Chapter 12.4

Only then did Liam finally stand. He leaned against the wall with his staggering body. The fever and pain suppressed by medicine surged back. The tension released after achieving what he wanted.

Julie’s words echoed in his dazed mind. Her words telling him not to apologize.

Liam knew. The person he truly needed to kneel and apologize to was Yvonne.

Yet he was afraid. But his heart changed after kneeling before the Conrad Marquis estate and apologizing to Julie. If he had known it was this easy to apologize, he would have done it sooner.

Why could he apologize to everyone else but not to the woman he most needed to beg forgiveness from? He was thinking he should apologize when he returned, but…

“I feel foolish for dreaming of this moment. It was better when you were a jerk.”

Would Yvonne feel the same? Would she leave, saying she lost affection for me if I apologized?

“Liam? Are you okay?”

Etienne, panting, found Liam barely leaning against the wall and hurried over.

“Brother…”

“Have you finished talking with Mademoiselle Rozier?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go back. Mother will understand for a day.”

“No.”

Liam shook his head firmly.

“I need to go to my wife. She’ll be waiting.”

“I understand, but first go to the Conrad family and get treated. Your child is sick, isn’t he? What if you pass the cold?”

“But my wife…”

“I’ll visit your wife separately. Is that okay?”

Liam had no more to say to the clear suggestion. In fact, his physical state was too poor to think further.

He hadn’t even considered he might pass the cold to Claude while suffering a fever.

Liam gratefully accepted Etienne’s kindness. After giving him the address of the inn where Yvonne and Claude were staying, he fell asleep as if fainting.

* * *

Yvonne patted Claude and paced by the window. It had been two days since Liam left and hadn’t returned.

One day was bearable. He’ll come tomorrow, she thought.

But after two days, she became anxious. Maybe things weren’t going well. Perhaps something bad had happened.

She couldn’t just feel indifferent even if something happened to Liam. Claude’s life depended on him.

Moreover, if something happened to him, Gabriel and others at the Rido Canal wouldn’t escape harm.

Though he was a terrible man to her, he was necessary to others. Just as Philip was necessary to the people of the Bertrand estate and a good son to the former Baroness Bertrand…

It was while she was anxiously pacing by the window. A luxurious carriage stopped in front of the inn. Yvonne knew Liam had borrowed a horse.

But considering his background, it wasn’t strange to return in a luxurious carriage, so she looked expectantly at the carriage door.

The door opened, and a young man with dark auburn hair, almost black, stepped out.

He was dressed in a luxurious suit, similar to Liam, so she stared intently. The man looked up as if surveying the inn. Thanks to this, Yvonne could see his face.

‘It’s not Liam.’

Yvonne quickly lost interest. Instead, she focused on the back of the carriage, waiting for Liam to appear.

Knock knock.

Someone knocked lightly, and Yvonne cautiously opened the door while holding Claude. The person she faced was the man she saw through the window earlier.

The man seemed surprised to see Yvonne. She also felt a strange familiarity with him, not just because she saw him through the window. It felt inherently more familiar.

Just as Yvonne was about to ask who he was, the man, looking bewildered, murmured.

“Fairy?”

“Pardon?”

It was a murmur so soft it was hard to hear. Yvonne couldn’t hide her curiosity and tilted her head.

The man quickly composed himself, as if he hadn’t been dazed, and greeted her.

“Excuse me. I am Etienne de Conrad.”

“Conrad? Are you related to Liam…?”

“I’m his second brother.”

Etienne’s identity, which had been a curiosity, was now clear as he answered.

The familiarity and déjà vu she felt upon first seeing Etienne made sense if he was Liam’s brother.

“Liam mentioned you. He said to go to the clinic sponsored by the Rozier family as soon as the sun rises tomorrow and mention my name.”

“Do you know why he didn’t come himself?”

“Well, he’s a bit unwell right now.”

“What? Is he okay?”

“He was caught in the rain for two days. He hasn’t eaten well either.”

What happened? What on earth occurred?

Yvonne’s face darkened. Seeing her troubled expression, Etienne added reassuringly.

“There’s no need to worry too much. It’s just a simple cold. I stopped him from coming directly. Since the child is sick, it would be terrible if the child caught the colds too caught it.”

“Oh… I see. Thank you for your consideration.”

“You’re welcome.”

Etienne smiled gently. Seeing his smiling face, he looked even more like Liam.

“Madame, if it’s alright, would you like to come to the Conrad family with me now?”

“To the Marquisate of Conrad?”

“Yes. It seems better than staying here. I’ll accompany you to the clinic tomorrow as well.”

Yvonne’s eyes wavered. She was already in a difficult situation. Thanks to Liam arranging a nanny, it wasn’t too hard.

But she didn’t know where the clinic sponsored by the Rozier family was, and it seemed challenging to carry Claude there alone. She might be turned away if she went alone.

“If you’re worried about my identity, our family’s crest is engraved on the carriage. Ah, but you might not know our family’s crest. How should I prove it…”

“No, I believe your identity and words. It’s just a sudden offer, so I was thinking.”

Considering him a swindler or impostor was hard with his luxurious attire, his resemblance to Liam, and his brown eyes.

Yvonne clearly remembered Liam saying all his brothers had brown eyes.

Moreover, Etienne seemed to know a lot about her. It had only been two days since she arrived in the capital.

Knowing so much about her and Claude in such a short time could only be explained by Liam telling him.

“Is it really okay for me to go there?”

“Of course. Mother will also like you.”

Yvonne hesitated at the mention of ‘Mother.’ Her positive thoughts wavered a bit.

She had grown fond of Etienne due to his kind face and manner, but there was no guarantee other members of the Conrad family would be the same.

“Is everyone from the Conrad family at the mansion?”

“Oh, no. It’s just Mother and me. The others won’t be back for a while.”

If it was just the Marchioness…

As Yvonne’s thoughts turned positive, Etienne, worried she might refuse, spoke.

“If you wish, I can keep Mother away.”

“No need to go that far. I’ll accept your kindness. But I need time to pack. Is that okay?”

“Of course. I’ll wait downstairs, so take your time.”

Etienne bowed again and stepped back. He tried to remain composed, but his heart was racing more than ever. The moment he saw Yvonne open the door, it felt like time stopped.

Her slightly messy brown hair and plain clothes didn’t matter.

She was that beautiful. If a nymph from ancient fairy tales existed, she might look like her.

There were many beautiful young ladies dressed glamorously at social gatherings and balls in the capital.

In retrospect, there were women prettier than Yvonne. But Yvonne wasn’t just about beauty. There was an inexplicable aura about her that made his heart ache.

Moreover, no woman had ever made his heart race like Yvonne did.

Her small, white face standing out between her tousled brown hair, and those moist eyes looking up at him were indescribably lovely…

‘Her voice was beautiful too.’

Her voice was high and clear, like a singing canary.

‘How can someone be so pretty and perfect?’

Truly, even her name, Yvonne, suited her well. Of course, it was only natural for his brother to choose a beautiful woman.

“Goodness…”

Even when he reached the first floor of the inn, Etienne, lost in thought about Yvonne, shook his head quickly.

Yvonne was his brother’s wife. She had even given birth to a child.

What absurd thoughts were these? He must have been momentarily insane.

Etienne tried to calm his heart. But he couldn’t help feeling a lingering regret.