Obviously, It's My Child - Chapter 121
Iris took off the cloak she was wearing and put it on inside out. As a result, it looked like a cheap and ordinary gray cloak. It was the stage costume she wore when playing dual roles.
She flipped the hood of the cloak and sneaked out through the back door of the opera house.
Thomas’s hiding place wasn’t far from the opera house. It was because he hadn’t been able to give up everything he had and believed that it was dark under the lantern.
Iris walked cautiously through the alley. There was no chance of being caught. There was nothing strange about her visiting the opera house.
Since the door was closed, she could use the excuse of consoling the manager. She had said the same thing at home and had decided to stop by the manager’s office after finishing her business.
But due to anxiety, her steps were unstable, like walking on a tightrope.
‘It’s because of Count Abingdon. I’m getting nervous for no reason.’
She checked what she had hidden in her arms.
It was the ‘sedative’. Knowing which one was the strongest was very easy for her since she knew the order in which Katya’s medicine chest was organized.
Knock, knock.
When she knocked on the door, she heard tense breathing from inside.
“It’s me, Iris.”
Iris squeezed out a forced sound from her throat. Was she speaking respectfully? To someone who used to be a worker at the opera house?
But it felt more natural than she had expected.
The door creaked open. The pungent smoke of a cigarette wafted out from inside, and Thomas stuck his face out.
“Iris… Why are you here?”
Memories rushed back like a flood.
[Dad!]
She couldn’t remember the face, but when she called like that, there was a memory of a hand smelling of tobacco patting her head.
There were times when that had been a joyful time. Even though all she could remember now was the unpleasant smell, Iris remembered that she had been happy.
Disgust surged within her.
This man was her biological father. There was no way. It shouldn’t be.
She had imagined that her father would be a more magnificent, more remarkable person than Count Schneider, but it couldn’t be such a lowly man.
Until she came here, Iris had always hesitated. She thought meeting her father might change her mind. She also thought that she shouldn’t fall into Stefan’s trap.
But instead, her hesitation disappeared. She couldn’t give up what she had because of a man like him.
She was the daughter of Count Schneider, and she had to be.
If so, there was only one thing to do.
Iris clung to his arm with a tender expression. Since she had natural acting skills, showing genuine affection wasn’t difficult.
“Father.”
Thomas’s expression wavered. Despite being a man who easily destroyed others’ lives and casually sold out his family for profit, he did have genuine affection for his daughter.
He ushered Iris into his hiding place. Iris even smiled and took his hand as they went inside.
The building was engulfed in flames an hour later.
* * *
The evening sun was tilting, casting a reddish tint on the sky, and shadows were stretching down the alley. Newspaper-selling children shouted.
“Extra! Extra!”
“There’s another fire!”
Returning from the Grand Prince’s palace, Claire paused the carriage for a moment and spoke to her escort.
“I would like a copy, please.”
“Yes, Baron.”
The escort got off and bought the newspaper. Given the time, Claire assumed it was likely to be news of an incident, so she quickly unfolded the paper.
It reported another arson fire today, just five blocks away from the opera house. The targeted place was a vacant store with a large warehouse attached, and it mentioned that a body had been found tied up.
‘Can this be a coincidence?’
Fires could happen anywhere and anytime, but at this particular moment, and in the vicinity.
She needed to find out what was in the warehouse and who the dead person was.
Yesterday, a few members of Thomas Borjans’s organization were killed in a detention center. The culprit confessed that it was a result of a heated fight, but they couldn’t figure out how a knife was smuggled into the detention center.
Thinking about how easily these people killed and disposed of others sent shivers down Claire’s spine.
Especially if that person turned out to be the Empress, as speculated.
Claire gently caressed Elliott’s sleeping curls, then bowed down to kiss his forehead.
She would protect her child at all costs.
.
.
.
- Wedding Ceremony
Despite various incidents, the wedding took place on the scheduled date.
The secretary’s office was in full swing, hastily increasing the number of staff and renting the Sanctus Populi Chapel and sending out invitations, but the result was excellent.
The chapel and the garden were fully open. Light blue silk curtains were draped around the garden, creating resting places, and simple food tables and chairs were placed.
Since they couldn’t serve alcohol in the chapel, and it wasn’t possible to invite everyone to the banquet hall, they decided to keep it simple.
People working for both families and relatively lower-ranking nobles filled the garden.
“Inviting people like us, Bron Delford truly has a different personality. Oh, by the way, should I address her as the Duchess now, not the Baron?”
“As long as the Duke permits it. It seems everything is done according to the Duke’s wishes.”
Though technically just an employer or representative of a business partner, they were delighted as if a family member had become the Duchess.
The main gate, usually open only for significant ceremonies, was wide open. Clear bell rang out, announcing the news to the people.
Most guests had to walk after getting off their carriages, but it was different for James. As the closest relative of the bride, he could take the carriage up to the front yard of the chapel.
When someone arrived in a carriage, all eyes were focused on it.
“Ahem.”
James cleared his throat as he got off the carriage, feeling a faint mix of burden and exhilaration from the interest filled gazes.
Want to read more? Up to [24] advanced chapters are available on Patreon:
For update pings, novel discussions and/or to send mistake reports, join our discord server~!