103. There is nothing that should be there.
“Bianca!”
“Mrs. Meyer!”
The two hugged warmly, and Ruth quietly stepped aside. Bianca led Kaitlyn straight to the table.
Before even sitting down, Kaitlyn had already explained the unfortunate events that had befallen Eringer, and she was sorry that the graduation ceremony and Hardius's birthday party had been canceled.
“I’m so embarrassed to face you. I thought we’d be walking around the Mephix shopping district together making wedding plans... I’m sorry.”
Kaitlyn carefully studied Bianca's face. Contrary to her fears, there was no shadow on her smooth face.
“Why should you feel sorry about that? It’s not like Hardius intentionally caused the strike, after all.”
Then the maid came with tea and dessert. The two people stopped talking and looked at each other and smiled affectionately.
“Oh, by the way, your father said you wanted to talk to me about something. What’s the matter?”
"Ah..."
Bianca hesitated for a moment. If it hadn't been for the incident at the festival, she would have brought up the story of Sir William Richard.
Because she decided to act as a mediator between the two.
But Bianca found herself growing weary of everything.
“I’ll tell you later. When Hardius comes back after handling things properly.”
Kaitlyn looked curious, but Bianca smiled and changed the subject to a story about a new amusement park.
“Well, the wooden horse that carries people really does go round and round. It’s a machine that runs on steam, and it’s so much fun that I’ve ridden it four times.”
Bianca then chattered passionately about the arcade-style department store that was opening in Mephix and the recent popularity of dice games among the young ladies.
But at the same time, her heart was boiling with excitement.
The Duchess certainly doesn't know what kind of relationship her son has with his former fiancée.
What should I do? Should I just close my eyes and say it?
Kaitlyn, who had no way of knowing Bianca's true intentions, was busy trying to counter Bianca's words.
“Oh, you caught a cold a while ago? Are you okay now?”
“Yes, thanks to your concern, I am back to being strong again.”
Bianca smiled brightly and raised both arms, thinking of herself as an actress in a drama...
“You said that Hardius didn’t come to visit you? I don’t know what he thinks, but that kid is just like that. He doesn’t even visit his father when he’s sick. I hope you don’t feel too bad about it.”
“You're upset? I told him not to come.”
Looking at those eyes that curved like crescent moons, Kaitlyn couldn't help but snicker.
“Bianca, I don’t know how to know you. It’s something that would upset anyone.”
“If we had a deep affection for each other and liked each other, it would have been disappointing, but Hardy and I are not like that. We don’t have a mountain of stories to tell, and we don’t have memories to share. If we had been affectionate, it would have been even stranger.”
Kaitlyn rested her chin on her hand and stared at Bianca intently. Her eyes were filled with affection.
“If it weren’t for His Majesty the King, you and Hardius wouldn’t have become so awkward.”
“Yes, that’s right. It would have been really nice if we had just gotten married quickly.”
“I can’t help but feel like everyone has been hurt. The past five years have been a loss for everyone. The Meyer family, your family, and even that child.”
The 'child' who suddenly appeared became a dagger and stabbed deep into Bianca's heart. Her perfectly smiling face distorted, and something like anger buried deep in her chest slowly began to raise its head.
Kaitlyn, who knew nothing, continued speaking without hesitation.
"I never used the word ‘fiancée’ about her. Honestly, it's not ‘broken up,’ it's 'broken engagement. Every time I saw her, it was horrible. You know what? Her sister is a cripple. It's a shame that Hadius is descended from such a cursed beast and..."
Kaitlyn shuddered at the mere thought.
“But isn’t time really scary? After breaking off the engagement like this, I feel like I did too much. There was no reason to treat her so badly. I feel a little sorry for her...”
“...I think so too, ma’am.”
Bianca felt disillusioned with herself for answering like that.
For the past few days, a poisonous snake has been growing inside her heart. And, cowardly enough, it was directed not at Hardius, but at a woman she didn't even know.
How persistently did she try to seduce him?
Just as Bianca pretends to be such an elegant and generous lady, that woman must have perfectly hidden the dark things inside her and pretended to be a pitiful heroine in front of Hardy.
Even though she knew that it was just speculation born of jealousy and inferiority complex, Bianca couldn't stop thinking about it.
Why is it that the main character is always a lover or a mistress? Not a spouse who believes in them and waits for them like me.
For a moment, Bianca felt her heart ache with pity for the Duchess of Meyer across from her.
The woman who must have been most upset about this problem in Nowak was none other than Duchess Meyer.
Bianca couldn't hold it in any longer and opened her mouth.
“You know what? I really respect you, Madam. I think you’re amazing. How can you be so generous...”
Kaitlyn put down her teacup and looked at Bianca, her dark pupils filled with the question of what she meant.
“I don’t know if I should say this, but I really admire the way you treated that woman a long time ago.”
Kaitlyn tilted her head and asked, “Huh?”
“Was her name ‘Kanoa’?”
The name Bianca suddenly uttered had completely unintended consequences.
Kaitlyn felt her eyes turn white and her hair stand on end. No one dared say the name out loud, except for her overly cheerful prospective daughter-in-law.
"Ah..."
Kaitlyn could barely smile. She had to tense her stomach tightly to keep her trembling body from being detected.
“I feel like this place is going to explode just thinking about Hardius bringing in the government.”
Bianca pressed her chest as if she was going to tear it apart.
“I really can’t stand it... I just want to bite, scratch, and tear it apart...”
The murderous intent that had startled Ruth was burning brightly in her eyes again.
Of course, Kaitlyn had no idea. The two women were too caught up in their own emotions to notice each other.
“How can this world... tolerate such a vulgar entity as government? Marriage is sacred, and how can a man or a woman... do such a vulgar and dirty thing?”
“...”
“Yet, instead of petty and childish speculation, Madam showed generous tolerance.”
Bianca changed in an instant. She returned to being the same Lady Leichnen that everyone, including her parents, praised so much.
“I really, truly want to be like you, Madam. I want to live my life proudly, without being miserably clingy or petty jealous, standing above her like you. That’s how I win in the end. It’s a dignified victory.”
Kaitlyn pretended to savor her tea, curling the corners of her lips vigorously.
“Kanoa Schumann was eventually punished. She was robbed and burned to death in her carriage with her illegitimate child.”
"...Yes."
She could barely answer, but Kaitlyn couldn't bear it any longer.
Kanoa Schumann and the illegitimate child, whom she wanted to forget forever, were resurrected and making her head spin. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop her face from stiffening and the cold sweat from running down her face.
“Oh my god, look at my mind.”
She ended up putting down her teacup with a thud.
“It’s already this late? I was supposed to meet the Duchess of Halston this afternoon!”
“Oh, is that so?”
Kaitlyn forced a sad smile.
“I’m sorry, Bianca.”
“Oh, no, you don’t have to be sorry.”
Bianca called her maid and had Kaitlyn's hat and coat prepared.
“I wanted to talk to you all day and even have dinner with you, but it’s such a shame.”
“Would you like to borrow my wagon if you need it? I’m going to need it for the move.”
“No, it’s okay. Just ask your uncle.”
Uncle meant Uncle Beppy.
Emilia had no choice but to disguise her Beppy as her uncle and cover up the Meyer family crest on the carriage with a piece of cloth. She wondered if it was necessary to lie so much, but her heart still felt uneasy.
'I promise. Next time we meet, you won't have to hide. I will be Duke Meyer.'
Every time she recalled Hadius that day, her instincts whispered.
Until then, you must absolutely hide. You must keep everything a secret.
“Thank you so much. This was exactly the advice I needed. ‘To be happy, you need trust, not order.’”
Ingrid chuckled.
“Yeah, I’m glad you feel better. Are you going to Hethel?”
Hethel was the name of the street where her new home was located.
“Yes. Goodbye.”
After leaving the restaurant, Emilia and Beppy headed straight to Hethel.
As Emilia stared down at the bundle of keys she had received from Ingrid, it occurred to her that she had yet to ask Beppy if he could live with them.
"Mister,"
Emilia continued speaking, looking into his large calf-like eyes.
“We will probably be living here in Rheinsbuch soon. What do you think, sir?”
Beppy blinked as if he was hearing a foreign language from a faraway country.
“If you are okay with it, I want to continue living with you. My family thinks of you as family, not a servant. The new house has lots of rooms. You don’t have to sleep in the stable, and you can grow fruit in the orchard and raise Brave together.”
“...”
“The reason I ask for your opinion is because if you live with us, you will not be able to receive wages or horse maintenance fees from Lord Meyer. To be exact, it means that your ties with the Meyer family will be cut off. You will not visit or contact Basilion House for the time being. Of course, I will give you the money. I mean, the gold box I asked you to look after before. It is all yours.”
Beppy's face showed no change in expression.
“You are free, sir. You have a choice. You can choose not to live with us, but just...”
“I don’t like it!”
Emilia and even the people passing by flinched in surprise at the thunderous roar.
“Beppy protects Emilia! Beppy is a good servant! Beppy protects Emilia! Beppy is a good servant!”
“Oh, I see.”
“Beppy lives with Emilia! Beppy is a good servant! Beppy lives with Emilia!”
“Oh, I got it. Sir, just a moment, calm down.”
Even as she frantically tried to calm him down, Emilia couldn't hold back the laughter that was breaking out.
The scream that resonated so loudly that it seemed to pierce the sky,
“Yes, sir. We’ll live together! Of course we’ll live together. Please continue to protect me!”
It was only when Emilia almost begged that he finally stopped.
“I didn’t mean to break up. I just thought you might want to live with Laura.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Emilia became curious about Laura. She had never seen her again since she had so vehemently rejected the child.
Come to think of it, Laura must be living in Sitmer too, so why didn't she come to the festival?
“Oh, how are you, Laura? I heard she was getting married...”
“Laura is married. Laura is married. There can be no wedding.”
Emilia, who was pulling on the reins, stopped.
“Why?”
“A baby is living here.”
Beppy suddenly tapped her stomach. Emilia's eyes widened as she wondered what he meant.
“I’ll meet the baby next Easter. I’ll meet the baby.”
“Oh my goodness, this worked out really well!”
The moment she laughed out loud, Emilia realized something like a bolt from the blue.
Pregnancy.
Suddenly, she felt out of breath and her whole body started shaking. Her hands, gripped by shock, inexplicably reached out to her flat stomach.
Yeah, pregnant.
All females in the world stop having periods when they are pregnant. Emilia knew that much.
However...
There is no period.
After seeing Kaitlyn off, Bianca lay back down on the outdoor bed. The clear autumn sky, cool breeze, and warm wood fire pleasantly enveloped her body.
Bianca closed her eyes and suppressed the anger that was bubbling up in her chest.
Is this also ultimately a process of becoming a mature adult?
Bianca had thought she could confess everything to Duchess Meyer and ask for her help, but she was beginning to realize that she could never do that.
Now she understands why women try to hide their husbands' lovers or mistresses from anyone and cannot open up to them.
On the one hand, it felt unfair.
She did nothing wrong.
It was Hardius who broke his promise and met another woman, so why is she so ashamed and her pride?
Fuck, Hardy.
Bianca covered her face with one arm.
A voice was heard from somewhere, along with a pleasant breeze blowing.
'You're going to marry him sooner or later, so there's no big harm in making a fuss. You two are going to get married anyway, and it won't be a big deal between you two.'
William Richard.
Should I just go see him?
“Bianca!”
“Mrs. Meyer!”
The two hugged warmly, and Ruth quietly stepped aside. Bianca led Kaitlyn straight to the table.
Before even sitting down, Kaitlyn had already explained the unfortunate events that had befallen Eringer, and she was sorry that the graduation ceremony and Hardius's birthday party had been canceled.
“I’m so embarrassed to face you. I thought we’d be walking around the Mephix shopping district together making wedding plans... I’m sorry.”
Kaitlyn carefully studied Bianca's face. Contrary to her fears, there was no shadow on her smooth face.
“Why should you feel sorry about that? It’s not like Hardius intentionally caused the strike, after all.”
Then the maid came with tea and dessert. The two people stopped talking and looked at each other and smiled affectionately.
“Oh, by the way, your father said you wanted to talk to me about something. What’s the matter?”
"Ah..."
Bianca hesitated for a moment. If it hadn't been for the incident at the festival, she would have brought up the story of Sir William Richard.
Because she decided to act as a mediator between the two.
But Bianca found herself growing weary of everything.
“I’ll tell you later. When Hardius comes back after handling things properly.”
Kaitlyn looked curious, but Bianca smiled and changed the subject to a story about a new amusement park.
“Well, the wooden horse that carries people really does go round and round. It’s a machine that runs on steam, and it’s so much fun that I’ve ridden it four times.”
Bianca then chattered passionately about the arcade-style department store that was opening in Mephix and the recent popularity of dice games among the young ladies.
But at the same time, her heart was boiling with excitement.
The Duchess certainly doesn't know what kind of relationship her son has with his former fiancée.
What should I do? Should I just close my eyes and say it?
Kaitlyn, who had no way of knowing Bianca's true intentions, was busy trying to counter Bianca's words.
“Oh, you caught a cold a while ago? Are you okay now?”
“Yes, thanks to your concern, I am back to being strong again.”
Bianca smiled brightly and raised both arms, thinking of herself as an actress in a drama...
“You said that Hardius didn’t come to visit you? I don’t know what he thinks, but that kid is just like that. He doesn’t even visit his father when he’s sick. I hope you don’t feel too bad about it.”
“You're upset? I told him not to come.”
Looking at those eyes that curved like crescent moons, Kaitlyn couldn't help but snicker.
“Bianca, I don’t know how to know you. It’s something that would upset anyone.”
“If we had a deep affection for each other and liked each other, it would have been disappointing, but Hardy and I are not like that. We don’t have a mountain of stories to tell, and we don’t have memories to share. If we had been affectionate, it would have been even stranger.”
Kaitlyn rested her chin on her hand and stared at Bianca intently. Her eyes were filled with affection.
“If it weren’t for His Majesty the King, you and Hardius wouldn’t have become so awkward.”
“Yes, that’s right. It would have been really nice if we had just gotten married quickly.”
“I can’t help but feel like everyone has been hurt. The past five years have been a loss for everyone. The Meyer family, your family, and even that child.”
The 'child' who suddenly appeared became a dagger and stabbed deep into Bianca's heart. Her perfectly smiling face distorted, and something like anger buried deep in her chest slowly began to raise its head.
Kaitlyn, who knew nothing, continued speaking without hesitation.
"I never used the word ‘fiancée’ about her. Honestly, it's not ‘broken up,’ it's 'broken engagement. Every time I saw her, it was horrible. You know what? Her sister is a cripple. It's a shame that Hadius is descended from such a cursed beast and..."
Kaitlyn shuddered at the mere thought.
“But isn’t time really scary? After breaking off the engagement like this, I feel like I did too much. There was no reason to treat her so badly. I feel a little sorry for her...”
“...I think so too, ma’am.”
Bianca felt disillusioned with herself for answering like that.
For the past few days, a poisonous snake has been growing inside her heart. And, cowardly enough, it was directed not at Hardius, but at a woman she didn't even know.
How persistently did she try to seduce him?
Just as Bianca pretends to be such an elegant and generous lady, that woman must have perfectly hidden the dark things inside her and pretended to be a pitiful heroine in front of Hardy.
Even though she knew that it was just speculation born of jealousy and inferiority complex, Bianca couldn't stop thinking about it.
Why is it that the main character is always a lover or a mistress? Not a spouse who believes in them and waits for them like me.
For a moment, Bianca felt her heart ache with pity for the Duchess of Meyer across from her.
The woman who must have been most upset about this problem in Nowak was none other than Duchess Meyer.
Bianca couldn't hold it in any longer and opened her mouth.
“You know what? I really respect you, Madam. I think you’re amazing. How can you be so generous...”
Kaitlyn put down her teacup and looked at Bianca, her dark pupils filled with the question of what she meant.
“I don’t know if I should say this, but I really admire the way you treated that woman a long time ago.”
Kaitlyn tilted her head and asked, “Huh?”
“Was her name ‘Kanoa’?”
The name Bianca suddenly uttered had completely unintended consequences.
Kaitlyn felt her eyes turn white and her hair stand on end. No one dared say the name out loud, except for her overly cheerful prospective daughter-in-law.
"Ah..."
Kaitlyn could barely smile. She had to tense her stomach tightly to keep her trembling body from being detected.
“I feel like this place is going to explode just thinking about Hardius bringing in the government.”
Bianca pressed her chest as if she was going to tear it apart.
“I really can’t stand it... I just want to bite, scratch, and tear it apart...”
The murderous intent that had startled Ruth was burning brightly in her eyes again.
Of course, Kaitlyn had no idea. The two women were too caught up in their own emotions to notice each other.
“How can this world... tolerate such a vulgar entity as government? Marriage is sacred, and how can a man or a woman... do such a vulgar and dirty thing?”
“...”
“Yet, instead of petty and childish speculation, Madam showed generous tolerance.”
Bianca changed in an instant. She returned to being the same Lady Leichnen that everyone, including her parents, praised so much.
“I really, truly want to be like you, Madam. I want to live my life proudly, without being miserably clingy or petty jealous, standing above her like you. That’s how I win in the end. It’s a dignified victory.”
Kaitlyn pretended to savor her tea, curling the corners of her lips vigorously.
“Kanoa Schumann was eventually punished. She was robbed and burned to death in her carriage with her illegitimate child.”
"...Yes."
She could barely answer, but Kaitlyn couldn't bear it any longer.
Kanoa Schumann and the illegitimate child, whom she wanted to forget forever, were resurrected and making her head spin. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop her face from stiffening and the cold sweat from running down her face.
“Oh my god, look at my mind.”
She ended up putting down her teacup with a thud.
“It’s already this late? I was supposed to meet the Duchess of Halston this afternoon!”
“Oh, is that so?”
Kaitlyn forced a sad smile.
“I’m sorry, Bianca.”
“Oh, no, you don’t have to be sorry.”
Bianca called her maid and had Kaitlyn's hat and coat prepared.
“I wanted to talk to you all day and even have dinner with you, but it’s such a shame.”
***
“Would you like to borrow my wagon if you need it? I’m going to need it for the move.”
“No, it’s okay. Just ask your uncle.”
Uncle meant Uncle Beppy.
Emilia had no choice but to disguise her Beppy as her uncle and cover up the Meyer family crest on the carriage with a piece of cloth. She wondered if it was necessary to lie so much, but her heart still felt uneasy.
'I promise. Next time we meet, you won't have to hide. I will be Duke Meyer.'
Every time she recalled Hadius that day, her instincts whispered.
Until then, you must absolutely hide. You must keep everything a secret.
“Thank you so much. This was exactly the advice I needed. ‘To be happy, you need trust, not order.’”
Ingrid chuckled.
“Yeah, I’m glad you feel better. Are you going to Hethel?”
Hethel was the name of the street where her new home was located.
“Yes. Goodbye.”
After leaving the restaurant, Emilia and Beppy headed straight to Hethel.
As Emilia stared down at the bundle of keys she had received from Ingrid, it occurred to her that she had yet to ask Beppy if he could live with them.
"Mister,"
Emilia continued speaking, looking into his large calf-like eyes.
“We will probably be living here in Rheinsbuch soon. What do you think, sir?”
Beppy blinked as if he was hearing a foreign language from a faraway country.
“If you are okay with it, I want to continue living with you. My family thinks of you as family, not a servant. The new house has lots of rooms. You don’t have to sleep in the stable, and you can grow fruit in the orchard and raise Brave together.”
“...”
“The reason I ask for your opinion is because if you live with us, you will not be able to receive wages or horse maintenance fees from Lord Meyer. To be exact, it means that your ties with the Meyer family will be cut off. You will not visit or contact Basilion House for the time being. Of course, I will give you the money. I mean, the gold box I asked you to look after before. It is all yours.”
Beppy's face showed no change in expression.
“You are free, sir. You have a choice. You can choose not to live with us, but just...”
“I don’t like it!”
Emilia and even the people passing by flinched in surprise at the thunderous roar.
“Beppy protects Emilia! Beppy is a good servant! Beppy protects Emilia! Beppy is a good servant!”
“Oh, I see.”
“Beppy lives with Emilia! Beppy is a good servant! Beppy lives with Emilia!”
“Oh, I got it. Sir, just a moment, calm down.”
Even as she frantically tried to calm him down, Emilia couldn't hold back the laughter that was breaking out.
The scream that resonated so loudly that it seemed to pierce the sky,
“Yes, sir. We’ll live together! Of course we’ll live together. Please continue to protect me!”
It was only when Emilia almost begged that he finally stopped.
“I didn’t mean to break up. I just thought you might want to live with Laura.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Emilia became curious about Laura. She had never seen her again since she had so vehemently rejected the child.
Come to think of it, Laura must be living in Sitmer too, so why didn't she come to the festival?
“Oh, how are you, Laura? I heard she was getting married...”
“Laura is married. Laura is married. There can be no wedding.”
Emilia, who was pulling on the reins, stopped.
“Why?”
“A baby is living here.”
Beppy suddenly tapped her stomach. Emilia's eyes widened as she wondered what he meant.
“I’ll meet the baby next Easter. I’ll meet the baby.”
“Oh my goodness, this worked out really well!”
The moment she laughed out loud, Emilia realized something like a bolt from the blue.
Pregnancy.
Suddenly, she felt out of breath and her whole body started shaking. Her hands, gripped by shock, inexplicably reached out to her flat stomach.
Yeah, pregnant.
All females in the world stop having periods when they are pregnant. Emilia knew that much.
However...
There is no period.
***
After seeing Kaitlyn off, Bianca lay back down on the outdoor bed. The clear autumn sky, cool breeze, and warm wood fire pleasantly enveloped her body.
Bianca closed her eyes and suppressed the anger that was bubbling up in her chest.
Is this also ultimately a process of becoming a mature adult?
Bianca had thought she could confess everything to Duchess Meyer and ask for her help, but she was beginning to realize that she could never do that.
Now she understands why women try to hide their husbands' lovers or mistresses from anyone and cannot open up to them.
On the one hand, it felt unfair.
She did nothing wrong.
It was Hardius who broke his promise and met another woman, so why is she so ashamed and her pride?
Fuck, Hardy.
Bianca covered her face with one arm.
A voice was heard from somewhere, along with a pleasant breeze blowing.
'You're going to marry him sooner or later, so there's no big harm in making a fuss. You two are going to get married anyway, and it won't be a big deal between you two.'
William Richard.
Should I just go see him?
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