MLHBMH 16

Chapter 16

The Stacey Count Family

When Lily stepped into the bookstore, she paused at the entrance and took a long look around.

The shelves were packed tightly with books, and as the familiar scent of paper and ink filled her nose, the heavy, uncomfortable feeling in her heart eased—if only a little.

It’d be nice if the Benjamin estate had a place like this too.

There was a study there, but since it was exclusively for Fredrick’s use, Lily wasn’t allowed inside.
Even when she wanted her own private study, Samantha refused to grant permission, so she couldn’t make one.

In fact, there wasn’t a single thing at the Benjamin estate that Lily could do freely.

That thought alone made the small comfort she’d just felt fade away again, but Lily pretended not to mind as she browsed the shelves and then approached the shopkeeper behind the counter.

“Hello.”

“Oh! It’s been a while, madam. Welcome back.”

The shopkeeper, recognizing her, greeted her warmly.

“I was actually hoping you’d come in.”

“Me? Ah, if it’s about work, that’s all right. I’m not taking on any right now.”

Whether she worked for Countess Balliman or not didn’t matter—Lily had no plans to translate novels for the time being.

When Lily declined, the shopkeeper looked troubled.

“Oh dear. That’s a problem—I already told the Count’s family I’d introduce you to them.”

“You already did?”

“Yes. They said they wanted to expand their business to the Kingdom of Herta, but they couldn’t find anyone fluent in Gartain, so I immediately recommended you.”

The Count family… The Kingdom of Herta… The Gartain language.
At once, an image popped into Lily’s mind—Countess Balliman’s brazen face when she’d shamelessly asked Lily for help.

“Wait… the Count family you mentioned, is it the Balliman family?”

“No, it’s another family.”

“Another one?” Lily blinked in surprise. She’d assumed it would be the Ballimans.

“One moment.”

The shopkeeper rummaged through a cabinet behind the counter and pulled out a small note, handing it to her.

“Here—this came from the Stacey Count Family.”

“……!”

Lily’s eyes widened in shock as she took the note.

“What’s wrong, madam? Is there a problem?”

“Ah, no… nothing.”

There was a big problem, but it wasn’t one she could explain to the shopkeeper.
She quietly checked the note—it had the address of the Stacey estate and the family’s official seal.

The Stacey family was an immensely wealthy household that owned multiple gold and gemstone mines. The current Count Stacey also held the position of Chief Secretary of the Imperial Chancellery.

In other words—he had once been Lily’s father’s superior when her father served as the former Viscount Benjamin.

What’s more, the Count’s only daughter, Kennedy Stacey, was the same age as Lily, and the two families had been close since childhood.

To be precise, they had been close—until two years ago, when Lily’s father died in an unfortunate accident.

After her father’s death and the fire that burned their home, Lily was left with her mother, who was physically and mentally broken.
Naturally, the first place she’d gone to seek help was the Stacey family—they’d practically been like family, even if they weren’t related by blood.

She had been certain the Count would help.

But to her dismay, he had turned her away without a second thought.

“……”

As the memory resurfaced, Lily bit down hard on the inside of her cheek.
For them to have heartlessly refused her back then—and now send her a letter like nothing had happened—was almost absurd.

Normally, she would’ve crumpled the note and thrown it away the moment she saw it.
But she couldn’t, not after what had happened with Fredrick before she went out.

“My business needs to thrive if I’m to keep paying Lady Grace Benjamin’s hospital fees.
So I’m asking this favor, my dear—help me, won’t you?”

The “favor” had sounded far more like a threat than a request.

Lily remembered hearing somewhere that unlike iron, gold and gems were considered luxury goods, making their processing and transport much more expensive.

If that was true, then forming a shipping contract with the Stacey family would be far more profitable for Fredrick’s trading company than with the Ballimans.
It would also benefit Lily more directly.

Right… working with people I used to know is better than working with the woman my husband sleeps with.
At least the Staceys won’t deliberately wound my pride the way Countess Balliman did.

She exhaled a quiet sigh that rippled like a heat haze. Decision made, Lily asked,

“Did they say when I should come?”

“They said it was urgent and asked if you could come as soon as possible.”

“All right.”

Then she would go today.

If she delayed and the Staceys found someone else, it would be troublesome.
So Lily thanked the shopkeeper and left the bookstore.

“Madam will be here shortly, ma’am. Please wait just a moment.”

After the elderly butler of the Stacey estate departed, Lily sat properly on the sofa and glanced around the spacious reception room.

The golden chandelier and jewel-encrusted ornaments screamed of wealth.
The curtains, carpets, and cushions all looked like they’d been hand-embroidered by famous artisans—each worth a small fortune.

With this much money… why didn’t they help Mother and me back then?

Of course, Lily didn’t believe being rich meant one had to help others.
But the Count had been her father’s dearest friend—they’d treated each other like brothers and often invited each other’s families to gatherings.
So Lily had expected help.

Yet the Count hadn’t just refused—he’d completely ignored them.
He hadn’t even shown up to her father’s funeral.

The Countess and Kennedy had done the same.
Even when they passed Lily on the street, they’d pretend not to know her.

The disappointment had been as deep as the bond had been close.
And soon, disappointment had turned into bitter resentment.

Lily had stood before the tightly closed gates of the Stacey mansion two years ago and sworn she would never return.

And yet… here I am again.

Maybe people really couldn’t predict their futures.
With a self-mocking smile, Lily fidgeted with the note the shopkeeper had given her.

She didn’t know how long she’d been waiting when—

Knock, knock—

Just as the tea the maid had brought had gone cold, a knock sounded at the door.
Moments later, the door opened and a middle-aged woman entered—her hair elegantly pinned high, her dress perfectly fitted to her silhouette.
It was Countess Stacey.

“It’s been a while, Countess.”

Lily rose and bowed politely. But there was no reply.
Instead, she heard what sounded like a faint sob.

What…?

Puzzled, Lily looked up—just in time for a pair of thin arms to wrap around her neck.
The sudden weight made her stagger back a step, barely keeping her balance.
Blinking rapidly, she looked down at the Countess, who was clinging to her tightly.

“I’m so sorry, Lily…”

Her voice trembled, thick with tears. The arms around Lily’s shoulders quivered faintly.

“I shouldn’t have turned you away like that… I truly am so sorry, Lily.”

The servants watching the scene quietly wiped their eyes, touched by their lady’s remorse.
But Lily didn’t feel touched in the slightest.

If anything, she found the Countess’s tears disgusting.

Two years ago, when Lily had stood in the pouring rain, begging her to save her mother’s life, she hadn’t even spared her a glance.
And now she was crying? Apologizing? It was laughable.

Lily wanted to grab the woman’s shoulders and shake her.
She wanted to scream, Why?
Why did you ignore me when I begged you for help?
And now that you need me, you think you can just say sorry and expect me to forgive you?

But if she said that, the plan to work with the Stacey family instead of the Ballimans would fall apart.

So Lily forced herself to smile and gently patted the Countess’s trembling back.

“It’s all right. I did resent you a little back then… but I understand now. I’m sure you had your reasons. Please don’t feel so guilty.”

“But, still…”

“Really, it’s fine. If I hadn’t moved on, I wouldn’t have come here.”

Of course, it wasn’t fine at all.
Just seeing the lily-shaped emblem of the Stacey family made her lips tremble with suppressed rage.
But working for them was still better than working for Countess Balliman—the woman who’d been sleeping with her husband.

Between the worst and the less-worst, I simply chose the lesser evil.
Disgusting either way.

“I’m truly fine, Countess.”

Though she sneered inside, Lily kept her expression gentle and comforting.

Finally reassured, the Countess smiled faintly through her tears.

“Thank you, Lily. You really are as kind as you are beautiful. Grace raised such a wonderful daughter.”

“……”

It was meant as a compliment, but the moment her mother’s name was spoken, Lily flinched.
The fact that it came from this woman made it worse.

“Oh, but look at me—come, sit down. It’s been so long. I want to hear how you’ve been.”

“Later, please.”

Lily slipped her hand free from the Countess’s grip and continued,

“I came here for business, after all. Let’s take care of that first. We can talk afterward.”

“I see… yes, of course. Business first.”

The Countess nodded, though she looked a little disappointed.

“Then let’s go to my husband’s study. This way.”