Chapter 6 - The Ducal Estate
"The attic room?"
"Yes, Your Grace. Her Ladyship summoned Beth and inquired if there were any unused rooms in the attic. She then had Beth guide her to a vacant servant's room."
"And she didn't actually say she plans to live there, did she?"
"Indeed she did, Your Grace. She said that while her luggage and bath cannot be placed in the attic room, and so she will continue to use her assigned room, she intends to spend her time there."
"What is this, some kind of protest..."
Hubert muttered to himself and ordered Romit to leave. She was probably trying to get back at him for telling her to stay away from Stella by ensuring they would not even be on the same floor.
She'll give up soon enough.
Hubert, who had been working in his study, snorted and tried to focus on the documents before him. But his hand, holding the fountain pen, naturally came to a stop, and he found himself thinking about Opal.
He had stormed into her room that morning, furious after hearing Lady Northem's appeal, but now he recalled just how rude he had been. He had burst into a woman's room without knocking, ignored her greeting, and just started shouting. True, he had his reasons, but his actions were still inexcusable. What's more, everything she had said to him afterward was true.
No matter what kind of life she had lived before, her dowry had allowed them to pay off their debts and make repairs to the estate. Not only that, but her father's wedding gift meant they would not have to worry about their living expenses for some time. With this, they could also afford Stella's expensive medical bills.
Hubert remembered dancing with Opal once, three years ago. At the time, she had been so innocent and lovely, and he had found himself secretly drawn to her. But even back then, he was already falling into debt, and romance, let alone searching for a bride, was the furthest thing from his mind. He recalled how disappointed he had been each time he heard a new rumor about her afterward.
While she was selfishly enjoying her life, Stella was becoming more and more confined to her bed, and he had grown angry at the injustice of it all. Then, just as he was at his wit's end, Opal's father, Count Holloway, approached him as if from nowhere. Hubert was furious, thinking that the only way the Count could have known about the debts he had tried so hard to hide was if Opal, desiring him, had her father investigate.
But Hubert knew the truth. Most of the anger he directed at Opal was just him lashing out to cover for his own incompetence.
However, he had to protect Stella from Opal. The time she had left was short, and Hubert wanted to make every moment of it shine. He owed Stella a great debt. And he bore a great burden of guilt.
Hubert's parents had died when he was just twelve years old. The three of them had been traveling from their fief to the Royal Capital when a wheel came off their carriage. The carriage had tragically plunged off a cliff, and Hubert was the sole survivor. For two days until he was discovered, he had been forced to remain alone, surrounded by the bodies of his parents, a maid, a coachman, and even the horses.
He could never forget that terror, and it still haunted his dreams at times. The one who had saved him was Stella. At twelve, having just inherited the title of Duke after his parents' deaths, Hubert was forced to sleep in his parents' bedroom and was plagued by nightmares every night. It was then that Stella, having woken up in a daze, had wandered into his room and gently soothed him. Stella was only six at the time, but every night after her family was asleep, she would come to Hubert's room, rubbing her sleepy eyes, and sing him clumsy lullabies.
They would often fall asleep together, so the Northems soon found out. But understanding Hubert's situation and considering their young age, they did not scold them and allowed it. Stella even began sleeping in the room her mother had used. Perhaps the couple had hoped the two of them would marry. Hubert wasn't sure, but if they had asked, he would have married her, even if he only thought of her as a sister.
However, when Stella turned ten, her illness was discovered. At first, she had developed a fever and was bedridden, so everyone assumed it was just a common cold. But when she began to have recurring fevers with no other symptoms, everyone grew suspicious. They had a renowned physician examine her, who declared that she had an incurable disease.
He explained that the fever was a distress signal from her body, a sign that inside Stella, her protective cells were fighting against some kind of pathogen. Unfortunately, this pathogen was very strong, and a medicine to combat it had not yet been found. He said that with time, Stella would likely lose the ability to walk, and eventually, her heart would even stop beating.
Hubert and the Northems were overcome with grief when they heard the news. But they could not let Stella know. So, Hubert and the couple colluded, cherishing Stella and protecting her with the help of all the servants.
And yet, fate can be cruel. Lord Northem passed away before Stella. He had managed the fief and finances in place of the young Hubert, but on a cold winter day while Hubert was away at university, he suffered a heart attack at the estate and died. For Hubert, the estate was already filled with memories of his parents, and since then he had been unable to return. Now, it had become an even more detestable place.
Truthfully, it might be better for Stella to return to the fief for the fresh air. But not only was that place cursed with terrible memories, there were no decent doctors, and even getting medicine delivered would take time. Right now, he didn't have the funds to keep a doctor stationed at the fief.
Four years ago, a flood had caused massive damage to the crops on the fief. Since then, one disaster after another had struck, from droughts to insect plagues, and before he knew it, he was forced to take on debt. He wanted to sell that land, but he couldn't. As a last resort, Hubert had decided to take Count Holloway's sweet offer.
She'll come down from the attic room soon enough, I'm sure of it. When she does, maybe I can at least talk things over with her...
Hubert thought arrogantly as he emerged from his memories. He was certainly at fault for not explaining anything about Stella. So, he could afford to bend a little. But Hubert's expectations were in vain. Even after a week had passed, Opal did not leave the attic room.