Episode 83
“The moment I drank it, I felt my blood flow backward, and I lost consciousness. It was discovered that one of my relatives had someone put poison in the tea.”
“…….”
“I survived by a hair’s breadth. If the butler hadn’t noticed something was wrong, I probably would have died just like that.”
It was a heavy story. Hearing it from another’s mouth and hearing it from one’s own were worlds apart. While a shocked Rowina parted her lips, a leaf flying from somewhere settled in her hair. Killian, who naturally brushed it off for her, divulged facts he had told no one, as if making a confession.
“That was when I realized. That trusting someone completely is a foolish thing. Especially a woman.”
Not to mention, love was the same. He had considered it merely a passing desire and curiosity. Like a flower that withers when its season passes, he had dismissed the emotions he felt every time he saw her as merely a temporary breeze. And he hadn’t known that it was a terrible miscalculation.
The story had neither conclusion nor ending. Rowina said nothing in response to the heavy past he had poured out like a confession. An eternity seemed to pass between the two. Rowina, who had been pondering what to say in the silence weighing down on her shoulders, finally broke the stillness.
“…It’s gotten too late. Let’s go back.”
Although she didn’t voice it, Killian’s eyes seemed to be asking for a chance. The childhood him—betrayed and left unable to trust anyone—momentarily overlapped with Damian, and she could no longer bear to look at him.
People don’t change. He was a man who had been nothing but forceful, with no regard for her feelings. Whatever he was thinking, he was acting as if he had changed his ways, but it would probably only be temporary. Even if he were sincere, she had no intention of accepting him. Rowina stood up as if fleeing and strode toward the carriage.
* * *
Owen was horrified to see his daughter return with her face a mess from crying.
“Cecilia!”
“Father!”
“What happened? Hmm?”
Cecilia ran into her father’s embrace and shed tears without a word. Only after Owen coaxed and comforted her several times did she finally open her mouth.
“There was never anything I couldn’t have until now. Because Father gave me everything….”
“That is so. But I also told you that you cannot have everything.”
“But this is too cruel!”
With tear-soaked eyes, Cecilia pulled away from her father’s embrace and poured out her resentment.
“You said that if things went well, His Grace Devonshire might marry me! Even if I couldn’t find him at the banquet that day, still!”
“Oh, my child.”
Only then did Owen read his daughter’s heart, and he shook his head and pulled her into his arms again.
“I thought you had gone to have a meal with Lady Rowina, just the two of you. But that wasn’t it, was it?”
“Three of us went together. With His Grace…… but he didn’t pay any attention to me at all.”
“Do you mean to say he ignored you?”
“No. It wasn’t that, but still, I could tell. That he never once showed interest in me.”
No matter how inexperienced or lacking in tact she was, she could tell. The conversation continued smoothly, but his gaze was fixed firmly on Rowina, who was steadfastly turning away from him.
“It won’t do, Cecilia.”
“Father!”
Owen let out a heavy sigh and grasped Cecilia’s shoulders.
“I misjudged him before. He is a far more frightening person than you think, and if you stay by his side, you will get hurt.”
He had briefly dared to covet him as a son-in-law for his wealth and ability. On the outside, he appeared quiet and relaxed like a well-fed lion, but the closer one got to him in business, the more disgustingly cruel he appeared.
Even though he himself was notoriously ruthless when it came to money, second to none, watching Killian Devonshire made him click his tongue endlessly, even shudder.
He recalled two conservative men who, despite their exalted status, had adamantly opposed foreign powers gaining a foothold.
—A duke? So what? No matter how fancy the talk of trade and cooperation, in the end, isn’t it just a scheme to suck profits out of our country! How can you trust such a man and join hands with him?
—Exactly. Have you forgotten that their country invaded us just over a hundred years ago?
The two men, who had been appalled at their first meeting and hadn’t even shown their faces at the arranged gatherings, disappeared one day without a trace.
Despite being fairly influential people, after five days had passed since their disappearance, even the investigation that had seemed to be ongoing was wrapped up half-heartedly.
He was a man who eliminated anyone he judged to be even slightly hindering or blocking his path, without hesitation and by any means necessary.
And the woman such a man was obsessed with was none other than Rowina Philone.
“No! I was actually a bit scared too, but seeing him today, he was so dignified and elegant! Father, you don’t know him.”
“Cecilia!”
At the defiance shown by Cecilia, who had always been docile and obedient while growing up, Owen’s expression hardened, and he warned her in a low voice.
“No means no. Do not take any more interest in those two, and do not try to find out anything more. Do you understand?”
“I don’t understand! I hate you!”
It was the first time her father had firmly said no when she expected him to relent if she whined and pleaded as usual.
With tears hanging heavily in her eyes, Cecilia shouted and left the room.
Leaving her father’s restraining voice behind, she went out into the central courtyard of the mansion and was wiping her tears when someone approached.
“Father. I want to be alone right now.”
Cecilia snapped coldly and clamped her mouth shut.
But the presence did not disappear.
Startled, Cecilia whipped her head around.
“I said I want to be alone… Who are you?”
Before she could even finish her words, she was startled by the sight of an unfamiliar man and stepped back.
He was a man with an unpleasant impression, with a burn scar on one side of his face.
The man, taking off his hat, greeted her politely.
“I’m Tom, the new hired hand. My greetings, Miss.”
“……I see.”
It was a face she was seeing for the first time, and she felt uncomfortable showing such a sight to a lowly servant.
Just as Cecilia gave a small, dry cough and tried to leave, as she brushed past him, her arm was caught.
“What is the meaning of this!”
As a startled Cecilia tried to shake off her arm, the man gripped her tighter and asked outright,
“Could it be that you were crying just now because of the guest in the annex?”
“So what if I was?”
When the frozen Cecilia asked back, the man smirked.
“Then I believe I can be of some help.”
“Y-you? By what means?”
It was absurd. What help could a mere hired hand be to her?
It was something she wouldn’t have normally deigned to listen to, but her weakened heart allowed a small hope to take root.
“……Now that I think about it, your accent sounds like it’s from Esselwood.”
“Yes. Very perceptive.”
The man smiled even more brightly and nodded.
Feeling a dignity unbecoming of a hired hand, Cecilia tilted her head.
“But how could you help me? And what makes you think I’ll agree to whatever you demand if you do?”
“You needn’t worry about that. You need only grant me a small request when all is said and done.”
“How can I trust those words.”
At the chilly gaze she met the moment she tried to retort, Cecilia quietly closed her lips.
It lasted only a moment, but it was a cold gaze that seemed to crush her.
Before the shivers running down her body could fade, the man, who grinned, answered in a whisper.
“I know honor too. I was once at least half a noble.”
A hidden bastard, however. Swallowing the last words internally, Tom glared at the annex over Cecilia’s shoulder.
His father had been a fool, nay, an imbecile.
He had devoted his body and heart in complete loyalty, and what had returned to him but a cold death?
Though he was a child hidden away in secret, a father was still a father and a son was still a son.
A father’s revenge was the son’s duty.
* * *
Damian was excitedly looking outside from within the running carriage.
Feeling a bit spiteful at that sight, Cedric asked abruptly,
“Are you that excited?”
“Yeah! I get to see Mom now!”
“Even though you had fun with me?”
“That’s that and this is this!”
Giggling, Damian hugged the gift box tightly.
It was a small bracelet he had bought by saving up the pocket money Cedric had given him each time he did good deeds like running errands or giving massages.
“Brother, do you think Mom will like this?”
“Of course. She’ll treasure it like a one-of-a-kind jewel.”
“I want to see Mom soon.”
“Me too.”
Cedric, who replied softly, also stared out the window and caressed the ring case he held precious in his arms.
The reason he had taken Damian with him was none other than to give her time alone and time to think deeply about his proposal.
He wanted to see her come to him purely through her own judgment and heart, without anyone’s interference or obstruction.
“Brother, but what are you fiddling with in your arms?”
“It’s the gift I’m giving your mom.”
“Can I see?”
“Later.”
“Stingy.”
“What?”
“Small-minded.”
“Why, you little.”
Pretending to be angry, Cedric narrowed his brows and tickled Damian’s side.
Damian burst into laughter, and just before he was about to run out of breath, the carriage came to a halt.
The moment the coachman announced they had arrived at the townhouse, Damian jumped down from the carriage and immediately knocked on the townhouse door.
“Y-you’ve arrived early?”
The surprised maid barely had the door open before he stepped inside looking for his mom.
“I’m home!”
But no matter how much he looked, the person he wanted to see was nowhere to be found.
Damian and Cedric, sensing something was wrong, turned their attention to the maid who was at a loss.
“Why isn’t she here? Is she out?”
“She is…… at Ludville Mansion.”
“……What did you say?”
The moment she answered, the air froze over coldly.