Taking Larittes hand, Olivia stood up from the floor. Dust, garbage, and traces of insects from the ground stained her skirt. Olivia was about to say that she t Ian and Laritte while enjoying the market on her own. She did not expect this to happen, but she forced a smile and spoke.
Oh my, Laritte.. I did not expect to see you here. Isnt this town quite far from the Dukes mansion? Your mother ca to see the place, and its amazing. After all, we mother and daughter have sothing in common, dont we?
Her heart pounded as she spit out the words.
But did you hear what those n said before?
Laritte stared at Olivia with vague blue eyes. Indeed, they were alike. The sa silver hair and blue eyes. Of course, Olivia was a bit taller and spoke lies better than Laritte. At this mont, she ca to the conclusion that if it hadnt been for this alleyway, Laritte would never have known the truth.
Have you co to find at least once after you left at the County? Is it true what they said?
Laritte had no reproach, she was only curious, but Olivia felt terrible all the way to the end of her spine. The fake smile disappeared from her face.
Laritte recalled how she was bullied by the Counts people.
You are trash! You have been abandoned by your mother!
No one is happy with your birth, haha.
The sound of such derisive laughter was always cold. That feeling was only destroyed when Ian gave her the title of his wife on a spring day.
Olivia stepped back as her back hit the wall behind her. She locked eyes with Laritte, who silently demanded the truth. It was when they heard a strange noise. The noise of soone punching a sack of food.
Ian, wont the blood splatter all the way here?
Ian looked at Laritte holding the two n by their collars. He was very angry. Insulting Laritte was the worst choice they made. The n who had been harassing Olivia up until now were in a very bad state. Ian affird, grabbing them by the collar and them following helplessly.
Thats right. I cant show blood in front of you. Let take them sowhere else and continue.
No, I ant to stop beating them. Laritte shook her head. Do whatever you want. She pouted, while Ian dragged the n and disappeared further into the dark alley. The n were begging for forgiveness. Olivia thought this sohow would change her mood, but it didnt. She asked in a different tone than before.
How do you rember ?
Laritte did not need to be dishonest, so she said everything she thought of.
Always scolding . You were scarier than rchants trying to kick off a kid. Ive seen you smile, therefore you looked awkward at the Dukes mansion.
Yeah, thats true. Do you need more excuses? Giving up her acting, Olivia brushed away her hair roughly, revealing her deep wrinkles. She was also a forced child, but she wasnt thrown away on the streets for eight years. Her depression was to be blad for her anger on Laritte. The child was afraid of her mother, so she went climbing a mountain to dig up herbs at a young age.
In the end, only Laritte received bad mories of Olivia lowered her eyelids. It was her fault.
Why are you quiet? Why do you judge our story alone?
Why had everyone always speculated on Laritte?
The people at the Counts house used to bully her. It was no different when she ca to the Dukes. The knights of noble origin disliked an illegitimate girl like her. It was speculated that Laritte would handle them at will. Even Ian left her without discussing it when he found out that he shouldnt be with Laritte.
All of them evaluated Laritte. Until now, she had been a person who sat calmly even if others locked her up in a fra of prejudice. However, Laritte chose to kiss Ian on the pronade. It was a huge step forward for her to walk through the fra.
If youre the only blood I have left, dont even try to asure at will.
Then will you leave with if I tell you the truth?
What?
I wont let you starve like before. I will buy you a dress even if I have to work all day and night. I will pay you back even if its little, so lets quit here and leave. I dont know if I can say this, but I dont want to see you get beaten anymore! Laritte listened quietly. Olivia looked sincere about what she said.
No one is beating here.
I saw everything. What are you talking about!
Laritte recalled last night. Olivia was waving the candle to check her body. Olivia frantically explained her plans, I brought things that we can sell. We can settle in a small village in a mountain valley. Wouldnt it be nice to go there by boat?
Hold on, Olivia.
Has the Duke been beating you? Does he show any kind of sexual desire every night? Doesnt he get excited without beating you?
ters away from them, Ian finished tying up the collapsed thugs. His excellent hearing picked up Olivias words.
.What do I do at night?
By the ti he returned to the won, Laritte was resolving the misunderstanding.
Ian and the employees only taught love, theyve never been bad towards . It was only Ian who left recently because he was feeling uneasy. It felt like her words were digging into Ians heart. She continued, unaware that Ian was behind her. In the end, it was because of , though it was no different from self-satisfaction without consulting .
Ian banged his head against the wall.
Then during the outbreak of the epidemic, she secretly ca back, kissed , and tried to leave again
Again, his head banged against the wall. This ti, Laritte discovered Ian. Oh! Why was he doing that to a dirty wall? She rushed and separated him from the wall. She patted Ians forehead as she asked Olivia.
Did you even love a little bit?
Ian calmly entrusted his head to Laritte like a puppy. Olivias eyes widened at the scene before she felt tears in her eyes.
My child lives with people who love her.
Laritte was curious about Olivia. Did all the imaginations that Laritte had about Olivia actually happen? Perhaps she forgot all the good mories she had because of what the Counts people continued telling her?
I thought Ian was the first one to care about . It wasnt true?
Laritte wondered how she would react if the woman before her said it wasnt true.
L-Laritte.. Your.. mother.
I asked if you have loved at least once.
Olivias eyes saw the eight-year-old Laritte standing instead of the current Laritte. There was no expression on the childs dark face. She was old enough to have a doll bigger than her own body, but in her rough hand was a basket of grass. The child asked cautiously.
Mom, do you love ?
Tears trickled down Olivias cheeks and drenched her lace collar. She shouldve told Laritte that she loved her and smiled when she was young. Then, Laritte wouldnt have asked this with a mysterious face, unaware of what expression she should make on her own.
***
Ian rented a horse to return to the mansion in a wagon. When the wagon rattled on a large stone on the road, Olivia caught the sleeping form of Laritte leaning against Ian from falling.
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