Chapter 45 - The Circumstances
"You, you are a truly… cruel, demonic person!"
"Hmm? But my lady is a very kind person. Well, she can be a bit stubborn, strict, and inflexible, but she’s a real softy and can’t leave anyone in trouble alone! There’s no way she’d cross the sea just to be a nosy parker."
"Nadia…"
It seemed Nadia could no longer hold her tongue at Beth’s sobbing accusation. It was one thing for her to suddenly interject with a rebuttal, but the content was so ambiguous that Opal could only manage a wry smile, unsure of what to say. However, the appearance of a new person surprised Beth enough to stop her tears.
"Wh, who are you?"
"I am her lady’s maid. I’ve known my lady for a long time."
When Beth asked, still frightened, Nadia replied proudly. Perhaps disliking her tone, Beth scowled and glared at Nadia.
"W, well I was a lady’s maid too. But this person is so cold…"
"What?! That’s impossible! There’s no one more angelic than my lady!"
"Um, Nadia? I’m very happy to hear you say that, but at this rate… Beth, could you let us inside?"
Nadia's intervention was not just sidetracking the conversation; Opal felt she was being left behind entirely, so she hastily cut in. Arguing on the doorstep would only attract attention and tire them both out. When she prompted Beth to let them in, Beth, distracted by Nadia’s appearance, complied without protest.
Opal had expected the interior to be as dilapidated as the exterior, but she was surprised by the almost complete lack of furniture. On a worn-out rug sat a small round table and a single chair. There was no fireplace, no sofa, not even a bench or a chest. It would be a lie to say that Opal, born into wealth, knew how commoners lived, but even she could see that the resident of this room was in dire straits. However, as she took another step inside, a single door came into view, and for some reason, Opal let out a sigh of relief.
"Is there another room back there?"
"Just a bedroom that’s full once you put a bed in it."
"Then where do you cook? And the bathroom and washing area?"
"They’re all communal. Any other questions?"
As if challenging her to complain, Beth stood with her hands on her hips, her belly so large it looked as if she could give birth any day. Perhaps she should have felt pity, but instead, Opal met her defiant attitude with a smile just as unwavering as before.
"In that case, I won’t hesitate to ask. Who is the father of that child?"
At the blunt question, devoid of all tact or consideration, Beth gasped. Her complexion was faintly pale, but her face showed no fear or revulsion. Suppressing the urge to press further, Opal took the liberty of opening the door at the back of the room.
"What do you think you’re doing!?"
"Unwelcome guests are known for their lack of manners."
With that, Opal sat down on the small bed, which lacked even a mattress. Despite sitting on the coverlet, it felt like sitting on a hard floor, but Opal did not let it show on her face as she beckoned to Beth.
"It must be hard for you to keep standing. Why don’t you sit down and we can talk."
"I’m not your lady’s maid anymore!"
"Yes, that’s right. I have a capable maid now, so I have no need for a rebellious one."
Inwardly praying that Beth would not remain stubborn any longer, Opal smiled again. Seeing Opal’s deceptively malicious attitude, Nadia grinned. Faced with the audacity of these two who had barged in and made themselves at home, Beth seemed to have moved past anger to resignation. She let out a heavy sigh and sat down next to Opal.
"…Why did you come here?"
"Because I heard your story, and it made me angry."
"At me?"
"At you, and at everyone around you."
Beth looked as if she were about to cry at Opal’s merciless words, but this time she seemed to hold it back. Opal took a basket from Nadia, who was standing in the doorway of the small bedroom, and offered it to Beth.
"This is a bit late, but it’s a gift for you."
"A gift?"
"Yes. I didn’t know what you like, so I had it filled with various things that will keep."
When Opal removed the cloth covering the basket, Beth’s face lit up. It seemed she had been cutting back on meals as well.
"Is there no support from the child’s father?"
"That is…"
"He’s quite irresponsible, isn’t he?"
"Lord Keimont is not irresponsible! He told me he would definitely come for me!"
Beth had let the father’s name slip, though she did not seem to realize it. She was glaring at Opal, but her eyes were filled with anxiety. Her words were likely meant more to convince herself than Opal.
Opal remembered Keimont well, as he had tried to court her several times when she was single. Reading the report Claude had prepared, she was exasperated to see he had not changed. While she was relieved that Beth did not seem to have been forced, she also felt sorry for her for being deceived.
"…Are you still in contact with him?"
"Right now… we are waiting for the scandal to die down. If there’s too much of an uproar, Lord Keimont might be disowned by the Count. If that happens, he would be removed as an heir, and it would be difficult for us to live together… So he said he would speak to the Count at the right time, so that he will approve."
"I see…"
Opal replied quietly, though inwardly she was seething. According to Claude’s investigation, Jeff Keimont, the second son of a Count family, had already inherited a significant fortune. Yet he was letting Beth dream sweet dreams while leaving her without any support. And he was apparently still living a very frivolous and degenerate life.
"Well then, I’ll be going now. I’m sorry for barging in on you like this."
With those words, Opal stood up and offered a hand to Beth, who was trying to rise. Beth looked at Opal in surprise.
"I’d like to say you don’t need to see us out, but you do need to lock the door."
As Opal and Beth left the bedroom, Nadia quickly stood up from the chair. She seemed less worried about being scolded for resting and more guilty about sitting in the only chair without the permission of the homeowner, Beth. But Beth seemed too preoccupied to notice such things, and she followed behind Opal awkwardly. Opal stopped at the door leading outside, turned around, and looked at Beth intently.
"Life has its share of very painful and sad moments, but it also has many, many joyful and happy ones. So please, take care of your body and don’t push yourself too hard."
"…Yes."
Beth’s voice was small and faint, but her face was free of despair. Opal gave her a gentle, encouraging smile, then left the old, cramped room with Nadia.