~Chapter 39~
At that time.
Anais and Baldwin were waiting for the train to depart.
Baldwin rested his chin on his hand as he watched Anais’s profile. She pretended to be looking out the window, but her ears were especially red.
It was clear she could feel Baldwin’s gaze.
Her lips were pressed together as if nothing was wrong, but her cheeks puffed out in a round curve. Anais’s long eyelashes trembled slightly.
Baldwin watched Anais slowly and then a smooth smile appeared on his lips.
Anais was so small.
It was hard to believe that such a small, delicate person had survived in such a harsh world.
Whenever Baldwin looked at Anais, his heart felt full. It was as if, through Anais, he could see the world differently. When he saw his own reflection in her clear eyes, he felt like he was becoming clean too.
Anais was harmless, like the first snow that falls in the world.
All the negative and twisted urges Baldwin had disappeared.
Maybe Baldwin was waiting for the day when Anais could finally return to the world without pain.
Baldwin nervously rubbed his lips.
If it hadn’t been for Anais yesterday, he would have dragged Rosemarlin out in front of everyone. In that moment, to Baldwin, Rosemarlin looked like an enemy trying to take Anais away.
Rosemarlin was just too harmful for Anais.
“Baldwin, the train is moving!”
Anais let out a cry of excitement. Her face, flushed with happiness, was beautiful.
“It’s my first time going to Hertel. No, actually, it’s my first time traveling so far by train!”
Hertel, the heart of the south, was four hours away by train, then two hours by carriage, and then another hour by train.
“What is Hertel like? Baldwin, have you ever been there?”
Baldwin smiled with his eyes and shook his head.
Baldwin wasn’t a romantic type. He was a person who only moved according to necessity and efficiency.
There was never a need, or any efficiency, in taking long train trips. If it wasn’t business, he never took a long journey by boat either.
Going to the villa in Hertel was a decision made only for Anais.
He wanted to take her far from the messy, complicated capital. He wanted her to go so far away she didn’t have to think about anything.
‘I really should make Madam leave as soon as possible.’
Baldwin decided silently, not telling Anais. That woman would never let go of her prejudices anyway.
She had lived her whole life like that.
She was the kind of person who thought it was only natural to hurt others just because she had been hurt herself.
Baldwin didn’t want to create any more victims. Enough was enough.
“When we get to Hertel, we have to eat lots of seafood! I heard squid is especially delicious. We have to eat squid dishes. When we walk around the market, we’ll go into the first restaurant we see.”
Anais chattered with sparkling eyes, like a child excited for a picnic.
Baldwin tilted his head a little.
Right now, Anais didn’t look like a businesswoman at all.
“We have to buy souvenirs too. Hares and Mr. Janus have been working so hard these days. I want to give them something nice.”
Baldwin covered his mouth with his hand.
Just listening to Anais chatter made this time feel anything but boring.
“I heard the Elleza Bank is the most famous bank in the south. Did you know the first bank president was a woman?”
Baldwin shook his head.
He already knew, but he liked seeing Anais’s face light up as she talked about it.
At least for now, he was thankful that he could listen, even if only with one good ear.
He thought the same thing every moment he spent with Anais.
He used to think it was better to feel nothing at all, but now he found himself smiling at his changed heart.
How silly he was.
“She started the first bank in the south with the inheritance after her husband died. There was even more gender discrimination back then—how hard it must have been. I can’t even imagine.”
Baldwin listened closely to Anais’s voice.
Her voice was as clear as the sound of a stream running through a quiet forest, and sometimes it was like a lark singing.
Baldwin enjoyed the way Anais’s bright voice blended with the white noise of the train.
Just that made it worthwhile to squeeze into this small, stuffy train compartment.
Baldwin rubbed his chin with his finger.
“She was my role model. When I had to give a presentation at the academy about someone I respected, I talked about Madame Elleza and Grandpa Cesares.”
Both of them were legendary figures in the finance world.
Madame Elleza made finance grow in the south, and Cesares Graham was the one who started the idea of business loans.
Thanks to him, it became normal for people starting a business to go to the bank first.
“Our first trip together will be fun.”
Anais’s voice became quiet. She and Baldwin met eyes.
Anais’s eyes were moist, as if she was thinking about something. Baldwin’s eyebrows twitched.
Anais gave a faint smile.
She moved her lips and said,
“I really hope so.”
Baldwin nodded. He pulled her small, delicate fingers and kissed them.
Then he kissed her palm. He didn’t know what Anais was thinking, but he didn’t like the hint of tears in her eyes.
Baldwin loved seeing Anais’s carefree smile. He liked how her heart-shaped lips parted.
He kissed her wrist.
Every time he gently bit down, a sweet peach scent rose up.
It felt like fruit juice would burst out.
He stole a kiss from Anais’s round lips. He pressed down and then let go, then pressed deeper between her slightly parted lips.
He took everything she was hiding inside.
“Ah.”
He swallowed even her quiet little moans.
It was as if he was pulling out all her worries. He couldn’t understand why he wanted Anais so much.
But he still felt so full.
Baldwin never wanted to lose this feeling. It was like the empty parts of his soul were finally filled.
He couldn’t lose Anais.
Baldwin sighed and pulled Anais into his arms, as if to hold all her sadness.
“S-someone might come, Baldwin!”
Baldwin lifted her onto his thigh. She felt as light as a feather. He pressed his lips to her neck and gently bit her skin.
In the end, Anais let go of all her wandering thoughts. Baldwin smiled, seeing the loving look in her hazy eyes.
The sunlight pooled at their feet.
Egbert also traveled to another region by train. The difference was that he was alone, and his journey ended quickly.
Egbert took off his hat and looked up at the hospital building.
Cesares Hospital.
When the hospital was founded, Cesares donated a large sum of money, and the founder named the hospital after him in gratitude.
Egbert’s eyes were cold as ice.
This was where Anais’s mother was hospitalized.
She had a disease that needed treatment and medicine for life. Even if she got a little better, she would never be completely cured.
And the medicine was so expensive.
If it hadn’t been for Cesares, Anais’s mother would have already died.
“How could you forget that kindness, Anais?”
Also, Baron and Baroness Barnaby hadn’t attended Anais’s new wedding.
Yesterday morning, Egbert received a resignation letter from Lorexer. As soon as Anais married Baldwin, he packed up and ran away.
“Coward,” Egbert muttered through his teeth.
So Egbert had to prepare his next move immediately.
Baron and Baroness Barnaby were still under Graham’s control.
Either smart Anais missed this, or she trusted the dead Cesares too much.
With lifeless eyes, Egbert entered the hospital. The director hurried out to greet him.
The director’s office had fancy refreshments ready. The director offered Egbert some food and began to speak.
“Marquis, you must be busy to come all this way… Are you feeling unwell?”
“No. I just have a favor to ask.”
Egbert’s voice was gloomy.
“A favor? Please, tell me anything, Marquis. For your grandfather’s sake, I would do anything!”
The director laughed heartily.
Egbert ignored the refreshments.
“I heard Baroness Barnaby is still a patient here.”
“Yes! Thankfully, she’s been much better lately.”
The director smiled.
“Is that so?”
Egbert’s eyes glinted strangely. There was malice in his gaze.
