Chapter 50
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 50
Among military wives, social standing was a direct reflection of their husbands' ranks. Any woman who failed to command respect from both her superiors and subordinates was destined for ostracization. Even if she were to become entangled with River Ross, any resulting scandal—whether it was for deceiving a lover or fleeing while pregnant—would be her burden to bear alone.
Just as she had resolved from the beginning, it was far better to be branded a woman of thoroughly loose morals. She would be like Lady Rowen, who had been cast out of high society for carrying on affairs with three men at once. Even now, past the age of fifty, she remained unmarried, without a single proposal, a target of wagging tongues.
"No one laughs at a man who buys a whore. But a man who takes a whore as his wife is always a laughingstock."
Lady Rowen’s interview in a weekly magazine had offered a profound insight into the world. The moment Vanessa read those words, seeing them as a fitting guide for young ladies thrust into the marriage market, the woman had become a sort of pioneer in her eyes.
"You're going to prick yourself."
Seeing Vanessa clutching the embroidery hoop with a blank stare, Mary gently took the fabric from her hands.
"You can finish that once we're out of the carriage. I'll hold onto it for you."
Mary deftly bit the thread to sever it, tied a small, neat knot, and organized the remaining thread to make it easy to resume later.
"Thank you, Mary."
Vanessa leaned her heavy, motion-sick head against the seat and let out a soft sigh. It had been so long since she’d last done any embroidery, and her progress was painfully slow. There was still no word about the brooch and cufflinks stolen by the pickpocket.
She didn't want to lose hope, but she couldn't just sit by and wait, either. The twins' birthday was next week. That was why she had bought a handkerchief and some fine thread.
"That is the famous Kingston Drawbridge," Alman said from the driver's seat.
Vanessa snapped out of her thoughts at his words.
"Once we cross it, we'll be in the Essex Territory. You've been here before with the master, haven't you, my lady?"
"...No. This is my first time."
The name of the place dragged up a past she had fought so hard to suppress. The site of her parents' accident was not far from here. Their carriage, she’d been told, had remained crashed beneath an underpass used by dockworkers for a very long time.
Vanessa could still hear the whispered conversations of the officers who had handled the case. If only someone had found them and reported it in time, they would have lived. It was just bad luck that it happened on the day of the festival, when no one was around...
"Oh my god! Alman! In front!"
Lost in thought, Vanessa looked up at Mary's scream. The carriage's headlamps cut an unnaturally bright path down the dark road. And right in the center of that brilliant light stood a vagrant, his arms spread wide.
* * *
For a split second, time seemed to slow to an agonizing crawl. The screech of tires as the brakes were slammed, Mary's bloodcurdling screams, the chassis swaying violently from side to side, and the dark eyes of the vagrant, wide and staring directly at her...
The moment she registered the unstable mix of terror and ecstasy in his gaze, Vanessa instinctively covered her face with both hands and let out a sharp shriek.
"Ah!"
In an instant, the frozen moment snapped back to its normal speed. A violent screech of tires flung her body forward. Then came a heavy, dull thud of impact, shaking the carriage so violently it felt as if it might flip over.
Vanessa tried to brace herself by gripping the front seat, but her head slammed hard against something, and she lost her hold. The carriage spun halfway around before finally grinding to a halt. Acrid smoke billowed from beneath the crumpled hood.
Mary, coughing dryly, scrambled up from the floorboards and grabbed Vanessa's arm.
"Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine... What about you, Mary?"
"I'm fine, too. Oh my goodness, my lady, your nose is bleeding... Use this."
"What happened?"
"Some madman just jumped in front of us. I'll go check, so please stay here, my lady."
"No... I have to see for myself."
Wiping the blood with her handkerchief, Vanessa quickly stepped out of the carriage. If she wasn't mistaken, he had blocked their path with clear intent. At the very least, he had recognized this vehicle.
Mary shouted something behind her, but Vanessa didn't hear it. Was it a blind impulse or some kind of premonition? She was certain the vagrant had been trying to convey something. As she approached, Alman, who had finally scrambled out of the driver's seat, rushed to block her path.
"My lady, please stay inside. It's dangerous."
"The accident has already happened. What could possibly be dangerous now?"
"He seems mentally unstable. If you would just go back inside..."
"Good heavens, Alman. Someone is hurt!"
The vagrant was still sprawled on the ground. The onlookers gathering around merely glanced at them, none offering to help. Vagrants often died fighting amongst themselves or caused troublesome incidents like this; for the locals, staying out of it was the wisest course of action.
Vanessa pushed past the protesting driver and approached the man. He was young and groaning, still conscious. Blood trickled from his forehead, but fortunately, thanks to Alman's sharp swerve, his injuries did not seem life-threatening.
Unconcerned about the blood staining her clothes, Vanessa knelt to support him.
"Are you alright? Can you move?"
"Ah, ugh..."
Clutching his broken leg, the man whimpered like a wounded animal. His pupils were unfocused and vacant, as if the shock of the collision had left him completely dazed.
"Alman, we must call a doctor. He seems more badly hurt than he looks."
"A doctor? But..."
"What if something happens to him? There's no time, so hurry. If they demand money, give them this."
Vanessa unclasped one of her earrings, which was set with a small diamond, and pressed it into Alman's hand.
"My lady, this is..."
"It was my mother's."
"Oh, dear Lord."
"Tell them it belongs to the House of Somerset and that it's only collateral. They must not sell it. We will raise the money and retrieve it in a few days."
She knew it was madness, but there was no other way. In a remote backwater like this, doctors were notoriously slow to act, and the Somerset name held far too little sway to stir them.
"I will stay by his side until the doctor arrives."
"...Understood. Please keep talking to him so he doesn't lose consciousness."
"Mary, go get some hot water from that shop over there. And clean towels, if possible... Handkerchiefs, anything! Hurry!"
At Vanessa's firm command, Mary, who had been standing frozen, snapped out of her stupor. The maid quickly crossed the street and disappeared into the shop. Meanwhile, the vagrant clutched the hem of Vanessa's dress as if it were his only lifeline.
The sight of his blood-smeared face made her feel faint, but Vanessa steeled herself and took the man's hand.
"You mustn't lose consciousness. Just hold on a little longer. Help is coming."
"...Th-this, I... th-then..."
"You'll be alright. You're bleeding a little, but..."
"N... no, n... no, you can't..."
"What did you say?"
The moment she leaned closer to catch the words he was muttering, he grabbed her wrist with painful force. It was a surprisingly tight grip, hard to believe from someone who had been lying so helplessly a moment ago.
Vanessa flinched as the vagrant strained to pull his face closer to hers. An unbearable stench wafted from his body, which was caked in layers of grime. His teeth were yellowed and crooked.
"I... remember..."
The man's voice was faint, as if it might fade away at any moment, but it gradually grew clearer.
"The moment... I heard that sound... I ran. The sound of that carriage... the one you're riding in..."
"You know it?"
"I'm certain. It's the same one... from seven years ago. I have... good ears. In the war, I could recognize the sound of a Tran engine... even won a medal for it... Just like your master... I caught a cowardly Tran spy..."
The vagrant gasped for breath before continuing, his voice turning into a ragged whisper.
"If you want me to keep my mouth shut, g-give me... m-more... money. My child is sick... Then I'll disappear, just like you want."