Dirty Heart - Chapter 17

“Sister Courtney, are you sick? Your face looks pale.”

The next day, Courtney flinched at Liam’s worried voice.

Her reflection in the mirror looked utterly exhausted at a glance. It was only natural. Lionel had tormented her all night, leaving her no chance to sleep properly.

Feeling awkward, she forced a smile and gently stroked Liam’s hair.

“No, I’m not sick. I just… didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Why couldn’t you sleep?”

At his innocent question, Courtney pressed her lips tightly together, unable to answer. She had no idea how to explain it, and the situation was incredibly awkward.

At that moment, a low voice cut in.

“Should I tell him?”

“…!”

Startled, she hurriedly turned around and tried to cover Lionel’s mouth. But the difference in their height was too great. Even standing on her toes, she could barely reach his chin.

“What are you trying to say in front of a child?”

“Shouldn’t children learn certain things too?”

At Courtney’s whisper, Lionel’s eyes curved mischievously.

“Listen carefully. I’ll explain in detail what your sister and I did all night.”

“S-stop it, seriously!”

Meanwhile, watching the two bicker, Liam’s expression quickly turned serious. Hurt filled the kid’s large eyes.

“Were you talking about secrets without me?”

“N-no, that’s not it, Liam!”

Courtney waved her hands frantically.

“We just had something important to talk about. Adult conversations.”

“It was a conversation. A conversation of bodies.”

“Ah, seriously!”

Just as she shot Lionel a sharp glare for his shameless teasing,

Grrr-.

Courtney’s face flushed bright red. Perhaps because she’d exhausted herself so much during the night, her hunger had reached its peak.

“Sister, are you hungry?”

“Of course she is. She had quite an intense conversation.”

Lionel’s smug tone made her want to strangle him. Afraid he would say something even worse, Courtney quickly changed the subject.

“Alright, let’s all go eat!”

She grabbed Liam’s hand and hurried out of the bedroom. Walking across the wide carpeted corridor toward the dining room, the massive doors opened to reveal a dazzling sight.

“Wow…!”

Liam gasped in admiration at the lavish brunch spread beneath the windows, where sunlight poured in.

Crisp croissants, bacon fried fresh in the morning oil, soft scrambled eggs, and fresh fruit salad. Fragrant coffee and juice completed the meal. It was a table unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life.

The moment he sat down, Liam began stuffing food into his mouth. Watching him, Courtney’s expression filled with pity. He must have been starving for so long that the mere sight of food overwhelmed him.

“You can eat slowly, Liam. No one will take it away from you.”

“Has he received no manners education at all? He’s no different from an animal.”

In contrast, Lionel shook his head in disgust. Liam ignored the fork and knife entirely and used his hands to grab food, which clearly displeased him.

“So when are you sending him back?”

At the cold question, Courtney’s heart dropped. Perhaps she’d grown attached to Liam after just one night. The thought of sending him back to the orphanage filled her with unease.

“Couldn’t… couldn’t we keep him here with us for a while?”

“Keep him here?”

“The orphanage conditions are quite poor. Look at him. Isn’t he pitiful?”

Courtney tilted her head toward Liam. His thin limbs, and the countless unidentified scars scattered across his body…. Anyone could see clear signs of abuse.

“He doesn’t look pitiful at all.”

Lionel frowned in clear displeasure.

Watching that beautiful face show not even a trace of sympathy, Courtney swallowed a hollow laugh. She had briefly forgotten what kind of person he truly was.

‘A man without blood or tears….’

While her insides boiled with anger, a polite knock sounded, and the elderly white-haired butler stepped inside with a bow.

“Young Master, you have a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

“Yes. Someone has come from Saint Agatha Orphanage. They are desperately searching for an orphan named Liam, and the description seems to match this child.”

The butler’s gaze briefly shifted toward Courtney and Liam. A mere maid and an orphan boy enjoying a noble’s breakfast table. It was a shocking sight, yet none dared show it. Recently, the Young Duke’s affection toward the maid had deepened, and everyone acted cautiously around her. Some even addressed Courtney with excessive honorifics.

“…Shall I send them away?”

A sharp light flashed in Lionel’s eyes. At last, the moment to dispose of this troublesome burden had come. He slowly nodded.

“Good. Tell them to come and take this nuisance away immediately.”

“No….”

At that moment, a painful sound escaped Liam’s lips. His face turned pale as he clung desperately to Courtney’s hand and pleaded.

“Sister…. Can’t I stay here with you?”

At the child’s desperate voice, Courtney’s heart tightened painfully. But,

“No. You can’t.”

Lionel coldly answered in place of the soft-hearted Courtney. Utter despair filled the child’s eyes.

***

“It’s been a while, Courtney.”

The woman’s sharp eyes glittered as they slowly swept over Courtney, whose appearance had clearly improved.

Not long after arriving in the capital, she heard rumors spreading quietly among high society. That the sickly Young Duke of House Erhardt had become completely obsessed with a maid from the orphanage, willing to give her anything, even his liver and allbladder.

She’d wondered what kind of beautiful woman could catch the high-and-mighty Young Duke’s eye. Good heavens.

‘To think that woman would be Courtney.’

Charlotte’s gaze fell on Courtney, clinging to the Young Duke like a leech. Compared to before, her clothes were certainly more presentable, but the cheapness and rustic air ingrained in her could never be hidden.

What kind of cunning trick could something so unimpressive possibly have used to seduce the Young Duke?

Pushing aside her relentlessly rising suspicions, she forced a bright smile. She had already begun calculating that she might be able to squeeze an enormous fortune out of House Erhardt through Courtney.

“It is a great honor to meet the Young Duke of House Erhardt. I apologize for arriving so suddenly and causing offense….”

“Just get to the point.”

Lionel’s cold voice cut her off, but Charlotte showed no sign of being flustered and bowed her head calmly.

“Yes. Then I will speak frankly.”

She toyed with the extravagant rings on her fingers and continued in a smooth, shameless voice.

“In truth, Courtney has failed to pay her donations, so the orphanage’s financial situation is not in good condition.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

Courtney, who had remained silent until now, could no longer hold back and cut in.

“You could sell the gold you’re wearing and buy enough food to feed the orphanage children for years. And after all the money I’ve already sent you, how dare you shamelessly come here?”

Charlotte’s eyes sharpened dangerously as she stared at Courtney.

“Courtney. Your behavior is extremely disrespectful. After everything I’ve done to raise and feed you, is this how you repay that kindness? And although it’s called donations, in truth, it’s no different from repaying a debt you owe.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? What debt do I owe you?”

“Here. Take a look.”

Charlotte pulled out a worn document from her clothes and held it out for Lionel to see.

“As you can see in the contract, children who leave the orphanage are required to repay their upbringing costs once they become adults. Courtney is no exception. Now that she is a full member of society, shouldn’t she repay what was given to her?”

“What kind of scam is this? I never signed any contract like that!”

As Courtney was about to shout in anger, Lionel raised his hand to stop her.

“That’s enough. There’s nothing more civilized than settling it with money.”

He spoke briefly, then fixed Charlotte with his cold blue eyes. His expression showed clear irritation.

“How much does Courtney owe?”

As the negotiation began in earnest, Charlotte’s eyes gleamed.

“Hmm… ten million krangs should be sufficient.”

“What? Ten million krangs isn’t some trivial amount. Are you insane?”

Courtney clenched both fists tightly, trembling with anger.

“Very well.”

But Lionel nodded calmly. His lips curved coldly, as if he simply wanted to end the tiresome transaction quickly.

“I’ll give you double. Twenty million krangs.”

“G-good heavens… are you serious?”

Charlotte’s eyes widened in disbelief. The amount she demanded was already higher than she expected, yet he offered even more. It was an incredible windfall.

‘With twenty million krangs, I could live in luxury for the rest of my life.’

The thought of luxurious mansions in the capital, priceless jewels, and extravagant banquets made greed flicker across her face.

“However, there is one condition.”

“…A condition?”

“Never appear before Courtney again.”

Lyonel’s blue eyes suddenly turned icy cold, and the air in the reception room froze instantly.

“Of course, next time I won’t resolve it in such a civilized way.”