OIAR - Chapter 90

Duke Bernhard announced his wedding date at the temple. The surprising news spread throughout Urcheka, including District 8.

"Secretary, is that really true?"

Murphy, who was speculating that Shioana might be a distant relative of the Duke, grabbed her and asked.

"...Ah. That is."

Shioana, looking haggard overnight, wore a troubled expression. In truth, she didn't know when Etienne had even posted the announcement like that.

'As if he had prepared in advance...'

Her head, on the verge of exploding with worry over the ailing Harriet and Count Noah, who seemed like he would soon come to take her, became even more confused.

"Good heavens! So you're saying we are the lucky men who worked with Duchess Bernhard?"

Murphy couldn't close his mouth, as if something was so fascinating, while Thompson seemed to be working hard as usual.

However, if you looked closely, you could see that Thompson was also glancing sideways at Shioana.

Amidst the commotion in the office, Raul entered with a stern expression and called out to Shioana.

"What is all this talk about?"

As soon as the private office door closed, Raul spoke hurriedly. He opened the window and poked his head out, unable even to sit down in the chair.

Overnight, news of Duke Bernhard's marriage spread throughout the entire Empire. Raul was utterly bewildered, as he had been picking out small items for her new home with her just the day before.

It was no wonder Raul was so surprised, so Shioana leaned against the door and hung her head low.

"I am truly sorry to the boss."

Raul really helped her with her work.

'Tomorrow should be the last time you face Raul.'

Etienne, who had authorized Harriet's treatment, set countless conditions, the very first of which was to quit the office. However, she was too ashamed to speak of such an irresponsible act.

"Didn't you ask me to find you a new husband? The date to move into your new house is coming up soon, too."

Raul approached the door where she was standing and shouted.

Shioana let out a long sigh and simply repeated that she was sorry. Raul, who had been fuming for a while, let his shoulders slump and ran his hand through his hair vigorously.

"Anyway, becoming a lady is something to celebrate."

Along with his congratulations, Raul gave Shioana her weekly wages earned up to today, plus a wedding gift.

"I can't accept this while quitting so suddenly like this."

"Of course you get paid for the work you do."

Raum placed the envelope in Shioana's hand and hesitated for a moment.

"Come find me anytime if anything happens."

Shioana's voice cracked as she choked up with a sense of apology.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

Shioana had not encountered many people in her life who were kind to her unconditionally.

Raul seemed gruff, yet he took very good care of her. She even imagined that if Raul had been her older brother instead of Eli, Shioana's life might have been different.

Looking at Shioana with moist eyes, he spoke in a low voice.

"Living as a stranger isn't exactly easy. Shouldn't we stick together?"

Shioana caught his eye from the start, and the more he got to know her, the more he liked her.

Rather than giving up despite her difficult circumstances, she chose to do what she could. It was nice to see her doing her job perfectly while taking care of the baby. She was so different from his mother, who was always drunk on drugs or alcohol and would beat him, that he sometimes envied Harriet.

"So I'm telling you to be happy, Secretary."

At the end of Raul's gentle smile, there was a deep sense of regret.

***

Grand Madam Bernhard was just as thrown into turmoil by the news of the marriage. She, who had been leisurely enjoying the hot springs, hurriedly returned to Zone 1.

I was thinking of getting rid of that annoying girl from Zone 8 all at once soon, but what kind of bizarre thing is this?

Katrina was so angry that she had forgotten the gentle mask she usually wore.

"Duke! What is all this about?"

Etienne, who was leisurely enjoying tea in the garden, smiled at the sight.

"It looks like you've come to congratulate us on the marriage, Mother."

"That is impossible. I cannot accept such a rude woman as the Duchess."

"I think I mentioned this before, but I'm just so hooked."

He merely sipped his tea, regardless of whether the Madam burst into rage or not. Enraged by this, she pounded the ground violently with the cane she was holding.

"You look particularly spry today."

It seemed like he was mocking the earlier remark about rushing the engagement because she and Count Veil were in poor health.

She couldn't remember when the Duke, who had been set up as a scarecrow, started acting so arrogantly.

Only then did Katrina, sitting in the chair across from the Duke, try to persuade him as quietly as possible.

"The Bernhard family is related to the Imperial family, but even so, isn't it inappropriate for a woman from District 8 with a child to be like that?"

"Didn't my mother bring the child as well?"

When Etienne nonchalantly mentioned Ludwig, her face turned pale. There were a few things Katrina forbade, the worst of which was her dead son.

"Besides, she is staying in Sector 8 for personal reasons; she is a noble of the Caspian Empire."

"...Ah."

At the mention of that audacious girl being a noblewoman, her mind went blank for a moment, as if someone had struck her on the head.

It wasn't that she hadn't investigated Shioana, but she couldn't find any of this information.

"The fact that the child is a noble isn't important right now, is it? A perfect match for the Duke is ready, so why don't you realize it?"

"Mother, I am the head of the Duke Bernhard family. I will take care of my own marriage, so why don't you just continue enjoying the hot springs?"

Etienne stood up first, leaving the completely cold teacup behind. Katrina, unable to control her anger, slammed her fist on the table.

Hearing that sound, Etienne slowly walked away.

'My stepmother is a devil who speaks human language.'

If only he could turn back time, he would have stopped his father in the past. After all, his father and his entire family were murdered following his deception into marrying such a wicked woman.

'Your Excellency, the mastermind behind this sniper incident in the forest was indeed the Godmother.'

Recalling Cedric's report, he only gave a bitter smile.

This marriage was a way to show that he would not play along with the script the Grand Madam had prepared. At the same time, it would serve to confine Shioana in the cage he had made.

'You went around looking for furniture for the new house with Raul?'

When he first heard the report, he felt as if all the blood in his body had run cold. When they kissed, Shioana certainly didn't show any signs of dislike. To think they slept together, kissed, and did everything else, only to go and whisper her love to Raul.

"It will absolutely not go as planned."

His low, muttering voice was chilling.

***

Having bid a difficult farewell to the office, Shioana decided to tackle her one remaining task. Fortunately, she found Martha, who was looking after Harriet, who had survived the ordeal. Martha held her nephew in her arms for a long time without saying a word. Unable to bring herself to speak, Shioana was just waiting for an opportunity when Martha spoke first.

"How kind-hearted Duke Bernhard is! I am truly grateful that he has allowed the Young Master to receive treatment from a physician like him, whom people like us would never even dare to dream of seeing."

Martha, who used to rave that Raul was the best, seemed to like the Duke a little more this time. Shioana concluded that no matter how much she explained the matter, it would be difficult to make them properly understand.

"Martha, you know what? I'm getting married soon."

"...What?"

“I’m going to get married.”

It was so sudden that it was difficult for Shioana to accept as well, so it was only natural that Martha was even more flustered.

Martha, who had been staring blankly for a while, hugged her tightly and stroked her back.

"That's a good idea. Did the boss propose today?"

"Martha, that is with Duke Bernhard..."

"What? Not the boss?"

Martha, who had been offering congratulations, widened her eyes again.

"It is a bit sudden, isn't it?"

Even though she had only just found out about the marriage herself, she felt a little apologetic about delivering the news like this. However, Martha’s expression brightened, as if her joy outweighed her confusion.

"I told you! I told you His Excellency looked suspicious in the way he looked at the Young Lady. Is there anything better than this? Young Master Harriet, the Young Lady is going to become a Duchess."

Martha, who had been chattering away to her heart's content, fell silent.

"Then Young Master Harriet..."

Martha was well aware that having a child makes one an easy target for gossip.

"So, Your Excellency suggested that you stay somewhere else for a while, if only for Harriet's treatment."

She tried to convey it as cheerfully as possible, but it didn't go well. She was someone who hadn't been separated from Martha for even a single day since the moment she was born.

'You'd better get the kid out of my sight.'

Etienne permitted Harriet to be legally adopted, but refused to let him live in the same mansion.

Martha, seeing Shioana's apologetic face, held her hand tightly.

"Of course. After all, he is known as the young lady's son."

"Martha, I'm sorry."

"There is no need to be sorry. It would be foolish of us to interrupt your honeymoon. Young lady, forget about the past and be happy from now on. Understood?"

Shioana's eyes stung because of Martha, who sincerely congratulated her even though it wasn't a real wedding.

Shioana, who had been holding Harriet in her arms for a long time because she did not want to part ways, arrived at the Duke's bedroom only when it was deep into the night.

'I really hope Etienne is asleep.'

After sighing deeply in and out at the door for a long time, he stepped inside. At the sound of her presence, he sat on the bed and spoke eerily.

"I'll let you off the hook for being this late just this one day."

Etienne's hair was wet, as if he had just come out of the shower. Nodding as if she understood, she walked over to the bed and, as usual, carefully burrowed under the covers.

'If only nothing had happened like this...'

As she turned over and made a desperate wish, he poked Shioana's back.

"...What’s going on now"

A towel flew onto her face as she muttered without even looking back. As the startled Shioana stood up holding the towel, Etienne slowly turned around.

“Dry my hair.”

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