Episode 40. Is that you? The woman carrying my son's child
“Excuse me, I have a favor to ask.”
All eyes were on Rose. She felt uncomfortable with three pairs of eyes staring at her, but she spoke with determination.
“Is it okay if I stay here until I find a place to live?”
At Rose's words, Rivera blinked her rabbit-like eyes. Daemon simply stared blankly at Rose, speechless. Rose was quite taken aback by the Serviat couple's lack of response.
'Did I make a mistake?'
Their expressions were utterly bewildered. Rose couldn't help but blink, her eyes wide.
“Honey, what does that mean?”
“Huh? That’s...”
"Of course, you should live with Mom and Dad. How could I leave my daughter alone?"
Rose's tense face brightened at Rivera's words.
"Don't worry too much about your father's reaction. He's just saying what's been bothering him. He has no intention of kicking you out or anything."
At Rivera's words, Daemon coughed awkwardly. He seemed to have guessed that Rose was thinking this way because of his actions.
"He's been like that since you were little. Even though he says things like that, he still cares for you deeply. So don't worry too much."
Rivera spoke to Rose once more with warm words, then turned to Daemon with a sharp gaze. Rose listened to Rivera, yet also kept a close eye on Daemon. Daemon, who was coughing, met Rose's eyes. Perhaps sensing Rose's gaze, Daemon spoke in a low voice.
“I don’t know what you’ll do next, so I’ll have to keep a close eye on you.”
The tone wasn't gentle, but she could clearly sense that Daemon didn't want to let Rose go. Only then did Rose smile with relief.
“Excuse me, I have a favor to ask.”
All eyes were on Rose. She felt uncomfortable with three pairs of eyes staring at her, but she spoke with determination.
“Is it okay if I stay here until I find a place to live?”
At Rose's words, Rivera blinked her rabbit-like eyes. Daemon simply stared blankly at Rose, speechless. Rose was quite taken aback by the Serviat couple's lack of response.
'Did I make a mistake?'
Their expressions were utterly bewildered. Rose couldn't help but blink, her eyes wide.
“Honey, what does that mean?”
“Huh? That’s...”
"Of course, you should live with Mom and Dad. How could I leave my daughter alone?"
Rose's tense face brightened at Rivera's words.
"Don't worry too much about your father's reaction. He's just saying what's been bothering him. He has no intention of kicking you out or anything."
At Rivera's words, Daemon coughed awkwardly. He seemed to have guessed that Rose was thinking this way because of his actions.
"He's been like that since you were little. Even though he says things like that, he still cares for you deeply. So don't worry too much."
Rivera spoke to Rose once more with warm words, then turned to Daemon with a sharp gaze. Rose listened to Rivera, yet also kept a close eye on Daemon. Daemon, who was coughing, met Rose's eyes. Perhaps sensing Rose's gaze, Daemon spoke in a low voice.
“I don’t know what you’ll do next, so I’ll have to keep a close eye on you.”
The tone wasn't gentle, but she could clearly sense that Daemon didn't want to let Rose go. Only then did Rose smile with relief.
The mansion was older and more run-down than Count Wence's, but she felt a sense of relief at being able to stay here. Being able to be with the Serviats somehow filled her with a sense of security.
***
The next day, at Count Wence's. Jane felt utterly sad, unable to even say goodbye to Rose. Rose had left while she was away for a moment. She thought Rose must have had a reason, but her heart ached. Rose had left a note promising a future meeting, but Jane felt lost. With no way to contact Rose, she had no choice but to wait.
Suddenly, the thought of Rose brought a surge of emotion to her. She had thought her tear ducts had dried up from all the tears she had shed the night before, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
'Madam said she wanted to meet again... so I guess I'll just have to wait.'
Madam wasn't one to talk nonsense. She wasn't entirely happy about the idea of having dinner "with" that hypocritical son of a bitch, but it was okay. If Jane ever met Rose, she would reveal everything about Serun. Just then, Serun walked up.
“Jane, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Let go, I have nothing to say to you.”
Jane tried to leave, as if she didn't want to be with Serun even for a moment. However, Serun's words made her hesitate.
“It’s about Madam.”
She stopped in her tracks and looked back.
“Ha, I hope I never hear about Madam from your own mouth. You traitor.”
The word "traitor" stung Serun's heart. It was true he'd approached her intentionally from the beginning, but why did Jane's words sting him so much? He stared at Jane, unable to hide his bitter expression. Jane almost swayed involuntarily at Serun's hazy gaze.
'Don't be fooled. He's been playing with me from the start.'
She'd almost been fooled again by that man who whispered sweet nothings with his innocent eyes. Jane shook her head and steeled herself. She'd sworn she wouldn't be fooled a second time... But human emotions weren't always so easily manipulated.
"Ah, you're not a traitor. That's not appropriate for someone who planned to deceive us from the beginning."
She deliberately acted colder. She wanted to distance herself from Serun. Jane turned around with a "hmph" as if to show off. But Serena's subsequent words forced her to halt.
“I think Madam has been kidnapped.”
“What did you say?”
Jane's booming voice echoed through the garden. She glared at Serun with a questioning expression.
“Shh. Other people might hear.”
Serun whispered, placing his finger on Jane's lips. Jane frowned and forcefully pushed Serun's hand away.
“Don’t touch me. It makes me feel bad.”
Serun nodded quietly, as if he had lost his cool, at Jane's sharp words. He was clearly a villain who had committed terrible crimes, so why was he so weak-hearted? The sight of Serun, drooping like a dead puppy, stirred a maternal instinct in her. Jane stared at Serun with wavering eyes, then quickly turned away.
“...Kidnapping? What are you talking about? If you’re wasting time with useless talk, I won’t let you off easy.”
“I saw it in the square. A huge man was running away with Madam in his arms.”
“...When?”
“Yesterday afternoon.”
Jane's face turned pale at Serun's words.
“Wow, are you sure you saw it?”
“I didn’t see her face... but it was definitely Madam.”
“No, then why were you just watching it!”
“Since she was alone... At first, I thought she wasn’t Madam. She didn’t even have a maid, let alone an escort..."
At Jane's words, Serun bit his lower lip and lowered her head.
'Why is Madam...? Surely not...!'
Suddenly, a person popped into Jane's mind. Someone who hated Rose madly.
"Jane!"
Jane stumbled, her legs giving out. Serun caught her as she staggered.
“...I know for sure what the former Count is planning to do to Madam!”
She spoke, shivering and turning pale.
“Don’t you know anything about it, Sir Serun? You’re his subordinate!”
Jane, who had lost focus, desperately grabbed Serun.
“It wasn’t the Master’s doing. He didn’t give me any specific instructions.”
"Are you sure? There could be other culprits besides you. How can you be so sure?"
"Jane, please. Lower your voice. If there are other culprits, as you say, then you, as well as I, are in danger."
He spoke desperately to Jane, who was screaming like a madman. Only then did Jane lower her voice and stare blankly at Seren.
“Why on earth are you doing this to me!”
"Jane..."
"It was all a lie. You approached me, you approached Madam—it was all a set-up. But why do you keep approaching me? Why are you worried about Madam?"
Jane looked at Serun with wavering eyes. Serun, too, was incredibly complex. How could he speak so coldly to Jane and then hover around her? From Jane's perspective, it was understandable.
“...I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but my feelings for you have always been sincere.”
“...Then why did you say that then!”
Jane was very confused by Seren's words.
"My mind was in turmoil because my identity was suddenly revealed. I was worried you might get hurt by interfering with the Master's work... You've heard so much. That's why I was worried. I was worried that what I was doing might harm you."
Seren's voice, as if confessing, touched Jane's heart.
“Sir Serun...”
Can I trust this man? He deceived us with his innocent eyes.
'No... I still can't believe it.'
Once a wound is inflicted, it doesn't heal easily. Jane, conflicted, ultimately couldn't shake off her suspicions about Serun. She felt certain he was approaching her with a purpose.
'It could also be a lie that Madam was kidnapped.'
Cedric, having learned the secret that day, might lure Jane to Serun and kill her. Jane couldn't fathom Serun's intentions. She had no way of knowing whether he was sincere or not.
'Madam said she wanted to meet again... so I guess I'll just have to wait.'
Madam wasn't one to talk nonsense. She wasn't entirely happy about the idea of having dinner "with" that hypocritical son of a bitch, but it was okay. If Jane ever met Rose, she would reveal everything about Serun. Just then, Serun walked up.
“Jane, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Let go, I have nothing to say to you.”
Jane tried to leave, as if she didn't want to be with Serun even for a moment. However, Serun's words made her hesitate.
“It’s about Madam.”
She stopped in her tracks and looked back.
“Ha, I hope I never hear about Madam from your own mouth. You traitor.”
The word "traitor" stung Serun's heart. It was true he'd approached her intentionally from the beginning, but why did Jane's words sting him so much? He stared at Jane, unable to hide his bitter expression. Jane almost swayed involuntarily at Serun's hazy gaze.
'Don't be fooled. He's been playing with me from the start.'
She'd almost been fooled again by that man who whispered sweet nothings with his innocent eyes. Jane shook her head and steeled herself. She'd sworn she wouldn't be fooled a second time... But human emotions weren't always so easily manipulated.
"Ah, you're not a traitor. That's not appropriate for someone who planned to deceive us from the beginning."
She deliberately acted colder. She wanted to distance herself from Serun. Jane turned around with a "hmph" as if to show off. But Serena's subsequent words forced her to halt.
“I think Madam has been kidnapped.”
“What did you say?”
Jane's booming voice echoed through the garden. She glared at Serun with a questioning expression.
“Shh. Other people might hear.”
Serun whispered, placing his finger on Jane's lips. Jane frowned and forcefully pushed Serun's hand away.
“Don’t touch me. It makes me feel bad.”
Serun nodded quietly, as if he had lost his cool, at Jane's sharp words. He was clearly a villain who had committed terrible crimes, so why was he so weak-hearted? The sight of Serun, drooping like a dead puppy, stirred a maternal instinct in her. Jane stared at Serun with wavering eyes, then quickly turned away.
“...Kidnapping? What are you talking about? If you’re wasting time with useless talk, I won’t let you off easy.”
“I saw it in the square. A huge man was running away with Madam in his arms.”
“...When?”
“Yesterday afternoon.”
Jane's face turned pale at Serun's words.
“Wow, are you sure you saw it?”
“I didn’t see her face... but it was definitely Madam.”
“No, then why were you just watching it!”
“Since she was alone... At first, I thought she wasn’t Madam. She didn’t even have a maid, let alone an escort..."
At Jane's words, Serun bit his lower lip and lowered her head.
'Why is Madam...? Surely not...!'
Suddenly, a person popped into Jane's mind. Someone who hated Rose madly.
"Jane!"
Jane stumbled, her legs giving out. Serun caught her as she staggered.
“...I know for sure what the former Count is planning to do to Madam!”
She spoke, shivering and turning pale.
“Don’t you know anything about it, Sir Serun? You’re his subordinate!”
Jane, who had lost focus, desperately grabbed Serun.
“It wasn’t the Master’s doing. He didn’t give me any specific instructions.”
"Are you sure? There could be other culprits besides you. How can you be so sure?"
"Jane, please. Lower your voice. If there are other culprits, as you say, then you, as well as I, are in danger."
He spoke desperately to Jane, who was screaming like a madman. Only then did Jane lower her voice and stare blankly at Seren.
“Why on earth are you doing this to me!”
"Jane..."
"It was all a lie. You approached me, you approached Madam—it was all a set-up. But why do you keep approaching me? Why are you worried about Madam?"
Jane looked at Serun with wavering eyes. Serun, too, was incredibly complex. How could he speak so coldly to Jane and then hover around her? From Jane's perspective, it was understandable.
“...I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but my feelings for you have always been sincere.”
“...Then why did you say that then!”
Jane was very confused by Seren's words.
"My mind was in turmoil because my identity was suddenly revealed. I was worried you might get hurt by interfering with the Master's work... You've heard so much. That's why I was worried. I was worried that what I was doing might harm you."
Seren's voice, as if confessing, touched Jane's heart.
“Sir Serun...”
Can I trust this man? He deceived us with his innocent eyes.
'No... I still can't believe it.'
Once a wound is inflicted, it doesn't heal easily. Jane, conflicted, ultimately couldn't shake off her suspicions about Serun. She felt certain he was approaching her with a purpose.
'It could also be a lie that Madam was kidnapped.'
Cedric, having learned the secret that day, might lure Jane to Serun and kill her. Jane couldn't fathom Serun's intentions. She had no way of knowing whether he was sincere or not.
Seeing Jane's sunken eyes, Serun instinctively knew: "Ah, this woman no longer trusts me. The person who once trusted me so deeply is gone." Jane and Serun stood facing each other for a long time, staring at each other. Their passionate feelings for each other remained unchanged, but it was difficult to return to the way they had been. Serun, who had been holding onto Jane, weakly released his grip. Jane's arm fell heavily with a snap. When Serun released her hand, Jane's gaze wavered, lost. It seemed she had suspected Serun, yet hoped he would hold her until the very end.
Jane smiled bitterly and lowered her head. Then, carrying Serun on her back, she turned around. One step, then another. Her pace was as slow as a turtle's. Jane moved slowly, as if she were hoping Serun would catch her. However, Serun didn't catch Jane.
***
A woman's humming came from Rose's empty room. The owner of the voice was Doana. With Rose gone, Count Wences's household was truly Doana's world. Now everyone was watching Doana's every move. Gwen, who had ignored her, was gone, and Rose, who had been a thorn in her side, had been kicked out herself. A smile naturally appeared on her face. She no longer wore her maid's uniform. She wore Rose's dress.
“Hmm. They said it’ll take a while to get a new dress fitted, so I guess I’ll just have to wear this for now.”
Although she didn't particularly like wearing Rose's clothes, the mere fact that she was now out of her maid's uniform made her happy. And since Eric had promised to make her a bunch of new dresses, there wasn't a problem. For now.
“Hmm. They said it’ll take a while to get a new dress fitted, so I guess I’ll just have to wear this for now.”
Although she didn't particularly like wearing Rose's clothes, the mere fact that she was now out of her maid's uniform made her happy. And since Eric had promised to make her a bunch of new dresses, there wasn't a problem. For now.
Doana, looking in the mirror while wearing Rose's dress, suddenly sighed.
"Why do these blisters last so long? Surely they won't leave scars?"
It was hideous at first glance. Even though she covered her face with gauze every day, she felt utterly uneasy. Even if her hands were okay, her face shouldn't have changed like this.
“...Is this why Eric has been avoiding me lately?”
Eric, who used to be the first to push, has been quite quiet lately. It's not that he doesn't hug Doana, but he's definitely done it less frequently than before.
“...There can’t be another woman, right?”
She chewed nervously, biting her lip. Eric was so unstable that she couldn't relax for even a moment. If she became a Countess, she'd probably be able to live a little more comfortably than she did now. Now that she had a child, it would only be a matter of time before she took the title. Doana was happy with everything.
“It seems like you’re trying to fix this mother’s fate.”
She carefully swept her belly and whispered softly.
“I wish I had a son.”
If he were to succeed, it would be best if he were a son. And that son would solidify her position.
“Be like your father and grow up healthy.”
Doana's room, where she had been muttering to herself, opened with a bang. A middle-aged woman, adorned with elaborate attire, stood haughtily before the door, flanked by servants. It was Tercia. She raised a bitter smile at Doana.
'Who is it?'
Doana quickly glanced at the lady standing before her.
“Are you Doana? Are you pregnant with our son’s child?”
Only at the word 'son' did Doana realize who Tercia was.
'I guess she's Eric's mother.'
Doana instinctively clutched her stomach, wary of Tercia. However, Tercia's actions were shocking enough to render her caution insignificant.
“Thank you, baby.”
What came out of her mouth wasn't harsh words, but warm encouragement. Of course, it was all a lie, but Doana couldn't have known that. Tercia approached Doana with a gentle voice. Then she gently embraced her.
“Huh!”
“What is this...”
The maids around her were in an uproar at her unexpected behavior.
"Why do these blisters last so long? Surely they won't leave scars?"
It was hideous at first glance. Even though she covered her face with gauze every day, she felt utterly uneasy. Even if her hands were okay, her face shouldn't have changed like this.
“...Is this why Eric has been avoiding me lately?”
Eric, who used to be the first to push, has been quite quiet lately. It's not that he doesn't hug Doana, but he's definitely done it less frequently than before.
“...There can’t be another woman, right?”
She chewed nervously, biting her lip. Eric was so unstable that she couldn't relax for even a moment. If she became a Countess, she'd probably be able to live a little more comfortably than she did now. Now that she had a child, it would only be a matter of time before she took the title. Doana was happy with everything.
“It seems like you’re trying to fix this mother’s fate.”
She carefully swept her belly and whispered softly.
“I wish I had a son.”
If he were to succeed, it would be best if he were a son. And that son would solidify her position.
“Be like your father and grow up healthy.”
Doana's room, where she had been muttering to herself, opened with a bang. A middle-aged woman, adorned with elaborate attire, stood haughtily before the door, flanked by servants. It was Tercia. She raised a bitter smile at Doana.
'Who is it?'
Doana quickly glanced at the lady standing before her.
“Are you Doana? Are you pregnant with our son’s child?”
Only at the word 'son' did Doana realize who Tercia was.
'I guess she's Eric's mother.'
Doana instinctively clutched her stomach, wary of Tercia. However, Tercia's actions were shocking enough to render her caution insignificant.
“Thank you, baby.”
What came out of her mouth wasn't harsh words, but warm encouragement. Of course, it was all a lie, but Doana couldn't have known that. Tercia approached Doana with a gentle voice. Then she gently embraced her.
“Huh!”
“What is this...”
The maids around her were in an uproar at her unexpected behavior.
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