Maylily - Chapter 129

“What I did against your father ultimately became the spark for this incident. If I hadn’t dragged you into that filthy revenge, you wouldn’t have been put in danger either.”

Hugh had always believed that his revenge against Victor Heywood was an unavoidable choice. Even if it hurt Maylily, he didn’t regret it. Without that path, there would never have been a point where his world and Maylily’s life crossed.

However, it was clearly the wrong path, and it was only right that he should apologize to Maylily, who had been made a victim of that revenge without even knowing why. She was nothing more than another victim born of Victor Heywood, yet at the time, Hugh refused to understand that.

If Hugh had arrived at the theater just a little later on the day of the shooting, Maylily could have lost her life. Every time he thought of that horrific possibility, the weight of the sin of having made an innocent, pure woman a sacrifice for his revenge felt as though it pressed down on his very soul.

“I hurt you when you did nothing wrong, and I was so consumed by arrogance and vengeance that I never stopped to think about what kind of sin I was committing against you. I’m sorry, Maylily. For hurting you, for putting you in danger, for everything.”

The belated guilt and self-reproach made it difficult for Hugh to face Maylily. It was even more so because, unlike the twisted ugliness of the sin he’d committed, her face remained utterly clear and pure. Even so, Hugh didn’t avert his gaze until the end, hoping his sincerity would fully reach her.

Maylily, who had quietly endured that intense and persistent gaze, slowly rose from her seat and walked over to Hugh. Standing at the edge of the tree’s shade, she took his hand, which rested on his knee, as if offering a gesture of reconciliation.

“That’s enough apologies, Count.”

A gentle smile spread across Maylily’s face, as clear and pure as transparent water.

“I’ll forgive you for everything you did wrong to me, in honor of you saving my life. So I hope you’ll also leave the past in the past and smile. Your smile is….”

Speaking more brightly than usual, as if comforting Hugh who was weighed down by guilt stirred up by memories of the past, Maylily suddenly trailed off. She gently let go of his hand and stepped back out of the shade, her round cheeks flushed red.

“What about my smile?”

Hugh stood up and moved close to her, tilting his head slowly as he pressed for the rest of her words. Maylily whispered toward his clear blue-gray eyes, which shone transparently in the sunlight.

“…the most wonderful.”

Hugh, who had been brushing back his hair fluttering in the gentle breeze, let out a low laugh at the careful yet bold confession. Dimples formed clearly on both sides of his upturned lips. Watching him blankly, a bright smile spread across Maylily’s face as well.

Under the brilliant spring sunlight shining over their heads, the shadows of the past were quietly making their peaceful exit.

***

As spring deepened in Cereno, the area around the Bereceno Theater filled with the fragrance of white jasmine and red roses. The opera season had already reached its midpoint, and Maylily was spending busy days filled with performances and rehearsals.

Having drawn attention for her outstanding skill from the beginning of the season, Maylily was spoken of more and more as the performances continued. She was still limited to supporting roles in the productions she appeared in, but there were already audiences who came to the theater just to hear her sing.

As public interest grew hotter by the day, it naturally spread from Maylily’s stage to her everyday life. Contrary to the common perception that opera singers enjoyed glamorous parties and gatherings, Maylily’s private life was known, put kindly, as modest, and unkindly, as dull.

Even so, she couldn’t completely avoid social occasions. As a singer belonging to the Royal Opera Company of Cartia, she had to perform at events attended by patrons, distinguished guests, and high society, or receive them. Each time, the attention directed at her by fellow singers and nobles sometimes led to rumors of affairs. Whether fortunate or not, Hugh showed no reaction to such gossip.

Today’s dinner was one of those occasions. A party was held at a restaurant near the theater to welcome composer Raymond Noteman, who had recently signed an exclusive contract with the Bereceno Theater. Since he was a composer she’d worked with during her time at the Roden Opera Company, Maylily attended with more joy and excitement than usual.

By the time the dinner ended, the sky, which had been gloomy all day, began to pour rain. The light drizzle quickly turned into a heavy downpour.

“Shall we ride in the same carriage for once? To reminisce about our time in Roden.”

Without an umbrella and stranded anxiously under the restaurant porch, Maylily was approached by Raymond with the suggestion. The memory of a snowy night when she once rode his carriage home after work came to mind, and she smiled faintly. He was a gentleman, upright and reliable.

“Then I’ll trouble you just for today.”

The rain that had been pouring as if the sky had split open thinned out while they traveled. Through the streaks of rain flowing down the carriage window, a red-colored building came into view as the carriage slowly came to a stop.

“I was so caught up talking that we’re already here. I had a good time, thanks to you.”

“Me too. Let’s talk often, since we share the same native language.”

“Yes, I’d like that. Thank you for bringing me back so late.”

“The rain hasn’t stopped completely, so I’ll walk you to the entrance.”

Raymond got out of the carriage with light, easy movements and held an umbrella over Maylily as she stepped down after him. After exchanging farewells in front of the building they reached in just a few steps, he got back into the carriage and left.

As Maylily watched him grow farther away and stepped into the dim interior of the building, a large, black figure suddenly appeared from behind a pillar.

“You’re late, Maylily.”

Just as she was about to scream in shock, the familiar voice calmed her startled heart. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, a familiar face came into view.

“…Count? How did you….”

Her voice trembled at the end, like someone caught doing something wrong.

“My physician allowed me to go out. It was raining, so I went to the theater to pick you up, but it seems we missed each other.”

“Ah…. There was a welcome party today for a composer who just joined the theater. So…. I’m sorry.”

“You arrived safely, so that’s enough. Let’s go inside.”

Maylily carefully placed her hand on the arm Hugh offered and walked down the corridor. The sleeve of his coat, damp from the rain, felt slightly wet. Thinking of Hugh riding in a carriage through the rain with his body not yet fully recovered made her uneasy.

Hugh, who had been staying inside the mansion for over a month to recover from his gunshot wound, had come to see her for the first time in a while… and on that very day, she returned in a carriage with another man. The realization that she had made a serious mistake came to her belatedly.

He must have seen that…. Then why isn’t he saying anything? Restless, Maylily stopped Hugh, who had reached for the handle of the front door.

“Th-that person I came back with in the carriage earlier is that composer. His name is Raymond Noteman. We worked on a piece together when I was at the Roden Opera Company, and he said he’d give me a ride…. It was raining really hard earlier. I didn’t have an umbrella….”

“You don’t have to explain every detail, Maylily.”

Hugh said this as he gently brushed the raindrops from Maylily’s cheek with his thumb. His tone was endlessly gentle, which made it even harder to read what he was feeling underneath. She worried he might be holding back anger, and felt hurt at the thought that he might truly not care. While Maylily was caught in that confusion, Hugh stepped inside.

Mrs. Keaton and Alice hurried out and handed them towels. After checking whether they needed anything else, the two soon left for the day. After going into the bedroom, taking off her coat, and putting it away, Maylily checked the cradle to make sure Dylan was sleeping well, then came out to the sitting room.

Hugh, who had been standing by the window with his hands clasped behind his back, turned to her and gave a faint smile. The light from the streetlamp coming through the window traced along the side of his face, adding to the soft atmosphere.

The kind and gentle Hugh Skaard.

She now believed that what she saw of him was not a lie. And yet she still didn’t fully understand him. Maylily drew her brows together slightly as she walked up to him, then asked bluntly.

“Why do you say I don’t have to explain? You don’t care about the rumors either….”

His voice remained as soft as ever. But this was clearly a complaint. Startled by the unexpected reaction, Hugh paused, then soon grasped the meaning behind it and let out a silent laugh.

“Are you sulking because I didn’t get jealous?”

Huh? Is that what this is…. Only then did Maylily realize the source of her discomfort, and her expression softened. She understood that it was asking too much to expect Hugh, who waited for her without a single complaint, to even soothe her anxiety with jealousy. On top of that, she was the one who had ridden in a carriage with another man, not Hugh.

Maylily parted her lips to apologize. However, it was Hugh who spoke first.