The Serpent of Paradise - Chapter 14

Elizabeth Lauderdale was anxious. Even the faint smile she habitually wore was nowhere to be seen now. Her red lips were pressed tightly together.

‘I didn’t know it would turn out like this.’

When she first heard about the marriage proposal with Mikhail Sokolov, she was so miserable that she couldn’t sleep. A commoner. And a vulgar, ignorant man who had grown up doing menial work at the harbor, at that. No matter how wealthy he might be now, a person could never conceal their origins.

Elizabeth recalled the summer she was sixteen, the year she made her social debut. Every year, society selects one of the newly debuted young ladies as that year’s Rose Queen. Naturally, Elizabeth was the Rose Queen that year. Noble blood from Ils. A father who was a member of the Senate and actively involved in its affairs. The family businesses, all running smoothly. On top of that, the impeccable etiquette and comportment the countess had taken such pains to instill in her.

With Elizabeth’s beauty added to all that, the result was only natural.

Every woman chosen as Rose Queen went on to have a wedding that became the talk of society. Not in a bad way, but in a good way. Their names appeared on the front pages of the newspapers, of course, and people talked about how much money had been spent on each wedding and what kinds of flowers had been used.

Elizabeth was confident. It wasn’t arrogance. It was only natural that she should have everything. But once she began seeking a husband in earnest, all the men who came forward were unimpressive. It wasn’t that there had been no proposals from honorable families, but many of the men were far too old or had problems of some kind.

Elizabeth was determined to obtain the perfect husband. Only then would her future be perfect as well. So Elizabeth turned her eyes toward Ils.

Novgod called itself an empire, but a glance at a map showed that it was a country situated far to the west. The culture everyone admired had originated in the heart of the continent. There was Ils, of course, and even the ancient kingdom of Cleringia, which Ils itself was said to admire. Elizabeth devoted herself to studying the Ilsian language, which she had previously neglected somewhat. Surely there would be an Ilsian nobleman who suited her tastes.

But all that effort came to nothing. Her father’s death killed her future along with him.

Elizabeth briefly reminisced about her father.

The count hadn’t been an affectionate father. Like the daughters of other noble families, Elizabeth hadn’t expected any great affection from her father either. As long as he fulfilled his duties as head of the family, that made him a good father. That was why Elizabeth hadn’t been surprised when her father brought Anastasia home. However, when he said he intended to give her the Lauderdale name, Elizabeth thought her father had crossed the line by far. Giving the family name to an illegitimate child was unthinkable.

‘But….’

When Elizabeth first saw Anastasia, she found it strange. The child didn’t resemble her father in the slightest. Even so, why was he so determined to keep her with him that he would fight with her mother over it?

A chill ran down her spine. Could it be that her father hadn’t brought the child home to make her his daughter, but rather….

Elizabeth placed one of her trusted maids in the room next to Anastasia’s. It was to resolve the suspicion in her mind. Perhaps it was fortunate. Until the count’s death, what Elizabeth feared never happened.

Elizabeth remembered the day her father died.

Her father had left for the Edenhurst hunting grounds that morning, but he still hadn’t returned by evening. Sensing that something was wrong, the countess sent every servant out to search the hunting grounds, and before long, they found the count collapsed beside a rock. The count was already dead, blood streaming from his head. The horse he had been riding was found a considerable distance away, panting heavily.

‘Edward killed it.’

Her younger brother was said to be angelic, but he wasn’t that day. When Edward came out carrying a gun, the horse thrashed about and tried to flee from him as though it knew its fate. But Edward fired at the horse without hesitation.

Gunshots rang out one after another, and the horse collapsed where it stood. The countess fainted again at the sight, and Edward ordered them to get rid of it at once because he didn’t want to look at it. A stable hand knelt beside the dead horse and spoke tearfully, “That can’t be… This one was such a clever creature….”

But what did that matter? It was the horse that had thrown the count to his death. Ending its life with a gun could be seen as an act of mercy. And that night….

Elizabeth shook her head. A past that only she was supposed to know had surfaced in her mind.

In any case, that incident marked the beginning of the family’s downfall.

‘That’s why I intended to accept everything.’

Elizabeth had to choose. She could either crawl into a relative’s home and live like a maid, or marry a wealthy commoner and continue enjoying the same abundance she’d known until now. Elizabeth chose the latter. Working with her own hands was out of the question. Even if it meant she could never show her face in society again, she needed maids to wait on her, a comfortable mansion, and an abundance of possessions.

And so she had summoned Mikhail, thinking of it as a sacrifice on her part….

‘He was nothing like I imagined.’

She had imagined a vulgar man. She thought he would have a hulking body, merely drape himself in expensive fabric, speak without refinement, and spout ignorant nonsense. Hadn’t Catherine even worried that the man might spit on the floor in the middle of the meal? But Mikhail was more perfect than any man Elizabeth had ever seen.

He had handsome features and a solid-looking physique. Even his bearing was impeccable in every respect. Her mother didn’t seem to notice, but after watching the head maid pour the tea, he gave a faint smile. He had recognized the head maid’s shortcomings. Even so, he hadn’t pointed them out. He was even considerate enough not to embarrass another person.

Once they began conversing, Elizabeth couldn’t help but become even more surprised.

‘His Ilsian was perfect too.’

Elizabeth had studied hard in hopes of marrying an Ilsian nobleman. Wanting to display her accomplishments before Mikhail, she quoted a poem in Ilsian.

“O you who seek wisdom. Fill your storehouse and stack your firewood. Then….”

“…you shall be able to see beyond it in the midst of winter.”

Before Elizabeth could finish, Mikhail recited the rest of the verse. In perfectly fluent Ilsian, no less. When everyone looked surprised, Mikhail spoke with composure.

“In my line of work, one has little choice but to learn Ilsian.”

That couldn’t be true. A merchant had no reason to learn poetry written in Ilsian. Even among the nobles who frequented the imperial palace, there were some who spoke Ilsian fluently, but hardly any who had memorized its poetry. Yet he had immediately completed the poem she quoted. Elizabeth decided not to test Mikhail’s refinement any further. She suspected she would be the first one to reveal the limits of her knowledge.

When the meal ended and they moved elsewhere, Catherine quickly went to their mother and whispered to her. Wouldn’t it be better for Catherine to marry Mikhail? Catherine could marry Mikhail and have him inherit the Lauderdale title, while Elizabeth could receive Mikhail’s financial support, take a generous dowry, and marry an Ilsian nobleman.

Elizabeth saw her mother’s eyes waver at Catherine’s words. It was true that following Catherine’s suggestion would bring them greater practical benefit. Hadn’t her mother even said before Mikhail arrived that she privately hoped things would turn out that way? But that wouldn’t happen.

Catherine couldn’t have him. Elizabeth had decided to have him herself.

Just then, there was a knock, and a maid entered. Elizabeth emerged from her thoughts and straightened her clothes.

“Miss, everything is ready.”

“All right.”

Elizabeth rose from her seat. Irritation surged through her when she thought of Anastasia. Why did she have to appear looking like that? Because of her, the countess was bedridden with worry, convinced that her disgrace had been exposed, and Mikhail’s attention had been drawn toward Anastasia.

Fortunately, although it had seemed during the meal that he wouldn’t stay long, he had stationed his secretary, who was a doctor, beside Anastasia, extending his stay by a few more days. So Elizabeth decided to show Anastasia a little mercy.

The maid walked ahead and guided Elizabeth. A short while later, Elizabeth saw the newly prepared room on the floor above her own. Items that had been in use were brought in and arranged to make the room look suitably lived-in. The old clothes from the basement had been placed there as well.

Until Mikhail left, this room would belong to Anastasia.

It wouldn’t take long for the marriage arrangement to be settled. Mikhail was the one in a hurry, and once it was settled, there would be more preparations to make in the capital than at Edenhurst. So until then, she would be generous to Anastasia. There would be no afterward for her.

***

“Do you have any trouble moving your fingers?”

“….”

“The wound on your foot caused severe inflammation. You must take the medicine I’ve left here three times a day.”

“….”

Despite Igor’s words, Anastasia remained beneath the blanket with only her eyes peeking out. The sight reminded him of women in distant lands who were said to live with their bodies concealed. Igor turned toward Mikhail and shrugged. It meant there was nothing he could do.

When Mikhail looked at him, Igor rose from his seat. Mikhail sat down in Igor’s place and asked with a smile, “Why were you in the garden at that hour?”

“….”

Naturally, Anastasia avoided his gaze without answering. Seeing Anastasia act as though she might flee from them at any moment, Mikhail stroked his chin for a moment, then gestured for Igor to move farther away before asking again in a low voice, “Are there many interesting things in the forest?”

“…!”

At the question, Anastasia flinched and looked at him. Mikhail’s smile grew even brighter.

He had merely made a reasonable guess, yet she reacted so transparently. Mikhail was beginning to understand how to handle Anastasia.

“So it really was you whom I met in our forest that day….”

Before Mikhail could finish speaking, Anastasia moved closer and clutched the hem of his clothes.

“Please don’t tell the countess… Please….”

Mikhail looked at the thin hand gripping him so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. He didn’t dislike the sight of those fingers, still bandaged and in terrible condition, clinging to him.

Smiling as though he hadn’t heard Anastasia’s plea, Mikhail said, “My name is Mikhail Sokolov. That’s Igor over there. His name is Igor Vasilyevich Yakovlev, but Igor will suffice.”

As he listened to Mikhail, Igor put a hand to his head. Why on earth was the man revealing someone else’s entire real name?

“I, I’m called… Anastasia.”

Unable to bring herself to say the name Lauderdale, Anastasia lowered her head again. She had given them her name, but she didn’t know what else she was supposed to say. More importantly….

Anastasia cautiously raised her head. She saw his face, still smiling. Blue eyes without contempt. Smiling at her… beautiful….

At that moment, Anastasia placed her hand on his face without realizing it.

“Hmm?”

Mikhail didn’t pull away. He merely shifted his eyes slightly, as though amused. At the sound of his voice, Anastasia realized what she’d done and hurriedly snatched her hand back.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I just….”

Bowing low, Anastasia couldn’t believe what she’d done. She must have gone mad. Or perhaps a demon had possessed her for a moment. To reach out and touch the body of a guest, a man no less, merely because she thought he was beautiful.

Unlike Anastasia, who merely repeated the same words like a parrot, Mikhail said nothing and only touched the part of his face where her hand had rested moments earlier.

Just then, there was a knock, followed by a maid’s voice announcing that the countess had arrived. When Igor opened the door, a crowd of people poured inside. First came the countess, followed by Elizabeth and Catherine, as well as the head maid and the other maids.

‘It seems the preparations are finally complete.’

Looking at everyone who had come crowding in, Mikhail rose and approached them.

“I heard that Anastasia had woken up. Thank you for taking care of her all this time. The doctor we summoned from the village has arrived as well, so I think Anastasia should return to her room now.”

Mikhail glanced behind him. Anastasia was on the bed, already rolled up in the blanket again. He immediately looked away and bowed politely to the countess.

“Of course. Although it was for the sake of treating her, I sincerely apologize for the discourtesy we committed toward a young lady of the Lauderdale family.”

“…Discourtesy? We’re simply grateful that you extended a helping hand.”

Since Mikhail had humbled himself first, the countess couldn’t say anything to reproach him. As though he no longer had any business with Anastasia, Mikhail left the room without further ado. Igor, who had seen him sitting there and speaking to Anastasia about one thing after another only moments before, was bewildered but hurried after Mikhail.

The countess exchanged a glance with Elizabeth, then caught hold of Catherine as she tried to follow Mikhail out. Meanwhile, Elizabeth went into the corridor first. Soon, Elizabeth’s voice could be heard asking whether he would like a tour of Edenhurst, followed by Mikhail’s reply that it would be an honor. Only then did the countess release Catherine’s hand.

Ignoring Catherine’s tearful expression, the countess looked at Anastasia on the bed.

Everything was going well. So….

“Wash her thoroughly and send her upstairs. Make sure she lacks for nothing.”

The countess, too, decided to show Anastasia her greatest and final act of mercy.