The Maid Dreams Of The Sunset - Chapter 42

Blue Rosette. It was a herb that Dahlia, who was from the South, could not have forgotten about.

The Blue Rosette, which grew only near the beach in a mild climate, was one of the specialities of Dahlia’s hometown. Because of this, she knew very well why to use the herb.

It was usually taken to facilitate blood circulation, but it was a herb that women never looked for because it caused irregular bleeding. Besides, if a pregnant woman eats it…

“Don’t tell me…”

Dahlia asked with half doubt, but she already knew what the answer would be. When Thelma’s eyes expressed affirmation, Dahlia’s eyes widened

Dahlia also heard rumors that nobles frequently messed with the maids of the mansion. She had heard that the Duke was once like that, and the Little Duke was like that too.

However, the maids of the dormitory shook it off.

If there were any rumors, it was the maids who suffered the loss, not the owner, so it was best for them to treat it as something that had never happened.

…So even though she heard the rumors, she didn’t feel it directly.

But how…?

She couldn’t believe something like this happened to her best friend.

‘So… Is that why you were being so cold to me?’

‘Just in case you were worried. Maybe you pushed me out desperately because you were afraid we’d be depressed together. Were you trying to get away from me because you planned to leave anyway?’

‘Why? We always discussed it with each other when we had problems. I thought it was like that…’

With what feelings did she respond to the service?

With what feelings would she accept the existence of her child?

And with what feelings had she left the mansion…?

Nothing was known or could ever be known.

Dahlia looked down at the envelope with a face ready to burst into tears, then carefully placed the envelope in her chest pocket.

***

[Hi Dahlia,

By the time you read this letter, I will have already left the mansion.

You would be worried and angry. There was a reason, and I had no choice but to leave without saying anything.

My father is ill and labor is scarce. Besides, my father told me to get married as I was getting older.

Since my mother is also weak, I thought it would be better for me to return home, so I left in a hurry.

I hope you understand.

I wanted you to go home with me this winter… It’s a pity, right?

I’ll send you a letter again when things settle down, so make sure to visit me with your sister.

Take care. You have to be healthy.

• Your friend Edina.]

The letter was short. After checking to see if there was a back page, Dahlia read the letter again. The content of the letter did not change even after reading it again and again.

It was a letter she read over and over again. It had already been three days since Edina left, but there was still no sense of reality.

Dahlia looked at the frayed letter with a melancholy expression.

“Stupid Edina.”

She sighed and wrapped the letter in his arms.

By all accounts, Edina was an idiot. Rather than leaving alone like this, Dahlia couldn’t get rid of the thought that if her friend had confessed her difficulties and devised a countermeasure, it would have been a little better.

Before Edina left the mansion, Dahlia remembered her being hurt here and there. It was not uncommon for her cheeks to be red and swollen, and she had seen a black bruise on the nape of her neck.

She would just say she was just hurt.

And now, all of that felt like lies.

Could it be that all of this was done by the Little Duke?

Making them take care of you at night doesn’t mean you’re bringing them to bed because you like them. However, Dahlia’s common sense could not understand the Little Duke’s behavior at all. She couldn’t understand Edina’s behavior at all, and why she was in a hurry to hide it without informing the head maid or others.

…No, no.

“Don’t forget that this vase is more valuable than your life.”

When Dahlia worked at the Baron’s mansion before coming to the Duke’s house, she remembered what the Baroness used to say.

“This item is worth more than ten lives of yours.”

She had always been like that. She used to talk like that when she had to warn the staff. And no servants objected to her words. Because it was really what it was.

Dahlia knew that a clock on the wall of the mansion was much more valuable than the life of an insignificant orphan. For the nobles, the servants were like that.

They were not worth looking at. To them, whoever knew how to kneel and crawl whenever needed were just dogs who knew how to talk and were a bit smarter. Even if you like it, you don’t have to worry about it. It was a dog that had to be loyal to its owner, even if it was hit and beaten.

The incomprehensible things were understood at once, and at the same time, a sadness that was difficult to express in words surged deep in her heart. Dahlia chewed on the inside of her mouth and tapped on her chest.

“Dahlia?”

The person who entered the study, pushing away the heavy anguish, was her owner, whom Dahlia had been waiting for all along.

Isaac stood in front of Dahlia in a dignified appearance, wearing a black frock coat over a black robe, probably coming back from an outing. Rather than looking messy, the hair with a few strands hanging down on the white forehead looked beautiful.

“Why are you so blank? What’s going on?”

He bent down to meet her gaze and waved his hand in front of Dahlia’s face. Dahlia, who had been looking at him as if possessed, unconsciously shook her head and denied it.

It was the first face she had seen in almost three days. Even at the moment of welcome, the remnant of her previous thoughts defined him as a noble lord, not Isaac, causing a strange sense of rejection. When she looked at him blankly with brows furrowed, Isaac also narrowed his brows and responded.

“Dallia, what’s wrong? What’s really going on? Are you sick?”

“…No.”

“What do you mean no?”

Isaac threw off the black leather glove he was wearing and carefully ran his hand over Dahlia’s forehead, being extra careful to not hurt her.

“You don’t have a fever. It doesn’t seem like a cold… I need to call a doctor first.”

Dahlia suddenly came to her senses when she saw Isaac, who stood up and turned around as if he were really going to call a doctor.

“No, young master! I was thinking about something. I was just blankly thinking about my friend.”

“Friend? Which friend were you thinking of?”

“A friend I often talked about. She was my roommate.”

Isaac opened his eyes slightly and let out a small sigh.

“Edina Jax?”

“Yes.”

“Why? What’s wrong with your friend?”

Dahlia thought for a moment about whether to be honest, but then, wondering if Isaac would do anything well if he found out, she looked around.

“…My friend left for her hometown without saying goodbye. I think something happened… It’s just a bit… I’m sad and depressed because she suddenly left.”

“Oh… If it’s Edina, wasn’t she your best friend? Why did she suddenly leave…?”

When she nodded, Isaac consoled her, raising his eyebrows and agreeing that she would be lonely.

It was not a big deal, but it was the comfort she wanted to hear the most at this moment, so Dahlia felt that her stuffy heart was relieved a little and mustered up a smile.

The hand that swept down her face was always sweet. He stroked her eyebrows, as if he were engraving them in his hand, and while tracing under her eyes, slid down her cheeks and caressed her upper lip.

The way his hands, large enough to grab her entire face if stretched wide, delicately touched her small features evoked a feeling of sadness rather than strangeness. With her soft face, Isaac, who engraved Dahlia’s likeness on his hand, sat beside her, smiling a satisfied smile.

“Other than that, nothing else happened, right?”

The small sofa was a bit cramped for two people to sit on. Isaac lifted Dahlia with his hands and made her sit on one side of his thigh.

Realizing that he had no intention of letting go, the struggling Dahlia sighed and, as usual, leaned the back of her head on Isaac’s shoulder.

“Other than that… Yes, I’ve only been waiting for the young master to come here. The young master must be very busy these days.”

“It’s not a big deal, but there are still a few small things to do. The commercial district maintenance will be completed within the next week… Now, as long as I go to the northeast summit, my busy schedule will be over.”

“Northeast? Are you leaving again?”

“Yes. I’ll go this evening and come back in three days. I won’t be able to see you again in the meantime.”

Isaac muttered in a calm voice, lowering his head and resting his chin on the crown of Dahlia’s head. Then, he continued in a whining tone.

“Isn’t it really all right?”

“Of course. I’m the maid dedicated to the young master, so I have nothing to do.”

“When Max calls… You don’t go, do you?

The thought that had been pushed aside for a while dominated Dahlia’s mind again at the word Max.

Isaac narrowed his eyes slightly when he realized that the body in his arms trembled slightly. Contrary to concern, however, Dahlia shook her head and replied in a natural tone.

“Yes, I haven’t. He doesn’t have contact with me, so he doesn’t have to look for me.”

She raised her head, met his gaze, and Dahlia smiled reassuringly.

His appearance reflected in her green eyes brought only slight satisfaction to his hunger for exclusiveness. Isaac focused on his wariness for Max, suppressing his desire to kiss Dahlia deeply.

“Dahlia. Please stay in the annex for the time being until I return. Hoover will take care of you, so don’t ever come out.”

“What? why?”

“…Just… I’m worried.”

When he said it with a serious face, Dahlia quickly blinked her wide eyes.

“Do not worry. Nothing is going on in the mansion, so why… Besides, I am a servant. How can I be taken care of by Mr. Hoover and stay in the annex?”

“Listen to me.”

He grabbed her shoulder and spoke in a much darker tone.

“I will make sure nothing happens. But… just in case. I don’t know what will happen. Understand?”

“…”

“You must answer yes, Dahlia.”

‘So I can leave safely.’

He looked at her eagerly, hiding his true feelings. Dahlia nodded her head with a worried face, as if she was concerned about the commanding tone.

Nevertheless, not being relieved, Isaac received her pledges, one after another.

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