CH 20.2

She tried to think, but her thoughts didn’t work out, as if her usual brilliance had ground to a halt in her confusion.

The reason Anne had married the Grand Duke was to pay for the indemnity. Because Robert molested the Grand Duke’s woman. But if Marie wasn’t the mistress, there was no reason for her to come here in the first place.

As soon as she recognized that, her stomach suddenly grumbled loudly. The only thing she could put to her mouth was a cup of tea, but her chest tightened.

Then, with the sound of a knock, Emily entered the room, peeking her head.

“Miss.”

Emily said that she had finished training and could now properly serve Anne.

Anne stopped hovering on the carpet, and fell into the vanity chair. She tried to ask Emily for her opinion about this, but she stopped. Although Emily was her cherished maid, this required prudence, as Emily had left for ten years.

Not yet . . . I need to figure it out myself.

She was only guessing, so she couldn’t act hastily. Even if she interrogated Marie, she wouldn’t get anything, and if she asked the Grand Duke, there was no guarantee that she would receive a truthful answer.

First of all, it was a problem that she had to figure out on her own. Since the Grand Duke had already become her husband, she could not overthrow the marriage. She might be able to try her luck if Libelois protested, but even knowing this, Anne’s parents would rather her keep her mouth shut.

Anne, who had decided not to expose it in the first place, greeted Emily with a casual expression.

“Good work. Mrs. Wald is a strict person, so it will be quite difficult in the future. If you ever change your mind later, let me know then.”

“No. I will be by your side. The chief handmaid . . . It must have been that I suddenly appeared, so it must be hard to look nice. I’m still trying to get used to it.”

Emily, who was waving her hand in case Anne would let her go, smiled shyly.

“Emily is a really nice person. Because I got a lot of help when I was young. Mrs. Wald will eventually understand.”

“It was easier for me to serve you because Miss is a good person. By the way, it is like a dream to see you again like this.”

Emily, who looked moved, picked up the brush that had been lying on the vanity table. Her careful hand gently brushed Anne’s hair. The maids of the Grand Duchy, like the maids in Libelois, were devoted to Anne, so her hair was always shiny and her skin texture was as smooth as porcelain.

Still, Emily, looking at Anne through the mirror, showed a gloomy face. Emily, who knew the County couple, spoke to her with a very sad tone, as if she had expected it.

“To such a pretty and lovely daughter . . . you were sent here.”

“Lovely . . .”

Her lips let out an involuntary laugh.

‘Love.’ What a nonsensical word.

Affection never existed, because they were never devoted to Anne. No, there was no such word in their dictionary. Had they done so, it would have been so rare for them to lift a rod at her.

Anne was like her merchandise in the wedding market. Having been decorated and cared for since she was a child, it was only natural for her to stand out in the social world. Although she may not be of a prestigious family, her beautiful appearance played a part. She didn’t speak with people unless they were of a decent family. That was why she was called the flower of the social world without any friends.

Even though she was a great person, it was merely an illusion. It was just because of her foolish parents who tried to meddle in her actions one by one. It was true that she grew up well, but she wasn’t loved. If she had to pick out the similar feelings, the affection would be all from Emily, who was twelve years older than her.

Rather than that, she wondered why Emily was in the North. Anne directed her gaze to Emily’s belly. The last time she remembered, Emily’s stomach had swollen as if a pillow had been tucked in.

She asked if Emily had gained weight, but Emily only smiled bitterly without a word. And the next day she disappeared. Anne’s mother had told her that Emily had quit her job and gotten married.

What happened to the child . . .

When she saw Emily willingly pack her bags and followed Anne . . . Perhaps the child did not ever see the light of day. It was impossible for her to dig into someone else’s wounds, so she didn’t ask Emily until now because she was afraid it would hurt her . . .

“Why are you here?”

“I had nowhere to go. The Countess . . .”

Anne could notice that her mother must have placed a block to prevent Emily’s employment. She must have spread rumors that Emily had seduced her innocent son on purpose. And in the capital where the rumors spread everywhere, the only place Emily could go would be the north, as if it was independent, far from the capital.

It was a story so obvious that it made Anne sigh.