(2)">Chapter 59 [part 2] - (2) (1/2)
Chapter 59 [part 2]
(2)
TN: ＼(≧▽≦)／
Jerome and Dean followed a few steps behind Lucia as she came down from the carriage and headed towards Norman’s house. Lucia knocked on the door. She expected to see Ms. Phil’s plump face greeting her at the door but there was no reply.
She knocked a few more times but there was still no response.
‘Did she go out? But Norman doesn’t like going out. Why isn’t Ms. Phil here?’
She felt sad that she had to leave without even seeing Norman’s face so she stood in front of the door for a long time.
“Lucia!”
Lucia heard a voice calling her name from afar. A pair of two, male and female, were some distance away and out of the pair, the woman excitedly ran towards Lucia, waving her hand. She was no longer the lean girl from Lucia’s memory. The surprisingly plump Norman rushed towards Lucia quickly.
“Lucia, right?!”
“Norman.”
Norman hugged her tightly.
“My goodness. It’s been so long. Let me look at you. Aiyo, you’ve become prettier. Look how fair your face is.”
Norman was crying while holding Lucia’s face and turning it left and right. Jerome and Dean were uncomfortable seeing the precious body of the Duchess mishandled and turned away slightly.
Norman fussed over Lucia, checking her face, hands and repeatedly saying things like ‘you look healthy, thank goodness’ or ‘fortunately, you’re not hurt’.
“Let’s go inside. Just where and what have you been doing all this time…”
“Ah, Norman. This is…”
Lucia was curious about the identity of the man standing beside Norman. He was walking alongside with Norman and after Norman ran off, he followed after her.
The man grinned as though grateful for Lucia’s lack of knowledge and promptly clung to Norman. Norman fixed him a lovable glare and jogged him with her elbow. Lucia’s eyes widened at the very intimate display.
“I almost forgot to introduce him. This is Thomas. My fiancé.”
“Fiancé?”
Lucia’s voice increased in surprise. Norman gave an embarrassed laugh then briefly introduced Lucia to Thomas and vice versa then she quickly chased him away.
It was obvious from Thomas’ gaze that he wanted to go into the house together and stick his head in their conversation but Norman pretended not to notice.
The man who turned around without concealing his regret gave off a nice and gentle impression. Norman linked arms with Lucia and tugged at her, showing her interest in the two attractive men behind Lucia.
“Who are those men? By any chance, you too?”
Norman sent Lucia a strange gaze. Which one is it? It was such a gaze. Lucia quickly resolved the misunderstanding. If Hugo were to hear this, it would be a disaster.
“No. They are my escorts.”
“Escort? Wow. Lucia. What happened to you? I think we have a lot to talk about. But the people that came with you…”
“We are fine, you do not have to worried.”
Hearing Jerome’s reply, Norman’s eyes widened in surprise. From his attire, she thought he was just a regular person but his tone and attitude showed etiquette and grace. It seemed he was not an ordinary person working under another.
Even though she knew it was rude, Norman kept glancing at the two men until she and Lucia entered the house and closed the door. As soon as the door was closed, the thoroughly maintained indoors of the small two-story house came into view.
As Lucia was seeing Norman’s house again after a long time, she looked around in appreciation. The plainly formal atmosphere of the living room was unchanged.
Norman brought out some tea and sat on the couch facing Lucia.
“Where did Ms. Phil go?” (Lucia)
“She quit because of back pains. Plus I will be leaving soon anyways.”
“Leaving?”
“You know, my fiancé you saw earlier. I decided to go to his hometown and get married.”
“Norman, congratulations! When are you going?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
“The day after tomorrow? You leave in two days?”
“Yes. We nearly missed each other. I didn’t know you were coming so I was going to put this house up for rent. I was planning to have them contact me if you were to ever come.”
Lucia felt deep regret. Norman was her first friend and her family. She was able to arrange a dress and meet Hugo with the money that Norman gave her, and she went to visit the ducal residence with the courage gained from Norman’s advice.
If not for Norman, Lucia would not have been able to marry him. On the other hand, perhaps it was for the best. Lucia had experienced the life of a commoner and a noble.
So she knew how nobles looked at commoners. For the common people, the world of the nobility was an insurmountable wall, akin to heaven and earth and it could not be mixed with the world they lived in.
Most commoners would never see a high-ranking noble like a Duke in their entire lifetime. Lucia believed that Norman was not a person to change according to the status of another. But if she knew Lucia’s real identity, she wouldn’t be able to help feeling some distance in her heart.
The gap between the maid Lucia and the formerly princess but now Duchess Vivian was too big. It was hard to keep hiding this fact from Norman and Lucia was always worried that if she were to tell Norman, their relationship would become estranged.
She wanted to send Norman off as the Lucia that Norman knew. She wanted Norman to live a calm life, and perhaps if Norman didn’t know, she could live carefreely.
“Actually, I am married too.”
“What? Really?”
“I couldn’t contact you because I got married and had to go far away with my husband in a hurry. I’m sorry.”
“I see now. And no. I am getting married too so I know there are a lot of things to prepare and a lot to worry about. So I understand. Then, is it also your husband that placed those escorts?”
When Lucia nodded, Norman remarked, ‘they did seem hired…’ and exclaimed in admiration. Lucia was intimated by the questions of, how old, what kind of man, where does he live, where did you meet, that poured out non-stop from Norman.
Noticing that Lucia had difficulty answering, Norman did not push for an answer.
‘In any case, I don’t think the man Lucia is married to is an ordinary man.’
Norman recalled the men that followed Lucia as her escorts.
‘Maybe she married a rich merchant or a noble. She did come with a valuable carriage from who knows where. Ah. A marriage with a noble. That is really what is called romance.”
“Is your husband good to you?”
“Yes, he’s affectionate.”
“Does he earn well?”
Lucia burst into laughter.
“Yes, he earns very well.”
“At night…”
“Oh, Norman!”
“What? Don’t act so innocent on what a married woman does. You’ve already done it all.”
Norman giggled as she looked at Lucia who was bright red. She teased Lucia about if she had any advice to share on a couple’s night to her junior since Lucia was a senior in marriage. Lucia blushed fiercely, not saying anything and seeing that, Norman began to giggle again.
“You know, I thought of sending you a letter to ask if you were okay but honestly, I was a little worried about the medium. Something strange happened, you see.” (Norman)
“Something strange?”
“Some woman came to me saying she was a fan of my novel. I couldn’t find out who she was but to my senses, she felt like a noble. Even if one doesn’t want to be exposed, whether it is from their tone or their actions. Something is different.”
“A noble can be a fan though.”