CHAPTER 35………………………………………..
“Why did Edwin suddenly…?”
For a moment, nothing came to mind—but it only lasted an instant.
“I can’t let him find out.”
That was the first thought that came to her.
“Open the door.”
Millard, sensing the situation turning, spoke.
Trisha hesitated.
If anyone saw her here with Millard, all her plans would be ruined.
Millard would certainly face scandal just for being with her—so why is he telling her to open the door?
“Open it.”
A cold voice echoed inside the carriage.
Millard went one step further and even placed his hand on the door handle.
Trisha glared at his posture, as if he were about to open it any second.
“Are you crazy?”
“Nothing will go wrong with the Master’s plan.”
Trisha froze.
There was something in Millard’s eyes beyond mere determination.
He said,
“I’ll take full responsibility.”
After finishing dinner with Regina, Edwin went out to the streets for a change of pace.
Tonight’s dinner had been truly awful.
‘I should have taken Trisha with me instead.’
It was a mistake made because Hestia hadn’t expected him to dislike Regina so much.
As soon as dinner ended, Hestia had practically pushed him toward Regina, who had gone alone to the palace of the Seventh Empress.
Normally, the Emperor would have insisted he at least have some tea, but he didn’t stop him.
Edwin felt a pang of regret, as though he had wasted the time the Emperor had reserved for him.
‘It’s all because of that thoughtless woman, Regina.’
Suddenly, she had said she missed her aunt and gone to the Seventh Empress’s palace, only to take a casual stroll with an indifferent face.
Why she insisted on this kind of melodrama today instead of later was beyond comprehension.
In the end, Edwin, in a foul mood, sent Regina back to the Grand Duke’s residence first.
While wandering the streets, he spotted a familiar face.
“I’ve seen you somewhere before…”
“Hey, you there.”
“Oh! Y-Your Grace, the Grand Duke?”
“You’re Trisha’s maid, aren’t you?”
It clicked.
The woman before him was Trisha’s maid. He didn’t know her name, but she was definitely his wife’s maid.
“Why are you here at this hour?”
“Well… um…”
When the maid hesitated, one of Edwin’s eyebrows rose.
The fact that she, who never left Trisha’s side, was here meant…
“Trisha must be nearby. Right?”
“….”
The maid didn’t answer, but Edwin didn’t mind.
He plopped down on a nearby bench and crossed his arms.
“Come, sit.”
“….”
“Scared I might lay a hand on you?”
“Of course not!”
The maid jumped slightly and sat on the bench with him.
Though she kept some distance, Edwin chuckled lightly.
If he wanted to entertain ill thoughts, that small space wouldn’t matter at all.
“Um… Princess Regina…?”
“I sent her to the residence first.”
That likely meant the two had quarreled at the dinner table.
Good for Trisha, but Jane couldn’t exactly celebrate.
If this continued, Edwin would eventually discover Trisha’s plan.
“It’s cold, Your Grace. Perhaps you should wait at the residence?”
“No. I’m waiting for my wife right now.”
Normally he didn’t treat her like his wife, so this was a new development.
Jane clicked her tongue internally but showed no sign.
“There she comes.”
Edwin pointed at a carriage approaching.
The street was so empty that even an unadorned black carriage stood out.
“Could it be that this isn’t Your Grace’s carriage?” Jane said cautiously.
“What’s Trisha up to?”
Edwin’s sharp words made Jane pause.
“If it isn’t her, you wouldn’t keep blocking me like this.”
“That’s not it.”
“I’m curious what you’re scheming.”
Jane shook her head, but Edwin ignored it and smirked.
Meanwhile, the black carriage, presumably with Trisha inside, drew near.
Edwin confirmed the coachman’s face and stopped the carriage.
The flustered coachman hurried to halt it, twisting Edwin’s mouth into a slight sneer.
“Y-Your Grace, the Grand Duke!”
“Who’s inside?”
The coachman bowed quickly, and Edwin asked again.
“I said, who’s with my wife?”
“Her Grace is alone.”
“Alone?”
Edwin frowned and snorted at the claim.
“Riding alone in the city at this hour?”
“….”
“You expect me to believe that?”
Both the coachman and Jane stayed silent. Edwin impatiently brushed his hair back and knocked on the carriage door.
“Trisha, are you in there?”
No answer. Did she not hear him?
“Trisha?”
He called her name again, eyes darting between the coachman and Jane.
Both had calmed and were now staring at the carriage.
Tsk. Edwin clicked his tongue and knocked again.
“Trisha, I know you’re in there.”
Having said that much, he saw no need for further warning and grabbed the door handle.
But the door opened even faster than he expected.
As it swung open, the inside of the carriage gradually came into view.
“Trisha…”
“What is it?”
Trisha’s figure came into sight first.
Seeing her face directly, Edwin let Jane take another carriage.
“I’ll go with your mistress. You go separately.”
Then he climbed into the carriage and looked around.
Only Trisha was inside. She asked sharply,
“What is it you want?”
“What is it? You’ve been acting suspicious…”
Edwin’s casual accusation made him pause.
“…You weren’t crying, were you?”
“No, I wasn’t.”
Trisha denied it at once, though her eyes were red-rimmed.
Seeing her red eyes and flushed eyelids, Edwin felt an odd flutter in his chest.
‘Why is she so beautiful?’
Edwin closed the carriage door, instructed the coachman to move, and sat across from Trisha.
“So, why were you crying? Was it because of me?”
“….”
“Because I took the Princess as my partner to dinner?”
Trisha remained silent. Edwin thought he had struck the nerve.
“Was it really because of that?”
“I said I wasn’t crying.”
Trisha, her usual cold expression returning, denied it simply.
But it didn’t last long. Tears welled in her eyes again.
“Then why did you tell me to open the door?”
“…T-Trisha?”
“I didn’t want anyone to see me like this. Especially not you.”
Edwin was genuinely flustered. He moved closer and took her hand—gently, as if telling her not to cry.
Trisha, having regained some composure, lightly pulled her hand away.
“Let’s go, to where the princess you love is waiting.”
Edwin hesitated briefly, then nodded.
A gentleman pretends not to notice a lady’s hidden vulnerability.
“All right, compose yourself. If you need help, just say so.”
“I’ll manage.”
Her usual cool reply sounded subtly coy.
Edwin smiled, thinking he had discovered a new side of his wife, and stopped the carriage.
Before stepping out, he glanced at Trisha again. She had turned her head completely the other way and didn’t look at him.
Even that didn’t bother him. Silently, he closed the carriage door and walked lightly to fetch a new carriage.
After Edwin left, the carriage began retracing its previous route.
About ten minutes later, Millard emerged from a hidden compartment inside the carriage.
“Ha… I thought I’d suffocate in there.”
“You okay?”
“Of course. By the way, our Master… his acting’s improved, huh?”
Millard’s lips curved slightly.
“So even Edwin got completely fooled, right?”
“Don’t mock me.”
“I’m complimenting you sarcastically.”
Millard shrugged, tidied up the secret space, and sat across from Trisha.
He clicked his tongue at her.
“You could’ve just done what I said.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Nonsense? What’s wrong with a rogue acting like a rogue?”
Earlier, Millard had suggested sneaking into Trisha’s carriage without permission, intending to tease her, but Edwin had discovered them.
Naturally, Trisha refused, hiding Millard in a secret space inside the carriage.
He was tall with long legs, making it difficult to fit, but they managed.
Then they used smoke to deceive Edwin.
“Master, were you worried I’d get blamed for harassing the lady?”
“No.”
Trisha shook her head firmly.
“This way is much more reasonable. No one loses anything.”
She then pulled out pen and paper and began scribbling something.
Millard, watching her, suddenly said,
“You don’t think your crying face is pretty, do you?”
“What?”
“Not at all. It just makes my chest feel tight.”
He handed her a handkerchief.
“So, don’t cry in front of others.”
