Chapter 5
In the carriage returning from the funeral, Leah sat across from Taran. She consistently gazed out the window, watching the passing streets of Lebon City.
Though exotic, Lebon wasn’t much different from the capital of Galencia. However, Leah felt the heat of stares directed towards her.
“Why do they look at me as if I’m about to kill someone?”
It was so awkward and uncomfortable she felt like dying.
Meanwhile, Taran’s suspicions towards Grace deepened.
“Grace knows how to comfort others.”
It was astonishing. Grace was more self-centered than anyone else. She had a strong tendency to only do what she liked in the world she created.
“It was strange from the moment you mentioned attending Leah Hamilton’s funeral.”
Grace even found it bothersome to visit her estate in the provinces once a month.
“You wouldn’t even know Leah Hamilton.”
Somehow, she felt an urge to confirm. But Grace spoke first.
“Lord Couture, do you have Hamilton’s necklace?”
Leah swallowed dryly, waiting for his response. Given that she found Allen’s necklace at the funeral, the question wasn’t out of place.
“I saw the necklace and knew. The body was Leah Hamilton’s…”
His response relieved Leah .
It meant Taran had the necklace. The problem was where it was. Still, thankfully, Taran hadn’t given the necklace to Allen.
“Why didn’t you give the necklace to the family?”
“That necklace belongs to the Hamilton aristocracy. Returning it to its rightful owner seems appropriate, doesn’t it?”
“Well… yes.”
“There are some shady corners.”
‘Shady corners?’
Leah wanted to ask Taran more about it, but he remained silent, gazing out the window.
Once again, silence enveloped them.
Moments later, Taran unexpectedly shattered Leah’s thoughts.
“It’s best not to get too close to Allen Maxwell.”
“What? Why…?”
Leah was utterly surprised. No one acknowledged her father’s innocence.
Yet Taran seemed to doubt Allen.
“He seemed to have a long-standing interest in Richard Hamilton. It seems he convinced the Empress that Teresa wanted to confiscate the upper estates, but he ended up gaining control. Something doesn’t add up, don’t you think?”
‘Because that bastard is the culprit.’
Leah could only clench her lips, unable to bring out the truth.
Allen probably complained about the employees attached to the upper estate, persuading the Empress that he knew the situation best. He and the Maxwell family probably pleaded as victims.
Looking back, I, as a woman, only complained and whined, oblivious to the dangers lurking in the forest.
‘Leah, your mind was nothing but a flower garden.’
She found it difficult to forgive her pathetic self, deceived by Allen’s betrayal, more so than discussing his betrayal.
Leah sensed Taran was looking into the Hamilton upper estate affairs. If so, he might also know what happened to her father.
“Was Richard Hamilton sentenced to exile?”
Leah struggled to get the words out. No, even as she spoke, her heart raced.
“I heard he avoided exile. Friends and usual acquaintances who were staunch supporters spoke up to the Empress on his behalf, saving his life. But he was imprisoned on Reef Island.”
“Reef Island?”
Situated in the middle of the ocean, Reef Island was a prison for rebels and those with impure ideologies.
Once you were sent there, you could never return home. When you died, they simply threw your body into the sea.
Still, if her father was alive, she could somehow find a way to meet him, so she dared to hold onto hope.
There is a famous anecdote that even the Count of Monte Cristo came out of that island.
“Indeed, humans are the scariest of all.”
Leah’s lungs were filled with anger. She wanted to vent her frustration as much as she could, but she managed to restrain herself.
“If my father were alive, it would be fine.”
I will rescue him from the prison on the Reef Island at all costs.
Leah hid her trembling hands in the folds of her skirt.
But Taran couldn’t take his eyes off her, whose expression changed with every moment of her story.
Leah was consumed with thoughts of the necklace even after returning to the mansion.
How should she ask Taran about it naturally? She needed to find the necklace to obtain the diary at the top of Hamilton Manor.
“Should I tell the Marquis the truth, that I am Leah Hamilton?”
Since she happened to possess Grace’s body, what if she asked him for help now? She couldn’t imagine what kind of reaction Taran would have.
“He probably won’t believe me. It’s still hard for me to accept it myself.”
He might even think I’m crazy and send me to a mental hospital.
Just then, Pauline returned to the room.
“Pauline, where is the Marquis?”
“Are you slowly returning to your old self?”
“What are you talking about?”
“After you fell seriously ill, you didn’t even care about the Marquis.”
It seemed that Taran was everything to Grace. It made her feel pitiful.
Leah whispered to herself, placing her hand on her chest.
“Grace, you’ve done enough. You can stop now. Loving alone will ruin your soul.”
A dangerous love that had lost everything like her.
“I’ll be in the study. Dr. Wilson has arrived.”
Upon Pauline’s words, Leah snapped out of her daze.
“I’ll go alone.”
Leah hurriedly left the room, not wanting Pauline to notice her heightened emotions.
It seemed unrealistic to reveal her true identity to Taran Even he was still in an uncertain state, so his mind was in turmoil.
She had unknowingly arrived at his study. Through the partially open door, she could hear the conversation between the two men.
Leah waited behind the door for Taran and Dr. Wilson’s conversation to end.
“Taran, did the test results come out?”
Taran asked in an agitated tone, to which Wilson hesitated to answer for a while. Then he slowly spoke.
“I apologize for having to say this.”
“It’s okay, just tell me the truth.”
“The test results came out, and now it’s impossible for you to function as a man.”
“Damn it! Damn!”
Taran exclaimed, cursing in frustration.
“Are you sure? No mistakes?”
“You’ve been tested several times, haven’t you? The injuries you sustained during the war are the cause. I don’t know what else to say for comfort.”
“I don’t need any comfort from you, God damn it! Wilson!”
Taran shouted angrily at Wilson.
Meanwhile, Leah , who unintentionally overheard their conversation, covered her mouth with her hand. She had almost made a sound inadvertently, shocked by the tremendous revelation.
“So the Duke can’t function as a man?”
At that moment, the sound of objects breaking came from inside. Taran sounded enraged, as if throwing things.
Leah , terrified, ran to the opposite hallway and towards the staircase to the second floor. Her head was spinning throughout her journey back to her room.
“So that’s why the Duke was cold to Grace?”
Indeed, it was a trial difficult to bear as a man.
Leah now understood the reason behind the dark shadows on Taran’s face.
She had heard from Pauline before that Taran had suffered many injuries, both major and minor, during his participation in the war.
How difficult it must have been for him to endure such fierce and brutal warfare for seven years. With significant disabilities added on top, the despair Terrance must have felt was beyond imagination.
“Mistakenly judging him as indifferent…”
Leah regretted her hasty judgment of people.
Taran collapsed onto the couch, gasping for breath. He roughly brushed back his disheveled hair.
“Wilson, keep the test results about Aiden confidential.”
“Of course. But it might be difficult to keep it hidden from Lord Aiden for long, isn’t it?”
“No, if possible, keep it hidden for a lifetime.”
Wilson nodded in response to Taran’s words. After all, the patient would eventually find out for himself….
“Are you sure? No errors?”
“You’ve checked multiple times, haven’t you? The injury you sustained during the war is the cause. I don’t know what else to say to comfort you.”
“I don’t need any comfort from you, Wilson!”
Taran yelled at Wilson with a burst of anger.
Meanwhile, Leah, who unintentionally overheard their conversation, covered her mouth with her hand. She was on the verge of making a sound, shocked by the words she had heard.
“So, the Duke couldn’t perform as a man?”
At that moment, they heard the sound of something breaking inside. Taran seemed to be yelling in rage and throwing objects.
Leah , filled with fear, ran to the opposite corridor and headed for the staircase to the second floor. Her head was spinning all the way to her room.
“So, that’s why the Duke was cold to Grace?”
“Misjudging him as a callous man…”
Leah regretted hastily judging people.
Taran sat down heavily on the sofa, breathing heavily. He roughly swept his disheveled bangs aside.
“Wilson, keep the test results about Aidan confidential.”
“Of course. But won’t it be difficult to keep it hidden from Viscount Aidan for long?”
“No, keep it hidden for as long as possible.”
Wilson nodded at Taran’s words. After all, the patient would find out first…
The Duke’s title was as useless as covering the sky with one’s palm.
“It’s not the Duke’s fault.”
“No, it’s my fault. It’s a tragedy caused by the injury Aidan suffered in the battle I should have fought in.”
Taran gripped his head with both hands, tortured by his guilt.
Because of him, the line of succession for Viscount Aidan was cut off. How could he be indifferent to that?
Dr. Wilson brought Taran some medication and water. After taking the medicine, Taran regained his composure after about twenty minutes.
“Wilson, I have something I want to ask.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Do people sometimes become completely different after suffering severe pain?”
Taran had doubts about Grace’s extreme transformation. She didn’t just change a little, the Grace he knew had disappeared.
“It’s possible. Physical pain can also change a person’s mind.”
Taran was puzzled by Wilson’s words.
He had never heard of someone who couldn’t speak a foreign language suddenly becoming fluent because they were in extreme pain.
Moreover, he was confused by the conflicting emotions he was experiencing.
“The idea of the changed Grace appeals to me.”
