Maylily - Chapter 131

Early in the morning, as Maylily was getting ready for work, she only realized it was her birthday after seeing the lily of the valley delivered to her home.

Recently, she had been cast in an additional production to replace a fellow singer who was on leave due to health issues. As a result, her schedule had grown even tighter, and she was spending her days in a constant rush.

To my flower, eternal happiness.

The note placed in the center of the bright flower basket was unmistakably in Hugh’s handwriting. She felt grateful for the care he took in preparing the gift in advance before leaving for his business trip to Riverton.

After staring at the note for a few seconds, Maylily carefully placed it in the drawer of the bedside table and set the flower basket by the window. The breeze coming through the open window scattered the fresh fragrance of the flowers throughout the room. As she bent over the cradle, a bright smile spread across her face, as radiant as the white lily of the valley.

“It smells so nice, doesn’t it, Dylan? It’s a gift your father sent to your mother.”

“Uung, paaa, mama….”

As if he understood the word ‘father,’ Dylan beamed and waved the hand holding his rabbit doll.

“Do you miss your father too, Dylan? He’ll be back tomorrow, so let’s wait just a little longer with Mom.”

It had already been nearly ten days since Hugh left on his trip. During that time, telegrams sent from Riverton arrived every day.

Arrived in Roden. Weather clear

Will return to Cereno in a week

Played tennis with the Crown Prince. Complete victory

Messages that might seem trivial, even playful, to others. The fact that she now shared even such small pieces of everyday life with Hugh made her heart feel ticklish, as if flower petals were scattering inside it.

The day before yesterday, she received a telegram saying Hugh had arrived in Purdshire. How did Aunt react after reading the letter? Should I have sent a photo of Dylan? If she had seen the child’s adorable face, she might have accepted the truth a little more happily….

She felt a little regret that she hadn’t enclosed a photo because she lacked the courage. Next time, I’ll definitely send one.

“I’m sure Great-Aunt will love Dylan very much too.”

“Hamoo, didi, ah! muu….”

As if responding to her words, Dylan babbled enthusiastically, drool scattering as he did. Laughing at the sight, Maylily leaned in and kissed his chubby cheek with a soft smack. Then she straightened up and faced the clear sunlight, her eyes filling with happiness.

***

That evening, the applause pouring down toward the stage as the red curtain descended was more vigorous than usual. Maylily, her heart fluttering with excitement at the thought of seeing Hugh tomorrow, walked down from the stage with light steps and arrived at the dressing room.

Since the production she performed in today didn’t have many singers, even she, in a supporting role, could use a dressing room on her own. The makeup artist waiting inside helped her remove her wig and change her clothes.

[I’ll take off my makeup myself, Anna. You can go ahead. You’ve worked hard.]

After sending the makeup artist off, Maylily washed her face clean at the basin and sat down in front of the dressing table. As she was finishing up, wiping her face with a cloth dampened with toner,

Knock, knock, knock.

At the light knocking sound, Maylily paused and turned toward the door. There shouldn’t be anyone coming…. Did Anna forget something?

[Come in.]

The moment she saw the faces of those who stepped through the slowly opening door, emotion surged up from deep within her heart, filling her eyes with tears.

“Aunt! Daisy!”

Beside Daisy, who stood holding a large bouquet, were her uncle and Liam, whom Maylily couldn’t bring herself to call out through the lump in her throat. Springing up from her seat, Maylily ran to them like a child. Then she opened her arms wide and hugged her aunt.

“I missed you, Aunt! I really… I missed you so, so much.”

“I missed you too, May. Why didn’t you tell us sooner? You must’ve gone through so much, in body and in heart, all on your own.”

Each time her aunt, her voice just as choked, patted Maylily’s back, large tears fell from her eyes in drops. Sniffling, Maylily shook her head.

“Thanks to meeting kind people in Cartia, it wasn’t hard at all. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner, Aunt, everyone….”

“No, May. I’m sorry we couldn’t be there for you when you needed us the most.”

“Still, seeing you overcome everything and succeed like this in Cartia makes me proud, May.”

“That’s right, when you sang the aria in Act Two, I got chills all over.”

“The people next to me were whistling and shouting your name during the curtain call. They were really something.”

Her aunt and uncle had gained a few more lines around their eyes over the years, and Daisy had grown into a proper young lady. Liam, now sixteen, had grown so tall she had to look up at him.

Though their appearances had changed little by little, the way they didn’t hold back their praise for Maylily’s performance remained the same. Smiling faintly, Maylily wiped her tears and calmed her surging emotions.

“But how did you come here so suddenly? Without even telling me….”

“The Count of Everscourt arranged everything, the train tickets and the performance tickets, sister.”

At the question she asked her aunt, Daisy cut in with a bright, excited face and answered.

“What? Is that true?”

“Yes, he even arranged a place for us to stay in Cereno. We didn’t want to trouble him too much for the sake of your reputation, but he asked us to come cheer you on….”

“I guess we’re your birthday present. It’s your birthday today, isn’t it?”

“Yeah… I guess it is.”

So that’s why he went to Purdshire. She finally understood why Hugh had suddenly tried to tell her aunt about Dylan’s existence. Thinking of his considerate heart, the tears she’d just managed to stop filled her eyes again. Maylily wiped at the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand and broke into a bright smile.

“Let’s go to my place. I want to introduce Dylan to you as soon as possible.”

Even though it was well past his bedtime, Dylan was wide awake, his eyes shining brightly. As if he knew guests were coming and had been waiting. The child’s pure and lovely appearance instantly captured her family’s hearts.

“Look at that smiling face. How is he so gentle and not shy at all? He’s just like you when you were little, May.”

“With parents that handsome and beautiful, no wonder he looks so handsome.”

“But the more I look at him, the more he really looks exactly like the Count of Everscourt. It would’ve been nice if he looked a bit more like you too, sister.”

“Here, look at this mole on his cheek. This is exactly the same as yours.”

There must be more similarities than that. As Maylily studied her son’s face with fresh attention, her family took turns holding Dylan and planting kisses on his hands and cheeks. Watching them quietly, Maylily suddenly thought of Deborah.

Would she also cherish Dylan like this? Since he resembled Hugh so much, she thought she probably would. When Hugh returned, she felt she should talk with him and make sure they showed Dylan to Deborah before too much time passed. She wanted Hugh to fully enjoy the joy of sharing affection with family as well. Since Hugh had no siblings, he might have grown up lonelier than she had.

“Oh, right, sister!”

Clap. At the sound of Daisy clapping her hands, Maylily came back to her senses and turned her head.

“Yes?”

“I got a job at a dress shop in Roden.”

“Oh my!”

At the surprising news, a bright smile spread across Maylily’s face. Knowing how desperately Daisy had wanted this made her even happier.

“Congratulations, Daisy! That’s wonderful. Thank you for telling me such great news.”

“I should be the one saying that. It’s all thanks to you for sending me to fashion school.”

“That’s right, you should be thanking May. Thank you for helping Daisy grow her dream.”

“To be honest, I wish Daisy would just meet a decent man in Purdshire and get married, but since she’s working this hard, we should support her, shouldn’t we? Anyway, thank you, May.”

“Compared to everything you’ve done for me, it’s still not enough. I haven’t even been able to buy you the nice house I promised yet.”

“I’ll take over that promise. I’ll make a fortune and buy a wonderful house like the one you used to live in, the one with the view of the river.”

“Alright, this father will trust you now, Daisy.”

As they laughed and cried, sharing all the things they hadn’t been able to say until now, the moon outside the window slowly tilted, and Dylan fell asleep in Maylily’s arms.

“Looks like he got tired from welcoming guests. Let’s start heading back to the lodging as well.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to go back to Riverton when I keep thinking about this adorable grandchild.”

Her aunt, gently stroking Dylan’s soft cheek with her fingertips, gathered her bag, and the rest of the family also rose from their seats.

After going into the bedroom and laying Dylan down in the cradle, Maylily took out a photograph from the drawer of the bedside table. It was a picture taken at a studio of her holding Dylan. Seeing her family out to the front of the building, Maylily handed the photograph to her aunt.

“How could such a young child smile so brightly in front of a camera?”

Her aunt stared at the photo for a while, as if amazed by Dylan, then carefully placed it into her bag. The family, who promised to meet again the day after tomorrow on Maylily’s day off, soon left in a carriage.

After her family left, Maylily returned home and cleared the tea table in the sitting room. Just then, as silence settled over the house, the sound of knocking echoed through it.