Chapter 39

The next morning, I visited the Anderson Earl's house on my way to the Hanson Baron's house with Nonna to apologize.

"Last night, Nonna ran away from the Baron's house and came back. I'm sure you were worried, so I'm going to the Hanson Baron's house to apologize. I came here first to let you know."

When I bowed, Nonna imitated me and bowed as well. However, Lady Eva shook her head.

"No, it's better if you don't show your face. I'll contact them. I'm sorry for causing you and Nonna trouble because I couldn't properly refuse them this time."

While saying this, she quickly wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to a maid. The maid left the room swiftly. It was probably a message to the Hanson Baron. After seeing her off, Lady Eva began to tell me a story from the past.

"It happened four years ago. A high fever caused by a cold was spreading in the capital. Clark also caught that cold and had a high fever for five days. Fortunately, after five days, his fever gradually went down, and he recovered from the cold. However, many children and elderly people died from that high fever."

A bad cold spreads every few years.

It's a natural law that the weak lose their lives in a battle of physical strength.

"However, my husband is the Foreign Minister. There was a rumor that 'a good medicine from another country was used.' In the past, he had bought a very effective burn ointment from another country and distributed it to others, thinking it would be good for them. That's why there was a misunderstanding. No matter how much we denied it, the rumor wouldn't go away. At that time, the Hanson Baron came to our house. He seemed to have taken the rumor seriously and tearfully begged us to give him the medicine. He said that if things continued, his daughter would die, and he would offer all the money he had. I kept repeating that we hadn't used the medicine..."

Ah, I see.

The Hanson Baron and his wife still resent that incident, or Lady Eva still feels guilty about it. That's why she couldn't strongly refuse the adoption of Nonna, who resembles their daughter.

"Lady Eva, that's not your responsibility at all."

"In theory, no. But it wasn't a matter of theory. That's what made it troublesome. They might have understood in their heads that no medicine was used, but it really had nothing to do with you. I'm sorry for involving your house and the Hanson family. I'm very sorry."

I headed to Bernard's house with Nonna. Bernard was in high spirits and had resumed his research.

"Lady Eva was very kind to me, but it's good to be back home."

"I'm glad to see you in good health, Lord Bernard."

Nonna handed a small yellow flower she had picked from the roadside to Lord Bernard.

"Here! Lord Bernard!"

"Oh, I've never received a flower from such a beautiful lady before."

Even Nonna, who had only lived with us for a few months, made me feel so sad when I thought about losing her. How much more must the Baron and his wife have grieved when they lost their real daughter at the age of three? I could understand a tiny bit of their pain.

When I got home, I cooked meat, wiped down various surfaces, and polished the windows. Just imagining Nonna disappearing from this world made me cry. Lady Eva had informed me that everything was settled and I could rest easy.

The next day, a lot of luggage and a letter in the Baron's handwriting arrived from the Hanson Baron's house.

"We have decided to return to our territory and focus on managing it. We are grateful for the time we spent with Dolores, even if it was just a little. William Hanson"

The contents of the many boxes were expensive dresses, shoes, accessories, undergarments, nightgowns, slippers, and delicate bags. Nonna didn't show much interest, but I felt a lump in my throat as I looked at them.

Lady Eva locking the door was an overreaction, but what must she have felt when she realized Nonna wouldn't run away again, and when she had to part with these items? She must have accepted that there is no substitute for her own child.

I wondered. Did my parents feel sad after letting go of me at the age of eight? I can't ask them now, but I wanted to. If they were alive, would they have said, "Of course, we were sad"? I wished they would have, even though it was a futile thought.

I reported to Lady Yolana and the Captain that Nonna had returned and that the Baron was leaving the capital.

That night, it was completely dark.

Nonna and I had finished our bath and were leisurely having dinner.

Then, there was a knock on the door, and Susan and the Captain came in.

"Oh, it's rare to see Susan and the Captain together."

"I'm leaving right after this. Actually, I asked Lady Yolana to write a letter to the Hanson Baron's house, knowing it might be meddlesome."

"To Lady Yolana? What kind of letter?"

Susan cleared her throat and, avoiding my gaze, explained.

"Lady Yolana wrote that 'the Haines Earl's family will take care of Nonna if anything happens to Victoria, so please don't worry.'"

"Oh!"

Susan blushed when I looked at her in surprise.

"Thank you, Susan. I'm very grateful."

"No, I couldn't just sit still. But Lady Eva said, 'I was going to do that even if you didn't ask.'"

Susan said this and hurriedly left. Thinking that there were people who cared about Nonna made my nose tingle. I invited the Captain in and served him tea.

"Ah, Victoria. I also have something to report."

"What is it?"

"I don't think Eva told you, but the Anderson Earl came to my brother for advice. My brother, while sending some good wine to the Hanson family, wrote a letter to the Hanson Baron's house, reminding them not to forget that Victoria is Nonna's guardian until both parties are satisfied and the formal procedures are completed. He also added that I am your guarantor, as a side note."

"That's... so kind. Even Lord Asher was worried about me."

"At first, I was going to tell you, but since it involved the family name, I asked my brother. He said, 'It's better if I say it since I have a closer relationship with them.'"

The Captain was smiling.

The Hanson Baron must have been quite surprised to hear from two earl families.

"Lady Hanson was reportedly unstable for a while after her daughter's death. Once, she brought a blonde girl from a common family into the house, claiming she had found her lost daughter."

"Oh..."

"It was a matter of the Hanson family's reputation, so the girl's family and the Baron's servants were strictly warned. However, my brother had heard the rumor. I didn't know until he told me. I don't think Eva knew either."

I thought the Baroness was someone with strong emotions. So, that happened.

"The Anderson Earl was worried that 'if Nonna looks so much like her, the Baroness might not let her go, even if Nonna doesn't want to stay.' He was concerned that Eva didn't refuse on the spot."

I realized that many people were working behind the scenes for me. Perhaps that's why the Baron and his wife returned to their territory.

"Captain, could you please tell Lord Asher that I am truly grateful? I'll visit to thank him soon."

"You don't need to thank him. My brother is very grateful to you for what you did for Uncle Bernard. If you feel you must do something, you could make some snacks for him, and I'll deliver them."

The Captain smiled and left.

"Nonna, did anything scary happen while you were staying there?"

"Nothing scary. But it was a bit unpleasant when it was just Lady Hanson."

"Why?"

"She kept calling me Dolores and saying the family was together. She cried and hugged me tightly."

I see. How heartbreaking.

"But I'm not bothered by it anymore."

"You are strong and kind."

"Vicky"

"What is it?"

"Can't you live with Jeff?"

Was she thinking of this after almost becoming part of another family? I couldn't answer and just stroked Nonna's head.

(I wish we could, but it's not possible.)