Chapter 22
‘Astrid’ wasn’t a common name.
Commoners usually picked simple and easy-to-pronounce names, so she must be a noble.
But then, why would she need to hide it from me—especially after revealing that her life was being threatened by the Emperor?
Maddy was selling newspapers near the alley by the red brick house, lost in thought.
“Hey. Gimme one.”
“That’ll be 50 Borings.”
As the man threw the money and snatched a paper from her, Maddy casually lifted the man’s watch and slipped it into her pocket. She sat down on the stone pavement.
To perfectly protect Yulician’s life, she had to prepare for every variable.
If ‘Astrid’ was his weakness, then she needed to know everything about her.
Maddy gathered all her newspapers and crumpled them up before disappearing into a narrow alley.
She took off her hat and shook out a ragged cloth that had been thrown away, pulling it over her head.
She wrapped the crumpled papers in an old fabric and clutched them to her chest.
Then she smeared dirt across her face and hunched her back—she now looked like an old woman carrying a child.
The old beggar wandered the streets before heading toward the red house.
She knocked on the tightly shut door and mumbled weakly,
“Please… Just a piece of bread… My grandchild is dying. My only daughter is gone, and now this baby’s all I have left…”
But not even a sound stirred from within the house.
Maddy kept watch the entire day, but not once did the curtains move.
She knocked a few more times, then turned around as if giving up.
Just then, something rolled to her feet.
A fist-sized piece of bread wrapped in a handkerchief.
Maddy picked it up immediately and turned back toward the red house, bowing repeatedly.
“Thank you, thank you so much…”
Clutching the bread to her chest, Maddy shuffled away with her back still bent.
Through a slit in the window, a pair of blue eyes peeked out.
A child barely waist-high, with large, bright blue eyes—just like Yulician’s.
Maddy walked between the alleys, tossing off the cloth she had worn and throwing away the crumpled newspapers.
She brushed the dirt off her face with her left hand and bit into the bread.
“So our honeybun was married before, huh?”
Then she needed to find out about the birth mother too. Why was the child hidden away and raised in secret?
But… not today.
Because she’d been out for two whole nights!
Maddy snuck into a pub through the back door and entered the storage room. She scooped up water from a large basin and began scrubbing her head vigorously.
“Oh, my goodness! You scared me half to death! What are you doing here!”
Vinnie, the pub owner, had come in to restock some missing side dishes and jumped at the sight of Maddy.
Maddy kept calmly washing her hair and waved.
“Ah! Sorry, sis. I stepped in some manure and fell. Just borrowing a bit of water.”
“You brat! I heard you’re getting married soon! And you’re coming back to the Grand Duke’s estate like this?”
“Exactly. That’s why I’m washing up here.”
“Ugh, you’re too much. Wait, I’ll get you something to wear.”
“Oh, right. I brought you a gift, sis.”
“What is it? Oh my, is this a watch?”
“Give it to your husband.”
“What the— Why would you even—… Thanks, Maddy.”
Vinnie chuckled and went off, returning with a clean outfit.
“This is the best I have, but… it’s not really fit for the Grand Duke’s estate. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m the one barging in here. Thanks, sis. I’ll wear it well. Oh! One more thing.”
Maddy quickly changed clothes and pulled out a handful of coins from her pocket.
It was all the small change she had earned selling newspapers.
“Here. It’s not much, but take it anyway…”
“Hey! Ugh, seriously! No way! You already gave me the watch!”
Vinnie swatted Maddy’s hand as if scolding her.
She had quite the sting in her palm.
Even as her hand stung warmly, Maddy smiled. But then her lips slowly dropped as she ran her fingers through her damp hair.
“Ha…”
Vinnie, who had always had a soft heart, showed a bit of concern at the rare sight of Maddy sighing.
“What’s wrong? Did the Grand Duke bring you in and now he doesn’t like what he sees? Is it your sticky fingers that put him off?”
“…Wow, sis. That was subtle.”
“Well, if not that, what else would make you sigh like that?”
“Sis… I really want to marry the Grand Duke.”
“Then do it! Who’s stopping you?!”
“…But I’m not good enough in the eyes of the nobles.”
“That’s true.”
Vinnie never had been good at lying.
“That’s why getting approval from the family elders is really tough.”
“Still, if you both love each other, how hard is it to just give their blessing? That’s ridiculous. Who said no, huh? Who?”
Vinnie had always been good at listening to other people’s problems.
Maddy slumped her shoulders and murmured,
“Maybe if I clean up some of the messier rumors… they’ll be more open to it?”
“Of course! But what kind of rumors are we talking about?”
“You know that guy Biente who comes by here a lot?”
“What about him?”
“That jerk keeps spreading gossip. Saying he slept with a countess or whatever. Filthy scum. Who the hell does he think he is, talking about our Grand Duke’s aunt like that?”
“Good heavens! Are you serious?”
“Keep this between us, okay?”
“The Grand Duke’s aunt, a countess… Wait—Monte Nezando’s countess?!”
Vinnie’s eyes widened like saucers.
And last but not least, Vinnie had always loved gossip.
“I’m going to ask His Grace to deal with it before any more rumors spread about her.”
“Ah… Oh… Biente… The noble lady he kept talking about, oh gosh… so that’s what it was…”
“I’m sure His Grace will handle him, maybe even challenge him to a duel or something. We can’t let anyone keep slandering the Countess like this.”
“You’re right… Oh my, the poor Countess…”
Vinnie already seemed to have drifted off into her own world.
“Sis. Remember—it’s a secret!”
“…Huh? Oh! Of course, of course!”
Maddy slipped out the pub’s back door once again.
Within days, rumors would spread throughout the entire domain—about a scandal between the Countess and a knight.
It wouldn’t be enough to destroy a noble family, but it could certainly cause unrest in Monte Nezando’s Count’s mind.
And his exchanges with other nobles—especially those who cared about appearances—would grow cold.
[Darling. If we love each other, why do we even need their permission to get married? sniffle sniffle]
[Are you out of your mind?]
[People are listening.]
[Ahem. It’s just about getting the blessing of those who’ve led a harmonious married life before us. It’s like a guarantee.]
[Ah, so it’s a guarantee from seniors who’ve had a successful marriage…]
Recalling that conversation with Yulician, Maddy headed for the Grand Duke’s estate.
If she couldn’t get the relatives’ approval, then she’d just strip them of the right to approve.
She was already humming.
Just one more night, and it would be three full days.
Three days since Maddy had left.
Yulician slammed his hand on his desk, unable to concentrate on his paperwork.
“…How can she just stay out for more than two days without a word? She should at least say where she’s going.”
On the first day, he thought maybe she had run away.
Maybe she sold the things she got at the boutique to fund her escape.
But when he checked with the maid Rayleigh, Maddy hadn’t taken anything.
All he got was a subtle glare from Rayleigh.
[Your Grace. Maddy isn’t that kind of person. She said if she ever left, it would be because you asked her to. She’d never leave on her own without talking to you.]
[Then do you know where she went?]
[…I don’t. But she’s someone who truly loves you. She may have lived as a pickpocket on the streets, but in this house, she wouldn’t touch a thing. So please, don’t doubt her.]
Yulician sent Rayleigh away without a word, boiling inside.
How did Maddy win her over so quickly?
They had barely met, and already this maid was on Maddy’s side. Unbelievable.
Hmph. Probably just acting again.
Then this morning, he suddenly remembered the horse she took.
It was a well-bred horse from the Grand Duke’s stables—it would fetch a high price.
But she wouldn’t leave me and throw away billions for just a horse, right?
It was a hard truth to accept.
He’d promised her so much.
…She said she wouldn’t die.
Maybe she didn’t even want to face the risk of danger.
Or maybe—
[Not everyone lives their life lying like you do.]
[Clean up your own mess first.]
[It’s not me you love—it’s the money. All you care about is money.]
Was she hurt?
Maybe she was smiling on the outside but upset deep down when he told her to clean up her past?
Maybe it bothered her that their contract didn’t include a clause about her personal life?
Then just don’t get caught!
Whether it’s him or someone else—just don’t get caught, and she could still meet someone. Why disappear without a word?
Did she really have someone she loved that much?
His thoughts spiraled in every direction.
Just then, the butler’s voice came from outside the door.
“Your Grace, she has returned.”
Yulician sprang to his feet from his desk.
His steps grew faster.
At the entrance stood Maddy, in rather shabby clothes.
“Your Grace, your face is a mess. Have you not been sleeping?”
“Where have you been?”
“I told you—I had some things to take care of.”
“You…!”
Servants were scattered all around.
Even if no one spoke, they all knew Yulician hadn’t eaten or slept properly while waiting for Maddy.
“You disappear without a word and don’t come back for days. What, were you off having a secret rendezvous with someone?”
Her nonchalant attitude—as if she’d only been out for a few hours—sent his irritation skyrocketing.
Maddy widened her eyes for a moment, then gave a familiar gentle smile.
“Let’s talk inside, Your Grace.”
“What? Still not done saying goodbye to the man who wouldn’t let you go? If you really wanted, you could’ve walked away anytime. But you spent three days with him?”
Yulician was silently telling himself, Shut up. Shut up, but his mouth wouldn’t obey.
“Who is he? Huh? Is this about how hurt you were when I told you to cut ties? Was it that upsetting? So much so that you’d leave without a word? I told you I’d give you everything!”
The servants’ eyes went wide. Even Maddy was looking at him in surprise now, her eyes slightly widened.
