Chapter 48

As soon as they entered the carriage, they were drawn to each other and kissed. After a long while, when his lips parted, Harriet breathed heavily with a dazed expression.

“Haa…”

“I didn’t know there were still people who would pick a fight like that.”

“You heard that?”

Harriet, eyes wide, waved her hand.

“That’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“If that’s nothing, then what would be something to worry about?”

Lennox, sitting her between his legs, rested his chin on her slender shoulder. The way he held her like a small doll made Harriet’s face flush.

“Just… that woman was filled with malicious curiosity, nothing more, nothing less. She seemed to be somewhat acquainted with Marianne.”

Imagining Marianne clinging to her mother made her stomach churn, but Harriet held it in. According to her father, that girl would leave soon anyway. So she could tolerate it for a little while.

“If something like this happens again, make sure to tell me.”

“Make sure?”

“Yes, make sure.”

“Troublesome… Ah.”

As soon as she grumbled, the hand around her waist tightened. Harriet sighed and raised her hand to stroke Lennox’s head resting on her shoulder.

Despite being much taller and larger than her, he was like a young boy at times like this.

“Alright. I will.”

“…Promise?”

“Promise.”

Only after showing her pinky finger did the hand that had pulled her close loosen. Harriet quickly took the opportunity to sit across from him.

Lennox watched her with a faint smile. Clearing her throat, Harriet asked slyly.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“I can’t believe it.”

“What?”

“That you feel the same way as I do.”

His eyes even held a hint of emotion. Harriet couldn’t help but smile.

“…Are you doubting my feelings?”

“Well, you’ve been so cold to me.”

Like a wife from an old story who had been repeatedly rejected, Lennox turned his head to look out the window.

Harriet awkwardly tried to explain.

“Back then… I hadn’t acknowledged my feelings yet. To be precise, I wasn’t even trying to look at them.”

In hindsight, it was a waste of time. From the moment her heart raced and she had no room for other thoughts when she saw him, she was already drawn to him.

Even when she spent the night with him, calling it a mistake, Lennox Diorne was not just her brother’s friend but a man to her.

Surprised by the unexpected confession, Lennox looked at her.

“You won’t suddenly say it never happened, right?”

“That won’t happen.”

“If you do…”

“…If I do?”

Suddenly, a conversation with Eugene replayed in her mind. It seemed they had exchanged similar words.

“Lennox… looks like a perfect man, but he’s lonelier than you think. He craves affection and pours it out blindly, trying to create the picture he wants.”

“A picture?”

“Yes. The picture he wants. And in that picture, you play the most significant role. As long as you don’t try to step outside that picture, you’ll probably be happy without any problems.”

“What if… I try to run away?”

“If you do that…”

“…”

“It would be better not to, Madam.”

Recalling it again sent a shiver down her spine. Nervous, Harriet waited for Lennox’s answer.

Lennox, who had been silent as if pondering, responded quietly.

“Then I’ll devour you.”

“…What?”

Harriet frowned at the unexpected answer. Lennox, holding her hand, gently nibbled on her fingertip.

“I’ll eat every bit of flesh, bone, and marrow.”

“…”

“So don’t say it never happened. Coco.”

It felt like being bitten by a fierce dog, and a tingling sensation started from her bitten fingertip and coursed through her body.

Harriet unconsciously nodded, pulling her bitten hand away. Satisfied with her compliant response, Lennox licked his lips with his tongue. The sight was so suggestive that Harriet swallowed dryly without realizing it.

“Your Grace.”

As the carriage stopped upon seeing the approaching horse, Anton, his aide, dismounted and approached them.

“It seems you need to go now.”

“…Now?”

“Yes.”

Anton, standing with a face that wouldn’t take no for an answer, stepped back.

Lennox, glancing at Harriet with a reluctant expression, got off the carriage with a resigned look.

“What’s going on?”

“It seems to be related to the shareholders’ meeting. Go ahead.”

“It’s not serious?”

“No, it’s not. I think Uncle has made another move. I’ll be back soon.”

Lennox kissed the forehead of Harriet, who peeked out of the window, and then mounted another horse brought by Anton. Watching his receding figure, Harriet sat quietly, feeling uneasy.

* * *

Returning to the mansion alone, the startled butler and head maid greeted the mistress with surprised eyes.

“Welcome back. What about His Grace?”

“He had something come up, so he’ll be late.”

“I see. I prepared a simple meal, but I’ll set aside His Grace’s portion.”

“No need for dinner. It might get cold while waiting, so dispose of it, and prepare fresh when His Grace returns.”

“Understood.”

Having given her instructions, Harriet massaged her stiff shoulders. As she was about to go upstairs, the hesitant butler spoke.

“Madame.”

“Yes?”

“Actually, a guest came by during the day.”

“A guest?”

“Yes… It seemed like a reporter, so I sent him away, but he insisted on seeing you.”

“A reporter, to see me?”

She had never built a relationship with a reporter. Harriet furrowed her brows, feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

“Did he say why?”

“No, but he mentioned having something urgent to discuss.”

“Something urgent to discuss…”

“He left this for you…”

The butler took something out of his pocket and handed it to her. It was a business card.

The owner of the card was a reporter from a small newspaper.

Harriet stared intently at the card and instructed the butler.

“I’d like to send someone to the address written here.”

“It’s possible, but… at this hour?”

“It might be nothing, but it’s unsettling. I’d like to know what it’s about to sleep peacefully.”

“Understood. I’ll send someone to bring him.”

Considering he came to see her boldly without any prior acquaintance, he probably anticipated being summoned even in the evening.

Harriet tried to ignore the ominous feeling and headed to the bathroom.

* * *

As expected, the reporter rushed over as soon as someone was sent.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duchess.”

“Let’s skip the formalities. State your business.”

Harriet met the reporter with a cold face. She had placed her most loyal and discreet maid at a distance and stationed a guard outside the door, just in case.

The reporter, initially awed by the grandeur and splendor of the Ducal Mansion, quickly came to his senses and handed over a notebook.

“Would you like to see this?”

“This is…”

“You’ll understand when you see it.”

Harriet’s face turned cold as she read what was written in the notebook.

The secret of her birth, which she had tried so hard to hide, was written like a headline in an article.

[The Jewel of the Vanetti Family, Harriet Coco Vanetti’s Biological Mother is Actually an Unknown Actress from the Sainter Theatre Company! An Illegitimate Child from an Extramarital Affair?]

Her entire body went cold, and her heart sank. The disaster she had feared and dreaded was finally revealing itself before her eyes.

“What’s your source? Where did you hear this?”

Only a select few in her family knew about her birth secret. Even then, her father, Franz Vanetti, had tightly sealed their lips, so no one would recklessly divulge such a secret to a reporter.

“We must keep the informant’s identity confidential… Ouch, hot! What are you doing!”

The reporter, who had been evasively avoiding her question, jumped up as tea was poured over his face.

“Sit down.”

“What did you say?”

“I said sit down.”

“After doing something like this, you still…!”

The angry reporter, unable to suppress his anger at the approaching maid’s cold face, sat down, fuming.

The maid, casting a cold glance at the reporter, politely asked Harriet.

“Madame, shall I bring fresh tea?”

“No, it’s fine. You can leave now. Wait outside in case I call for you.”

“Understood.”

After dismissing the maid, Harriet asked again.

“Who is the informant?”

“Do you think I’d tell you?”

“Then you won’t be leaving here.”

“What?”

“Lower your voice. If you don’t want to cause trouble.”

Dropping the honorifics, Harriet explained in a firm, pressing tone.

“Listen carefully. There’s a guard outside the door who was a special forces member during the war. If I say the word, you could disappear from here without a trace.”

“Do you think that’s possible…!”

“It is. You’ve willingly walked into the lion’s den.”

“…”

“So you have two choices.”

Harriet, holding up two fingers, folded them one by one as she listed the options.

“Speak and leave safely, or stay silent and not leave.”

Chilled by the spine-tingling threat, the reporter unconsciously hugged his shoulders. Her tone and faint smile were not just words; she was serious. In the end, he confessed with a pale face.

“…Marianne Chasselot.”

“…Marianne.”

It was a result she had half-expected. Harriet laughed hollowly and then called the butler to bring a blank check, thick paper, a quill pen, and a seal.

“Here they are.”

“Thank you. You may leave now.”

After dismissing the puzzled butler, Harriet tossed the blank check onto the table.

“Write the amount you want.”

The reporter swallowed hard and began writing the amount with a face full of ambition.