Chapter 57

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***

Some time after Kathleen left, Alexis finally got up from the floor and unbuttoned his vest. His chest heaved up and down violently. His gaze remained fixed on the firmly closed door, but there was no sound of the door opening nor treading on the carpet.

‘I have to hold on to…’

Other than that, there was no other way to change her mind. He couldn’t stand it every time he recalled her sunken eyes saying she would never come back.

“Your Grace!”

As soon as the library door opened, Viscount Rylent ran in with an anxious face.

“You were here. I’ve been looking for you for a while.”

“Move.”

“Sir, you must meet Miss Edith today. Let’s go.”

“Did you not hear me say move?”

“Haven’t you already waited for over two months? The medicine may already have lost its effect.”

Viscount Rylent had no choice but to block Alexis as he was about to leave. Alexis had just run out of patience and was about to grab his lieutenant’s collar and throw him onto the sofa.

Just in time, the old butler Alsdorf came in and reported.

“Sir, a guest has come.”

“Butler, shouldn’t His Grace receive the guest now?”

“It’s a guest who came to see the Madame.”

Viscount Rylent sent a desperate gaze seeking help and Alsdorf calmly explained towards the duke, who was grabbing the lieutenant’s collar.

“A man dressed in shabby clothes said he came to deliver something for the Madame. He said she would know if we said that he is from Osole.”

Hearing the familiar name, Alexis loosened his strength from the hand that gripped the lieutenant’s shirt. He slowly retraced his memory.

“Osole……”

The rural village where Kathleen fled to, hid herself, and gave birth to her child. It used to be a village where there was no lord, and now a worm came to meet the duchess?

“Viscount Rylent. Did you reveal her identity when you brought Kathleen?”

“Pardon? No. Is that even possible? The Knights found the Madame in a field far from the village at that time, they did not even enter the village. After some time we also checked if there were any rumors about her identity.

Was this someone from the village to whom she had revealed her identity to?

‘Annoying.’

He didn’t like it. Her escape to the rural village should not have been a meaningful time for Kathleen Walten.

“Bring him here.”

“All right.”

Alsdorf answered immediately and withdrew. Viscount Rylent sighed and stepped aside, muttering.

“If this continues, Miss Edith may really come to the duke’s residence. She would get irritated again saying it’s useless to make medicine without looking at the condition.

“I’m not going to die just because I don’t take some medicine, so don’t make a fuss.”

“Your Grace puts too much trust in your condition.”

Two pairs of footsteps were heard in the hallway and stopped in front of the library door. After a while, Alsdorf knocked and opened the door and let the visitor in.

“My lord, here’s the guest.”

It was a young man wearing a long brown robe. He didn’t think he was going to face the duke, and even though he covered his face, he looked embarrassed. His hand nervously pulled his robe when his hair became slightly exposed.

Sharp golden eyes scanned the dark robe and caught something. Alexis ordered him.

“Close the door and come in.”

The man paused and stood there, but Alexis did not wait. He got up and said to Alsdorf.

“Don’t let Kathleen get close.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The man reacted to that remark. As soon as the old butler closed the door and left, he took off his robe and cried out.

“Is it the duke’s law to hide the guests?”

Viscount Rylent thought it was odd to see a brown-haired man who dared to raise his voice to the Duke of the Empire. It was the first time he had seen his face, but somehow it felt like he had heard his voice. Besides, those eyes.

‘Where did I see those yellow-green eyes?’

The look of his lord, who stared at the man with a cold expression, was somehow familiar. It probably wasn’t just once or twice that he had seen him, but where the hell…

“Oh!”

Viscount Rylent’s jaw dropped, when he realized the truth behind the dissonance. At the same time, the dark man’s hair became bright green. Like an illusion, the overlaid skin was peeled off and the essence beneath was revealed. Alexis clenched his teeth.

***

The book she held in her arms was as heavy as stone. The day was still bright when they entered the garden, but now, the sun had already gone down and the color of the sunset dyed the sky.

Kathleen barely moved her feet after returning to the bedroom.

“Madame, you must have fallen in love with that book. You’ve been reading it in the garden all day, and you even brought it to your bedroom today?”

“Oh… Yes.”

She should have left it in the library, but she wasn’t herself and unwittingly brought it with her. Kathleen flipped the book over so that she couldn’t see it and placed it on her table.

“Is Luci already sleeping?”

“Yes. The young master just fell asleep. By the way, Madame. Today, the young master asked me to raise him up. Maybe he’ll be able to walk soon!”

Excited with joy, Emily didn’t seem to notice Kathleen’s complicated plight. If it were the usual, she would have been thrilled with news of her child’s growth, but not today.

“I am a little tired today. I’ll change my clothes on my own, so you can go back early.”

“Yes, if there is anything, please call me, Madame.”

As soon as Emily closed the door and left, Kathleen sat down in her chair, stared at the book she set down, and hugged her knees.

– Everything you think is a misunderstanding.

– What am I misunderstanding?

– You think I’m the Duke’s mistress, right?

The woman named Edith asked with a peculiar accent. She talked proudly as if trying to prove that she was telling the truth without a single lie mixed in.

– Right? Isn’t that why you left the duke’s residence?

– …..

– To be honest, it’s not the first time there was such a misunderstanding about me. So far, those misunderstandings have helped with the contracts so I kept my mouth shut, but I thought that I shouldn’t do that with the Madame. I want to tell you everything. Even if it is a breach of contract.

– A contract?

She said she would say it all, but her mouth didn’t open easily, Edith hesitated several times before closing her eyes tightly, she said.

– I am a pharmacist personally hired by the Duke of Walten. I am of foreign nationality therefore I am not a medical practitioner officially registered on the Imperial List. A long time ago, the Duke took me from the South and brought me to Meyer. It was to cure a disease without revealing it to anyone, let alone the Imperial Palace.

– A disease…?

– Symptoms of poisoning.

Edith’s explanation was not much different from what Peter had told her before. Kathleen stroked her pounding forehead with her shaking hand. Edith, who detailed the scorpion’s venom and Alexis’ condition, sighed.

– As expected, the Madame doesn’t seem to know either. He pretends there is no medicine and insists on being stubborn.

– I know you’re a pharmacist. But.

Kathleen said, clutching the hem of her skirt.

– I’ve seen you and the Duke meet in the western hunting grounds. No, it would be more accurate to say that I heard you. How did that happen?

– Huh? The Madame came to the hunting grounds? When… Ah!!

Edith’s eyebrows furrowed.

– Did you misunderstand after hearing some groaning?

– Can you explain that it’s not a misunderstanding?

– Ha, really!

Edith grinned with cheeks as red as her hair, then rolled up her sleeve to reveal her arm.

– Can you see this?

It looked like it had been burned by fire.

– On the day the Madame left, I injured my arm and got burnt by steam while making medicine from the ice flowers for the detoxification. The Duke was passed out next to me. Madame must have heard that.

She talked about the process of making the medicine, starting with what an ice flower is, and the contract she signed with Alexis.

– The Duke’s condition is not completely cured. He still has to take his medicine more steadily, but after the Madame returned, I never heard from him again. I don’t know if he’s taking the medicine I sent him properly. So, this time, I came directly.

-……Why is he doing that?

– I have no way of knowing. But what I can guess is.

Red eyes cautiously looked at Kathleen, and she quickly confessed.

– The Duke must really be regretting his deeds. It doesn’t look like he’s in a bad condition right now that’s why he’s putting off treatment and staying in the residence.

Edith seemed to be holding back criticizing Alexis at that moment. The expression on her face showed that she was very frustrated.

– It’s the truth, Madame.

Before Kathleen could say anything else, Edith stole the book from her hands.

– Flora and Fauna! I know this book very well. If you look at the eighteenth chapter here, there’s something about the scorpion’s venom.

Edith flipped through the book without hesitation and then folded the corner of a page.

– Read this part. Then you’ll know what I’m saying is true. How the southern scorpion’s venom affected the Duke.

– Why are you telling me everything?

Kathleen asked. Edith looked around the garden to see if anyone had come close.

Her actions were a little too considerate to say that she did it out of her obligation as a medical professional. She had already made the medicine and she had been paid enough, so her contract was already fulfilled. It was unusual for her to meddle and help with her employer’s private affairs.

-Why are you breaking the contract and telling me everything? You’ve already been paid, and since you’re not an official pharmacist, you wouldn’t be held responsible if you made a mistake with the Duke.

– I wanted to help.

After a brief silence, Edith spoke softly.

– Actually, I would have helped the Duke even if I didn’t get paid. I told you, he saved me.

– He saved you…

– At the time of the expedition, all southerners were subject to extermination. At that time, only a few people who caught the Duke’s eyes could live. That was how he saved my life. So I don’t want him to die and I don’t want his wife to suffer either.

She handed the book back to Kathleen and said it clearly.

– The Duke’s decision saved my life, but he’s still in danger. I believe he still has a chance, so I don’t want to leave him alone just because he’s quitting now.

Edith’s words were clear and straightforward enough to answer all of her questions. However, despite the conclusions, Kathleen needed time.

– The Madame needs to help him.

Edith said hastily and got up from her seat. She added that if she stayed longer, she would be caught breaking the terms of the contract to keep everything a secret.

– First of all, please pretend you don’t know the truth. If the Duke finds out that you know everything, he will suspect me first.

As Kathleen covered up the book of plants and animals that she had read over and over again and memorized, she thought.

She was not Alexis’ mistress, but Edith knew him better than she did.

‘How much do I know about him?’

Feeling bitter at the sudden question, the bedroom door opened.

“Kathleen.”

Alexis Walten stood there.