Chapter 82
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"What's wrong? Was there some bad news in the letter?"
Leticia, who had deduced that something serious had happened, asked in a serious voice.
"Well..."
When asked the question, Delnia hesitated and trailed off. The momentum she had when she rushed out of the room was already gone.
No matter how close they were, Delnia was, after all, a slave. And Marian was no different.
Moreover, considering that this was the residence of a naval captain, any issues arising from the criminal's circumstances...
“Huh? Margaret?”
At that moment, Leticia called out, glancing over Delnia's shoulder. Delnia stopped her train of thought and turned her head to follow her gaze.
Margaret was standing alone in the hallway leading to the kitchen. Her posture, with only her upper body leaning slightly toward this side, looked somehow awkward.
“What are you doing there?”
Whether it was because of Leticia’s repeated questioning or because she made eye contact with Delnia, Margaret suddenly waved her hands.
“Oh, no. Nothing.”
Margaret, who had denied it repeatedly, hurriedly ran up the stairs. Watching her fleeing figure, Leticia tilted her head in confusion.
"What's going on? Is Lucas already causing trouble?"
Leticia muttered to herself, then quickly shifted her attention away from Margaret. After all, that wasn’t the urgent issue at hand.
"It's okay. If it's something hard to talk about, you don't have to say it."
Fixing her gaze back on Delnia, Leticia spoke in a gentler tone.
“No, it’s not like that.”
Delnia, who had cleared her head thanks to Margaret, calmly shook her head.
Revealing her mother’s condition to an outsider unrelated to the family was certainly a hesitant matter, but it was Leticia—the one who had helped arrange the money to send to her mother.
Recalling that fact once more, Delnia cautiously opened her mouth.
“Actually, I received news that my mother is unwell. If possible, I think I should visit her once…”
“Oh, dear!”
Leticia covered her mouth with both hands and sighed deeply.
Fortunately, Leticia didn't react the way Delnia had feared. Given her usual kind nature, it was only natural.
The only issue was that there wasn’t much she could do about it either.
“What should we do? Should we send a message to the Colonel?”
Despite always considering Delnia’s feelings, Leticia was well aware that she couldn’t act without Roan’s permission.
Still, she felt grateful for the consideration, yet also guilty for putting her in an awkward position.
“No, I’ll wait for him to return soon.”
Delnia forced a smile, trying to act as if nothing was wrong. She didn't realize how bitter that smile must have looked.
Leticia, unable to find the words to say to her, simply patted Delnia on the back.
***
That night, Delnia couldn’t fall asleep.
In fact, the day had been a complete mess.
She had to unravel and reknit the lace several times because she had sewn it incorrectly.
In the end, she put down the lace, which she had only managed to knit a few inches that day, and went to bed early. She decided it would be better to sleep and clear her head.
However, her mind was so restless that she couldn't fall asleep. Her tired body contrasted with her clear and alert mind, which only made her more exhausted.
Even if she stayed like this, Roan wouldn't come back early.
No, even if he did come back, could she even bring herself to ask him to let her visit her mother?
Roan was different from Leticia. He was a naval captain who had personally arrested criminals, and he even harbored a personal grudge against Eperne.
If she were to tell him that Marian was ill, what kind of reaction would she get? She couldn’t imagine it.
‘But that’s something that can only be discussed when I can see him and speak to him directly.’
Whatever Roan would decide, it was something to think about later. After all, there was nothing she could do now. All she could do was wait for him to return.
So, instead of worrying needlessly, it would be wiser to just close her eyes and rest. But her body, as always, refused to obey the master’s commands.
‘Come to think of it, last time, Leticia asked me to brew some tea for him, saying it was good for insomnia.’
Should I ask if it’s still there?
Delnia tossed and turned in bed, lost in thought. The air had grown noticeably cooler in the past few days, making it difficult to leave the bed.
Suddenly, a loud commotion could be heard outside the room. It sounded like someone was rushing around.
What kind of commotion is this in the middle of the night?
As unpleasant memories surfaced, Delnia hurriedly got out of bed. As if she had been loafing around, she quickly put on her shawl and headed toward the door.
For some reason, the footsteps outside were growing closer.
Just as she cautiously reached for the doorknob, the door swung open before her hand could even touch it. At the same time, a shadow cast by the light outside engulfed her.
Like a herbivorous animal, Delnia tensed her entire body and felt her way up the darkened outline in the dimly lit room.
Soon, her eyes widened as she realized who the other person was.
There was only one person permitted to open her door without knocking at this hour.
It was Roan Barthez.
“Master…”
Delnia, who called out to him in a daze, could not continue. Because he had immediately bent down and kissed her lips.
The man, who had returned drenched in the chilly autumn night air, eagerly explored Delnia's mouth. His lips, which had been as cold as ice, quickly warmed to the same temperature as hers.
Like someone who had suddenly burst in during the night, he pushed her roughly and strode into the room.
On the other hand, Delnia stumbled backward as if being pushed by him, retreating until her back touched the wall.
"How... already..."
Even if he had departed immediately after the second prince's funeral, it would have been impossible to return so quickly. Unless he had ridden like mad.
Moreover, if it was the funeral of a member of the imperial family, there would have been other procedures to follow after it ended. A high-ranking officer of the rank of Colonel should have stayed in his position, even if only to avoid drawing attention, unless there were unavoidable circumstances.
Yet here Roan was present at this location.
Considering his reputation within the navy, such an early return was not only unexpected but also a bold move.
That was why Delnia couldn't understand it at all.
Why had Roan Barthez abandoned his duties and rushed back to Blois? And why, upon returning, had he sought her out first?
As if he had rushed through the late-night streets just to see her…
Her mind was in such a jumble that she couldn't make sense of it. But then, his large hand that dug into her flesh pushed all the confusion beyond her consciousness.
“Huh…………….”
Delnia twisted her body at the contrast in temperature between the hot breath pouring down her neck and the cold touch of the hand climbing up her thigh.
“There was something I needed to say….”
Delnia tried to hold onto her fading sanity, repeating to herself the words she had intended to say to him.
But beneath the man who was relentlessly exploring her, leaving no room for thought, her mind quickly turned white.
Before she knew it, Delnia could no longer think for herself, swaying helplessly as he desired. Like a broken boat drifting aimlessly with the waves.
And she had no idea where she would end up.
***
Roan couldn't remember how he had managed to rush all the way to the mansion.
He vaguely recalled someone following him when he first mounted the horse, but he couldn't remember who it was, when they fell behind and vanished from sight, or to whom he had handed the reins of the horse he had dismounted from.
Nothing came to mind clearly, but in truth, such details didn’t matter.
Instead of dwelling on such useless thoughts, he lowered his sweat-soaked head.
The woman, who had just reached her climax, was trembling slightly from the lingering aftereffects. The faintly moist, flushed corners of her eyes were quite pleasing to him.
He slowly scanned her body as if admiring a work of art.
The woman was still wearing a thin nightgown. The top was pulled down below her chest, and the bottom was lifted up by him, leaving the fabric bunched up around her waist, but anyway.
Of course, his appearance wasn't much different either. He was still in his black uniform, with only his pants slightly pulled down.
He had rushed in without even taking the time to undress.
Even he found it absurd, and Roan let out a wry laugh through clenched teeth.
***
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