Episode 5
And so, three years passed.
He grew accustomed to the hands that straightened his clothes every morning and tied his necktie for him. He even found the eyes that looked up at him while fastening his cuff links endearing.
At first, she had merely been a woman he brought in to avoid the marriage proposals the queen kept thrusting upon him, but little by little, his heart had changed.
He was the one and only duke of this country. His every move was interpreted politically, and at times, even the smallest action could have an enormous influence on those beneath him.
So he could not take a woman of low birth, whose roots were unknowable, as his duchess. But if she bore him a child, he had intended to give her enough wealth to live on for the rest of her life, and perhaps an island or so as well.
But affection and trust were separate matters.
Rowena Philone. His one and only mistress was from the working class, not even gentry. Moreover, she was a woman who had once been a courtesan. Vulgarity could be concealed to some degree through continuous education and guidance, but an inborn nature could not be fixed.—It seems Miss Philone has a man she is seeing.—…
If this is nonsense.—How would I dare speak nonsense before you? I even know the man’s name. He is a man called William Zenon.
Earlier that day, he had nearly been seized by the impulse to tear open the mouth of Gertrude, who had served him for so long. Apart from the fact that he did not trust Rowena, there had been one reason he had begun to loosen the reins on her a little.
His confidence that, to Rowena Philone, the only man was “Killian Devonshire.”
He had given her countless riches and luxuries. Riches and luxuries, and pleasure besides. For a woman with nothing to recommend her but her looks to secure the position of a duke’s mistress was an unprecedented rise in status.
More than anyone, he despised those who were blinded by fleeting emotion and committed foolish acts. Fools who played with momentary sparks of fire as well.
The question of whom to trust already had its answer. He had no need to think deeply.
Rowena Philone was his mistress, but her origins were lowly. On the other hand, Gertrude was of certain standing and was the head maid who had served the Devonshire ducal family for many years.
Only as the sun began to set did the woman he had been waiting for return, accompanied by a couple of knocks.
“Your Grace……?”
“Come in.”
Killian looked at the door as it slowly opened.
“Your Grace…….”
Her trembling voice pierced his ears. Thoroughly intimidated, Rowena continued.
“You came home… early.”
“Miss Philone.”
At his calm reply, Rowena stroked her startled chest in relief.
Contrary to her expectation that she would be pressed the moment she opened the door and stepped inside, the duke’s face was peaceful. Perhaps he had not been home long; he was dressed not in indoor clothes, but in his outdoor attire.
The crackling embers of the fireplace. The faint scent of wine. On the table before the couch where he was leaning sat appetizingly sliced cheese, a bottle of wine, and two wineglasses.
“What brings you to drink alone……?”
I must not offend him. Having resolved as much, Rowena forced a smile as she spoke.
Instead of answering, he jerked his chin toward the seat across from him. As Rowena approached hesitantly and sat on the couch, Killian filled an empty glass with wine and handed it to her.
“Once.”
When Rowena accepted the glass and took a sip, he slowly began to speak.
“I once kept a dog.”
“A dog…
?”
Rowena’s eyes widened. It was the first time she had heard of it. Aside from the stuffed head of a stag, there was no sign of any animal in his residence.
“It was a gift from the queen, a very beautiful hunting dog. A bitch with glossy black fur, elegant and clever.”
Skillfully cutting off a layer of cheese, Killian placed the piece on the knife and brought it toward her mouth.
Startled, Rowena tried to take hold of the handle of the knife, but he quietly ignored her. Left with no choice, Rowena opened her mouth, and he put the knife he held into it.
A sweet flavor spread across her taste buds, melting over her tongue. Only after confirming that she had chewed and swallowed the cheese did Killian withdraw his hand.
“When hunting birds, she would bring back the prey shot down by the gun before I even gave an order.”
She could not imagine him, a man who had no tender affection even for people, cherishing a dog. Rowena listened intently to his words, as though drawn into the story.
“Then one day, something happened. The dog snapped her leash and ran away, and did not return.”
“She never… came back?”
Feeling sorry, Rowena asked quietly. Killian shook his head.
“No. Instead, she had mated with some mongrel. She came back carrying puppies. Her belly swollen, she rubbed her cheek against the hem of my trousers as though nothing had happened.”
Puppies. At the unexpected twist, Rowena’s face brightened. The dog he had thought had run away had returned, and had even come back pregnant, so was that not ultimately a good thing?
Staring at her face, Killian said in a low voice.
“I waited until my dog gave birth to her pups. And then.”
At some point, it seemed the window had opened. Rowena felt a chill run down her spine at the cold wind blowing from behind her.
“…
And then?”
Setting down his glass, Killian ended the story plainly.
“I found the mongrel that resembled the pups and killed them all in front of her eyes. One by one. In the end, she went mad. She tried to bite me, so I disposed of her as well.”
“…….”
“That is why I have not kept a dog since.”
Perhaps the firewood had burned out, for the embers in the fireplace died down. The warmth in the room, which had been cozy only a moment before, turned cold in an instant.
At the chill seeping through her whole body, Rowena unconsciously wrapped her arms around her shoulders. Even in the darkness, she could feel those blue eyes gazing at her.
Could he have noticed that she had secretly gone to the publishing house? Her lips trembled.
“Miss Philone.”
Her eyes gradually grew accustomed to the dark. Rowena looked at the hand that had, at some point, approached and lifted her chin. In the pitch-black darkness, a sharp blue light flashed.
“I never forgive a dog that betrays me.”
“…
Y-Your Grace.”
“But if it was merely a momentary mistake, I may overlook it.”
Of course, she would have to pay the price. Swallowing those words, Killian announced,
“Circumstances have arisen, so it seems we must postpone moving to Rockford for a little while. I will be busy for the time being and likely will not come here often, so behave yourself and wait quietly until the social season ends.”
He did not trust Rowena Philone. But neither could he rashly trust Gertrude’s words.
With that, Killian left the townhouse. It was Melissa who woke Rowena, who had tossed and turned in the wide bed and been unable to sleep until dawn.
“My lady. Wake up.”
“Melissa?”
“You have an appointment today.”
“An appointment?”
“You said you were meeting the person from the publishing house at the park. It’s already noon.”
“Ah.”
Rowena’s eyes flew open, and she threw off the blanket and sat up. If she prepared and went out now, she would barely make it to the appointed time, if at all. As she washed and changed in a frenzy, a question suddenly occurred to her.
“Melissa.”
“Yes?”
“But did I ever tell you that?”
“Ah……
Yes. You did.”
“I see.”
“I prepared all the men’s clothes for you to change into while you were washing. I’ll go call a hired carriage.”
“Thank you.”
Taking the bag from her, Rowena nodded. The door closed, and she heard footsteps receding. Just as she was about to let out a sigh, Killian’s eyes from the night before abruptly came to mind.
“I must be mad.”
Shaking her head, Rowena stopped changing halfway and quickly descended the stairs. Then she caught hold of Melissa, who had just been about to open the front door.
“Melissa!”
“My lady?”
“Now that I think about it. Hah…….”
“Yes?”
“I think… it would be better not to go.”
Breathing hard, Rowena lowered her voice and whispered.
“His Grace is in a foul mood. If he were to misunderstand anything, it would be troublesome.”
Of course the book was important. But Killian came first. From the moment she met him, the priorities in her life had always been the same.
“My lady.”
“Yes?”
“To tell you the truth, I secretly read your manuscript yesterday. Not the manuscript you took to the publishing house, but another one that was in your bag.”
“…
I see.”
“My lady.”
Taking a deep breath, Melissa suddenly seized Rowena’s hands. While Rowena faltered in surprise, Melissa’s eyes sparkled as she poured out her words with passion.
“Even to someone like me, who knows nothing, you truly are a talented person.”
“…….”
“I don’t want you to miss the chance you barely managed to seize. Perhaps today, you might even sign a contract.”
It was the first time anyone had spoken so passionately and positively about her writing. Warmth spread through Rowena’s chest. Toward Rowena, who had fallen silent for a moment, Melissa drove the point home.
“This may be your first and last chance. Once you return to Rockford, you’ll have to stay there for another half year.”
Her first and last chance. At Melissa’s words, an alarm rang in Rowena’s mind. At the same time, a passion she had momentarily forgotten welled up again.
“Yes.”
Rowena nodded and clenched her fist tightly.
“You’re right.”
In any case, she would be going out dressed as a man, so even if someone who knew her passed by, there was no chance they would recognize her.
“You’ll come with me, won’t you?”
“It’s an important matter. This time, I think it would be better if I weren’t there.”
“Then…….”
“Don’t worry. When you go and when you return, just tell me the place, and I’ll accompany you. Then no one else will be attached to you, and Lady Gertrude won’t have anything to find fault with.”
Melissa smiled gently and answered as if to reassure her. Smiling brightly, Rowena lightly embraced Melissa.
“Thank you so much.”