Chapter 161. May I Introduce You to That Job?
Deborah’s head slowly rose upward.
As if she had heard a bizarre remark, her watery golden eyes wandered frantically over Jade’s face.
It was quite a long while after that when her flickering lips spat out proper words.
“What did you just say, marr…… iage?”
By no means she must have misheard, marriage— Deborah stared intently at Jade’s face with a disbelieving expression.
But as if planting certainty in such a thought, Jade repeated what he had said once again.
“Yes. Marry me. Both Deborah and the child, I will make you both happy.”
“…….”
“For the time being…… it’s fine even if you don’t open your heart to me. I will wait.”
“Wait, no. No. Jade, I—”
Her mind was entirely in a jumble.
Marriage, when he knew full well whose child the child in her belly was…… how could he do such a thing.
No, that was one thing, but the word marriage heard in a situation where she had no intention of accepting anyone felt incredibly bewildering.
And another thing, the reason that made Deborah even more bewildered.
Though it might be rude to the opponent, honestly she thought that Jade’s feelings toward her might just be a light emotion passing by for a moment.
Therefore, although it would be difficult for the time being, she had even thought that as time passed, a day would surely come when they could talk about this moment with a smile— to that extent.
But at the thought that it might be an emotion to the point of bringing up marriage, moreover to the point of saying he would take responsibility even for another man’s child, momentarily her heart sank heavily.
Therefore, the very moment she was just about to open her mouth with the thought that she could not let it go on any longer—
Clip-clop, at that sharp sound that drifted into the garden where only the two of them were, Deborah’s body flinched.
The gazes of the two people simultaneously moved toward the direction from which the sound was heard.
“……Ah, I, because Kyle said…… that Deborah was here…….”
Watching Lea’s eyes that were shaking here and there as if flustered, a low lament escaped Deborah’s mouth.
Why of all things…….
Deborah abruptly stood up from her seat.
“Lea, look here, this is—”
But before she could even take a single step, Lea quickly took backward steps as if widening the distance.
“Sorry, I shall be…… on my way now.”
“Wa— Lea!”
Deborah hastily tried to follow behind her, but only her running figure from behind blankly entered her vision.
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“Please wait here for a moment.”
“Ah, thank you.”
After the maid who brought the tea exited the parlor, Deborah slowly looked around the surroundings.
Of course, she hadn’t believed her words that they were an ordinary merchant family exactly as they were, but her gaze was momentarily captured by the parlor that was far more luxurious than her expectations.
Would it be only the parlor.
To the extent that she felt intimidated without realizing it by the splendor of various parts of the mansion that entered her vision all the way here.
Somehow, because it felt like she was in a place where she shouldn’t be.
At her impoverished nature that revealed itself every time at such moments, a bitter smile was formed without her realizing it.
Just how long had she been waiting while having various thoughts.
Giggle, at the noisy sound that suddenly came from outside the door, Deborah’s gaze moved toward it.
Click.
“Stop it! All of you go out and play.”
The door opened, and through that gap, someone’s profile peeked out slightly.
It was Lea.
“Aw, why?”
“Reggie wants to go inside too!”
Although they weren’t clearly visible because Lea was blocking with her body, they sounded like children’s voices.
Quite young, that is to say…… looking to be around six or seven years old?
“Kitty, Reggie. What did I say you should do when a guest is visiting?”
“Um, to stay quiet…….”
“Must stay quiet!”
At the cheerful voices of the children answering Lea’s words as she strictly admonished them, before long a soft smile settled around Deborah’s mouth.
“Right, good children. If you stay quiet, I’ll specially give you a cup of chocolate each later.”
“Really?!”
“Reggie too?!”
“Yes, a cup for Kitty too, a cup for Reggie too. So you’ll have to behave well, right?”
At Lea’s words as she unfolded and shook her index finger, the children answered with excited voices, “Yes, yes!” and immediately ran off somewhere.
“They must be your younger siblings.”
Toward Lea, who turned around while letting out a sigh, “whew,” Deborah smiled brightly.
Lea, who faltered for a moment, soon approached close while smiling with an embarrassed expression.
“They’re the bottom two rascals, but because they’re kids who just can’t stay still.”
Watching Lea who shook her head from side to side as if they were a headache, Deborah quietly let out a breath of relief.
All the way here, she had agonized and agonized several times.
How she should bring out the words if she met Lea, and what she should say.
What if she said she wouldn’t meet her, she had been anxious while having such thoughts all day long…….
But, she didn’t know what a relief it was that they could sit facing each other with the same appearance as before like this.
—No, you didn’t know that until now? Anyone could tell at a glance. That Lea has feelings for Jade. It’s a fact that almost anyone knows, but you really didn’t know that?
The words Roderick had said to her at one time.
It was also something Deborah had vaguely guessed.
No, just as Roderick said, looking at Lea’s appearance when she was together with Jade, it was something one couldn’t help but know.
Therefore, her heart was extremely heavy.
Since such an incident had occurred in a situation where she knew her heart full well, it felt as if it were all her fault, so her heart could not be at ease.
Even so, it was not a matter where she could presumptuously step forward and say something either.
Rather, because such an action could touch Lea’s pride, she could not help but be cautious.
“I was worried.”
Following the voice that came out quietly, Lea’s gaze settled over Deborah’s face.
“Because you didn’t continuously come to the bookstore or the mansion.”
“…….”
As she started the conversation by saying she was worried, Lea tightly bit her lips.
Contrary to her apprehension that she might have been offended by her words, the words that came out of Lea’s mouth were of an unexpected content.
“……I, as for me, Deborah.”
“…….”
“I didn’t know that I was such a miserable person.”
“Miserable…… what on earth does that mean, why would Lea be.”
“That is, though I know it’s not Deborah’s fault…… even while knowing all of it, I hate Deborah, and I hate Jade too…….”
Because she hated everyone…… the moment the end of her words, which became soaked, slightly blurred, a short exclamation, “ah,” slipped from Deborah’s mouth.
Deborah realized how narrow-minded her own thoughts had been.
Right, she was this kind of person.
Even though it was natural to hate and dislike the counterpart who was beside the man she had harbored in her heart for over ten years, rather a person who rebuked herself calling herself miserable.
The bright and sweet Lea Parker, who had approached her without any prejudice from the first moment they met.
Before long, a quiet smile seeped around Deborah’s mouth.
“Lea.”
“…….”
“I intend to leave Jade’s mansion before long.”
Lea’s gaze, which rose straight forward, shook violently for an instant.
Just when her eyes, which were shaking dizzyingly as if thinking of something, stopped back in place, Lea hurriedly began to bring out words.
“Deborah, there’s no need for that. If it’s because of me, really th—”
“No, it’s not because of Lea.”
“Then…….”
“Actually, it’s what I thought of at that time when I decided to give birth to the child…… as Lea knows too, because I’m not in a position to do so yet…….”
Deborah’s face as she said those words sank slightly dark.
The life of the poor lower class was like that.
An empty life where even if one worked until the skin of one’s fingertips chafed and the bones of one’s entire body crushed, one had nothing held in one’s own hands.
Therefore, what the life of an orphan standing at the very end among the lower class would be like was all too obvious.
Even so, she felt ashamed and embarrassed.
When she wasn’t even in a condition to take responsibility for a single child right away, because she herself who said she would try raising it on her own was so utterly pathetic and pathetic again…….
As if cutting away her endlessly sinking mood, Deborah suddenly inhaled a large breath once.
“Though it was delayed for a bit, at any rate I intended to leave before long. But, when I say that I am carrying a child, everyone waves their hands in refusal first…….”
In the middle of speaking, Deborah showed a bashful laugh.
It was not a lie told to ease Lea’s mind.
Because it was true that she had dropped by the servants’ registry office every time she had spare time to ask about job openings.
Merely that her plan to receive Jade’s help until she delivered the child had changed slightly.
“With a body carrying a child, finding a job is almost impossible, Deborah. Even if…… you find such a place, you won’t be able to guarantee whether it’s a place that is entirely trustworthy.”
“I know, Lea. ……But even so, because I can’t live depending on Jade’s help forever.”
“…….”
She knew well what it was that she was concerned about.
Since an employer who pays money because labor is needed would not employ a person while looking after each individual’s circumstances.
With a body carrying a child, and even after delivering the child, it was bound to be extremely arduous and difficult.
However, there was no other way besides that.
While knowing Jade’s mind full well, and while having no intention of accepting that mind, receiving help was an act that was all too shameless.
Even in a situation that was bleak no matter which way she looked around, to the point that on some days she couldn’t breathe, at any rate what Deborah could choose right now was not the best.
She merely chose the path that was at least the best among those that were not the worst.
Whether she read that complicated mind, or whether she fell into other thoughts— at some point, Lea’s mouth was tightly shut.
What broke the silence that had settled heavily for a long while was the words that came out of the mouth of Lea, who opened her mouth again.
“Deborah.”
“Yes, Lea.”
“What I am about to say from now on, I hope you will listen without any misunderstanding. Even if…… you feel unpleasant, it’s fine to refuse.”
What on earth could the words be, for her to have such a solemn expression.
Deborah, who was staring intently with a puzzled face, soon nodded her head saying she understood.
Only then did Lea bring out the words she had intended to say.
“By any chance, that job. May I introduce you to it?”
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