CH 9

Olivier’s handwritten card arrived in Mademoiselle R’s mailbox, changed addresses once more along the way, and was delivered to its final destination.

“Olivier.”

The graceful fingertips of the lady gently touched the name on the card. The writing was crumpled but elegant.

Just reading that name made her sigh with satisfaction. It felt as though she had already captured the handsome duke, who was smooth and elegant like a carved gemstone, in her grasp.

What a ruse you have devised, Lady Unknown, and I dare say you are far too wise to have me in your clutches.

“Oh well.”

Even in a situation where he was caught by the leash, he responded with a rather elegant reply, showing his pride.

An investment in the New World. I can’t help but be amazed at the novelty of the offer. I can’t help but wonder who you are and what you’re up to, offering a financial reward to a scion of the Dampierre family who doesn’t need it.

The corners of her mouth twitched as she couldn’t hold back her laughter. She took a deep breath and read the next line.

Apparently, I’ve been caught in a trap you’ve laid for me. Is this another clever ploy of yours?

The hand that held the letter slid to rest on her chest, which was rising and falling with anticipation. She thought he would resist a little more and try to run away, but he closed the distance as if he could approach her in a few steps.

My grandmother, Eleanor Dampierre, is interested in this proposal. Once a great politician, she now wants to invest in the New World, even if it means selling her grandson’s body.

A trembling hand reached for the teacup.

“I would like to meet you. Perhaps it would be best to greet you in person, and if you go to the rendezvous point first, I will come to you shortly.”

She barely managed to take a sip of tea before she saw the back of the card.

Saint Lazarus Psychiatric Hospital, 24, 15th arrondissement

–Or, I hope you fall into hell.

“This, this…”

The pale face slowly contorted. The letter slipped from her trembling fingertips.

“You bastard!”

With an evil scream, the teacup flew into the wall and shattered.

* * *

After tossing and turning all night, Amelie went to see Mrs Maxine early in the morning.

If she was going to be sent to prison soon, she had to let Mrs Maxine, the maid, know as soon as possible so that she could put out a job advert.

But she hadn’t eaten all night, and her fever had returned, and she felt terrible. Handing over the letter, Amelie stumbled into Mrs Maxine’s arms and collapsed.

“Amelie.”

Blue in the face, Mrs Maxine demanded that she be taken to the hospital immediately. When the carriage reached the back road of the mansion, Mrs Maxine pulled Amelie out, draped a large shawl over her shoulders, and reached for her purse.

One, two, three, four…

She wanted to tell her not to, but she didn’t have the strength. Pulling the money out as fast as she could, Maxine took Amelie’s hand and squeezed it.

“Amelie, it’s going to be alright, okay?”

Amelie nodded weakly, and Mrs Maxine gave her a wistful pat on the back.

“Shall we go now?”

A scruffy man with a cheap cigarette dangling from his mouth hoisted up his dirty pants and asked, oblivious to the situation, as he was busy urinating on the street, about what was happening with maid and Amelie who were crying for no apparent reason.

“Hey, coachman.”

Mrs Maxine’s head snapped up, her gaze fierce.

“The wages are already high, so shouldn’t a wagon have a cover? She’s a maid from the count’s family, and she’s in a cart like this.”

“Madam.”

As if she was trying to find someone to blame, Amelie awkwardly grabbed Maxine’s arm as her voice grew out of control losing her temper.

“If I had known that a two-wheeled cart like this would come rolling in, I would have called for a better wagon for the same price!”

The coachman’s face contorted as if he’d been treated like a ragdoll. Not only that, but the two-wheeled carriage had only two wheels, and the slightest movement of the horse caused the entire carriage to lurch back and forth.

“What can I do. All the union wagons are out today.”

The coachman twitched his bushy beard and retorted fiercely.

“I’ve travelled a long way to get here, too. If you don’t like it, get off, or if you’re so valuable, get your mistress to carry you to Ezon!”

She was about to bite her tongue. Amelie’s stammering apology was delivered on behalf of Mrs Maxine, who thumped her chest in frustration.

“I, uh, I’m sorry, sir, there’s just a situation.”

The coachman’s gaze finally fell on Amelie. He hadn’t been able to get a good look at her earlier, bundled up in her hood and shawl, but now he could see that she was a stunning beauty. Raising his dark eyebrows, the coachman grumbled in a softened voice.

“Tsk, it’s done. Let’s go.”

The glare was still there, but Maxine regained her composure and stroked Amelie’s forehead again and again.

“Amélie, first of all, don’t think about anything and go to the hospital. Get the injection for sure. And then stop by the post office. When you come back, I’ll make you a hot soup.”

“Thanks.”

Amelie managed to smile.

“Let’s stop biting and sucking and go slowly. We have a long way to go. The doctor in town is full of thoughts about going home even in the afternoon.”

The coachman muttered bluntly. Reluctantly backing away, Mrs Maxine turned to the coachman and pleaded in a softer voice.

“I’m sorry, sir. Please take care of her.”

“Hmm.”

The coachman snorted, spitting phlegm.

“Don’t worry, the double-wheeled cart is as sound as these two plump balls of Delard.”

“Tsk, that’s rude!”

A startled Mrs Maxine raised her eyes and glared at the coachman, but the carriage had already started.

* * *

Ugh!

“It would be difficult if you get sick on the seat, miss. If you feel nauseous, use this.”

The coachman sitting next to her tapped a small wooden barrel at his feet. It looked like it had been roughly emptied and rinsed out, and the sight of it was disgusting.

Quickly looking away, Amelie took a deep breath.

“Let’s see. Did you get a letter from a debt collector?”

It was meant as a joke, but Amelie couldn’t help but laugh and shook her head.

“No.”

“Well, then, are you going to take the child away…?”

The middle-aged coachman asked in a low voice, his eyes so sinister and unwelcoming that Amelie’s shoulders slumped. She could feel bugs crawling on her skin.

“…It’s not like that.”

Judging by the glare, she had misspoken, and the coachman cleared his throat.

“No, again, I saw a pretty lady constantly vomiting.”

There was no response to the question, and as the atmosphere became more tense, the driver made a clicking sound and glanced at Amelie out of the corner of his eye.

“Well, you are the ‘Sunshine of Biché,’ aren’t you? At first I wondered if they were referring to the lady of the house, but then I realised they were referring to the maid.”

“…”

“By the looks of it, I don’t think there’s a prettier figure than you.”

Men like this would flirt with the young maids at every opportunity.

The slightest smile and the slightest kindness were always met with a lashing of the tongue and a flirtatious glance.

Amélie swallowed hard and stared straight ahead. The disgusted gaze slowly swept over her body, then her legs, then her shoulders, then the nape of her neck, then her face.

“Look ahead.”

“Are you worried about me?”

Amelie tightly gripped over her boiling emotions. She was both anxious and fearful, and her hand was tightly clenched.

“I’m sure your master is worried you’ll run away, you’re a rare beauty in this neighbourhood.”

The coachman chuckled, showing his yellowed teeth. It seemed to make his mouth water.

“They said a girl is an unripe green fruit until she meets a man her age. Don’t you have any intention of playing with an older man for real?”

Unable to take it anymore, Amelie took a deep breath and crossed her arms. She was about to say something when the churning in her stomach subsided.

Just then, the coachman, who had glimpsed the red corner of the envelope she clutched, looked ahead and muttered.

“A court order, I see.”

She quickly hid the envelope, not wanting to be seen, but then an idea struck her, and she turned and glared at the coachman.

“My lover got into a bit of trouble.”

“You have a lover?”

The coachman repeated in a lukewarm voice, his enthusiasm fading at the mention of a lover.

“Yes. He’s very handsome, with lustrous dark blond hair, green eyes, and he’s very tall…”