Chapter 12.2

Contrary to her expectations, Liam did not leave even after an entire day passed. Even though it rained overnight, he did not leave. He shivered in his soaked state but did not leave.

Unable to watch any longer, Etienne brought Liam new clothes, but Liam firmly refused. The moment he sought comfort, swayed by a moment of temptation, his sincerity would not reach.

In truth, even doing this did not guarantee the Marchioness’s heart would change. Still, Liam did not retreat.

‘If I don’t even do this…’

He felt he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself. No, in fact, he already couldn’t forgive himself.

Because of what he had done, Yvonne was cast into an even harsher environment. She was beaten and chased out of the square, suffering all kinds of humiliation. And she lost someone precious.

All because of the deeds he committed, unable to resist his desires. A moment of misguided pleasure had crushed the lives of those women.

Compared to the pain and hardship his wife and the woman named Emma endured, this was light. Moreover, Claude’s life was at stake. Thinking of the child, he had to endure even more.

Liam whipped himself whenever his resolve weakened. His actions quickly spread among the servants of the Marquis estate. Furthermore, some merchants who had come to deliver supplies to the Conrad estate spread the word, attracting onlookers.

The antics of a scoundrel, who once dragged all sorts of rumors with him, were enough to become a hot topic.

Being a prestigious marquis estate, people couldn’t openly watch nearby, but they whispered from a distance and then left. Of course, their interest waned after two days.

It rained for two consecutive days. The drizzle turned into a steady rain. The heavy raindrops pounded Liam’s body, starting from his head.

In the rain that made it hard to open his eyes, Liam looked down at the ground, his head bowed.

He had felt shame when people came to gawk at him the day before, but now he felt nothing.

His legs were numb, and having gone without food for two days, his mouth was dry.

Thanks to the rain from the previous night and now, he could endure this much; otherwise, he might have collapsed long ago.

The firmly closed gate of the Marquis estate opened. Liam flinched but looked down at the ground without hope. If his mother were the forgiving type, she would have opened the gate long ago.

As expected, what came out of the gate was a splendid carriage bearing the emblem of the Conrad family. It was likely the carriage carrying the Marchioness, which passed him without hesitation.

Even as the carriage splashed him with mud, Liam didn’t budge.

Time passed again. Liam felt his body shivering and his vision blurring. The rain, which had been a blessing, was now becoming a curse.

The fever quickly took over his weakened body. He felt as if his whole body was on fire yet freezing at the same time.

Liam realized for the first time that such opposing sensations could occur simultaneously.

It was endlessly painful. With labored breaths, Liam finally collapsed. The startled gatekeeper went inside to fetch Etienne, the second son, in place of the absent Marchioness.

“Liam!”

Etienne rushed out with the servants. He shook the fallen Liam, but he showed no sign of waking.

‘He really lost consciousness? And his body is hot.’

Leaving him like this might lead to death. The rain continued to pour, and Liam’s body felt hot even through the cold rain.

No matter how much the Marchioness said to leave Liam alone, they couldn’t just let him die.

“Let’s take him inside.”

At Etienne’s words, the servants moved to carry the fallen Liam.

Just then, the Marchioness’s carriage, which had gone out, returned. The carriage stopped at the commotion in front of the gate. A window opened.

The Marchioness appeared through the small window. She looked down at Etienne and the servants supporting the unconscious Liam with a cold expression.

“Ah, Mother. This is, well…”

Etienne began to explain, flustered.

Click, the carriage door opened. Simultaneously, the Marchioness nodded.

“Put him in the carriage.”

“What?”

“How long will it take to bring him to the mansion in this rain? Put him in.”

Etienne was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected permission, but he quickly regained his composure and gave additional orders to the servants. He was about to climb into the carriage as well.

“You walk.”

“What?”

“You disobeyed me when I said not to help him. Reflect on it as you walk.”

The Marchioness gestured for Etienne to step back. As the bewildered Etienne stumbled backward, the servants closed the carriage door.

The carriage carrying Liam moved smoothly to the main building of the mansion. During that short time, the Marchioness looked down at the unconscious Liam.

She wasn’t particularly worried. It was likely just exhaustion and a cold. No matter how pampered he was, a grown and healthy adult male wouldn’t die from this.

However, his face seemed more haggard than before. Though he was still handsome, a testament to her good genes, he clearly showed signs of hardship compared to before.

Originally, the Marchioness had no intention of helping Liam, as she had said a few days ago. But seeing him behave uncharacteristically shook her. Especially since he was doing this for his child’s illness.

As a parent herself, she couldn’t ignore it. Although she had told Liam to consider his child’s illness as part of his punishment, she couldn’t be at ease.

Of her three sons, he was the most beautiful and the youngest, raised with only love. Perhaps that was the problem, as he grew up to be a scoundrel, tarnishing the family’s reputation, leading to his expulsion.

It took years to admit that she had raised him poorly and that Liam was a failure.

He was a son she had cast out and forgotten. It was frustrating that he had finally matured, but she couldn’t accept him.

The Marchioness believed that a person’s nature doesn’t change easily. Liam was no different.

What if he returned to a life of debauchery after seeming fine for a while? What if the side he showed her was only part of him?

It would be ridiculous to expel him again. Thus, the only help she could offer Liam was to obtain an invitation to the Rozier family’s ball.

Giving it to him when he woke up was her last duty and kindness as a parent.

‘Besides, the smell is quite strong.’

The source of the smell was, of course, Liam. She hadn’t noticed when he first got into the carriage, but as time passed, he smelled like a rotten rag. It was a rare scent for her.

The Marchioness gracefully held her nose with an elegant gesture.

* * *

As soon as Liam regained consciousness, he sat up abruptly. Before his now-clear vision could take in the surroundings, he heard someone running outside.

Meanwhile, Liam looked around. It was his room. To be precise, it was the room that had been his. The room he used when he still bore the surname ‘Conrad.’

Though the furniture arrangement had changed a bit, it was indeed the room he had used from childhood to youth.

“You’re awake.”

He was lost in nostalgia, seeing the room after so long. The Marchioness entered the room with graceful steps.

“Mother…”

Liam spoke in a hoarse voice. His throat was sore, likely due to the fever.

“Address me properly. You’re no longer a Conrad.”

It was a refined way of saying she wouldn’t accept him as her child. Instead of feeling hurt, Liam showed the courtesy she demanded.

“Thank you for the room, Madame. And the clothes.”

“I couldn’t throw out all the furniture for just one person, so I had you changed. Thank Etienne for the clothes. They’re his. He also took you in.”

“…”

“I couldn’t let rumors spread about the Conrad estate.”

The Marchioness approached the bed where Liam lay. She looked at him for a moment, then placed a small card on the bedside table.

“Coincidentally, there’s a ball at the Rozier family tonight.”

The elegantly decorated card with a gold border was an invitation. Pressing her fingertip on the card, the Marchioness added as she looked at Liam.

“Persuasion is up to you.”

With that, she turned. Her steps were cold, leaving no room for argument, and from behind her, Liam’s voice quietly followed.

“Thank you, Mother.”

Even if she told him not to call her Mother.

The Marchioness swallowed the words that rose to her throat and left the room. He was a son who never listened until the end.