Chapter 12
Contrary to my anxious mind, time passed quite peacefully.
Meanwhile, the morning glories grew rapidly and soon surpassed Edwin’s height as well as that of an adult.
Chase’s, or rather Edwin’s, careful tending was a big part of the reason why it climbed so beautifully over the greenhouse door.
Edwin, who was proud of watching the morning glories grow, was so happy that he applauded when the flower buds finally burst.
“It looks exactly like the picture Renee drew!”
Hearing Edwin’s voice, unable to hide his excitement, I too smiled brightly like a blooming flower.
But Edwin’s excitement did not last long.
Did you want to see for yourself whether it made a sound like a trumpet? Edwin carefully picked the flower and held it to his mouth.
He breathed hard enough to make his cheeks pop, but all that came out was the sound of the air escaping.
“Renee… There is no sound. Maybe I can’t do it?”
Hearing Edwin’s words full of disappointment, I, like him, breathed into the morning glories with all my might.
But I don’t think I’m any better.
Seeing no difference, Edwin finally shook his shoulders in frustration.
“I think it must have been morning glories because it looked like a trumpet.”
I squatted down next to Edwin and spoke quietly, and he looked at me for a moment.
“Are you disappointed?”
“No. Although I’m a little sad that you’re disappointed, Edwin.”
“No? I wasn’t disappointed either. So, Renee, cheer up too.”
Edwin, who had been dropping a moment ago, was quite desperate to comfort me. The little hand patting the back of my hand was so warm.
I was suddenly overwhelmed by Edwin’s loving heart and couldn’t bear it…
“Renee?”
“Edwin, please grow up like this.”
I hugged him tightly. Edwin stiffened at the sudden hug.
It seemed like it was because he wasn’t used to close contact with someone.
It was probably a very rude thing to do, but I couldn’t help but hold him like this.
I feel sorry for Edwin, who is very nervous despite embracing human warmth. But it’s amazing that he still has a warm heart.
Edwin slowly relaxed his body. Soon his small hand touched my back.
His arms were so small that he couldn’t hug me all, but the strength in which he held on to me was enough to show his heart. I also hugged Edwin a little harder.
“Renee?”
“Yes?”
“… It’s suffocating.”
“Oh!”
Edwin, who had been held quietly for a while, started squirming and spoke cautiously. Surprised, I took him out of my arms and looked at his face. Luckily, he didn’t look bad.
But after he got out of my arms, Edwin’s face started to turn red little by little.
“Was it hard for you?”
I asked in surprise, wondering if he was out of breath, but he shook his head. Instead, he hesitated for a moment and said in a small voice.
“That’s not it… Because I like it.”
“Yes?”
“I like it when Renee hugs me…”
Edwin spoke in a low voice, unable to make eye contact, as if he was embarrassed. In the meantime, the corners of his mouth turned up, as if he couldn’t hide his feelings.
As he spoke, his face became even more red and it felt like he was about to explode.
That face matched Edwin’s orange hair so well that I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Renee?”
“If you don’t think it’s rude, I can hug you anytime.”
“Renee is not rude.”
Do you know what the word rude means? I smiled slightly and held him in my arms once again.
This time, Edwin also hugged me more naturally than before.
I patted his back and he laughed out loud. It was a lighthearted laugh that rumbled through his body and seemed to light up the room.
It was my first time hearing Edwin laugh so honestly. Little by little, his heart began to pound.
Edwin was changing day by day. He was less timid than before, and most importantly, much more cheerful.
Thanks to this, even though I was anxious, I was looking forward to tomorrow.
I was worried that Edwin might suffocate like before, so I tried not to exert any force, and my hands began to tremble little by little.
“You’ve seen the morning glories, but what do you want to do now?”
“Huh? What?”
“I don’t think you need to come anymore, young master Edwin, what do you want to do?”
“Hmm…”
At my question, Edwin slipped out of my embrace and lost in thought.
It wasn’t hard to wait impatiently for him to finish his thought.
Time passed quite quickly just by looking at him seriously contemplating, with his cheeks covered with both hands.
It was while I was looking at Edwin’s expression that was changing every moment. Seeing that he suddenly became serious, it seemed like he had made a decision.
“Do you think we take care of the other flowers too?”
“Young master Edwin?”
“Yes.”
I wondered if it was a habit to ask if he could do something before he did it, if he hadn’t yet realized that he could do almost anything if he said.
“Sure. As long as you finish all of your classes like now, it’s okay.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Chase would like it too. He was happy when young master Edwin came.”
“Chase?”
Edwin asked back as if he had not guessed. It may not be obvious, but Chase definitely did.
He was happy to see Edwin visiting the garden every day and carefully growing morning glories.
“Sure. It would also be a good opportunity to learn about various flowers and trees from Chase.”
“Well, Chase doesn’t know anything about flowers and trees.”
“Yes.”
It was clear that Chase would be a good teacher for Edwin. He explained things well in a way that even children could understand, and above all, he emphasized the importance of life.
Of course, I didn’t think that Edwin would be the cruel person I remembered, going around killing people.
Still, there was no need to block a good opportunity to learn naturally.
“Chase.”
Chase, who was trimming a tree a little away, quickly approached my call.
After hearing Edwin’s story, Chase was quite happy, as expected.
When he recommended some flowers that were easy to care for, Edwin also got excited and the two talked for a while.
Chase chose a few of them and explained them, and Edwin did as he said and began watering and preparing the soil.
I looked at Edwin from behind with a happy face, and when I was about to approach him to help him, Chase blocked my path.
“Do you know that there are rumors about young master Edwin these days?”
“Rumor? Are you talking about that? The Duke is not interested in Edwin…?”
Although I hadn’t had any chance to meet the other maids since taking care of Edwin, the rumors were obvious.
Chase sighed as I tilted my head, unable to understand why he was suddenly talking about a rumor that had already been going around for a long time.
“That’s not it….”
While trying to speak, he scratched his head in frustration.
“That’s not it?”
Chase looked quite frustrated, but I was more frustrated than him. Why do you stop talking?
“There are rumors going around that Edwin is taking successor training these days.”
“What?”
When I unconsciously raised my voice and asked, Chase was surprised and covered my mouth.
“Young master will hear you.”
When I nodded instead of saying I understood, he slowly removed his hand from my mouth.
“I got dirt in my mouth.”
Chase looked a little sorry at my complaint. I smiled awkwardly because I didn’t expect him to react that way.
“What does that mean? The successor class?”
“Up until now, young master, he hasn’t done anything. There was someone who served him, but….”
He blurted out the words carefully, but I could easily guess what he said next.
Everyone was treating him like he didn’t exist. Using Raynan’s indifference as an excuse.
Nodding bitterly, Chase’s gaze briefly turned to Edwin.
“But all of a sudden, he started taking various classes and that’s why rumors started spreading.”
“No, but why is he taking successor classes?”
“How can you be so blind than me about rumors?”
When Chase made a face that said he didn’t understand at all, he asked back as if it were absurd.
Even when I was mixed among the maids, It wouldn’t have been much different from now.
Even back then, there were a lot of rumors that I had no idea about until Erin told me about them.
Was it a mistake to work hard for the extra pay? Because I was working like that, I didn’t have the spirit or stamina to worry about things like rumors.
“That’s the way it is. So what is it?”
“The important thing is that there are also rumors going around that the relationship between the Duke and young master Edwin has become irreparably estranged.”
What does this mean again? How can Edwin receive training as a successor when he is estranged from Raynan?
Two seemingly contradictory rumors were circulating.
I glanced at Chase in disbelief, and he nodded as if he’d guessed my thought.
“Yeah. Isn’t it strange? Someone said that Roman had a grim face while talking to young master Edwin… It seems like it has spread like that again.”
“No, that’s some kind of nonsense.”
Roman originally had a cynical expression. No matter what he said, he seemed to have sinister intentions.
However, his attitude towards Edwin was always polite. That wasn’t all.
I could also feel Roman’s own affection. But how could such a rumor spread with just a facial expression?
“Anyway, I think the conclusion is going in a rather strange direction.”
“What do you mean by the strange direction?”
“There are various speculations about young master Edwin’s birth.”
Chase paused for a moment and looked around. Then he came closer and whispered quietly.
“’Actually, young master Edwin is not the Duke’s biological son.’”
At his words, I unconsciously held my breath for a moment.
I said it was a ridiculous rumor, but Chase seemed to interpret my surprised reaction differently because he knew that it was actually the correct answer.
“That’s nonsense. I didn’t mean to say this…”
Chase looked at me with a frustrated expression, as if he had something else to say. It seems like the story went somewhere else because I wasn’t aware of the rumors going around the Duke’s residence.
“There are rumors going around about you… Of course you don’t know, right?”
Of course I didn’t know. I was impressed by Chase’s unexpected words.
“As you said, I am less knowledgeable about rumors than you, so tell me everything from beginning to end.”
“Renee, Roman is looking for you.”
As Chase was about to open his mouth, an uninvited guest interrupted.
I think we’ll all be able to hear it in a moment. How did he know I was in trouble, Marvin asked, urging me on.
“Now. I will take young master Edwin with me, so go quickly.”
“Chase, you have to tell me later without missing a thing.”
Being hated by Roman was one of the most fearsome things in the Duke’s house, so I decided to put my curiosity aside for a while.
What are the rumors about me? I should have heard that story first.
Lately, curiosity began to creep in. Thanks to that, my steps toward Roman’s office were smooth.
It wasn’t until I was in front of the office that I realized who I was meeting, and I started to feel scared.
No, why suddenly? Me?
His ambiguous expression, which I had forgotten for a while, flashed before my eyes. I almost felt like he’d click his tongue when I opened the door, mocking the darkness that loomed over my future.
And, as always, that premonition was correct. Sadly.
“You’re here, sit down.”
Roman looked at me and held out his hand to offer me a seat. I sat up straight, but my posture seemed to be quite sloppy.
“Sit comfortably.”
“Yes.”
Leaning back a little more, Roman nodded in satisfaction. But he just looked at me with one meaningful look in his eyes and didn’t seem to have any intention of starting a conversation.
Unable to bear his gaze, I finally opened my mouth first.
“What did you call me for?”
“You’ve been visiting the Duke often these days, right?”
“Not often, maybe once every two or three days.”
“That’s very often?”
