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Chapter 9. The Growing Divide
Rosena sprang up and grabbed Evan by the collar.
“Did you just compare me to Cecilia? Defending her in front of the woman carrying your child? Are you insane? Have you lost your mind?!”
“Rosena, please—”
“Don’t call me that! Why is she ‘Leah’ and I’m ‘Rosena’?!”
Normally, Evan called Rosena by the nickname ‘Rosie’. Those were the only moments she didn’t doubt his love.
Tears welled in Rosena’s eyes at the cold address. She tightened her grip on his collar and screamed.
“Were you just playing with me? Was it all a lie that you loved me and not Cecilia? Did you get tired of me because I got pregnant so easily? Huh? Answer me! Answer me!”
Rosena pressed on incessantly, not letting go of his collar.
“R Rosena. No, I mean, Rosie. Please, just calm down.”
Evan barely managed to pry Rosena’s hands off. Unable to contain her anger, Rosena began to sob like a child.
“You bastard!”
“What on earth is this spectacle?!”
Just then, a shout came from the doorway. Turning their heads, they saw Viscount Osborne and his wife entering the room. Viscount Cloud Osborne stroked his chin with a stern face, while his wife, Trisha, trembled, her face flushed red.
“Rosie, is this how a young lady from a prestigious noble family should behave?”
“Dad! Evan says he won’t marry me!”
As Rosena threw a tantrum, Evan closed his eyes tightly. Cloud and Trisha were people with an unusually strong pride in their status. They were the ones who had opposed Evan and Rosena’s relationship from the start.
Even after the wedding plans, they had tried to beat Evan, only stopping because Rosena cried and begged.
“What on earth are you talking about? Not getting married?”
Trisha glared fiercely at Evan, her face red with anger. Cloud was also scrutinizing Evan with a displeased look.
“Evan March. Aren’t you in a position where you should be kneeling and begging our daughter for forgiveness?”
“That’s right! How dare you, a commoner, get our daughter pregnant and then have the nerve! Are you trying to ruin our child’s life now?”
“That’s not it… I’m sorry. I have no face to show you.”
In the end, Evan bowed his head and took a step back. It was clear that provoking this couple’s mood would mean suffering for a long time.
He turned towards Rosena and lightly placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Sigh… Rosie. I’m sorry.”
Evan looked straight into Rosena’s eyes as if to placate her.
“When I think of you, I want to have the wedding as soon as possible too. But the timing really isn’t good. Can’t you wait just a little bit?”
“…….”
But despite Evan’s persuasion, Rosena turned her head away, pouting her lips.
Finally, unable to stand it any longer, Trisha stepped forward again.
“So, when exactly will the wedding be? Our daughter’s belly will only grow bigger. Are you suggesting we hide it like a bastard child?”
“……We will first make our marriage vows at the church. The ceremony will be held grandly after Rosie has recovered from childbirth.”
Evan said in a tired voice. Postponing a wedding due to childbirth wasn’t extremely rare. Of course, there would be some criticism, but it was better than the child being mistaken for illegitimate.
“Rosie, by then people will have mostly forgotten. You’ll also be able to wear a much prettier dress. What do you think?”
Evan looked at Rosena with earnest eyes. Wedding or not, right now he just wanted to end this situation quickly. The three members of the Osborne family, arms crossed and glaring at him, were unbearably burdensome.
Among them, Rosena, who was making a particularly fierce expression, spoke petulantly.
“Then the wedding dress has to be the most expensive one.”
“Sigh… Fine.”
“The venue also has to be the most expensive and luxurious place in Brissen.”
“I’ll… try for that too.”
“Try? Don’t just try, make it certain!”
“Okay. Please. I said okay.”
Finally yielding to Rosena’s relentless pressure, Evan raised both hands in surrender. Only then did Rosena look satisfied.
“Well then, I guess I can forgive you for now.”
“Ahem, it seems the matter is settled.”
Cloud took a step back with his hands behind his back, and Trisha approached Rosena, stroking her daughter’s cheek.
“Oh, my poor daughter. You must have been so shocked, especially in your condition. Are you hurt anywhere? Hmm? Is there anything you want to eat? Should Mommy call the best chef in Brissen?”
At their excessive attitude, Evan sighed and scratched his head roughly. The thought of having to watch this spectacle for the rest of his life was already suffocating.
‘Huh, in this respect, it was easier that Cecilia was an orphan.’
After all, Cecilia was the heir to a count’s family and had no annoying in-laws. She didn’t throw tantrums and hassle him like Rosena did now.
‘What a waste. I’m dying of regret.’
If only his relationship with Rosena hadn’t been exposed, he would have been enjoying a sweet newlywed life by now.
Evan ruminated on the missed opportunity, clicking his tongue. Then, he suddenly grew curious. Several days had already passed since the wedding fell apart.
After leaving the shared housing that was supposed to be their newlywed home, Cecilia had completely vanished without a trace.
‘Where on earth is she and what is she doing now?’
The official confirmation of Gilbert’s death came not long after that.
< Breaking News! Doubts Over Death of Duke Gilbert Hays! What is the Truth? >
< The Ducal Title’s Future? Sir Reiner Hays, Younger Brother, Likely Successor >
The empire’s media outlets, having received anonymous tips, competitively poured out exclusives. The area in front of the Hays estate where Elise resided was bustling with reporters from early morning.
“Madam! Please give us your statement on the public’s doubts!”
“Is it true the Duke has passed away?”
“We understand the Duke was widowed and had no children. Who will be the next Duke?”
“Look at this!”
Just then, Margaret, Elise’s head maid, rolled up her sleeves and stepped out among the reporters shouting, each with notepads and pens.
“Detailed information will be delivered in writing, so please everyone, go back now!”
“Hey, don’t push, don’t push!”
As Margaret gestured, servants swarmed out and pushed the reporters away. The surroundings became chaotic in an instant.
Meanwhile, a single carriage quickly departed from the Hays mansion.
“Look over there! A carriage!”
“The Madam must be inside! Chase it! Hurry!”
The reporters shouted, but the carriage had already disappeared over the hill. Inside, as the reporters expected, was Elise.
She watched the receding crowd of reporters through the window, grinding her teeth. It was undoubtedly all Reiner’s doing.
“How dare that vulgar thing….”
She should have taken action when Reiner talked about corpses and such. It seemed she had underestimated him too much. She regretted being complacent, thinking he wouldn’t dare act without concrete evidence.
“How much longer?”
“About 20 minutes, Madam.”
“Hurry!”
Elise irritably slammed her hand against the carriage wall. She planned to go straight to the ducal residence, confront Reiner, and demand answers. Did he think he was something special now that he had the capital ducal residence all to himself?
As soon as the carriage arrived, Elise practically jumped out.
“Lady Elise, you’ve arr—”
“Move aside!”
In a manner unbecoming of a grand lady from a noble family, she pushed past the greeting Harry and entered the ducal residence. She barged straight into Reiner’s office.
Reiner was sitting at his desk reviewing documents. He didn’t even look up until Elise was right in front of him.
“To what do I owe this unannounced visit from the Madam? Seeing your face so often makes even my vulgar dignity feel elevated.”
Reiner asked, still not raising his gaze. Throwing back the exact words he’d heard a few days ago, Elise’s hands trembled.
She threw a newspaper onto Reiner’s desk.
“This is all your doing!”
Slap!
The newspaper landed right in front of Reiner. The bold headline of the breaking news, < Death of Duke Hays >, was printed clearly.
“Why on earth did you have the nerve to publish articles about Gilbert without consulting me! Without any discussion!”
Finally looking up, Reiner slowly unfolded the newspaper. A satisfied smile spread across his lips as he saw the front page. His attitude showed no intention of hiding or excusing the fact that he was behind this situation.
Still fixing his gaze on the newspaper, he said nonchalantly,
“Rest assured. I omitted the part about how the Madam, in her senility, clung to her son’s corpse for weeks.”
