Maylily - Chapter 67

The massive iron gates engraved at the center with the crest of the House of Everscourt swung open to either side.

The carriage that had run for an hour from Lurollei Station passed through them and at last entered Prowden. Leaving the sunny plains behind and turning onto Sequoia Road, they came into a stretch lined with trees standing far taller than the buildings in the capital, packed densely together.

Flowing through that landscape was the long history of Everscourt, which had ruled this land. A cool blue shade passed over Maylily’s pale face as she gazed at him beyond the carriage window. Only when she truly felt that they had arrived at the count’s domain did a faint sweat dampen her palms.

After leaving Sequoia Road and traveling a little farther, the carriage finally arrived in front of the Everscourt manor. The grand mansion, its outer walls everywhere bearing traces of the passage of time, exuded an old-fashioned charm. It gave an impression exactly opposite to that of the Skaard Hotel in Aberque, which boasted the latest in luxurious splendor.

“Let’s get down.”

The Count of Everscourt stepped down from the carriage first and held his hand out to Maylily under the brilliant southern summer sun. Taking it and setting her feet on the ground, Maylily saw the household staff, lined up in perfect order on the porch to welcome their master home.

At their head, a middle-aged lady with dark brown hair swept up high in an elegant style walked toward the count. At a glance, Maylily knew who she was. This was Deborah Skaard, the count’s aunt.

“You came sooner than I expected, Hugh. I thought you would only come back when it was time to hold my funeral.”

“I’ve been busy ever since returning to the country. Please understand, Aunt.”

The count gave a faint smile and brushed a light kiss against Deborah’s cheek. At that, the look in her eyes, which had been glaring at him, softened a little.

“Busy or not, honestly. Do you not worry at all about your poor aunt growing old all alone? Heartless boy.”

“Why would I worry about that? You are still this young and beautiful.”

“Seeing you so uncharacteristically buttering me up, I see you’ve become quite the businessman.”

In the end, Deborah let out a quiet laugh, and her gaze fell on Maylily, who was standing awkwardly at the count’s side. Her two hands, respectfully folded together, tensed up on their own.

“Maylily Aile, a singer I sponsor.”

At the count’s introduction, the servants’ curious eyes slipped over Deborah’s shoulder and landed on Maylily. She had never imagined she would set foot in Prowden under the scrutiny of so many people, and her face flushed with embarrassment.

“Hello, Lady Deborah. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The hand holding her skirt to bow trembled faintly. Glancing at it, a mysterious smile appeared at the corner of Deborah’s lips.

“Such a charming young lady. It’s a pleasure. I hope you will be comfortable during your stay in Prowden.”

As if she had already been informed in advance of Maylily’s visit, Deborah greeted her with a relaxed, gentle smile.

“Yes, thank you.”

With Maylily still unable to relax, the awkward smile and words of thanks she offered brought their first greeting to an end.

After giving David, who stood near the carriage, a meaningful look, the count escorted Deborah into the mansion, murmuring quietly to Maylily that he would come find her later.

Left standing there alone, Maylily saw David approach her with a maid who looked to be about her age.

“Miss Aile, this is my younger sister and a maid of the house, Alice Curren. She will guide you to the annex where you will be staying.”

So that means a mistress cannot stay in the main house. David’s kind explanation reminded Maylily once again of where she stood.

If she was allowed to live a little distance from the count, perhaps that was for the best. Only, even as everyone scattered and went about their respective duties, it was a little exhausting to bear the stares of people who showed such blatant curiosity.

Hurrying to exchange greetings with Alice, Maylily followed her out of the rose-scented garden and toward the western woods. On the narrow path, which echoed with clear birdsong, sunlight filtering in through the thick leaves drew fragments of light here and there.

“The master’s grandmother used to paint as a hobby, and she always said she needed to listen to the sounds of this forest for inspiration to come. So she had a separate annex built out here. What a luxurious way to enjoy a hobby, right?”

While Alice shared the story behind the annex and gave a brief explanation of Prowden’s layout, they passed a small lake and finally arrived at the annex nestled deep within the forest.

The building of light gray brick was a fine mansion in its own right. It fit the description of a “luxurious hobby” perfectly.

Inside, it held a bedroom, a drawing room, a gallery, a dining room, and more, and the corridor connecting each of those rooms was lined with large and small paintings. All of them were works left behind by the count’s grandmother, and most were seascapes.

“That piano was originally in the main house, but the master had it moved here a few days ago on his orders.”

At the center of the drawing room by the window Alice led her into, a black grand piano was placed. Its size suggested the servants must have struggled quite a bit to move it.

“You’re an opera singer, aren’t you, Miss Aile? In that case, are you good at the piano, too?”

“I can play, but only at a very basic level.”

“Even so, please play often while you’re here. Lady Deborah doesn’t play anymore, so we only get to hear piano music once in a while when guests perform.”

“…Am I really allowed to play it?”

“Of course. This is your space while you’re here, Miss Aile, so use it as you like.”

Unable to hide the excitement on her face, Maylily looked over the piano, then followed Alice to the bedroom. After explaining how to use the furniture and items provided, Alice lastly pointed to the bell cord attached beside the bed.

“If you need to call the maids, just pull this cord. During the day, if nothing special is going on, I’ll be the one to come. At night, the other maids will take shifts.”

“All right, thank you.”

In one corner of the bedroom were Maylily’s belongings, which the servants had moved in while she was touring the annex. Alice offered to help unpack, but Maylily politely declined and sent her away.

She would have to return to Roden before long, so there was no need to unpack everything. She took out only a few clothes she would wear for now and the things she would need, put them in order, then took off her outerwear and lay down on the bed.

After being shut up for a week in that narrow storage room and then barely sleeping on the way here, she was exhausted. She was so tired she didn’t even have the strength to dwell on the reality that she had been dropped into a strange place overnight.

Lying on her side and staring blankly at the swaying leaves outside the window, Maylily used the sound of the wind rustling through the forest as a lullaby and drifted into a deep sleep.

***

“If you have something to say, then say it.”

Taking a sip of wine, Hugh set his glass down and spoke calmly. Deborah, whose lips had been twitching for quite some time, gave an awkward smile.

“Was it that obvious?”

“From before I even stepped into the dining room.”

Setting down the knife she had used to cut her salmon fillet on the plate, Deborah dabbed lightly at the corner of her lips with a napkin and smoothed over her expression.

“How should I put it, it’s just… a bit unexpected.”

Looking at Hugh’s tranquil gaze coming to her from beyond the centerpiece decorated with purple larkspur and white roses, Deborah continued, “I always thought the woman who’d manage to capture you would be more worldly and experienced.”

About two weeks ago, the article in the Roden Times on Hugh and Maylily’s relationship had stirred up a storm in the social circles of the capital, a murmur that had quickly spread even down south. It was through that commotion that Deborah had first learned of Maylily’s existence.

Most people who read the words “sponsored singer” in that article had interpreted them to mean “mistress.” Deborah was no exception. The fact that Maylily was still a newcomer who had yet to receive real attention onstage, and the way her beauty shone through even in the black-and-white photograph, had only lent weight to that assumption.

Hugh has taken a mistress!

The emotion stirred up by the shock that struck Deborah was none other than joy. Even though Hugh was a young man in the prime of his life, he treated the opposite sex as if they were stones on the ground, and Deborah had quietly worried that he might still be suffering emotional issues from the incident in his childhood.

For a nephew she loved like her own child, the fact that he possessed the same passion as other young men his age was something to be grateful for. It didn’t matter whether the person who had drawn out that passion was a nobleman’s daughter, an unknown singer, or a maid. As long as Hugh was happy.

So when she received word that Hugh would be returning a week earlier than planned, along with the request to prepare the annex, Deborah gladly complied. Maylily’s name hadn’t been mentioned, but it hadn’t been difficult to guess that she would be accompanying Hugh to the estate.

But the Maylily she met, full of expectation and curiosity, was entirely different from what she had imagined.

She was transparent and innocent. She wasn’t intoxicated with the sense of achievement of entering Hugh Skaard’s world, nor did she show any ambition to use his wealth and fame as a stepping stone for her own success.

In her pure, untainted blue eyes, there was only the tension and fear of a small puppy brought to an unfamiliar place. Even so, the way she tried her best to carry herself with dignity, her eyes shining bravely, was quite admirable.

After seeing Maylily, Deborah found it understandable that those perfectly polished young ladies of high society, cultivated like flowers in a greenhouse, had never managed to catch Hugh’s eye.

Hugh, who had lowered his gaze quietly, brought his wine glass back to his lips without saying anything about Maylily. Watching him for a moment, Deborah picked up her fork and asked, “How long are you planning to have that girl stay?”

“All summer.”

At that matter-of-fact answer, Deborah’s eyes widened slightly.

“Hugh, don’t tell me you haven’t heard that Vivian will be visiting the estate.”