The fire that had completely burned down the barn finally went out the next morning. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, noting that there was no major damage because there were no other buildings nearby.
"...What's so fortunate about that?"
As people covered in soot disappeared one by one, Shioana, who had been watching the flames all night, whispered weakly.
"Miss, it is dangerous as there might still be embers remaining."
Martha tried to grab her arm as she staggered to her feet, but Shioana shook her off.
"...Sigh. What do you intend to do with that?"
Having already seen the desperate look in the young lady's eyes as she tried to jump into the fire, they could no longer stop her. The barn, completely burned down, bore no trace of its past. Stepping on the black ashes, Shioana stood where Etienne had stayed. The pillars, roof, and straw piles had left no trace whatsoever.
As she slumped down, her dress dragged on the floor, and a lingering ember flew from the hem. Acrid smoke stung her nose, and the lingering heat touched Shioana's skin.
"Martha, I'm here."
"...Please speak."
"I don't know what to do right now."
It was the first time she had felt so helpless, and she couldn't bear it. He was clearly a man she could hide under the same sky with just yesterday...
"Get up. Miss, you'll collapse at this rate."
Martha gently lifted Shioana up as if holding a paper doll and supported her. Even she didn't know what to say to comfort her.
"Let's go inside first before the master arrives. Yes?"
"..."
With her lips tightly sealed, Shioana held Martha's hand and entered the mansion. As she walked, she felt no sensation in her legs. She had no idea where she was or what she was doing.
'What did I say to Etienne yesterday?'
She spoke harsh words and practically abandoned him in the place where he held precious memories.
'Ah. He didn't resent me until the very end.'
Even though not a single word was spoken aloud, Shioana knew. Etienne was merely sad; he did not hate Shioana.
As she thought that was the last time with Etienne, she felt a sudden dizziness as if her surroundings were spinning. She collapsed while still holding onto the stairs, and Martha screamed.
The last thing Shioana saw as she collapsed was a landscape that was as dark as night, even though it was morning, due to the pitch-black smoke.
***
After Eli disappeared like that, Dahlia sat curled up on the guest room bed for a long time. It wasn't that she was saddened by being used, but that she resented having loved him. She had thought he was the most decent and kind man in the world.
'Even after seeing how he treated the mistress.'
After seducing a kind and innocent noble lady into marriage, he confined her in this shabby house. He even made her write letters repeatedly claiming that the house needed money. When he did not receive the answer he wanted, Eli ignored Elizabeth and became angry.
Even though he had the child he wanted so much, he didn't rejoice at all.
'It has to be a son. Elizabeth.'
However, the child's gender could not be decided at will.
Dahlia, who had struggled to get up from her seat, took care of Elizabeth's meal.
"Madam, I tried making some porridge with broccoli."
Elizabeth, with dark circles under her eyes, smiled faintly at Dahlia. Anyone could see that Elizabeth was not in good condition.
“Get up quickly.”
As she helped the table up onto the bed, tears flowed uncontrollably.
"Dahlia, is there still no news from him?"
"... It seems like there is a lot of work."
Dahlia's heart sank as she vaguely brushed it off. Elizabeth gasped for breath, as if even spooning up porridge was difficult for her.
"Madam, I know this is presumptuous of me, but I think it would be best to inform your household."
"Where are you talking about?"
"You must receive help from your father, the Marquis."
"...Dahlia. Now, this is the only home for me. Where Eli is is where I will stay."
As she smiled while saying that, Dahlia felt the urge to flip the table over. After suffering such a humiliating defeat, does she still believe in the Viscount?
'Madam, this is not the time for this.'
My lord, you see. He irresponsibly abandoned the child and the mistress and left to find a way to survive on his own.
She wanted to tell the truth out loud, but she couldn't.
It was because she was worried about her small belly due to her weak constitution. She barely survived the crisis of a miscarriage early on, and if she received a major shock now, something terrible would happen.
'...I'd rather you not have a child.'
She felt bad saying this to her child, but honestly, she couldn't shake that thought.
It was extremely dangerous for a frail mother to give birth. Moreover, given the situation where the child's father had fled, it went without saying.
'Madam, do you really have to include the child?'
She barely managed to swallow the question that had risen to the tip of her tongue.
Elizabeth was truly happy watching her belly grow little by little every day.
She recited poems and sang songs, and made many promises to be together when the child was born. Because listening to that affectionate voice, even someone as stoic as Dahlia felt a lump in their throat.
'Let me think about it.'
Even though she hadn't received a proper education, she was quick-witted. She had suffered this fate at the hands of the Lord because she was blinded by love, but there was no rule that she had to die.
'Let's stay by the mistress's side until she safely gives birth to the child.'
That was the only way for Dalia to relieve the guilt she felt toward Elizabeth.
***
He wondered how long he had been unconscious.
He struggled to open his eyes, feeling as if his head were about to explode, when he saw several men bowing their heads toward Etienne. Startled, Etienne raised his hand to find that the rags he usually wore were nowhere to be seen, replaced by men dressed in expensive shirts and jackets.
"I am meeting His Excellency, Duke Bernhard."
"...Ah."
Upon hearing the name of the family he had abandoned, Etienne felt a deep sense of revulsion. He was no longer a member of the Bernhard family, nor could he become a Duke. The Duke's heir had been decided as his stepmother's son, Ludwig. Hadn't all his brothers vomited blood for the sake of that pre-arranged script?
"I have come here in obedience to your command to escort Your Excellency."
The man earnestly explained something to Etienne, who looked puzzled.
They were currently on a ship heading to Urcheka, and he had been unconscious for a full three days. He also mentioned that he had used a special medicine to replenish his strength because he was so exhausted.
But such things did not matter. Etienne's last memory stopped at the place where he met her in Regbell.
Because.
'Yes, Shioana abandoned me.'
Her cold gaze kept flickering in his mind
Shioana had clearly said it was over. Yet, his heart refused to give up. Despite his wretched and miserable emotions, he wanted to see her again. Even if it meant bidding farewell, he had to see that face with his own two eyes.
"I... I must return."
At Etienne's words, who lay in bed unable to even lift his body, the man standing beside him took a letter out of his pocket.
"Would you like to take a look at this?"
Etienne managed to sit up with the man's support.
"It was not easy to find Your Excellency because you were living in seclusion."
So, they placed an advertisement in the newspaper looking for him.
He said that if the description matched even slightly, he would run to that place to verify it.
"I cannot express how fortunate I am to have received this letter and found Your Excellency."
The letter, which he unfolded with trembling hands, contained Regbell's address and an accusation that a suspicious person was there. What caught Etienne's eye was the signature section at the bottom.
"Shioana Evgenia."
During the cold winter, Shioana spent her time reading and writing by the stove. Since it was none other than him who always stayed by her side, it was not difficult to verify Shioana's handwriting.
'...She, to me.'
What welled up inside her was sadness.
As Etienne remained silent, the man added.
"I paid a sufficient fee, so you don't need to worry."
Shioana's words, always worrying about Regbell's difficult situation, lingered in his ears.
'...Did you sell me out for a fee?'
After all, the reason Eli wanted to send her to Count Noah was entirely for money. No. Come to think of it now, it might have been what Shioana wanted too. All that remained was to become a noblewoman and live a luxurious life. She must have had to clean up the traces of their fling.
'Should I be grateful that he didn't kill her?'
Etienne's face, which had begun to lose its expression, turned into a plaster statue.
"I can see the harbor over there."
At someone's words, the men approached the round window in the cabin. His heart shattered into pieces at the loud sound of the ship's horn.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment