Once the Viscountess had fallen asleep, Irene left the room with Noel.
As they returned to their assigned room, the butler began to talk about Friedan Viscountcy’s head’s circumstances.
“My mistress is physically weak, so she could not have children. For a long time, she has been managing this mansion alone, ever since my former mistress -- the Viscount left her with this estate. Then one day, she brought in a newborn baby. That is, the Miss here.”
“...”
“She raised Miss like her own daughter. Maybe you were more than a daughter to her. After sending the young lady to the county, Madame’s body deteriorated rapidly, perhaps because of loneliness.”
“...If she was feeling unwell, why didn’t she come to the capital?”
Irene asked the question that she had found it hard to understand all along.
Even Irene, who was not very knowledgeable about the medical field, could tell that the medical environments between Madame Friedan and Riel were far different. Unlike Riel, who had state-of-the-art medical tools and a resident doctor, the Viscountess relied solely on medicines. Additionally, she had to fight against such severe disease in this barren area…
At her question, the butler halted. Curious, Irene looked at the hesitant butler, waiting for him to speak up. Shortly after, suppressing the feeling of distress, the butler replied.
“... we wanted to go. But…we could not do that.”
“...Why?”
When Irene prompted, the butler’s expression distorted miserably.
“...It was because Count Chase, Madame’s family had cut off all the support.”
At the butler’s words, Irene’s eyes bulged. She could not believe that her parents had cut off her aunt’s support.
Why?
It was difficult for her to comprehend. Viscountess Friedan was Count Chase’s only sister. She thought they were on good terms…
But why...
Irene had no idea why the Count took her away, cut off contact with his one and only sister, and even went as far as cutting off all her support.
That means...!
The Friedan Viscounty was located in the barren northern part, so there were no resources. In addition, with the Viscount’s death, the estate affairs were not managed properly. As a result, the military force was disbanded, and the number of residents of the territory migrated as they could not hunt monsters. Only a few remaining could survive by occasionally hunting animals.
The reason she was able to survive in such an environment was thanks to the support from Count Chase. Perhaps in return for taking care of Irene, for a while, Count Chase used to generously send her plenty of food and supportive allowance, which helped her to cure her illness and maintain her castle. But one day, they suddenly lost contact with him, and he cut off his support for her.
That had already dated back to more than ten years ago.
The old butler’s shoulders shivered. The feelings of helplessness and remorse of having no choice but to look at his dying mistress; the resentment against Count Chase, who heartlessly severed ties with his mistress, seemed to have burst when he saw that despicable man’s daughter.
Even though I know, it wasn’t the Duchess’ fault...
Unfair. Indeed, it was unfair. His mistress did what Count Chase wanted – she took care of his daughter for three years and did whatever he asked to continue receiving that support. Yet, that man…
“…I am sorry, Madame.”
“...No, it’s fine. I would love to hear more details, but I guess we can come back to it later.”
Irene bit her lip.
Actually, there were a couple of things she wanted to ask him right now. What did he mean exactly by saying her parents had cut off support, and why did she alone come to live here in the first place?
Maybe this person knows why my parents discriminated against Riel and me so much...
But Irene could not bring herself to speak up. The furious butler did not want to deal with anyone right now.
Her lips stayed shut.
“You don’t have to guide me from here.”
“Oh, no. I...”
“I know the way, so don’t worry. I just want to take a walk with my husband alone. Please go back to my aunt.”
At Irene’s calm tone, the butler nodded with no further words.
“I apologise…”
“No, there is nothing to be sorry about. Rather, it’s me...Then, I will see you tomorrow morning.”
“Yes...”
As the butler bowed, Irene continued her stroll with Noel at a slow pace.
Once the butler’s figure disappeared from her sight, the smile hung on Irene’s face vanished in seconds.
“...”
Noel, who had been silently watching her, took her hand without a word and started walking again.
“Noel?”
“Didn’t you say we are going for a walk?”
“That…”
It was just an excuse to send the butler away as she seemed to be having a hard time...
When Irene could not answer, Noel, looking at her wordlessly for a brief moment, took off his coat and wrapped it around her. While his sudden action embarrassed Irene, Noel said, folding up his loose sleeves.
“It’s cold outside, so you have to dress warmly.”
“...I uh…”
“I think the word ‘husband’ sounds nice.”