Chapter 2.7
As I ran down the stairs feeling refreshed.
Six letters that are now starting to feel familiar stopped me in my tracks.
“Lady Irene.”
It’s Aiden.
“Are you all right? I called a doctor, so please at least get checked before you go.”
“I’m fine. I just got dizzy from seeing blood suddenly.”
I smiled brightly and turned my head.
……And how embarrassing.
It seems his claim that his civilian clothes at home had gotten too small wasn’t a joke—the shirt tightening around his upper body looks quite painful. He couldn’t even fasten the first two buttons. His sleeves are rolled up too.
A bead of what looks like sweat is running down his arm—did he come from chopping firewood somewhere?
But I saw his hands and realized what he had been doing.
In his hand was a bundle of clean handkerchiefs.
Surely, what’s running down his arm now isn’t sweat, but…….
“Mr. Aiden. Was it you who placed the wet towel on my forehead?”
“…….”
Aiden quickly turned the hand holding the handkerchiefs behind his back.
That’s it.
But he watched my reaction, then, flustered, began to make excuses.
“I didn’t know what to do……. Were you uncomfortable?”
“Pardon? I’m not criticizing you, but……. Ah.”
I belatedly realized why he was flustered.
My expression had been thoroughly crumpled.
It’s not because of you. It’s because my damned ex-husband had the nerve to boast that ‘I nursed her’!
But I did have one thing to question Aiden about.
“I appreciate you helping me. But why did you bring me to the Marquis’s residence? Even though you knew I have an awkward relationship with Ernst.”
“The clinic was too busy treating the injured to take you there.”
“And my house?”
“I did intend to take you there, of course.”
Aiden suddenly lowered his head.
His small, and gentle, voice touched my ear.
“While you were unconscious, my Lady kept calling for your late father and late mother.”
“I called for my deceased parents?”
“Yes. To be precise……. When I said I would take you to the Count Dunbury’s residence, you resisted, saying ‘No,’ and said, “Mom, Dad. Let’s really go back to our own house.” “
“…….”
“I judged that I couldn’t take you to your uncle’s house in that state.”
My ears burned hot.
What kind of childish talk did I make? Even though I was facing a horrifying situation!
Thank goodness my uncle didn’t see that sight. If he had, he would have gone on for three days and nights about how he raised me and now I’m acting like a whining child.
“……I understand. Thank you for your consideration.”
“You’re welcome. Since I brought you here, I’ll take responsibility for your return as well. I’ll prepare a carriage shortly.”
Having incurred so much debt already, refusing the carriage would make the picture too odd, so I accepted. Aiden had me wait on a small chair in front of the entrance.
“I apologize for the poor seating.”
“No, this spot is the best.”
Aiden seemed to find my answer odd, but I just smiled and looked around the garden.
The Marquis’s residence has several places overlooking the garden. The most beautiful spot is said to be the terrace of the Blue Isle Room, for which only the Marchioness holds the key…….
But my favorite place was here.
White lawn flowers spread like a snowy field, golden arborvitae trimmed like hills above them, and a little further away, a star rose fence spreading like ripples around a fountain.
Though it may lack artistry, it’s a place where you can see everything that makes up the garden at a glance. Whether the soil is damp, if it gets too much sun, if it’s time for pruning, and so on.
Here, I felt like the true ruler of this garden.
……In the end, I gained nothing from the Marquis’s residence.
Not even my own child that I bore.
Soon the carriage came.
I wanted to thank him, but when I looked back, Aiden was not there. Is he busy?
I couldn’t keep the coachman waiting forever, so I boarded the carriage.
And, as the carriage started to move slowly.
From the open second-floor window, Aiden and Ernst’s voices drifted out.
“Brother! Why are you coming out of that room? I asked you not to approach Lady Irene! She was already in a sensitive state after collapsing…….”
“I am Irene’s fiancé. What’s strange about me nursing her?”
“Didn’t you break it off? Is it because of that that you asked me to tail her, and you still can’t accept reality?”
“Aiden! Are you, who’s never even held a woman’s hand, lecturing me? As a rule, when women say they want to pull away, their true feelings are actually―.”
……The carriage moved away, and I could no longer hear the rest.
Which is a relief.
If I were still in that house, I would have gone straight for Ernst’s collar.
And, I felt more grateful to Aiden.
He had asked Ernst not to approach the room.
I’d planned not to even look in the direction of the Freier family from now on, but I should express my gratitude for today’s consideration.
I began to think of a gift I could send to Aiden.
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