The Grand Duchess Escape - Chapter 125
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“How is it? Delicious, right?”
It happened when Asella couldn’t resist Mariel’s persuasion and took a bite of the mille-feuille, the door burst open, and the once quiet space turned into a commotion.
“Thanks to the Lady, we’ve made it to the third floor of this shop!”
The voice was quite loud as if they thought no one was around. Asella and Mariel’s table was the furthest inside, and there were high partitions between each section, so it was easy to misunderstand and think that the place was not occupied.
After finishing their order amidst the chatter, they began their conversation as soon as the waiter left.
“Have you heard the news? About Vicount Yulpien?!”
“Oh, you mean the story on how he gifted the Viscountess a land along with the villa in Piron?”
Asella unexpectedly felt uncomfortable eavesdropping on someone else’s private conversation. She slightly rose from her seat, thinking it was time to leave. “Mariel, we should go now.”
“That’s the least he could do, it’s a no-brainer since he wants to enter his illegitimate child into the family, of course, there’s no other choice.”
A sense of disappointment washed over Asella’s face. The timing wasn’t ideal. If she went out now, she would only be seen as someone who overheard their private conversation. There was a risk that they might recognize who she was if she made any mistakes.
‘There’s nothing I can do.’
It would be better to wait and leave after everyone else had left. It was awkward to step out now and be the center of attention.
Asella, seated in the corner, brought her finger to her lips as she looked at Mariel. It was a signal to stay quiet. Mariel nodded silently in response.
“They said the Lady was infertile and had no choice.”
“Nonsense! That’s just an excuse. They could have brought in a successor from a branch family, one that’s from a proper lineage.”
“What can we, outsiders, say about it? It’s something the Viscountess agreed to.”
“The Lady didn’t have much of a choice either. The financial state of her family was a mess. She had to make up for it with that money.”
The conversation was becoming more private than should be shared in such a place.
“And what about Countess Clarins? Her husband has brought a mistress into the household!”
“Well, I’m sure she received quite a significant reward for that, too.”
“I think she received a mansion in the capital and half of the shares in Elphine’s upper management.”
“That’s substantial.”
Asella tried to focus on the dessert on her plate, but her efforts were fruitless. Even if she tried to ignore it, the voices were so loud that they pierced her ears.
“So, there’s a rumor going around the capital these days.”
“What kind of rumor?”
“If your spouse suddenly gives you a large sum of money, be suspicious. It either involves a mistress or an illegitimate child.”
Laughter erupted. The space was filled with uproarious laughter for a while. After the commotion settled down, someone cleared their throat and spoke up.
“I wouldn’t mind receiving it once. That enormous sum of money they talk about.”
“Are you serious? What would you do if you actually ended up with an illegitimate child?”
“I don’t know. I’ll think about it when the time comes.”
Giggles broke out again. They continued to engage in lively conversation for a while after that.
“The white geraniums in the garden…”
“I received a tea from the capital as a gift this time, they said it was quite popular over there…”
As time passed, the topics of conversation became more ordinary. The voices that were once filled with fervor gradually became calm and monotonous. In the meantime, Mariel finished her mille-feuille and lazily rested her head on Asella’s thigh, falling asleep.
“…”
The afternoon sunlight seeped gently into the room through the window, casting a warm glow.
Asella gently stroked her younger sister’s head as she took a nap, her gaze fixed on the view outside the window.
The streets in the midday were peaceful. The faces of people walking by were filled with joy and vitality.
From the seemingly sparkling weather to the gentle breath of the sleeping child and the murmuring voices engaged in conversations; it was a sense of peacefulness she hadn’t felt in a long time.
‘If time could just stop.’
Her eyelids slowly closed. Perhaps it was the warm sun that made her body feel lazy, and drowsiness naturally overcame her.
‘I shouldn’t fall asleep…’
However, the temptation to sleep was stronger than her efforts to stay awake. In an instant, the drowsiness enveloped her. Asella was pulled into the realm of dreams.
It was the beginning of another nightmare.
***
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