Chapter 9

She was betrayed, but still wanting to cherish the beautiful memories. Because she loved Resti that much. Later, she wanted to tell her child that he was a ‘good man’. Yulia thought she would only carry the joyful and happy moments with him as she closed her eyes.

***

Early dawn. Yulia carefully released Resti’s arm. And just as she was about to get up, a voice still heavy with sleep came through.

“Yulia? Where are you going?”

“I’m thirsty.”

“Call the maid.”

As he reached for the cord hanging by the bed, she quickly grabbed his hand and pulled it down.

“It’s still dawn. I also want to eat something simple. I know where the kitchen is, so I’ll go and come back.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

Resti tried to get up from the bed.

“No, just stay. Are you hungry? Should I bring something for you, Resti?”

“Hmm, Yulia.”

He murmured like he was talking in his sleep, hugging her tightly.

“I’m really thirsty.”

“There should be water.”

“I want to drink something cool.”

“Then I’ll go and get it.”

“I’ll go. Sleep a bit more.”

When Yulia lightly kissed his lips, the man smiled bashfully.

“Come back soon.”

“Yes.”

She finally succeeded in laying Resti down and calmly left the room. Thanks to sleeping in her clothes, they were a bit wrinkled, but she was fortunate to be wearing an outdoor outfit. Running away in pajamas would have been too conspicuous.

Closing the door carefully, Yulia began to run with all her might. Thanks to searching for Resti yesterday, she quickly found her way out of the mansion. She ran and ran until she was out of breath.

As she ran through the dark bushes outside the mansion, the surroundings gradually began to brighten.

‘I probably won’t be able to meet Resti again.’

That thought made her a little sad, but she endured it by thinking of the child in her belly. The traces of love with him were still left on her body.

‘No, maybe I was the only one who loved.’

Yulia gave a bitter smile. She had heard Resti say he liked her many times. But she had never heard him say he loved her.

She shook off the thought and moved diligently.

Whether Resti would search for her or not was uncertain. 

Would he just ignore me as a mere commoner girl he enjoyed for a while? Or would he try to find me since he had considered taking me as his mistress?

‘It doesn’t matter either way.’

She had already made up her mind. No matter what happened, she wouldn’t go back to him.

Dawn was breaking. By now, he might have realized she was gone. She needed to go far away. Far, very far away. To a place where she couldn’t even hear rumors about Young Master Jestione.

Yulia approached a merchant’s carriage that was about to leave the village.

“Excuse me, could I get a ride?”

The eyes that scanned her were filled with suspicion. As if wondering if she might be a suspicious person. Yulia hesitated about the jewels on her clothes and shook her head.

Since it was clothes given by Resti, once these jewels entered the market, it would surely be easy to track her. Yulia made a pleading face.

“Could you please give me a ride just to the next village? My parents are sick, and I’m very worried. Please, I beg you.”

She felt quite guilty mentioning her already deceased parents, but she couldn’t think of any other excuse.

“It’ll be hours before the public carriage runs. Waiting until then makes me too anxious….”

As Yulia spoke tearfully, the merchants exchanged glances.

“You said the next village?”

“Yes. I won’t forget your kindness if you give me a ride.”

“Get on.”

“Thank you!”

She quickly climbed onto the back of the carriage. The village was getting farther away.

Yulia continued to hitch rides on several carriages, moving farther and farther away.

She had never thought about leaving everything behind in an instant. But here she was, doing it. She let out a small laugh. She felt fortunate not to have anything precious at home.

She could leave without any regrets.

‘I miss him.’

It was only about three months of relationship, but he was an unforgettable man to her. Resti. Although he had a long name, to Yulia, he was simply ‘Resti’.

She still placed her hand on her flat belly. Inside it, the proof of her love for him remained.

‘I hope the child resembles Resti.’

No matter what kind of person he was, Yulia truly loved him.

And she arrived at an unknown countryside.

***

The new settlement was not much different from the place Yulia had lived before. At first, people found her unfamiliar, but thanks to her bright personality, she quickly blended in with them. Starting with nothing was a bit tough, but they were good people. They offered her an empty house at a low price and allowed her to work.

“Welcome.”

Yulia cheerfully called out with a smile. The place she worked was a bakery. It was hard work, but being able to take home leftover bread at night was very helpful for her living.

“Oh, hello.”

The man who entered greeted her with a slightly stiff face.

“Did you already eat all the bread, Kael?”

“What?”

The voice of the man made the lady from the kitchen chuckle.

“Didn’t you buy some yesterday?”

“I ate it all!”

“I thought you bought enough for two days.”

“It was delicious! It was delicious!”

“Kael. I didn’t know you liked our bread so much.”

Yulia blinked. Her eyes met with the man called Kael, who quickly turned his head, his face flushing red. Unable to hold back, Yulia burst into laughter.

“Uh, uh…”

Kael’s face turned bright red. Then, without looking, he grabbed a loaf of bread and abruptly offered it.

“Would you like this?”

“…”

“I’m asking if you’re just going to buy this, Kael.”

The man nodded frantically. As Yulia wrapped the bread in paper and handed it over, he offered money. When their fingers brushed, Kael was startled and ran away, causing the coins to clatter as they fell.

“I’m sorry!”

“It’s okay. I’ll pick them up.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

With a face that seemed on the verge of tears, Kael gathered the coins with a crawling motion. Yulia had to bite her lip tightly to avoid laughing. With a face that looked ready to burst, the man handed the coins over and fled through the door.

“Oh dear.”

The owner lady shook her head with a pitiful expression. As Yulia was putting the coins into the money box, she slyly asked.

“Yulia, what do you think of Kael?”

“What?”

“He seems like a fool with how he acts now, but he’s not normally like that.”

She blinked slowly. She had no thoughts or leisure to meet anyone else. Besides, wasn’t the child in her belly growing smoothly? Her previously flat belly now seemed slightly protruded. Of course, it was a very slight change.

“Kael will find someone better.”

“He’s a good kid. He probably won’t make his family suffer. I don’t know why he left his hometown…”

Yulia smiled apologetically.

“I’m sorry. I’m not thinking of meeting anyone.”

“Yulia.”

“I appreciate your concern.”

“Well, alright. It’s not like anything will change just because I say something.”

The lady shrugged her shoulders and walked inside.

Standing idly at the counter, Yulia let out a small sigh. Saying she didn’t miss Resti would be a lie. She missed him. And she wanted to raise the child together.

‘But that won’t happen.’

A bitter smile emerged.

She thought she couldn’t imagine a life without Resti. But once she lived it, she just lived. She couldn’t return to how she was before meeting him, but it wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t unbearably hard or painfully agonizing.