episode_0041

“Madam~!”

The voice of the summoned maid called out to the mistress. Emma was in the middle of grooming the lady of the house’s hair, gently stroking the clean, flowing locks, which only evoked a sense of reverence.

“How is it that as time passes, you seem to be getting younger? Moreover, recently, you seem to have become even more beautiful…”

Recently became more beautiful?

Darine stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror.

If she were to mention what she had done recently, it was just having sex with her son, but what on earth was this talk about?

Did her son’s semen help with beauty treatments?

Unlike Emma’s praise, Darine only felt discomfort. The figure reflected in the mirror was not an elegant lady of the house but a mad woman who had mixed bodies with her own son.

“Sniff…! Hm? Madam, there seems to be a slightly musky smell in the room?”

“…”

The ones who tidied up the bedroom and Darine’s disheveled clothes after their lovemaking session were maids hired separately by her son. However, it seemed that even they couldn’t completely eliminate the smell.

Of course, Darine had long lost her sense of smell due to the intense lovemaking, so she overlooked this fact.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed that her son didn’t intend to go as far as ‘perfect evidence elimination.’ He might pretend not to show any signs, but it seemed like he didn’t care if he got caught.

“Hmm? It’s actually not bad once you get used to it. There’s even a hint of musk…”

Initially dismissing it, Emma’s face gradually showed a hint of suspicion. She had smelled the mistress’s scent many times before. But wasn’t the faint fragrance wafting from the bedroom quite unfamiliar?

Sensitive to the changing atmosphere, Darine couldn’t help but notice. She quickly raised her head and tried to act as nonchalant as possible.

“Yesterday, Lord Kael briefly visited the bedroom, didn’t he?”

“…Lord Kael?”

“Yes, he took a short walk last night and seemed to have sweated a bit. That’s probably why the smell lingers.”

“Well, but madam, Lord Kael didn’t sign the visitor log yesterday, did he?”

“He just passed by, jumped over through the window or something. Haha, children these days. Even at his age, he still plays around.”

Darine realized that she unintentionally exaggerated her acting more than usual.

“Ah, well, Lord Kael does tend to be quite affectionate towards you, madam.”

However, the fact that her son was infatuated with her was known to all the servants, so thankfully Emma seemed to understand, nodding in agreement.

Having overcome the crisis, they finished the simple dressing. Just as they were about to leave for a stroll.

“Ugh!?”

Darine’s thigh cramped suddenly, almost causing her leg to give out.

“Madam!?”

Emma quickly supported the lady’s shoulders. Originally, as a noblewoman of Bayoren, she should have known some basic first aid. Darine was quite frail. Women like Emma belonged to a rather agile group.

“Why are you like this? Do you have any particular discomfort?”

“…I think I pulled a muscle in my leg from walking yesterday after a long time.”

It’s nothing but troublesome matters because of her son. Due to the relentless pounding of her uterus until early this morning, Darine found it difficult to move at all.

“What should we do?”

“There aren’t any special plans today anyway, right?”

Having handed over all the family affairs to her son, including those of the household, it was a relief. Even if the citrus orchard was left unattended for a day or two, it wouldn’t dry up. Since the servants regularly maintained the citrus trees in the morning, she only needed to oversee them.

She wasn’t engaging in social activities like other noblewomen. Apart from internal family matters, she led a rather monotonous daily life.

Either having sex with her husband.

Or spending time with her children.

If you wish to converse with the deceased, do so.

That was all.

“True, but…”

Hence, it didn’t matter if nothing was done, but Emma’s tone conveyed a sense of pity.

Lately, I had been curious about why Madam spent all her time in her room. I wanted to have a conversation with her after a long time, but felt disappointed when she tried to go back in.

I heard that Madam and the young master had argued, but it seemed that was resolved with the steward’s intervention. Seeing the young master secretly visit Madam’s room yesterday didn’t seem like a lie either.

“…”

Darin couldn’t immediately blame Emma knowing her feelings. It was hard to turn away when those clear brown eyes met his.

The forlorn appearance of the girl, as seen by the lady of the house, seemed cute like a small animal. Of course, Emma was much taller than her, but that’s how it seemed.

“Showing such a desolate appearance might only invite suspicion.”

Darin wanted to comfort her while she stayed locked in her room, but an instinct warned him against it.

Try to keep your wits about you, find a solution.

A sudden chill ran through his body. A liquid trickled down his thigh, almost making him nauseous at the sensation.

“Sh-should we take a walk in the garden?”

“Really?”

“Yes, it’s not good to stay cooped up in the room all the time. I have something to take care of, so will you wait outside?”

“Yes, sir, hehe…”

The girl, who was about to cheer unknowingly, responded with a faint smile to maintain decorum. Darin found Emma so adorable that he gently stroked her head.

She seemed so childlike, even younger than my own daughter. With just a two-year age gap between us, in this medieval setting, Emma seemed like my daughter’s playmate.

– Click.

Even as he closed the door, he sent a smiling glance to his mistress. Such a lovely girl. Despite the torment caused by his son Kael, Darin couldn’t recklessly endanger his life because of Emma and other beloved subjects.

What about Piel, who would return soon? His irresponsible death would hurt his family and the deceased.

“Sigh…”

Therefore, Darin suppressed his embarrassment and wiped away the semen that had leaked out crudely. Tears welled up at his actions seeming foolish, but Emma was waiting. He needed to quickly pull himself together.

Today, let’s spend a good time with Emma to soothe our hearts. And think about how to persuade Kael even a little.

If I don’t move forward, will I just continue to hesitate?

I can’t give up like this; there are too many precious things in my life.

– Click.

After changing into clean underwear, Darin leaned on Emma’s support and went out for a walk.

The fluttering white dress. And the smile of the girl facing the maid was the purest and most beautiful thing in the world. Could anyone dare to imagine that such a noble woman had mixed bodies with my son?

Whether it was due to receiving my son’s semen or some strange cheat code that made her healthier after eating oranges, the red-haired lady’s figure was exceptionally radiant today.

Even the servants, regardless of gender or age, couldn’t help but sneak glances at Madam disrespectfully. With two children reaching adulthood, and the beauty that rivaled the capital’s belles, it became clear why our esteemed Lady Darin didn’t want to let her go.

Sunny morning. The dazzling sunlight poured near the mansion. Darin sat on a luxurious chair with extended armrests, sipping on black tea.

“Shall I prepare a simple lunch here?”

Darin nodded warmly. Even if she had no appetite, being pinned under her son for hours inevitably made her hungry.

As time passed, sharing small talk became the norm. Emma, who repeated opening and closing her mouth in a casual manner, was all there was to it.

Yet, basking in the warm sunlight that gently lit up the cold ground, spending peaceful moments with a young companion did bring some peace to her heart.

Even in a small estate like this, eyes untouched by the sun were full of life. Beneath them, resilient wildflowers began to bloom despite the chilly weather.

“I prefer women like wildflowers grown from the earth rather than potted plants in a greenhouse.”

A sudden comment slipped out. Darin, amidst this, recalled something her son had said and swiftly turned her head. In fact, that remark had been one of his favorites since he was young. Thinking back, Kyle’s behavior had always seemed off.

“He’s not stupid, so why didn’t I notice? Perhaps I only wanted to see the side of him I liked.”

Feeling a creeping bitterness of self-reproach, Darin tried to distract herself by munching on cookies and sipping tea.

“Madam, Miss Fiel will be visiting soon…”

Filling her stomach with dessert instead of a meal, Darin cleared her mind. Spending leisure time with her favored maid, Emma, felt like a rare blessing, so the lady of the house let Emma’s soothing voice lull her into drowsiness.

All due to someone causing her sleepless nights.

– Nodding off.

A fair-skinned girl with fiery red hair dozed off amidst the flowers. Even among well-grown roses and pure white lilies, her beauty stood out.

“…You seem quite tired.”

As the mistress closed her eyes, Emma ceased speaking. Lately, it seemed like the mistress had lost her appetite, so it was fortunate she had some tea and cookies.

Emma gazed at her sleeping mistress with a tender expression.

How can someone be so young and lovely? While she personally admired the lady of the house, she couldn’t ignore the fact that she was a commoner. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

Despite her background, this woman was perfect in every way, yet she wasn’t the type to marry a nobleman like the lady of the house. Even though Emma was raised in the countryside, she had that level of discernment. She had visited the lady of the house more times than her own master.

“You are much cuter than the madam.”

Regrettably, the maid couldn’t contain her affection towards her mistress and whispered softly in her ear. The lady always found her endearing, treating her like a child, but ironically, it was the lady of the house who seemed like a younger sibling to her.

– Embracing.

Emma gently held the mistress’s hand, lost in unknown worries. Being a servant, she couldn’t be unaware of things. Surely the mistress carried burdens unknown even to her. There must be reasons for her silence.

Therefore, the humble maid could only wish to comfort her mistress’s heart.