Episode 35
Lillian held Damian’s hand. His hand, thicker than hers, was warm and firm.
As they held hands, tears fell down their clasped fingers.
Lillian didn’t entirely trust Damian’s words. She was always cautious about taking his words at face value. However, there were moments when she wanted to believe the words despite knowing the truth. There were times when she wanted to listen to what he had to say rather than question its authenticity.
And now, what she needed from Damian was precisely that.
The words that no matter who she was, he would like her.
“…Thank you, Damian.”
Moonlight barely seeped into the bedroom that night.
Thus, the sight of a girl weeping while still half-asleep, holding onto the boy’s hand, became a memory only the boy would remember.
* * *
The next day, only after hearing the reassuring response from the attending physician that there were no problems, Lillian could leave her room.
It was only then that she came to understand how the mansion could remain so peaceful despite the significant commotion that had occurred.
“The Duke returned yesterday?”
“Yes. He came back while the mansion was being thoroughly searched. Thanks to him, the situation was resolved quickly.”
At Sally’s words, Nisha, who was folding a handkerchief beside her, shook her head with a look of relief.
“Things settled quickly, but I genuinely thought someone might die yesterday. I’ve never seen the Duke so frightening. I’ve been working in this mansion for quite some time, but…”
“Was the Duke really scary?”
When Lillian asked, Nisha vigorously nodded her head.
“It was no joke! Everyone, starting from the guards, was summoned. They were questioning how the security could have been handled in such a way that a kidnapping attempt could happen inside the mansion….”
“Oh my, I only watched from the side, and even I felt a chill. Do you think he became scarier than before?”
“Such a thing has never happened before. When Lady Agnes passed away, he was away at the battlefield.”
Initially, Nisha began explaining the commotion to Lillian, but as Lillian remained silent and listened, the conversation gradually turned into the chattering of the maids.
“In my opinion, that culprit won’t be able to die so easily. Did you see when he went to the torture room?”
“I saw! Cosmo said he would handle it, but no, the Duke said he would do it himself. He went in saying, ‘If it were me, I’d start by breaking his legs first—'”
“Nisha, Sally! What are you saying in front of the young lady!”
“Oh, Mary!”
Eventually, Nisha and Sally got scolded severely. It was disappointing for Lillian, who had been intently listening to their gossip.
‘It would have been nice if they continued chatting a little more.’
But it couldn’t be helped.
Mary, who had come back after punishing Nisha and Sally, gently hugged Lillian and patted her. Mary seemed to be more concerned than usual, wondering if Lillian would continue to be scared because of yesterday’s incident, or if hearing about it would cause her stress.
“You don’t have to worry too much, my lady. The Duke will punish the bad person severely.”
“Nisha said the Duke was angry….”
“He was indeed angry. You were almost seriously hurt, my lady.”
“….Really?”
Some people are like that. They get furious when something they’re responsible for goes wrong.
The Headmaster was particularly like that, even though he had no interest in the children, he would be furious if any of them got hurt and would blame the staff for their management.
Could Cedric be angry for a similar reason?
“That’s right. He stayed by your side for a long time, even when you were asleep yesterday. If there was nothing urgent, he wouldn’t have left.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I guarantee it. The Duke truly cares for you.”
Cedric was undoubtedly a good person, incomparable to the Headmaster, but was it really true?
Lillian wondered, but she didn’t want to become a troublesome child, so she kept her mouth shut.
Above all, what truly frightened Lillian right now wasn’t Cedric’s sincerity.
‘The Duke went to interrogate the culprit, right?’
Through the interrogation, they would find out who sent the kidnapper and why.
‘If the one who sent the kidnapper was the Director….’
Cedric will interrogate the Director, and cornered, the Director will reveal the truth he knows.
Who the real owner of the pendant Lillian brought was, and who his real daughter is.
That was the worst-case scenario Lillian could imagine.
‘How much does the Duke really know?’
Lillian looked towards the entrance of the mansion.
She felt like the door could open at any moment, and Cedric would come in, coldly disdain her.
— Deceiving me and impersonating my daughter, unforgivable. Cut this girl’s tongue and drive her out!
Lillian hurriedly hoped that Cedric would come back soon and put an end to this fearful imagination, but Cedric only returned after the sun had set.
However, Cedric didn’t show any contempt or rejection towards Lillian. He just spoke to her in the usual manner, looking at her with an inscrutable expression.
“Baby, can we talk for a moment?”
* * *
“I found out who was behind the person who tried to kidnap you.”
After the butler set the tea and left, Cedric said as soon as they were alone.
Lillian stared at Cedric blankly, not even thinking about reaching for the teacup.
“Winston Burnauser. He was the director of the orphanage you grew up in.”
“….W-what? The Director?”
Lillian’s voice trembled. The reason her heart sank as soon as she heard Winston’s name was obvious.
So, the Headmaster had indeed sent someone. Then how much did Cedric know?
Why did he bring up this story to her?
“Don’t be scared.”
If she panics here, it won’t help at all.
Lillian had imagined this moment countless times in her mind.
It was a moment of crisis, but it might also be an opportunity for revenge.
‘Even if I have to endure being cast out after losing my tongue, I must seek revenge!’
Lillian thought Cedric would interrogate her.
Perhaps the Headmaster said she was a fake, so first, Lillian could start with the story of how the Headmaster tried to set up another imposter…!
“I’m sorry for bringing up such a story to you. It must be an unpleasant memory to recall.”
However, what Cedric brought up was not an interrogation.
“But I wanted to ask you first. Do you know the reason this person tried to kidnap you?”
In response to that question, Lillian unconsciously looked up at Cedric.
And she hesitantly replied, “Are you asking me?”
“There’s no one else in this room except you and me, so I guess that’s the case.”
“Do you… trust what I say?”
Of course, she thought he wouldn’t believe her.
After all, Cedric probably didn’t trust her words, which was why she hadn’t been fully accepted yet.
So she had been thinking of ways to convince Cedric.
“Of course, you would have reasonable doubts. But for now, I want to hear what you have to say. What happened at the orphanage?”
“I… I…”
Caught off guard by his unexpected kindness, her throat tightened.
Lillian briefly lowered her head, then took a deep breath and raised it again.
She couldn’t ruin this awaited moment. Her words had to be clear.
“The Director knew about the pendant. He planned to use it to create a stand-in and extort money from you, the Duke. I found out about it and ran away from the orphanage. Perhaps the Headmaster didn’t expect me to end up in the Manor, but…”
“When that teacher saw you at the palace, it must have been reported to the Director.”
“…Likely.”
“I see. I understand.”
Cedric listened to Lillian’s words and his expression seemed to deepen in thought.
He fell silent for a moment, and after a little while, he finally spoke.
“Lillian.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Will you not go out tomorrow?”
* * *
The place Cedric took Lillian to was none other than Merryfield Orphanage.
Since the soldiers of Maynard had occupied the orphanage to prevent any escape, all arrangements were easy.
“As for the others, use Maynard Duke’s authority for summary judgment, and as for the Headmaster, Winston Burnauser, since he holds a noble status, send him to the Royal Court for judgment. The charges include attempted impersonation of a noble and attempted kidnapping. Carry out all procedures in accordance with imperial law.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
When Cedric’s order came down, the faces of the teachers gathered there turned pale.
Support for More
