TTMLPTWW ~ Chapter 77

“Goodbye!”

“See you again!”

After the volunteer work, the children from the orphanage waved their hands with smiles to those who were leaving.

Even those who initially complained with thoughts like, ‘Why should I, a noble, do something like this?’ now wore proud expressions.

“What should I do… I think I’ve grown attached to the kids.”

Someone even shed tears. Even though they would be back tomorrow.

After saying goodbye to everyone, I was about to head straight to the hospital where Anita was admitted. Masera had already left for the mansion to handle her admission paperwork.

Just then, I saw a shabby man blocking my path. It was Hans, with a look of desperation in his eyes.

“Where did you take my wife? Give me back my wife!”

The soldiers tried to stop him, but he resisted fiercely, causing a great commotion.

At that, I dismissed the soldiers and stood face to face with Hans.

Coming all the way here meant one of two things.

Either he genuinely wanted Anita back…

“Is it about money?”

I asked with a disgusted expression.

If it were the former, he would have worried about Anita’s health first.

This man just needed someone to make money for him.

At my question, Hans gave a greedy smile.

“Fortunately, you understand right away. If I get the money, I won’t appear before Anita again.”

He reeked of alcohol as he slyly approached and whispered.

“Of course, I’ll keep my mouth shut about my lady’s past. About how she grew up as a lowly maid.”

I crossed my arms and pondered for a moment, then took off the gold bracelet that Count Queensguard had sent before the wedding and handed it over.

Hans grinned broadly as he accepted the bracelet.

“I’ll live an honest life from now on, my lady.”

Liar. That man would run straight to the gambling den, and when the money ran out, he would come again.

But I smiled faintly.

“Luck without effort brings corresponding misfortune or takes a price. Especially gambling.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

Hans, who had bitten the gold bracelet to test it, grinned and left immediately.

* * *

Hans, who had easily obtained wealth, went straight to the gambling den.

“Stupid bitch. She’ll have to be my cash cow for life instead of Anita.”

Since she clearly couldn’t be honest with her own husband, he could just go back and threaten her again if he lost the money.

Ding- Ding-

And soon, the jackpot hit. The gold bracelet hadn’t even been used as gambling funds.

Amid the deafening sound of the bell, Hans gained an enormous fortune that he could live on for the rest of his life.

“Ahaha, no way!”

He, who had always lost at the gambling den, wore an unbelievable expression.

“They said she’s a lucky woman. Is it because I have her thing?”

But his joy was short-lived, as Cynthia’s warning suddenly lingered in his mind.

“Luck without effort brings corresponding misfortune or takes a price. Especially gambling.”

Hans jumped up from his seat.

“I’m getting unnecessary thoughts.”

He grabbed the money and ran outside.

“Hey, gambler. I heard you won a lot of money? You’re going to lose it anyway, so why don’t you donate some?”

Just then, large, menacing men grabbed Hans.

Hans, grabbed by the thugs belonging to the gambling den, desperately shouted.

“Let go! This is my money that I won fairly!”

“Money won by gambling is fair? What a load of crap.”

Thud, thud, the sound of beatings echoed from a corner of the alley.

Clang-

A man who picked up the bracelet that had fallen from Hans’s grasp was startled.

It was because he saw the family crest engraved small on the inside of the bracelet.

“Damn it, it’s a noble’s item. Did you steal it? Or are you a noble?”

There was no way a mere thug could distinguish it just by looking at the family crest. However, he knew that messing with a noble would cause big trouble.

“I’m… a noble from a baronet family.”

Hans groaned, huddled up.

The man stroked his chin with concern.

“Damn, I was just going to beat you up a bit and take the money… I guess I can’t.”

The men looked at each other.

“What can we do, now that we’ve already done it? Let’s take care of him, since he could be a threat later.”

“Yeah, looking at his state, he’s probably a bastard the family disowned anyway. They won’t even look for him.”

Soon, a dark shadow loomed over Hans, who was huddled up.

Hans suddenly remembered a long-forgotten promise.

“I’ll definitely make you a noble lady. I’ll succeed and buy a mansion, get recognized as a noble bloodline, and live without envying anyone.”

Along with it was Anita’s smile, which he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“It would be nice, but I’m satisfied as I am. Because I have a family for the first time.”

“Family…”

Clinging to his fading consciousness, Hans mumbled blankly.

“Let’s not make our child unhappy.”

Only when he was close to death did he keenly realize that he had lost what was most precious to him.

This was the misfortune and price that Cynthia had spoken of.

* * *

The military hospital where Anita was.

Fortunately, Anita was in stable condition.

She looked at Cynthia, who was sitting next to her, peeling an apple.

‘I know her past as a maid, so I must be an eyesore.’

Having already been betrayed many times, Anita couldn’t shake off her anxiety. It was possible that Cynthia would suddenly change like Hans at any moment.

Nevertheless, the desire to believe was dominant.

In the end, Anita mustered the courage to ask Cynthia a question.

“Why are you helping me?”

Cynthia, who had skillfully peeled the apple into the shape of a rabbit, wore a smile on her face.

“Anita was the only one who treated me, who was discriminated against as an Esat hybrid, an ominous white rat, as a colleague. And…”

Cynthia took out her parasol and continued.

“You were the first to realize that I’m weak to sunlight. If I didn’t have this, my face would have turned into an apple, you know?”

“……You carry that around every day? It’s not even expensive.”

Anita’s cheeks flushed slightly.

“Actually, it wasn’t that great of a kindness, so I’m embarrassed.”

“I think it’s great. Starting with the courage to not follow everyone and do something different on your own.”

Cynthia held Anita’s hand and wore a serious expression.

“If you want to continue living in the mansion, I’ll be there as your friend. I want your child to grow up without being lonely or having a hard time.”

Suddenly, Anita recalled her memories with Hans.

“I’ll run away with you. I can’t let you die.”

Could he be a good father? She asked herself, and decided to erase even the slightest bit of lingering feelings.

“I want to live in the mansion. I’ll do anything, so please…”

She couldn’t continue speaking because she was overwhelmed with sorrow. Having gone through rough storms, she desperately needed a haven where she could lie down comfortably. She had to, even for the sake of her child.

“Isn’t having two moms cool?”

Cynthia joked and smiled warmly.

Anita, who had been serious, burst out laughing.

“……Come to think of it, I have something important to tell you.”

Ahem, she cleared her throat and lowered her voice.

“I saw Anna while running away in the market that day.”

Cynthia’s eyes widened.

“Anna from the sewing room?”

Besides the maids she warned to run away, there was another survivor?

“I don’t know if Anna saw me too, but… I thought you should know that fact, my lady.”

“Thank you for trusting me and telling me.”

Cynthia nodded as if to reassure Anita and fell into thought.

‘What happened?’

* * *

Helene was panicked after realizing that Anna had disappeared.

‘Did she get scared and run away because of the fake note I gave her?’

Anna was an important witness who could expose Cynthia and her father’s weaknesses.

However, if she gave orders to find the runaway maid, she might be questioned instead. All the people in the Duke’s residence were on the Dowager Duchess’s side.

It was difficult to ask her father for help because it would be troublesome if her intentions to keep Anna alive were revealed.

‘……And the Duke won’t help either. He made such a big deal out of what happened before.’

Helene wandered around the room, pondering, and recalled the underworld forces famous for being fixers.

The other party was a notorious gun-smuggling organization that only accepted requests from customers who purchased weapons.

However, as the Duchess, contacting them could cause problems.

‘Still… I have to find her no matter what.’

Since they only move for money, they would guarantee secrecy if she gave them enough money.

Just then, a maid came to inform her of the Duke’s return.

Helene quickly went down to the first floor. She was thinking of at least asking if he knew anything about Anna’s disappearance.

The Duke, entering the house, was giving a kind smile to the servants who were greeting him.

“Duke, you look good. Did something good happen?”

“It looks like you went shopping. Did you change your perfume too?”

Behind the Duke, servants carrying boxes of items could be seen following him in.

The Duke nodded and said.

“I bought a gift for someone.”

Helene, standing on the stairs, silently stared at the scene.

‘The biggest problem isn’t a light affair, but becoming sincere.’

Was it because she remembered the words of an elderly noblewoman? An unpleasant sensation spread, making her fingertips tingle.

“If she tries to take my place.”