The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 89

“It’s all done. You can lay the lady down now. Then I will—”

 

“Wait.”

 

Doris, who had been fumbling for somewhere to look while gathering the soiled sheets and trying to slip out as if fleeing, was stopped in place.

 

Without sparing her even a glance, Caleb continued speaking. “How has Sasha been doing lately?”

 

“She has been… peaceful. Taking walks in the park with me, meeting a new friend she had made, and catching up on books she had put off.”

 

“I see.” That was all he had wanted to hear from the person concerned. Satisfied, Caleb waved his hand dismissively, signaling her to leave.

 

“Um…” Doris, who seemed ready to make a hasty retreat, suddenly called out to him. “Your Highness. Thank you.”

 

“…For what?”

 

“For loving the lady so much.” Without waiting for a response, Doris quickly exited, closing the door behind her.

 

The warmth that had filled the room just moments before turned icy cold. Caleb, as if he had been sentenced to death, tried to comprehend what he had just heard. “Love…?” It was a word he hadn’t expected. The shock hit him like a blunt weapon to the back of his head. “This is love?”

 

Was what he was doing really a game of love? It felt as if someone had poured cold water over him.

 

“Don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for Sasha Griche?”

“…”

“Father said so himself. That the way you were looking for Miss Griche on the night of the ball was anything but normal. That you ran around searching for her so desperately, you overturned a perfectly laid-out game just to find her.”

 

The memory of his argument with Eric resurfaced, bringing back the chilling sensation he had felt before. He wasn’t supposed to fall in love. Love was nothing but a poison and a weakness. He had to sever it while he still could.

 

* * *

When she finally woke up, night had already passed, and it was the next morning. Shailoh could hardly leave the bed, almost like a patient. Aftereffects from last night made her entire body ache as though she had been beaten. Her throat was so hoarse that even speaking a single word was difficult. Her eyes were swollen, making them hard to open properly.

 

“Here, have some.”

 

Doris, who had prepared easy-to-swallow dishes, sat by Shailoh’s side during breakfast and lunch, nursing her and feeding her like a mother bird. Though she wanted to skip a meal for a day, Shailoh eventually ate as Doris fed her with a persistent spoon.

 

“Just one more bite, and you’re done.”

 

“Doris.”

 

“Our young lady is such a good girl, isn’t she?”

 

With a sigh, Shailoh opened her mouth as Doris patted her back as if soothing a baby.

 

After finally getting the last bite into her, Doris smiled proudly and wiped the corner of Shailoh’s mouth with a napkin. “It makes me so happy to see you eat everything.”

 

“Doris, you’re like my aunt or mom.”

 

“It’s mostly your fault that I’ve become like this, Milady.”

 

“My fault?”

 

“Yes. After serving you for so long, who often skips meals when you have no appetite, I naturally became this way.”

 

With nothing to refute, Shailoh quietly closed her mouth. Doris had left the room briefly to clear away the meal, and during that time, Shailoh slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed.

 

“Ah.”

 

A dull ache spread through her lower abdomen, causing her face to flush, but she felt she couldn’t just lie in bed all day. She nearly collapsed several times but managed to make her way to the window.

 

“The sun’s already setting.”

 

She had indeed spent the entire day lying down, eating, and sleeping like a baby bird being fed by Doris. The thought made her laugh at herself. While she was lost in thought, Doris returned and quickly draped a shawl over Shailoh’s shoulders.

 

“I’m not cold, Doris.”

 

“Still, it’s best if you rest in the bedroom all day today…” Doris clamped her hands over her mouth, realizing she had said too much.

 

Shailoh turned to her with a questioning look. “Who said that?”

 

“Well.”

 

“Who?” Shailoh’s expression made it clear she wouldn’t let it go. Though she was usually a lenient mistress who allowed Doris to handle minor matters her way, this was different.

 

“…told me to say anything…” Doris hesitated, biting her lip, but eventually confessed. “His Highness.”

 

“His Highness?”

 

“Yes… He said you should rest in the bedroom all day.”

 

“First he causes trouble, then he tries to fix it.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“It’s nothing.” Shailoh shook her head at Doris’s innocent gaze and, like a newborn fawn, wobbled over to the couch and sat down.

 

Doris, who had followed her, began massaging her shoulders but blushed when she noticed the bite marks on Shailoh’s neck. “His Highness must really love our lady.”

 

“…Even after seeing this?” Shailoh let out a hollow laugh, rolling up her sleeve to reveal the inside of her arm. There were no bite marks like on her neck, but persistent bruises remained. There were even handprints on the inside of her legs.

 

“Oh my. He must have been quite excited last night.”

 

“…”

 

Despite her maturity and the way she cared for Shailoh like an older sister or mother, Doris was still an innocent country girl in matters like these. Shailoh quietly pulled her robe tighter, speechless, when Doris suddenly spoke again.

 

“I saw the way His Highness looked at you while you were asleep last night.”

 

“…”

 

“He was the one who washed you clean, dried your hair with care, and soothed you when you tossed and turned.”

 

Come to think of it, despite the rough night, her body was clean except for the marks he left. It was always like this whenever they spent the night together. If he did all this every time… Why go to such lengths if she was just a tool to him?

 

Confused, Shailoh shook her head. He probably just didn’t want to deal with the hassle if she got hurt. It was easier for him to take care of it himself than to let someone else handle it. She quickly came to a conclusion, but her mind was still in turmoil. She was momentarily lost in thought, her heart unsettled.

 

Footsteps approached from the hallway, stopping in front of the door before someone knocked urgently.

 

“Milady! You need to come out!”

 

Doris exchanged a glance with Shailoh, who was still in her robe, and cautiously opened the door. The one knocking was a maid.

 

“What is it?”

 

“A woman… has come to see you, insisting she must meet you.”

 

“A woman?”

 

Doris turned her gaze from the maid to Shailoh. At Shailoh’s silent cue to inquire further, Doris swallowed and asked on her behalf. “What’s her name?”

 

“Well… It’s unbelievable, but…”

 

“Unbelievable?”

 

“She claims to be Octavia Perus.”

 

Shailoh, who had been reaching for the book she had been reading yesterday, dropped it. Her voice wouldn’t come out loudly, having strained it so much the previous day.

 

“Just a moment.” Doris quickly closed the door and hurried over to Shailoh. “What should we do?”

 

“Have her wait in the parlor. I’ll get ready and come down.”

 

* * *

The visitor was indeed Octavia Perus. As Shailoh, with Doris’s support, entered the parlor, Octavia, who had been examining the porcelain figurines on the mantelpiece, immediately noticed her presence and greeted her.

 

“I’m sorry for coming unannounced like this, Miss Griche.”

 

Shailoh said nothing, simply facing her. She was an unexpected guest, someone Shailoh never imagined would come alone like this. Why had she come at this hour? What did she want? Shailoh wanted to ask these questions, but instead, she was struck by Octavia’s appearance and blurted out an unexpected question.

 

“Why are you dressed like that…?”

 

“Ah.”

 

Despite being the niece of the duke who ruled the South, she was dressed in plain, worn clothes, as if she had borrowed them from a passing poor woman. Noticing the patches and mends, Shailoh guided her to sit on the couch.

 

As soon as she sat down awkwardly, a growling sound came from someone’s stomach. Since Shailoh had eaten all her meals thanks to Doris’s devoted care, the sound belonged to the woman across from her. Blushing, Octavia covered her face with her hands, unsure of what to do. “I-I’m sorry…”

 

“It’s alright.”

 

Whatever her story was, she must have had a compelling reason to come here so desperately.

 

“At least have a meal—”

 

“No, it’s really okay.” Octavia shook her head firmly, declining the offer.

 

Shailoh turned her head and calmly instructed Doris. “Doris, please bring some tea and something light to eat. And make sure no one enters the parlor.”

 

“Understood.” Sensing the subtle tension between the two women, Doris bowed her head and left the parlor.

 

“Now it’s just the two of us.”