Episode 32
“Are you going to Mr. Mekel’s townhouse? Then, if you turn down that alley, there’s a five-way intersection…”
Monica thought she must have been overly wary of Hans.
Hans walked alongside Monica at a comfortable distance of about two hand spans, giving her detailed directions. He felt bad about not escorting her all the way to Mekel’s townhouse.
“Thank you.”
“What are you talking about! Oh, it’s dark—I should’ve brought you a gas lamp!”
Hans scratched his head, looking regretful. But he couldn’t afford to use expensive gas lamps like that. Monica smiled and declined his offer.
“It’s okay. I can manage just fine.”
“Well, it would make you stand out more.”
“Sorry, what?”
The tips of the gardener’s ears turned red.
“No, I mean… those new clothes… they’re very pretty. That’s all! It doesn’t mean anything!”
Monica glanced down at what she was wearing.
It was one of the outfits Luis had bought for her: a purple, modest dress that was perfect for work.
Hans instinctively took a step back, watching her expression. Monica felt a twinge of guilt, realizing the kind young gardener was still mindful of her earlier rejection of his invitation.
But what could she do? Monica was an orphan with no place to go.
Girls without homes or families had to stay guarded. It was the way things were. If Hans resented her for it, she couldn’t help that.
However, Hans waved his hands, making it clear he didn’t blame her.
“I’ve only ever been around strong girls like Maria, so when I see someone like you, Teacher, I don’t even know how to give a proper compliment.”
He started chatting about his years working for the Mollet family—about the resilient maids who never showed weakness, and about Miss Riella, the show-off who never left his side.
Monica felt a bit strange. Why would the young lady of the house show off herself so openly to the gardener?
Still, she didn’t want to argue pointlessly with a man on the street at night. She nodded, agreeing with Hans’s words.
When they reached the intersection he had mentioned, Hans abruptly stopped walking.
“Have a safe trip.”
“Oh, yes.”
Monica, who had been growing anxious about whether he’d follow her further, finally smiled shyly.
“Thank you.”
The gardener shrugged and quickly turned away.
Even so, he turned around a couple of times to check the path she was taking, which made Monica hesitate and wave at him awkwardly.
“Phew.”
She sighed in relief.
Only after Hans had disappeared down the alley did Monica quicken her pace. She decided to take a different route than the one he had suggested, as the street was lined with townhouses, and the homes of the Mekel and Sullivan families were relatively far apart.
Monica chose only the brightly lit paths to avoid getting lost, as she had before.
(T/N – I would address Sullivan family as Sollivan family to avoid confusion in the upcoming episodes)
Fortunately, the street where the Sollivan family’s townhouse was located wasn’t filled with mansions, but there were still quite a few wealthy homes with lights on.
Finally, Monica arrived at her destination.
The house was grand. It was too dark to see clearly, but at a glance, it appeared imposing and large—perhaps four times the size of Mekel’s home.
Monica took a deep breath and knocked on the cerulean door with its large lion-head doorknob. The thudding sound startled her.
“Who is it?”
“Uh…”
The person who opened the door was unfamiliar.
A brown-haired young man with a tired face leaned out, holding a candle. Monica reflexively asked,
“I’m looking for Lord Sollivan. Is this the right place?”
“Oh.”
The young man raised his eyebrows at her words.
“Excuse me, but who might you be?”
“My name is Monica.”
“Ah.”
The young man nodded slightly, as if understanding something, and soon introduced himself.
Monica realized he was Andrei Regis, Enrique’s new secretary. Smiling politely, Andrei led her into the townhouse’s reception room.
“Our colonel is currently without a servant here due to certain circumstances. I hope you won’t mind…”
“No need to explain, Andrei.”
Before Andrei could finish, a familiar voice interrupted. Monica hesitated, then stood as she recognized it.
Enrique Sollivan was standing at the doorway.
“What brings you here? I thought it would take a few days.”
He looked tired. His dark golden eyebrows furrowed in the middle, and his half-unbuttoned shirt was rumpled, as though he had been lying down in it.
Monica retrieved a small bottle of powdered medicine from her handbag.
“Yes, it was supposed to take a few days. But just in case…”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a sleeping pill.”
Enrique chuckled. Monica frowned, feeling defensive.
The pills weren’t just a way to buy time—they were also an act of concern. She worried he wouldn’t sleep for days without the “green medicine.”
Enrique, however, simply laughed and replied,
“Have I ever taken sleeping pills?”
“But…”
“Andrei.”
Andrei, standing a step back, shrugged and left, only to return moments later with a box in hand. When he opened it, Monica saw bottles of all kinds of powdered medicine.
Speechless, she stared as Enrique nodded.
“If I ever suffer from insomnia, I can take my pick.”
