When The Count’s Illegitimate Daughter Gets Married - Chapter 98

Chapter 98

As soon as she got back from the town of Nikarkol, Olivia was ready to leave. Larittete was drinking flower tea in the greenhouse as she packed a few things. This greenhouse only housed dark fruity flowers.

Glazed on all sides, it was suitable for viewing the scenery. It was a place suitable for tea time where you could enjoy the frozen vitality of winter warmly.

Laritte didn’t object when Olivia said she was leaving. She just nodded with a hard-to-read expression.

Ian’s explanation said that Olivia’s small residence was not far away, so what? And it wasn’t that I couldn’t meet Olivia forever, so it wasn’t bad.

‘It’s Olivia’s choice.’

But the maids in the greenhouse along Laritte had different ideas.

“Hey! Doesn’t she look sad?”

“Ah, I feel the same.”

The maids were born and raised in different hometowns. However, the willingness to someday face the day to accurately read the mind of a mother burned equally. That way, they could give a more comfortable life to the kind lady.

Even if they couldn’t do it like Ian, they always opened their hawk’s eyes to read the emotions from Laritte’s indifferent expression.

They tried to read Laritte’s feelings again this time and reached an answer.

Madam was sad right now! Didn’t she look sad? Her hands looked somehow lonely.

In fact, Laritte was a little sad that Olivia was leaving. She had many mixed feelings, but it was not the only time. It had been a decade.

Not knowing that, they exchanged glances among themselves and moved cautiously. The purpose of the maids was simple.

Since she was sad to see Olivia leave, let us get Olivia something! Then the Madam would laugh, right?

Employees still didn’t like Olivia. Because they didn’t know exactly what happened to Laritte and Olivia in the village. However, Ian became a little kind to Olivia, and it was just hard to adapt when Olivia, who was chatty, suddenly became calm.

They ran around the mansion, packing cookies and crops for Laritte. In the meantime, Laritte stood with Ian at the white door of the huge mansion. It was time to see Olivia off.

“Then…. See you, Laritte.”

Olivia greeted awkwardly while touching the strap of her bag. She lamented to herself. Oh, it was much easier to pretend to be a conscientious mother! Laritte also bowed, taking her hand off Ian’s forearm.

“Goodbye, Olivia.”

Although Olivia didn’t hear Laritte call her mother, she still felt happy yet pathetic. Then she glanced at Ian.

Olivia and Ian had shared a secret – the truth that Ian could leave Laritte. Ian believed Olivia’s heavy mouth and nodded. Olivia had no choice but to risk her life and keep silent. Ian was a very grateful benefactor to her. She knew how Ian sent the Count and his family, who bullied Laritte, to the North that remained frozen all year round.

In addition, she felt a deeper grace than life when she heard that they were living in pain day by day. Even the two thugs she met in the village yesterday would not be able to live happily.

At last, Olivia turned around and stepped out of the Duke’s. A knight accompanied Olivia to her destination. Laritte stared at Olivia’s cape. Ian soothed Laritte.

“You’re not worried, are you? You don’t have to be. And as I told you before, I’ve found a house in a safe and relaxed village, so she won’t starve. It’s not far away. You’ll be seeing her soon.”

“I don’t worry too much. Olivia is stubborn, so she will live well alone.”

Ian and Laritte smiled at each other and went back into the mansion. It was then that the maids rushed out with everything they had for Olivia. They followed Olivia without even having time to greet the Duchess.

Ah! We were thinking of you, so we took too much that delayed us! Fortunately, they caught up with Olivia before she left the Duchy.

“Wait! Wait!”

Olivia dropped her hat in surprise. The maids were a bit hesitant. They didn’t know how much Olivia regretted the past, so they had to be polite and give it to her. Eventually, Alice came up and held out the basket. It was a basket covered with pink checkered cloth.

“Take it!”

And yet Olivia waved her hand in dismay as if she couldn’t take it.

“I’m not a good person,” Olivia’s expression hurt the maids.

Why did she have to sadden us just because she looked like Madam? Alice forced the basket into Olivia’s arms.

“…I’m giving it to you because I think you’re sad!”

‘Don’t get me wrong because I’m never giving it to you because I like Olivia!’ The maids also ran back down the cold dirt road before Olivia could reject.

Olivia stared blankly at the back of the girls and looked at the contents of the basket. Unlike the fierce language of the maids, the contents were neat.

Langues de Chat (long, rounded sweet cookies) were baked and packaged in the left corner. There were also a few apples, but it was obvious that they had been carefully selected. Other than that, there were various kinds.

Olivia stared blankly at the basket and asked for the knight’s understanding.

“….May I go back to the mansion for a while?”

The maids returned to Laritte in the room.

They grieved to tell Laritte, who was sitting in a chair in front of the fireplace.

“I shouldn’t have done this, but I was sad to see you sad, Madam. We’ll help you through this hard time, so don’t be sad!”

“My heart hurts, too.”

The fire in the fireplace crackled softly. The maids were saddened, clinging to Laritte’s legs or near the arms of the chair. Because if they didn’t do this, Olivia’s sad face kept coming to mind.

Laritte thought that they must be cold because they were clinging together. She hugged the maids so that they could be near the fireplace. At the same time, she expressed her condolences.

“It was a kind act, so why should I be sad? The book says that kindness is a good deed that comes back to me, not to others. Both of you did a good job.”

It was then when Ian passed by the room and was jealous, saying, “I can hug Laritte better.”

Beyond the window, Laritte heard someone calling her. Escaping from the hug of maids, Laritte opened the window on the second floor, the cold wind killing the warm air inside. Laritte blinked and looked down.

“Laritte!”

Olivia on the ground looked up and found Laritte. She was a bit hesitant as well.

“Dear, I’m going to….,”

Laritte wondered. What were you going to say? Did you leave something behind? But Olivia’s business was something else.

“If I find a job there, can I send the money I earn?”

Olivia wanted to continue to atone for Laritte. Laritte tried to say no. She wanted Olivia to spend it on what she wore and ate. Olivia added as she tried to shake her head while holding the cold window frame.

“When I send money, if you don’t mind, can I exchange a few words with you from time to time? Because I don’t want to cut ties.”

Olivia was ashamed of what she said because she decided to be honest with her daughter.

No wonder Laritte didn’t like her. What did she just say? The basket she received earlier made her feel weird. Olivia looked up at Laritte on the second floor, feeling nervous. Because it was far away, it was difficult to read exactly what kind of expression Laritte had, but it seemed like a usual insensitive face. Olivia was so stupid! It was time to forget what I just said.

“I’ll reply,” said Laritte gently. It meant that she could send a letter, not just write a few words. Olivia turned red in her eyes. But she didn’t let her tears fall.

Olivia hesitated for a long time and tried to say something, but eventually only nodded and disappeared. It was the day when the middle of winter was coming to an end.

The dried trees sprout one by one. The dilapidated land was gradually covered with blue. The smell of spring was drifting in the air from somewhere. It was the bell of the beginning of spring.

Ian checked his clothes in front of the mirror. He always had to look good in front of Laritte. He checked out the clean shirt with a crease in the front and stopped by Laritte’s room.

“Laritte.”