The Countess's Body Has Disappeared - Chapter 63

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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 63
“Knock, knock.”
Cecilia startled at the sound and spun toward the doorway.
“Knock, knock. Hello there.”
A tall, willowy woman’s dark silhouette leaned against the door frame, angled casually on one shoulder.
Cecilia’s eyes adjusted slowly to the backlight. Esmeralda stood there smiling softly, arms crossed, dressed in the same gray one-piece as before.
Cecilia’s stomach twisted sharply.
“Is there… something you need?”
“Yes. Your name.”
Unable to understand Esmeralda’s reply, Cecilia only breathed harder, a note of bewilderment threading through her breath.
Esmeralda frowned, then slowly uncrossed her arms. She withdrew a notepad from her handbag, checked it once more, and asked.
“Your name is Cecilia, correct?”
Cecilia hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. In that moment, she thought she heard Esmeralda laugh.
“The Lieutenant isn’t badly hurt. So don’t worry, he says.”
Feeling her grip loosen, Cecilia hastily set down the wine before she could drop it.
“Why are you telling me this…?”
“Indeed. Anyway, I’ve delivered the message properly. If the Lieutenant asks later when he returns, you must tell him exactly what I said.”
With that, Esmeralda turned and left without waiting for a reply.
By the time Cecilia gathered her wits and rushed to the doorway to check, Esmeralda had already vanished like a mirage.
Davion hadn’t even proposed to Cecilia yet, so Esmeralda, unable to be certain of their marriage, had chosen her words carefully. Of course, Cecilia could not have known these reasons.
‘Not badly hurt, she said.’
Yet he was staying in the hospital for another two weeks? It made no common sense.
The fact that Esmeralda was the one relaying Davion’s message troubled her deeply. Everything surrounding the situation swirled in her head, yet Cecilia’s resolve came quickly enough.
Cecilia stared down the hallway where cool air pressed in, and pulled her hair tight into a knot. She ran toward the stairs, the landscape blurring past her in waves.
The moment she pushed open the side door, cold water pelted her face. A light rain was falling from the sky.
Because of it, the open ground lay empty. Cecilia passed the car parked in front of the gate—the one belonging to Rene—and bolted from the Manor without a backward glance.
She’d never done anything this reckless in her life. No one in their right mind would act like this! But the image of Davion alone with Esmeralda in that hospital room sent her legs flying of their own accord.
‘Fool. Let it be a lie….’
She wiped the rain from her face and ran through the mud, her speed only increasing.
* * *
After finishing his exercise, Davion dressed and tore away the dressing damp with sweat.
His face reflected in the round tabletop mirror.
Sweat poured from his flushed skin like rain. Two days after Esmeralda left, the pale bruises had darkened to a deep brown. The result was an even more gruesome appearance.
He pressed fresh gauze to the wound and sat on the bed as though collapsing. He’d been given the doctor’s warnings about rest multiple times, but with nothing in particular to do, he kept exercising anyway.
Outside the window, deep darkness had already settled.
Indeed, the hand on the wristwatch laid on the bedside table was pointing just before the number 10.
Davion suddenly wondered whether Esmeralda had properly delivered the news to Cecilia. And if she had, what sort of reaction Cecilia might have shown.
Would she be relieved? Or would she worry more?
He hoped for the latter. If it had been otherwise… she would have worried regardless of what she heard. Her heart would probably be burning with anxiety.
In truth, it wasn’t much different now.
For some time, he’d been picking at his lower lip, his leg bouncing restlessly. What if Cecilia, unable to bear his absence, suddenly went to see someone else? What if some unexpectedly decent man appeared and she accepted his proposal for marriage—then he’d be a complete fool, unable to propose properly, bound to another woman instead!
The thought sent his vision reeling for a moment, and he felt cold sweat streaming down his face.
But Davion, who had been covering his face in anguish, had to return to reality and lift his head.
From down the corridor outside his door, someone was running, their footsteps thundering toward him. The sound grew distant toward the end of the hallway, then suddenly turned back toward his room.
‘Who could it be at this hour?’
Davion grabbed an apple from the fruit basket Esmeralda had left behind and clutched it like a weapon. But before he could move, the door flew open and Cecilia burst in.
Davion froze, unable even to breathe.
“How did you…?”
Cecilia, gasping for breath, examined Davion, who sat awkwardly on the bed.
His face was flushed bright red, his entire body drenched in sweat. His face was even grotesque.
Davion covered his bruised eye sockets and quickly hid the apple behind his back. The moment he closed the hospital room door, Cecilia threw down the shoes she’d been holding and vented her anger.
“You’re not lightly injured at all, you liar!”
Then sorrow welled up, and she buried her face in her sleeves and began to cry. Only then did Davion take in Cecilia’s appearance piece by piece.
She was soaked through with rain. Her calves were caked with mud, and the soles of her stockings were torn and dangling.
Davion stood and picked up the shoes from the floor to examine them. Dried blood was crusted on the heels.
“Did you… walk all the way here?”
Cecilia’s voice shook. “What else was I supposed to do? It’s not like you can drive me.”
In a single stride, Davion rushed over and pulled Cecilia into his arms.

He felt the small hands clutching his shirt, and Cecilia buried her nose against his broad, warm chest. Holding her even tighter, Davion brushed his cheek against her damp hair and whispered.
“Marry me, Cecilia.”
Cecilia’s sobs gradually subsided.
When Cecilia pushed away from his chest and lifted her head, Davion cradled her face gently in his large hands.
“Let’s get married.”
Cecilia’s brow furrowed. Her wandering gaze found the large bandage plastered on his forehead, and she froze.
“Your head—aren’t you hurt pretty badly? What did the doctor say?”
“I just hit the steering wheel and split my forehead open. For a traffic accident victim, three weeks is actually quite mild. I’m fine now. Let’s get married.”
“Then what’s with the sweat? Why is your face so red?”
“I was exercising just now.”
…….
Heat rose up Cecilia’s neck. She drew a sharp breath as if suppressing something, then swung her fist down on Davion’s shoulder.
“Are you messing with me right now?!”
“Sorry. I’m sorry.”
Davion, who had been stifling his laughter, soon stopped and cupped Cecilia’s face, kissing her fervently across every inch. Rising onto her toes, Cecilia pressed her palm firmly against his lips to hold him back.
“In that case, get your head checked again. How would a perfectly sane person propose to me?”
“You’re right. I’m not in my right mind.”
Davion drew her hands to his cheeks and whispered.
“That’s why. Let’s get married. I love you.”
Cecilia gazed at him with concern, as if he were a critical patient on the verge of collapse, and sniffled as her nose reddened. Then, glancing past his shoulder toward the window, she gasped and nearly cried out in alarm.

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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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