“Episode 2”
The rain didn’t last long. Since the day they arrived, a week had passed. As the days without sunlight lingered, the gloomy atmosphere outside and the siblings inside the mansion seemed to merge into one. The usual conversations had evaporated long ago, and even Hayshe, who was relatively lively, had few days when he smiled.
“No manners even in this remote village!”
The prepared meals were not tailored to the guests’ tastes. The person in charge of the kitchen, using the ingredients brought in each day, ignored Hayshe’s picky requests.
Carrots were added despite being disliked, and the broccoli, forbidden by Hayshe, appeared seasoned with pepper. Naturally, Hayshe was not content with that.
“Can’t you leave it if you don’t like it?”
But the lukewarm response only embraced Hayshe. Although he had passed the position where he could freely express his opinions, Hayshe’s complaints escalated day by day. Initially, he blamed the lack of servants. Except for Jack, who was responsible for the stable, Mrs. Mary, who was attached to the kitchen, Philip, who brought the siblings to the mansion, and the gardener staying in the annex, there were hardly any other servants.
Moreover, they were generally so indifferent that they treated Hayshe like a rolling stone on the roadside, regardless of their pride as nobles. Dealing with a proud Hayshe, who couldn’t use his position as freely as before, was a problem that only got worse.
The second source of complaint was related to Lord Clothon. Clothon was as difficult as ever. He showed some care but was not kind, and he seemed to be loosened up but maintained a strict exterior. The same had happened in the past. At that time, it took more than three days for the siblings to bow down to the situation, and when they did, Clothon was keen enough to understand the restricted area without being explicitly mentioned.
On the first day they sat together at the breakfast table, Clothon said something unexpected. Immediately, Hayshe’s lips protruded with dissatisfaction, but Clothon’s attitude was as if he didn’t care at all.
“As long as I’m here.”
Clothon doesn’t mix words with Hayshe. At least that’s how Ray felt. His eyes always avoided Hayshe, capturing the tip of Ray’s spread hair sitting next to him. And slowly, moving up through his neck, his gaze ended with his lips.
Such an attitude made it clear that even though he forbade Hayshe to come near, there was some kind of hint about his own whereabouts.
‘3
It was the first day they sat at the breakfast table together. Clothon was usually a man who didn’t show his face often, probably due to the heavy duties of a lord. However, as soon as they sat down, the first thing he said was about that. Hayshe’s lips protruded with dissatisfaction, but Clothon’s attitude was as if he didn’t care at all.
“As long as I’m here.”
Clothon doesn’t mix words with Hayshe. At least that’s how Ray felt. His eyes always avoided Hayshe, capturing the tip of Ray’s spread hair sitting next to him. And slowly, moving up through his neck, his gaze ended with his lips.
Such an attitude made it clear that even though he forbade Hayshe to come near, there was some kind of hint about his own whereabouts.
“I have a proposal.”
“A proposal?”
Clothon looked directly at Hayshe, probably for the first time.
“I have a business plan in mind… It’s hard to explain in words, but would you like to see it for yourself?”
Hayshe pushed forward the documents he had prepared onto the table. It was a predictable trick. Ray lost his appetite and crushed the trout steak he had been chopping into pieces with the knife.
“As you can see, my friend who delivers has connections to brag about everywhere. Thanks to that, even in this turbulent situation, we are making a decent profit. If Lord invests generously, there will be no regrets. I guarantee it.”
Contrary to Hayshe, who confidently exposed his chest, Clothon, with his chin resting on his hand, just flipped through the documents. Ray could roughly guess what kind of answer would come from his mouth. Looking closely at the poorly crafted business plan, one could easily discern how poor the financial status was by the tone that boasted about funds. Ray wanted to stick his face into the plate.
“Great.”
For a moment, Ray doubted her hearing and looked at Clothon suspiciously.
“Why?”
Clothon smiled and looked at Ray. Right as Ray was about to open her mouth, Hayshe suddenly interjected.
“I knew it! You’ve thought it through! You’ve really come up with a brilliant idea. Whenever it suits your schedule, please let me know. You can visit in person…”
“Before that.”
Clothon extended the unread documents toward Hayshe.
“There are conditions.”
Hayshe’s face, filled with astonishment, turned pitch black. He seemed to be imagining an absurd condition.
“If the invested funds don’t recover as promised, you’ll have to repay.”
Hayshe quickly put on a good-natured face. It was the expected dialogue.
“Haha! So, you’re mentioning that condition. Of course, it’s natural! Certainly, no problem.”
Hayshe and Clothon looked at each other and laughed. The one who couldn’t laugh alone was Ray.
* * *
Hayshe became busy. Since the day the rain stopped, he roamed outside the mansion, leaving Ray alone like an abandoned portrait. In such moments, Ray envied Hayshe. He graduated from a prestigious school, had a broad network, and, despite being arrogant, had some friends.
In contrast, Ray was nothing more than a lonely island. Her parents, rather than enrolling her in a fashionable school, insisted on hiring a live-in tutor, indifferent to the disapproving glances from the surroundings. The only unjust one was Ray. The tutor she managed to find through inquiries was someone Hayshe often dealt with, and her conservative parents chose to support their son’s hand over the humble live-in tutor. Eventually, it reached the point where, even if they later spread rumors and doubled the money, Ray wouldn’t care.
Ray watched the rain pouring down again. Instead of dwelling on the past, which was nothing special, she found it better to observe this than to ponder her uneventful daily life in the dilapidated mansion, where even the footsteps of the servants had withered away. Sitting on the sofa in the lobby, connected to the living room, she spent her time.
It wasn’t lonely or sad. In fact, she had dreamt of such tranquility for a long time. The house was calm now, free from the debt collector who would rush in even if the candlelight inside was lit, her mother who whined with a sickly voice, and the harsh remarks from relatives with even a little kindness. Now it was peaceful without the annoying complaints.
“Miss.”
At that moment, a voice she heard for the first time broke the silence. Ray, who twitched, turned around to see an old lady with knitting in her hands smiling, revealing her teeth. The person was completely unfamiliar, perhaps a servant she hadn’t memorized yet. However, the old lady didn’t leave her seat easily, and it was clear that she had some ulterior motive.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Miss.”
“Yes?”
“Why did you come to a place like this?”
“A place like this?”
“You still look clean. Not tainted yet.”
“Uh… Are you not feeling well?”
“Be careful. Everyone in the mansion has their eyes on you.”
Taking advantage of the moment when Ray was lost for words, the old lady approached her swiftly, like a wolf. Ray was in a daze. So, the old lady seized her wrist before Ray could take any defensive stance.
“You lost your parents early, didn’t you? Siblings who are not very fortunate.”
Now the seemingly sympathetic old lady touched even Ray’s cheek. It was an extremely cold hand.
“This place is cursed. It’s a place where you shouldn’t even get a sip of water.”
“Um… Please let go of my hand.”
“Don’t make eye contact with anyone. Not only your body but also your heart shouldn’t be stolen.”
Only then did Ray try to break free from the old lady. It was not easy. Although she looked elderly, her grip was as tenacious and tough as tree roots.
The cautious attitude, like walking on thin ice, became increasingly rough. Ray wanted to ask for help, but the lobby remained unchanged.
“Hey, do you want to become like me?”
“Let go of my hand. I’ll call someone!”
The once warm-looking old lady becomes terrifying. Sweat pours from Ray’s clasped wrist.
“You have a face that wild animals would like. Never trust him. He’s still trying to suck the life out of you. Can’t you hear that filthy talk up to here? Can’t you hear it? Huh?”
Ray became increasingly irritated. She was beginning to resent the old lady who crawled over the hard-won peace.
“Let go of me! It hurts!”
“Della.”
Suddenly, the old lady stiffened abruptly. Creak, creak. The sound of breaking necks was like a wooden doll. Her eyes slowly groped upstairs, and she released Ray’s cheek that she had been shaking without any hesitation.
“Young master.”
Clothon was holding a black cigar. Due to the smoky black hair covering his head, his facial expression was obscured.
“The guest was startled.”
“Young master, I…”
Instead of a sigh, Clothon exhaled smoke. It was clear that annoyance was mixed in his expression. The situation was not normal. The old lady, who seemed to have quick wits, quickly fixed her disheveled hair and immediately walked out through the door.
“Please take care of yourself.”
She had a temper tougher than a whale tendon. Until the end, she scrutinized Ray, who was absent-minded.
“Young master too.”
Haha. Clothon leaned half his body on the railing and laughed. It was a laugh full of absurdity and thick with a sense of frustration. As the door closed behind the lingering old lady, a sleepy silence settled in the room. Clothon no longer laughed.
“Lord.”
Ray was confused because she couldn’t grasp the situation. But she still had her pride. To blame it on the old lady, who had disturbed the hard-earned peace, seemed too reckless. The voice from above was bone-chilling, making it difficult for anyone to consider the disheveled tone from the muddled head.
“I won’t come out and do this in the future.”
Ray said, covering one hand with the other while slightly bending her knees. It was a tone filled with a somewhat apologetic emotion.
Clothon was smoking a cigar on the left side. His face was revealed now that the smoke had dispersed.
“Ray.”
He smiled brightly.
“Why were you there?”
“What…?”
“I’m on the third floor.”
“What…?”
“It’s pretty to see you brewing troubles there, but can’t you come up now?”
Ray unconsciously grasped the curtain again. Again. She felt like she was blindly being bound by him.
“Come on. There are many interesting things here.”
“You told me not to come up.”
Ray hid behind the curtain as if covering her body. Then Clothon’s laughter deepened.
“Are you tempting me?”
“Why do you keep saying weird things?”
Clothon tilted his head alternately. He seemed to be enjoying himself. Ray unconsciously clutched the curtain. It felt like her feet were following on their own.
“Do you want to tempt me?”
“Why do you keep saying weird things?”
Clothon playfully leaned his head left and right. He grinned as he pointed his cigar back and forth.
“At least there’s nothing else to do.”
“…”
Ray thought.
Temptation is something he’s doing.
But her feet moved on their own. Intentionally letting go of the curtain. Fidgeting fingernails. Twisting footsteps. Ray climbed the stairs. His words were right. After all, she was in a position where there was nothing to count on.
It was an inviting afternoon after the light rain.
