Side Story 5

After two consecutive rounds of lovemaking—three if counting the one where she fainted—Helen finally opened her eyes around noon the next day.  

Even after waking, she was in no condition to get up for the whole day. Her overworked waist and the ache deep inside her belly made even rising from the bed a challenge.  

As she frowned at the pain that surged through her, Olivia, nestled in her arms, suddenly lifted her head.  

“Mommy. Are you hurting a lot?”  

“Hm?”  

“Should Via go down?”  

Sapphire-blue eyes, shimmering with tears, looked up at her. Sniffling, Olivia asked again,  

“Should Via go down?”  

“No. Mommy’s okay.”  

Just seeing her daughter’s face seemed to make the pain melt away. Smiling softly, Helen hugged the small body in her arms tightly.  

“It hurt a little, but now that my Via is here, I feel all better.”  

“Really?”  

“Really.”  

With a bright smile, Olivia turned and nuzzled into her mother’s embrace. It felt as if her heart was filled with the warm sunlight of spring.  

“Did you say goodbye to Daddy when he left this morning?”  

“Yeah, I did!”

“Did you give him a kiss on the cheek too?”  

“I did.”  

Olivia nodded, her eyes sparkling like a puppy waiting for praise. Helen let out a small laugh and kissed her daughter’s forehead. Olivia, giggling at her mother’s kiss, suddenly pouted her lips.  

“But Daddy is mean.”  

“Mean?”  

“It’s Daddy’s fault you’re hurt.”  

Helen’s eyes widened in surprise at those unexpected words.  

“Why is it Daddy’s fault?”  

As she asked what her daughter meant, Olivia’s next words left her speechless.  

“When Mommy is with Daddy, you cry.”  

It was a reason she hadn’t expected. She had tried to be careful. Helen’s face flushed red. While she was still deciding what to say, Olivia pointed to her mother’s neck.  

“And Mommy has a boo-boo.”  

“What?”  

“Did Daddy do that?”  

Startled, Helen touched the spot her daughter indicated. She could feel faint bite marks.  

She had told him not to leave marks where they’d show, but that sly fox had done it anyway.  

While Helen secretly ground her teeth, Olivia, who had no idea about the truth, hugged her mother’s neck with teary eyes.  

“Did Daddy hit you?”  

“Via…”  

“Then Via should hit Daddy too.”  

Helen was frozen in embarrassment for a moment, but her daughter’s brave words brought back a forgotten smile. Stroking Olivia’s head, Helen asked suddenly,  

“Really? Don’t you like Daddy?”  

“I do… I like him, but…”  

“But?”  

“If Daddy hurts Mommy, then I don’t like him.”  

“No, Via. Daddy doesn’t hurt Mommy.”  

Helen, smiling brightly, pressed her forehead to her daughter’s.  

“So you shouldn’t hate him.”  

“I shouldn’t?”  

“That’s right. Daddy loves our Via very, very much.”  

“Really?”  

“Really.”  

At that moment, a knock interrupted the conversation between mother and daughter. A familiar voice called from beyond the door.  

“Sister-in-law, are you awake?”  

“Samton!” (Kid’s mispronounciation of the word 삼촌:Samchon = Uncle)

Recognizing the voice first, Olivia, who had seemed on the verge of tears, suddenly jumped up and ran to open the door.  

“Olivia, our little fairy.”  

Henry naturally picked up his niece and came over to sit on the chair by the bed.  

Watching them, Helen was briefly overcome by a wave of nostalgia.  

Henry, now a tall eighteen-year-old, looked just like Raymond had when Helen first met him about nine years ago. As Raymond had grown older, he became more skilled and relaxed, but seeing Henry’s youthful energy reminded Helen of those earlier days.  

Helen, watching Henry silently, slowly spoke.  

“You must be busy with your studies. What brings you here?”  

Last year, Henry had entered Carlton, the prestigious private school in the capital his brother had graduated from, and stayed in the dormitory, only coming to Groene Hall for about three months combined during summer and winter breaks. He could have just relaxed during vacation, but even at Groene Hall, Henry was a thoughtful brother-in-law who helped Helen with her charity school work.  

“Well,”  

Henry replied kindly, smiling at Helen’s question.  

“My big exam just ended yesterday. Summer break is starting soon, and my brother suggested I stay here.”  

“I see.”  

Helen nodded quietly. She had wondered why he was staying so long after the social season had ended. He must have wanted to surprise her.  

“That’s good.”  

At Helen’s words, Henry immediately asked,  

“By the way, where’s my brother? Tom said he went out early this morning.”  

“Yes. He’s been a bit busy lately with the business expansion. He left early.”  

“Ah.”  

Nodding, Henry let Olivia, who was squirming in his arms, go.  

No sooner had she greeted her uncle than Olivia wriggled free and crawled onto the bed where her mother was.  

Henry supported her small, wiggling bottom with both hands before sitting down again.  

“As my brother’s business grows, he’s getting busier. Sister-in-law, you must feel a bit lonely.”  

His words sounded like a scolding, but his voice was full of affection, making Helen smile silently. She knew how much Henry respected and loved his brother.  

“Still, he tries to cut back on work during the social season. On weekends, he takes time off to be with the family. We even go on family vacations together. You come too.”  

“Well, that’s true.”  

Henry scratched his head sheepishly and laughed, then suddenly made a suggestion.  

“Oh, right. Would you like to go boating on the lake today?”  

“Boating?”  

“Yes. The weather’s really nice. On days like this, the waves are cool and it’s perfect for a boat ride.”  

“Shall we?”  

* * *

When they arrived at the lake, it was just as Henry had said. The warm summer sun shone overhead, and people were enjoying their own boat rides at a distance from each other.  

As the boatman rowed, Helen and Henry sat facing each other. Olivia sat on her mother’s lap.  

“The lake is pretty!”  

“It is, isn’t it? But you shouldn’t put your hands in the water.”  

Since getting on the boat, Olivia had been excitedly trying to dip her hands in the river. The emerald water was clear, but knowing how deep it was, Helen held her daughter tightly on her lap.  

Henry quietly watched them. Holding a parasol in one hand and her daughter in the other, Helen looked every bit the lady from a painting.  

Henry thought back to his brother and sister-in-law’s newlywed days.  

When his brother and Helen first appeared in the capital’s social circles after their marriage, Henry was already old enough to notice things. He clearly remembered the curiosity and disdain that had been directed at them.  

Now, such things weren’t surprising, but five years ago, it was almost unheard of for a noble to marry a commoner woman. Especially not a former governess, and not even the daughter of a wealthy banker or businessman.  

Outwardly, people bowed to the prestige of the Earl Somerset’s family, but behind their backs, their eyes darted, searching for gossip.  

A normal woman might have been discouraged or despaired, but not Helen. She had persuaded her husband, who was even willing to turn his back on society for her, and mastered the customs of the upper class. Her flawless behavior gradually won people over, and now she was fully accepted as a member of society.  

“Henry?”  

Helen, soothing a whiny Olivia, looked up at the affectionate gaze.  

“Henry? Is there something on my face?”  

“No. You just look happy.”  

“Don’t be silly.”  

Helen chuckled softly and stroked Olivia’s head. That smile filled Henry with a bittersweet warmth.  

His mother had only ever given him the bare minimum of affection. His father, though kind, had grown more distant as he grew up. In his childhood, he had always relied on his brother and Helen.  

The peaceful silence didn’t last long. Olivia, pouting at her mother’s repeated warnings, began to throw a tantrum.  

“I want to touch the water! I want to!”  

“Olivia.”  

Helen sighed quietly. Olivia was a smart and loving daughter, but she had inherited the stubbornness of the Somerset family. When she got like this, it was exhausting to calm her down.  

That’s when Henry stepped in to help.  

“Come here, you little troublemaking fairy.”  

“Samton!”  

Olivia, smiling brightly, ran to Henry’s arms as if she’d been waiting. With one hand around her waist and the other holding her plump, short hand, Henry helped her splash the water so she could feel it herself. Surprised by the cold water, Olivia burst into laughter.  

“Happy now? You have to behave if you want candy tonight.”  

“Candy?”  

“Yeah. I bought some just for my little fairy.”  

“I love you, Samton!”  

Excited, Olivia jumped up. Startled, Henry caught her and sat her back on his knee.  

“You can’t stand up.”  

Grabbing the edge of the boat against the sudden sway, Helen suddenly covered her mouth. The smell of food from a nearby boat, carried on the wind, hit her nose. Suddenly, she felt nauseous and dizzy.  

“Ugh.”  

“Sister-in-law?”  

Henry’s eyes widened in alarm at her pale face.  

“Are you okay? Is it seasickness?”  

Helen shook her head instead of answering his worried question. It felt like seasickness, but it was a bit different. She’d felt something like this before.  

Only once.  

And her suspicion was confirmed. The doctor who was called to the townhouse diagnosed Helen as two months pregnant.  

As soon as Tom heard the news, he sent a telegram to Raymond. Raymond rushed home, throwing open the bedroom door without even knocking.  

“Helen!”