Chapter 183. Do You…… Still Hate Me?
Inside the garden where people’s footsteps were rare.
Among those places, Deborah sought out a bench placed in the most secluded spot.
“Phew-”
Looking up at the floating blue sky, Deborah exhaled a long breath.
-Then…… how about taking a walk inside the garden. If it is there, I believe the Duke will not say much either.
The suggestion that Mrs. Charlotte, who returned, tentatively extended to her.
Although she had hesitated for a moment due to the curious gazes directed toward her, she had nodded her head saying she would do so upon remembering this place where no one came.
Even while doing so, a reluctant feeling had been lodged in one side of her chest, but…….
She felt glad that she had stepped out.
Since she could catch the cool outside air like this.
Of course, although it was a bit cold to be called cool—having lived confined for nearly over ten days, even this cold temperature felt refreshing.
To the point where she could finally catch her breath.
After taking a few deep breaths, she thought of the letter she had requested of Mrs. Charlotte a moment ago.
-It is a letter written to a friend…… by any chance, could I ask this favor of you.
The recipient was ‘Lea Parker’.
Since Mrs. Charlotte would naturally know the name ‘Jade Wilkins’ as well, she decided to seek Lea’s help this time too.
Mrs. Charlotte, who checked the recipient written on the outside of the letter, said she understood as if she harbored no particular suspicion, and then left the room.
Considering the postal system of the capital where mail was delivered multiple times a day, it would take as short as one day or as long as two days at most for Jade to receive the letter.
It was just when she tightly clasped her two hands together, desperately hoping that the reply from Jade would arrive even a day sooner.
“…….”
At the suspicious presence heard from right behind her, Deborah’s body flinched for a moment.
Slowly, Deborah, who was turning back with a tense face, completely disarmed her expression the moment she discovered a mean-looking white cat.
“Speckles.”
Although it was a name she had given randomly, the fellow let out a ‘meow’ sound as if responding to that call.
Deborah stared blankly at the cat that was walking over to this side while yawning widely.
Even though the fellow possessed a plump body, its gait was so haughty that a laugh escaped her without her realizing it.
The fellow hopped up and came to sit right next to the bench where Deborah was sitting.
It was truly fascinating.
It was already an affair of several months ago, and even then, she had only looked after it with food a few times while passing by.
Considering the prickly nature of cats, she felt it was truly fascinating that the fellow allowed her to be close like this.
Deborah quietly stroked the back of the fellow curled up right next to her.
“The only one welcoming me is you, Speckles.”
As she muttered quietly and bitterly, the fellow let out a cry this time as well as if reacting.
Deborah merely smiled softly and brightly while looking at such a cat.
Because of the fellow that appeared out of nowhere, it was a peaceful moment she was feeling after a long time.
Relishing the comfortable time after a long interval, she was on her way back into the mansion.
Deborah avoided the front of the main building where many people passed by, and deliberately chose the path behind it.
Of course, maids passed through that place as well, but she thought it would be better anyway than the front of the main building where people frequently came and went.
Please let me not run into anyone until I reach the room.
It was just when she took a step forward while wishing so.
Just as she was about to turn the corner where the stairs leading to the second floor appeared.
Suddenly, a presence was heard from the opposite side.
“Then, does that mean she really becomes the Duchess?”
“Talk sense. A lowly orphan who isn’t even a noble as the Duchess? The Royal Family would hardly accept that.”
“Then, what about the child in her womb?”
“Do I know that? Well, even if it’s a bastard, it’s the Duke’s first child, so he’ll set aside a fortune—ah, goodness!”
Words without a shred of caution.
As if they thought no one was listening, the words they spat out were reckless.
The reason that rowdy chattering stopped was after they discovered someone standing in front of them around the corner.
As if they had not expected a person to be standing there, the startled group’s faces stiffened completely upon confirming the identity of the person.
Several of them who quickly exchanged glances hurried away from the spot, and the one remaining behind came into Deborah’s sight.
Hanna.
Should she consider it a relief that Hanna’s voice was not heard among the voices chattering excitedly about her story.
Even in the midst of this, such an absurd thought flashed through her mind.
“Have you…… been well?”
Hesitating over what to say, she threw out that single line.
As if meeting a welcome friend she hadn’t seen in a long time.
Of course, the other person did not seem that way at all, but anyway, Deborah was glad to meet Hanna again at the returned Elfengreen.
At the greeting Deborah extended, the body of Hanna, who was standing spacing out, flinched.
An expression that looked troubled for some reason.
Although it was an appearance completely different from when she used to sharpen her edge and criticize her, the feeling that she was still an unwelcome existence to the other person made her heart bitter.
Just passing by like this without a word might be what Hanna wished for the most, but—
Even so, it was unknown when this kind of opportunity would be given again in the future.
Just in time, Hanna showed a response.
An appearance of nodding her head once.
Although it was an insignificant action, Deborah was heartened by that one gesture and tried extending another word.
“Do you…… still hate me?”
“…….”
Why did she ask such a thing unnecessarily.
At Hanna’s appearance which stiffened in an instant, Deborah immediately put on a bitter smile, saying she had spoken in vain.
“I’m sorry…… for taking up your time.”
With those final words, Deborah brushed past Hanna and headed up the stairs.
It was a moment when the footsteps climbing the stairs felt endlessly heavy, just like her wounded heart.
***
“So what do you plan to do from now on.”
A sound like a sigh poured out from behind the back of Raymond, who was looking down below the window.
At that sound, Raymond’s gaze directed toward the sofa for a moment, but that too was only temporary. He ended up returning to his original state.
Just what on earth has he been looking at since earlier—
At such an appearance of Raymond, Edward furrowed his brow slightly.
Not long ago, Edward could not hide his shock upon hearing about the incident that occurred to his close friend, Raymond.
Through the letter Cecilia had sent a few months ago, he had heard the word that the maid was there, but it was stated that she was definitely in a state pregnant with her husband’s child.
How long had it been since she caused such an incident, it was shocking that she was already pregnant with a child, but well, he rather thought it turned out for the better.
Since he had personally witnessed with his own two eyes her appearance of carrying another man’s child, he thought Raymond would finally be able to completely let go of his feelings this time.
Although the aftertaste was unpleasant, anyway, he had been trying to set his mind at ease like that.
However, a short while after that, he ended up hearing thunderbolt-like news.
That the child in that maid’s womb was actually not her husband’s child, but precisely Raymond’s child.
At the first moment he heard that story, suspicion arose first as to whether that was true.
Was it not so?
She was a woman bold and dreadful enough that a lowly maid had dared to pull off a scam involving the great Duke of Cheister.
It was rather a strange thing to accept without any suspicion the words spoken by such a woman.
Therefore, he was saying this.
To put it bluntly, it wouldn’t be too late to confirm the truth and break off the engagement after the child came out, but he had made things turn out like this.
And against the Marquess of Constant at that.
Of course, he did not think his close friend would have dragged the woman back here without any thought.
In his own way, he must have done this kind of action because something crossed his mind.
But even so, it was the same that he could not understand.
Yet, since the very person who made things turn out this way was keeping his mouth tightly shut like that…….
“Just what are you looking at.”
At the words thrown out as if scolding, Raymond’s closed mouth finally opened.
Of course, his gaze was still in a state directed outside the window.
“For now, after the child is born.”
“……What?”
Edward, who wondered what that meant for a moment, realized that the words Raymond spoke were the answer to the very first question he asked.
“After the child is born?”
At the words asking for the next, Raymond’s head finally moved toward the opposite side.
Edward continued to follow with his eyes Raymond, who slowly stepped away from the window and walked over to the sofa.
“After the child is born, I am saying I will make a decision after that.”
“No, I mean. Just what kind of decision are you saying you will make.”
As he frowned toward the opponent who repeated riddle-like words, Raymond let out a chuckle that was devoid of substance.
“Whether to kick her out or not.”
“…….”
It was a word where the subject was omitted, but it could be known without even needing to ask back.
Well, of course, considering the things she committed, it was natural that he should do so, but even so, kicking out a woman who just gave birth to a child right away…….
Up until just a moment ago, when was it that he said it was right to draw a firm line with such an unfathomable woman, Edward suddenly had such a thought.
“Let’s head out now.”
There were still more things left to ask, but as he blankly watched the appearance of him leaving the spot abruptly, Edward soon shook his head from side to side and stood up from his seat.
However, the moment he was about to take a single step, Edward suddenly came to a dead stop on the spot.
Edward, who stared blankly for a moment at that broad back walking stridently toward the door, abruptly turned his body toward the window.
It was intended to check what it was that had captured his close friend’s gaze the entire time until just a moment ago.
Just as he was about to withdraw his gaze since there was nothing special even after looking around here and there for a long time, his eyes stopped in one specific direction.
“…….”
The eyebrows of Edward, who looked intently for a long time at what it was, finally began to furrow slowly.
That pale face sitting in the garden with a swollen belly.
It was precisely that problematic maid who brought about all this chaos.
