The Monstrous Grand Duke's Fake Lady

When she finally arrived at the inn, everything had already been completed. There was only Ez, who had been waiting for the boss who had yet to return, to welcome her back.

“Ma’am?”

Surprised by her heavy pants of breaths, he quickly approached her. As he supported Vivian, who looked withered like she was just about to fall forwards, she immediately looked in her arms.

Fortunately, the child didn’t cry at all despite her rough movements. When she looked at the face that was gazing up at her while smiling brightly, Vivian felt like her legs were deprived.

“Are you okay, ma’am? How about Ashley?”

“Sorry. I’m fine now. You don’t have to worry.”

“Really? I’m glad.”

Vivian smiled faintly at Ez who was beaming.

“You’ve worked very hard today. I’ll pay you with the additional wages for today later.”

“Ay, it’s fine, ma’am. Instead, please cook even more delectably tomorrow. I really like your cooking, ma’am.”

Tomorrow. Vivian thought over the word for a moment and just smiled.

After seeing Ez off, Vivian laid her child on the bed in her room. She, who had been watching her sleeping child intently, then opened the drawer next to her.

There was some money placed next to the simple clothes. The money that she had been saving excruciatingly wasn’t really that much. The biggest reason was due to the fact that she had run her business in leisure since she had already gotten a place to settle in.

“What should I do?”

The physician’s eyes had noticed her clearly. And despite this, he still didn’t say anything at all. Rather, he had even examined Ashley, so it would be bad of her if she didn’t relay her thanks to him.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t open her mouth in front of him. She was terrified if he had promptly told her to get lost since he always ordered her not to set foot in the Grand Duke’s sight.

Now that she had already been found by the Grand Duke, it was only a matter of time until she would’ve gotten caught by the County. As soon as this fact had entered the County, it was then natural for her life to be lighter than a single sheet of paper.

Right now, all she wanted was to hide. She wished to erase her presence from everyone who had known of her. However, the money in her hands and the reality of life had blocked her road ahead.

Vivian reached out to caress her baby’s soft cheek. She felt sorry for the child, but she had to be even more tenacious in making money now. They could no longer settle in here peacefully.

***

Vivian was baffled.

The man in front of her eyes still didn’t disappear no matter how much she rubbed her eyes.

Was he only about to leave—now? He was still wearing the same robe and was still sitting straight at the same seat as per usual.

“Ma’am, he’s here again.”

“I’ll go to him.”

Vivian pushed back Ez’s fascinated voice before she strode towards him. When she finally reached his table, Vivian spoke without any hesitation at all.

“Please get out right now.”

Knox moved his head at her firm words.

“Vivian.”

“Let me just say it in short—leave.”

“I won’t disturb you at all. I came over to dine, only that.”

“Did you not listen to me yesterday?”

Her infuriated voice had drawn some attention from the people around her. Even Ez had gotten dumbfounded by Vivian’s unexpected response.

However, Knox, the one who received her full attention, continued to speak in a calm voice.

“Didn’t you only tell me not to stay?”

I didn’t expect him to nitpick about that. She couldn’t help but to laugh at this nonsense.

“I clearly said; please do not come to this inn anymore, sir.”

“That’s why I came here, to this place as a mere restaurant—not an inn.”

“You really—”

Vivian was just about to say something when she belatedly realized those people around her before closing her mouth. A short silence rushed through the inn.

“Then, I’ll prepare the dish and bring it to you. So, please leave quickly after your meal.”

She then turned around while puffing a chilly wind along those words. She stirred the ladle spatula that she left in the pot before and hastened her cooking.

“Ez!”

When he approached her while being surprised that the food had been prepared even faster than usual, she merely scooped the soup out insincerely.

“Please bring this to that person.”

“Is he someone you know of, ma’am?”

“No.”

Vivian instantly affirmed.

That might have been the case back then when she had to borrow Alexia’s name, but not at this moment. The coldness in her voice was deliberately enunciated louder as if to make him hear it as well.

“I don’t know him.”

Knox didn’t give any response even though he had heard her clearly. He merely began to spoon out the food that had been brought over by Ez while pondering away.