Chapter 9
Startled by the unfamiliar sight of her son, Theodore couldn’t even get angry and just left the breakfast room grumbling.
Graham slumped onto the table. Only when he dropped the knife and shivered did he look like a four-year-old child.
“Phew… Mom, it’s okay now…”
“Graham. Are you alright?”
Rachel immediately picked him up.
His small hands trembled as he gripped the hem of Rachel’s dress tightly.
“I’m okay. But Mom, are you hurt? Are you alright? Ah…”
Rachel had a faint scratch on her cheek. It happened when a piece of the decoration flew off while she knocked the silver cup away.
Graham looked upset.
“What should I do? Mom’s hurt. There’s blood.”
“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt at all. If we put some ointment on it, it will heal quickly.”
“Mom, putting spit on a wound gives you a bad disease. You said to put medicine on hurting places.”
Rachel smiled and nodded at his cute, scolding voice.
“Alright. I’ll treat it properly. Thank you for protecting me. Just now, Graham, you were like a knight.”
“If Dad bothers you again, tell me. I’ll protect you again.”
“Hmm. I appreciate it, but don’t do this next time. I get scared and worried that you might get hurt.”
Unexpectedly rejected, Graham pouted again. But the gentle child didn’t fuss; he just quietly nodded.
“I’m sorry… Next time… I won’t do it. I’ll try, so please don’t get hurt, Mom.”
“Okay. I’ll try too. Promise.”
Their little pinky fingers, different in size, interlocked.
Tears formed in Graham’s eyes.
“Dad is a bad person. Before, he upset Mom, and now he’s hurting Mom.”
“That’s right. Dad really is a bad person. Making Mom and Graham so upset. I’ll scold him for you.”
“I wish there was no Dad. I wish Mom didn’t get hurt…”
Rachel’s heart tightened at the sound of the child whispering as he burrowed into her arms.
I never planned to dawdle, but I have to hurry. Before Graham becomes even sadder.
Before he turns into a killer.
That afternoon, Sian came to the mansion, still wearing a black cloak and covering his eyes with a blindfold.
Berengela happened to pass by the hall, and when she saw Sian, she jumped in shock.
“Countess, are you sane? How could you bring something so lowly into the mansion! No matter how times have changed, how could you act in such a disgraceful way?”
If she knew that the thing she called “lowly” was the only Archduke in the Empire, Berengela might literally foam at the mouth.
Calm or simply used to it, Sian did not move in response to her insults. He only bowed politely to Berengela.
“I am Alias, the guild’s chief informant. I am carrying out the task the Countess assigned.”
“Countess! What on earth do you entrust to such a thing!”
Rachel sighed and leaned close to whisper to Berengela.
“Tomorrow is the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. I ordered a precious item as a gift for Theo.”
“A precious item?”
“It’s said to be a very famous token of love in the social circle. Even some marquises can’t obtain it, but he said he would get it for us.”
Berengela’s eyebrows twitched at the exaggerated description.
‘Very famous in social circles’… ‘Even the marquises can’t get it’—it was worth emphasizing.
Rachel drove the point home.
“Tomorrow, Theodore will bring this token to the banquet. People will praise the Ellosa Count couple for their harmony. We’ll be the center of attention.”
“Hmph. Not bad.”
Reluctantly, Berengela nodded. She glanced at Sian in his humble attire and disappeared into the mansion.
Rachel led Sian into the reception room and bowed politely.
“I greet Your Highness, the Archduke.”
“Today I come as Alias, the guild informant, so no need for formalities.”
“I understand.”
Rachel offered him a chair, but Sian declined with a raised hand.
“A guild errand runner dares not sit in a noble’s mansion.”
It was an unexpected remark. The Archduke, second only to the Emperor in power, called sitting in a Count’s reception room “daring.”
Rachel didn’t show surprise. She was pleased to see that her future in-law had such a strong sense of duty.
“What brings you here today?”
“To report the results of the request.”
“Thank you. I’ve been waiting.”
Sian pulled a flat box from beneath his cloak and held it out. Inside were the pink diamond cufflinks.
Rachel’s eyes widened.
“Good heavens…! They’re beautiful!”
“It’s a rare item even the most prominent nobles would struggle to obtain. It conveys the meaning, ‘I will love you forever.’”
“Exactly what I imagined! Thank you so much.”
“Is that alright?”
“Yes?”
The box snapped shut.
As the beautiful jewelry disappeared, Rachel looked up at Sian.
“Didn’t I tell you it’s a gift meaning ‘I will love you forever’? You don’t love him. Are you sure it’s okay to give a token of love to such a man?”
“What does it matter? The meaning others give it has no importance to me. I only need Theodore to believe in my love.”
“Countess, do you have someone you love?”
“Yes.”
The answer was immediate. Sian stiffened. It was such a subtle change that Rachel didn’t notice, but he did.
Someone she loved?
Despite all his efforts gathering information about Rachel, he hadn’t known this.
A son? A friend? A hidden family? Or someone else?
Strangely, he didn’t suspect Rachel was having an affair like Theodore. Even if she were, he wouldn’t judge.
Could pretending to be foolish be a way to protect someone?
Sian paused, then offered a guess.
“Is it a son?”
“Yes.”
He had suspected it, and it was true.
Because Theodore spent so much time out of the house, her son must have been even more precious to her. She had to be perfect and competent for him.
Sian, too, disguised himself as a guild informant for the sake of his beloved stepdaughter without hesitation.
He felt a kinship with Rachel, who had always appeared competent.
“Won’t he feel left out?”
Rachel tapped her chin in thought.
If she gave a gift only to Theodore and nothing to Graham…
“He definitely would feel left out.”
She could picture Graham’s face, whining, “Why does Dad get one and not me…?” Since he had already protected him that morning, she decided to buy a separate gift for the child.
She nodded quickly.
“That’s right. Even if it’s to avoid suspicion, we can’t give gifts only to the disliked one and leave out someone important. Thank you for the advice.”
“Not at all. If needed, I can take the request again.”
“Why? Gifts for someone important must be chosen personally.”
She was right.
Sian nodded, and Rachel cheerfully took the gift box.
“Please calculate the cost and send me the invoice. I’ll pay immediately.”
“Understood.”
“Now then.”
It was finally time to receive the long-awaited, definite proof of the affair. Compared to this, Theodore’s gift was irrelevant.
But Sian said something unexpected.
“I did not bring evidence of the affair.”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly as I said. I did not bring it.”
“Uh…”
This was unforeseen. Rachel felt stunned, as if struck on the head with a hammer.
“Why? You couldn’t find proof of the affair? So Theodore still can’t be accused of rebellion?”
“No. It’s certain that Count Ellosa is not plotting rebellion. Thank you for providing valuable information. We will reward you in the name of the Archduke of Dikarsniak and the Noble Council.”
Rachel tensed at the mention of a reward.
“When will this reward be given?”
She hoped not to receive it before the divorce was finalized. Ideally after, but if not, better not at all. She did not want to increase the Ellosa family’s wealth.
Fortunately, Sian was smart and sensible.
“I’ll adjust the timing at my discretion. Since you’re preparing for divorce, after that would be best. Increasing the property beforehand would complicate asset division and alimony.”
Good heavens!
Rachel smiled broadly at the welcome answer.
“Thank you so much for that.”
“Now, back to the main topic. I did not bring proof of the affair because I didn’t fail to find it.”
“Really?”
“I wanted to deliver it elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere? Where?”
It meant he wanted to meet again.
Not a bad proposal.
For Graham and Dolorasa to meet, Rachel needed to see Sian often. When parents met frequently, children would naturally meet too.
“Are you aware that the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet will be held at the palace tomorrow?”
“Of course. My husband is organizing it himself.”
“Attend without fail. There, I will give you the proof of Theodore Ellosa’s affair.”
Rachel had planned to attend anyway. She nodded, thinking the timing was perfect.
“It will be undeniable, decisive evidence of the affair.”
Although his eyes were hidden, Rachel could sense the intensity in Sian’s gaze shining from beneath the blindfold.
