Chapter 4.2

Chapter 4.2

Chezare was actually the first person to receive her mother’s will. He immediately handed it to the lawyer so that the Baron couldn’t get his hands on it. Then, he went to wipe Eileen’s tears away. 

She grabbed the handkerchief that he had handed her and murmured absent-mindedly, “I have to prepare for the funeral, but…” 

“But?” 

“I don’t have money…” 

Just some money… Please, lend me some money. I’m so sorry. I’ll definitely pay you back. 

She didn’t remember what incoherent words she used to respond to his questions. She seemed dispirited as though she couldn’t deal with the immense sorrow. By the time she came back to her senses, the funeral had already ended. 

Her mother was buried in the most expensive and exclusive cemetery in the Traon Empire, surrounded by lilies, her favourite flowers.

Later, Eileen tried to repay Chezare the funeral expenses, but he refused, claiming that this was his final gift to the Baroness. 

“….”

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As she recalled what had happened previously, Eileen put down the book that she was reading. The proposal and kiss had stirred up all sorts of thoughts in her mind, so much so that she couldn’t even make out what she was reading. She got up from the chair and walked to the mirror. 

The woman in the mirror was very ugly. Her brown hair was messy, her bangs covered her eyes, and she was wearing a pair of glasses with a large frame. And the loosely-fit clothes did nothing to enhance any part of her body at all. 

Young noble ladies in their society were always immaculate; proper hair and make-up were the bare minimum. They would also wear dresses that accentuated their waist, and exposed their shoulders and arms. They were also skilled dancers and were trained in proper etiquette, unlike Eileen, who could only talk about the differences between plants. 

There were many ladies who were as beautiful as flowers, yet a crude weed like her was going to be the Duchess. That was certainly an affront to Chezare’s reputation. Not to mention that he was already her benefactor, she also didn’t dare to leave a stain on this man. 

How could she avoid being executed, yet also not get married? 

After pondering for a while about how she should change Chezare’s mind, she suddenly felt a little flustered. She went to the bedroom opened the door, and saw that the room was silent. 

Her father hadn’t returned home yet. 

Sometimes, he wouldn’t return home because he was gambling or drinking outside, but she had to be exceptionally careful that day. 

He must have heard that the Triumphal Arch had been approved.’ 

This morning, she had seen a smile on her father’s face. He had probably heard the news before she did. 

It occurred to her that her father might have gone to seek Chezare out and say some useless things to him. She decided to go to bed first, thinking that she would question her father when he returned. 

However, her father didn’t return home the next day. 

A week later, Eileen was still alone.

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There were only two possibilities. He was either dead or still gambling. 

Since there was no news of his death, she was sure that he was still out gambling. However, there was only one place where he could get money from. 

‘He probably went to see His Excellency.’ 

Chezare didn’t take to her father kindly, because, to him, her father was an outsider. If Chezare had given her father money, he would certainly have asked him for something in return, but she didn’t know the price her father would have to pay. 

She had to find her father, take the money back, and make him swear that he would never repeat this again. And so, she travelled all the way to the gambling house where her father usually frequented…

“Hey, Young Master! Come on in! Is this your first time here?” 

“Cute Young Master, do you want to play with this elder sister?” 

Eileen looked at the street in front of her, bewildered. The gambling house she was looking for was nowhere to be seen. There was only a woman, whose chest was half-exposed, giggling and flirting with her. 

This incident happened because she had cross-dressed as a man, albeit a poor imitation, thinking that it would be dangerous for her to wander the streets alone at night. She wanted to ask the location of the gambling den, but she knew that she would be in trouble if she spoke because her voice would give away the fact that she was female. 

She scurried forward, not knowing where she should look. Seeing her flustered movements, the woman in front of her laughed. Just when she was about to walk away, a hand grabbed her arm. 

A man walked into Eileen’s line of sight. He looked like a thug, leaning against the wall of a shop he lit a cigarette..

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