The Whipping Maid of House Calley - Chapter 138

Sheila avoided his gaze and clenched the hem of her skirt.

Again. He was trying to control her however he pleased again.

“Molly, let’s go.”

“Sheila….”

As Sheila ignored him and tried to leave, Molly, caught in a difficult position, called out her name.

“Stop being petulant, Sheila. Your colleague should go home and rest with her family too. And didn’t you say she’s newly married?”

At Cedric’s remark, Molly and Sheila’s faces flushed for different reasons.

Sheila hadn’t had the capacity to think of others, so she hadn’t even realized Molly was staying late at the estate because of her. No, she had completely forgotten that Molly was married at all.

Cedric spoke to Molly, who waved her hands, saying she was fine, “Molly, from tomorrow, leave work at this hour. Sheila isn’t so unwell that she can’t move, and as I said earlier, I’ll take her on walks.”

Sheila’s face turned resentful, but she couldn’t argue further.

Molly, who had been watching the situation between Sheila and Cedric, said she understood and left.

Once they were alone, Sheila said, “I don’t need to go for a walk.”

“You were just about to go out, and now suddenly you don’t want to. Why is that?”

Does he really not know?

Leaving Sheila dumbfounded, he continued, “Even if you say it’s because of me, it won’t matter. The physician said walks are very important for a patient like you, and I agree.”

In other words, Sheila’s opinion didn’t matter. Watching her expression harden, he added, “If it’s just because you’re too bothered to go out, I can carry you down. Or throw you over my shoulder. So don’t worry.”

When Sheila glared at him, Cedric gave her a sly smile.

‘So annoying!’

Sheila turned away, refusing to yield to his veiled threat. And the moment she tried to lie back down on the bed, her body was suddenly lifted.

“Ah! Let—! Let me go!”

Held in his arms like a princess, Sheila struggled.

“I told you to come quietly. If you keep struggling, I’ll carry you over my shoulder.”

“I’ll go! I’ll walk on my own… just put me down. Please.”

Cedric’s lips curved. Then he obediently set her down.

When Cedric opened the door, Sheila reluctantly stepped outside.

The two walked along the evening path.

At least in this estate, no one walked the path in the evening, not in the morning or afternoon. It was a busy time when everyone was finishing their work after dinner.

Sheila walked a step behind Cedric, following him.

‘No one will think it’s strange, right?’

Even at an hour when no one was around, Sheila was conscious of others’ eyes.

Fortunately, since she was his personal maid, walking together wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

“Doesn’t it get boring walking the same path every day?”

His question was trivial to the point of being meaningless, so Sheila didn’t respond.

“If you’re okay with it, let’s go out to the market next time.”

Sheila’s expression stiffened. Even coming out for a walk like this required great effort for her right now.

Reading her expression, Cedric said, “I mean when you feel better. You don’t need to feel pressured now.”

At his words, Sheila quickly showed a relieved expression. Then it turned serious again.

‘Is he trying to gauge when that will be?’

Even so, the way her thoughts showed on her face hadn’t changed.

And yet, why hadn’t I tried to understand you sooner? The night before, after learning how Sheila’s older sister ended up married to Duker, Cedric spent the entire night in torment.

He had no idea what kind of face he should show her. Even so, whatever face it was, he had to stand before Sheila.

He had ruined her as he pleased, so restoring her was also his responsibility. He couldn’t just stay afraid because she would hate it.

He still regretted hesitating when she ran from Wellingford, which led to Sheila running into Duker.

In the end, there was only one conclusion.

That he would no longer hesitate in matters concerning her.

As a first step, Cedric decided to take over the walks he had left to Molly.

Fortunately, aside from the initial resistance, Sheila was going on walks with him without much trouble.

Why hadn’t I thought of walking with her sooner?

“Aren’t you cold?” Cedric asked.

The long heat had passed, and cool air was beginning to blow in the mornings and evenings.

It felt refreshing to Cedric, but he didn’t know how it was for Sheila, who had been bedridden.

“If you’re cold….”

As he held out his hand, as if asking if she would take it, Sheila, who had remained silent, finally spoke.

“No.”

At her firm voice, Cedric simply smiled and withdrew his hand.

Sheila’s hostile attitude was only natural.

Even so, the fact that she was walking with him like this was something to be grateful for.

“Tomorrow, bring something to wear over yourself.”

With no reply from Sheila, Cedric spoke as if making a promise for the next day.

Just before the sun fully set, their short walk came to an end.

***

The walk, which he thought would be easier after getting over the initial hurdle, wasn’t as simple as he expected.

“No! I said no! Why do you always do everything your way, Young Count? Why, why!”

Sheila cried, shaking her head.

She might have been dragged out yesterday, but there was no way it would work again today.

If she stayed close to him, he would definitely try to coax or persuade her. And then he would try to control her again as he pleased.

Sheila didn’t want to give him any opening at all.

“When I said you could stay here until you recover, I meant it. But shouldn’t you at least make some effort?”

Sheila glared at Cedric. “I’ve been going on walks like Adriana told me to.”

“So I’m just saying do that with me.”

“I don’t want to.”

“You think I’m doing this for your sake?”

“What?”

“You like lying there doing nothing right now, don’t you?”

Cedric threw back the blanket.

Before, he would have left helplessly after entrusting her to Molly, but he didn’t want to do that anymore.

Of course, putting Sheila in a situation she didn’t want wasn’t comfortable for him either.

But Cedric wanted, somehow, to give her a reason to get up. Like when she lived with the goal of taking revenge on her brother.

“Didn’t you say it yourself? That I ruined everything for you. Then why are you just lying here like this?”

“You’re the one who made it so I can’t even move. What exactly do you want me to do?”

Not so she would kill someone, but so she could live with her own purpose.

“Why are you asking me that, Sheila? Stop lying there and think about what cards you hold. What I and your brother have done to you. And what you can do!” Cedric shouted.

Sheila still wore a dissatisfied expression.

Was he telling a mere maid to report the noble she served for human trafficking?

In truth, Sheila had thought about that at first. But what would be the point?

With Cedric’s personality, there was no way he would have left any evidence behind, and even if there was evidence, he would have prepared a way out.

Moreover, Cedric was someone who was friends with the Crown Prince.

So Sheila thought there was no meaning in reporting Cedric. She would only end up looking like the strange one for making the accusation.

And yet, what Cedric said sounded exactly like he was urging her to report him. As if he would willingly accept any punishment she gave him.

‘That makes no sense….’

If he acknowledged violating a royal decree without using any means to avoid it, even Cedric wouldn’t be able to escape severe punishment.

‘He’s just trying to provoke me for no reason.’

Distrust welled up again.

Sheila got up from her seat, fuming.

She suddenly felt like going for a walk.

After exploding in anger like that, heat rushed to her head. She wanted to go out and feel the cold air.

***

Every day felt like a battle.

At first, Molly had watched them nervously, but now she had grown used to it. She quietly prepared to leave work around the time Cedric usually came.

Even Molly’s leaving time was gradually getting earlier. Because Cedric was coming earlier and earlier.

Sheila’s preparation for her walks, which she argued about with him every day, also became faster.

If it was something she had to do anyway, she decided to just get it over with quickly. That way, she could at least reduce the time she spent with him.

Sheila was still lethargic, and sometimes she was angry. It still felt like nothing had any meaning, no matter what she did.

She only went out for walks because the physician told her to. Ever since Cedric got involved, that annoyance had simply gained another layer of emotion.

“He’s a bit late today.”

Molly, ready to leave, looked out the window where the sun was starting to set and spoke.