Chapter 12: The New Duke and the Hidden Mistress (Part 12)

As she quietly observed her surroundings, someone unexpected entered the room.  

“Julia?”  

(T/N: Quick Recap. ‘Julia’ is Elizabeth’s baptismal name. ‘Isaac’ is Kiern’s. Beatrix is a nun from the monastery.)

“Beatrix?”  

Elizabeth stood up in surprise when she saw Beatrix in an elegant dress. She looked like a completely different person compared to the plain nun’s habit she usually wore.  

They had never met outside the monastery before, so the encounter felt surreal.  

Beatrix’s face briefly showed surprise but quickly turned calm. She greeted Elizabeth warmly, even as Elizabeth stood there bewildered.  

“Lady Prairie said she was sending a maid, but it turns out it was you, Julia.”  

“What are you doing here, Beatrix…?”  

“I didn’t expect my identity to be revealed like this, but since it’s you, Julia, I’m not too worried.”  

Beatrix chuckled softly and invited Elizabeth to sit. Following her lead, Elizabeth sat on the sofa, still feeling dazed.  

She suddenly remembered hearing that many wealthy individuals hid their identities at the monastery. But she had never imagined that Beatrix would be one of them.  

Elizabeth’s heart raced as she realized the truth about Beatrix.  

“I thought you lived at the monastery, Beatrix.”  

“I mostly stay there, yes. But my home is here.”  

At Beatrix’s words, Elizabeth stood up again and bowed politely. She remembered that the name “Anna Trisha” written on the card was none other than the Beatrix standing before her.  

“I apologize for the late introduction. I am Elizabeth Lua, Madame Anna Trisha.”  

“The name Elizabeth suits you as much as Julia does. Then, may I call you Elizabeth here?”  

“Feel free to call me whatever you prefer, Beatrix—no, Madame Trisha.”  

Elizabeth felt as if she had returned to the time before she became Kiern’s mistress. The fact that the elegant lady before her was the kind Beatrix made her feel this way even more.  

“By the way, Elizabeth, you said you left the capital. How did you end up becoming Lady Prairie’s maid? Does Kiern know about this?”  

Anna naturally mentioned Kiern’s name instead of his baptismal name, expressing her curiosity. From this, Elizabeth could guess that Kiern already knew Beatrix’s true identity. Of course, it made sense—Beatrix had been close to the late Duchess, so it was unlikely that Kiern wouldn’t know.  

Elizabeth felt troubled. She had unintentionally ended up lying to Beatrix, which made her uncomfortable. By now, she should have left the capital of Lapton. If only Stella hadn’t made a mistake, if only Elizabeth hadn’t been so foolish. Elizabeth forced an awkward smile as she replied.  

“Due to certain circumstances, I had to delay it a bit, Madame.”  

At the mention of “circumstances,” Anna didn’t press further. She had a gentle nature, preferring to wait for others to speak rather than digging persistently.  

Elizabeth spent an enjoyable time chatting idly with Anna after a long while. She even felt grateful to Abigail for assigning her this errand. That’s how much she appreciated this unexpected meeting.  

“I didn’t expect you to be staying at Agaphel Castle, Elizabeth. Come to think of it, I think Sophie once mentioned the Lua mother and daughter to me.”  

“The Duchess did?”  

Elizabeth blinked at the mention of the late Duchess’s nickname, which she hadn’t heard in a long time. Anna reminisced about the late Sophie with a wistful look and spoke.  

“If Sophie were alive, Lady Prairie’s position might have been yours, Elizabeth.”  

Anna Trisha seemed displeased with Abigail Prairie being engaged to Kiern. Of course, she had been a close friend of the late Duchess. She had witnessed firsthand how Sophie Agaphel withered away in a loveless marriage.  

Knowing how easily such things could destroy a family, Anna’s face showed regret over Kiern’s choice. However, Elizabeth couldn’t agree with Anna’s words.  

“What? That’s impossible.”  

Elizabeth instinctively denied it, her expression stiffening. She knew how the late Duchess had died, which made her even more adamant. Sophie had been betrayed by her trusted maid and close friend, and the shock of it had led to her death.  

If Stella hadn’t been the Duke’s mistress, Sophie wouldn’t have died so easily. But Anna, who knew nothing about Stella and the late Duke’s affair, seemed to think differently. She spoke in a voice full of regret.  

“To be honest, I always hoped for you and Isaac to end up together. If I had known that the Young Lady Lua Sophie spoke of was you, Julia, I would have pushed for it more actively. It’s such a shame.”  

“Madame…”  

Elizabeth didn’t know how to respond and simply mumbled. She felt both grateful and guilty to hear that Sophie had thought highly of her.  

Since childhood, Elizabeth had often been told she resembled Sophie more than Stella. That’s how well Elizabeth and Sophie had gotten along. Elizabeth had loved Sophie so much that she followed her more than her own mother. And yet, it was Stella—her mother—who had stabbed that beloved person in the heart.  

As Elizabeth struggled to maintain her composure, Anna spoke again.  

“Well, since they’re already engaged, I suppose it’s okay to share these regrets. Sophie would probably feel the same way.”  

“Do you think so?”  

“Of course. While you’re staying there, shall I introduce you to a fine young man? With your beauty, Elizabeth, you’re bound to have plenty of suitors.”  

“N-No, that won’t be necessary.”  

Elizabeth strongly rejected the idea, causing Anna to blink in surprise. After a moment, Anna gently asked.  

“Could it be that you already have someone?”  

“Well…”  

“You do, don’t you? But why does your expression darken at the mention of it? Don’t tell me he’s treating you poorly.”  

Anna comforted Elizabeth with a motherly touch, gently stroking her hand. She seemed worried that Elizabeth might be involved with a bad man. But the fact that the “bad man” Anna had just been hoping to pair Elizabeth with was none other than Kiern left Elizabeth speechless.  

Fearing that the silence would lead to more questions, Elizabeth blurted out anything that came to mind.  

“It’s just that I made some mistakes. I think he’s very angry with me right now.”  

“Have you tried apologizing?”  

“It feels like things have gone too far for that.”  

“Oh dear. It seems like both of you have hurt each other a lot during your arguments.”  

Anna smiled sympathetically and held Elizabeth’s hand even tighter. The rough wrinkles of the older woman’s hand strangely gave Elizabeth a sense of comfort.  

“In love, there’s no winning or losing. There’s also nothing that can’t be forgiven. That’s what makes love so great.”  

“Madame…”  

“From what I can see, though, your lover doesn’t seem to be a very good man. Your face has changed a lot since I last saw you.”  

“…”  

“I won’t ask who it is, but I think it’s best for you to end things. A love that hurts too much isn’t love at all.”  

“Thank you for your advice.”  

Elizabeth felt lighter after Anna’s warm encouragement. Although she couldn’t leave Kiern, Anna’s words were like rain in a drought, softening Elizabeth’s hardened heart.  

The words “a love that hurts too much isn’t love” lingered in her mind.  

Did I love Kiern Agaphel? Or had I ever loved him?  

Elizabeth couldn’t answer. Her life was too pitiful and wretched to answer such a romantic question.  

As it came time for her to leave, Anna saw Elizabeth off.  

“The item has been loaded onto the carriage. Thank you for coming all this way, Elizabeth.”  

“It’s no trouble. I enjoyed myself, thanks to you. I’ll visit again if I get the chance. To the orphanage as well.”  

“Please do. Now that I know where you are, I’ll visit you from time to time as well.”  

The elderly lady smiled warmly and added one last thing before closing the carriage door herself.  

“If you ever need my help, don’t hesitate to come to me.”  

“Thank you…”  

Elizabeth forced a smile, suppressing the emotions welling up inside her.  

So many people had recently offered to help her, and she knew that once the truth came out, it would all crumble like a castle built on sand.  

Elizabeth felt grateful for these mirage-like connections, to the point of tears. She prayed that neither Beatrix nor Theo Kabil would ever learn of the tangled mess between her and Kiern.  

She prayed desperately as the carriage moved.  

***

The preparations for Abigail’s upcoming birthday banquet kept the luxurious villa bustling day and night. The lavish villa, built atop a cliff, was decorated as if the entire estate were a party venue.  

Abigail visited the villa to inspect the arrangements, checking every corner. It was the first social event for the woman who would become the Duchess. Although it was called a birthday banquet, it was actually a perfect opportunity to cement her presence in society.  

It was while Abigail was instructing the servants to replace the lace tablecloths.  

“Eve.”  

James entered the room, addressing Abigail as ‘Eve.’ 

It hadn’t even been half a day since Abigail had sent word, yet he had already arrived, suggesting he had been eagerly awaiting her summons.

He had clearly dressed up to impress her, and his efforts were not entirely in vain.

“Everyone, leave.”  

At Abigail’s gesture, the maids left the room. Her servants were already aware of James’s presence. First the Duke, and now the future Duchess. While noble families often arranged marriages for political gain, such behavior before marriage was incomprehensible to commoners.  

However, it wasn’t the servants’ place to show such thoughts. They knew better than to offend their master by expressing disapproval.  

Once the servants had all left, James approached Abigail and wrapped his arms around her waist. His large, firm hand gently traced the curve of her back.  

“I didn’t expect you to call me again so soon after the other day.”  

“Were you waiting for my message?”  

“Do you even have to ask…?”  

James trailed off, embarrassed. He had impulsively agreed to become her lover. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought that the great Abigail would actually accept. To James, the entire situation still felt like a dream.  

Abigail called him whenever she felt like it, and each time, James eagerly tried to please her. Of course, it was usually James who became more excited and desperate than Abigail.  

Becoming the secret lover of someone he thought he could never have filled James with a shallow sense of satisfaction. Abigail unbuttoned the top three or four buttons of his shirt, slipping her pale, delicate hand inside. The thin lace of her gloves barely masked the sensation of her skin against his.  

James swallowed dryly, but he didn’t make the first move. In their relationship, Abigail Prairie held the upper hand, and he was merely one of the many things she could discard at any time.  

Abigail’s gaze openly swept over his lower body, which was already noticeably aroused. The bulge in his trousers twitched, asserting its presence. The sensation of that part of him entering her was indescribably sweet, and Abigail unconsciously licked her lips.  

It had been quite some time since she had impulsively given herself to him in the maze garden. James’s desperate attempts to win her favor amused her. Compared to her fiancé, who treated her as if she were air, James couldn’t get enough of her and constantly craved more.  

The stark difference between the two men pleased Abigail. James’s reactions made her feel desirable and attractive. By calling James, Abigail sought to fill the void within herself.  

Having tasted a man once, there was no reason to refuse a well-prepared one like James a second time. Abigail finished unbuttoning his shirt and whispered as her hand traced the contours of his muscles, which twitched under her touch.  

“I’ve already told them you’ll be staying here tonight.”  

“That’s good news.”  

Taking that as his cue, James kissed Abigail’s neck. Then, as if unable to hold back any longer, he removed his shirt in one swift motion and pushed her onto the table, positioning himself over her. After thoroughly savoring her below, he moved his hips in rhythm with her signals. 

Moments later, amidst the wet sounds of passion, the tablecloth in the room would need to be replaced once again.