Leticia volunteered to be Kyle's unofficial companion for three weeks. Could that have something to do with it? But if that was the case, he would have refused to accompany her.
“That’s right. If I, the wife, am there to find the girl you want to marry...”
It could be one of two things. Either her speculations are just delusions, or Kyle doesn't care whether she's sure or not. If it's the latter, then it really would be better to die. If she were that meaningless to him, she couldn't bear it.
Leticia clenched her fists. If that bitch Angie were alive, she would tear her to pieces by any means necessary. In the past, what the errand boy had witnessed at the Duke's residence on Cullinan Island was true. For some reason, he changed his statement, but in the end, it was true.
Angie, if you're really alive... this time, I'm going to make sure you're dead. Without Kyle knowing.
A warm autumn breeze swept through the center of Citadel Park. The bright sunlight blended with the leaves between the red and yellow branches. The air, which had been chilly for a while, felt warm as if it had returned to its original state a month ago.
Angie took the baby from the nanny and held it in her arms, pulling back the cute bonnet so that the baby could feel the warmth of the sun for a moment. The baby laughed and cooed happily.
“Oh my! Over there- over there... A rose...”
“Oh, roses. The roses are blooming so much. They’re pretty.”
“Yeah. It’s pretty. Just like Mom. Patty... Patty is pretty too.”
“That’s right. Patricia is pretty too. Let’s come play with Aunt Bryn and Patricia tomorrow.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
The baby let out a cute little tongue-tick. Still, for a 22-month-old, he was quite cuddly. Angie smiled brightly and hugged the baby. The weather was so nice that she wanted him to walk on the grass in the park. But the baby was so sleepy that he yawned loudly and began to nod off.
“You’re sleepy, our Noah.”
Angie expertly patted the baby on the back. Noah quickly fell asleep. Nanny Ellie whispered softly.
“It’s almost dinner time, so you’d better go back. I’ll hold him.”
“It’s okay. I’ll carry him. Oh, by the way, I have to stop by the studio building for a minute. I finished the hat for Patricia, but I forgot to show it to the caretaker’s wife and bring it back.”
“Then I’ll get it, so you go in first. This is the first-floor lounge, right?”
“Ah... Thank you. I’ll take it slow.”
Angie swaddled the baby in a sling and headed to the townhouse. Martin, Bryn, and the occasional visitor, Willem van Armitage, were all now familiar and comfortable as a family as if they were their own home.
At that moment, her body froze at the sound of someone approaching from behind. The arms holding Noah naturally tightened. Angie turned and deliberately went under the shade of the tree. Two middle-aged women who had been approaching closely from behind chattered as they passed by the tree. Only then did Angie's tension ease.
Nearly three years had passed, but her guard remained the same. Whenever she heard footsteps behind her, her heart sank. She was always worried that the Blackwell family's thugs might threaten her or take Noah away. That's why she only went to the park near her house.
She was also always mindful of the trips she took to see Grandma Catherine twice a month, taking the children with her.
Angie was at a loss as to how long she would have to live like this, but when I heard the information Martin and Mr. Armitage gave her a brief glimmer of hope.
"It seems that the Duke and Duchess of Blackwell do not have children yet. I don't know if they are intentionally not having children or if they are not having children naturally. The question is whether they still want to continue the Black Mass, but that is still unknown. Trieste itself is so shrouded in mystery that it is difficult to find out anything for sure."
"One fortunate thing is that there haven't been any reports of missing minors in the past three years. At least not in Vintergar. Since our company established the foundation and reorganized the orphanages throughout Vintergar. The supply of the so-called Remedy has been cut off... Did the Duke stop the ritual altogether after moving to the capital?"
"Sure... That might be the case. The island suddenly burned down, so they couldn’t get the raw materials for Eternity that they had grown there anymore, so they had no choice. Whatever the reason, it’s just a good thing that they’ve abandoned that barbaric idea. Then Angie, Noah, and I can all live in peace and safety from now on."
"I think you're safe now. It's been over ten years now, so I don't think they'll be chasing any more escapees who escaped the island. But... I don't know about Miss Angie yet. It'd be best not to let your guard down for the time being."
Even without Uncle Willem's advice, Angie would not have been able to completely relax. Now, three years later, the nightmares she had habitually had disappeared and she was much more stable, but the trauma caused by the shadows of the past still remained.
The time when she was betrayed by the only man she truly loved, the person she trusted, and maybe even lost Noah, was still like a deep scar. Just thinking about it again made the wounds pierce and made her sad and miserable. No matter how much she tried to deny it, the longing that lingered in her heart made it even harder.
On bright moonlit nights, moments with him would inevitably come to mind. The heartbeats that raced before they jumped into each other’s arms after confirming each other’s existence in the Generalife Gardens, the joy and excitement that filled her chest, the emotion that seemed to capture all the joys of the world. All those memories that passed by like dreams actually happened.
But it was definitely real. Kyle was a real person. She really loved him. Not because he was the heir to the Blackwell family, but because he was the man who was one with her heart.
Even now, when Angie closes her eyes, she can still clearly remember his deep body odor, his pleasant low voice, his warm warmth, and her heart aches. But right after that, when she thinks of him pulling the gun toward her mom and dad without any hesitation, her aching heart starts to ache as if it’s going to break. The pain becomes even worse when she thinks of him, the Duchess sitting next to him, and the child they’ll have in the future.
Will I ever be able to completely escape from this memory? A life of my own, completely free from him, days where I only think about Noah's happiness and my family's well-being... When will I be able to enjoy such a daily life?
Thinking of the baby, her gaze turned to the warmth in her arms. She gently pulled Noah closer to her. The sweet smell of milk wafted from the baby, who was sleeping soundly.
Her heart also became calm with the warmth that was more precious than life itself, the colorful breath, and the slightly trembling footsteps. Noah was a miracle in itself. It was like that for all mothers, but it was especially so for Angie.
Eyes that sparkled like blue jewels, still soft and fluffy, milky skin. Hair that was now close to a shiny golden brown, but showed signs of gradually turning into grayish black. Clear cheeks, and long eyelashes that were as delicate as if painted with a brush. The three-year-old face that was pretty like a doll and lovely like an angel was exactly like his father when he was young, as Angie had seen in old photos.
So every time Angie saw her son, a pain tore at her heart. The joy of seeing her beloved son was still accompanied by pain and despair.
If your father had been an ordinary person... then you could have grown up receiving lots of fatherly affection like other children.
Angie kissed the baby's crown and adjusted the swaddling blanket. She saw the nanny coming from afar, carrying a bundle of clothes. The two walked side by side toward the mansion. The sun was slowly setting. The sunlight that had been sucking the swirling stone floor was being pushed out by the golden sunset.
It was just before dinnertime when Noah and Patricia had gone to bed early and the officers were starting to light the gas lamps one by one, that Angie heard of the visit of the royal family of Trieste. Willem van Armitage, who had returned from a long business trip, told her the news as soon as he sat down to dinner.
“He is scheduled to arrive in a week and stay at the Vintergar Palace for three weeks. On the surface, it is an invitation to the National Foundation Day celebration, but in reality, it implies a much greater meaning. If diplomatic relations are established between the two countries, it will be a great turning point for Trieste.”
“They’re going to end the isolationist policy and open up their doors little by little. They’ve held out for a long time. Has Rainier VIII finally come to terms with reality? ...Can we also find out in advance who’s in the royal entourage?”
Martin asked the craftsman, looking back at Angie. She, too, was looking at Armitage with a somewhat nervous expression. Willem answered directly without beating around the bush.
“The Duke of Blackwell was not on the list the councilors had given me. The entire royal family is moving, except for the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Winston, so it seems they will be accompanied by a large guard of honor and several senior members of the Privy Council.”
The tension in Angie's shoulders eased. She returned her gaze to the plate before her and sipped water. Only then was she able to move her tense body again. Bryn suddenly asked.
“Would you like to join the National Day parade? Last year, the Vicentine dynasty also established diplomatic relations and participated in His Majesty’s birthday celebration parade. For safety reasons, they did not show themselves and only rode in the carriage.”
“I don’t think so. I heard from the rumors that Rainier VIII was almost attacked by the peasants’ protesters a while ago and is deeply traumatized. Anyway, it would be best to be careful. How about postponing our trip to Grandmother Catherine for three weeks?”
“That’s right. If I, the wife, am there to find the girl you want to marry...”
It could be one of two things. Either her speculations are just delusions, or Kyle doesn't care whether she's sure or not. If it's the latter, then it really would be better to die. If she were that meaningless to him, she couldn't bear it.
Leticia clenched her fists. If that bitch Angie were alive, she would tear her to pieces by any means necessary. In the past, what the errand boy had witnessed at the Duke's residence on Cullinan Island was true. For some reason, he changed his statement, but in the end, it was true.
Angie, if you're really alive... this time, I'm going to make sure you're dead. Without Kyle knowing.
***
A warm autumn breeze swept through the center of Citadel Park. The bright sunlight blended with the leaves between the red and yellow branches. The air, which had been chilly for a while, felt warm as if it had returned to its original state a month ago.
Angie took the baby from the nanny and held it in her arms, pulling back the cute bonnet so that the baby could feel the warmth of the sun for a moment. The baby laughed and cooed happily.
“Oh my! Over there- over there... A rose...”
“Oh, roses. The roses are blooming so much. They’re pretty.”
“Yeah. It’s pretty. Just like Mom. Patty... Patty is pretty too.”
“That’s right. Patricia is pretty too. Let’s come play with Aunt Bryn and Patricia tomorrow.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
The baby let out a cute little tongue-tick. Still, for a 22-month-old, he was quite cuddly. Angie smiled brightly and hugged the baby. The weather was so nice that she wanted him to walk on the grass in the park. But the baby was so sleepy that he yawned loudly and began to nod off.
“You’re sleepy, our Noah.”
Angie expertly patted the baby on the back. Noah quickly fell asleep. Nanny Ellie whispered softly.
“It’s almost dinner time, so you’d better go back. I’ll hold him.”
“It’s okay. I’ll carry him. Oh, by the way, I have to stop by the studio building for a minute. I finished the hat for Patricia, but I forgot to show it to the caretaker’s wife and bring it back.”
“Then I’ll get it, so you go in first. This is the first-floor lounge, right?”
“Ah... Thank you. I’ll take it slow.”
Angie swaddled the baby in a sling and headed to the townhouse. Martin, Bryn, and the occasional visitor, Willem van Armitage, were all now familiar and comfortable as a family as if they were their own home.
At that moment, her body froze at the sound of someone approaching from behind. The arms holding Noah naturally tightened. Angie turned and deliberately went under the shade of the tree. Two middle-aged women who had been approaching closely from behind chattered as they passed by the tree. Only then did Angie's tension ease.
Nearly three years had passed, but her guard remained the same. Whenever she heard footsteps behind her, her heart sank. She was always worried that the Blackwell family's thugs might threaten her or take Noah away. That's why she only went to the park near her house.
She was also always mindful of the trips she took to see Grandma Catherine twice a month, taking the children with her.
Angie was at a loss as to how long she would have to live like this, but when I heard the information Martin and Mr. Armitage gave her a brief glimmer of hope.
"It seems that the Duke and Duchess of Blackwell do not have children yet. I don't know if they are intentionally not having children or if they are not having children naturally. The question is whether they still want to continue the Black Mass, but that is still unknown. Trieste itself is so shrouded in mystery that it is difficult to find out anything for sure."
"One fortunate thing is that there haven't been any reports of missing minors in the past three years. At least not in Vintergar. Since our company established the foundation and reorganized the orphanages throughout Vintergar. The supply of the so-called Remedy has been cut off... Did the Duke stop the ritual altogether after moving to the capital?"
"Sure... That might be the case. The island suddenly burned down, so they couldn’t get the raw materials for Eternity that they had grown there anymore, so they had no choice. Whatever the reason, it’s just a good thing that they’ve abandoned that barbaric idea. Then Angie, Noah, and I can all live in peace and safety from now on."
"I think you're safe now. It's been over ten years now, so I don't think they'll be chasing any more escapees who escaped the island. But... I don't know about Miss Angie yet. It'd be best not to let your guard down for the time being."
Even without Uncle Willem's advice, Angie would not have been able to completely relax. Now, three years later, the nightmares she had habitually had disappeared and she was much more stable, but the trauma caused by the shadows of the past still remained.
The time when she was betrayed by the only man she truly loved, the person she trusted, and maybe even lost Noah, was still like a deep scar. Just thinking about it again made the wounds pierce and made her sad and miserable. No matter how much she tried to deny it, the longing that lingered in her heart made it even harder.
On bright moonlit nights, moments with him would inevitably come to mind. The heartbeats that raced before they jumped into each other’s arms after confirming each other’s existence in the Generalife Gardens, the joy and excitement that filled her chest, the emotion that seemed to capture all the joys of the world. All those memories that passed by like dreams actually happened.
But it was definitely real. Kyle was a real person. She really loved him. Not because he was the heir to the Blackwell family, but because he was the man who was one with her heart.
Even now, when Angie closes her eyes, she can still clearly remember his deep body odor, his pleasant low voice, his warm warmth, and her heart aches. But right after that, when she thinks of him pulling the gun toward her mom and dad without any hesitation, her aching heart starts to ache as if it’s going to break. The pain becomes even worse when she thinks of him, the Duchess sitting next to him, and the child they’ll have in the future.
Will I ever be able to completely escape from this memory? A life of my own, completely free from him, days where I only think about Noah's happiness and my family's well-being... When will I be able to enjoy such a daily life?
Thinking of the baby, her gaze turned to the warmth in her arms. She gently pulled Noah closer to her. The sweet smell of milk wafted from the baby, who was sleeping soundly.
Her heart also became calm with the warmth that was more precious than life itself, the colorful breath, and the slightly trembling footsteps. Noah was a miracle in itself. It was like that for all mothers, but it was especially so for Angie.
Eyes that sparkled like blue jewels, still soft and fluffy, milky skin. Hair that was now close to a shiny golden brown, but showed signs of gradually turning into grayish black. Clear cheeks, and long eyelashes that were as delicate as if painted with a brush. The three-year-old face that was pretty like a doll and lovely like an angel was exactly like his father when he was young, as Angie had seen in old photos.
So every time Angie saw her son, a pain tore at her heart. The joy of seeing her beloved son was still accompanied by pain and despair.
If your father had been an ordinary person... then you could have grown up receiving lots of fatherly affection like other children.
Angie kissed the baby's crown and adjusted the swaddling blanket. She saw the nanny coming from afar, carrying a bundle of clothes. The two walked side by side toward the mansion. The sun was slowly setting. The sunlight that had been sucking the swirling stone floor was being pushed out by the golden sunset.
It was just before dinnertime when Noah and Patricia had gone to bed early and the officers were starting to light the gas lamps one by one, that Angie heard of the visit of the royal family of Trieste. Willem van Armitage, who had returned from a long business trip, told her the news as soon as he sat down to dinner.
“He is scheduled to arrive in a week and stay at the Vintergar Palace for three weeks. On the surface, it is an invitation to the National Foundation Day celebration, but in reality, it implies a much greater meaning. If diplomatic relations are established between the two countries, it will be a great turning point for Trieste.”
“They’re going to end the isolationist policy and open up their doors little by little. They’ve held out for a long time. Has Rainier VIII finally come to terms with reality? ...Can we also find out in advance who’s in the royal entourage?”
Martin asked the craftsman, looking back at Angie. She, too, was looking at Armitage with a somewhat nervous expression. Willem answered directly without beating around the bush.
“The Duke of Blackwell was not on the list the councilors had given me. The entire royal family is moving, except for the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Winston, so it seems they will be accompanied by a large guard of honor and several senior members of the Privy Council.”
The tension in Angie's shoulders eased. She returned her gaze to the plate before her and sipped water. Only then was she able to move her tense body again. Bryn suddenly asked.
“Would you like to join the National Day parade? Last year, the Vicentine dynasty also established diplomatic relations and participated in His Majesty’s birthday celebration parade. For safety reasons, they did not show themselves and only rode in the carriage.”
“I don’t think so. I heard from the rumors that Rainier VIII was almost attacked by the peasants’ protesters a while ago and is deeply traumatized. Anyway, it would be best to be careful. How about postponing our trip to Grandmother Catherine for three weeks?”
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