To The Traitor in My Bed - Chapter 26

A stable life. This was the only thing that was guaranteed through her marriage to Count Fairchild.

Although there were only the two of them in the tea room, Deirdre lowered her voice further.

“If you’re going to send Viscount Darnell to Luska, it should be as soon as possible, without letting the military police or Rosina know. It’s unfortunate for Rosina, but…”

Rosina.

The poor Rosina, who had asked if she couldn’t marry Viscount Darnell even though they were in love.

Rosina was pitiable not because of her unhappy love, but because she clung to it. A debutante in high society should have known by now that love and marriage were separate matters.

However, on the other hand, Deirdre felt a slight envy for Rosina’s experience. Rosina had fallen in love without fully understanding what love was, and Deirdre had married Count Fairchild before truly understanding it herself.

Thinking of her, another concern rose in Deirdre’s mind.

“Ah, Frederick. What if Captain Cottenham harms Rosina because of this? Even if Viscount Darnell leaves for Luska, the fact that he and Rosina were once lovers won’t just disappear.”

“But Darnell can’t just take Lady Rosina with him, Deirdre.”

His answer was so practical and his tone so cold that she was taken aback.

But Frederick’s words were right. Darnell couldn’t just take Rosina with him.

She handed him the locket.

“Please return this to the Viscount.”

* * *

Having said that, Deirdre did not allow her husband to leave the room. No matter how much he insisted that his leg was fine, it didn’t matter.

“With all that blood, you can’t possibly be okay.”

The surgeon, who had been called early in the morning, had said the first aid was excellent, that although the wound was deep, it didn’t look like it would reopen, and there was no need for stitches, just some disinfecting before he left.

The only part that stuck in Deirdre’s mind was the phrase, “the wound was deep.”

To Frederick, this seemed like a minor scratch. It was caused by Deirdre flailing in panic, so he hadn’t even felt pain.

However, the world, including Countess Fairchild, knew that Count Fairchild was a coward when it came to blood. Strictly speaking, a coward and a hypochondriac are not the same, and Frederick didn’t need to lie in bed pretending to be in pain.

The problem was that Deirdre was mixing the two up.

‘…Or maybe he thought her husband is just a hypochondriac.’

He sighed.

He never intended to be such a helpless husband.

Moreover, he needed to contact Viscount Darnell and Blanc quickly. Most of what he had told Deirdre was true.

Viscount Darnell’s ultimate destination was not Luska, but he needed to get there as soon as possible. Blanc, who was from Luska, knew how to cross the border while avoiding the watchful eyes of the military police.

While Deirdre sternly instructed him not to leave the bed, Frederick quickly scribbled a letter to his associates. When the time was right, he would pass it to Kingsley, and the rest would be handled by the butler.

When Deirdre returned, Frederick was sitting back on the cushion with a bored expression. A maid, carrying a tray with a meal meant for a patient, followed the Countess.

“Thank you, you may go now.”

After dismissing the maid, Deirdre handed him a spoon.

“You must finish this.”

He reluctantly looked down at the bowl.

“Deirdre, this is something only a sick person would eat…”

“I’ll have winter strawberry pie brought in once you’ve finished. No raisins in it.”

The winter strawberry pie, a local delicacy from Landyke, was a must-try dessert in the northern region during this season. Frederick began eating the pale soup.

Deirdre sat back in her chair, looking satisfied. She had even brought a book wrapped in a velvety cover, but after a few minutes, she closed it and subtly asked.

“…When will Viscount Darnell be sent to Luska?”

“As you suggested, I’ll send him as soon as possible.”

“If you go directly to Edelweiss Heights and tell them, won’t the military notice?”

“You seem to have forgotten, but Count Fairchild visits his aunt’s house occasionally, Lady Rochepolie.”

She fiddled with the book, opening and closing it uselessly.

“I just hope you stop meeting dangerous people…”

“Then should I write a letter to Edelweiss Heights?”

Her face brightened.

“That would be better. And if someone who wouldn’t be suspected takes it…”

“Kingsley will take the letter.”

“If the butler goes alone, he might be suspected.”

“Then send Rex.”

“Rex is my attendant.”

Frederick straightened up, the letter he had hidden in the cushion jabbed into his back.

“Deirdre, then who would you like to send? Surely not you personally…?”

As the Countess, she was exceptionally refined, but she was still only twenty-two, an age where one wasn’t yet adept at masking their expressions. He was skilled at reading the faces of others.

Finally, Deirdre answered.

“I want to tell Viscount Darnell… that Rosina is doing well.”