Madam and the Stable Keeper (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8

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From afar, he’d been completely covered by a hooded cloak, making him hard to recognize—but up close, it was clearly Walter.

Details I hadn’t noticed during our last encounter, due to the circumstances, now caught my eye.

His high, straight nose, sharp jawline, and attractively tanned skin were unmistakably masculine—but traces of boyishness still lingered in his face.

“I’ve already proven I can deceive Sophia first, so now tell me what you know, Edith.”

I was startled by his low, murmured words. If anyone else overheard him speaking to me like this, they’d surely grow suspicious even before we could form our alliance.

“Walter. Everyone now believes I’m the Viscount’s fourth wife—”

“Oh, so you’re ‘Madam’ now.”

Walter gave a faint, knowing lift of his eyebrows.

“As a diligent servant of the Viscount, I’ve come in place of another man who received orders from Madam Sophia—so please, don’t be alarmed.”

“…….”

Though his face was every bit as refined as a noble’s son, there was something oddly smug in his tone whenever he used honorifics. I almost felt embarrassed for myself, pretending to be a “Madam” without cause.

‘He did say he’d never served highborns closely before. Maybe that’s why.’

I didn’t know how he’d found out I was touring the manor, but inwardly, I felt relieved. This defiant man wouldn’t listen to Sophia’s orders no matter what she commanded.

“I’d like to start by touring the garden on the east side of the Viscount’s estate.”

“…….”

Walter extended his hand while holding the reins with the other. To avoid the other servants’ eyes, Edith quickly took his hand and mounted the horse.

He walked ahead, gripping the reins. Once they’d put some distance between themselves and the mansion, he chuckled softly.

“I heard you returned to your room clutching a few gold coins Sophia gave you.”

“…….”

Edith was momentarily speechless. She was stunned that he already knew what had happened that morning.

If I hadn’t learned anything beforehand from Ann and Marie, I might have assumed Walter had nothing better to do than stare through the mansion windows.

‘Everyone nearby must have seen how astonished I was—after all, it was the first time I’d ever held so many gold coins at once.’

Given that scene, it was understandable Walter might misunderstand me.

After all, yesterday, this woman had loathed everything about the Viscount’s estate—yet today, she appeared adorned in expensive dresses and jewelry, clutching the gold Sophia gave her.

Though Edith had acted out of necessity, with no other choices available, she realized Walter likely saw it differently.

“Walter. There’s something specific I’d like to propose to you.”

“Did Madam Sophia teach you that refined speech? I must say, it suits you surprisingly well.”

Walter looked at Edith with a stern expression. Her blue eyes remained as clear as ever, but knowing they’d passed through greedy Sophia’s hands made him dislike what he saw.

‘So she’s been swayed by money after all.’

If she’d carefully accepted and kept the gold coins Sophia gave her, it surely meant she intended to join Sophia’s scheme—and that irked Walter, who wanted Portrion’s downfall more than anyone.

“Yesterday, you pleaded with me to ensure no other man touched you—but today, as if nothing happened, you parade as ‘Madam’ and say you have a special proposal for me…”

Walter leaned slightly closer, trying to read her expression.

“It sounds as though Madam has changed her mind and now wishes to conceive a child as Sophia desires—and, conveniently needing a man, thought of me.”

Edith stared at him, momentarily speechless. It didn’t take long for her to fully grasp his meaning.

He was implying she’d considered him the man to impregnate her.

His teasing words sent heat rushing to her face.

She didn’t need a man—and certainly hadn’t thought of him.

“I wasn’t asking you to spend the night with me. I have no intention of being swayed by Sophia’s schemes. I want to make a deal with you—”

“What exactly were you planning to buy with such a large sum?”

Walter tossed a gold coin in the air and caught it again, as if to demonstrate. Edith hastily reached into her pocket—it must have slipped out while she was mounting or dismounting the horse.

“For a fee like this, I could at least help Madam sleep soundly.”

“Give it here. I brought that gold coin to use on another man if needed—not you.”

“Just now, that sounded as if I’m not even worth spending money on.”

The corners of Walter’s eyes crinkled with a mischievous grin, like a troublemaker who’d found a new plaything.

“As Portrion’s diligent servant, willing to do even dirty work—I’d be far more satisfying to spend money on than others if Madam is looking for someone to personally attend to her leisure.”

Edith froze, her mouth slightly agape. His suggestive joke left her dizzy. Did he truly believe using polite speech lent dignity to his words?

And “diligent servant”? How absurd.

“I know you don’t do menial labor.”

“…….”

“Your scars and calluses clearly belong to someone who’s trained exclusively with a sword for years—not a stable hand’s.”

Trending

Walter was slightly surprised by Edith’s sharp observation. It intrigued him that, even while blushing furiously at his crude joke, she’d pinpointed exactly where his calluses were during the brief moment she’d mounted the horse.

‘Contrary to Sophia’s rumors, she must have led a quiet life even outside the Viscount’s estate.’

Walter handed the gold coin back to Edith.

Teasing her flustered expression was amusing, but he’d already gotten a rough idea of what kind of person she was and how much she despised Sophia’s schemes—it was time to get to the point.

“Enough with the teasing. I’d appreciate it if you’d finally keep the promise you made earlier.”

Teasing? Who was teasing whom?

Edith bit back what she wanted to snap and carefully chose her words. If she wanted to forge an alliance with him, she needed to stay serious now.

“The Viscount told me he’d been searching for me for a very long time—and had finally found me.”

“…….”

“Sophia said something similar when she first saw me. I didn’t understand what it meant—I’d never met anyone from House Portrion before. But—”

Edith stared directly at Walter, whose expression had subtly shifted since moments ago.

“Walter, you must have some idea why the Viscount practically kidnapped me and brought me here.”

“…….”

Seeing his expression harden, Edith felt certain.

The first time Walter had saved her, he’d clearly acted like someone desperately searching for something.

“Listen carefully. I have no interest in Sophia’s orders—or in your body.”

“…….”

“Tell me what Nicholas Portrion said and what object he touched before the assassins struck him.”

The very fact he asked this way meant Walter himself didn’t know whether what he was looking for was a single utterance from the Viscount or a physical object.

If he’d known clearly what the Viscount was supposed to give him, his question would have been more precise.

In the end, Edith reached a simple conclusion.

“You rushed to me in a hurry and asked exactly that—which must mean the Viscount had just left the mansion to bring you the thing he’d promised, only to be ambushed and return in a coma.”

“…….”

“But that day, the only thing the Viscount found was me. He didn’t touch any object I possessed—I don’t even have any inheritance to speak of.”

Walter’s brow furrowed. At once, a shadow of frustration and disappointment covered his entire face.

“But the Viscount did say he’d been searching for me a long time—which likely means whatever you’ve been waiting for is deeply connected to me.”

Having finished speaking, Edith gave Walter time to think. Earlier, when she’d pressed him about what the Viscount might have done just before losing consciousness, there’d been raw emotion beneath his seemingly calm tone.

Worry—fearing he might lose something forever.

Desperation—not wanting to lose it at all costs.

She didn’t know what the Viscount had promised to return to him, but back then, Walter had clearly been desperate—just as she’d been when her precious locket was taken from her.

For that, she was grateful.

“Moreover, the Viscount purchased me as his fourth wife. Taking a woman he’d never even seen as his fourth wife must have been a legal way to keep me imprisoned here.”

“…….”

“I don’t know what you were supposed to receive from the Viscount, but it’s probably deeply tied to me. So, please—keep protecting me by deceiving Sophia as you’ve been doing.”

Walter let out a hollow laugh, as if he’d just heard something ridiculous.

“For someone who doesn’t even know why the Viscount was looking for you, you certainly make bold requests.”

But Edith had already anticipated Walter wouldn’t welcome her proposal.

“If you promise to protect me, I can help you in return.”

Walter, who’d been about to retort with “Who’s helping whom?”, paused when she continued.

“Walter. You’re trapped in this estate by a binding magic—just like me, right?”

“…….”

From his reaction, Edith instantly knew her deduction was correct.

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