THNW 14

To My Husband’s New Wife Chapter : 14

Jill recalled the face of the director who had babbled vulgar nonsense at Anita.

He knew the Beulroeniya family had fallen, yet he didn’t know that Anita Beulroeniya and Lancelot Edenbahir were the closest of friends.

This is why half-baked information is worse than ignorance.
“Since he connected her to an illegal dancer position at a cabaret, we can push it as quasi–human trafficking, but… since it’s only quasi, it’ll probably end with just a fine.”
“Then make it not quasi.”
“Yes.”
After replying crisply and standing there without moving, Jill found Lancelot staring at him as if to say, Why aren’t you leaving?
“P-perhaps, if you would permit me, may I say one thing?”
A look of annoyance was shot at him.

However, Jill opened his mouth without caring about Lancelot’s irritable reaction.
“You were too harsh on Miss Anita.

Didn’t she lose her home and family overnight?

You brought up marriage too hastily.”
“Hastily?”
In a voice without rise or fall, Lancelot scoffed at Jill’s meddling.
“You must think I’m trying to woo some woman and have a love match.”
“Precisely because it isn’t a love match, you need to be even more mindful.

What’s more, Miss Anita is your ten-year friend, isn’t she?

You should at least keep the minimum courtesy.”
“I’ll listen to just one more sentence, so think carefully before you speak.”
One sentence is quite merciful.

As if he had been waiting for it, Jill moved his tongue quickly without taking a single breath.
“Young Master may welcome a new wife at any time, with ease, but she cannot.

If you intend to use her—no, to ask for her cooperation—then you must move while considering her position as well, to win her heart more easily.

Miss Anita is not a business partner or an employee, but your friend.”
Fwoo.

After drawing a short breath, Jill said,
“What’s more, since it’s a marriage with divorce already planned, you must devote yourself to it all the more.

Of course, Miss Anita is a resolute young lady rare in this era, one who doesn’t shrink even before the Dowager Duchess.

Even so, you know that only in front of you does she become endlessly pitiful….”
“I’m pretty sure I told you one sentence.”
“Anyway, what I want to say is, don’t push the young lady too hard.”
Lancelot did not answer.

Silence followed.

It meant, if you’re done saying what you had to say, get out.

Because he rarely changed expression, it was impossible to tell whether he had accepted the advice or let it go in one ear and out the other.
‘You’ll handle it as you see fit, of course.’
Still, this time, Jill wanted to meddle.

Anita Beulroeniya.

The daughter of House Beulroeniya, a family that had received only a knighthood—did she truly suit the position of Duchess of Edenbahir?
‘It’s an absurd question.

If the Dowager Duchess heard it, she’d grab my hair and tear it out like weeds.’
But Lancelot intended to make that question into fact.

If the other party had been a young lady from some insignificant house whose name and face he didn’t know, he wouldn’t have interfered, but….
‘That little girl who used to cry might become the mistress of the house.

They say you live long enough to see anything.’
Jill had known Lady Anita Beulroeniya since she was a clumsy little girl.

He had seen many women, but he had never seen a young lady as unfeignedly good and kind as Anita.
‘If you measure it human to human, Miss Anita is ten times more of a waste.’
That was why he wished she could be happy.

If he could give even a small help, he wanted to.

Even knowing that the world around her would not allow it.
***
Right after dinner.

After much deliberation, Anita went to the Duke of Edenbahir’s bedroom.

The Duke of Edenbahir was always kind to Anita.

More than once or twice, she had thought that if she had a paternal uncle or great-uncle, he would be like the duke.

In reality, her father and his brothers would quarrel day after day, leaving her no good memories to speak of.

Creeeak.

Already stifled by the overlap of the house problem with the marriage problem.

Anita meant to organize her troubled feelings by facing the Duke of Edenbahir, but the moment she stepped into his bedroom, she lost her words.

The Duke of Edenbahir, asleep as if dead on the bed, was gaunt to the point of looking like a mummy.
‘I expected it since he hasn’t shown his face, but….’
She began to regret that she hadn’t visited even once over the past two years.

Anita passed the doctor, who seemed to have just finished the evening examination, and carefully sat on the chair beside the bed.
“It’s been a while, Duke.

It’s me, Anita.”
She whispered quietly, but there was, of course, no response.

Anita felt like an idiot for coming here with hope.
‘He can’t even wake because he’s sick.’
That was when it happened.

The doctor, who had been organizing his bag, placed a small envelope on Anita’s lap.

And then he whispered.
“Do not show it to anyone.

Not even Lord Lancelot.

It is something the duke prepared for Miss Anita.”
Not even show it to Lancelot?

With doubt, she carefully tore open the envelope he had left behind.

Inside was a single old ticket.

Shalliwold for Eden was a large amusement park in Shabalon.

A baggage storage ticket from the amusement park.
“Why are you giving this to me, Duke?”
There was no way an answer would come.

Keeping the Duke of Edenbahir company, Anita returned to her room with the old ticket tucked to her chest.

Hoping that tomorrow would come quickly.
***
“Miss!

Are you truly all right going alone?

We already have a steam automobile and attendants waiting….”
A loud voice stopped Anita as she was just leaving the ducal residence.

It was Jill, who had followed her across the garden.

Adjusting the brimmed hat she wore without a single crease, Anita answered.

Thanks to the maids having washed and pressed her clothes last night, every dress, hat, and scarf she had brought was as clean as new.
“I’m just stopping by and coming back.

I don’t want to be a bother.”
“How can you call a single automobile and one hired hand a bother?”
Anita gave a small laugh as she looked at Jill, whose expression said he couldn’t understand at all.

The current time was 3 p.m.

A perfect hour to visit the amusement park under the pretext of a light outing.

Lancelot had looked busier than ever since morning.

For Anita, who had to hide the ticket’s existence, it was also a chance to slip out without meeting his eyes.
“Lord Lancelot said he wants to have dinner with you.

Will that be all right?”
“Yes.

Of course.”
“Then please be careful.

If anything happens, go to the management office and show them this card.

Then I will come at once to escort you.”
After taking the business card Jill handed her, Anita went straight to the amusement park.

Since she took a carriage with the money she got from selling her earrings, it took only twenty minutes from the bustling district to the amusement park.
“One adult.”
After buying an admission ticket and stepping inside, she looked at the densely packed crowd with fresh eyes.

There were truly so many.
‘This won’t do.

The baggage storage, the baggage storage….’
Yet no matter how she looked around, there was no green storage—only red storage and blue storage.

Reading the notice posted at the storage entrance, she felt she understood why.

Long-term stored items.

The green storage must be what they called the old storage.

If she recalled the appearance of the old ticket, it was certain.
“Anita unni?”
That was when it happened.

A thin, lovely voice rang out from behind Anita.

Anita’s eyes widened when she confirmed the owner of the voice.
“Sasha.”
The one who came up happily and embraced her was none other than Claudnia’s younger sister by two years, Sasha House.