Chapter 33
“I know what I want to stop, but unfortunately, that’s not it.”
Yeah, it wasn’t going to be that easy, and I sometimes forget that I still had at least a year to go.
But it gave me a little bit of excitement and joy. That was enough.
As I was consoling myself, Roman said.
“Because he said there was no need to bother people any more. For now, just be satisfied with being freed from there.”
“… Yes. That alone is big enough.”
“First of all, it takes some time to clearly remove people, so I found a temporary solution before that…”
“I see.”
“I’ll make sure you have someone who’ll be able to keep people away soon enough.”
“Yes. By the way, Roman.”
“Yes?”
“I’m having a hard time saying yes and no to what people are asking me. Do you have any other suggestions?”
“Hmm… ‘That’s not an answer I can give.’ Let’s just leave it at this for now.”
“Yes.”
“If there is anyone who still insists on asking, tell them to ask the Duke directly.”
“How am I supposed to tell them to ask the Duke directly?”
“Well, it’s their problem whether they ask him directly or not. If they do, I’ll tell Duke.”
“Telling the Duke…”
“The makeshift solution is probably waiting in Edwin’s bedroom by now. Don’t forget horseback riding because you can never miss it.”
“Yes.”
After finishing what he had to say, Roman quickly left.
Today was my first day, so I spent a very short time in the stables, but even that didn’t seem to take up much of his time.
On the other hand, I spent less time than expected, so I had a lot of time left.
I briefly pondered who the makeshift person waiting for me might be, but realized it was most likely someone I didn’t know anyway.
Right. It would be so much easier if I didn’t have to deal with people.
“He worries about me.”
It felt a little odd to hear similar things from Amelia and Roman.
“If someone who doesn’t really know it sees it, it must be plausible.”
Even I, who knew everything about the situation, felt it was plausible.
I walked slowly, like I was going for a walk. I thought about turning around and going to Edwin’s bedroom, but quickly changed my mind.
This was because people were still watching. My slow walking pace suddenly became so fast that it was almost like running.
In the end, it got to the point where I had to take a deep breath after arriving at Edwin’s bedroom.
But even that didn’t feel like it. She thought there was no one in the bedroom because it was quiet, but Marvin suddenly appeared.
“Why are you coming now?”
“You come early.”
It seemed like the questions were about to start again.
Would it be better to go outside and endure the stares of many people, or would it be better to endure Marvin’s questions here?
“Do you know who young master Edwin brought?”
“Is young master Edwin already arrived?”
“That’s not important…”
By now it was time for Edwin to be in the garden.
I usually spend a lot of time in the garden, so he didn’t expect me to come back this early.
I didn’t hear any sign of him in the bedroom because he had gone to wash up.
“Still, young master Edwin listens to what you say, so please do me a favor. I feel so uncomfortable.”
“What are you talking about?”
Marvin looked around and spoke urgently, as if he was worried that Edwin would return at any moment.
Whatever was going on, he seemed pretty nervous. I could tell by the way he was stopping me without really explaining.
I remembered Marvin’s words from a moment ago and asked him.
“Who did Edwin bring? And what are you asking for? Why is it so uncomfortable?”
All of Marvin’s explanations were turned back to him as questions.
Marvin really couldn’t give a proper explanation at all.
“Ah. That…”
Are you referring to the temporary solution Roman mentioned? I should have at least asked who it was.
“What? Did you know? But why didn’t you tell me?”
“Calm down, I don’t know what you’re talking about, and why are you talking gibberish today?”
“Are you sure you don’t know what you’re talking about?”
“I really don’t know, so explain it to me so I can understand.”
“You have so many secrets these days.”
It seemed like the frustration that had built up over asking the same questions every day but never getting a clear answer had finally burst out.
“No, why are you asking me that?”
I, too, had accumulated so much that it was difficult for me to smile and accept it or ignore it like before.
However, Marvin raised his voice as if he was angry at my words.
“Why do you always avoid answering? He asked, “You just have to choose one of the two and answer whether the story between you and the Duke is true or not.”
“Do you think that’s a question I can answer? Why didn’t you ask the Duke? He will answer right away.”
The method Roman taught me was effective. Marvin, who was blaming me in a more irritated voice than usual, immediately shut up.
It was fortunate that I asked Roman sooner if there were any other options.
“Renee, are you here?”
As Edwin’s lively voice was heard, the cold air began to warm up.
“Young master Edwin, how are you…?”
My voice trailed off a bit as I greeted him. It was because of the grim-looking man standing behind Edwin.
“Yes. Renee, did you have a good time too? Was horseback riding fun?”
“Uh, that’s… I couldn’t ride it, I just greeted the horse.”
I was answering Edwin, but my eyes kept looking behind him, so my words came out a little slowly.
“Did you? It’s fun. I hope Renee can ride it soon.”
“Young master Edwin?”
“Yes?”
“Do you know how to ride a horse?”
“Yes. Probably on a much smaller horse than Renee rides.”
Edwin can also ride a horse. Was this why Roman said that horseback riding was absolutely necessary?
“But young master Edwin.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you with Chase?”
I delayed my question because Edwin was talking as usual, even with Chase behind him, a presence that was impossible to ignore.
Edwin looked back for a moment and answered my question with a smile.
“Chase draws really well!”
After being captivated for a moment by Edwin’s brightly smiling face, I tilted my head.
“Drawing?”
“Yes. Renee didn’t know either, right?”
Edwin spoke proudly, puffing out his chest as if he was the painter of the century.
And Chase, who was standing behind him, had an uneasy expression on his face.
“All of a sudden, painting…”
“So Chase agreed to teach me to draw.”
“Chase?”
My expression wasn’t much different from Chase’s either.
Of course, I knew that he had a very delicate side when it came to gardening, but painting…
Is there any combination that doesn’t go well together? I couldn’t imagine Chase holding a paintbrush.
“Yes. Right, Chase?”
Chase looked embarrassed as if he had read my thoughts. However, he could not ignore Edwin’s question and answered faithfully.
In a smaller and more shy voice than usual.
“Yes… I agreed to help you.”
Chase was staring off into thin air. Not looking at me, not looking at Edwin.
What a clumsy liar.
“… Why?”
“Nothing.”
As I was just looking at Chase without saying anything, he glanced at me and asked without making eye contact.
It didn’t seem like there was any bad intention. But why tell such an obvious lie?
“But did you and Marvin fight?”
It was Edwin’s voice that took my gaze away from Chase.
“Fighting, no.”
Marvin answered faster than anyone else. Even before my head reached Edwin.
“No?”
“Marvin’s voice could be heard even outside.”
Chase’s voice, which was noticeably lower than before, slowly froze the air around him.
Even though he didn’t have a scary face, the way he glared at him was extremely cruel.
Under Chase’s gaze, Marvin flinched and took a step back.
“Marvin, did you yell at Renee?”
Edwin soon erased his smile and made a serious face.
Marvin’s face instantly paled as he met his piercing eyes as if asking a genuine question.
“No, no, no, I was just excited, and I guess I got a little loud.”
Marvin shook his hands and urgently called to me.
“Renee, please say something. We didn’t fight.”
“Yes. We didn’t fight.”
Marvin nodded and smiled at my answer.
“Rather than fighting, Marvin got angry one-sidedly…”
“Re-Renee!”
The smile that appeared for a moment disappeared and Marvin was so shocked that he ran over and covered my mouth.
“Marvin, what are you doing?”
Despite Edwin’s question, Marvin did not lower his hand. It might be more accurate to say that he couldn’t get off.
I could feel Marvin’s body stiffening.
But I wasn’t that different from him either.
This was because it was my first time seeing Edwin with such a cold face and an emotionless voice.
I was probably more surprised than Marvin at the sight of Edwin, who clearly looked angry.
I thought he was still a young and bright child, but the power and emotion in his voice was as good as that of any adult.
Since he was the child who would succeed the Duke, it might have been natural. Perhaps I, or most people in this mansion, had simply forgotten.
Marvin still couldn’t move. I was thankful that my face, which would have been showing my surprised emotions, was hidden thanks to this.
After a moment of silence, Chase came over and personally removed Marvin’s hand.
Marvin must have come to his senses only then and continued talking gibberish as if making excuses to Edwin.
“Oh, I’m sorry about that, young master Edwin. I just panicked. I mean…”
“That’s okay. Just don’t treat Renee rudely from now on. You made her upset.”
Edwin answered with a smile on his face, as if he had never done that before. However, there was still a bit of sharp energy left around the eyes.
“Ah… yes. Then I will check how the meal preparation is going.”
Marvin hurried away. Mealtime was still a long way off, but no one stopped him as he left.
“Then shall we draw now?”
It was thanks to Edwin’s powerful voice that the awkwardly stiff air was loosened again.
Chase’s face, which had been calm even when Marvin and I were surprised a little while ago, became distorted at those words.
“Young master Edwin?”
Edwin, who heard Chase’s trembling call, raised his tiptoes and patted his arm.
“Please take care of me.”
Chase, who had not let go of a faint string of hope, finally lowered his head.
“So, what are you going to do?”
Unlike Edwin, who excitedly picked up a brush and started drawing, Chase just stared at the white paper for a long time.
When I asked him quietly, Chase sighed deeply and answered.
“I will stay by young master Edwin’s side except when he sleep.”
“By young master Edwin’s side?”
“Yes. Well, I won’t be with him until class.”
Chase’s gaze rested on me for a moment.
“How long?”
“For a while.”
“What about the garden?”
“I’m not the only gardener.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Let’s hope it ends quickly.”
