Chapter 52
‘Maybe it’s just an excuse.’
An excuse to meet him one more time.
Julia was seized by self-loathing.
And yet, in her mind, a small devil whispered, what’s wrong with that.
If you have such a solid excuse, it’s fine. No one will think it strange. Just see his face one last time. Think of it as showing the baby their father’s face…
After agonizing over it, Julia whispered as if letting out a sigh.
“Then send a telegram for me.”
Cecile glanced over at her. She had the look of someone about to pull something.
Julia said firmly.
“Don’t tell him that I’m pregnant.”
“…Tch. Fine.”
* * *
Duke Drexton came to Cecile’s residence without delay the moment he received the telegram. It took only two days.
Julia was somewhat surprised. She couldn’t imagine him throwing away whatever other plans he might already have had and rushing over like this. Duke Drexton she had seen at the manor always carried out his duties thoroughly. No, she wasn’t ready. But the world didn’t take Julia’s circumstances into account.
“Missus Devel, Duke Drexton is waiting in the sitting room.”
The butler’s businesslike announcement sounded like a declaration of war. Julia took several deep breaths and stood up.
“Let’s go.”
She headed toward the sitting room, guided by the butler.
She knocked, but there was no response from inside. The butler looked at Julia and gave a faint smile, then silently opened the door.
A sitting room flooded with bright sunlight. Duke Drexton was waiting for Julia. He looked oddly anxious, almost despairing, covering his face with both hands. Julia, who had never imagined he could look so vulnerable, flinched at the sight.
“Duke Drexton.”
Julia called to him softly.
Lost in his own thoughts and having missed the knock, Duke Drexton sprang to his feet at the sound of Julia’s quiet voice.
Their eyes met.
Julia nearly bit her tongue in shock when she saw his bare face.
‘He’s lost so much weight.’
It hadn’t even been a few weeks since she left the ducal manor, yet he had visibly thinned in that short time. The line of his jaw had sharpened, and shadows lay beneath his eyes.
That wasn’t all. The relaxed, gentlemanly composure he had always shown Julia was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a face sunk in worry.
With a stunned heart, Julia stepped closer to him.
“…Duke Drexton.”
“……”
“Why do you look like this?”
She asked, unable to hide her distress. This wasn’t why she had left. She had wanted him to be well. To marry the princess…
Was that really what she wanted?
Julia reflexively wrapped her arms around her belly again.
“Is what you’re curious about really my face?”
Julia pressed her lips together, then shook her head. Right. Now wasn’t the time to worry. It was time to hear his explanation. That was the excuse she had used to summon him.
“Let’s sit.”
The two of them sat facing each other across the table. Julia quietly looked into his eyes. Those eyes, which had once shone as clearly as the aquamarine brooch he’d given her, now seemed clouded, as if storm clouds had settled in them.
Had he been sleeping properly?
Ah. Worrying again.
“Explain.”
“……”
“Cecile said that after my husband died, you were the one who contacted her first. Is that true?”
The Duke couldn’t speak for a long while. But when Julia urged him on with a gentle gaze, he finally nodded, pained.
“Yes. That’s right.”
“……”
Ah, but what was she going to ask next? Her mind went completely blank.
This was too confusing. Julia covered her mouth and looked toward the window. Then, if that’s the case.
“Edgar.”
She called Duke Drexton by his name. His shoulders tensed sharply. He lifted his eyes and stared at Julia blankly.
“You knew…?”
To avoid being recognized by him, she hadn’t even written her name on the letter of recommendation. Had that effort been meaningless. Had he known from the beginning that the private tutor was his childhood friend, ‘Sister Julia’, from long ago.
Duke Drexton’s gaze darkened. His lips twisted upward.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know? How naïve of you, ‘Sister’.”
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