Chapter 80
Two horses raced without hesitation down the rain-lashed road. Inside the carriage, where silence had settled like stone, Rowena moved her lips heavily.
“Since when?”
“Pardon?”
“Since when have you been following me and watching me? Since when did you find me?”
“……
Relatively recently.”
Jenok hesitated, then answered while avoiding her gaze.
“I cannot claim to know everything in His Grace’s heart, but at first it was merely a small suspicion.”
A black-haired woman with a slight foreign accent. Unlike him, who had accepted the claim that she was already another man’s wife, Killian had someone investigate her. There was no way to explain it except as an animal instinct.
“I shall see you again.”
Before she knew it, the carriage had stopped. In front of the townhouse door, Jenok bowed his head and saw Rowena off with an umbrella in hand. Barely acknowledging his farewell, Rowena turned sharply away.
“Madam?”
As soon as she opened the door, a maid, startled by her mistress barging in as though being chased, spoke to her. Without answering, Rowena went up to her room and hurriedly searched the drawer for stationery.
To dear Cedric.
Right now—
The words she had scrawled without hesitation stopped at the opening. As though someone had poured cold water over her head, she belatedly came to her senses. Right now? And do what?
—Lauren Senes. What route do you think Owen used to get that medicine to her?
When Killian’s words came to mind, it felt as if the blood in her entire body froze. Lauren. There was Lauren to consider. Even if she had prevented herself from being dragged away immediately, she could not go anywhere until Lauren’s body recovered.
As she stood frozen in helplessness, the pen slipped from her hand and rolled to the floor.
If she told Cedric honestly what had just happened, he would immediately say they should take Lauren and leave for somewhere far away. If that happened, there would be no guarantee Lauren would survive. And even if they fled far away, there was no way to escape Killian’s grasp. She was also worried about Damian, who had already adjusted to life here.
“Madam? Are you all right?”
As she stood there unable to do anything, the maid lingering outside the door knocked.
“You aren’t feeling unwell, are you?”
“……
No. I’m fine. Come in.”
Gritting her teeth, Rowena crumpled the unfinished letter. As soon as she dropped it into the wastebasket, the maid entered and held out an envelope to her.
“Before he left yesterday, Sir Cedric asked me to give you this letter.”
“……
Thank you.”
After sending the maid out, Rowena unfolded it. What fluttered down was a dried flower petal. A single bright yellow rape flower, blooming vividly, landed at her feet.
To my dear fake wife.
We’ll only be apart for a week, and I haven’t even left yet, but I miss you already. I know you’ve been avoiding me lately. Still, I’ll take meaning in the fact that you entrusted Damian, whom you value more than your own life, to me. No matter what happens, I’ll take good care of him, so don’t worry. If anything happens, write to me at once.
With love, your fake husband, Cedric.
It was written plainly, but every sentence was filled with affection and tenderness. As she read it, the anxiety and tension that had risen to her throat seemed to ease a little.
“Yes. I just have to walk the tightrope well.”
Killian had seemed ready to drag her back to the ducal residence at any moment, but when she threatened that she would rather die, he stopped the carriage. She had never known what that man was thinking before, and she would not know in the future either, but for now, the fact that he had taken one step back at her words gave her a straw-like hope to cling to.
“I’ll act obedient as long as I don’t offend him…… and once Lauren’s illness is completely cured, I’ll get away somehow.”
Running away was no longer of any use. She had to either persuade him to find another woman, or devise a last resort that would force him to return to his homeland.
Before, she would have dismissed such thoughts as absurd without even considering them, but now was different. The experience of seeing the novel she had struggled over for so long come to light and succeed had made her a person with firmer roots.
First, she had to face the reality she had wanted to flee from and ignore. She had to face it and hold her head high.
“I need to buy time.”
Having made up her mind, Rowena opened the door and came out, calling the maid.
“……
Mary.”
“Yes, madam.”
“Could you help me pack a few things?”
“Are you going somewhere?”
“Yes. For about……”
Rowena folded her fingers one by one, then smiled faintly.
“I think I’ll be staying at the Ludville estate for about five days starting tomorrow.”
“For that long?”
At the sudden notice, the maid’s eyes widened.
“Yes. I have one favor to ask.”
“What favor?”
“Please keep it a secret.”
She did not want to worry anyone needlessly before she came up with a clever plan. Rowena thanked the maid, who nodded awkwardly, and began gathering her clothes.
* * *
Early the next morning, as if it meant nothing that she had left in Killian’s arms, Rowena returned to the Ludville estate with an unruffled face. Cecilia, who looked dumbfounded for a moment, soon changed her expression and welcomed her.
“I’m truly glad you came back.”
“That I came back?”
“Yes. For some reason…… I had a feeling I might never see you again.”
Cecilia tightened her grip on Rowena’s two hands. When Rowena frowned at the pain, Cecilia withdrew her hands.
“I’m sorry. I was just so happy……”
“It’s all right.”
“You’ll be staying here, won’t you?”
Whatever Killian had told them, by the time Rowena made up her mind and came here, everything at the Ludville estate was already prepared. As soon as Rowena nodded instead of answering, Cecilia immediately asked,
“By the way, what is your relationship with the du— no, the guest in the annex?”
She spoke of Killian indirectly, as if even putting him into words was something to be cautious about, but what she was asking was clear.
In any case, the mask and wig had fallen off, and it was too late now to hide her identity again. Taking a small deep breath, Rowena revealed her name.
“My name is Rowena Philone.”
“…….”
Cecilia bit her lip and lowered her head.
“How much you must have laughed at me all this time, listening to my story.”
“Cecily……”
Startled by the murmur, Rowena called out to her, but Cecilia abruptly turned away and stopped a servant.
“You there. Take Madam’s—no, Lady Rowena’s luggage. And show her to her room.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The servant bowed and naturally took Rowena’s luggage.
“This way, please.”
“Ah…… yes.”
It seemed some misunderstanding had arisen. Rowena wanted to explain herself right away, but because Cecilia left, she could only watch her retreating back.
Fortunately, she did not run into Killian until evening. There was a wide courtyard between the annex and the main building, and one had to cross a long corridor to get there, so there was some distance between them.
“I apologize for not recognizing you. While you are here, please tell the maid anything you need.”
“Not at all. Thank you for your consideration.”
Rowena smiled awkwardly at Owen, whose attitude toward her had suddenly become exceedingly polite.
“By the way, I don’t see Miss Cecilia.”
“Ah. She said she wasn’t feeling well, so I had her eat in her room.”
Owen, who had blinked as if flustered by the sudden question, answered slowly.
“Is she very ill?”
“No. It seems she is merely a little dizzy.”
“I see.”
Lowering her eyes, Rowena quietly picked up her utensils. As Owen watched her, he quietly smacked his lips. He felt completely like a dog left staring after the chicken it had chased onto the roof. How delighted he had been when the Duke of Devonshire said he would stay in the annex. The hopes swelling in his chest at the thought that, if all went well, he might be able to connect him with Cecilia sank in an instant the moment he heard the identity of the woman sitting before him.
—She is His Grace’s fiancée, who was known to have died in an accident. She is the one who will soon become the Duchess.
—Th-then why on earth is she hiding her identity and with another man……
—It would be best if you did not ask beyond that. Do not be curious, and do not try to find out. I say this for your sake.
—……
Thank you for the advice.
Recalling the warning of the man named Jenok, Owen shook his head and dispelled the thoughts trying to rise again.
“Then what should I call you……”
“Please just call me Rowena.”
“Understood. I have firmly told the servants to keep their mouths shut, so please stay comfortably while you are here.”
“……
Thank you. Um.”
“Yes?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Rowena, who had hesitated as if about to ask something, soon closed her mouth. It was suspicious that Killian, after forcing her to stay here, had not shown so much as a single strand of hair. But she chose not to ask. Whether she liked it or not, she would run into him eventually.
* * *
The door to the annex opened late at night. At an hour when all but a few of the employees had gone to sleep, Owen, who had been waiting, greeted Killian upon his return.
“Ma— no, Lady Rowena ate well. She also seemed to like the room.”
“Is that so? You’ve done well.”
With a tired face, Killian removed his gloves and gave a small nod. Owen, puzzled by his unexpectedly calm demeanor, followed after him as he headed for the bedroom.
“Forgive my impertinence, but may I ask one thing?”
Killian, who had been walking straight toward his room, stopped. As he turned around, Owen asked cautiously,
“Why on earth did you not tell us to place her room in the annex?”
If he was so obsessed that he had come all the way out here searching for her, Owen had thought he would try to keep her by his side every minute and second, so this restraint was bewildering.
“Do you know how to hunt a timid rabbit?”
“A rabbit?”
“You lay a trap and bait, and you never become impatient.”
It was a plain and clear answer. As Owen’s eyes shone with realization, Killian began walking again, entered his room, and closed the door.