Chapter 20
“I’m sorry… for laughing.”
“No, it’s okay. You can speak comfortably with me.”
“…”
I thought this was my chance and spoke again.
‘He refused last time, but maybe this time…’
Johann closed his mouth and looked at me quietly.
‘Is he going to refuse again?’
Because of the difference in our social status, it felt strange to hear him speak formally to me. If I clearly drew the line, it would be easier for me to act. While I waited a bit nervously for Johann’s answer, he suddenly held out a handkerchief.
“…?”
It was a white handkerchief with soft yellow stains here and there, as if flowers had been imprinted on it.
“It looks like your hand is hurt, Chloe.”
“Ah.”
When I looked at my palm after Johann spoke, I saw a small scratch from earlier when I fell.
‘I didn’t even feel the sting, so I didn’t notice.’
As I stood there, Johann gently wrapped my hand with the handkerchief like a bandage. It wasn’t a big wound, so it felt a little embarrassing.
‘This is the third one.’
I already had two handkerchiefs he gave me before, and even though I thought I should return them, I still hadn’t.
“…Thank you.”
“Shall we go back now?”
I nodded while feeling the soft touch of the handkerchief around my hand.
We had rested in a different place for a while and also briefly met with some nobles. Soon, the anniversary ceremony was about to begin.
So, I returned with Johann to where Lilith was.
We weren’t gone long, and since Noel and Verdi were there, I had felt at ease. But what I saw when I returned was Lilith’s face, with clear tears falling from her eyes.
And standing in front of her was Crowde, with a mean smirk on his face.
“Looks like something happened.”
“You…!”
The moment I saw Crowde, I almost spoke harshly, forgetting Johann was right next to me.
But I barely held it in.
“No! That’s not true!”
Lilith shouted at Crowde, sniffling.
Normally, she would stay quiet no matter how much someone bothered her, but this time was different.
“Chloe, don’t go! Stay with me!”
“And you believe that? You really think anyone will stay with you?”
Crowde sneered.
“Liar! He’s lying!”
“I’m not lying. I clearly heard the noble lady and Chloe talking. Chloe is going to leave you soon too. Isn’t that right?”
Crowde turned his head and looked at Noel, as if asking her to confirm that what he said was true.
Noel bit her lip and glared at him.
“What do you think you’re doing, coming over here all of a sudden? If you just came to say hello, then say it and go! Stop making a scene.”
Noel stood in front of Lilith, shielding her, and scolded Crowde sharply.
“See? Even the noble lady didn’t say, Chloe will stay.”
Crowde looked even more confident now. It seemed he had overheard the conversation Noel and I had earlier.
‘No wonder he was lurking nearby.’
Even though Noel was helping me, I didn’t want her to get involved too deeply, so I had been careful with my words.
And this is what happened.
‘I wasn’t careful enough.’
I bit my lip hard.
“Huaaa… waaaah!”
Finally, Lilith couldn’t hold it in and burst into tears.
She was a child who usually only cried quietly in my arms, without even sobbing properly.
But now, overwhelmed with emotion, she cried out loud, not caring about the people watching.
“Miss, please calm down. I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding.”
Verdi tried to soothe her, but Lilith’s emotions couldn’t be settled so easily once they had burst out.
As I was about to push through the crowd to get to her, someone reached out before I could.
“What’s this noise about?”
A woman with flaming red hair tied back and blue eyes stepped forward and spoke with a cold voice.
Her face looked familiar. Even though I had never seen her before.
When she appeared, Noel flinched in surprise.
‘Who is she?’
The woman calmly looked at Noel and Crowde, then slowly turned her head.
She focused her gaze on the crying Lilith.
As her eyes remained on Lilith without wavering, I started to feel more anxious.
“Excuse me, please let me through…”
I tried to pass through the crowd but stumbled.
Johann caught my wrist to support me.
“It’s okay. That person is…”
The woman reached out and gently lifted Lilith into her arms.
“Sweetheart, why are you crying?”
“Hic, hic…”
Lilith paused and looked up at her.
The woman’s voice was soft and completely different from her cold tone earlier.
“That’s Duchess Harriet. She’s my mother,” Johann whispered beside me.
So this woman was Seraphina Harriet, the mother of Noel and Johann.
“Wh-who…”
“I’m Seraphina. What’s your name, dear?”
“…Ninnith.”
Lilith’s voice was muffled and unclear from her crying.
Seraphina glanced at Noel. Realizing the look, Noel quickly added,
“Her name is Lilith, Mother.”
“Ah, such a lovely name.”
The Duchess looked into Lilith’s eyes and smiled.
Lilith, with tears still hanging on her eyelashes, couldn’t take her eyes off Seraphina.
“What made you so sad? It’s alright now. Calm down.”
She hugged Lilith and gently patted her back.
Lilith leaned her face on the woman’s shoulder, still sniffling, then slowly calmed down.
She wasn’t moving anymore—it seemed she had fallen asleep from exhaustion.
It didn’t take long for Seraphina to quiet the crowd and calm Lilith.
And once Lilith was asleep in her arms, everyone was too overwhelmed by Seraphina’s presence to say anything.
Then her gaze shifted to Noel.
“You can explain what happened, can’t you, Noel?”
“Mother, that is…”
Seraphina passed Noel and looked at Crowde. The boy flinched when their eyes met.
“And you are…?”
“I’m Crowde Shainon, Duchess.”
“Ah.”
There was no warmth in her eyes like there was for Lilith.
“I don’t know what happened between you and Noel, but today is the Harriet family’s anniversary. I’d prefer no more trouble.”
Crowde bit his lip.
Since Lilith was in Seraphina’s arms, he couldn’t do anything rash.
Then Seraphina’s gaze went past Crowde and fixed on someone beyond him.
“It seems the head of the Shainon family is looking for someone. Shouldn’t you go to him?”
She motioned with her eyes, and Crowde turned his head.
There stood Gideon Shainon, staring at him with a terrifying expression.
“F-Father…”
Crowde’s voice trembled with fear.
Gideon bowed his head slightly to Seraphina, as if apologizing for his son’s behavior.
Seraphina nodded, seemingly not wanting to complicate things.
Eventually, Crowde glanced around nervously, then hurried over to his father.
As the situation finally settled down, I came back to my senses.
“Sir Johann”.
When I called him, he let go of my wrist.
I quickly approached Lilith.
“Lilith!”
“Chloe!”
Noel called out to me.
‘Someone’s watching…’
I turned my head, feeling someone’s gaze.
Far away, Gideon Shainon was staring at me.
Our eyes met briefly before he turned and left.
“…”
“And you are?”
As I stood still, the Duchess’s voice brought me back to attention. I quickly bowed.
“I’m sorry, Duchess. My lady caused you trouble…”
“It’s alright. Raise your head.”
Her gentle voice was just like when she spoke to Lilith. I slowly looked up at her.
“You must be here with Noel’s invitation.”
“Yes, I apologize for the disturbance.”
“I should be the one to apologize. It seems Noel didn’t treat her guest properly.”
Noel looked away from her mother’s gaze.
I looked at Lilith, still asleep in Seraphina’s arms, and gently reached out.
“Please, allow me to take her. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. She’s very light. And also…”
Seraphina stopped mid-sentence, and her blue eyes carefully studied me.
