The Countess's Body Has Disappeared - Chapter 57

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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 57
2-5. Traffic Accident
Aileen had fractured three ribs on her left side.
According to what Davion heard from the doctor at the Hospital, it would take a full three months before she could return to her daily routine. Even with injuries of that severity, she seemed deeply uncomfortable lying in bed in front of him, and her constant attempts to sit up forced him to cut his visit short and leave the Hospital early.
When he arrived back at the Manor by car, Blake was alone in the room with the telephone, taking Tea Time.
Davion’s attempt to slip quietly into the Bedroom proved futile when Blake spotted him and crookedher finger in a summons. Hiding his dismay, Davion entered the room and hung his overcoat on the back of the Sofa.
Before he could even settle into his seat, Blake spoke in a tone that brooked no argument.
“I’ve arranged to meet with Rene this Thursday.”
Davion leaned back against the Sofa and slowly closed and opened his eyes.
Cecilia had already made her own conclusions. The thought that she wouldn’t return, no matter what he tried, was the first thing that occurred to him.
Despite the wreckage inside, the daily routine continued as if nothing had happened, and it was unbearable. With a sigh, he pulled out a Cigarette from his pocket, placed it between his lips, and lit it.
“Yes. Do as you wish, Mother.”
“……Are you defying me right now?”
“If that’s what you believe, then I suppose I am.”
Blake clenched her jaw firmly, then reached out and snatched the Cigarette from Davion’s lips in one swift motion. She tossed it into an empty teacup on the table and spoke with quiet fury.
“Forget that woman you were so fond of. Marriages bound by love and affection are something only the poor indulge in. You hate me now, I know, but time will change that, and you’ll come to understand my intentions and be grateful.”
Blake stood, collecting the Newspaper she had folded beside her.
The moment his mother disappeared from sight, Davion quickly pulled out a fresh Cigarette. But just as he was reaching for his lighter, the door behind him opened, and Blake’s footsteps stopped short.
“White hair really does stand out, doesn’t it.”
Davion’s body reacted first, turning to look behind him.
Cecilia stood at the doorway in a maid’s uniform, her hands clasped respectfully together. Having just seen Blake out, she met Davion’s gaze and immediately stated her business.
“I was asked to collect the empty cups from the room—may I come in?”
He quickly tucked the Cigarette away and awkwardly replied, touching his flushed neck.
“Come in.”
He stood and opened the window, and behind him Cecilia wheeled in a cart, then knelt before the table. She noticed the cigarette butt smoldering in the teacup, releasing a thin wisp of smoke, and seemed startled for a moment, but quickly composed her expression.
Dark shadows of exhaustion hung beneath Cecilia’s eyes like a stain. Even her movements seemed strangely stiff and awkward.
It didn’t take Davion long to understand why. The stocking on her heel, where it met the hard Shoe, was torn, and blood was seeping through the gap in a thin, steady line.
He touched the long match in his pocket, lost in troubled thought.
She must be in pain. Should I offer her a Bandage? But that would be far too deliberate, too openly self-serving for a gesture toward a maid. And somehow he doubted Cecilia would be pleased by it anyway.
Damn. Even he could see how miserably he was behaving now—like a lover dwelling on regrets alone in the dark.
In the meantime, Cecilia finished wiping the table clean and stood, offering a formal smile. It was only then that Davion realized she had been looking only at his nose the entire time, never meeting his eyes.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Cecilia limped from the room on her toes, leaning heavily on the cart.
She did not look back, not even once, until the door had closed behind her.
* * *
The Cottage, now that Betty was gone, felt surprisingly empty. She had rarely left her bed before.
Since she’d begun working at the Manor, Cecilia had been granted a lunch hour of complete freedom for the first time. She removed her bloodstained Shoes and Stockings, then hiked her skirt up to her thighs and tied it firmly.
Aside from her duties at the Manor, she had to tend the Cottage in the gaps between, or it would quickly begin to look like an abandoned house. The same was true of the Flower Garden, and when she examined the plants after so long, they were already buried beneath an overgrowth of weeds.
When Cecilia stepped barefoot into the Flower Garden and began pulling weeds, Ruby appeared from somewhere with a seed packet in her beak and stationed herself at her side.
『So that male is never coming back?』
There was no need to ask whom she meant.
『Never. If he does come back, peck his head and chase him far away.』
At that, Ruby blinked her raisin-like eyes repeatedly.
『……Me? Directly?』
『Why that reaction? You didn’t even like him that much anyway.』
『No, I did like him! Because Cecilia liked him, naturally I had to like him too!』
Cecilia laughed at Ruby’s response—a genuine, warm laugh she hadn’t managed in a long time. Seizing the moment, Ruby stretched her neck and surveyed the fields, then dropped her beak and murmured to herself.
『I actually thought Cecilia was going to lay his eggs.』
『Ruby!』
『What, did I say something wrong? Nagi said the same thing that night. I was so looking forward to seeing a little Cecilia next summer!』
『What? That…that night?!』
Cecilia turned to Ruby in shock. Her face flushed red in an instant.
Good heavens… She knew animals had keen senses, but she hadn’t imagined they’d heard all of that.
『Is it too much trouble to incubate the eggs? I’m male, but if they were Cecilia’s eggs, I’d gladly incubate them for you!』
『I won’t be doing that anymore…And humans don’t lay eggs, Ruby. We give birth to young.』
Cecilia pressed her forehead with her hand to hide her burning face as she protested.
Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Ruby shrugged her shoulders just as humans do, unable to hide her disappointment, but soon rallied and spread her large wings boldly.
Caw!
『Oh, that’s right—I have a special gift I prepared just for you!』

.
.
Watching Cecilia grow listless lately, Nagi and Ruby couldn’t help but worry—deeply, genuinely worry.
So Ruby, after much deliberation, decided to prepare a gift for her. After all, from what he’d observed, every human loved receiving gifts!
“Cecilia’s going to love this for sure!”
Ruby’s eager little steps bounced with anticipation, twice as lively as usual. Following him up the midslope of the foothills, Cecilia finally sank to her knees, breathing heavily.
“How much farther do we have to go? Are we almost there?”
“We’re almost there!”
Soon enough, Ruby came to a stop before a modest ash tree. He lifted away the cloth that had been covering something beneath it, his face bright with joy.
“Ta-da! You collected pebbles for me, so I collected stones for you!”
“…….”
Cecilia went pale from head to toe, her hand flying to her mouth.
She dropped to her knees in a panic and picked up one of the “stones” heaped in the pit. No matter how many times she checked, she couldn’t believe it—but it was unmistakably Blake’s seal ring.
What Ruby had collected weren’t stones at all—they were Blake’s rings and jewels!
‘Good heavens…….’
Her vision swam between ragged breaths. Before tears could spill over, she plunged both hands into the pit, clawing through it frantically.
Just counting the rings, there were roughly thirty. And there—the diamond necklace Blake wore constantly!
“Um, uh……”
Ruby’s tail, which had been held high with expectation, slowly drooped toward the ground. Sensing something had gone terribly wrong, he began stealing anxious glances at Cecilia.
“Did I… did I do something wrong……?”

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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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