Duke and Duchess Reunion - Chapter 76

Chapter 76

“What are you doing in the palace when you should be at the orphanage? Do you have business with me?”

Aneta spoke first to Director Deborah, who approached her.

By now, she should be busy straightening out the mess of the orphanage and adjusting to her new responsibilities. Even though additional caregivers had been hired, it was surprising to see her back in the capital so soon after leaving.

The distance between the Spend Orphanage and the capital was far too great for her to have come all this way just for something trivial.

Aneta patiently waited for Deborah’s hesitant response.

“Well, actually, there’s a child who requested to see Your Ladyship, so I brought them with me.”

“A child?”

“Yes. The child claims they have something they must tell you, Your Ladyship. They kept trying to sneak out on their own whenever they got a chance. We tried scolding them several times, but nothing worked.”

Deborah explained that she was worried about the accidents that might happen if the child succeeded in leaving the orphanage alone, so she eventually decided to accompany them.

“I apologize for the inconvenience, but could you possibly meet with the child just once?”

The request was made with extreme caution, almost as if she was afraid.

Aneta assumed that the child most likely wanted to talk about something related to the mercenaries, which explained why Deborah seemed so concerned.

“You don’t have any idea what the child wants to say?”

“No. All I know is that they promised not to cause any trouble for you. I trust the promise the child made.”

Deborah, who had been trembling earlier, now showed a gentle and trusting expression toward the child.

Aneta, impressed by this display, nodded her head.

“Alright. Let’s meet with the child.”

When Aneta agreed to the meeting, Deborah’s face lit up with relief. In contrast, Carlos seemed less enthusiastic.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.”

Aneta didn’t feel the need to worry about what the child would say. It might be awkward if they made an unreasonable request, but she could simply refuse and send them back.

“Alright then.”

Seeing that Aneta wasn’t going to change her mind, Carlos reluctantly agreed and looked around.

“But where is the child? Did you come in alone?”

“They’re waiting outside the palace gates. I left them with the knights just in case Your Ladyship refused.”

Deborah, eager to avoid any change of heart, led the two of them to where the child was waiting.

As they followed Deborah to the palace gates, the knights on duty greeted them. As the knights stepped aside, just as Deborah had said, a child was waiting.

“Hendel.”

Deborah called the child Hendel. As Aneta approached, she recalled the personal details listed in the documents Vernon had provided.

Hendel was the oldest child at the orphanage, fifteen years old, though he appeared a year or two younger.

Hendel alternated his gaze between Aneta and Carlos but soon fixed his eyes on Aneta as if realizing that she was the Marquis of Adenauer whom he had been searching for.

“I heard you have something to say to me.”

As Aneta stood before him, Hendel, who had been staring at her intently, suddenly made a surprising move.

Before Aneta could finish her sentence, Hendel dropped to the ground, prostrating himself.

Aneta was startled by the action but didn’t show it. She simply watched the child, who had pressed his forehead to the floor in silence.

In such a strictly hierarchical society, no one viewed his actions negatively. However, what followed left Aneta and everyone else astonished.

“Thank you for saving my brothers.”

A youthful voice, not yet touched by puberty, echoed through the silence, momentarily plunging the surroundings into stillness.

One of the knights, quietly observing the situation, inadvertently gasped, and the sound echoed clearly in everyone’s ears.

“Hendel, was that what you wanted to say to Her Ladyship?”

“Yes.”

Deborah asked, trying to conceal her surprise, and Hendel affirmed.

“The villagers said that if it had been someone else who was the victim… my brothers would have been beheaded a long time ago, and we, who were the cause of what they did, wouldn’t have been spared either. So, I wanted to express my gratitude.”

Adults tell such things to children. Aneta furrowed her brow as she listened to the conversation between Hendel and Deborah.

Carlos, sharing the same sentiment, couldn’t take his eyes off the child.

“You’re saying something I didn’t expect. I thought you prostrated yourself before me to ask for forgiveness for the mercenaries.”

“You can’t grant me that forgiveness.”

Hendel lifted his head and met her gaze, tears welling up in his eyes, but they didn’t hide the sharp clarity within them.

“I know that much. Some things just can’t be forgiven.”

“…Right. Some things can’t be forgiven.”

Though it pained her to hear Hendel’s response, Aneta agreed. The mercenaries deserved to be beheaded for what they did, had it not been for the orphanage. Further leniency was impossible.

“But I hope you don’t think that the reason your brothers did such things was because of you. The cause wasn’t you, but the headmaster and his wife. And as for your words of thanks, I feel I must respond with an apology.”

Aneta lowered herself in front of Hendel. Then, she carefully helped the still-prostrate child to his feet.

“As one who serves the nation and as an adult like them, I sincerely apologize. I’m sorry that you had to go through such an experience.”

After helping Hendel to his feet, Aneta also stood up straight and bowed her head without hesitation in front of the child. Hendel’s eyes, wide with disbelief, wavered, and after checking his condition for a moment, Aneta spoke again.

“I think we should end our conversation here. It’s time for you to go back.”

Her words were meant to be considerate of the child, who was struggling to hold back tears. Hendel seemed to realize this as well.

After bowing deeply to Aneta, Hendel quickly turned and ran off. Deborah flustered, hurried after him after offering a quick farewell.

“Hendel, wait for me!”

Aneta kept her eyes on Hendel’s retreating figure. The image of the child turning away while holding back tears overlapped with the small back moving away.

It seemed the child had grown up far too quickly.

***

The next day.

To keep her promise to Carlos, Aneta took out the clothes she had worn during her last secret outing.

At first, they felt unfamiliar, but now, the second time around, they feel rather comfortable.

However, the maidservants still looked at the outfit with disapproval. If they could, they would have shredded the garments and tossed them into a blazing fire to make sure Aneta could never wear them again.

Of course, imagining burning a commoner’s clothes was all they could do. No matter how it looked, it was, after all, something sent by the Emperor.

It was a fact they couldn’t believe and didn’t want to accept, but they couldn’t recklessly damage their mistress’s belongings.

“Positive thoughts, positive thoughts,” Coco muttered, trying to calm the wild thoughts rising in her mind.

“Even though Your Ladyship shines no matter what you wear, it’s a shame. You’re going out with the Duke today, but you have to wear commoner’s clothes.”

“Don’t be too disappointed. This isn’t a leisurely outing; it’s an extension of work.”

Besides the advantage of being less noticeable, these clothes were more suitable for long periods of walking than her usual attire.

Aneta began to remove her jewelry as she spoke.

“When do you plan to return today, Your Ladyship?”

“Probably around dinner. The secret mission should end by lunchtime, but I plan to spend time with Carlos afterward.”

“Then I’ll only prepare dinner.”

Aneta casually revealed her intention to spend time with Carlos, and Isabel, impressed by her progress, bowed with a smile.

On the other hand, Coco and some of the other maids couldn’t hide their regret about her lack of adornment.

“On a day like this, you should dress up.”

Aneta hadn’t said it outright, but the household staff had all noticed—Aneta and Carlos had become lovers or something close to it.

Since this was technically their first official date, they were eager to dress her up, but they were frustrated that they couldn’t.

“Honestly, the person who needs to make a good impression isn’t Your Ladyship, but the Duke of Baltimor. You don’t need to worry about such things.”

At that moment, it was Lily, who was always by Coco’s side. Her remark, reflecting the obvious nature of their relationship, made Aneta check the time and rise from her seat.

“No, not anymore. I want to make a good impression on him too. So, let’s save dressing up for another time.”

Leaving the maids with instructions to showcase their skills, Aneta ignored the excited flush on their cheeks and bid them farewell.

The moment she stepped out, joyful and ecstatic screams erupted behind her. Although Isabel quickly silenced them, her voice also carried a hint of laughter.

Though she had spoken nonchalantly earlier, Aneta couldn’t help but feel embarrassed by the maids’ reactions.

She descended the stairs, trying to cool her flushed face, as the maids’ excited chatter echoed in the background.

As she reached the middle of the staircase, the door opened, and Carlos stepped inside.

As soon as he set foot in the entrance, he looked around, searching for someone, and when his eyes met Aneta’s, he smiled pleasantly.

Lately, it seemed like she was seeing his smiling face more often than usual. Knowing all too well why, Aneta took his outstretched hand and descended the last step.

“Good morning, Aneta. Did you sleep well?”

“Well, enough. And you?”

“I didn’t sleep well. I was too excited about today.”

“You’re like a child, losing sleep out of excitement.”

Aneta teased him with a smile in her voice, but Carlos, undeterred, responded even more boldly.

“It’s because I’m in love with you. Every moment with you is precious and thrilling.”

Aneta thought she had grown accustomed to Carlos’s declarations of love, but it seemed she hadn’t. If anyone else had said the same words, she would have laughed, but it was different depending on who said them.

Aneta found herself momentarily at a loss for words, feeling her face heat up again.

In an attempt to hide her reddening face, she quickly moved past Carlos and said,

“…We’re late. Let’s head to the carriage instead of standing here.”

As Aneta began to walk away, Carlos followed with a knowing smile.

“Let’s go together, Aneta.”

Carlos caught up with Aneta in just three steps.

Knowing that her avoidance was different from before, he felt no unease.