Maylily - Chapter 135

Maylily Aile’s touring performance came to a grand close amid cherry blossoms scattering in the spring breeze.

The Riverton press competed to cover Maylily’s achievements as a singer and the fervor of her final performance in Roden. Even days after the performance, her name showed no sign of disappearing from newspaper stands.

The greatest ‘Agnes’ in history, Maylily Aile, enchants Roden!

How did an orphan from Purdshire become the diva of the continent

The records of Maylily Aile’s success, surpassing Christina Singers to become the greatest prima donna of this century

Maylily’s <Agnes> was evaluated as one of the finest stages in the history of the Roden Opera House. In Aberque of Roden, where the spring social season was in full swing, Maylily’s name was constantly on people’s lips.

Her innate talent, her beautiful appearance, and her unique background of returning to her homeland’s stage after achieving great success abroad. On top of that, her ambiguous relationship with Hugh Skaard, Count of Everscourt, who was called the most attractive and wealthy man in Riverton society, made Maylily an even hotter topic of conversation.

As spring went on, the focus of attention shifted to when and where Maylily would return. By the end of the social season, rumors spread that Director Martin Fritz of the Roden Opera Company was making great efforts to recruit her.

And just as the Roden Opera Company was being predicted as Maylily’s next destination, unexpected news arrived: her announcement of retirement. Not only the domestic and international opera world, but even the general public was seized with shock and surprise.

“Could it be something wrong with her throat?”

“Judging from her last performance, it was flawless. It’s hard to think that’s the case.”

“Maybe it’s a strategy to raise her price before signing a contract.”

“It could be an impulsive decision from physical and mental exhaustion after the tour. It’s not uncommon for singers who retire suddenly to reverse their decision later.”

All kinds of speculation surrounded Maylily’s retirement. For a prima donna who had firmly held the top position for years to retire was that unusual.

Even for Maylily, it wasn’t easy to completely let go of her attachment to the stage overnight. Since joining the Royal Opera Company of Cartia, the days she spent running forward with only singing and the stage in mind were filled with achievement and happiness.

However, there were clearly things she’d missed along the way. The laughter-filled everyday life spent with family, the joy of watching her beloved child grow, and the shining memories she would one day look back on with her partner.

Now it was time to pour her passion and energy into filling her life with those treasures. Because she realized that more keenly than ever, Maylily was able to step down from the stage without hesitation despite her lingering attachment. Before it was too late, she wanted to restore the balance of her life anew. Together with the people she loved, by their side.

Before the aftermath of her retirement announcement had even settled, news of Maylily’s marriage spread through society. The partner was Hugh Skaard, Count of Everscourt. The fact that the two already had a son had been an open secret in high society for four years, and after Hugh Skaard’s broken engagement with Vivian Cheshire, he hadn’t given so much as a brief glance to any woman other than Maylily, so it was an outcome many had anticipated to some extent.

Even so, conservative nobles who had stubbornly denied the possibility raised their voices in criticism, calling their cross-class marriage a vulgar union that violated etiquette and social norms. On the other hand, there were those who accepted it with resignation, seeing it as part of the new tide of an era in which the class system was fading.

Whichever side one took, there was no disagreement that the prestige of the Everscourt family would remain unshaken despite this controversial marriage.

Maylily Aile and Hugh Skaard held their ceremony at the chapel in Prowden, bathed in the lush greenery of summer. It was about a month after the marriage announcement. Considering that preparations for noble weddings usually take at least a season and often over a year, it was an unprecedentedly fast pace.

The reception that followed the ceremony was a small event attended only by close relatives, yet every element was of the highest luxury. It was entirely Deborah’s design.

While preparing for Maylily and Hugh’s wedding, items rumored to be rare across the empire arrived in Prowden by carriage day after day. Jewelry, dresses, shoes, furniture, carpets, vases, food… listing them all would leave one breathless.

Even though she had become one of the wealthiest women in Riverton, such luxury still felt unfamiliar to Maylily. Even so, she followed Deborah’s wishes without complaint. She knew well that it wasn’t only Hugh who had waited for her all these years. She couldn’t even begin to measure what Deborah had set aside in order to accept her as a member of the Everscourt family.

Hugh was the head of the House of Everscourt, the chairman of Skaard Enterprises, and Deborah’s only nephew. It was only natural that Deborah was determined to make his wedding perfect in every way. Maylily fully understood that this marriage wasn’t hers alone.

Under the clear sky, with decorations that heightened the romantic atmosphere, sweet music, fragrant champagne, the congratulations of the guests, and the beautiful bride and groom, the perfect wedding, one that would be talked about for a long time, was held beneath a blazing sun as if offering its fervent blessing to the newlyweds.

Their honeymoon was skipped. It was Maylily’s choice, after spending a long time traveling across the continent for her tour. Rather than traveling, she longed to settle down. She wanted to begin a new daily life with Hugh and Dylan as soon as possible. And Hugh willingly followed her wishes.

At last, the position of Countess of Everscourt was filled, yet the practical role of mistress of the house still belonged to Deborah. Unlike daughters of noble families who are raised to become the lady of a household, Maylily had been educated to become an opera singer and had lived a life focused on singing and the stage until now. That meant she wasn’t prepared at all to take charge of the inner workings of the count’s household.

“There’s no need to rush, my dear. To be honest, managing Prowden suits me very well. So take your time finding your place.”

Deborah’s generous consideration eased Maylily’s guilty feelings somewhat.

However, separately from that, Maylily began studying to cultivate the abilities and refinement required of the lady of the Everscourt family and a member of high society. She wanted to perfectly fulfill her role on this new stage called society as well. In doing so, she wanted to become a dependable support for Hugh. Just as he had been for her over the past seven years.

It might take quite a long time, but Maylily chose not to be impatient. One day, she would surely get there.

***

“The madam has just finished her political lesson and moved to the drawing room.”

At the attendant’s report as he entered the study, Hugh’s gaze, which had been reviewing approval documents, shifted to the desk clock. The scheduled lesson time had already gone well over.

She must not have been able to hold back a question that came to her right before the lesson ended again today. Imagining his wife as an eager student, a quiet smile spread across Hugh’s lips as he set down his fountain pen.

If one were to choose the busiest person in Prowden these days, there would be no hesitation. It was Maylily.

From the third day after the wedding, Maylily’s schedule was packed to the brim. In the mornings, she learned household management of the family from Deborah, and in the afternoons, she invited tutors to the estate for lessons. The subjects were varied, ranging from politics and history to accounting and law.

“Why are you trying to learn accounting and law? Those aren’t part of the refinement expected of a lady.”

“I actually want to try establishing a patronage foundation once I become more capable in managing the household.”

“A patronage foundation?”

“Yes, I want to help students facing financial difficulties pursue their dream of becoming singers.”

“If that’s your goal, you can simply hire professionals.”

“Even so, I think I should have basic knowledge. To understand whether the foundation is being run properly and whether the funds are used correctly, I need to know how to read legal documents and accounting records.”

It was a moment that made his earlier worry seem pointless, that she might fall into emptiness and helplessness after stepping down from the stage she’d nurtured and flourished on for so many years. Maylily’s blue eyes, now dreaming of something new, shone with the same vitality as the day he first met her ten years ago. They were endlessly beautiful and lovely.

Maylily was also devoted to spending time with Dylan. On clear days, she took him out to the fields or the seaside. At night, she sat beside his bed and read to him. Hugh didn’t bother to say that caring for a child’s bedtime was the nanny’s role.

Living busily like that for several weeks, the fatigue must have built up. Last night, while reading to Dylan, Maylily fell asleep beside him. And so, Hugh intended to claim the night they missed today.

He would collect with interest.

Each time he tapped the armrest of his chair, the blue diamond at the center of the ring on his long finger caught the sunlight streaming through the window and sparkled. After watching it quietly, Hugh soon rose from his seat and headed toward the drawing room where his wife was.