<19>
It was late afternoon when Delcia finally got out of bed and began embroidering with Ella. As Delcia stitched the crest of the Adelio Dukedom onto a white handkerchief, she let out a small sigh.
“…Ah.”
“Miss, did you prick yourself with the needle?”
“A little. I’m fine, Ella.”
“Shall we stop for now? You keep getting pricked.”
“No, it’s just… it’s been a while since I’ve done this. Let’s do a little more. If I finish just a bit more… it’ll be complete.”
Delcia spoke between short breaths, then smiled faintly. The smile was different from the past, and Ella felt a pang of emotion—but this time, she managed to swallow it down safely.
Ella gazed at the handkerchief in Delcia’s hand. A golden lion, symbol of the Adelio Dukedom, was gradually taking shape.
On the handkerchief Ella held, she was embroidering purple roses, Delcia’s favorite. As she stitched each petal, her eyes kept growing moist.
“Ella, is it going well?”
“Yes, of course.”
Ella answered brightly, almost deliberately. At her confident reply, Delcia laughed. Turning to check Ella’s handkerchief, Delcia’s face lit up.
“Oh, purple roses.”
“Yes. You like them, don’t you?”
“Mm, Edwin likes them too.”
Every conversation seemed to circle back to the Adelio Duke. Ella, recalling how long Delcia and the Duke had been together, nodded silently.
Even before she came to the Ferdo household as a maid, Delcia had been the Duke’s lover. At that time, Ella and the other servants had all been astonished; they had never seen such a long and deep romance.
Ella had often seen the Duke smiling beside Delcia. The same man people whispered would not bleed even if cut by a sword, smiled only for her.
He had let down the formidable walls he showed to others. But after losing his memory, he neither came to see Delcia nor sought her out.
Still, her mistress remained composed and serene. That only made the Duke more bitter in her mind. After whispering love for so long, how could he forget her so easily?
“…But, Miss, don’t you resent the Duke for losing his memory?”
“No.”
“If it were my lover, I’d feel upset and resentful.”
“Ella, truthfully… I hope Edwin never knows.”
“Knows what?”
That I saved Edwin.
The words slipped out softly, like a whisper, and Ella’s eyes went wide.
“…Why?”
“Just… I don’t want Edwin to suffer because of my choice.”
“Miss…”
“I must have loved him too much, I suppose. I can’t help it, Ella.”
Delcia said softly, pressing her lips together. Her handkerchief was gradually taking on a proper form.
As they chatted quietly, the lion’s mane was completed, then the sword and scabbard were stitched in sequence. Soon, golden thread filled the handkerchief densely.
“Will you give this to the Duke?”
“There’s a hunting competition soon.”
“But you won’t attend…”
“That’s why I’ll ask Theo to deliver it.”
Delcia placed the completed handkerchief on a small table and rose from her seat. There were more things to do in the large bedroom than she had expected: arranging flowers, embroidering, or simply drifting off into daydreams…
Not that there were really so many options. Still, Delcia spent her week occupied with such tasks. Time, however, proved capricious; it did not pass as easily as she wished.
Sometimes she went into the garden out of sheer boredom. She spent days enchanted by the blooming purple roses, or quietly sobbed when the rain reminded her of Edwin.
She longed for Edwin’s warm embrace, his gentle voice, and comforting kindness. Sometimes it all felt like a phantom she had never truly known—slipping further and further away.
At times, she had to forcibly wipe away her tears and reach toward a vision of Edwin that was never really there.
Though she no longer collapsed clutching her heart in her sleep, she often woke from dreams calling his name.
Her attempt to appear slightly troubled, like a person enduring a minor hardship, was gradually unraveling.
As her body weakened, so too did the pride she had clung to. Even the remnants of that pride crumbled. It was miserable…
“I’ve thought it over, but purchasing the mine will be difficult.”
“…Pardon?”
Marquis Kelian, expecting a positive reply, felt his spirit sink. Only a week ago, he seemed so eager.
His hesitation showed plainly as he added,
“T-This is a truly exceptional property; it’s not often such an opportunity comes along. And yet you refuse to buy it?”
“That’s correct.”
“Even the quality of the magical stones we showed last time is rare… and even if one could buy them, the price would be astronomical…”
“Marquis Kelian.”
Edwin called him in a calm voice and sighed. After a week of restless deliberation, he had decided not to purchase.
The offer had seemed too suspicious. Handing over a prime property just because he admired the late Duke—Edwin couldn’t trust it, so he rejected it.
“There will be many buyers besides me, I’m sure.”
“Yes, but…”
“Then that settles it. I regret that I cannot give a positive answer after your time and effort, but it cannot be helped.”
“…If it is the Duke’s will, then so be it.”
“Then you may leave.”
Edwin led Marquis Kelian out, shook his hand, and returned to his study.
“D-damn it!”
Muttering under his breath, still frustrated, Marquis Kelian turned away. Even if not today, he would have another reason to visit the Adelio Duke’s mansion.
At the carriage, Kelian looked around before climbing aboard. A maid, bowing her head, waited for him.
“So, did you do as instructed?”
“Yes, I stored it deep in the warehouse. It won’t be found; the Duke seldom inspects it.”
“Good. And her name?”
“Anna.”
“Right, Anna. Take this.”
The Marquis handed her a pouch heavy with silver coins—at least forty or fifty by rough count. Anna’s face flushed as she bowed repeatedly.
“T-Thank you.”
“There’s more work to be done.”
“What…?”
“Delcianor Ferdo. Every time her belongings are found, remove them all. Ensure the Adelio Duke never remembers her.”
“Ah…”
Anna hesitated slightly, and the Marquis scowled.
“This shouldn’t be difficult. Why hesitate? The Duke obviously won’t remember Delcia Ferdo. But remember, if you get caught…”
“….”
“You alone will bear the consequences. I will not be involved. Even if you try to hold me accountable, it won’t help. So conduct yourself accordingly.”
“…Yes.”
Anna’s shoulders slumped inward under the tense, cold atmosphere. Marquis Kelian gestured dismissively and closed the carriage door.
The carriage rumbled off, stirring dust. Anna stood in its wake, trembling, the coins in her hands clinking.
“A-alone…”
If anything went wrong, she alone would be responsible. Swallowing hard, she clutched the pouch to her chest and hurried into the mansion.
“Anna, where have you been?”
“Oh… I just… stepped out for a bit of fresh air.”
“Really? But Anna, you don’t look well. Did something happen?”
“N-no, I’m fine.”
“That’s a relief. Then could you tidy the warehouse? Last time it was a mess. Mrs. Cecile would scold us if she saw it.”
Anna nodded, heading to the warehouse where she had hidden the items. No one could ever find what she had stashed deep inside.
With cleaning tools in hand, her eyes reflected a mixture of fear, anxiety, and the sense of duty tied to the silver coins exchanged.
