Chapter – 34
Evangeline glared at him sharply, her expression strikingly piercing. The man’s face showed a certain curiosity, but Evangeline immediately straightened up and stifled her breath.
“Anyway, I admit that I’ve intruded at such a late hour.”
“Ah, I’m grateful that you admit it.”
“…….”
She ignored the slight sting in his voice. It was her turn to reveal who she was and why she had come here, but strangely, her lips felt dry. O’Hara or Teze—neither of these family names seemed adequate to explain herself.
“So… I am—”
“My lady.”
“……Pardon?”
“You are, aren’t you—my lady.”
The man tilted his head slightly, as if finally understanding. Evangeline flinched at his sudden words, but he deliberately held her gaze.
“You’re the famous ‘my lady’ that my grandmother would talk about every single day. I’ve heard about your eyes and hair a thousand times—anyone who couldn’t remember would be a fool.”
“My grandmother?” Evangeline asked, startled. “Then… you’re—”
“Calles.”
The man abruptly extended his hand and nodded casually. Unlike her surprise at the revelation that he was her nanny’s grandson, Calles didn’t seem particularly happy.
“Ah, maybe a noble lady shouldn’t be greeted this way. There aren’t many nobles around here, so I’m a bit ignorant. My grandmother would have a fit if she knew.”
“No! It’s not that… I was just surprised.”
“That’s fine. As long as we know who each other is, that’s enough.”
By the time Evangeline finally extended her hand, Calles had already withdrawn his. Perhaps she misread his attitude toward commoners, but as he said, they weren’t exactly in a position to exchange greetings so warmly. More than that, his inspecting gaze seemed to suggest he already had some idea about her situation.
‘This man doesn’t seem particularly pleased to see me,’ she thought.
Or perhaps he already knows everything about my circumstances.
“I’m sorry for suddenly showing up. I came to see the nanny.”
“Why?”
“Well…”
When he immediately asked for the reason, Evangeline felt flustered. She thought she had gotten used to her current situation, but dealing directly with non-nobles like this was almost a first. It wasn’t that she looked down on them, but the directness and roughness of their speech felt strange.
She didn’t feel he would wait patiently while she fumbled for words.
“Listen, my lady—”
“I need to ask the nanny something important.”
He nodded as if urging her to continue, and Evangeline quickly began speaking. Her voice trembled slightly, but he raised his eyes in mild displeasure.
“If it’s something like that, it’s probably better not to meet her.”
“I’m not here to inconvenience anyone or rely on them. I know I shouldn’t do that.”
“……Excuse me.”
“Trust me. I know what you’re worried about seeing me like this—”
“It’s not that. It’s just that my grandmother won’t be asking questions at the moment.”
He grabbed her arm briefly, frowning. It seemed rather awkward to him that the noble lady’s hand had touched him—or perhaps it was the earnest way she looked at him that made him uncomfortable.
“You won’t remember.”
“Good heavens, my lady has come to see me!”
The nanny, lying on the bed, immediately teared up at the sight of Evangeline. She recognized her at a glance and opened her arms wide.
“My tiny little lady has become such a beautiful young woman.”
“Nanny.”
“The count has often sent your portrait. Here, look here!”
Following her gestures, Evangeline looked at the portraits laid out on the bed. Seeing herself smiling in those paintings from childhood to her social debut felt strange. Nothing seemed lacking, and that made it feel even more surreal.
“Every time I see them, I marvel at how beautiful you are. I can’t describe how proud I am to have raised and cared for you with my own hands.”
“Nanny… you’re overdoing it.”
“Thankfully, the count invited me to your recent engagement ceremony, but I held myself back in case my condition would be a burden.”
The nanny, chatting animatedly while holding Evangeline’s hand, glanced down at her own legs. Frail and thin, they barely supported her weight. Evangeline, having already noticed the wheelchair nearby, nodded as if unbothered.
“It’s alright, nanny. I got to see you again.”
“But I should have visited first. To have such a precious lady come all the way down here, this old lady feels ashamed.”
“No need for that.”
Evangeline felt restless, seeing the nanny apologize incessantly. But compared to what came next, this was nothing.
“My lady is now to become a proper duchess.”
“…….”
“Teze’s duchess, no less! Well, if it’s you, my lady, there’s nothing in this world you couldn’t achieve.”
“……Nanny.”
Still conscious of Calles standing by the door, Evangeline forced a smile toward the nanny.
“Yes! You always told me I could do anything when I was little.”
“Of course! That’s only natural for my lady!”
The nanny embraced her warmly. Even though it had been years, the comforting scent made her almost tearful. Yet, even such small moments of peace wouldn’t last long.
“When did you grow so much, my lady? We need to redo your clothes.”
“Huh?”
“You went to the port chasing after the count, didn’t you? That’s why your clothes are all wrinkled. What would the O’Hara lady think? You must maintain your dignity.”
The nanny gently smoothed out Evangeline’s wrinkled clothes, but the garments were worn not because of running about with her father, but because she had nothing else suitable to wear. Evangeline didn’t expect to hear the scolding she once heard at eight or nine years old again.
“Nanny.”
“Hurry and change. I’ll make sure to help you up….”
“No, that’s fine.”
“Absolutely not. I can’t bear to see you like this! To think that the lady I’ve raised with care could wear such clothes….”
“Ah……”
The tug-of-war over the clothes startled Evangeline. She turned to see that Calles had discreetly stepped aside. Only after firmly holding the fabric did the nanny let go, closing her weary eyes.
“Change quickly, my lady. I’ll see you safely.”
“Alright, I understand.”
Finally freed, Evangeline looked down at the nanny, who had already drifted to sleep. The lines on her face, the warmth, the bittersweet emotions—all tangled together. She quietly left the room and closed the door behind her.
But being outside didn’t make the difficult situation any easier.
“……Excuse me.”
“She’s been suffering from dementia for years, yet she’s lucid at times.”
Calles emerged from the kitchen with a clattering sound, handing her tea. Despite the unfamiliar, complex aroma, Evangeline kept her expression calm. Truthfully, even if it had been poison, she might not have discerned it right now.
“She must have had a hard time.”
“No, she’s managed to live happily in her own way.”
“…….”
“Honestly, today feels the toughest she’s faced.”
Calles, now holding a large beer mug instead of tea, muttered while watching the closed door. His frowning gaze returned to Evangeline, who blinked vacantly.
“Were you upset?”
“……Pardon?”
“I told her not to show any signs to my grandmother.”
He gulped down his drink in frustration, secretly watching Evangeline’s face. Her small face had already shrunk from the shock of seeing a dementia patient in such a place.
‘Of course, a precious noble lady would be shaken by this,’ he thought.
Even if the situation was disastrous, the innate delicacy and entitlement of nobles couldn’t be helped. Moreover, being commanded by a commoner she never expected to mix with must have been agonizing. From the very start, when he extracted firm promises before letting her enter this house, she had been at a loss.
