Chapter 8
“…No. It’s just that Baby Delerone is really cute.”
“Yuz!”
Jewel called out to Yuz in a sharp voice.
“You shouldn’t let it show when she’s already got so much on her mind!”
Even though they whispered, I could still hear them.
They think I’m troubled…? Why?
“Lady Veloce, you’re so kind.”
What?
Why all of a sudden?
Elsa’s words only made me more confused. I, who used to be called one of the most wicked villainesses, was suddenly “kind.”
“Is something wrong?”
At my question, all three of them stopped moving. The three of them looked at me at the same time with strangely sympathetic eyes, then shook their heads.
“It’s nothing.”
This is really suspicious.
But, as if they had made a pact, none of them would tell me, so I didn’t realize anything until dinner.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Jewel offered to watch Delerone. She wasn’t old enough to be shy of strangers yet, and Delerone didn’t fuss at bedtime since she had no sleep habits.
Thanks to that, I could head down to the dining room with an easy mind.
There was a man at the table I hadn’t seen before.
Oh, a beard.
It didn’t look messy. In fact, it made him look rather gentlemanly, maybe even a little sexy.
Is that what they call dirty-sexy?
I glanced at the man, then sat in the seat the butler pulled out for me.
“It would be good to introduce ourselves before dinner. This is Marten Phoebe, Jeremias’s legal representative. And this is Lady Veloce of the Artemio Count family.”
Oh, the legal representative.
Once Delerone’s family register was settled, I planned to call for a priest. Sigh… No matter what I do, I have to rely on Maynus.
I’d probably have to borrow some money from Maynus, with the promise to pay it back. Maybe I should write up a plan and brief him.
As I was worrying, a voice spoke up.
“Hello, I’m Marten Phoebe.”
The man across from me greeted politely. His gentle impression didn’t match his very formal manner.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Veloce.”
I returned the greeting with the elegance I’d honed since entering the novel. This dinner was clearly arranged for Delerone’s family register issue.
We continued the meal smoothly.
From appetizer to dessert, the meal was perfect without lacking anything. Even the conversation between me, Maynus, and Marten flowed smoothly without a break.
It felt like I’d had an enjoyable dinner for the first time in a while. The meal naturally led into drinks.
This pleasant mood lasted right up until Delerone became the topic.
“This wine truly suits the dignity of Jeremias.”
“I’m glad it suits your taste. I’ll have a few bottles of the same wine prepared for you to take home.”
“I’m so grateful. I’ll have to drink it on sleepless nights.”
“No need to thank me. But, I do have a favor to ask.”
“Please, Your Grace.”
Maynus gave me a look.
The truth was, Delerone wasn’t my real daughter, and the Artemio Count family was still intact.
She could have been added to Ellice’s family register and raised in Artemio. Artemio had rejected Delerone, but even so, I needed the legal representative’s help to add her to my own register.
The mood was good, so I hoped Marten would take on the task.
“A favor? It’s only right that I do it. Isn’t Jeremias’s business my business too?”
Jeremias’s business?
That’s not quite right.
“Thank you for thinking that way. As you’ve probably heard from rumors, Lady Veloce and a child of Artemio blood are staying at this mansion. But the child’s family register hasn’t been settled yet. I’d like your help with that. Of course, you’ll be compensated.”
“What compensation? I already belong to Jeremias. I consider it my duty to handle this. So, should I take care of both Lady Veloce’s and Baby Delerone’s family register issues at the same time?”
That sounded odd. Why is my own register issue included?
Oh, because Delerone needs to be added to mine?
Maynus clasped his hands and leaned comfortably back in his chair. He nodded.
“Mm.”
“Haha. To think such a blessing would come to Jeremias.”
That was a rather awkward laugh.
“Hmm?”
A blessing for Jeremias?
I put down my wineglass. No matter how I listened, the conversation felt off.
Maynus narrowed his eyes and studied Marten.
“To gain a daughter and a wife at once. Congratulations, Your Grace.”
Maynus blinked slowly. I did the same. My eyes met Maynus’s.
‘Didn’t you say you’d clear up the misunderstanding?’
Maynus’s gaze was full of betrayal.
‘Of course! I kept my promise!’
Hasn’t Yuz spread the corrected rumor yet?
She seemed talkative enough.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Pardon?”
Marten Phoebe glanced at me, then lowered his voice.
“I was truly moved by Lady Veloce’s generosity. To accept the child born between Lady Ellice and His Grace…”
“Pfft!”
Maynus spat out the wine he was drinking.
Marten’s eyes went wide at the duke’s display, but I completely understood how he felt.
If I’d been eating or drinking, I would have done the same.
What on earth is he saying!
“Cough! Cough!”
“What are you talking about! A child between Ellice and His Grace?!”
“That’s what everyone’s saying. There’s no need to hide it…”
“I’m not hiding anything, Mr. Marten. That child is the daughter of Ellice and Sir Alexand! Delerone will be added to my family register!”
I couldn’t help but raise my voice.
Why did the rumor get so twisted?
Without thinking, I got up and reached out to pat the coughing Maynus on the back. He really suffers because of me and Delerone.
He almost got turned into a scoundrel who had an affair.
Marten stroked his beard with a flustered face at my words.
“Oh, my. Then why did such a rumor start?”
What did I tell Yuz?
‘She’s not my child.’
No way.
An awkward smile crept onto my face. I handed Maynus a glass of water and avoided Marten’s eyes.
“Exactly. Sigh. You really can’t control rumors.”
I started explaining my story in detail, keeping an eye on Marten. It was time to shed the image of villainess Veloce and build a new one.
Since I became Veloce, I might as well live with some dignity.
But the title of villainess was a bit dangerous.
So I added a little more pitifulness, explaining how I was driven out of Artemio and ended up caring for Ellice’s child.
“It’s humiliating enough to be kicked out of Artemio, but now there are rumors too…”
I trailed off, dabbing at my eyes.
Marten’s gaze softened at once.
“If my careless words offended you, Lady, I apologize.”
“No, it’s understandable that such rumors would spread.”
I glanced around to check where Yuz and Elsa were. They were looking at me with embarrassed faces.
Even Maynus, who looked pale and dazed, was looking at me with pity.
“Unlike Ellice, I was never welcomed at home. But when Ellice died giving birth to Delerone, Delerone also fell out of my parents’ favor. That’s why we were kicked out into the freezing cold together.”
“My goodness. So the rumors about the Artemio count and countess being so partial were true.”
“Ellice was a child worthy of all their love.”
I dabbed at my eyes again.
“But the noble Duke Maynus took me in. He promised to look after me until I could stand on my own. Isn’t that right, Maynus?”
Maynus cleared his throat.
I know you.
You can’t refuse a pitiful woman like me here.
Just like the time at the banquet when Veloce was pushed down the stairs and he was the only one who didn’t turn away.
Of course, Veloce paid back that incident twice over.
I placed my hand over Maynus’s on the table.
“Maynus.”
He answered with a faint sigh.
“That’s right, Veloce.”
His answer was clear and firm.
“I can’t tell you how grateful I am. If not for Maynus, Delerone and I would have frozen to death by now.”
“It’s a huge mistake on the part of the Artemio Count family. There must be a way to set things right. So, for Baby Delerone, does she just need to be added to Lady Veloce’s family register?”
“That’s right.”
Maynus answered in a deeply sunken voice. The look he gave me held a trace of resentment.
‘I didn’t mean for this to happen.’
I raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, but he still seemed to blame me.
Now the rumors are really going to spread.
It really wasn’t my intention.
