Maylily - Chapter 45

As Daisy had said, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Maylily had become the mistress of the Count of Everscourt or something close to it.

That alone was enough to be satisfied with, but it was nothing compared to becoming part of a noble family. A noble’s mistress was nothing more than someone waiting for the day she’d be discarded.

Thinking that way, before her reputation was ruined, it would be better for Maylily to end her relationship with the Count and follow her noble father to begin a new life. That would be the wiser choice for her too.

Victor’s wealthy appearance only spurred Jace further in that direction.

Expensive clothes and shoes could be acquired in a day, but glossy hair and smooth skin at middle age were privileges only of those who had enjoyed a life of leisure for years.

Looking at Victor’s radiant face, which looked ten years younger despite being his peer, Jace made up his mind.

It was time to demand compensation for raising Maylily.

The reason he had endured Diane’s blind devotion to Maylily until now was not because he was generous. Unlike his own children, who had no chance of escaping the life of commoners, Maylily had something special.

Believing she was worth investing in, he had encouraged her success for the sake of future profit.

But it was only after sitting in the audience of the Roden Opera House that Jace realized how small her chances really were. On stage, among the stars of the opera, Maylily’s presence had been minuscule.

She was already nearly twenty. Better to marry her off while still young than waste time chasing an uncertain dream. That way, Jace could secure his return on investment with certainty.

“Please, you must keep this secret from my wife.”

Jace pleaded for confidentiality.

“Because I raised Maylily as if she were my own daughter, I want her to do well. I’m truly going out of my way to help you.”

After making sure to leave his contribution firmly imprinted, he finally gave Victor the information he wanted.

“You’ll be able to meet Maylily if you go to the Roden Opera House. She’s a singer there.”

***

“Oh my, how lovely!”

Mrs. Keaton, carrying a large bouquet of lilies down the hall, broke into a bright smile when she saw Maylily coming out of her bedroom.

“Today he sent lilies. At this rate, the house will turn into a flower garden.”

“Indeed.”

Accepting the bouquet from Mrs. Keaton with a shy smile, Maylily lowered her face to the white lilies tinged with fresh green. She pretended to inhale their fragrance, but in truth, it was to hide the smile that kept slipping out without her knowing.

Since visiting the Flower Show with the Count of Everscourt, every morning a bouquet from him had been delivered to her home. Enough to decorate not only her bedroom and kitchen but the whole house. The drawing room alone held three vases.

Freesias, geraniums, peonies, irises….

The flowers she had seen at the Flower Show arrived each day, one kind after another. The memory they brought Maylily was always the same.

A kiss as soft and careful as if he touched a flower petal. Each time she recalled the heat of their lips parting the moment they met, her heart swelled as if it would burst with joy.

Whether in the dressing room, on the street, or in her bedroom, whenever the scent of flowers tickled her, Maylily thought of the bouquet she had received that morning.

And then, as naturally as flowing water, her thoughts reached the Count’s kiss. That fleeting kiss, colored in every shade of spring.

Thus, she thought of the Count of Everscourt several times a day. Though she hadn’t seen him since that day, the heart freed from its yoke of fear grew like a seedling after spring rain.

Carrying the bouquet into the drawing room, Maylily pulled three lilies from it and placed them in the vase on the table. The white lilies stretched their long necks between the purple irises Mrs. Keaton had trimmed and arranged the previous morning.

“There are already more flowers here than the house can hold, so I’d like you to have this bouquet instead, ma’am.”

Mrs. Keaton flapped her hands in surprise at the bouquet Maylily held out. “Oh no, I couldn’t! How could I accept flowers given to you?”

Though Maylily didn’t say it aloud, Mrs. Keaton had a good idea who was sending them.

When the Count of Everscourt had come to visit during her illness, she had seen with her own eyes how he looked at Maylily. How could she not know? Until then, she had thought David Curren was her employer, so the shock that day had been even greater.

A beautiful opera singer and a charming noble praised by the whole empire.

Mrs. Keaton had sometimes asked sly questions about their relationship, which stirred common curiosity. It was something she could never have dreamed of doing with her previous employers, but with Maylily, who was a fellow commoner and always treated her kindly and gently, it had been possible.

Each time, the shy young lady couldn’t hide her flustered expression. Since she had no intention of troubling Maylily more than that, Mrs. Keaton naturally began to pretend not to see, not to hear, and held back her words.

“The vase is already full with what’s here. And actually… I have something I’d like to ask of you today. That’s why I’m giving you this, so please accept it.”

“My goodness, you didn’t have to give me this. If it’s something I can help with, I’ll gladly do it without needing flowers.”

Even as she said so, Mrs. Keaton accepted the bouquet with a pleased heart.

“Refusing over and over wouldn’t be polite, so I’ll take it with thanks. What is it you’d like me to do?”

“There’s a dress I want to wear to my dinner this evening, but it’s difficult to put on by myself. If you don’t mind, could you help me?”

Not being a noble lady, Maylily worried Mrs. Keaton might be offended by such a request, so she asked with the utmost courtesy. But Mrs. Keaton readily agreed, as if it were nothing at all.

“Of course! Why were you so tense? There’s no need to ask me for such a thing. Just tell me directly.”

“Still… I feel sorry. Thank you for helping me, ma’am.”

While deeply grateful for her kindness, Maylily still felt awkward being treated like a young lady, and so she gave a bashful smile.

That evening, she had a dinner appointment with the Count of Everscourt. Since it was their first date after confessing her feelings, and since it was both Lovers’ Day and her birthday, she was especially excited.

Would the Count remember my birthday?

It would be a lie to say she had no expectations, but even if he forgot the passing mention, it didn’t matter. Just being with him would make the day a happy one.

Since there was no performance scheduled that day, Maylily went to the theater only to practice singing, then returned home by late afternoon. She immediately began dressing with Mrs. Keaton’s help.

“My goodness, the saying is true, clothes make the person! You look just like the daughter of a noble family. You’d shine brightest even if you went straight to a ball like this.”

In the mirror, the ivory dress with a luminous sheen was the one the Count of Everscourt had given her as a gift last time. As Mrs. Keaton fastened the final hook on the bodice and exclaimed in delight, Maylily blushed in embarrassment.

“You flatter me.”

“It’s no flattery, it’s the truth. Don’t always wear such dark clothes. Wear bright ones like this too. I’ll help you whenever you need.”

“…Yes, thank you.”

“Sit here. I’ll do your hair too.”

Taking Maylily’s arm gently, Mrs. Keaton sat her down before the vanity. Her hands, practiced after years of observing, skillfully braided and pinned up the golden waves of her hair.

“Wow, it’s beautiful!”

“After decades of this work, I picked up a few things watching others. It may not be perfect, but I can mimic it well enough.”

“To me, it looks perfect. Thank you so much, ma’am.”

At last, with Maylily’s thanks, Mrs. Keaton left for the day.

Alone in her bedroom, Maylily took out the sapphire necklace she had been too shy to show earlier. She clasped it around her neck. With her hair swept neatly up, the sapphire gleamed even more brilliantly at the center of her collarbone. Caressing the smooth gem as if handling something precious, her gaze fell upon the vanity.

There lay the small gifts she had prepared for the Count to give him after dinner in celebration of Lovers’ Day. Just imagining his bright smile when he saw them sent her heart racing with joy.

***

Dinner turned out a little different from Maylily’s expectations. The Count of Everscourt came to escort her, and they dined on the top floor of the Skaard Hotel as before, just as she had imagined.

But during dinner, the Count was noticeably quieter. He still smiled at her chatter and nodded, but strangely, he seemed uninterested in the conversation.

Could it be… that his feelings have already cooled?

The thought, flashing through her mind unbidden, made Maylily’s heart sink.