The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 115

“I’ve loved you since back then. You were my first love.”

 

At her calm but utterly honest confession, the arms wrapped around Shailoh tightened. She let herself go still, as if surrendering her body to him, and leaned against his chest, watching the slowly setting sun. By now, it had dipped so low it was touching the horizon, its reflection on the water making it look like a perfect, unbroken sun. All at once, Shailoh felt as if that sight were herself. Just like the person she was now, pretending to be whole with only half a heart left.

 

“Sasha.” Caleb breathed her name like a whisper and reached out, turning her face toward him. Their eyes met and tangled in the clear air between them.

 

Looking into those mysterious turquoise eyes, Shailoh thought of the lake on the Kildare Barony. But in the next instant it shifted, becoming the deep lake hidden in Albert’s secret hideout instead. So beautiful on the surface it could enchant you, yet if you looked deep into it, you could never know what might be lurking below.

 

Slowly, his lips came to hers. Shailoh closed her eyes and accepted his kiss. His tongue slipped between her lips, gliding and twining around hers before stroking along her teeth and the roof of her mouth.

 

* * *

What came after was only natural. Lifting Shailoh lightly into his arms, bridal style, Caleb stepped into the villa and carefully laid her down on the bed. Climbing on top of her, he pressed his lips to her forehead, then her mouth, then her collarbone and lower still, as if performing some solemn rite. Shailoh lay there and surrendered her body to him like a young lamb laid upon the altar, until the now-familiar wave of climax rose up and swept her away.

 

“Sasha…”

 

As he looked down at her with ragged breaths, his turquoise eyes wavered in her blurred vision. Digging her nails into his hard shoulders, Shailoh quietly imagined closing her hands around his throat. What if she could kill him like this and walk away? Would he disappear from inside her only if she killed him? But her feelings had already sunk their roots too deep. Even if the trunk burned down to the base, those stubborn roots would remain, tormenting her for a long, long time.

 

“Don’t cry.” Mistaking the tears running down her cheeks from despair of something else, Caleb carefully wiped them away before pulling her into a suffocating embrace.

 

A sob burst out of Shailoh before she could stop it, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She wished the world would just end like this. Then love, and hate, and every last memory would all disappear.

 

Ever since that night they finally shared a bed again, Caleb had grown more and more tender and gentle. If she so much as tried to pick up anything heavier than a fork and knife, he would come rushing over to take it from her, even if he’d only stepped a short distance away. He also behaved like a man frantic because he couldn’t keep her in his arms every second of the day. Because of that, even the guards who were standing by for her safety retreated a step. They couldn’t very well stand there and openly watch the amorous antics of the lord they served and his lover.

 

The first crack in those honeymoon-like days appeared on the third day of their stay at the villa. As usual, the two of them were curled up together on the couch, enjoying the peace, when hurried footsteps sounded, and the captain of the guard intruded.

 

 

“Your Majesty. An urgent dispatch has arrived from Sir Eric at the castle.”

 

“An urgent dispatch?” Caleb, who had been resting his chin on the crown of Shailoh’s head and reading to her, turned his head.

 

“Yes. I believe you should confirm it yourself. It seems to be about the remnants of Queen Ingrid’s faction that were in hiding.” Something in both his voice and his words was off.

 

Caleb’s brow hardened, and he set the book in his hands aside. “…Alright. Head to the study.”

 

“At once, Your Majesty.”

 

They heard the polite reply of the captain of the guard, then the sound of him withdrawing beyond the door.

 

“What is it? Remnants? Are you saying there’s still someone out there targeting you?”

 

When Caleb straightened up, Shailoh sat up as well, looking up at him with worried eyes. He stroked her cheek.

 

“They’re like bugs that keep hiding no matter how many you catch. But that’s almost over now.”

 

“It’s not something dangerous, is it?” Shailoh took his hand, drawing her brows together.

 

Caleb shook his head with a faint smile. “I don’t think so. They’ve probably already captured the leader and are just waiting to decide what to do with them. Eric’s more than capable of that.”

 

“I see… That’s a relief.”

 

“It might take a while, so do you want to keep reading the book?”

 

“No. I’ll wait and read the rest when you come back. I don’t want to read it alone.” Shailoh pressed a quick kiss to his palm and smiled brightly.

 

Caleb looked down at her for a long moment, then bent and brushed his lips over hers. “Then call Anne and do some embroidery together or something. Or just rest.”

 

“Alright. Have a safe trip.” Like a wife seeing her husband off, Shailoh rose to her feet and walked him to the door. The moment it closed, she rang the bell by the fireplace, and before long, Anne, who had been somewhere nearby, came running.

 

“You called, Milady?”

 

“Anne.” Smiling, Shailoh sat her down across from her. “It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

 

“Yes! Thanks to your care, Milady.” Anne ducked her head shyly and smiled. Their time together at the villa had been brief, but when she thought of the kindness of not forgetting her and calling her here again, gratitude welled up in her on its own. “Thank you for summoning me, Milady. Thanks to you, I was able to pay for my sick mother’s medicine.”

 

“It was nothing. If you want, Anne, I can give you far more than that.”

 

“Far… more than that?” Anne, who had been bowing her head bashfully at the tempting words, slowly lifted her chin.

 

“Yes. For example… working at the royal castle.”

 

“Oh my goodness!” Anne’s eyes went round and she shook her head. “That’s impossible, Milady… The royal castle is where noble ladies reside. For a country bumpkin like me to even set foot there would be downright presumptuous.”

 

“The world has changed. It wasn’t the nobles who drove out Queen Ingrid and her son, Prince Albert. It was the people. Ordinary citizens of this kingdom, just like you.”

 

“Even so… there are still ranks, and I should know my place…”

 

“But if you were given the chance?”

 

“Well, then… of course I’d…”

 

Anne wanted it desperately. Working at the royal castle was an incredibly attractive prospect for any unmarried woman, regardless of birth. If you worked there, you received at least some training in etiquette and culture, and the pay and treatment were far better than anywhere else. Not only that, but a woman who had served at the royal castle was highly valued on the marriage market. People assumed that since she’d worked there, she would know the faces and names of high-ranking people and be well-versed in manners and refinement, which made it easier for her to marry a wealthy man.

 

“I’ll help you.”

 

“Real…ly?” It was like a stroke of luck that had fallen out of a clear sky. Anne, hardly able to believe her ears, stared at Shailoh, utterly captivated.

 

“Of course.” Shailoh smiled gently and took her hand. “It’s nothing, really. His Majesty has been saying that now that he’s ascended the throne, he’s going to completely overhaul the old staff structure at the royal castle.”

 

“Good heavens!” Unable to contain her emotions, Anne’s eyes filled with tears. Then, all at once, she dropped to her knees, pressed her forehead to the floor at Shailoh’s feet, and bowed low. “Thank you so much, Milady! You’ve been my benefactor from the very beginning. I’ll devote my life to you.”

 

“It’s not true. Get up.” Shailoh was taken aback for a moment by such overwhelming devotion, but she soon gently helped Anne to her feet and sat her down at her side. “I always keep my promises. No matter what.”

 

“Of course. I believe you.”

 

“But you know nothing in this world comes for free, right?”

 

“That… What do you mean?”

 

The eyes that had been shining with hope, like someone who’d seen a single ray of light in the darkness, wavered.

 

As if to reassure her, Shailoh smiled and patted her shoulder. “There’s no need to be nervous. It’s nothing difficult at all. Do you remember what I said last time? That if I ever needed your help again and you helped me, I’d repay you.”

 

“Ah… the time when I put the baby bird back in its nest.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Is… there really anything I could possibly do to help you, Milady?” Anne looked at Shailoh, clearly unable to even guess what it might be.

 

Shailoh nodded, then rose for a moment and took an envelope she had hidden in the mantel drawer. “All you have to do is send this one letter. Without anyone finding out.”

 

“Ah, yes!” It was even simpler and easier than she’d imagined. Anne’s face lit up as she nodded. Then she suddenly noticed the other envelope in Shailoh’s other hand. “But what about that one? If you tell me where it’s going, I can send that for you too.”

 

“No. This one…” Shailoh smiled radiantly and hid the envelope Anne had indicated behind her back. “It’s a letter I’m going to give directly to the person it’s meant for.” Though by the time I delivered it, I wouldn’t be here anymore. Swallowing the words that followed, she held out the envelope she had prepared for Anne.