Episode 81
Theo jumped in surprise and turned around. There stood Lillian. She seemed a bit flushed, but Theo was too startled to notice.
“Do you have something on your mind?”
“Hey! Give me a heads-up before sneaking up on me like that! You scared me!”
“I called you, but you didn’t respond.”
“Oh, really?”
Theo’s expression turned slightly awkward as he realized he hadn’t heard her call.
‘Just had to tune out and listen to my own thoughts.’
Fortunately, since he hadn’t brought up the issue, he could smoothly move on, but he felt a bit sour. Theo still hadn’t told Lillian about the offer to join the knight order.
He didn’t want to burden Lillian, who was already dealing with trouble from Odile to Damian’s betrayal. Above all, Theo was leaning towards staying at Maynard.
‘Since Lillian is here at Maynard…’
Even if he couldn’t be with Lillian, just being able to protect her by her side was satisfying. If he left this vast mansion, where would Lillian find solace?
Moreover, Theo had a gut feeling that Cedric wouldn’t let things go sour between him and Lillian, especially after the Odile incident.
‘Frankly, I was a bit anxious.’
Until Odile’s appearance and the news of Lillian leaving the mansion, Theo worried about the situation at the orphanage. He knew better than anyone the substantial financial investment in running the orphanage, and Cedric’s eager actions towards Odile made him uneasy.
But in the end, Odile was proven to be a fake, and Cedric’s heart settled. So, Maynard would be safe for a while. Thus, Theo planned to follow the path already set for him.
‘If I’m going to stay at Maynard anyway, there’s no need to mention it.’
This was why Theo didn’t tell Lillian about the offer to join the knight order. He smoothly changed the subject.
“It’s nothing special. So, what’s with you? You’ve got dirt on the hem of your dress.”
“It’s inevitable while walking. Do you have plans after dinner tonight?”
“Going out again?”
“I have somewhere to go. And something to say.”
As Lillian’s long hair swayed slowly in the breeze, she smiled, seeming a bit embarrassed, and turned her gaze away. There was no need for long words. With just that much, they could make plans.
“Then let’s meet after dinner.”
“Hey, are you…”
Theo tried to grab Lillian, but in a moment, she had already moved away. Theo stared blankly at his outstretched hand. Somehow, he felt that Lillian was in a particularly good mood today and that something was different.
‘Could it be…’
Could he hear a favorable answer?
As Theo watched Lillian move away, his heart thumped fiercely.
* * *
That evening, Theo wore his best clothes among those he had. It was the attire he wore whenever he had to attend formal events, but now it seemed inappropriate for a quiet meeting at the mansion. He eventually decided to discard it.
After fussing over his hair, he ended up with the usual style he always had.
“If it was going to be like this, I should’ve just had dinner.”
Despite spending time dressing up and making himself presentable, the outcome was the same as usual, leaving him feeling unjustifiably frustrated. Anyway, Theo, in his best-dressed state—which was pretty much the same as usual—went to meet Lillian as planned.
The meeting place was always the same: the bench in front of the annex. It was where Lillian often hid.
Theo wondered if Lillian would once again try to push the bench and open the secret compartment, but to his surprise, she pulled out something unexpected.
“You… Are you stealing keys now?”
“Watch your words. I got this from Dad.”
“Duke gave it to you? But…”
Theo was somewhat aware of the annex’s rules. Access was strictly controlled to maintain the appearance of the late Duchess. So, perhaps Lillian had never been found hiding there. This rule hadn’t been broken during the seven years Theo spent at the mansion. Yet he entrusted the annex to Lillian.
Regardless of who Theo brought to the mansion, he was sure they would react similarly. However, Lillian replied nonchalantly.
“I don’t exactly know what Dad is thinking. Anyway, I received this annex, and while I’m at the mansion, it’s mine. So, I don’t have to sneak in anymore.”
“Well, can I enter wearing shoes now?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Last time, my feet got a bit sore.”
Theo nonchalantly entered the annex with his boots. Inside, he saw evidence of Lillian’s visits, with several books she usually read lying around. She must have frequented this place during her leisure time. The shawl Lillian favored was also draped over the sofa. Gradually, Lillian’s traces were piling up over Agnes’s, and this natural transition was exactly what Cedric had hoped for.
“So, why did you bring me here to talk?”
“…You asked yesterday, remember? You were curious about Swan’s relationship with Lady Maynard and what I’m hiding. Why aren’t you asking anymore?”
“I thought you wouldn’t answer anyway. When the time comes, you’ll tell me willingly.”
Theo didn’t feel the need to push. He was satisfied with their current relationship, and the secrets Lillian occasionally revealed didn’t excite him much. It just made him feel a bit closer to her.
“Why bother being curious when you’re here?”
Lillian faintly smiled at his words, which might have been a bit melancholic. Once upon a time, Lillian believed Damian would give her the same answer as Theo, only to realize he wouldn’t.
Now, since Lillian could trust only one person and reveal everything, she stood by Agnes’s portrait and placed what she had brought in front of it.
A portrait of Swan, inserted into the frame.
“Theo, the real daughter of this house is not me, but Swan.”
The portraits of Agnes and Swan side by side were unmistakably similar.
* * *
Lillian slowly explained everything to Theo.
The story she heard on the night Swan died, followed by her accidental discovery of Superintendent Winston’s conspiracy. So she came here to take Swan’s place and live to avenge her, even if it meant being driven away when the time came, perhaps even facing death like Odile for impersonating Swan.
“…So, I’m going to avenge Swan and reveal everything. When that happens, I’ll probably be kicked out. I might even die like Odile, who impersonated Swan.”
“Wait a minute. It’s all too… too confusing right now.”
Theo interrupted Lillian’s explanation by rubbing his forehead and raising his hand. Too many facts poured out and tangled in his mind. No, in fact, the gist was clear. He was just finding it difficult to accept, which was why he felt confused.
The important thing was…
“It’s not you, but Swan, who’s the daughter of this house.”
“Yeah.”
“Ha…”
Theo sighed heavily and alternated between looking at the two portraits in front of him. Swan’s portrait was much smaller than Agnes’s, but there was no denying their resemblance.
Anyway, Swan’s face was Odile’s.
“Come to think of it, something felt strange. If Odile stole Swan’s face, why does she resemble Lady Maynard… It was strange…”
He tried not to think too deeply about it. Because it wasn’t an important issue for Theo.
But Lillian being a fake…
