Chapter 19

‘I’m like an item put up for sale at a charity event hosted by noble ladies.

Not really necessary, but buying me would win applause from the crowd. Once taken home, I’m useless and stuffed away somewhere, only to be looked at occasionally with a thought: ‘How much did I spend on this again? Who could I sell it to for a profit?’’

Hermia said this and then laid her head down on the table. It seemed she fell asleep quickly, as regular breathing could be heard from beneath her crossed arms.

As Walter stepped outside, Aiden and Henry approached him.

“Prepare the bedroom and send someone to the Vansen residence. The lady will be staying here tonight.”

“Yes.”

“Also, bring back clothes and shoes. Make sure they are the right size this time.”

After receiving orders in turn, Aiden moved out first while Henry shrugged.

“I bought some items for Miss Melissa, just in case. I made sure to get some for Miss Hermia too.”

This was a moment where Lieutenant Henry Schumacher’s delicate side shone through. Walter stared at his subordinate’s grumpy face for a moment.

Now that he thought about it, he had heard that Henry was quite popular among the nursing officers. What had Gerald said about him? “Natural”? Walter wasn’t exactly sure what it meant, but it was definitely a criticism.

“…Good job.”

Despite praising him, Walter turned his back with a hint of caution and went inside.

“She’s completely asleep. What should we do?” Mel asked in a flustered voice while examining Hermia.

Instead of answering, he carefully picked Hermia up.

“You should go rest too.”

“Where are you taking her? You’re not planning to make her sleep here, are you? You’re not sending her home?”

“It’s late.”

“But you sent Count Arnold back even though it was even later when he arrived.”

Mel rushed over and blocked the door, stubbornly standing there with a confused expression. Walter sighed briefly.

“Lady Hermia came to talk to me. But you got her drunk, and as you can see, this is what happened.”

“I didn’t force her to drink!”

“Lower your voice, Melissa.”

“……”

Even now, she was still concerned about the lady. Suddenly feeling wronged, Mel looked back and forth between Walter and Hermia before impulsively asking,

“Are you really going to marry her?”

The ominous question that had been lingering in her mind unexpectedly slipped out before she realized it.

Mel had clearly expressed her intentions at the engagement ceremony. Although it wasn’t a perfect sentence, he couldn’t have misunderstood or forgotten it.

“It’s all fake! The wedding… it was always supposed to be me…”

Walter seemed to recall the same scene as he slowly opened his deeply submerged eyes.

“Yes. I will marry her.”

“……”

The answer she hadn’t expected made Mel feel as if the ground beneath her feet had crumbled away. It was absurd; that was all that filled her mind.

“…Why? I’m also a lady of Vansen! No, I’m the real one! Since I’ve regained my memory, shouldn’t you marry me instead?”

“There’s no going back on my decision, Melissa.”

“Exactly! I’m Melissa! Not some Mel Greenwood!”

With a loud bang, she struck her fist against the door in anger.

“……”

Hermia stirred slightly from her sleep but quickly settled back down. Walter took a moment to compose himself while looking down at his fiancée still with closed eyes.

“Tomorrow when Lady Hermia returns home, you’ll go with her. Of course, I’ll be going too.”

Mel asked in disbelief,

“What? What do you mean? Where am I going?”

“To your rightful place. Now that your memory has returned, you need to reclaim your status. I’ll be your witness so it shouldn’t be difficult to restore it.”

The color drained from her face as Walter continued without hesitation.

“You’ll return to the Count’s residence. Count Vansen has inherited your father’s title; thus he has an obligation to support you until marriage.”

“You’re sending me back there…? To that house with the Count and Countess…?”

“If you don’t want that, there’s also a way to reclaim your title. If the Count refuses, we can take legal action; it’s not impossible. If you want help with that, I’ll assist you.”

‘Help me? Me?’

Mel stiffened at his unfamiliar attitude treating her like a stranger. Then realizing this thought made her quickly switch to a submissive tone.

“Walter, I don’t want to go back there. Can’t I just stay here? They’re definitely going to harm me.”

“Harm you?”

“I haven’t regained all my memories yet but… what if Count Arnold really did kill our father like in the novel?”

While she didn’t truly believe that, Mel did her best to appear frightened.

“If he finds out I’m Melissa, what if he tries to get rid of me this time?”

“That won’t happen. That would only prove that the book is true.”

Walter’s response was firm—a judgment close to certainty leaving no room for argument. She quickly gave up and immediately thought of another excuse.

“Well, even if that’s not true they’ll still harass me. I know better than anyone how terrible the Countess is; if you hear about how stingy she is, you’d be shocked!”

This time Mel spoke sincerely because no one knew better than she did how Hermia had been treated in that house as she had been her personal maid.

If they treated their own daughter like that, it was clear she would receive even worse treatment as an outsider. However, Walter countered sharply once again.

“I told you there’s a way to reclaim your title and estate. If you really don’t want to go back then I can help find you a townhouse in the capital where you can stay.”

“Why would I go through such trouble? I can just stay here until I reclaim my estate and then return later. Right?”

““It would take at least six months, possibly years, for a verdict. Even though we were once childhood friends, if you stay here, rumors will spread about you. I can’t allow that.”

“So why not just marry me instead of Lady Hermia? Then no one would think anything strange about me staying here!”

“Melissa, I…”

Ultimately they were back at square one again; Walter felt hopeless as if he were talking against a wall unable to continue his words.

Now he remembered clearly.

Melissa Vansen was a child who would stubbornly block her ears and sit on the floor until she achieved her goal once she set her mind on something.

“…We’ll talk again tomorrow. Go rest now.”

Walter concluded that putting Hermia comfortably to sleep came first.

He passed by Mel with a stiff expression and strode out into the long corridor with each step filled with unfamiliar irritation yet his arm carrying Hermia remained steady without any tremor.

—

“I knew this would happen,” Hermia muttered while staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.

Not only had she invaded someone else’s home but also drank excessively before falling asleep; however, there was an even more dreadful reality awaiting her.

For instance—the conversation she overheard between those two when she woke up briefly… or rather their ‘conversation’… or maybe just ‘conversation’…

Yes! That ‘conversation’ was precisely the problem!

‘I am Melissa Vansen!’

‘Go home tomorrow; I’ll testify for you.’

‘What if Count Arnold kills me?’

‘I’ll find you a townhouse where we can prepare for trial.’

‘Can’t I just stay here?’

‘If you remain here people will misunderstand; I won’t allow that.’

‘Just break off your engagement and marry me instead!’

She couldn’t recall every detail exactly but it roughly followed this ridiculous pattern of events—there had even been some insults aimed at the Countess somewhere in between… And then they ended with “Let’s talk tomorrow,” didn’t they?

“He’ll probably tell me after I wake up. That the engagement is off.”

Since he was helping Melissa reclaim her place, it only made sense that the marriage should go to her too.

“Damn life! I knew this would happen…”

It wasn’t unexpected but somehow it hit harder than anticipated mentally; perhaps she had been secretly hoping for marriage with the Duke all along.

Perhaps she had been too fixated on her past, where she was praised as a diamond in the rough.

Back then, she’d shone alone in the mud. Now, surrounded by real jewels, she realized she was just another tiny speck, unremarkable amidst the splendor. Compared to Melissa, a born diamond, she didn’t stand a chance.

‘In my old place pearls were considered beautiful above all else.’

With a gloomy expression on her face Hermia blinked away tears; now she could easily predict what would unfold next.

She would be called somewhere only to find Mel sitting beside the Duke followed by receiving an ultimatum afterward…

Then undoubtedly—she’d become fodder for gossip within high society labeled as an illegitimate child along with being branded as a villainess plus an ex-fiancée!

How delighted would Irene be upon hearing this?

“Ugh…”

Hermia shot upright only to groan painfully at her throbbing head; how much had she drunk last night causing such an awful hangover?

Crawling across the bed towards where the bell cord hung down produced a soft ringing sound shortly thereafter someone knocked gently on the door causing Hermia momentarily confusion before recovering herself again.

Looking around revealed this place much wider than her own room back at Count Vansen’s residence!

To describe it normally felt impossible due its distance from any door—should she shout aloud inviting whoever stood outside? Thankfully though—someone opened it by themselves!

“Good morning Miss! If you’re feeling alright I’ll prepare your bathwater right away,” said one maid holding a glass of water filled with lemon and lime slices who entered politely bowing slightly upon arrival causing Hermia stammering while nodding in response awkwardly still dazed by unfamiliar kindness shown towards herself unexpectedly!

After soaking in a bath that felt large enough to swim in, she found freshly prepared undergarments and dresses waiting for her.

Finally placed before herself were ten pairs of shoes of all different designs yet each size five!

‘Did Mel have such large feet?’

She thought vaguely, choosing a pair at random and fitting them onto her bandaged feet. Once dressed, the senior maid who had guided her the previous night arrived.

“The master is waiting for you. Shall we go?”

Finally—the moment arrived! With determined steps Hermia followed after feeling resolved not wanting to carry labels such as ‘villainous illegitimate child’ nor ‘ex-fiancée’ anymore than necessary!

Yes! Instead let’s strike first! Requesting a breakup would be less humiliating than being dumped.

Yes, it would still be shameful, but at least she could preserve a shred of dignity. –

‘Excuse me but let’s pretend our engagement never happened instead please break off our engagement!’ 

As they traversed corridors leading down spiral staircases crossing endless hallways—Hermia repeatedly rehearsed lines within mind reflecting deeply upon them till reaching dining room doors opening revealing familiar sight awaiting inside: Walter alongside Mel seated together just as anticipated…

“I’m sorry, but—huff—divorce… no, breakup… puff… why is this place so far? Damn it…”

She barely managed to gasp out her words as she arrived, struggling to catch her breath.