TTMLPTWW ~ Chapter 44

Hans, dressed more presentably than Anita, frowned.

“I abandoned everything because of you, you know?”

Having stolen money from the Everett Barony and run away, he couldn’t return to his position as a nobleman’s bastard.

Anita stroked her aching belly and lowered her head.

‘I thought he was a responsible man……’

It was too late when she realized he only wanted to start a business pretending to be a nobleman.

She was pregnant, and she had given him all her savings.

Hans, who had always been kind, revealed his true colors and constantly berated her after everything went wrong.

Anita, knowing his true nature, shook her head.

“No. I thought I knew you, but I was wrong.”

“Are you lying?”

Hans chuckled and grabbed her wrist.

“You have to do as I say. I saved your life, didn’t I? What would happen if I told Count Queensguard about you? I’d get money to keep quiet, and that would be the end of it. After all, I have noble blood.”

Anita denied it to the end, but Hans dragged her to the first-class section.

“Please show me your first-class ticket.”

“I’m just going to see an acquaintance inside. Step aside if you don’t want to get fired.”

Pushing past the attendant, Hans began to wander around the first-class section.

“Hans, stop it.”

Anita, her face pale, pleaded, but he was adamant.

“Anita? Is that you?”

Eventually, they ran into Cynthia.

Hans, having found a source of money, grinned and greeted Cynthia and Masera.

“Are you acquainted with Anita? I am Hans Everett from the Everett barony. I am Anita’s lover.”

“Lover?”

Cynthia’s red eyes turned to Anita, who was carrying heavy luggage. Her clothes were shabby compared to Hans, and she looked gaunt.

Cynthia approached Anita, who looked frightened, and whispered, “Anita, you look terrible. What’s wrong? Is that man really your lover?”

“Yes……”

“Don’t tell me he’s the father?”

At Cynthia’s subdued question, Anita’s eyes widened in surprise.

“How did you know I was pregnant? It shouldn’t be obvious because of my clothes……”

“I happened to find out at the mansion a long time ago. It’s one of the reasons I saved you.”

Anita felt tears welling up at her warm voice.

Unlike what she had feared, Cynthia didn’t threaten her for appearing before her.

“Mr. Everett. Shall we go have a meal together? I’ll pay.”

Cynthia suggested, looking at Hans with somewhat sharp eyes.

“……Pregnant women need to eat well.”

At the casually added remark, Masera’s eyes turned to Anita, who was carrying heavy luggage.

Then, Masera looked at Hans with a very unpleasant gaze.

Hans, sensing the mood, awkwardly took Anita’s luggage.

Masera asked with an expression of utter incomprehension, “If you entrust your luggage to the attendant, they’ll bring it to your room. Why are you carrying it around?”

“Well, we’re not first-class passengers, so……”

“Then why are you here?”

At the sharp question, Hans pointed his chin at Anita.

“Anita was happy to see the lady she used to serve, so I came to greet her.”

“Pathetic.”

Masera sighed and turned away, as if he could see through his intentions.

He didn’t object to Cynthia’s offer to buy Anita a meal.

* * *

In the luxurious restaurant of the first-class section.

The nobles around them frowned at the sound of Hans smacking his lips without any table manners.

Unlike Anita, who was picking at her food, conscious of others, Hans was devouring the food ravenously.

“Who’s the pregnant one?”

Masera asked Cynthia casually, watching them.

Even Cynthia, who was always cheerful and positive, was making a disgusted face.

Hans put down his fork, wiped his mouth, and pretended to be a nobleman again.

“Actually, my family opposed my relationship with Anita, who is a maid, so we’re on the run. I have to take responsibility for the woman carrying my child.”

He emphasized that he was a responsible man, trying to gain sympathy by using Anita.

Masera sighed and called the attendant.

“Please reserve a first-class room. It’s for a pregnant woman, so please prepare it carefully.”

“Understood. I will also inform the medical staff.”

Anita refused, looking anxious, but Masera waved his hand as if to say not to worry.

Hans, having achieved his goal, grinned slyly.

‘It’s easy to take advantage of those who have grown up pampered. They put on a show of concern and give you money even if you just whine a little.’

Masera got up from his seat and said to Cynthia, “I’ll go in first. Feel free to talk.”

“Thank you.”

Cynthia smiled kindly and saw Masera off.

At that moment, Hans, who was glancing at Anita’s plate, frowned.

“Hey, if you eat so much, there won’t be anything left for me. Are you planning to eat everything under the pretext of being pregnant?”

Hans, who had scolded her out of habit, realized what he had done and looked around, then laughed exaggeratedly as if it were a joke.

“You know I’m kidding, right?”

Cynthia stared at him with a blank face.

She knew she shouldn’t interfere in other people’s family matters, but she couldn’t stand it.

“It’s not funny.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re being fed thanks to Anita, so don’t act so shamelessly. And fix your habit of smacking your lips like a commoner.”

Hans’s face turned bright red, feeling humiliated by the blatant scolding.

Cynthia giggled, seeing Hans looking embarrassed.

“You know I’m kidding, right?”

And she gave it back to him in the same way.

‘That damn bitch……!’

Hans gnashed his teeth, feeling resentful.

“Hans, I hope the baby is born safely. And the same goes for Anita’s health.”

Cynthia’s usually cheerful voice felt somehow different.

“You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

The knife in her hand, with a cool look, seemed to shine strangely.

* * *

Anita, who had enjoyed a quality meal for the first time in a while, headed to the first-class room, following the grumbling Hans.

“Anita, I’m in the capital. I’ll give you my address.”

“My lady……”

“Think of me as a friend and feel free to contact me. Even if nothing’s wrong. I also want to see the baby that will be born soon.”

Cynthia naturally gave her a choice.

She didn’t have the courage to ask for help, but she felt a little more secure knowing that she had someone to rely on.

At that moment, Hans, who had been grumbling, turned to Anita and asked, “Hey, isn’t that pale-faced bitch the maid you were talking about?”

“No.”

“The only place you’ve worked is House Queensguard.”

Hans threatened Anita, who was trying to keep her mouth shut, and approached her.

“I’ll find out everything if I investigate anyway. It’s better to tell me now for the sake of your child.”

Then Anita’s face turned pale again.

“Y-yes. That’s her. There were circumstances, but it wouldn’t be good if it became known that she lived as a maid……”

At this, Hans’s mind raced.

‘That officer doesn’t know that his wife grew up as a lowly maid. Well, that’s why the Count caused trouble.’

But is it necessary to kill all the servants to keep it a secret? Besides, she doesn’t look like the Count’s daughter.

He didn’t know the details, but it seemed like she wanted to hide her past at all costs. Then maybe he could take advantage of the situation and extort money from her. And also fix her arrogant habits.

Thinking so, Hans smiled slyly.

“Thanks to me, you got to eat delicious food and sleep in a first-class room. Aren’t you grateful? It’s a place you might never have come to in your life. I should order a lot of expensive liquor and room service.”

Just as Hans was about to enter the first-class room, showing off, a well-built attendant blocked his way.

“This room is reserved for one person only.”

“What?”

As Hans blinked in confusion, the attendant said in a firm tone, “The person who made the reservation said not to let anyone in except for a person named Anita.”

“That can’t be true?”

“Please leave, sir.”

In front of the large attendant, he couldn’t act recklessly like before.

‘Damn it……’

Hans clenched his fist tightly and muttered curses.

“Just you wait. I’ll make sure to get a big chunk of money out of you.”