Franz struggled to swallow back his exuberant smile that was threatening to burst out.
Charlotte Hegel appeared even more innocent than he had heard. Since they were bound by circumstance, he couldn’t bring himself to reject her invitation to chat, despite being somewhat curt. To become closer, he pretended not to know the family history he was already aware of, and he played along. It was a bit boring, but having someone to talk to made it bearable.
“So, you came all the way here from that distant place because of your mother.”
“Yes. I’m really grateful that she’s much better now.”
“It’s really unfortunate. I wouldn’t want my mother to be sick either. Oh, would you like some of this?”
“I’m okay. I just had a meal.”
Charlotte politely declined the scone Franz offered and set down the tea.
“I’m not even a guest, so I’m not sure if I should be treated like this.”
The couch Charlotte sat on was one she had never sat on before in this place. It felt uncomfortable, like wearing ill-fitting clothes. Reading Charlotte’s thoughts, Franz smiled brightly.
“If you’re the servant’s daughter, then you’re like family to me. Don’t feel too burdened.”
“Thank you, Young Master. But I think I should be leaving now.”
As if in agreement with her words, the grandfather clock in the foyer chimed. Rising to bid farewell, Charlotte froze in place. Someone on the other side of the door was shouting.
“I can’t believe this is happening to me! What crime did I commit!”
The voice sounded familiar, like one she had heard before. As she moved towards the door to see what was happening, Franz blocked her path.
“It’s something that happens occasionally.”
“….”
“The losing side in Uncle’s cases comes here and causes a commotion from time to time.”
He spoke nonchalantly, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. With a disdainful glance that seemed to say he was tired of seeing it, Franz chuckled behind Charlotte’s shoulder.
“Usually, they’re kicked out without even seeing a strand of Uncle’s hair. It’s already a done deal, yet they cling to futile hopes. How foolish.”
“Let me go! Let me out! You devil!”
The voice faded as if it were getting farther away. Franz turned Charlotte’s attention back to him.
“Have another cup of tea before you leave. Hmm?”
***
Once again, a day slipped by in no time.
The next day, through Janice, the Earl responded with a brief acknowledgment when told that she would spend only the summer here before leaving. Charlotte hadn’t expected anyone to hold her back, but somehow, she felt a hollow feeling inside.
“Still, we should be thankful for the attention we’ve received, Charlotte. Once Lady Cynthia’s illness was known, the Countess offered to let us stay in the estate.”
“Such excessive kindness is unnecessary.”
“Of course, you’d say the same thing as your mother. That’s why it fell through.”
Janice responded firmly yet with a hint of regret.
“Mother and I share many similarities. It’s been that way for a long time.”
Charlotte concealed her tension and forced a smile.
She had discovered an unexpected aspect of the woman she had thought was simply a gentle mother. She was the Earl’s mistress. Remembering her conversations with the unknown man in the cold, passionless voice only added to the mystery. It felt like she had overheard something important, something related to Richard.
But it was already too late to delve deeper. A gut feeling told Charlotte that there was nothing good to find, so she closed her eyes and ears to it.
In the midst of these contemplations, Janice casually brought up a topic.
“Lately, it seems you’ve become close with Young Master Franz. You’ve been going for walks together and even out into town?”
“We’ve become acquainted, on his part…I’m just grateful for his kindness.”
Charlotte replied as she rolled the flower dipped in honey into sugar. It was a humble response, which seemed to satisfy Janice.
“Yeah. Even though you’re older and Young Master Franz is still a minor, as long as you’re careful, nothing bad will happen.”
“….”
“Whenever something goes wrong, it’s always the woman who bears the blame, even if both parties were involved. And especially if you’re like us, who work as servants.”
Feeling a subtle anger in Janice’s voice, Charlotte lowered her gaze instead of replying.
“I’ll keep that in mind, ma’am.”
The conversation ended there. Both remained silent for a while, focusing on their work. As they neared the end of their tasks, Janice straightened up first.
“We should stop here for now, as it needs some time to mature.”
“Is there anything else I can help with?”
“No, there isn’t. Just some cleanup left.”
“I’ll assist with that.”
“Alright. I feel bad for sending you to Cloverfield earlier; I can’t burden you further. Go on.”
“But I can’t just…”
“Go when I send you. Weren’t you supposed to be somewhere? You kept looking at the clock.”
“Oh…”
Realizing it belatedly, Charlotte took off her apron.
“You’re right. Young Master Franz wanted to hear more about Dallas, so we arranged to meet in the study.”
“Then go ahead. It would be rude to keep him waiting.”
Instead of replying, Charlotte nodded and started up the stairs. Janice called out to her in a soft voice, “Oh, Charlotte.”
“Yes?”
“Did you happen to come downstairs last night?”
A chill ran down Charlotte’s spine.
“…”
Turning her head like a malfunctioning puppet, Charlotte asked, “Um…no. Why?”
“Never mind then. It’s nothing.”
She was curious yet didn’t want to know the intention behind the question. Charlotte licked her dry lips, wanting to see the other’s face, but Janice was standing with her back to her, so all she could see was her silhouette.
After a brief silence that seemed intentional, Janice continued, “I’ve been a bit on edge lately, with all the things I’ve had to take care of.”
With her usual faint smile, Janice turned around.
“Go on upstairs, Charlotte.”
***
Knock knock.
“Excuse me. Is anyone here?”
There was no need to knock; the study was open.
Stepping in quietly, Charlotte found herself in a spacious room. Curtains were drawn all around, casting the room in shadow.
“Your Grace?”
With a feeling like stepping into a mysterious realm, Charlotte glanced around. It felt like she was entering a small library.
Due to the Countess of Kensington’s love for old books, the Mistymoor Hall was renowned for its extensive collection, almost rivaling the Queen’s private library. True to the rumors, the elongated rectangular room was lined with bookshelves made of polished oak, and personalized reading desks, tailored to adult men’s heights, were scattered throughout.
“He hasn’t arrived yet…”
Muttering to herself, Charlotte’s eyes caught something. Among the reading desks, there was one protected by a square glass pane. On the unfolded shelf, there was a depiction of a majestic tree. Charlotte read the inscription on the left edge.
“A Noble Genealogy?”
Where the branches of the tree extended, the crests of ancient noble families were displayed like fruits. It was said that distinguished lineage often proudly presented their genealogy, akin to a proof of pure bloodline. Considering the household of Kensington had inherited Gredel Hill for several centuries and even produced a queen a few generations back, it wasn’t surprising to find this book here.
As she read with interest, something caught her attention.
“…erased?”
In the past, that is, in the Countess’s grandfather’s generation, there was a long, blotchy trace of erasure. It skipped a generation, passed from the head to the second son.
“Why would that be?”
Erasing a name from a genealogy, akin to erasing one’s identity from the noble world, was a disgrace unparalleled even to Charlotte, a member of the working class. Lost in thought and forgetting her purpose for entering the study, she was startled by a sudden voice.
“It’s usually one of four reasons.”
“Your Grace?”
Startled by the unexpected interruption, Charlotte widened her eyes. Franz approached, casually extending his fingers as he spoke.
“Insanity, physical disability, or marrying without consent, tarnishing the family’s honor.”
It was a chillingly rational world. Internally amused, Franz continued his explanation.
“In the second case, they are usually killed at birth, so their names never make it onto the genealogy. Though things have somewhat improved nowadays.”
“I see,” Charlotte nodded with a troubled expression, prompting Franz to ask a question.
“And the last one. Do you know of hereditary diseases?”
“Diseases passed down through the bloodline?”
With a smirk that suggested she’d given the correct answer, Franz continued.
“Bingo. Inheritance-based, and it runs in our family too. My great-uncle had it. Unfortunately, due to it affecting the eldest son, my uncle inherited the family line, and he became my great-uncle.”
It sent shivers down her spine. It was a revelation she hadn’t expected to hear. Feeling like she had stepped into territory she shouldn’t have, Charlotte couldn’t ignore the unsettling feeling in the air.
With an awkward expression, Franz made a suggestion to Charlotte.
“Let me show you something interesting.”
“Your Grace!”
Without waiting for her objections, he rummaged in his pocket and produced a key. Placing it directly into the slot on the glass cover, he turned it. Without hesitation, Franz retrieved the genealogy and flipped through a few pages before sliding his finger down.
“Take a look at the lower section, Charlotte.”
“…”
“Why do you think Richard’s uncle’s name was erased?”
Charlotte’s fixed gaze followed.
Seymour Arthur Kensington. Indeed, there was an erased name next to his.
“Unfortunately, my uncle is suffering from an incurable disease. It’s the hereditary disease I mentioned earlier.”
🍉🍉🍉
T/N: What could this hereditary ‘disease’ be? 🤔
