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Chapter – 19
A morning warmed by gentle sunlight.
Rachel sat at a small breakfast table in the cozy dining room, sharing a sweet, intimate breakfast with Graham.
Graham was in an excellent mood.
“Mom, you said you’d stay with me all day today, right?”
“Of course. Today, Mom and Graham have a secret mission.”
“Just the two of us? Wow, that’s exciting!”
The child’s cheeks flushed red. His plump baby fat rose as his round cheeks lifted.
Seeing Graham beam with happiness put Rachel in a good mood too. After checking whether any servants were nearby, she leaned in and whispered to him.
“We’re going on a trip soon. Today we need to pack the things we’ll need.”
“A trip? When?”
“Let’s pack first, and when Dad comes back, we’ll leave. How does that sound?”
“Eww. Do we really have to wait for Dad? Can’t we just go today by ourselves?”
“There’s something I need to give your dad. Just wait a little longer, okay?”
“Tsk. Mom, you’re too nice. You don’t need to give Dad presents or anything.”
Rachel laughed lightly at Graham’s words.
Theodore would probably think differently. What Rachel planned to leave behind were divorce papers—along with a mountain of alimony he would have to pay.
“Let’s pack lots of things Graham likes, and lots of things Mom likes. We’ll leave behind everything we don’t like and only take what we love!”
“Really? Then I’ll leave Dad behind!”
“Leave Dad behind? Hahaha!”
Rachel laughed so hard her shoulders shook, and Graham glanced at her nervously.
“Is… that not okay?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? If that’s what Graham wants, we can leave him behind as much as you like.”
“Yay!”
Graham put down his fork, leaned forward, and hugged Rachel tightly around the waist.
“I’m really happy. I don’t like Dad. I only like Mom. Dad hurts you, and sometimes he takes you away from me, so I really hated him. But now that you’re leaving Dad behind, I’m so happy!”
Smiling warmly, Rachel gently stroked Graham’s golden hair.
Even this little child had seen all of her pain. Her heart ached.
Enjoying his mother’s touch, Graham giggled.
“I’ll protect you, Mom.”
Suddenly, Sian came to mind.
‘Graham has both things needed to learn the sword. Talent—and the desire to protect someone.’
With just one meeting, Sian had seen right through Graham. He’d noticed what even Theodore, his own father, hadn’t. He truly was an impressive man.
“Graham, if you’re okay with it, would you like to learn swordsmanship?”
“A sword? Swordsmanship?”
Still clinging to Rachel’s waist, Graham looked up and blinked.
“Yes. Do you remember the Grand Duke we met before? He’s very skilled with a sword. If you want, he said he’d teach you.”
“The Grand Duke…”
Graham rolled his eyes thoughtfully, as if recalling the Grand Duke of Dicarsignac’s estate.
After mumbling to himself and briefly drooping his brows, he met Rachel’s gaze again.
“I want to learn.”
“You don’t have to force yourself if you don’t like it.”
“No, I really like it. I’ve wanted to learn swordsmanship for a long time.”
“But Graham, you don’t look that excited.”
“It’s not that. It’s just…”
He paused, thinking carefully before continuing.
“He’s strange.”
“Strange how?”
Unable to find the right words to describe his feelings, Graham lowered his head.
“He’s not as good as Mom, but he’s not as bad as Dad either. When he’s with you, Mom, I feel angry sometimes… but I don’t think he’s a bad person. I feel like I might like him someday, but I don’t yet.”
Rachel smiled and patted his back.
“That’s okay. It’s fine not to understand yet. Think about it slowly, and when you figure out why the Grand Duke feels strange, tell Mom then, okay?”
“Okay! Thank you, Mom.”
After watching Graham carefully, Rachel asked casually, as if testing the waters.
“What about Lady Dolorasa? You met her briefly and played together when we visited the estate.”
“Ah… that kid.”
“That kid?”
Dolorasa was three years older than him and of higher status—calling her “that kid” would be dangerous if anyone heard. Thankfully, no one was nearby.
Graham spoke seriously.
“She’s pitiful. She doesn’t have a mom. My mom is the best in the world, and I can’t live without you. I don’t know how she lives without a mom.”
“Is that so?”
Rachel nodded.
Pity and sympathy were emotions that could easily blossom into love. Just like in the original story, it seemed only a matter of time before those two became a pair.
Feeling proud and touched that her son was already stepping toward love, a smile formed on Rachel’s lips.
“Anyway! I’ll train hard with the sword and become a great knight!”
“I’m looking forward to it! Wow, our Graham will be such a wonderful knight!”
“Hehe. Take that! I’ll defeat all the bad guys and protect you, Mom!”
Rachel hugged the excited, red-cheeked Graham tightly.
Theodore had been trapped in the cramped townhouse the entire time.
Berengella, her nerves frayed to the limit, kept a sharp watch to ensure Theodore didn’t leave the house.
For Berengella, who cared deeply about public opinion, the whispers of society and life in a narrow townhouse were unbearable. She vented her frustration on her son and drowned herself in alcohol.
Two weeks had already passed. Never before had Theodore gone this long without seeing Jane.
Differences in status, forbidden love, parents who opposed them—and now, even being confined and unable to meet. Goddess Enithes, why must you test me so cruelly?
As Theodore sank into despair, Berengella’s nagging poured down on him.
“After bringing such disgrace upon us, you still plan to meet that woman again? There are limits to how much mud you can smear on this family’s name! As long as I live, the Count will never see that wench again!”
Though Theodore feared his mother, his irritation finally boiled over.
“Don’t call her that. Jane is my lover!”
“Silence, Count! Your wife is Rachel Ellosa. To be the Countess of Ellosa, one must at least be a daughter of the Count of Fram!”
“You only care about honor, dignity, and reputation! Do you even know what love is?!”
“Do I need to know such nonsense?”
“She’s the woman your son loves! Please accept her!”
“Do you even know what that wretched girl has been doing?! Rumors say she went to the Ellosa estate!”
“Jane went to the estate? Is that true?”
“Yes. Not only did that lowborn creature dare to set foot in our historic residence, she even demanded to know where you were and raised her voice at the Countess! The rumors are spreading like wildfire!”
His heart pounded wildly.
Jane came all the way to the estate by herself just to find me! How touching. I thought she was childish, but she wasn’t afraid of gossip—she’s so brave.
Half-heartedly responding to Berengella’s scolding, he sank into thought.
Jane… I have to go to her. Mother says I’ll be arrested the moment I step outside for insulting the Crown Prince, but surely that won’t happen? Plenty of people do that sort of thing on ballroom terraces!
Theodore still didn’t understand what the real problem was.
He paced the tiny townhouse sitting room—smaller than the bedroom at the Ellosa estate—biting his nails.
That damn Grand Duke Sian. He looks perfectly normal—why would he do something so insane? Tearing the terrace curtains! What if it had been a marquis or a duke instead of me?!
The thought that Sian might have known everything never crossed his mind.
Enough. I’ll focus on seeing Jane. To end this mess, I need courage. Only courage can lead lovers torn apart by villains to a happy ending.
Catching his reflection in the mirror—blond hair, blue eyes, like a prince from a fairy tale—his resolve strengthened.
Good. I’ll go to sleep early, then sneak out once Mother falls asleep. I’ll go to Jane.
He crawled under the covers, imagining how he’d whisper sweet words, how he’d soothe her if she sulked.
“Count, it’s time for dinner!”
Berengella shouted irritably, but Theodore ignored her.
There was a maid attending them at the townhouse, but she was mute and illiterate. Calling Theodore to meals fell to Berengella alone.
“Count!”
Her shrill voice rang out again, but he continued to ignore it.
Thinking of lovely Jane, he forced himself to sleep.
In the middle of the night, Theodore woke and first checked whether Berengella was asleep. Thankfully, she was passed out from drinking.
He rushed out of the townhouse and went straight to Jane’s house.
As if she’d been waiting for him, the lights inside were brightly lit. His heart raced.
He pressed the doorbell urgently and knocked.
“Jane! Jane! It’s me, Theodore! Open the door!”
He heard hurried movement inside—something crashing as if someone had fallen.
She must be overjoyed.
What expression would she have? Would she run out smiling and cling to him?
Or would she tearfully complain, Why are you so late? I missed you so much?
Maybe she’d kiss him the moment the door opened. Then he’d say:
Haha, were you lonely, Jane? It’s been so long—I have so much to tell you.
He’d pat her back and lead her inside, gently closing the door before kissing her again. Then, as always, they’d spend a passionate night together.
He couldn’t stay long before Berengella woke up—but it would be enough time to savor their reunion.
A grin spread across Theodore’s face.
The door finally opened.
But what greeted him wasn’t affection, sulking, or a kiss.
“Ja—!”
Splash!
A bucket of water was dumped over him.
“You piece of trash!”
Smack!
A sharp slap landed on his soaked cheek.
