Maylily - Chapter 119

Maylily set the flower basket down between herself and Hugh, then straightened her neck and back. Her eyes, catching the light spilling from the inn’s windows, shone firmly.

“If you had sent flowers to my performances when you were my patron, I would’ve been very happy.”

“….”

“But today, I felt nothing at all.”

It would almost be better if she grew angry instead. The calm voice that carried no emotion seemed to say that no feelings for Hugh remained in Maylily’s heart. Hugh felt his chest sink. The night breeze brushing his cheek felt cold.

“Back then… I was too indifferent. I’m sorry, Maylily.”

“I’m not saying this to resent you, Count. I only hope you’ll stop making these meaningless efforts now.”

“Nothing I do for you is meaningless. If you accept me again, as your patron, I can help you…”

Hugh grabbed Maylily’s shoulders as if trying to hold on to her heart. But Maylily brushed his hands away and shook her head firmly.

“No! I don’t want a patron. I learned that if you climb to a place with someone else’s help, you can fall just as easily. Thanks to you, Count.”

So she knew everything. The unexpected blow left Hugh looking as if he had been struck in the head.

About a year ago, he ordered the director of the Roden Opera Company to expel Maylily. He never told Maylily about it, but he thought it wouldn’t matter even if she learned the truth. He considered it trivial and felt no guilt about it.

How foolish and arrogant that thought was.

At this moment, the weight of the sin revealed through Maylily’s words pressed on his chest more heavily than ever.

“Maylily, that….”

He opened his mouth but had nothing he could say. How could he possibly explain, or expect her to understand, the twisted possessiveness that tried to keep her beside him even if it meant crushing her dream? Maylily seemed to think the same, because she didn’t wait for Hugh, who had lost his words.

“You don’t need to explain things from the past. That won’t change what already happened. But the future will be different. This time, I’ll achieve my dream on my own. If you want to fulfill the role of Dylan’s father, I won’t stop you. But please keep your distance from me. You and I are now… nothing to each other.”

At those firm words drawing a clear line, the Count looked at Maylily with eyes like an abandoned child. The expression, which didn’t suit the man who was always full of confidence and composure, stirred an even deeper sense of pity.

To hide her wavering heart, Maylily deliberately turned away coldly and said, “Please stop sending flowers as gifts. I feel sorry for the flowers that end up in the trash.”

***

Even Bredova, known for its mild climate, grew chilly in the mornings and evenings once December arrived. After getting out of bed, Maylily carefully pulled the blanket up over Dylan, who was sleeping softly, then wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. After that, she opened the window to let in some fresh air.

A bluish trace of dawn still lingered over the backyard. Over the past few days, the wall decorated brightly with colorful flowers caught her eye. Maylily looked at the newly planted bright yellow crocuses that had appeared there overnight, and a faint breath slipped from her lips like a sigh.

[Last night, Mr. Barry asked if he could plant flowers in the backyard.]

[Why flowers there? Out of the blue.]

[He said something about doing it for a woman who pities flowers that get thrown away. Strange thing to say.]

[So what did you tell him?]

[Why would I refuse if he wants to decorate the backyard of our inn for us? I said yes right away.]

Thinking back on the conversation Carlo and Giovanna had at the breakfast table the morning after she returned the flower basket to the Count of Everscourt, it was obvious whose work this scenery was.

“Please stop sending flowers as gifts. I feel sorry for the flowers that end up in the trash.”

Was it because of those words? It seemed the Count of Everscourt decided to give Maylily a landscape of blooming flowers instead of flowers themselves. She couldn’t decide whether to say that he’d learned how to respect her wishes or that he was still the same willful man.

From that day on, each morning when Maylily opened her eyes, one new kind of flower appeared in the place that had once been overgrown only with grass.

Yesterday at dawn, when she woke earlier than usual, she saw an unfamiliar man with red hair planting purple violets. He seemed to be one of the Count’s attendants.

It had always looked as if the Count moved around alone here. Apparently, his people were staying somewhere in the village.

Anemones, pansies, violets, crocuses….

The charming little flowers suited Bredova’s winter and the scenery of the inn perfectly. Perhaps because of that, Maylily honestly did not dislike the new view outside the window.

Carlo was delighted that the inn had become brighter. He carefully checked whether weeds had grown in the newly made flower bed and watered it with great care. Until then, he’d known nothing at all about the relationship between Maylily and the Count of Everscourt. He realized the Count’s true identity only yesterday.

After Maylily allowed the Count to fulfill the role of Dylan’s father, he began coming to the restaurant almost every day bringing baby clothes, toys, and supplies. Thanks to that, Dylan became the most pampered baby in the village overnight.

And yesterday, the Count boldly knocked on the green door that led to the family’s living space. Both of his hands were full of fruit that couldn’t be found in the village market.

While Giovanna prepared tea to welcome him, Maylily came out from the bedroom after feeding the baby and was startled to see him sitting on the living room sofa. She almost dropped Dylan, who she was holding in her arms.

The speed at which the Count was pushing into their lives was almost difficult to keep up with. Even so, though it was a little bewildering, it didn’t feel unpleasant. That was because a small expectation and hope began to grow inside Maylily that the Count might truly become a good father to Dylan.

The Count drank his tea leisurely and watched Dylan for a long time as the child fell asleep in Maylily’s arms while shaking the rattle. Around that time, Carlo came in to rest after leaving the counter to Michele.

[Mr. Barry is here, I see.]

Carlo greeted the Count warmly and sat beside him, thanking him for the flower bed in the backyard. After they exchanged various small talk for a while, silence settled between them.

In that moment, the Count’s gaze naturally shifted to Dylan, and a faint smile formed on his lips. Sunlight streaming through the window warmly illuminated both his face and Dylan’s. Carlo, who had been absentmindedly looking at the father and son who resembled each other so closely, suddenly widened his eyes like lanterns.

Barely swallowing the shock of his sudden realization, he approached Maylily after the Count left and patted her shoulder.

[You’ve worked very hard all this time on your own, May.]

Thinking of that warm touch made her eyes grow hot for no reason. As Maylily sniffed and wiped the corners of her eyes with her fingertips, Dylan woke and began to whimper.

“Mom, dii…. Maa, ma.”

“Dylan, you’re awake? You’re hungry, aren’t you? Let’s have some milk.”

Maylily closed the window and turned back, deliberately smiling brightly as she lifted Dylan and sat on the bed.

While feeding the child and organizing the tasks she needed to do in her mind one by one, the morning outside the window grew fully bright. The blue sky filled with white clouds created a clear day that seemed to invigorate everything.

After finishing the feeding, Maylily stood up with a deep breath as if bracing herself. Today was the day she performed at the restaurant, so she needed to move even more diligently than usual.

***

[Thank you for spending this time with us. Please enjoy the rest of your evening.]

After finishing the final song of the performance, Maylily stepped down from the stage to enthusiastic applause. Tonight again, the restaurant was completely full with guests who had come to hear her sing.

[You worked hard. Here, take this.]

When Maylily came out of the lounge after preparing to leave work, the manager handed her the usual envelope filled with tips.

[Thank you.]

[And by the way, do you have a moment? There’s a guest who said they’d like to meet you.]

[Who… is it?]

[They said they’d like to talk briefly about your singing. From the look of it, they seemed like a normal person, but you can refuse if you feel uncomfortable.]

Suspicion toward the unknown person rose in her mind. But she also wanted to leave a good impression on the guests and help the restaurant that hired her as a singer. Since the manager and staff were present, it didn’t seem like anything dangerous would happen.

[No, it’s fine. I’ll go.]

After making her decision without much difficulty, Maylily followed the manager toward the hall where the guest was waiting.