Maylily - Chapter 116

Maylily, who was about to say that there was no world where a nobleman’s mistress and an illegitimate child could live in bright light, suddenly looked as if she had been struck on the head.

Right now, did the Count of Everscourt just propose to me?

Unable to believe it, she blinked repeatedly and stared at the Count’s face for a long while. The deep blue eyes reflecting Maylily looked sincere. There was no trace of lies or deception in them. However, that sincerity didn’t offset the unreal nature of the Count’s proposal.

Marriage with the Count of Everscourt. How could such a thing even be possible?

Until now, Maylily and the Count had lived in completely different worlds, and between them lay a gap that could never ultimately be closed. Maylily had neither the desire to become a member of the world the Count stood in nor the confidence that she would ever be accepted as one.

Had she not already experienced that her happiness could never bloom in his world?

She felt sorry for Dylan, who would grow up in circumstances somewhat different from an ordinary family, but she couldn’t marry the Count simply because he was the child’s biological father.

Unlike the cold conclusion her mind reached, her heart pounded violently for reasons she couldn’t understand. After placing her hand gently over it and taking several deep breaths, Maylily finally regained her composure and slowly opened her mouth.

“I don’t want to marry you, Count. Becoming someone’s wife isn’t the life I dream of.”

Her voice was soft but firm, clearly revealing Maylily’s intention. Hugh felt a slight sense of bewilderment at the refusal, which was more resolute than he expected, but he didn’t lose his composure. From the beginning, he never expected her to accept at once.

Even if their time together was stained with Maylily’s tears, there had been a season when a passion as hot and intense as the summer sun passed between them, and Dylan was proof of that time.

As long as the memory of that season and the child existed, Maylily would eventually accept this proposal in the end. Hugh intended to change Maylily’s heart no matter what.

“If that’s how you feel about marriage right now… then at least allow me to fulfill the role of Dylan’s father.”

“When the child grows a little older, he’ll start becoming aware of his relationships with people. I don’t want to confuse him.”

“When the child learns about the existence of his biological father, and finds out that father took no responsibility or obligation toward him at all, wouldn’t that cause even greater confusion and hurt?”

“….”

Maylily couldn’t refute the words that struck directly at the heart of the matter. No matter how hard she tried, it would be impossible to hide the existence of the Count of Everscourt from Dylan forever. Even she herself, who believed she would never find her father for the rest of her life, had ended up meeting him in a way she never imagined.

Life contains variables that cannot be controlled, and what is meant to happen always happens.

“When I think about the hardships and pain you must have endured while giving birth and raising the child alone, I know it’s shameless for me to come here now and say these things. But I never had a chance.”

There was no trace of accusation in the Count’s voice. Only a faint sadness lingered within it. As if pleading, he tightened his grip on Maylily’s hand.

“If I had known you were pregnant, I would never have made you bear such a heavy responsibility alone. At the time when you needed care the most, all I gave you was pain….”

The Count’s voice caught in his throat and he stopped speaking for a moment. After releasing a shallow sigh to steady his emotions, he continued, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Maylily.”

The man’s eyes were reddened as he apologized in a choked voice. Seeing that sight made Maylily’s heart ache, but she forced herself to turn away from the feeling. She couldn’t give her heart again to a man who had deceived her more than once.

“I’ll wait until you forgive me and accept me again, Maylily.”

“Please don’t. No matter how long you wait, my answer won’t change. Since this conversation is over, please stand up now….”

She was just about to leave before her heart wavered further. The Count gently caught Maylily’s wrist and kept her seated, looking up at her with eyes that knew neither resignation nor surrender.

“I’ll be the one to change your answer, so don’t push me away. Please.”

After finishing words that sounded neither like an order nor a plea, the Count readily released Maylily. Not knowing how to conclude the conversation, Maylily hurriedly gathered the cleaning tools and stepped out into the corridor. Even by the time she put the tools away in the storage room and came down to the first floor, the wrist the Count had held still felt hot.

***

It was a peaceful afternoon as the sun slowly moved toward the western sky. Maylily and Giovanna sat across from each other at a table in the dining hall where sunlight slanted through, preparing the ingredients for dinner. Dylan played with his puppy doll in the basket cradle set on the floor beside them.

[Could you slice the cabbage over there as well, dear?]

[Yes, ma’am.]

Maylily was cutting the cabbage for the vegetable soup into bite-sized pieces following Giovanna’s instructions.

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door that opened toward the hall. When she turned her head toward the sound, the Count of Everscourt was standing there. He was holding a large paper bag in his arms.

[May I come in for a moment?]

Maylily flinched at his sudden appearance. It was the first time they faced each other since the conversation in the guest room yesterday. The Count briefly glanced at Maylily, who couldn’t hide her awkwardness, then calmly smiled and turned his gaze to Giovanna.

[Please come in, Mr. Barry. Do you need something?]

Giovanna set the knife down on the cutting board and stood up while wiping her hands on her apron. After hesitating for a moment, Maylily also rose and offered a polite greeting.

[I brought a gift to thank you for inviting me to the Sergio family gathering last week.]

The Count stepped further into the dining hall and placed the paper bag on an empty chair.

The first thing he took out was a set of high-quality soaps. When Giovanna opened the box decorated with colorful flowers, soaps wrapped neatly in paper printed with the manufacturer’s logo were arranged inside. A gentle floral fragrance spread from them.

[Oh my, something so precious….]

Giovanna’s eyes widened.

[I hope it suits your taste, ma’am.]

[It suits me more than enough. We never even see things like this in our village, goodness….]

Unable to stop admiring it, Giovanna looked at the soaps while the Count responded with a relaxed smile. As if obtaining such things meant nothing to him. Soon, he took out the next item from the bag.

[This is in return for the orange juice you made for me. The sweetness suited my taste perfectly.]

What the Count handed to Maylily was a bouquet of lilies of the valley. The stems were wrapped simply with an ivory lace ribbon without any other packaging, which made the freshness of the flowers stand out even more. This too was something that couldn’t be obtained in Bredova at this season.

Among so many kinds of flowers, the Count chose this one that was difficult to find, probably because it was also Maylily’s name and because he knew what memories it would stir for her.

What a cunning man. She wanted nothing more than to refuse it. But with Giovanna standing right there, she couldn’t do something that would spoil the warm atmosphere.

[…Thank you.]

Maylily accepted the flowers reluctantly but didn’t bother hiding the displeased look on her face. As if even that reaction pleased him, the Count’s lips curved gently, forming a shallow, long dimple on his cheek. For some reason, her heart felt unsettled, so Maylily quickly turned her gaze away from him.

The last items to come out were baby toys. A white rabbit doll covered in short glossy fur, a ball made by stitching together pieces of colorful leather, and a silver rattle with a handle.

[However, I’d like to give the gift to the baby myself.]

[….]

With a cold expression and her lips pressed tightly together, Maylily only looked down silently at the toys. Giovanna, who glanced at her and tried to gauge the mood, let out an awkward laugh.

[W‑well, go ahead. Dylan will be happy to have new toys.]

[Thank you for allowing it.]

Unlike the previous time when he stood upright looking down at the child, the Count bent deeply over the cradle. Then he held out the toys in his hand to the baby one by one.

Curious about the new toys, Dylan let go of the puppy doll. He fiddled with the rabbit doll for a moment before suddenly throwing it aside. The ball placed in his hand soon rolled away beneath the cradle.

“It seems you have picky tastes, just like me.”

“Not at all!”

As the Count picked up the ball, he said it with quite shameless confidence. Maylily immediately snapped back, unable to hold herself in any longer.