TMIAP Chapter 26

After Liella's first engagement was broken, Lord Mollette pushed her at all sorts of horrible men.

It was only natural. That engagement had been broken by Lord Mollette himself in the first place. The young man had been from a decent family at the time of the engagement, but had somehow become a family that had fallen short for the Mollette family, whose standing had risen due to the war.

Instead, the marriage prospects Lord Mollette brought were either far too old or positions as a second wife. He would throw these marriage prospects at Liella in advance—prospects that Madame Mollette would obviously oppose—and force Liella to choose.

If Liella said yes, then Madame Mollette would not object either.

Naturally, Liella was lukewarm about every marriage prospect Lord Mollette brought. She had an excuse. Madame Mollette thought Liella still could not forget her first fiancé and pitied her. Realistically, if not for Madame Mollette, Liella would have been married off like goods long ago.

But thanks to the lady, Liella played the role of the heartbroken noble maiden to her heart's content.

The men were full of complaints. They expressed to Lord Mollette, either bluntly or roundabout, that they disliked Liella's haughtiness.

Liella felt as if she were being slashed by that gaze every time she encountered Lord Mollette.

Meanwhile, society people had mocked early on that the Solivén family's son would surely come out for marriage.

Enrique Solivén became the protagonist of the most exaggerated rumors before he ever showed his face to others.

What he was like on the battlefield... Who he killed horribly... How he was so arrogant he constantly clashed even with the soldiers in the unit he commanded... How he got into a fistfight with some family's son and ultimately lost the battle...

All the rumors surrounding Enrique Solivén were of that sort.

But Lord Mollette warned Liella that there would be no more chances after this.

No matter what kind of horrible man Enrique Solivén was, Liella had to approach that man and be chosen by him.

So on the day of La Spezia's first evening party of the year, Liella had cried all night and arrived late to the party trying to reduce her swollen eyes.

But the moment he appeared, everyone fell for Enrique Solivén.

He was handsome, and had an air that was both noble and refined. He had a magnetism that commanded the atmosphere of any gathering without saying more than a few words.

Unlike other gentlemen who wanted to boast about even the smallest thing concerning themselves, he did not wish to explain himself.

His private life was always shrouded in mystery, which made people all the more curious about him.

However, it was certain that he was looking for a woman who could help him. Enrique Solivén always danced only with women who had tremendous dowries.

Liella was fortunate to be among them.

Enrique Solivén stood with a stiff face most of the time, but occasionally gave Liella a faint smile.

Since Lady Solivén had refused the Mollette family, Liella had no great expectations, but he always danced with her at least once at any party she attended. He made the visits that gentlemen customarily made before sending a proposal to a lady several times over.

It was natural that her heart fluttered. Enrique Solivén was a splendid man, after all.

From the day they danced twice in a row, everyone gossiped that Lord Solivén seemed to have definitely decided on the Mollette family.

In society, the engagement between the two became a foregone conclusion, and Lord Mollette was satisfied when he heard the news.

Liella felt as if she might float away. Her heart pounded madly whenever that splendid golden-haired young man approached her.

That's right. He was nothing less than Liella's savior. The one who would rescue her most perfectly from the Mollette family.

So it was natural that Liella came to harbor deep affection for Enrique Solivén.

However, even though summer was nearly over, Enrique Solivén had not proposed to her. In fact, as the days grew hotter, he missed parties more frequently.

Liella grew anxious. What if, before autumn passed, he proposed to another woman?

At that point, Monica Orphen appeared.

Liella wanted to die.

The people of La Spezia did not know well that Liella had been adopted by Lord Mollette.

Madame Mollette, who had appeared in the capital's society with her twelve-year-old daughter, had claimed that "the child was sickly when young, so I left her with relatives who run a large farm in the countryside, but now she's healthy so I've brought her back."

Everyone nodded as if that made sense, then whispered behind her back. She must be Lord Mollette's illegitimate daughter, they said.

It was laughable. That they would think her illegitimate but not an orphan.

Liella, who had been trembling with fear that her orphan status would be discovered, was relieved only after hearing that rumor. It was ironic, but so it was.

Who on earth would truly treat an orphan whose very origins were unknown as a daughter?

But Madame Mollette, who became pregnant with Martinael after Liella's arrival, believed that Martinael had surely come because of Liella.

Madame Mollette did not hesitate to say in front of others, "My beloved Liella, my angel."

After it became public knowledge that Madame Mollette dearly loved Liella, even such rumors disappeared and Liella became completely at ease.

But because of Monica Orphen's reappearance, Liella's peace was shattered after ten years.

Monica was the same as ten years ago. Still those intelligent-looking eyes, that upright posture. That affability that made her friends with the maids immediately.

Liella grew anxious. She knew how freely servants wagged their tongues about their masters.

'That girl might spread rumors that I'm an orphan...'

Though Monica had sworn she absolutely wouldn't, Liella couldn't trust her. The front of her dress became wrinkled day after day.

If Enrique Solivén learned she was an orphan, he too would stop smiling at her.

As proof, look at Miss Alexandra Rufino, who remained society's notorious spinster! She had been adopted because she looked exactly like the youngest daughter Lady Rufino had lost.

But once that fact became known, not a single gentleman in La Spezia asked her to dance.

Countess Valentina's birthday party, where she was close with Madame Mollette.

That day, Enrique Solivén danced with Liella three times in a row. It was the first time. People whispered that the Solivén family's second son had definitely decided to go with the Mollette family's tremendous dowry. Liella heard those words too.

However, she wasn't certain. Because the man wasn't looking at her while dancing with her.

Liella noticed that those blue eyes were gazing somewhere beyond her shoulder into empty space. That was thanks to the keen perceptiveness peculiar to adopted children.

Nevertheless, that day Liella decided to follow the man heading to the garden.

Normally she would never have done it. Following a man alone, without a companion young lady or another lady present, was something a cultured lady should not even think of doing. Scandal, whatever form it took, was fatal to a lady.

But if the other party was Enrique Solivén, it might be rather acceptable.

When dancing, two people inevitably exchange a few words about each other, and Liella had ascertained that Enrique Solivén was quite a responsible man. If in such a situation a scandal arose between herself and Lord Solivén—

'He might take me...'

As expected, Enrique Solivén saw Liella following him and was greatly flustered, chiding her. Liella clung to him desperately.

'Please take me with you, my lord.'

'I'm sorry, but...'

'You must know how terribly shameful it is for a lady to say such things directly to a gentleman. But I will say it once more, my lord. I am in love with you.'

It was a blurted statement. Even Liella herself was startled by how she had said it. But immediately after, Liella was certain.

That he would truly save her. That troubled look in his eyes was proof that Enrique Solivén was a gentleman of conscience.

If it was a man like this, even if he didn't love her, he wouldn't frighten her the way Lord Mollette did.

A savior to take her from the Mollette family. The only match that pleased Lord Mollette.

If he took her away, Liella could escape Lord Mollette's gaze. Being consumed only by that fact had been her mistake.

The moment the scream came from the bushes, Liella's mind instantly went cold. And she immediately realized what she had done.

A scandal! To wish for a scandal!

She had even been caught in the act of clinging to Lord Solivén. If this rumor spread, she would obviously be talked about as a lady with no pride and loose morals besides. And what about Lord Mollette!

So when she learned that it was not a member of society but Monica Orphen who had been there, Liella wanted to die and was relieved at the same time.

At least Monica was in a position where she had sworn to keep her mouth shut.

So even when Monica suddenly acted familiar with Lord Solivén under a strange name, Liella was able to point out her rudeness.

Though trembling with shame, she tried to send Lord Solivén away while acting like a composed and refined lady, and to make Monica know her place once more.

As if it weren't enough that she had crept after her like a little mouse trying to dig out her weaknesses, she had acted familiar with Lord Solivén.

But Lord Solivén acted outside Liella's expectations. He stepped forward saying he would clear up Monica's misunderstanding himself.

Liella could not understand the man's attitude at all.

Liella was Monica's mistress. It was against propriety for another person to discipline one's servant. Moreover, the man seemed somehow urgent.

Nevertheless, Liella backed down. She didn't want to seem like a persistent woman.

'The likes of you.'

She glared at Monica and backed down. It was meant as a warning. No matter how much the likes of you interfere in my life, you cannot ruin me.

On the day I left that orphanage ten years ago, I swore, you see. That I would never return to that miserable life.

So when Enrique Solivén came to see her again today, Liella thought it was proof that everything was going according to her plan, even if she had briefly stumbled.

But as soon as Enrique Solivén visited the Mollette household and arrived in her drawing room, he questioned her about Monica.

While Liella wondered what this was about, she anxiously told him what she knew about Monica.

Of course, she mixed in a bit of malice. That she was an orphanage girl. That she had served as a nurse on the battlefield.

That she had come to the Mollette household with a torn letter of recommendation, unable to enter women's college. That Madame Mollette had mercifully taken her in.

Enrique Solivén listened to all of it with a careful attitude, then asked Liella:

'Excuse me, but could you arrange for me to meet that young lady?'

Liella refused calmly.

'When a gentleman in his prime visits me and then says he wishes to meet my servant—a maiden my own age, no less—it invites misunderstanding.'

Enrique Solivén nodded.

'I don't mind. Then I shall ask Madame Mollette instead. So as not to invite misunderstanding.'

Liella's head turned white with rage.

There was definitely something between the two of them that she didn't know about.

That day, Liella had headed back to the ballroom leaving Monica behind among the bushes, then returned to the garden with Martinael as her excuse.

And she saw the two of them with disheveled clothing. The state of Monica Orphen with her skirt hiked up, her legs completely exposed!

'Common girl. Just like an orphan.'

There were often such types among the servants. Stories of maids who hiked up their skirts to seduce their masters were countless.

Liella was certain. That girl Monica Orphen had determined to block her path and untied that man's cravat.

Nevertheless, Liella had to marry Lord Solivén. So she asked Lord Solivén about Monica.

She even considered whether, if he shamelessly confessed he was interested in her servant, she might propose taking Monica along as a maid when she married.

But Enrique Solivén did not answer her.

Liella smiled with difficulty and set down her teacup.

That Lord Solivén would go to Madame Mollette and ask to meet Monica Orphen! The lady would obviously ask why.

Then the lady might think that things between herself and Lord Solivén weren't flowing as well as expected. The kind Madame Mollette would say there were plenty of good bridegrooms besides Lord Solivén.

'You should meet someone like your father, like I did.'

No, Mother...

Liella stood up and went to the window, feeling as if she might faint.

From the guest room window, the back garden was very visible, but Enrique Solivén was cleverly standing in a barely visible spot between tree shade and sunlight.

The exceedingly small fact that she couldn't make out the two people's expressions made Liella miserable.

Then something entered Liella's gaze. A gardener working at a distance beyond the two people's line of sight. A young man who kept glancing at them. Liella watched the scene for a long while, and soon realized what that gaze meant.

A slight laugh escaped her. She reached out and pulled the bell cord.

"Could you call the gardener? That one—was his name Hans?"

Becky entered with a dissatisfied expression, said "Yes," and went back out. Liella followed Becky with an apologetic softening of her brows and slipped the ring she was wearing onto her hand.

Becky's face finally relaxed.

In any case, Liella was confident in managing people. Monica wouldn't know what blood-soaked efforts an orphan made to become a noble young lady.

She wouldn't know at all.