Maylily - Chapter 124

The first thing Maylily did after looking around the city of Cereno was have a photograph taken with Dylan at a studio in the central district.

[It’s quite difficult to take photos of babies smiling, but you’ve got a spirited son. Thanks to him, the photos turned out very well.]

The next day, when Maylily returned, the photographer handed over the prints with great satisfaction. Just as he said, Dylan was smiling brightly, making the photo pleasant to look at. Even though the unfamiliar and stiff atmosphere must have been frightening, he hadn’t cried even once. Thinking of that, Maylily felt proud and touched, wondering when he had grown so much.

She printed three copies in total. One was enclosed in a letter to Carlo and Giovanna, one was placed in a frame and set on the bedside table, and the last was carefully put away in a drawer in the hope that one day she could give it to her aunt.

Life in Cereno quickly settled into place. It was possible thanks to the help of Mrs. Keaton and Alice.

Mrs. Keaton, experienced in childcare, immediately understood Dylan’s needs and met them, while the capable and quick Alice assisted her at her side. Above all, the two of them poured genuine care and affection into him, so Dylan quickly opened his heart to them.

Thanks to that, Maylily was gradually able to spend more time at the theater.

Bereceno Theater, the main stage of the Royal Opera Company of Cartia, was located about twenty to thirty minutes away from the house by carriage. With less than two weeks remaining until the role auditions for the next season, she went to the theater every day to practice.

There were many roles she wanted, but considering Dylan’s upbringing, she decided not to overextend herself this season. As Dylan grew, she would be able to gradually increase her time on stage, and more opportunities would come in the future. Thinking that way, she calmed the impatience that kept rising within her.

At the role auditions, Maylily won all the parts she had aimed for and devoted herself to practice throughout the winter. On the days she left the house to go to the theater, the Count of Everscourt would come by, spend time with Dylan, and then leave. In doing so, he faithfully kept his promise to spend as much time as possible with Dylan in her place.

The Skaard Hotel had begun a project to open a new branch by renovating the Almera Hotel building in Cereno, which had been acquired about two years earlier, and the Count was staying in Cereno to carry out that plan. He also stated that even after the project was completed next year, he would remain in Cereno to help raise Dylan.

When Maylily returned home after practice, the Count would be playing with Dylan using toys or reading him picture books with a smile. At times, he would sit beside the sleeping child, reviewing documents with a serious expression. In any case, he always rose immediately and returned to his own residence so that Maylily wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.

There were several times when, just before he left through the front door, she felt the impulse to offer him tea as she saw the lingering look in his eyes. But Maylily didn’t do so. Their lives could only be connected through Dylan. She was extremely cautious about allowing the Count into her daily life in any other way. She didn’t want to give him any chance to exert influence over her again.

One day, Maylily returned home a little later than usual after work. The Count, who had been organizing the documents he was reviewing, rose from his seat and put on his coat as he spoke.

“The photo you took with Dylan turned out beautifully.”

“…Did you go into my bedroom?”

“I didn’t have any ulterior motive. I went in to pick up Dylan after he woke up and happened to see it. A few days ago.”

“….”

“Could you give me a copy of the photo as well?”

“…I’ll think about it.”

She didn’t want to coldly refuse the request of a man who wanted a photo of his child. At the same time, she didn’t want to hand him a photo that included her own face. So Maylily took Dylan to the studio again and had a portrait taken of the child alone.

When she handed that photo to the Count, the anticipation filling his gray-blue eyes quickly turned into disappointment. Even though she saw that change clearly, Maylily pretended not to notice. In this way, she accepted the Count as Dylan’s father while learning how to keep an appropriate distance from him.

***

The peaceful daily life Hugh, Maylily, and Dylan found in Cereno did not last long. The spark that ignited everything was Maylily’s first performance of the season after joining the Royal Opera Company of Cartia, where she left a strong impression on the public.

In her first performance, Maylily took a supporting role. With her beautiful singing, outstanding skill, and rich emotion, she drew more attention than the prima donna. The public of Cartia, who had never heard of her before, focused their attention on the beautiful foreign singer, and the name “Maylily Aile” appeared in the newspapers day after day.

And the Riverton press, upon receiving that name, dug up memories from the not-so-distant past.

Maylily Aile. A singer who once received the patronage of the Count of Everscourt, delivered a perfect <Agnes> like a one-night dream, and then vanished from the stage.

She had made a spectacular return. On the stage of the Bereceno Theater in Cereno, where the Count of Everscourt was staying for business.

Combined with the false engagement Hugh had announced to the press, Maylily’s appearance stirred great interest in Riverton as well. Though unintended, since Hugh had claimed to have met his imaginary fiancée in Cartia, speculation and rumors surrounding Maylily spread rapidly.

Many figures in Riverton’s high society asserted that a marriage between a distinguished count and a lowly opera singer could never happen. At the same time, however, suspicion began to circulate that Maylily might be Hugh’s hidden fiancée.

Moreover, Hugh, who had withdrawn from society after breaking off his engagement with Vivian Cheshire, had become entangled again abroad with a woman people assumed had been nothing more than a passing fling. It was a sensational story perfect for the press and gossipers to savor.

Reporters from Cartia, as well as those from Riverton, gathered to cover Maylily. On the day of her third performance, warm spring winds began to coax deep pink buds into bloom, and the area around the theater was already crowded with reporters from both countries even before the performance began.

“They say the front of the theater was in complete chaos with reporters even before the ticket office opened. I’m worried Miss Aile might end up in trouble. Should we send someone?”

Hugh, who had been looking out at the dim street spread beyond the living room window of Maylily’s house, shifted his gaze to the wall clock. The performance must have just ended. Thinking of Maylily facing the reporters without knowing anything, there was no time to delay. Hugh’s large hand gently stroked the soft hair of the child sitting beside him on the sofa.

“I should go see your mother, Dylan.”

“Ung, aba, ba….”

Hugh left the house after entrusting the child, who waved his hand as if saying goodbye, to Mrs. Keaton. David quickly followed behind him.

“If you go personally, Count, it will only add fuel to the rumors.”

“Putting out that fire is your specialty, isn’t it? Check whether anything about the child is circulating among the press.”

It also made no sense for Hugh to send someone else regarding Maylily’s matter. The next few days would surely become troublesome again. But what could he do? If this was his master’s will.

Swallowing a sigh, David answered loyally, “Yes, understood.”

***

By the time Hugh arrived at Bereceno Theater by carriage, Maylily was just coming out through the performers’ entrance. Her neatly tied blonde hair shimmered in the light spilling from the building’s windows.

“It’s Maylily Aile!”

One of the people scattered across the lawn nearby, exhausted from waiting, shouted loudly. In an instant, reporters rushed in and surrounded Maylily.

Hugh, who had missed her by a narrow margin, narrowed his brows slightly and signaled to his attendants. They rushed into the crowd of reporters and secured a path for Hugh to pass through.

“Is it true that Miss Aile is the Count of Everscourt’s fiancée?”

[Did you move your activities to Cartia because of your relationship with the Count of Everscourt?]

Caught off guard by the barrage of questions and flashes, Maylily fell into confusion and looked around as if trying to grasp the situation.

“Maylily!”

It was then that Hugh, having moved away from the crowd of reporters, stood by her side. Maylily looked up at him, her eyes still full of bewilderment.

“What… is going on?”

“Let’s get out of here first. I’ll explain everything later.”

Hugh took off his coat and draped it over Maylily, then firmly held her trembling shoulders. His sudden appearance only heightened the reporters’ excitement.

[There are rumors that the two of you have already held a secret wedding ceremony. Is that true?]

“Are you planning to settle in Cartia after marriage? There are reports that the Count recently purchased a mansion in Cereno.”

“Please step aside. We’re passing through.”

The attendants, forming a barrier by joining hands, shouted loudly. As Hugh moved through them while calming the frightened Maylily, he spotted a familiar woman’s face among the reporters pushing forward.

Disheveled hair, shabby clothes, and a face twisted in a strange expression that couldn’t be read as either laughter or anger.

Though very different from the image in his memory, it was unmistakably a face he knew. And the moment Hugh recalled her name, the woman thrust her arm forward between the attendants. At the end of it, the metallic gun barrel glinted sharply, aimed at Maylily.

Bang!

At the same time Hugh instinctively pulled Maylily into his arms, a chilling gunshot shattered the night air.