthia’s offer to buy Anita a meal.
The luxurious restaurant in the first-class cabin.
The nobles around frowned at the slurping sounds, devoid of any table manners.
Unlike Anita, who picked at her food nervously, Hans devoured his gluttonously.
“Who’s the pregnant one?”
Masera asked Cynthia casually while watching.
Even the ever-bright and positive Cynthia looked disgusted.
Hans set down his fork, wiped his mouth, and resumed his noble act.
“Truth is, my family opposed my relationship with Anita, a mere maid, so we’re on the run. I have to take responsibility for the woman carrying my child.”
He emphasized his sense of duty, propping up Anita to garner sympathy.
Masera sighed and called an attendant.
“Reserve a first-class cabin, please. A pregnant woman will be staying, so prepare it with care.”
“Understood. I’ll inform the medical staff as well.”
Anita fidgeted and tried to refuse, but Masera waved it off dismissively.
Hans smirked slyly, having gotten what he wanted.
‘These pampered fools are easy marks. A little sob story, and they play the philanthropist with their money.’
Masera stood and said to Cynthia.
“I’ll head back first. Take your time chatting.”
“Thanks.”
Cynthia smiled warmly, seeing him off.
Then, glancing at Anita’s plate, Hans frowned.
“Hey, you ate so much there’s nothing left for me? Planning to hog it all under the kid excuse?”
Habitually snapping at her, Hans realized his mistake, glanced around, and laughed exaggeratedly.
“You know I’m joking, right?”
Cynthia stared at him blankly.
She knew she shouldn’t meddle in others’ affairs, but she couldn’t hold back.
“Not funny.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t act so shamelessly when you’re just freeloading off Anita. And fix that commoner slurping.”
Her blunt rebuke turned Hans’s face beet red with humiliation.
Cynthia burst into laughter at his flustered look.
“You know I’m joking, right?”
She threw it right back.
‘That damned wench...!’
Fuming, Hans ground his teeth.
“Sir Hans, I hope the baby is born safely. And Anita’s health too.”
Cynthia’s usual cheerful voice felt somehow different.
“You get what I mean, don’t you?”
The knife in her hand seemed to glint oddly under her chilling gaze.
After a proper meal for the first time in ages, Anita followed the grumbling Hans to the first-class cabin.
“Anita, I’m in the capital. I’ll give you my address.”
“Miss...”
“Think of me as a friend and contact me anytime. Even for nothing special. I’d love to see the baby soon anyway.”
Cynthia had naturally offered her options.
She lacked the courage to ask for help outright, but knowing she had a lifeline made her feel a bit more secure.
Then, the grumbling Hans turned to Anita.
“Hey, isn’t that scrawny wench the maid you mentioned?”
“No.”
“The only place you worked was the Queensguard household.”
Hans loomed threateningly over Anita, who tried to stay silent.
“We’ll find out if I investigate anyway. For your kid’s sake, spill it now.”
Anita’s face paled again.
“Y-yes, it’s her. There were circumstances, but if word gets out I was a maid, it won’t be good...”
Hans mulled it over.
‘That officer doesn’t know his wife was a lowly maid. Makes sense, or the count wouldn’t have caused trouble.’
But going so far as to kill all the servants to silence them? And she didn’t even look like the count’s daughter.
He didn’t know the details, but she clearly wanted to hide her past. He could squeeze money out of her by playing it smart. Time to fix her uppity attitude too.
Smirking vilely, Hans said.
“Thanks to me, you got good food and a first-class bed. Grateful? A place you’d never see in your life. Let’s order fancy booze and room service galore.”
As Hans strutted toward the first-class cabin, a burly attendant blocked him.
“Only one person reserved this room.”
“What?”
Hans blinked in confusion, and the attendant stated firmly.
“The guest said not to let anyone but Anita in.”
“No way.”
“Sir, please leave.”
Facing the large attendant, he couldn’t bulldoze like before.
‘Damn it...’
Hans clenched his fist and muttered curses.
“Just you wait. I’ll wring a fortune out of them.”
