“Episode 62”
“How was your father’s eye color?”
Clodan’s movement, rubbing his face against her hand, came to a halt.
“Why do you ask?”
“Just curious. I wondered if your father’s eyes were also this bright amber color.”
Clodan’s father had chocolate-colored eyes. He had inherited his mother’s eyes, so Clodan quietly shook his head.
“Then it must be your mother.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Is it wrong to ask?”
Ray put her hand under the pillow as if she had lost interest. She let out a long yawn as if that was all she wanted. Not wanting to return to the cold atmosphere, Clodan continued the interrupted conversation.
“Shall I go out with you tomorrow?”
Whether she was asleep or pretending, Ray, with only her eyelids visible, did not answer. Like the winter that lingered without leaving, Ray’s heart had not completely thawed. He had to be patient and not rush things.
And before that.
Clodan’s gaze traveled up and down Ray’s belly.
***
Mrs. Mary hadn’t known the reason for Philip’s busyness for long. Since she had stopped doing household chores, Jack had left the stables, and John had been loafing around with Thomas. All the odd jobs had fallen on Philip. Because he foolishly tried to do everything, it was hard for her to run into him, even by chance.
It would be easier if he acted like Jack and played, made friends like John, or slept like she did. Why did he have to be like this? She really wanted to give him a round of applause when she found out he was still washing and changing the master’s bedding. Sometimes she even suspected that the master had taken Philip’s brain in exchange for the curse.
Well, however Philip was doing things, that was his way of living, so she didn’t mind. Jack’s state was better than being depressed, and annoying John had latched onto Thomas, so that was fine. The gardener seemed to secretly take care of the flowerbeds with her. The only one who hadn’t found a way to live was Mrs. Mary herself.
The other day, she had gone to the third floor, where she seldom went, because she was wary of the master’s eyes. Just yesterday, she had indulged in the luxury of eating all sorts of foods by herself. Even just taking one bite of each dish…
Thomas, who always boasted about being a doctor, was now in a hurry at just past 6 a.m. The way he hurried off at this early hour needed no further explanation. Finally, it seemed the so-called doctor had come to his senses. It was expected he would soon realize this place wasn’t interesting enough to stick around out of mere curiosity, though it happened faster than she had thought.
There was no particular regret, but she did feel envious. The fact that he could just leave whenever he wanted. At least he could leave without any limbs missing since the master wasn’t around, she thought, just as John quickly ran out after Thomas.
Thomas looked surprised to see John, and John clung to Thomas’s bag, refusing to let go. They exchanged words for a while, seemingly in a bit of a scuffle. Mrs. Mary couldn’t take her eyes off the intriguing scene. Thomas eventually calmed John down and tried to explain something, but it didn’t seem to work as Thomas kept running his hand through his hair in frustration. Finally, with a resigned look, he started walking with John.
John was leaving the mansion. John, who was in a similar situation to hers, was leaving. If anyone should be kept here, it should be John. The John. Ray’s brother. She thought about stopping him but jealousy swarmed her like a mass of insects. Only John was leaving freely. She didn’t want to stop him. The desire not to interfere was stronger than any reason to keep him here.
Mrs. Mary couldn’t move until the two of them had climbed over the mansion’s wall and Philip had headed to the stables.
Thus, Thomas, the thorn in Mrs. Mary’s side and the cause of Ray’s worries, left with John. The reality of their departure brought her not relief but a strong urge to leave herself.
