Chapter 57 - The Smile
"Beth? Beth?!"
Worried about Beth, who had collapsed onto the bed, Opal called out to her in a panic. She seemed to recall hearing that it was best not to move someone in such a state. But she did not know what to do next, and just then, Nadia, who had been waiting in the next room, came in with a stern look on her face.
"She's only fainted, so there's no need to worry so much. It's probably because she got agitated so suddenly. A woman's body is different during pregnancy, you know."
"It's because she's pregnant that I'm worried. Is the baby all right? She's breathing, but to be unconscious..."
Unlike the flustered Opal, Nadia remained perfectly calm. She placed a hand on Beth's forehead, checked the pulse at her wrist, and gently rubbed her large belly.
"I think the blood just rushed to her head. Her stomach isn't too tight, she should wake up soon. Oh, look..."
As Nadia took both of Beth's hands and rubbed them vigorously, Beth's eyelids fluttered. Then, she slowly opened her eyes.
"Wait here, I'll get you some water."
Nadia patted Beth's hands, then stood up and went into the next room. During that time, Opal could do nothing but sit and watch. She felt she should say something, but she was afraid that Beth might lose consciousness again. Opal had no experience with pregnancy or childbirth, nor had she ever cared for the sick. When her mother was bedridden, she had only sat by her side reading books or chatting, and that was nearly twenty years ago. So, she was relieved when Nadia returned.
"There's no water in the pitcher. I had no choice, so this is the fruit water my lady brought."
Nadia handed the glass to Beth and sat down on the opposite side of Opal. The bed groaned as if in protest. Beth, who must have been thirsty, drained the glass in an instant and let out a deep breath.
"Are you calm now? In that case, let me say something. Have you no shame? You should be grateful to my lady, but to complain instead, your ingratitude knows no bounds!"
"Nadia, we can talk about this another time..."
Nadia, taking the glass from Beth, began to scold her in a harsh tone. Opal, worried about Beth's condition, tried to intervene, but Nadia shook her head with a resolute expression.
"No, Opal-sama, you are too kind. With people like this, you have to tell them off sharply, or they'll never realize how much..."
"That's not true! I am grateful to my lady!"
"Wh..."
Beth cut off Nadia's words as she was about to say more. Overwhelmed by her forcefulness, Nadia was at a loss for words.
"I... while my lady was married to Lord Hubert, my attitude as a servant was unforgivable. But I believed I was doing the right thing, that I was protecting Stella-sama from a lady with a bad reputation. I never doubted it."
"Well, I'm sure you did."
"The butler, Romit-san, and everyone else tried to drive you out... I know now how foolish that was. But at the time, I believed it was justice. That justice could not lose to evil. When Stella-sama had to move out of the mansion, I was furious with my lady, and when my lady divorced Lord Hubert, I rejoiced that justice had finally won."
"My, you're an incredibly simple-minded person, aren't you?"
"Nadia."
Opal had been listening without interrupting, thinking that talking might ease Beth's mind, but Nadia apparently could not hold back. She hastily admonished Nadia, but Beth just smiled bitterly and nodded.
"You're right. I am truly foolish. An irredeemable fool, which is why I took Lord Keimont's words at face value. I was a fool who was swept off her feet when he said, 'The reason I never married was because my heart rejected every woman I met. But upon meeting you, I understood. I was waiting for you. You are my destiny.'"
Listening to Beth's story as she began to cry again, Opal and Nadia exchanged glances. Keimont's lines were cheesy, but they could not laugh at the thought of Beth remembering them word for word.
"I trusted someone I shouldn't have, and didn't trust the person I should have. So this is my just deserts. Lady Northem dismissed me, but she gave me enough wages to get by for the time being. Still, when I think about the future, I feel anxious..."
"I see. It's not money you can easily spend, considering you have a child to raise. But please don't worry. As I said earlier, I have received child support from Lord Keimont. For now, you need to rest your body. A safe place would be best for that, don't you think?"
"But I am not worthy of receiving your kindness! So please, give that money to the other two!"
"Ah, so you knew..."
"Yesterday, I saw the newspaper headline when I went out shopping..."
It must have been a shock for her to learn of Keimont's arrest. The other two women were in the care of the facility's director, and with other residents around, their minds could be distracted. But for Beth to be alone in a room like this, it was no wonder she had become so distressed as to faint. Opal knew she had to get Beth out of this place, and so she stood up.
"Come now, moping around won't do any good. You're a mother now, Beth, so for your baby's sake, let's move to a safe place."
"No, I will stay here. I cannot accept my lady's..."
"Oh, for goodness' sake! You..."
Nadia was about to vent her frustration at Beth's stubborn refusal. However, Opal raised a hand to stop Nadia and smiled gently at Beth.
"Listen, Beth. Would you please stop being so stubborn? There's no doubt you've been foolish, but you're about to make another foolish choice right now. I'm not thinking of you. I'm worried about the child in your belly. And let me tell you, I have received child support from Lord Keimont. It is that child's money. You have no right to refuse it, and of course, I have made arrangements for it to be properly paid out by the steward of his estate. Do you understand?"
At Opal's sharp words, Beth's face turned pale. Opal worried she had gone too far, but to her surprise, Beth nodded meekly.
"You are right. Could you... wait just a moment? I'll pack my things."
"You only need what you'll use right away. We can have someone else pack the rest for you."
Though taken aback, Opal replied, and Beth smiled through what looked like tears.
"I don't have that much baggage. It won't take long."
"I'll help."
As Beth stood up, Nadia also stood and returned to the next room. There, Beth stopped and turned back.
"I am truly grateful to you from the bottom of my heart, my lady. For not abandoning a fool like me and extending a helping hand..."
"I do not think you are a fool now."
When Opal replied to her words of thanks with a smile, Beth gave a small, shy smile in return. It was the first genuine smile Opal had ever seen from Beth.