Chapter 167
“Since it’s already dark, I suppose we have no choice but to stay in this village for the night.”
“My apologies, Marquis. If the horse hadn’t caused trouble, we would have arrived on time…”
“That’s enough. It couldn’t be helped.”
He wasn’t sure whether there would be a decent inn here, but at the very least, it would be better than sleeping outdoors.
Arnold, who had been waiting in the carriage, headed to the inn after hearing from a servant that lodging had been secured.
Perhaps because this was a village rarely visited by nobles, many people watched Arnold and his entourage while holding their breath.
Of course, for Arnold—who attracted attention wherever he went—it wasn’t something worth worrying about.
“This is the largest inn in the village. It may be uncomfortable, but please bear with it just for tonight.”
“This is quite acceptable. Aren’t you hungry? It looks like the first floor also serves as a dining hall. Let’s have dinner together.”
After unpacking their luggage roughly, Arnold and his group decided to satisfy their hunger first.
“I’ll take your order.”
“One beef stew and a sandwich—”
While the servant was reciting the menu, Arnold stared as if enchanted at Anais, who was writing down the order.
“Yes, I’ve got your order. Please call me if you need anything.”
After Anais left, the servants naturally began chatting. Then one of them noticed Arnold staring blankly.
“Marquis, are you all right?”
“…That woman just now.”
Following Arnold’s gaze, they saw Anais busily moving about inside.
“The woman who took our order? She’s quite a beauty for a commoner.”
“Indeed. She wouldn’t lose to noble ladies when it comes to looks.”
The servants, who had seen many noblewomen by Arnold’s side, all agreed in praising Anais’s beauty.
Regardless of what others said, Arnold couldn’t take his eyes off her.
He had always believed that love at first sight didn’t exist, but now he truly understood those words.
They hadn’t even exchanged more than a few words, and it was the first day he had seen her—yet his heart raced whenever he looked at her, making him feel strangely unsettled.
Because his marriage to his late wife had been one without love, these emotions felt all the more unfamiliar.
In the end, Arnold couldn’t stop watching Anais until dinner ended, and even late into the night, after everyone had fallen asleep, he couldn’t close his eyes.
His mind was filled with nothing but Anais.
“What? You wish to stay here longer?”
“Yes. Let’s stay a few more days.”
“We don’t mind, but… aren’t your sons waiting for you, Marquis?”
It had been nearly two months since he had last seen his two sons.
Thinking of Silian and Sylvester, Arnold flinched briefly, then shook his head.
“It will only be for a short while. One week. Let’s stay just one week.”
The servants didn’t know why Arnold had suddenly changed his mind. They simply followed their superior’s orders.
From then on, Arnold stayed on the first floor even when he had no business there, watching Anais.
By the third day of his stay, Anais began to notice his gaze.
“Um… do you perhaps have something to say to me?”
When Anais asked with a forced smile, Arnold went blank.
“You’re beautiful.”
“…Pardon?”
“Ah—no, that’s not what I meant.”
The words had slipped out unconsciously, leaving Arnold flustered. He had expected her to have a cold personality based on her appearance, so Anais couldn’t help but laugh at his unexpected reaction.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh—”
“It’s fine. Please, laugh as much as you like.”
When Arnold smiled gently, Anais froze for a moment.
“My name is Arnold Hailers. If you don’t mind, may I ask for your name?”
“…Anais. You seem to be a noble, so please speak comfortably.”
“Anais. That’s a lovely name.”
Arnold spoke to her with polite courtesy. Feeling as though she had suddenly become a noble lady herself, Anais blushed without realizing it.
That became the opportunity for the two to begin talking, and they slowly grew closer.
Time passed, and it was now the fifth day since Arnold had begun staying at the inn.
As always, he was on the first floor, watching Anais.
Though it hadn’t been long, Anais had realized that Arnold was interested in her, and she had begun to develop feelings for him that went beyond simple fondness.
“Here, take this to that noble gentleman.”
“What?”
“Don’t play dumb. I know that nobleman is interested in you.”
Anais blushed as she accepted the drink the innkeeper handed her.
“Thanks to him, our sales have been great. The least we can do is offer this as a service.”
The innkeeper winked and nudged Anais forward. Still dazed, she brought the drink to Arnold.
Naturally, Arnold accepted it happily. Using the drink as an excuse, the two began talking.
“Ah… you have sons?”
“Yes. Two of them.”
She had thought he was unmarried, so hearing that he had children made her blood run cold.
She had believed he was being kind because he was interested in her.
‘Was it all just my misunderstanding…?’
“My former wife passed away after giving birth to our second son.”
Just as bitterness rose in her mouth, Arnold continued speaking. The disappointed Anais quickly looked up.
“To be honest, Anais, I’m interested in you.”
Her heart began to tremble at his words.
“That’s why I didn’t want to hide anything from you.”
She had never imagined that a noble—no, a marquis—could fall for her. It felt so unreal that Anais couldn’t react at all.
“If you’re not seeing anyone, may I approach you properly?”
“I…”
Anais hesitated, avoiding his earnest gaze. If she became his lover, she might escape this impoverished life—and live without wanting for anything.
“Of course, I don’t have anyone—”
Just as she was about to answer positively, Anais caught sight of something at the edge of her vision. Her face instantly turned pale.
“Ah—wait. I’ll give you my answer later.”
Anais suddenly fled from him as if running away. At first, Arnold was bewildered, then began to blame himself for being too hasty.
But contrary to his worries, Anais was tightly holding a small hand as she hurried out of the inn.
“Ah, Mom, it hurts.”
Anais was dragging Lynn along by her small hand.
“Lynn! Didn’t I tell you never to come to where I work? Why won’t you listen to me?”
“I—I’m sorry. I just missed you…”
Lynn began to sniffle, then burst into tears. But Anais paid no attention to the crying child, instead pressing a hand to her pounding chest.
‘I almost let it slip that I have a child.’
Realizing her own thoughts, Anais suddenly stopped walking, shocked by her own actions.
“Am I really…”
Had she been about to lie to Arnold?
What she’d done just now was pure instinct—she feared that if he knew she had a daughter, he would be disappointed and leave.
But she couldn’t hide the fact that she had a daughter forever.
“Waaah! Mom!”
Lynn clutched Anais’s skirt, crying loudly. Looking down at the small hand, Anais examined herself.
A shabby, worn dress, hands roughened by years of labor—and a daughter wearing clothes too small for her.
In that moment, Anais’s shadow flickered ominously.
I want to escape this place.
Anais quietly looked down at her daughter. There was no longer any hesitation in her eyes.
* * *
“Are you… truly sure?”
“Yes. If you’re all right with it, Marquis… I want to become the mother of your children.”
Anais went further than merely accepting Arnold’s courtship—she expressed her desire to marry him. Arnold, who had already been considering marriage, gladly accepted.
“Then let’s not waste time. Come with me to my estate today.”
“That might be difficult. I need to pack my things, and there are personal matters I need to settle.”
“I see. Then I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
“No, it’s fine. You said your children are waiting at the estate. You should go back quickly.”
When Arnold looked disappointed, Anais tightly held his hand.
“I’ll follow soon. Please don’t worry.”
“…All right. You must come to my territory. I’ll inform the knights in advance.”
Arnold stayed the full week before finally leaving for his marquisate. After seeing him off, Anais began preparing to leave the village step by step.
She told the innkeeper she was quitting, paid all her overdue rent with the money Arnold had given her, and visited her late husband’s grave.
A man she had once loved, but who had left her side and become someone she now resented.
Thinking of Lynn’s violet eyes, Anais murmured softly.
“I’ve done enough. You understand, don’t you?”
No one answered her. With that, Anais left the village with Lynn.
Though she had lived there since marrying her late husband, she felt no hesitation in leaving.
“Mom! Where are we going?”
Anais couldn’t easily answer her daughter’s question.
She was moving to another village to remove everything that stood in her way.
It was a resolve she had made for the future ahead, but hearing her daughter chatter beside her caused her resolve to waver little by little.
Anais gave Lynn everything she had always wanted to give her.
She dressed her in pretty clothes, fed her delicious food, and granted every request the child made.
At first, she did it to ease her own heart—but instead of feeling lighter, the weight on her heart only grew heavier.
Still, the promised time drew closer. Anais stopped and held Lynn’s hand.
“Lynn, Mommy has something to do for a moment. Can you wait here?”
Her voice trembled slightly. She worried Lynn might notice, but thankfully the young child didn’t sense anything.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll just go up ahead for a bit. Lynn is a good girl, so you can wait here, right?”
As she gently stroked her pale purple hair, Lynn smiled brightly.
“Yeah! I won’t move at all—I’ll wait right here!”
“…Good. My good girl.”
Leaving Lynn standing in the middle of the street, Anais slowly walked forward. After going quite far, she turned back.
The child was standing exactly where she’d promised, blankly waiting.
Her breathing grew ragged—but she didn’t go back.
Swallowing her sobs, Anais boarded the carriage heading for the marquisate.
“It’s done. This is enough.”
Nothing would hold her back now. From here on, only happiness awaited her.
Comforting herself that way, Anais arrived at the marquis’s estate and met Arnold’s two sons.
“Hello. Father told us about you.”
Six-year-old Silian,
“Who’s the big sister?”
and Sylvester, who was the same age as Lynn.
“I told them a new mother would be coming. Was I too hasty?”
Suddenly recalling Lynn, Anais snapped back to her senses and waved her hands.
“No, it’s fine. I’m all right.”
Anais bent down and greeted the small children.
“Hello, children. My name is Anais. I’ll be your mother from now on. Please take good care of me.”
Thankfully, the two children accepted Anais warmly.
Thus, Anais gradually became a member of the marquis family and lived a life far more abundant and happy than she had ever imagined.
However, the more she cared for Silian and Sylvester, the more the daughter she had abandoned haunted her thoughts.
Eventually, half a year after marrying Arnold, Anais confessed the truth to him.
“I’m truly sorry. I have a daughter. I was afraid you’d be disappointed, so I abandoned her…”
Arnold was shocked at first, but seeing Anais in pain, he comforted her and did everything he could to help her find her daughter.
They searched the village she had lived in, the village where she had abandoned Lynn, and all across the empire—but aside from Silvia, there was no trace of Lynn to be found.
And now, twelve years later, they had finally found her.
But that daughter still remembered—clearly and vividly—the day she had been abandoned
