Chapter 204: An Unexpected Visitor 2
Translated by AmaLynne
Lise and the others, who were about to head to the town below the castle, were greatly surprised by the appearance of the woman claiming to be Sam’s mother.
They realized that this was not the time for a leisurely walk and decided to escort Melanie back to the mansion.
Initially, Melanie seemed reluctant to meet Sam or even engage with Lise and the others in this manner, and she was attempting to leave.
However, Lise and the others couldn’t just let her go without verifying her identity as Sam’s mother, so they persuaded her to come inside the mansion.
However, Lise and the others were not entirely convinced that Melanie was indeed Sam’s mother.
While there was no doubt that she bore a resemblance, they needed to continue the conversation to confirm her identity.
In the royal capital, since Sam had suddenly appeared and swiftly risen to become the most powerful wizard in the Sky Kingdom, some people wanted to establish a connection with him.
Jonathan, Lise, and Alicia’s father, several individuals were claiming to be Sam’s relatives or half-siblings who had contacted them.
However, all of them turned out to be impostors, and the only true relative so far was Viscount Kofi.
Although they didn’t want to think too negatively, there was still a possibility that Melanie, claiming to be Sam’s mother, could also be an imposter.
Nevertheless, the fiancées instinctively sensed that she was indeed very similar to their beloved boy and believed that she was telling the truth.
“On behalf of the fiancées, I apologize for forcefully bringing you here.”
In the reception room of the Count Walker mansion, Lise apologized to Melanie, representing the fiancées.
They had changed locations and now sat on soft sofas, with iced tea placed in front of each of them, given that summer was approaching.
Lise moistened her throat with a drink and looked at Melanie, who appeared uncomfortable.
“If we have made you feel uncomfortable, we sincerely apologize.”
“No, not at all. There is no need for you to apologize, Liselotte-sama.”
“Thank you for saying that. We would like to have a conversation with Melanie-sama about various matters, but there is something we must ask before that.”
“I am prepared. Please, go ahead.”
It seemed that Melanie already understood that she would be questioned.
Lise felt uneasy about having to ask such questions, but she steeled herself and spoke.
“Is it true, Melanie-sama, that you are Sam’s mother? According to his accounts, his mother should have passed away.”
Yes, Sam’s mother, Melanie, was believed to have died.
Sam himself acknowledged this, and it was the same in the Baron Reinbach family.
However, Melanie had appeared in front of them, and therefore, it was necessary to confirm her identity.
“My story is rather mundane.”
“I’d love to hear about it.”
“Yes, well–I used to work as a maid in the Baron Reinbach’s family. I caught the eye of Baron Carius, and I became his wife… but I didn’t want to. My parents, upon learning of Carius’s feelings, approved of the match and the engagement proceeded without my knowledge or consent, and I couldn’t refuse.”
Melanie, perhaps remembering those days, complained with a bitter look on her face.
Lise and the others had entered a marriage they had desired, but being forced into an unwanted marriage was not an uncommon story.
However, when they learned that Sam’s mother had married into the Baron Reinbach family against her will, the engagement party took on a somber mood.
Perhaps they wondered if Sam was not born out of love.
“When Sam was born and grew up, and it became clear he had no talent for the sword, Carius Reinbach mistreated that child. I, too, received rather unpleasant treatment as the mother of a child with no talent, a useless child.”
“…That must have been tough.”
“He was a cruel man.”
“No doubt.”
“I appreciate your understanding.”
Among Lise and the others, the already low stock of the Baron Reinbach had fallen even further.
“It would be a lie to say it wasn’t tough, but I was happy as long as Sam was with me. He was the beloved child born from the person I truly loved.”
“―Huh?”
Hearing Melanie’s words, Lise felt a sense of unease in her heart.
Sam, being the child of someone she did not love did not align with her having entered an unwanted marriage with Baron Reinbach.
Did her feelings change after the marriage, or…
“I was truly happy. However, when it became clear that the child born to Yolanda, who was a concubine, had talent with the sword, Carius’s attitude became even more pronounced. He began treating Sam as if he didn’t exist. Fortunately, the servants were my former colleagues, so they treated me well…”
“Was there something that happened?”
“My heart must have been weak. I fell into despair due to Yolanda’s persistent harassment over a long period.”
“―What a terrible thing.”
Life within the household of a nobleman with multiple wives is complicated.
It’s said that if the wives get along, the household can be peaceful, but the opposite can lead to unimaginable conflicts.
Sometimes, the wives even harm each other.
Melanie must have been mistreated by the concubine Yolanda and endured without retaliation. However, little by little, her heart wore down because of it.
“I reached my limit and made a rash and foolish choice.”
“…You don’t mean…”
It was all too easy to imagine what came next.
“As you might guess, I decided to take my own life. But even though my heart was ailing, I couldn’t bring myself to take Sam with me. So, alone, I left a farewell letter and threw myself into the river.”
“―It must have been tough. But why didn’t you try to see Sam earlier?”
Lise’s question was also the question of her fiancés.
Melanie’s face contorted with sadness in response.
“That’s… When I threw myself into the river, I was in a life-threatening situation. If my breathing had stopped, I would have died. It was then that the man who would become my current husband, Viscount Stephen Teeling, found me and saved me.”
“…You have a husband now?”
Never did they imagine she had remarried, and Lise and the others were enveloped in surprise.
Melanie explained the reason with her next words.
“It’s understandable that you’re surprised. It might sound like an excuse, but when my husband saved me–I had lost all memories except for my name.”
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