Chapter 2
Translated by: ME
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*****
「Honestly, the Master is something else! I heard he just had another dress made for that mistress of his—meanwhile, he hasn't bought anything decent for the Madam in years!」
「The Madam is a good person, but she is a bit plain, isn't she?」
「Well, it’s no wonder things turned out like this when she does nothing but dote on the child. She’s from a Viscount’s house, right? That’s why she didn't even hire a wet nurse.」
「I heard he told her, 『Call the tailor after you’ve actually lost the baby weight! It’s a waste of money otherwise.』 And yet, he’s already gifted that mistress several dresses!」
「How do you even know that?」
「The seamstress at Kikil’s Clothier is my cousin. Lord Siegfried doesn't know many shops, so he’s getting the mistress’s clothes made at the exact same place as the Madam’s. The girls at the shop see right through him. It’s absolutely pathetic!」
Giggles and laughter followed. 「Men really are clumsy, aren't they?」
One day, when Rose had stepped into the back garden, she happened upon the maids gossiping away with their feet still soaking in laundry tubs.
Under the early summer sun, these young women were howling with laughter, making a laughingstock of the lady who was supposed to be the pillar of the house. They likely didn't harbor deep malice; gossip is simply entertaining, no matter what form it takes.
But hearing their conversation turned Rose's nagging suspicion—(Could my husband be having an affair?)—into a chilling certainty.
The scent of perfume. His attitude toward her. The time he returned home. For the past few years, everything had been slightly off-kilter.
She already knew that Siegfried had been engaging in one-night flings, perhaps having lost interest in her after she gave birth. High society is full of vulgar people; friends at evening parties had been quick to inform her. Both men and women alike.
『Well, he isn't sticking to just one woman, so I’d suggest you enjoy yourself a bit too, you know? Why not spend tonight with me?』
The man who had reached out to take her hand with such "kindness" was the second son of a Marquess who had teased her once or twice back at the academy.
「My own wife is surely shacked up with someone right now, too!」 he laughed, but Rose stopped him with a strained smile.
「I want my son to think of me as a 『good mother.』 Thank you for taking the hand of such a plain woman like me... and thank you for telling me about my husband.」
That was four years ago, when she had used her fan to hide her trembling lips.
This year, Siegfried had gone so far as to forget Alfred’s ninth birthday party to go out and play. He was undoubtedly at the home of the mistress he was currently obsessed with.
The butler, Doril, had respected Rose as the one in charge of the household at first, but in the last two years, his secrecy had grown noticeably, and he began to ignore her opinions. When the head butler takes such an attitude, the rest of the staff follows suit. Lately, the ladies-in-night and housemaids had begun to treat Rose's requests with light regard, making it difficult for her to manage the home.
On days they knew Siegfried wouldn't be returning, they would prepare clearly half-hearted meals, sometimes serving her food that was worse than what the servants ate themselves. Recently, the laundering of Rose’s dresses and Alfred’s trousers had become sloppy to an unignorable degree. While the Master’s shirts and justaucorps were finished perfectly, Rose’s dresses were often returned with removable stains still visible.
She had once voiced her grievances to the head maid, insisting this was unacceptable. However, the woman simply put on a blatantly dissatisfied expression, and within the hour, Doril the butler came back with a retort of his own.
「If you, the Madam in charge of this house, do nothing but complain, it will affect the morale of the maids and servants.」
「But she isn't doing her job properly. Shouldn't she be fired?」
「With all due respect, she is a veteran who has served the Count’s house since before you married into it. Threatening her with your authority will only further incite resentment among the others. Shall I report this to the Master?」
Doril loomed over Rose triumphantly. His unspoken message was clear: Siegfried thinks little of you. Our opinions carry more weight. We are the ones the Master actually listens to.
The bond between those who had served Siegfried since he was a child was strong. They possessed a certain pride in serving the Count's house for generations. However, that was entirely separate from neglecting one's work, and it was certainly wrong to look down on the wife of the house.
Rose was a quick-witted woman. Her pride wouldn't allow her husband to find out she couldn't control the help.
「Tell him if you wish. You went back to your hometown recently, didn't you? The maids at my family's Viscount estate don't make such mistakes. Having my dresses washed at home for the first time in a while made the difference in quality even more glaring. If you all are so poor at laundry, I’ll simply have my dresses sent to my family from now on. Naturally, I’ll mention that to my husband as well.」
Rose shot back with her own dose of sarcasm. Doril, realizing that involving the Kirkland family would be troublesome, finally conceded.
「Please forgive us this time; I will re-instruct them. I’ll make sure the laundry girls are told off properly.」 He finally bowed his head.
Rose let out a sigh and spoke quietly to him.
「As the wife of this house, I cannot allow the Pendleton home to fall into disarray. Alfred is nine now. He has begun visiting other houses on his own, hasn't he? He’s at an age where he understands how a home should be. If he were to mention at the academy that the Kirklands and other houses are perfectly clean while the Pendleton house is covered in a layer of dust... Siegfried would be a laughingstock.」
After that, Doril and the others stopped their overt slackening of work, but the underlying feeling of contempt for Rose remained unchanged.
Early in the marriage, when the Viscount’s dowry had saved the house, everyone had treated Rose with care. But as soon as a bit of profit began to show, Siegfried started belittling Rose in front of everyone.
When Alfred was four, Siegfried was having a difficult time closing a business deal. Upon listening, Rose learned the other party was repeatedly refusing to meet, citing a busy schedule. The man was the heir to a Count who had served on the student council with Rose back at the academy. Since he was a personal acquaintance, Rose offered to act as a bridge. 「Oh! In that case, I shall send a letter and arrange for him to see you.」
Everything went smoothly, and the deal was successfully closed. Rose was beaming, happy to have been of use to her husband, but at dinner, Siegfried suddenly flew into a rage.
「You did nothing more than provide a single opening. It’s unsightly for you to speak so boastfully. Do you think you’re that important?」
Rose apologized. She reflected that, just as Siegfried said, she had only helped a little, and perhaps her attitude had been too grand.
「You have a tendency to do that. My mother would never have done such a thing. Flaunting the fact that you graduated from the academy... what kind of woman does that? It’s embarrassing as a husband.」
Siegfried had been unable to graduate from the academy due to his family's financial situation. Rose had never looked down on him for it, nor did she consider her own education something to brag about. But she wept in her bedroom that night, reproaching herself for failing to be more considerate of her husband's insecurities regarding his education.
Using that as a catalyst, Siegfried began to badmouth Rose to outsiders as a "pedantic, tactless wife." No matter what he said, Rose never talked back, believing she was at fault for the initial incident. She didn't want to further complicate her relationship with her husband, and she wanted her son, Alfred, to believe they had a good marriage.
From that point on, the number of times he took Rose into society decreased noticeably. Siegfried stopped looking at Rose, who had since returned to her original size, and he had already lost all interest in her.
In most households, the husband holds the purse strings. But it felt like the gears had begun to grind against each other right after she gave birth.
Post-childbirth, she wanted to have her dresses remade because her size had changed, but Rose couldn't get her husband's permission. 「It's a waste of money,」 was the only grumpy response he gave. From Siegfried’s perspective, Rose—who, unlike his mother, had brought many dresses as part of her trousseau—had been insufferable from the start of the marriage. Her furniture consisted of expensive wardrobes and dressers crafted by top artisans from the North. Since she came from a Viscount’s house, her jewelry was adorned with large precious stones. Why make new dresses? Just wear those fancy ones you brought! He truly felt that way.
Out of necessity, Rose always wore a dress with an adjustable bust and waist to the evening parties and tea parties she was invited to during the time her body hadn't yet returned to its former shape. The wife of her eldest brother, Douglas, noticed Rose’s attire and mentioned to the family, 「She wore that same dress last time, and the time before that!」 This prompted her younger brother, Paley, to worry and gift her three dresses for her birthday.
Viscount Douglas Kirkland eventually couldn't stand by. 「Shall we have a word with Count Pendleton for you?」 he offered, but Rose refused her brothers' intervention.
「Our relationship isn't as strained as you think. It’s just that my body is changing right now, so I told Lord Siegfried it would be a waste of money to ask for new dresses.」
Am I smiling properly? she wondered, fighting to keep her voice from trembling.
While the Kirkland brothers cherished their wives and had built warm homes, Rose couldn't admit to herself the fact that she was being neglected by her husband. Moreover, both of her brothers had married her own friends. It was embarrassing that despite her parents providing such a large dowry, she couldn't get along with her husband.
Furthermore, Rose had her own convictions. Just as her parents had done, she wanted to shower her child with affection and chose not to hire a wet nurse. She breastfed him herself, and as he grew, she didn't just look at his grades; she opened the textbooks with him. From a young age, Alfred had good grades and seemed to have a following among many friends. He went through a quiet phase during the typical adolescent rebellion, but he gradually matured under Rose’s consistent care.
For some reason, whenever the former Count and Countess Pendleton were involved, Siegfried would act friendly toward his son and dote on him. Though he usually ignored the boy in favor of his own pursuits, he would pretend to have a sincere father-son relationship whenever the in-laws visited. While it grated on Rose’s nerves, she endured it for Alfred’s sake, seeing how happy he was to have his father’s attention. On those days, Siegfried—who was usually out all day—would buy Alfred toys or sit down for board games. Every time his father acknowledged him, Alfred looked radiant with a wide smile.
『There are times when a mother just isn't enough...』 Being confronted with that reality was hollow and painful for Rose.
Married, with a child, a husband with a mistress but no divorce... looking back, they hadn't had a marital life (sex) in eight years. Surely, many nobles were the same. That’s why nobles engaged in late-night flings when they entered society. Every so often, when Alfred begged for a younger brother or sister, her heart would ache with the thought, I want another child, too.
By continuing to funnel what little free money she had into Alfred, she naturally couldn't afford to have her own dresses made. Lacking resources, Rose drifted away from high society. While she had no opportunity for an affair (and certainly no intention of ever betraying her husband), she had no other social interactions at all. If she continued to age like this and Siegfried never looked at her again, what would become of her? She felt terrified comparing her future to that of her parents, who were approaching a peaceful old age. In a room of the manor where her husband never returned, Rose looked back on her life. It was frightening to realize that Alfred successfully inheriting the title was becoming her life's only goal.
I must not become too dependent on my only son just because I can't get my husband's love, she scolded herself.
Then, one day, Rose was summoned by Count Goldsmith. 「Your son has been injured. Please come to my estate immediately.」
Rose nearly jumped at the letter brought by the courier. Without even properly readying herself, she knocked on the gates of the Goldsmith estate.
The manor was roughly the same size as the Pendleton home, though the greenery was sparse and the exterior looked a bit aged. However, once inside, the furnishings were all top-tier. The butler and maids wore uniforms made of fabric so high-quality it was comparable to what Rose herself was wearing. After dabbing her sweaty forehead with a handkerchief, she waited in the parlor for several minutes.
Count Logan Goldsmith appeared—a very large man with a rugged atmosphere. Though he was dressed simply in a shirt and trousers, his sturdy build was intimidating. Rose momentarily regretted not bringing one of her ladies-in-waiting. Because she hated the situation of having to "ask" for an escort from her servants, she had come with only the carriage driver, but he seemed so imposing that she hesitated to be alone with him.
After brief greetings, they took their seats, and Count Goldsmith began to speak in a calm tone.
「Actually, your son got into a fight with Josh. They scuffled and both fell down the stairs. Well, they’re mostly just scrapes—the kind typical for boys—so there’s no need to worry, but I had a doctor examine them just in case. Since they bumped their heads lightly, I was told it’s best not to move them today as a precaution. I thought it might be overstepping, but I’ve prepared a bedroom for you tonight.」
「He’s safe, then.」
His deep, quiet voice provided a sense of security, and Rose found herself exhaling a long, unintended breath. As her expression shifted to one of relief, Count Goldsmith offered her some tea.
Rose recalled that the Goldsmith family was a line of civil servants who rarely appeared in high society. As he began to explain what had happened, his logic was sound, and he relayed the events chronologically. His calm manner of speaking was composed and easy to follow.
Alfred and Josh were close friends, a fact even their teachers acknowledged, and they frequently visited each other's homes. Alfred had naturally invited Josh to his birthday party and had played at Josh's house after being invited in return. While Rose had never spoken with the parents, the academy was attended by people of confirmed background. Therefore, Rose had never once discouraged the friendship, regardless of rank. Conversely, she had never spoken to her child about political motives. The two had likely become close because their personalities (dispositions) simply meshed well.
It was unexpected that they would have a fight resulting in such injuries. Apparently, after finishing their homework together today, they had hoistered themselves up in the nursery for a chat. Then, after a while, Alfred had come bursting out of the room. After Alfred shouted, 『I don't want to hear that!』 the two began scuffling and tumbled down from the stair landing.
「My son is at fault, but he simply won't tell me the reason they fought. Josh insists it was his own fault, and Alfred hasn't spoken a word since. Normally, he chats with me, but...」 Count Goldsmith crossed his arms pensively.
「May I try speaking with him?」 Rose asked Count Goldsmith after hearing the whole story.
Alfred was lying in a guest room with the curtains half-drawn. Upon seeing Rose, he sat up, his face contorting as he began to cry quietly, tears streaming down his face. Rose sat softly by his pillow and gently pulled Alfred’s head into her embrace.
「Can you tell Mother?」 At her words, Alfred began to sob even harder.
After waiting for him to calm down, Alfred eventually began to speak haltingly, as if his resolve had finally set.
It all started when Alfred was chosen as a squad leader. Hawk, the second son of a Duke, was unhappy that Alfred had been chosen and began bullying him at every turn. He would point out minor flaws or areas where Alfred fell short as a leader, or group up with friends to belittle Alfred for being frugal. Alfred had felt miserable, but his other friends and Josh had always stood by him, saying things like, 『Hawk is just a guy with a title. He’s a perfect example of how you can't become a squad leader just by clinging to your parents' authority.』
However, this morning, something was clearly off. Hawk and his cronies were smirking and sneering all day, and his other friends wouldn't meet his eyes. Sensing the dissonance, Alfred sat through his classes and was invited to Josh’s home before heading back.
『Listen calmly. On your birthday three months ago, it seems Count Pendleton went to a dining inn with a woman who wasn't your mother.』
Josh had braced himself to speak as carefully as possible so as not to hurt his friend, but Alfred turned pale at the very first word.
Apparently, Hawk had eavesdropped on his own parents talking about the fact that Alfred’s father was having an affair. A "dining inn" in this country was an adult lodging facility often used for trysts; the quick-eared boys had recently learned the meaning and had been talking about it boastfully, so Alfred understood the situation. It wasn't clear who had seen him, but the father had been spotted entering the inn, which provided a topic of gossip for Hawk’s parents.
『My mother was saying that he probably works so hard at his studies because he wants to get even a little bit of affection from a father who’s having an affair and neglecting his family. It’s really a pity that his father has a mistress so openly.』 Hawk had said this in the classroom when Alfred wasn't there, in a tone that wasn't at all pitying.
According to Hawk’s group, Count Siegfried Pendleton was a handsome and popular man, but his wife was a plain, dull person—even making a laughingstock of his mother (Rose). According to Hawk’s father, in the male-only gaming halls, Siegfried was always accompanied by a woman named Catherine lately, and he only reluctantly escorted his wife to the evening parties he couldn't avoid. 『It’s a man’s dream to walk around with a beautiful woman, but I sure don't want to end up like Alfred,』 Hawk had concluded.
Josh had told him, 『This is just what Hawk said, and I’m sure it’s different from the truth. But because he spoke in front of everyone, the classroom was in chaos.』 He explained that after much hesitation, he had decided to tell Alfred.
Alfred had been so shocked he bolted from the room, and when Josh tried to stop him, they got tangled on the stairs and fell. Count Goldsmith, who happened to return home at that time, responded quickly, calling a doctor and sending a courier to Rose.
When the story was finished, Rose simply held Alfred, overwhelmed with apology. What a cruel reality she had forced her son to shoulder at such a sensitive age.
Of course, there are many noblemen who keep mistresses. But the Pendleton house might be the only one where the wife is neglected to this extent. Most men with a cheating habit who keep a mistress will gift their wife even more jewelry to keep her happy, and they grant her significant authority so she won't be looked down upon by the servants.
Yet look at her—she hadn't even raised a voice of protest when her dresses weren't bought, believing she was at fault. She realized now, far too late, that by neglecting her social duties and failing to maintain the standard of attire expected of a noblewoman, she had allowed other houses to look down on her.
The fundamental mistake lay in Rose’s own selfish pride—her desire not to let her brothers (the Kirklands) know about her domestic situation. Rose, who always had good grades and was well-behaved, had grown up being praised by her parents. Compared to her rowdy brothers, Rose was the child who required no effort, and she felt it would be an immense shame to burden her parents with her marriage. She had believed without doubt that if she simply endured, everything would turn out fine.
But Alfred was now facing the brunt of the fact that she and her husband hadn't properly fixed their relationship or had a discussion; he was being mocked to the point that it would be difficult for him to even step into the classroom tomorrow.
Before she knew it, the room had grown dim, with only a single bedside lamp providing light. The mother and son held each other silently, sharing their deep sorrow.
Hearing a knock—tap-tap-tap-tap—Rose looked back to see Count Goldsmith entering alone, pushing a cart.
「You should eat and then rest. I’ve already sent word to the Pendleton manor that you will be staying the night. I’ll have another bed brought into this room, so take your time.」
He left the room without even waiting for a reply. It was a blunt statement, but for the mother and son, it was a godsend. They needed time away from the Pendletons to think and talk. Siegfried wouldn't be returning home anyway, and only a meager meal would have been waiting for them there. Thinking that Doril and the others would be relieved by their absence left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Rose felt grateful for Count Goldsmith’s kindness, and that night, she fell asleep while holding Alfred.
*****
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