Chapter 12.7

“You’re here.”

“Marchioness…?”

Yvonne was startled to see the Marchioness standing in front of her room.

“You could have waited inside.”

“It’s your room. Even if it’s a guest room, I shouldn’t enter when the owner isn’t there.”

“Thank you for your consideration. Shall we talk inside?”

“Excuse me.”

The Marchioness entered Yvonne’s room. When Yvonne tried to leave the door open, the Marchioness shook her head.

“I’d prefer it closed. I don’t want others to hear.”

“Oh, alright.”

After closing the door, she sat facing the Marchioness. The room was large enough to accommodate a sofa for guests.

“I’ll be direct. Miss Yvonne, I want our family to take responsibility for you and the child.”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“You didn’t marry Liam, did you? The child is illegitimate.”

Yvonne’s eyes widened. But she couldn’t deny it. The Marchioness was right. She had tried not to think about it, but as things stood, Claude was Liam’s illegitimate child.

In a small village like Valence, she might have been able to lie and claim she was a widow.

Even if she raised Claude alone, whether she sent him to school or later, it would eventually be revealed that she had never married. Illegitimate children were socially scorned and ridiculed.

“May I ask how you knew?”

“When you introduced your child, you didn’t give him a surname. Or rather, you didn’t use Liam Arthus’s surname for him. If you had officially become his wife, you would have naturally introduced your child with Liam’s surname.”

“…”

“Nor did you use your maiden name… So I thought you must be a commoner.”

Yvonne anxiously fidgeted with her hands. Her hesitation had given it away. She thought it had passed without issue.

“I also heard from Etienne. When asked how you met Liam, you didn’t say anything. Etienne might not have doubted your relationship, but I couldn’t help but suspect.”

“…….”

“For example, wasn’t Liam playing around with an innocent commoner girl and avoiding responsibility? Such suspicions. He’s proud and immature. I raised him poorly.”

Yvonne opened her mouth but then closed it again. The Marchioness’s guess was half wrong, but not entirely incorrect.

Even if the Marchioness was being kind to Yvonne, she was still a high noble. Yvonne didn’t have the courage to bluntly tell the Marchioness that her assumptions were wrong.

“I’m sorry for not managing my child properly. It must have been hard for you. I wonder what made him kneel and beg for you and the child.”

Liam knelt and begged?

Yvonne blinked. Finally, she found answers to the questions she had avoided thinking about.

How had he helped Claude after being cut off from the Marquis family, and why had he caught a cold in the rain?

But that was all. She wasn’t particularly curious, nor did she want to be moved by his actions.

Whenever Yvonne felt a desire to forgive Liam, she ruthlessly cut it off.

“But compared to his hardships, yours must have been greater. A heatstroke is nothing in comparison. So, as I said before…”

The Marchioness paused, took a breath, and spoke again.

“I want our family to take responsibility for you and the child. If the child’s treatment goes well, we’ll give him the Conrad surname.”

“Does that mean you’ll accept Liam again? I heard he was disowned by the Marquis of Conrad.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint, but we won’t accept Liam back into the Conrad family.”

The Marchioness shook her head firmly.

“Then how do you plan to accept my child?”

“We’ll adopt him as Etienne’s child.”

“What?”

“Etienne has agreed to this, so don’t worry. If you’re uncertain, you can ask him directly.”

Yvonne’s mouth fell open. Her mind seemed frozen with shock. It was hard for her to understand the Marchioness speaking so calmly, and Etienne agreeing to it.

“Even if the child’s treatment fails, our offer stands. Think about it seriously while you stay here.”

The Marchioness stood up. She left the room without making a sound.

Yvonne, left alone, could only stare blankly at the closed door.

* * *

That evening, Yvonne draped a thin shawl over her shoulders and left the room. As summer approached, it was warm during the day but chilly at night.

As Yvonne stepped out of the mansion, she saw Etienne standing in the distance, holding a lantern. He seemed a bit anxious, pacing back and forth, but looked up when he sensed her presence.

Seeing Yvonne, he smiled brightly and approached.

“It’s a peaceful evening, Madame.”

Yvonne nodded silently in response. Her brown hair, loosely tied back, gently cascaded down to her chest. Etienne’s gaze fell on it as if entranced before quickly looking up.

Covering his mouth with a clenched fist, he cleared his throat and spoke warmly.

“Thank you for agreeing to this walk on such short notice.”

“I remembered you mentioning the garden’s beauty. I thought it would be good to see it at least once.”

“Yes, indeed.”

Etienne extended his arm forward as if to escort her. It seemed he wanted them to walk together. Yvonne walked alongside him.

The garden was not completely dark, as lanterns were lit here and there, but it was hard to fully appreciate its beauty. Yet, the scent of grass and the sound of crickets in the breeze were soothing.

“It’s a wonderful place.”

“It feels different during the day. I’d like to show you around the mansion if you permit.”

Yvonne smiled silently. Her smile made Etienne’s heart flutter.

She hadn’t dressed up, and her clothes were rather plain, yet she looked so beautiful.

“In truth, I accepted your invitation for a reason. I wanted to confirm if what the Marchioness said was true.”

“What my mother said…?”

“She said you offered to take in my child. Is that true?”

“You’ve heard already. Yes, it’s true.”

“May I ask why? I thought you were still unmarried.”

“It’s a gentleman’s duty to take responsibility for the obligations our kin avoided. It’s something praised in society.”

“I didn’t know such a duty existed. But isn’t that only among nobles? You may not know, but I am a commoner.”

“Despising commoners is a barbaric custom. It’s outdated.”

“…….”

“To clarify, I’m not just offering to take responsibility for your son. If you’d agree, I’d like you to be my wife. Of course, it would be a formal… relationship.”

Etienne added cautiously, watching Yvonne’s reaction.

“I swear I’ll never do anything you dislike. Even if it’s formal, I promise I won’t look at other women.”

Though he tried to speak without trembling, tension was evident on his face. His mouth felt dry.

As Etienne waited for an answer, Yvonne was quite surprised by his reaction. Not only was the Marchioness’s statement true, but Etienne was also willing to take responsibility for her.

However, her answer was already decided. She had come out, intending to say this.

Just as Yvonne was about to speak.

“I can’t listen to this any longer.”

A cold voice cut through the air. Etienne flinched and shone the lantern toward the source.

The light illuminated a corner of the garden. Just as he had sensed, Liam emerged from between the trees.

Liam walked lazily, almost threateningly, and stood before them.

“Who would’ve thought my brother would make a pass at my wife?”

“Let’s be clear. If you’re not married, she isn’t your wife.”

“She is my wife. The marriage… will happen once we return to my estate.”

“You ignored her until she gave birth, and now you do this?”

“I never ignored her.”

Liam clenched his teeth. He pretended to be calm, but his body trembled. He hadn’t expected Etienne to show interest in Yvonne.

Etienne was someone who didn’t know women at all. For his brother to show interest in a woman? It was something to celebrate, if only the woman wasn’t his wife.

“More importantly, I question your sanity. She’s a woman who bore my child. And you want to make her your wife? Are you crazy?”

“Shouldn’t you be grateful? I’m cleaning up your irresponsible mess.”

“Shut up. I never asked you to take responsibility.”

Liam stepped between Etienne and Yvonne, separating them. He grabbed Etienne’s collar.

Etienne groaned as his neck was suddenly squeezed, dropping the lantern. But no one paid attention to it.

“Liam, what are you doing?”

“Don’t try to stop me. And you too, Etienne.”

Liam warned menacingly.

“If you’re going to go crazy, do it quietly. Don’t set your sights on my wife.”

“Ugh…”

“If you understand, get lost. Before I lose my patience and hit you.”

Liam didn’t hide his anger as he roughly released Etienne.

Etienne coughed lightly, having been choked and then suddenly able to breathe. Despite his flushed face, he still greeted Yvonne.

“See you next time, Madame.”

He tried to appear calm, but fear was evident in Etienne’s demeanor due to Liam’s threatening presence. He didn’t even pick up the dropped lantern and just left.