Chapter 33
Jamie asked Iris how he should treat the Whittle family from now on.
“Treat them nicely. Like dealing with a normal guest.”
Showing them that she’s not Iris Whittle anymore was enough. Continuing to be rude will be detrimental to the Green family in the future.
“Oh, and Miss Iris. The boss said he’ll arrive some time tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
After Jamie left and Iris dismissed her personal maids, Iris sat alone on the sofa in the drawing room lost in her thoughts.
Britney was here in this mansion.
In her previous life, Britney, who married the Crown Prince, had Keivrand as her lover. Although naturally it was a loveless contractual relationship, it was a necessary one.
She wasn’t sure about Britney, but at least she was certain of Keivrand. After Edward lost his family and fell into eternal sleep, Keivrand became someone who would do anything to achieve his goal.
Keivrand needed more power, and Britney needed to have the most popular man in high society by her side. The two held hands, and their alliance seemed to be well maintained.
At least, until it was revealed that Keivrand is a beastman.
‘What about this life?’
Iris laid on her side on the sofa.
‘Will Kei need Britney again this time?’
She wasn’t going to let anyone of the Greens die.
However, it wasn’t known how changing the future would affect the passage of time.
[Fate is inevitable.]
It was a phrase from a book she had read.
If fate is inevitable, another fate of death may be awaiting them even if Iris saves the Green couple and Celestine in a later event.
This new fate was unknown to Iris, so she wasn’t certain whether they could be saved from their fate.
Iris closed her eyes tightly and opened them again.
‘No, there’s no reason to be afraid of something that hasn’t happened yet. I just need to do what I can do now.’
As she thought about what she could do now, and what would happen in the near future, her focus shifted to Britney and Keivrand again.
In her previous life, when she was at a party, Britney said she wanted to meet her in the garden in half an hour.
Iris, who went to the garden on time, witnessed Britney and Keivrand kissing. Britney stared at Iris, putting her arms around Keivrand’s neck and kissing him.
[Look. This wonderful man is my lover. I have a husband who will soon be Emperor, and a lover who makes headlines in high society wherever he goes. Aren’t you jealous?]
Britney’s eyes were saying that.
At that time and now, Iris couldn’t understand Britney’s behavior. At that time, Iris was already Alfred’s wife, and she wasn’t in the position to have a great man like Keivrand.
To Iris, Count Green was a far and high creature that was hard to see. She never tried to take what Britney had, and Britney had everything she could never get her hands on.
So why was she so proud to show her such a scene?
Even so, Iris’ life was dark and hopeless.
She would have died if left alone in the mud regardless.
‘Come to think of it…he kissed her. Kei and Britney.’
The scene that she had seen and glossed over vividly came back to her mind.
‘What was Kei thinking at that time? She’s pretty, so no matter how much it’s a contract relationship, it would have been nice, right?’
If you’re a man, you like pretty girls. That was what Iris thought.
‘Men find Britney very cute…Maybe he was really attracted to Britney.’
She wondered how Keivrand would have treated Britney.
‘Did he treat her the way he treats me now?’
Keivrand was sweet in front of Iris. There were often times when it was so sweet that she felt as if she would melt away.
Strange emotions rose from her lower abdomen to the pit of her stomach. She silently laid her palm on her stomach.
‘What’s this…’
She felt annoyed for some reason.
It’s what happened in the past, and it’s not going to happen in this life.
No, she was worried.
She thought that Britney and Keivrand are going to kiss like that in this life.
Maybe Keivrand thinks Britney is useful and starts a contract relationship without Iris knowing.
Iris bit her lower lip.
She didn’t want her emotions to stir over things that didn’t happen. Still, she didn’t know why she kept getting irritated.
She regretted allowing the Whittle family to stay in this mansion. She didn’t want Keivrand and Britney to meet.
She raised her legs and kicked the air. Even so, she didn’t feel good, so she kicked the air a few more times. She then lowered her leg because she wondered what she was doing.
“Moderation, Iris. In moderation.”
Iris closed her eyes.
She thought she’ll feel better when she wakes up.
In her sleep she felt a touch on her head.
The fingers that combed through her hair gave off a pleasant feeling.
‘Who?’
The answer came quickly.
‘Kei is back.’
If so, she’ll get up and say hello.
But something hard and warm touched her cheek.
With the languid and pleasant warmth flowing out of it, she fell asleep again.
* * *
Last night, Iris had dozed off while waiting for Alfred until late.
Alfred, who came in drunk at that time,
“How dare you sleep before your husband comes in?”
Said as he beat Iris. She was hit on her calves by a hard rod in her teens. A red line carved into the white and fair skin, and it eventually bled out.
Nevertheless, Alfred didn’t stop beating her.
Alfred, who had been hitting her for a long time, spoke.
“Be good in the future. Okay?”
Pointing his finger at her, he fell asleep on the bed.
Iris couldn’t sleep. The place where she was hit was so bitter and painful.
In a few years she will be 40 years old. Still, she was as pitiful as ever.
She had thought several times that she wanted to change, but when such a situation came, she froze. Her body, which had been assaulted time after time, would lose its movement if the other person’s eyes even got a little harsh.
Iris sat absentmindedly and watched the men and women enjoying the party with a happy expression.
Her calves ached from being hit last night. She guessed it ached because she didn’t treat them properly.
She couldn’t sit with a smile any more, so she limped out of the banquet hall. Alfred would be upset to find out that she had disappeared, but now she didn’t have time to think about it.
‘It hurts…’
She wanted to cry, but she didn’t. Because she knows tears can’t relieve this pain.
Sitting on a bench in the corner of the garden where no one was coming, she rolled up her skirt slightly. The cool air flowed under the skirt, and the pain went away a little.
“Boss, Fiano’s movements are suspicious. We have to keep an eye on it.”
She heard someone whispering.
“That’s why I came to this party. By the way, did you bring the earrings?”
“Yes, I did, but…I don’t think this is a sacred relic. Well, it’s shiny and pretty though.”
“Let me take a look.”
“Anyway, keep an eye on Fiano. I should get going.”
She heard the sound of someone leaving. And then the sound of someone walking her way.
She held her breath and curled up. But she couldn’t hide herself from the man who was walking through the shrubs.
Count Keivrand Green.
Britney’s lover.
Keivrand, who found Iris, seemed very shocked, but he wasn’t flustered.
“Viscountess Hutch.”
Keivrand bowed his head slightly.
Iris was surprised that he knew her.
She knew she needed to get up and accept his greetings, but she couldn’t. It was because her calves stung.
“Are you hurt?”
Keivrand asked anxiously.
She almost burst into tears.
It was the first time someone so affectionately worried about her condition. She closed her mouth and shook her head, swallowing the tears.
“I think you’re hurt…you’re sweating…”
Keivrand kneeled down in front of Iris.
She didn’t even realize he was lifting her skirt.
Keivrand’s expression darkened when he saw her calves through the skirt.
“Who the hell did this…”
She hurriedly pulled down her skirt.
“Nothing, Count Green. It’s really nothing.”
Iris’ desperate plea made Keivrand’s expression darker. He stared at her for a while and then spoke.
“Holding it in and hiding it doesn’t solve anything.”
“I know, but…there are people who can only live by holding it in and hiding it.”
Keivrand’s lips moved as if he was thinking of what to say, but he soon got up, shaking his head lightly.
“All right, Viscountess. You’d better put ointment on the wound. Otherwise, you’ll have a scar on your pretty calves.”
“Thank you.”
She wanted Keivrand to quickly leave. It was embarrassing to be caught like this, and it was painful to pretend not to be hurt.
Fortunately, Keivrand left between the shrubs.
She sighed loudly as Keivrand came back.
Iris, with her lips open from sighing, stared up at him with her eyes wide open.
Keivrand stuck his fist out to her. She looked down at his fist, wondering what he wanted her to do.
“Take it.”
“What?”
Keivrand grabbed Iris’ wrist as if he was frustrated, and then he placed something into her hand. It was a pair of earrings with small blue jewels.
Iris’ eyes widened.
“It’s Teresa’s Earrings, which brings good luck if you carry it.”
“Ah…”
“May it bring you good luck, Viscountess Hutch.”
* * *
Iris opened her eyes.
[May it bring you good luck, Viscountess Hutch.]
A warm voice lingered in her ears.
‘A dream about my previous life.’
It was the first time she experienced the warmth of kindness and consideration.
It is also interesting that Keivrant, who she had never had a proper conversation with in her previous life, knows her, and he even gave her a pair of earrings because he felt sorry for her.
Teresa’s Earrings that bring good luck.
The earrings didn’t bring Iris any luck, but every time she put them on, she would feel Keivrand’s comfort, so she would often wear them secretly.
Even on the night of her death she wore the earrings.
Her heart warmed as she recalled that day.
‘Come to think of it, Kei looked at my calves and said they were pretty. Is that something someone would say casually?’
When she saw Keivrand in this life she would smile because the feelings that she felt that time in her previous life overlapped.
In her previous life, Keivrand was a very difficult, great, and distant being.
In this life, Keivrand was a cute wolf nicknamed fatty dog who had asked her to brush his fur.
“Did you have a pleasant dream?”
She was startled by the sudden voice coming from the side.
Turning her head around, Keivrand was lying on the side with his head in his hand.
“Why are you so surprised? Like you did something bad without your husband knowing.”
“When did you get here?”
“Late last night. You were sleeping on the sofa, so I moved you to the bed. You didn’t even wake up when I picked you up.”
Come to think of it, she was lying in bed.
With the same clothes she wore yesterday.
Her boots seemed to have been taken off by Keivrand.
“You could have woke me up.”
“You were sleeping soundly, so what’s the point of waking you up? Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, very much.”
“Did you have a good dream?”
Keivrand asked again.
Only then did she realize that Keivrand had used the Sleep Stone on her.
“Very much.”
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She had a dream where Keivrand appeared.
A dream where he gave her warmth.
“I had a happy dream.”
== Translator’s Note ==
1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etc…in the comment section .