Chapter 18
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 18
"Please tell Grandmother to set aside her worries and put her mind at ease."
—...Have you perhaps met a young lady you wish to marry?
"Is that what the rumors say? That I've run off to elope?"
Theodore chuckled softly and adjusted his grip on the receiver. Beneath his low-slung straw hat, his lips curved into a handsome smile. Women browsing the nearby display stands whispered among themselves, casting glances his way.
In truth, it wasn't just them; everyone in the general store was surreptitiously watching him. All his efforts to blend in by borrowing shabby clothes had gone to waste.
—According to the rumors, yes. That is correct.
The voice on the other end of the line was impeccably polite, its smooth, refined tone heavy with the weight of high society—the very same demeanor he had grown so sick of in the capital.
Perhaps that was why he had found everything about the Southern Region so satisfying. The carefree atmosphere, the vibrant energy of people's lives colliding, the simple, open curiosity they showed outsiders—every bit of it stood in stark contrast to the stifling high society he knew.
—If it is merely a misunderstanding, shall we issue a retraction? I will contact the newspapers immediately.
"No, that's fine. Leave it."
—...Should I, by any chance, prepare for a wedding within the year?
"No need for that either."
At his low chuckle, the eyes in the general store gathered on him once more before quickly scattering. Theodore leisurely placed an unlit cigarette between his lips.
—If, by some miracle, any wedding plans do arise, you must let me know at least six months in advance. Even that would be a tight schedule to prepare a proper wedding for a gentleman.
Theodore laughed off the butler's words, unsure if they stemmed from anxiety or anticipation.
"I'll do that. If such a day ever comes."
—Do you have any further instructions?
He was about to relay a few more instructions and end the call when his gaze drifted out the window. There, at the edge of his vision, he saw a woman. Vanessa. It was her.
Vanessa sat on the edge of the plaza fountain, knees drawn to her chest and chin resting on her hands, looking every bit the young girl her age. Her golden hair cascaded in waves to her waist, catching the summer sun and shimmering with a soft glow.
Though her curious gray eyes still sparkled with life, her cheeks and shoulders had thinned noticeably. It seemed the rumors of her being bedridden with a severe illness weren't entirely false after all. Theodore exhaled slowly.
—My Lord?
The voice on the other end prompted him again. Only then remembering he was on the phone, Theodore brushed a hand over his mouth.
"Hold on a moment."
Perhaps her appointment had arrived, as Vanessa checked her pocket watch and abruptly stood. She clutched a briefcase tightly in one hand. As she walked away with determined strides, a white ribbon stained with grass juice fluttered in her hair.
She glanced around periodically, like a cat patrolling its territory. It was amusing, almost endearing, that she had no idea she was being watched from afar. Vanessa's pace gradually slowed until she stopped before a building's entrance. After cautiously looking left and right, she slipped quickly into the dim interior.
Theodore narrowed his eyes, examining the building that had just swallowed her whole. It was old, shabby, and run-down. The ancient structure looked as if it had been built in the last century and didn't even have a sign. It had all the makings of a hotbed for dangerous and illegal activities.
—Is there a problem, My Lord?
A problem? Was it really a problem? She was just Lady Vanessa. A woman who, on the surface, wore the pure face of someone who knew nothing of the world's filth, yet secretly frequented such a suspicious building. That was the kind of woman she was. She had even ditched the servant who usually accompanied her.
"..."
Whatever Vanessa was hiding, it was none of his business. They weren't actual lovers, nor were they close enough to share secrets. In the first place, she didn't even know his true identity.
So, even if Lady Vanessa was desperate enough to be buying a man… Theodore let out a dry laugh.
"I didn't need anything. But I do now."
A subtle edge crept into his previously relaxed voice. Norman, the butler, blinked in bewilderment before quickly responding.
—Whatever you require, My Lord...
"Look into Vanessa Siren Somerset."
—Lady Vanessa... you mean the young lady of the Somerset Earldom?
It was an impulsive decision, highly uncharacteristic of him, and it clearly caught Norman off guard. Nevertheless, Theodore readily confirmed it.
"Her debts, her reputation at school, who she associates with—things like that."
He was genuinely curious now. What circumstances could possibly drive her to such reckless desperation?
* * *
"Well then, I'll see you next time."
"Yes. Take care on your way back."
Sent off by the man's energetic farewell, Vanessa descended the stairs. Her steps, initially calm, grew faster and faster the moment she stepped out of the building. Even as she panted, her cheeks flushed red, it wasn't easy to shake the chill the old building had left on her.
It was a place that never felt comfortable, no matter how many times she visited. The dim interior, the crumbling hallways, the subtle, unpleasant dampness in the cool air. And...
"How should I put it... it's a bit dull."
Her editor's voice echoed in her mind, and Vanessa's steps gradually slowed.
"So, will a lover appear to help our Miss Welsh in the future?"
"A lover? But this novel is about finding a murderer... is that really necessary?"
"Lady Lawrence."
It sounded very much like a sigh. She flinched at the pen name she still hadn't grown used to, and the editor's sharp gaze locked onto her. For a moment, a wave of anxiety washed over her, and she wondered if her reaction had seemed unnatural.
After tapping the table and sinking into thought, the editor spoke again.
"Unlike other detectives, isn't our Miss Welsh a young woman?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"I believe the happy ending readers want is for her to solve the case, find true love, and get married."
"But... there isn't a suitable character for that."
"How about this naval officer? He's handsome, unmarried, and wealthy. He seems like a perfect fit."
"Vanessa, over here."
A sudden voice snapped Vanessa from her thoughts. Across the street, she saw Rosalyn and Blair—the only people she could ever truly let her guard down with. Blair was waving at her. Swallowing a sigh, Vanessa put on a bright smile. She couldn't let her own mood ruin this precious time with her friends.
Today's outing would have been difficult to arrange were it not for them. Lately, the surveillance on her felt much stricter. It might have been her imagination, but while she used to be relatively free to go out with a servant, now she was watched wherever she went. The only time she felt any freedom was within the walls of Gloucester Castle.
"Let's go inside."
Huddled together, they headed into the Winchester twins' favorite coffeehouse. As they took their seats and Blair ordered two large lemon sherbets and a cup of coffee, Rosalyn couldn't contain herself any longer.
"How did it go? Did they agree to a contract for this novel too?"
"Yes. And starting with this contract, I've been given a permanent spot at the bottom of the advertisement page. Before, they only printed it when there was extra space."
"Oh my goodness! That's wonderful, Vanessa."
Rosalyn beamed and opened her arms. Vanessa gave her a brief hug, returning the smile. Blair, who had been watching them with the bored expression of someone watching an uninteresting play, rested his chin on his hand.
"It's fine to try and earn your own living, but don't work yourself to exhaustion. Once you marry, your husband's fortune will be yours anyway."
At Blair's words, the bright smile on Vanessa's lips vanished. As the atmosphere instantly froze, Rosalyn cleared her throat and kicked him hard in the shin under the table. The young man, who would normally have made a great show of his pain, simply stared at Vanessa with a serious expression.
"It's true, isn't it? Once you're married, you'll have an allowance coming in soon enough."
"To be honest, I've been looking for a way to avoid getting married altogether."
At her blunt declaration, Rosalyn and Blair gaped in unison, wearing identical expressions, as if she'd just challenged the very order of the world.
"Even if running away is unrealistic, I plan to propose independence to my uncle by offering to cover my own living expenses. To do that, I need much more money than I have now."
Surprisingly, Blair seemed taken aback—completely forgetting that he'd been the one sitting with her just recently, helping her hatch plans to ruin the marriage.
"Wait, Vanessa. You're really not going to marry?"
"That's right."
"Count Roden is a disgusting old man, but how is a woman supposed to live alone without marrying? No, forget all that, your uncle would never allow it in the first place..."
"I'm sure I can find a way if I look hard enough."
Rosalyn, who had been listening quietly, raised an eyebrow and intervened.
"Vanessa. Surely that 'way' isn't what we talked about last time?"
"..."
"Are you completely out of your mind?"
"Last time? What did you two talk about?"
"It's nothing," Rosalyn cut off Blair's curiosity fiercely. Grabbing both of Vanessa's hands, she scanned her friend's face with sharp, anxious eyes. "You haven't started already, have you? No, even if you have, it's fine. You can just stop right now."
"Rosalyn."
"I'd rather you just give him a child and live separately. The honeymoon might be dreadful, but after that, you can live your life with a lover or two."
"..."
"Everyone lives like that, Vanessa. You know what kind of married life my cousin has."
Vanessa slowly pulled her hands from Rosalyn's tight grip. It would have been better if he were an extremely old man, one whose only desire from his wife was an heir.
But Count Roden was a man barely past fifty, and his vigorous and sordid sex life was infamous throughout Ingram. If it had been a mere rumor, it wouldn't have been so horrifying.
Vanessa barely managed to swallow the wave of disgust rising in her throat. It was always like this when she recalled her first meeting with her fiancé—the way he looked at her, listened to her, touched her… Ever since that day, Vanessa had been driven half-mad.
To the point of begging a man she'd just met to take her virginity.
Of course, it hadn't been entirely impulsive. River Ross was the kind of man who would remain a beautiful memory even if everything fell apart, the kind of man who could fulfill anyone's fantasy of a perfect first time...
"Vanessa Siren Somerset. Are you really trying to end up like Lady Rowen?"
Vanessa swallowed a groan. It seemed she wouldn't be able to brush this off easily. Now that she had spoken her mind, she couldn't exactly deny it, either...
As she hesitated, unsure of what to say, Blair suddenly grabbed both their shoulders and pushed them down toward the table. Forcing their heads low, he pressed a finger to his lips.
"Shh. Look over there."