A Mad Lady’s Confession - Chapter 27

“Three nights ago, what were you doing?”

It was an extremely businesslike voice. Even so, the pressure laced at the end of it made Eleanor’s shoulders tremble.

“This is a very important question, so please answer. At midnight three days ago, where were you and what were you doing?”

“…I—”

Her throat felt rough. She hadn’t been able to wet it with even a sip of water, let alone soup, and it felt so dry it might tear, but if she didn’t speak, it felt like something terrible would happen.

“I was in my room, inside the mansion.”

A low sigh slipped from the middle-aged man across from her. How troublesome, that was the impression even without him saying it. He smelled of rain and cigars. Far stronger and more stale than her father’s scent.

When Eleanor clasped her trembling fingertips, something familiar was set down with a soft thud on the plain square wooden table.

“This item was found at the scene. Is it yours, young lady?”

It was a very tacky, worn brooch with a beetle pattern embroidered at the center. The most valuable thing Eleanor owned, and the only thing that was truly hers.

She didn’t even need to check the engraving on the back, ‘E. Brynhill.’

“We’ve already confirmed it with the servants of the residence, but I’ll ask again. Does this belong to you?”

The middle-aged man who introduced himself as an inspector added that as if he thought she might deny it, but Eleanor had no intention of denying it. No matter what the outcome would be.

“…Yes, it’s mine.”

“I’ll ask again. On the night approaching midnight three days ago, where were you and what were you doing?”

As if he already knew the full story but still needed to confirm it, the inspector asked her again.

From far away, she could hear the sound of rain pouring down. Was it raining like that on that day too?

What had she done that night three days ago?

Eleanor fumbled and gave the best answer she could.

“I don’t remember.”

“….”

“I don’t remember anything….”

As if a curtain of night were lifting, when she slowly raised her eyelids, a dim bedroom came into view.

Outside the window, it was dyed gray as if thick clouds had gathered. Only then did she realize it was raining from the moisture clinging to the terrace glass door and the sound of it falling hard.

Eleanor, still half-asleep, thought that she must have dreamed of the past because of that sound of rain. It had been just like this on the day the guards came in the middle of the night after she cried until her eyes were raw.

Eleanor turned over before pushing herself up.

Even if the sky was overcast, it was morning, so she had to get out of bed. Being so sleepy made it difficult, but laziness wasn’t a virtue of a noble lady.

When she pulled the cord on the wall, not long after, the bedroom door opened and the head maid, Mrs. Nella, entered with two maids.

“Did you sleep well, madam?”

Eleanor slipped her feet into her silk slippers, gave a small reply, and went straight to the bathroom. By the time she returned after freshening up, hot tea and a simple breakfast had been set on the table.

Only after she sat down naturally, having grown accustomed to this life over the past two months, did she think of it.

“Where is the duke? Has he finished breakfast?”

“Ah….”

Mrs. Nella showed a slightly troubled expression before quickly composing herself and giving an answer.

“His Grace hasn’t returned to the residence. I’ve been told he stayed at the second house in the city.”

“Again?”

Mrs. Nella dipped her waist slightly as if it were somehow her fault.

For three days already, Matthias hadn’t returned to the estate. Even the news that he was staying in the city came not on the same day, but as if it were a notice delivered the following day.

No matter how ignorant of worldly matters Eleanor might be, she wasn’t incapable of reading the intent behind breaking the promise to return home at night.

Matthias was angry because of the matter with Miss Sorelson. This was how he was expressing his anger toward her.

“….”

Ordinarily, Eleanor would have knelt and apologized until her knees wore down, no matter how trivial the matter. That was how she’d always been.

But no matter how she thought about it, she didn’t want to do that this time. The cause of the incident was Miss Sorelson, and Lily had ultimately been driven out of the estate.

Eleanor asked that the maids, including Lily, be allowed to continue working at the estate, but Matthias refused firmly. With a coldness so absolute not even a needle could slip through, there was nothing more she could do.

And besides, this was also a matter between husband and wife. Could things really be resolved by avoiding the situation like this?

As she turned her gaze without much thought, her eyes met those of a maid who had been glancing at her. Startled, the maid’s gaze dropped straight to the floor as if she’d seen something she shouldn’t. It made Eleanor’s mouth turn bitter, as though the girl feared her.

“….”

She was aware that her actions had been excessive. It didn’t suit the dignity of a noble lady either.

“If that moment came again, are you sure you wouldn’t do it?”

A voice in her head asked.

…No. I’d probably do it again.

As if answering, Eleanor thought that and lifted her teacup.

“El, promise me.”

Don’t regret things you didn’t do wrong anymore.

A promise with that child.

At least for a year, she had decided to live that way.

Even aside from that, there were far too many things she needed to atone for.

Eleanor steeled her resolve.

***

“Will you be staying in the city again today?”

Albern, the editor-in-chief, asked as he straightened the scattered stack of papers from the meeting that had just ended.

Matthias, who had been quietly watching the rain falling outside the window, turned at those words.

“Perhaps.”

“It’s raining heavily. Wouldn’t it be better to stay in the city? It looks like it’ll pour all night.”

As with most noble estates, the Nielsen residence was about a half-hour ride from the city.

Matthias thought the same. On a day like this, instead of traveling that distance, staying nearby would save quite a bit of time.

Considering how busy he’d been lately without a break, if he went to the second house tonight, he might even have the leisure to enjoy a glass of rum and a cigar for the first time in a while. In that sense, Editor-in-Chief Albern’s suggestion was entirely reasonable.

“….”

Matthias absently brushed his jawline. Instead of the second house that was less than a ten-minute walk away even at a slow pace with his jacket on, another thought came to mind first.

For instance, a pale-faced woman who would be listening to the same sound of rain.

All at once, he grew curious. What that woman might be thinking right now. Whether she was still waiting for a man who hadn’t returned home for three days, and what kind of expression she wore.

All of a sudden, he felt the urge to check for himself.

“Since the gossip about the emperor’s illegitimate child, ‘The Paper’ has been quiet. Do you think the imperial family caught onto something?”

Editor-in-Chief Albern asked as Matthias slipped his arms into his jacket. Even as a man, he couldn’t help but admire the firm, well-built body outlined beneath the taut shirt.

As he found himself thinking, with a trace of complaint, that he couldn’t entirely blame his wife for lighting up at any mention of the duke, a low, pleasant voice answered him.

“It’s the emperor we’re talking about. Since they touched him, they have no choice but to lie low for now. The imperial side hasn’t found any leads yet.”

Unlike someone who had been immersed in work just moments ago, the blond, handsome man suddenly seemed to be in a hurry. Noticing the change from usual, Albern couldn’t help but ask.

“Do you have some urgent business?”

Pulling down the homburg hat hanging on the wall, the duke replied in an entirely unhurried voice, “No, not at all.”

Contrary to his words, the man’s broad stride quickly carried him out of sight.

The rain fell hard against the carriage outside. Unlike the sweltering day, the night air was cold and damp with moisture.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, so I won’t apologize.”

“…I’ll try.”

She had said that with a face that showed no intention of trying at all.

Lady Jules, strict about honor and propriety, had been furious at how the mistress of a great noble house could do such a thing to a guest she herself had invited, but surprisingly, Matthias hadn’t been angry about that part.

To be honest, so what if someone got covered in blood? Even in border regions considered relatively peaceful, bloodshed happened once or twice a year. And it wasn’t even human blood.

He hated violence more than anyone and detested anything filthy, but getting a bit of blood on someone, as long as no one was truly injured or killed, what did it matter? It didn’t seem like a big deal.

If you thought of it as accidentally spilling wine, only with animal blood, wasn’t it really nothing serious? That was genuinely what Matthias had thought as he watched Lady Jules fume.

Then what was it that made him angry?

That, too, stemmed from the woman. More precisely, from her attitude.

Even after their conversation in the small sitting room three days ago, Eleanor Brynhill acted as if she were the one who was angry. He found it irritating that she didn’t bow her head, shed tears, and beg for forgiveness, saying she was in the wrong.

It wasn’t that he preferred submissive women. In the first place, there was no such thing as a ‘type of woman’ for him.

Then why did Matthias Nielsen find her attitude irritating?

Why did he imagine a woman in tears, calling it a mistake and asking for forgiveness? Why did he think she would do that? Why did he think she would cling to him first, afraid of being thrown out?

“….”

Because that woman likes me.