Chapter 2
I asked the maid who was cautiously tending to my appearance, “…. You know.”
“Yes, madam.”
“Is Cardisel very busy by any chance?”
At those words, the maid’s face darkened instantly. Although I knew our relationship wasn’t good, given the depiction of neglecting her son, this was almost like treating each other as transparent beings.
Even the servants who attended to Sherryel never mentioned Cardisel l’s name.
“I’ll change the question. Do you know where Cardisel is right now?”
“…I believe Young Master Cardisel is in the garden at the moment. Would you like to meet him?”
I hesitated at that.
In the original work, Cardisel didn’t know how to empathize with others’ pain. Knowing that he might approach with a threatening gaze, I hesitated even though I knew I had to approach.
As I remained silent, the maid spoke as if accustomed.
“I spoke unnecessarily. Please rest well, madam.”
The maid’s face as she bid farewell to me seemed somewhat bitter.
It seemed as if there was a fleeting thought of pity for Cardisel, who wasn’t receiving proper attention. My heart fluttered unexpectedly. The small compassion in the maid’s eyes touched me. Right. Since we lived in the same mansion, we were bound to encounter each other somehow.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“I have to go meet him. So, will you guide me to the garden?”
“M-Madam.”
“Why are you so surprised? And it seems chilly outside. Will you dress me warmly?”
Upon my request, the maid responded with a flushed face, “Yes, Madam!”
I glanced briefly out the window and let out a deep sigh. My heart was pounding nervously. I worried as if I were stepping on a minefield, and headed towards the garden where Cardisel was expected to be.
The Duke of Loperam’s garden was more beautiful than I had anticipated. Creating a garden entwined with thorns seemed like a premonition of what was to come in the novel, where the heroine couldn’t escape.
I wandered around, searching for Cardisel, but he didn’t seem to be hiding anywhere. Perplexed, I asked the maid, “Where is Cardisel?”
“…That’s strange. I heard he was playing around here.”
As puzzled as I was, the maid rolled her eyes in confusion. Seeing her reaction, I felt reluctant to meet Cardisel today and almost turned back. There was no relief in loosening the tension that had been building within me.
“Well, there’s nothing I can do. I guess I’ll have to go back to my room.”
“W-Wait a moment!”
“Why?”
“Madam, please wait a moment. I’ll go and find out where Young Master Cardisel is!” Without waiting for any objections, the maid hurried away.
I had no choice but to wander the garden alone. Being cooped up in my room for so long felt suffocating. Enchanted by the beautifully blooming flowers, I ventured deep into the garden.
It was then, hidden among the bushes, that I spotted a table and chairs in a secluded spot. Approaching out of curiosity, I saw a child sitting on one of the chairs.
Their legs didn’t touch the ground, indicating that the chair was too high for them.
“Who is this? Why is there a child in the garden?” I wondered, but then I noticed that the child’s hair was the same silvery color as mine, and I was left speechless.
“Could it be, is this child Cardisel?”
The child’s wavy silvery hair fluttered in the wind, and beneath long eyelashes, there was a golden glint that could melt people’s hearts.
Though still young, there was a delicacy to their features that promised breathtaking beauty in the future.
But what captivated me were their chubby cheeks, softly rounded and begging to be pinched. With their mouth full of something, Cardisel’s cheeks bulged as they chewed, clearly enjoying their solitary tea time in the garden.
As colorful desserts disappeared into the child’s mouth, whipped cream smudged their cheeks. Smiling widely like the midday sun, the child said, “Try some!”
“…How adorable.”
“Huh?”
Whether my words were heard or not, Cardisel paused and glanced back. Quickly, I sat among the bushes, hiding my presence. The child chuckled once, then turned their gaze away. I bit my lip, fearing I might accidentally speak aloud. I didn’t want to disturb their happy tea time.
I settled in the bushes and observed Cardisel. They didn’t seem bothered by grass stains on their dress. After happily munching for a while, the child suddenly got up from the chair. I wondered where they were headed and watched closely. Then, with a thud, they stumbled over a pebble, caught on the edge of a rock.
Feeling a pang of pain in my knees, I rushed over to check on the child. But they seemed fine, brushing themselves off and getting back up.
“…I’m okay, I can walk!”
Sniffling, they wiped away a tear and continued walking with determined steps, their resilience endearing.
“…What do I do?”
They were far from the cruel male lead of a trashy novel… They were just too, too cute.
After confirming that Cardisel was gone, I tried to calm my heart.
The image of their chubby cheeks, their sunny disposition, and their endearing mannerisms lingered in my mind. There was a lovable child, not the cruel male lead from a trashy novel, that wouldn’t leave my thoughts.
Brushing off the grass clinging to me from hiding in the bushes, I heard a voice calling me from behind.
“Madam!”
The panting footsteps drew nearer, and finally, I remembered the maid I had forgotten. The maid, who had been searching for me frantically, gasping for breath, spoke to me.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t find Young Master Cardisel….” The maid’s apology fell on deaf ears.
I grabbed the maid’s hand as if possessed, and called out her name that surfaced from my memory.
“Daisy. Does Cardisel often come to the garden?”
Daisy blinked several times, seemingly surprised by my sudden interest in Cardisel.
“Yes, Madam. I’ve heard that Young Master often visits the garden. But why do you ask?”
I was about to express my desire to enjoy tea time with Cardisel when the thought of Sherryel and Cardisel’s relationship came to mind. So, I asked cautiously.
“Daisy. Our relationship, mine and Cardisel’s, it’s not good, is it…?”
At my words, Daisy’s face darkened instantly. She pursed her lips as if choosing her words carefully.
“Rather than it being bad, Madam, it’s more like you don’t have much interest in Young Master Cardisel. Did I upset you by mentioning him?”
Realizing her misunderstanding, I shook my head.
“I didn’t bring up Cardisel to punish you.”
“Then why suddenly bring up Young Master?”
I pondered how to respond. Before I possessed her, the original Sherryel neglected Cardisel. But I wasn’t her. I wanted to befriend the sweet child happily eating dessert.
I wanted to engage in conversation while giving something. “Would it be strange if I came and said I want to befriend my son now?” I said with a bitter expression. Daisy’s eyes widened at my words. “No, that wouldn’t be strange at all. Young Master adores you so much. So whenever you didn’t show interest in him… he would be upset by himself…”
“Tear up? Tears forming in those small, adorable eyes?” My heart felt itchy just thinking about it. I took a deep breath to compose myself and looked at Daisy with determination. “Daisy, would you mind letting me know when Cardisel comes to the garden?”
“M-Me?”
“I’m worried Cardisel might be surprised if I suddenly approach him, considering how indifferent I’ve been. So, I want to take care of him from a distance… Is that too much to ask?”
“That’s not too much to ask at all. Please leave it to me anytime!”
“Thank you so much!”
With a smile in my eyes at Daisy’s reliable demeanor, I resolved to become closer with my son.
***
Cardisel had been experiencing strange occurrences lately.
When he woke up, there would be gifts wrapped with ribbons neatly placed beside his head. And in the garden he frequented, there were desserts twice as lavish as usual spread out.
The clothes he was wearing suddenly changed too. They became more colorful and cute.
Cardisel, involuntarily, noticed the different gaze of the servants who tended to him. It used to be infinitely sympathetic, but now it seemed brighter with a sense of relief.
Cardisel’s gaze sharpened.
It was clear that the Duchess, who suddenly appeared in the garden that day, had done something wrong. Her childish behavior, calling him useless, was still vivid in his mind. She always looked at him with dry eyes.
Cardisel looked at the small letters she sent to him.
“Did you sleep well, Cardisel?”
“The weather is lovely today.”
“How was the dessert?”
Even though he deliberately didn’t reply, the Duchess kept sending him letters regularly.
She would rather come to see him in person. He didn’t like the idea of her hiding behind in the garden, watching him. It was clear that she was trying to win him over in a new way since she still didn’t want to face him directly.
Cardisel slowly wrote something on the paper.
***
Unable to contain my joy, I approached Daisy with the letter the servant handed me.
“Daisy, look at this. Cardisel sent me a reply.”
“Congratulations, Madam!”
I slowly unfolded the letter, but my joy turned into disbelief as I read its contents. Instead of the child’s usual crooked handwriting, the sentences were written elegantly.
“Please don’t give me any more letters or gifts.”
It was his first rejection.
