Carol snapped to her senses as if doused with cold water.
“No?”
“No, what are you saying!”
“That’s strange.”
“I said no.”
“If not, then nevermind.”
Carol felt the need to cut off the flow of this conversation.
“I’ll go get something to drink.”
“Right, I forgot to bring it over. I left it by the window.”
Carol went to the window to retrieve the drinks, but instead of bringing them back, she paused leaving the window open.
The juice she had left out a while ago was half frozen.
Carol pressed the bottle to her cheek. The chilling sensation quickly cooled the remaining warmth.
It had clearly just surfaced from seeing him daily.
While she knew her brothers didn’t simply mean “someone she meets” by “someone you’re seeing”, she had still felt flushed…
‘It’s just unfamiliar discussing romance with family.’
Putting aside that the male lead already had a female lead, Carol was the teacher and the Duke her student.
Especially on such an important day, she had to leave this matter at home.
After cooling her face, Carol returned to her seat. As Kevin was portioning food onto each plate, he kicked Dylan’s knee.
“Ow!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, nothing.”
“How bland.”
Dylan rubbed his knee, looking at Carol. Since Kevin had just asked, it was Dylan’s turn to speak – their unspoken rule.
“Then did you happen to fight with Louis?”
“…Why would you suddenly say that?”
“Just wondering if you fought because of us…”
“Why would we fight because of you two?”
“Did you fight because we said we wanted to go to the capital?”
“Why would we fight over that?”
“Well…we told Louis first without telling you.”
Carol looked between Kevin and Dylan.
“Louis probably asked first himself.”
“True, but…you want to live in the north, don’t you sis?”
“No, I’m considering whichever you two prefer.”
It seemed they felt uneasy that she had been returning home and immediately falling asleep without much conversation lately.
Two turkey legs rested on her plate – one Kevin gave up for her, one from Dylan.
“No more talk of this today. We can discuss it another time, right?”
“…Understood.”
“Yeah.”
At their obedient replies, Carol used tongs to transfer one leg each to their plates.
“If I’ve been quieter lately, it’s simply because I’m tired from being busy.”
“You eat first, sis!”
Though unable to take their eyes off the transferred turkey legs, the two insisted Carol take them.
“I’m fine. I can’t eat much anyway since I have to go to the Duke’s Mansion soon.”
“Louis is coming a bit later too…”
“I’ll set aside other delicious parts, so don’t worry and eat.”
Only then did the two obediently take the turkey legs. As if they had been restraining their desire to eat, they quickly began carving into the turkey legs.
“I guess there’s no choice then.”
“When you come back, can you bring something for us too? What do they eat at the Duke’s on Founding Day?”
But at their questions, cheeks stuffed with meat, unable to give up the Duke’s Mansion food, Carol finally regained her composure.
“I’ll ask if I get the chance. Don’t get your hopes too high.”
At Carol’s playful remark, Kevin, who especially loves the Duke Mansion’s food, exclaimed “Oh, please!”
It was a peaceful scene. Carol resolutely chewed the rich, buttery potatoes.
“How is it?”
Though she occasionally prepared meals, the two looked at Carol with tense faces, as she had ambitiously made this.
“Delicious. Thank you.”
“Great, let’s hurry and eat so we can have the cake too.”
Though the two were nearing academy graduation, to Carol they were still adorable younger brothers.
Amidst the lively atmosphere, an unfamiliar sound came.
Knock knock.
Kevin, closest to the door, went to answer.
“Louis? You said you’d be a bit late today.”
In truth, when Louis said he’d come later, Carol felt relieved. She had agreed to extend working at the Duke’s Mansion another month, but had rashly said she’d work longer out of pique.
She knew the truth – that Louis’ concern extended far beyond just a friend’s.
But whether it was familial concern or something else…
Her heart pounded unnervingly. Anxious over not knowing what to say, she became flustered.
“Excuse me.”
A voice younger than Louis’ came. A messenger boy. Kevin, opening the door, worriedly asked if he was working even on his day off.
“You’re working on Founding Day too?”
“I have something that absolutely must be delivered today… This is the last item.”
The messenger awkwardly laughed, brushing his nape. He then handed over a box he had tucked under his arm.
“You’re Kevin, right?”
“I am, but I’m not expecting anything?”
Receiving the box, Kevin checked the recipient’s address.
“This seems to be for next door?”
“Huh?”
“There’s someone named Kevin living next door too.”
Hearing Kevin’s words as he took the box, the messenger glanced at the address written on it and the house number next door, startled.
“My apologies. You’re absolutely right. I must have made a mistake in my excitement.”
“No problem.”
Kevin wanted to quickly send him off. Something seemed off, so he wanted the messenger gone quickly.
“There have been issues with this house before too, come to think of it.”
The messenger apologized again with a bow.
Without realizing it, Kevin glanced back and stiffened.
“Haha, what issues?”
Carol’s gaze was directed this way. It wasn’t a small voice, so if she was focusing this way, she surely must have heard.
The messenger was shorter than Kevin, unable to see the people inside or read the atmosphere.
The messenger continued the conversation cheerfully as Kevin’s face drained of color.
“The person who sent the flowers said the recipient didn’t seem to receive them that time. I definitely delivered them properly though.”
“Uh…uh…”
“But before we could investigate, the sender said it was okay, so it ended there.”
Those were the flowers Louis had said he would accept on her behalf back then.
The flowers Carol didn’t know about, as per Louis’ request to stay quiet.
He had trusted Louis would handle it, never expecting an ambush from this side.
“Ah yes, yes. That’s fortunate.”
“Right?”
“But we were in the middle of a meal, you see.”
Kevin incoherently cut off the conversation, but the information Carol shouldn’t know had already slipped out. A line of cold sweat trickled down his back.
“Ah right, my apologies for interrupting. Happy Founding Day!”
With an innocently oblivious face, the messenger bid them a good evening and left.
Kevin wanted to demand an explanation after revealing everything, but the messenger had already departed.
Thud.
The door closed, and Kevin awkwardly turned around. He sought Dylan’s help, but Dylan quietly avoided his gaze.
‘I’ll get that brat later.’
Kevin inwardly vowed revenge.
“Flowers?”
Though her face appeared calm, the decidedly not-calm, even more frightening Carol demanded an explanation.
“No…well, you see…”
Did Louis delay coming because he knew this would happen? Kevin felt wronged despite being blameless.
Carol was more curious about something than the flowers’ whereabouts. She wanted to confirm if it really was the Duke who sent her flowers. Carol set down her fork and knife.
“By any chance, were those yellow flowers?”
The flowers blooming by the window were called daylilies.
“…Yes.”
The flowers were properly delivered to the house. She alone had been unaware.
“It seems there are things I need to hear after all.”
Carol’s face hardened as she spoke.
“Let’s talk when you return.”
Today was an extremely important day.
****
While maintaining a tidy state staying at the Duke’s Mansion, Noah’s grooming today was another level.
He woke early, adjusted his attire, trimmed his hair, and scrubbed his entire body clean.
“Mary, have you ever seen the Duke?”
Mary, tasked with bathing him, was practically the only person at the annex kind to Noah. Her face remained impassive at his excited voice.
“I saw him a very long time ago.”
“What was he like?”
“I don’t think my description now would mean much.”
“Ah…I suppose so.”
She must have seen him before the incident. Though curt and taciturn, Noah knew she cared about him. He nodded at her considerate discretion.
Over a crisply starched white shirt making his usual quality clothes look plain, he wore a navy blue wool vest. Below, straight-leg deep brown corduroy trousers. Woolen socks and gleaming dress shoes completed the ensemble before Noah could be released.
