The Countess's Body Has Disappeared - Chapter 53

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 53
Kate’s eyebrows shot up as curiosity flashed across her face.
“A secret? Did Betty’s old lottery ticket finally come in?”
“Don’t be silly. It’s nothing like that.”
“Then what is it?”
Kate’s upper body tilted forward as if enchanted, following the flutter of Cecilia’s beckoning hand through the air.
Cupping both hands to her mouth, Cecilia leaned close and whispered something secret into her ear for a long moment.
“……Really?”
Cecilia hesitated, then nodded, her face flushing crimson.
Kate’s mouth fell open.
“You can’t tell anyone! This is a real secret! The kind you take to the grave!”
“There’s nobody here you’re close to besides me! But when did you even meet a man?!”
“Actually, it hasn’t been that long. Oh, right. That reminds me—I had a question about something…….”
Kate leaned forward toward Cecilia, and Cecilia cupped her hands to her mouth again, murmuring softly. This time it sounded more like a question.
When she finished, her entire body flushed red, and she waited for an answer while staring straight ahead.
Kate, who had never shown real interest in matters of the heart before, looked Cecilia over with something like pride, then broke into giggles and spoke.
“There’s nothing strange about it. A man can never have too much stamina. Sounds like he works out seriously?”
“W-well, I suppose so. His body is good, he’s tall, and when he’s close it smells nice…….”
“Mm. But where did you meet him? You’re not sneaking out without the mistress knowing, are you……!”
Gasp.
Cecilia sprang up like a coiled spring and clamped her hand over Kate’s mouth.
Kate’s eyes rolled, and she shrugged her shoulders. After habitually checking their surroundings, Cecilia pressed a finger to her lips as if making a plea, insisting on her innocence.
“Of course not. I met him here. He might even be someone you know.”
When she slowly removed her hand, Kate murmured in thought.
“Really? I haven’t seen any man like that around here…….”
“He’s Aileen’s son. The son who just came back from his deployment! But you can’t tell her, alright? I haven’t even properly greeted her yet.”
“What? W-who?”
Cecilia’s eyes widened into perfect circles as she blinked repeatedly.
……Why was she reacting like this? Watching Kate’s expression freeze and then drain of color, Cecilia felt something ominous stirring in her chest unbidden.
Kate grabbed Cecilia’s arm and pushed her backward. Then, her voice trembling as if she’d seen a ghost, she spoke.
“Cecilia, Colton hasn’t set foot in this Manor for over four years.”
Cecilia stared at Kate, her mind utterly blank.
An empty answer spilled from her lips.
“……What?”
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
While Kate got out of bed and opened the door, Cecilia simply stared into empty space. A voice calling her name reached her from somewhere distant.
She was pulled to her feet by a hand grasping her wrist, stumbling awkwardly. Even as she moved, her lower back throbbed with pain.
Four years? What did that even mean?
Then the man I was with last night……
“It’s not difficult. Just go into the room and quietly pour tea. You know how to do it, don’t you?”
Who was that man?
Then a sharp prod at her side jolted Cecilia awake. Standing before her was Wade, the housekeeper, holding a ring of keys and waiting for a response.
Kate jabbed Cecilia’s ribs again with her elbow. A hoarse, broken voice scraped out between clenched teeth.
“I-I learned how to pour tea from grandmother a long time ago.”
“Good. If the young master or a guest calls for you, go right away. Whatever you see and hear inside stays with you. Understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes.”
The corners of her mouth forced upward felt alien, as if they belonged to someone else. After checking Cecilia’s appearance, Wade gestured for her to follow and added a stern reminder.
“She may become the young master’s wife. She’s a guest of great importance, so be careful not to make any mistakes.”
* * *
Davion hadn’t even bothered to comb his hair.
On top of that, he hadn’t gone out to greet Esmeralda. With the car’s rear tires already pulled out, this was currently the highest form of defiance he could manage.
‘Damn it…….’
His leg, draped over the sofa, bounced uncontrollably, betraying his anxiety.
Davion loosened the necktie that had been choking him and unbuttoned his shirt, breathing heavily.
His wristwatch ticked helpfully, showing him it was two in the afternoon. Since the gate wasn’t visible from the parlor window, he couldn’t yet tell if Esmeralda had arrived.
If only some sudden natural disaster would strike and prevent Esmeralda’s car from reaching here—how wonderful that would be.
……Of course, he knew very well that such a miracle would never happen.
His thoughts drifted to the quiet cottage beyond the blue fields.
What was Cecilia doing right now? She must be tired; perhaps she was taking an afternoon nap.
Imagining her dozing away on the sofa with her head nodding, Davion’s lips softened into a gentle smile.
Once this arranged meeting is over, I’ll find some way to delay the marriage, no matter what. Now I’m beginning to ache with the desire to see Cecilia, the sooner the better.
But the anticipation that had swelled in my chest froze over the moment a knock sounded at the door.
I waited, yet the doorknob remained silent. Blake’s intention was becoming clear—he wanted me to rise and greet Esmeralda myself. I ran my fingers through my hair one more time, disheveling it further, before opening the door.
A woman with striking golden-blonde hair stood before me with her hands demurely clasped together.
At that moment, when I first met Esmeralda, my thought was absurdly simple: she was quite tall. Perhaps it was because, since returning from the deployment site, Cecilia had been the only woman I’d spent time with.
An artificial musk scent grated thinly against my nerves. Yet whether by some cruel divine jest or not, Esmeralda wore a one-piece dress in the exact same color as my formal suit.
I sighed inwardly and prayed—earnestly—that she would keep the cardigan draped over her shoulders. I had no desire whatsoever to look like a devoted pair of turtle doves.
The moment Esmeralda’s gaze met mine directly, her amber eyes seemed to widen slightly with surprise. She extended her hand, covered in white lace gloves, and introduced herself.
“I am Esmeralda Rene.”
I bowed and brought my lips to the back of her hand.
“Davion Cissiltaun.”
Only after we had entered the parlor together did Blake, who had been watching from a distance, quietly withdraw. Not before he made a subtle gesture to the servants, signaling them to close the door.
Esmeralda gave the achromatic parlor a light once-over, then sat on the sofa with her legs crossed and set down her handbag. She carried herself as naturally as if she were in her own home, and even went so far as to invite me to take the seat across from her.
“Are you planning to stand there the entire time? And I’m thirsty—it seems this household doesn’t offer a guest so much as a glass of water.”
“Tea will be brought shortly. I believe my mother intends to……”
All sound from beyond the door had vanished. Reluctantly settling into the seat across from Esmeralda, I lowered my voice discreetly.
“It seems intentional—to give us two some time alone.”
Hearing this, Esmeralda made no effort to suppress her laughter.
“The maids in this household must have tongues as light as feathers, then?”
“…I beg your pardon?”
Before I could help myself, I furrowed my brow, my displeasure evident. I was about to grow angry at what sounded like disparaging remarks about the servants—and thoughts of Cecilia were beginning to kindle that fury—when Esmeralda continued.
“The maids at my house are like that. So my father makes certain that when he takes a telephone call, he clears every last soul from his surroundings. He’s even forbidden attendants from accompanying him to previous arranged meetings.”
“So you’ve already met with someone else.”
Esmeralda gave an affirmative shrug of her shoulders. That explained her composure.
“This is my first time at one of these meetings.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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