CWMBR 86

Chapter 86

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Could he possibly be outside right now?

"Is he outside right now………………?"

Bridget, who had almost asked the question absentmindedly, quickly pressed her lips together.

She glanced at the meticulously drawn curtains and turned her gaze away with a cold expression.

Whatever Ain was doing outside, she didn't need to know the details. If he said he'd just stopped by briefly on his way through, that was that. No need to probe further. She wasn't curious anyway.

"Sit down and talk, Magnus."

She was far more interested in the news that Ronan was actually going to work at the Grand Theater.

Only after finishing his tea did Magnus seem to relax a little, speaking calmly.

He recalled that Bridget had been going to the Grand Theater regularly lately, and said he'd gone there this morning to meet her. There, he encountered Ronan, who greeted Magnus with a perfectly composed expression.

Along with the news that Bridget hadn't shown up for work.

Did Ronan still not know the mental hospital staff's plan had failed?

Or conversely, was he shamelessly pretending ignorance precisely because it had failed?

Either way, it wasn't pleasant.

"We must report that bastard immediately. That ungrateful son of a bitch!"

Magnus, who had been describing Ronan's attitude as no different from usual, seemed to boil over again, snorting angrily.

"That shameless man! After receiving so much help from Mr. and Mrs. Pennington, this is how he repays them? Even beasts know gratitude."

Bridget fell silent. When her parents were alive, her relationship with Ronan had been quite superficial. She had occasionally overheard her parents whispering about him, but she had never given it much thought. There was no reason to. Matters between adults were for adults to resolve, and her role as a young niece was simply to be glad to see her uncle when they met occasionally.

When Bridget fell silent, Magnus stared at her with a look of concern.

"You must steel your resolve now, my lady."

"I already told him to step down from his position as managing agent."

"Ah, so that's why he did that to you! Truly, I should have seen his true colors the moment he started causing trouble and running around………………”

Magnus slammed his fist down on the table. After repeatedly clicking his tongue in disapproval, he urged her in a firm voice.

“You absolutely must not let yourself become weak-hearted.”

It was a voice too serious to simply brush off.

"I kept silent, thinking you, grieving the loss of your parents, might be leaning on that scoundrel. But Ronan has already received more than enough help. Whenever he went out claiming to do business and caused trouble, it was the Penningtons who cleaned up the mess. And they shielded him, calling him their only brother. How frustrating it was for me to watch. Please, Madam, don't do that."

Magnus shook his head, still trembling with anger at the memory.

"When he was reported as a fraud and nearly went to jail, your parents scraped together every last penny for bail and compensation to the victims just to get him out. And what did he do? He went and met a married woman, nearly got beaten to death by her husband... Oh dear, Mr. Pennington suffered terribly then too…………”

The past Magnus revealed about Ronan was far more serious than expected. Bridget, who had been frozen speechless, muttered in a somewhat dazed tone.

“……… seems Uncle has led a far less upright life than I imagined.”

"He did a splendid job laundering his past in Glynford. If only he'd been thoroughly beaten in Elver, he might have come to his senses."

Bridget paused at those words.

"Elver?"

"Yes. He hit it off with some woman there, but she happened to be married with a husband... It was a huge scandal. Your parents barely managed to calm things down, but he couldn't keep his head straight. Every time he seemed to be forgetting, he'd crawl back there. Mr. Pennington spent years chasing after him to bring him back."

"...."

Was it a coincidence that Elver's name came up at this moment? Bridget blinked blankly.

She recalled visiting Elver as a child. Back then, she'd sneak out to meet Ain, avoiding her parents' eyes. Her parents didn't know exactly what Bridget was up to. They just accepted her explanation that she was meeting a friend and let it go.

Considering how attentively her parents usually looked after her, she should have realized that freedom felt unusually strange back then. But worried that her parents might stop her from meeting Ain, Bridget simply felt relieved and never thought to ask for details. Her parents also didn't bother telling Bridget what they were doing.

Her parents... seemed to say they had to go see her uncle every day.

"I thought he might have grown up and wised up with age, but seeing him do something like this, it seems he hasn't changed at all."

"Magnus."

Magnus, who had been sighing with his hand on his forehead, looked up in surprise. Bridget suddenly asked him.

"Do Donna and I look alike?"

"Huh?"

Magnus tilted his head at the unexpected question. He was looking after Bridget out of personal friendship, so he didn't have much direct contact with Donna. He simply harbored a personal grudge, believing Ronan and Donna treated Bridget particularly harshly.

Recalling Donna's appearance, which he hadn't observed closely, Magnus stammered.

"Now that I think about it, they might be a bit similar. But since Miss Donna usually dresses so extravagantly, I never really considered it before."

"Then what about Donna and Uncle?"

"Huh?"

"Donna is from Elver, right? Uncle discovered her and brought her here, right?"

Magnus, realizing what Bridget was getting at, gaped.

"You don't mean...?"

"It just suddenly occurred to me. Uncle cherishes Donna. He flew into a rage when I said I was going to fire her."

Bridget believed everything was for the Grand Theater. Because Ronan always said so. That it was unavoidable to save it. That she had to accommodate Donna. That it was only thanks to Donna that audiences even came to the Grand Theater. If she weren't here, what reason would anyone have to visit this old, decrepit building….?

Bridget placed her hands on her knees and fiddled with her skirt.

"It's all just speculation, after all."

Muttering as if to herself, she soon flashed Magnus a faint smile.

"Magnus, thank you. It helped me sort through my thoughts." 

Bridget finally understood and decided to let go of her last lingering attachment.

After all, one’s own child was more important than a niece.

***

The day after Magnus left, Bridget calmly prepared to go out.

The unknown danger lurking outside remained unresolved, yet somehow her heart felt steadier.

Was it because she could now vaguely grasp their incomprehensible bond and malice? Or because she had finally made a firm decision? Or perhaps...

Was it because she had admitted that the blood ties she had clung to so desperately were, in truth, nothing but an illusion?

Her hands, busily tying the loose strings of her bonnet, slowed slightly. A lingering bitterness welled up inside her. Gritting her teeth to suppress it, Bridget took a deep breath and opened the door.

It was still morning, and the air on the street was crisp. Bridget was about to hurry toward the shared carriage stop when a voice called out from behind her.

"Mrs. Wise!"

Recognizing the voice, Bridget turned around. It was Sanne and Gilum.

"We almost missed each other."

Sanne smiled as she spoke. Bridget looked at her in puzzlement.

"Didn't you say the investigation was wrapping up?"

Sanne, who had visited her home just yesterday, had said there would be no more troublesome matters. At Bridget's words, Sanne narrowed her eyes and gave an awkward smile.

"I heard you've recently experienced an unfortunate incident. If problems arise with subjects under royal investigation, it puts us in quite a difficult position. While the investigation will conclude soon, I was wondering if we could provide you with an escort, at least for a short while."

Bridget listened to Sanne’s words with a bewildered expression, which slowly hardened. She lowered her gaze, lost in thought for a moment, then slowly parted her lips.

"If it was Ain who said such things, there's no need for you to trouble yourselves over it."

"Oh, Lord Wise did give us a hint, but we investigated it ourselves. After verifying it, we concluded that our intervention is indeed necessary."

It might have been an excuse to ease Bridget's mind, but unless it was a forced situation due to Ain’s power, Bridget was willing. Seeing her stiff expression relax slightly, Sanne cleared her throat and continued.

"However, bringing in separate escorts at this late stage would take too long. I suggest Gilum to accompany you for the time being."

Gilum, catching Sanne’s glance, stepped forward slightly. Bridget turned her gaze to the man.

"Gilum?"