Chapter 3.12

The party eventually ended past 1 a.m. Soft music still lingered in the grand mansion, as though savoring the afterglow of the event. Guests departed one by one, with the Dowager and Alec seeing them off.  

Among them were the Earl and Countess of Melfir.  

“Earl, thank you so much.”  

How many times had he heard her thank him today? Luette offered her a polite smile and a light embrace.  

“I only did my duty, Madame.”  

“No, Earl. You’ve given me a gift I’ll never forget.”  

With those words, the Dowager turned her gaze to Solnia, who stood beside him.  

“My dear.”  

With affectionate words, the Dowager cupped Solnia’s cheek.  

“Take care on your way. Rest well for a few days, and then let’s talk. Do you know how many things I’ve been wanting to do with you?”  

In response, Solnia smiled.  

“Yes. I’ll see you again soon.”  

She gently caressed the Dowager’s wrinkled hand, her smile warm. It was a tearful farewell.  

At the same time, the carriage was prepared, and the couple boarded amidst warm farewells.  

As soon as they entered the carriage, Luette pulled down the blinds and loosened his stifling cravat.  

“Phew…”  

The charming smile he had worn earlier was gone, replaced by a cold expression. Shaking his head as if disgusted, he muttered, 

“I didn’t expect the Dowager to pull a stunt like this. Did you know about it?”  

“…”  

There was no response to his irritated question. Glancing at Solnia, he saw her staring out the window. The blinds were drawn, so there was nothing to see. Her expression was worlds apart from the bright smile she had shown earlier.  

It annoyed him.  

She had answered everything on her own, yet now she sat silently, not even offering an apology. She didn’t even try to explain herself.  

Turning away from Solnia, Luette spoke.  

“Do whatever it takes to persuade the Dowager. You’re well aware that our plans were only meant to last until today.”  

He had no intention of staying in the capital, especially not in a place surrounded by his family and distant relatives.  

The very thought of the headaches it would bring made him shudder. Why take such risks?  

But once again, Solnia remained silent. Sitting with her back straight, she continued to stare resolutely at the window, even though the blinds blocked any view.  

The carriage raced down the damp early morning road and soon arrived at their townhouse. Servants, who had been eagerly awaiting their return, rushed out to greet them at the entrance.  

As the carriage slowed, Luette gathered the coat he had taken off earlier.  

“Let me make this clear: I don’t want any further disruptions to my plans.”  

“…”  

Only then did Solnia turn her face toward him. Her pale complexion looked even more ghostly in the night. Her gray eyes, seemingly unfocused, only added to his frustration.  

“You should understand that I’ve already shown you the utmost patience and consideration.”  

“…”  

“And that I have no intention of doing any more.”  

In other words, he had done his part, and she was on her own to deal with the consequences of her impulsive decision.  

But, as expected, the extraordinary noblewoman offered no reply.  

The carriage came to a halt, and the door opened.  

As Luette shook his head in exasperation and prepared to disembark, Solnia, who had closed her eyes slowly, lost her balance and collapsed forward.  

“Young Madam!”  

The startled voice of the footman echoed through the entrance hall as Luette instinctively caught her.  

Only then did Luette get a closer look at the state of the woman who had fallen into his arms.  

Her slightly parted lips released shallow, labored breaths. Her ungloved hands, clenched tightly, were pale. Beads of cold sweat dotted her rounded forehead.  

“My goodness, Young Madam!”  

The servants, alarmed by the footman’s cry, rushed out in a panic. Holding Solnia in his arms, Luette stepped out of the carriage and strode past them.  

“Call Wilson.”  

“Yes, Young Master.”  

Her sweat-drenched body felt cold to the touch.

***

Two hours later, Wilson Brown, the Trovill household’s attending physician, arrived at the study.  

“It seems she fainted from the release of tension. Fortunately, her pulse and temperature have returned to normal, so she should be fine after a good rest.”  

Luette, still seated at his desk and yet to change out of his clothes, nodded as if to say it was expected. Despite his inner thoughts, the smile he gave Dr. Brown was endlessly gentle.  

“Thank you for coming at such a late hour. It must have been quite startling to be summoned so suddenly.”  

“Not at all, M— I mean, Young Master.”  

Dr. Brown, who had served the Trovill Ducal Household for generations, was exceptionally loyal. Luette, in turn, treated him with due respect.  

As Dr. Brown prepared to leave the study, Luette, still wearing his warm smile, added a final request.  

“By the way, I’d prefer it if you didn’t mention today’s events to my mother.”  

“To the Duchess?”  

“Yes. I think it would only cause her unnecessary worry.”  

There was no particular reason behind it—just that he didn’t want to deal with the hassle.  

Dr. Brown nodded as if he understood.  

The moment the physician left the study, Luette’s smile vanished, and he leaned deeply into the back of his chair.  

At last, it felt like everything was over.  

It had been an unbearably long day.  

“Damnably long.”  

With his eyes closed, savoring the silence, he groped for the desk drawer and pulled out a cigar. His movements were practiced and familiar.  

As he bit down on the clipped end of the cigar, Luette frowned. Despite his best efforts to empty his thoughts, Solnia’s face lingered heavily in his mind.  

‘Will you stay by my side?’  

Why? Why couldn’t he forget the sight of Solnia, veins standing out on her neck as she heard those words?  

Though she had quickly smiled afterward, it had been such a fleeting moment. Yet he had seen it clearly.  

It was then that a knock echoed through the room. Luette opened his eyes slowly and told the visitor to enter.  

Standing hesitantly before him was none other than a maid from Melfir. The one Solnia had insisted on bringing—what was her name again? Lizzie?  

“I… I have something to tell you.”  

The maid appeared extremely nervous in front of her languid and indifferent master. However, Luette didn’t even have the energy to adjust his posture.  

He nodded indifferently.  

“The Madam told me not to say anything… but I couldn’t help worrying that it might be because of that incident.”  

Did Solnia threaten to kill her if she spoke? 

The maid glanced around the clearly empty study, then cautiously continued.  

***

Angie prided herself on being a sharp and competent maid. After all, working in a high-ranking noble household for three years was proof of her skills.  

But even Angie found the Madam utterly incomprehensible.  

One day, the Madam had appeared out of nowhere, as if struck by lightning. She was breathtakingly beautiful and shrouded in mystery.  

At first, Angie assumed the Madam was one of those elegant and naive noblewomen Luette had pined for. But meeting her in person revealed otherwise. Yes, the Madam was beautiful, but she was far from naive.  

And, as always, Angie’s instincts were spot-on.  

‘Leave this house immediately.’  

‘M-Madam, please tell me what I did wrong.’  

‘You’ve done nothing wrong.’  

The moment she settled into the annex, the Madam dismissed two young maids. There was no reason given, nor was it a spur-of-the-moment decision. The two maids packed their bags and left Melfir that very day.  

The suddenness of it all struck terror into the remaining maids.  

‘Any idea why?’  

‘Does there need to be a reason? She’s just asserting her dominance.’  

‘One thing’s for sure—we’re serving someone who isn’t to be trifled with.’  

Over time, the maids’ fear of the Madam only grew.  

Her delicate, flower-like face rarely opened her mouth except to say what was necessary. She paid no attention to the maids.  

Someone once remarked that the Madam probably didn’t even know the names of the maids serving her. Angie agreed.  

Even though Angie was responsible for preparing the Madam’s breakfast, she had never had a proper conversation with her.  

The Madam never left the house, making life for the maids even more difficult.  

‘She’s terrifying. Her gaze feels like she’s just waiting for us to mess up.’  

Her gray eyes, tinged with an odd light, seemed to wish for the maids to make mistakes.  

‘Start packing. We’re heading to the capital.’  

When the Madam announced she was taking her to the capital, Angie felt like the sky was falling.  

Leaving behind the sympathy of the other maids, Angie boarded the carriage, unaware of what lay ahead.  

‘I’d like you to accompany me to the mansion. Would you do that for me?’  

‘You must be tired. Go and rest.’  

Watching the Madam up close, Angie realized she spoke more gently than expected.  

And that wasn’t all.  

‘Thank you, Angie. If it weren’t for you, things could have gone very wrong.’  

She even expressed gratitude.  

When she smiled while saying those words, even Angie, as a fellow woman, found her enchanting. For a moment, she understood why the Earl had been infatuated with her for years.  

That day’s compliment motivated Angie to work even harder, leading her to this moment.  

“How is she, Doctor? Is the Young Madam alright?”  

Gwen, her face filled with worry, asked as Dr. Brown packed his medical bag.  

“There’s no need for serious concern. I’ll report the details to the Young Master.”  

“He’s in the study. This way.”  

As Gwen and Dr. Brown left, Angie remained in the bedroom with the unconscious Madam.  

“What should I do…”  

Angie wrestled with the same dilemma she’d been agonizing over.  

The moment she saw the fainted Madam, Angie knew instinctively—it had to be because of the medicine she’d taken at the mansion.  

The memory of that day still haunted Angie.  

And now, the Madam lay there, pale as a ghost, as if lifeless.  

‘I have to tell someone.’  

Resolving to act, she approached the door.  

‘No, what if the Madam scolds me for speaking out?’  

Fearing she’d be dismissed on the spot, she hesitated.  

‘But what if it really was the medicine? What if she dies? What then?’  

Imagining the scandal of the Madam’s death and the blame falling on her made Angie dizzy. She hesitated several times before finally making up her mind.  

“…I’m sorry, Madam.”  

Apologizing to the unconscious Solnia, Angie headed for the study.