Obsessed with Regressors

A few days later, her mother and she were sitting in the living room reading newspapers and letters. The newspapers were full of horror stories because of the attack that took place yesterday. It was said that a noble wife was attacked.

 

“What a relief.”

 

Her mother said as she finished reading the newspaper and picked up the letter. The lady who was attacked was said to be safe. But she was very shocked and was currently recovering.

 

“I know, right.”

 

She wrinkled her nose as she read the letter saying that the invitation was still valid despite the shocking incident. The same was true for other letters. It looks like banquets and parties will continue.

 

“Don’t stay out late at night, Oliver.”

 

Her mother, who was reading her letter, said bitterly. She asked her brother, who was reading the newspaper next to her, as if he was dumbfounded.

 

“Didn’t you say something wrong to Eugenie?”

 

“Oh, no. You’re the only one walking around late at night in this house.”

 

Her brother’s face turned disapproving at her mother’s criticism. He said, leaning back against the back of the sofa.

 

“I guess the one who needs to be careful is your mother, right? I heard she only targets noble ladies.”

 

This pathetic older brother. I quickly lifted my leg and kicked Oliver’s shin as hard as I could. But her mother’s face had turned white.

 

“Shit.”

 

Fortunately, the scream came from Oliver’s mouth, not his mother’s. Did it hurt? she thought she would have relaxed if that scream had been a little more brutal. She glared at Oliver once and said to her mother.

 

“It doesn’t make sense. Just because there was one victim, you can’t say they’re targeting noble ladies.”

 

Her mother smiled palely at her point. Oliver also seemed to realize his mistake and quickly intervened.

 

“That’s right. That person was unlucky.”

 

It was a messy consolation, but it seems to have been enough for her mother. She glanced at Oliver, then smiled and stood up.

 

“I have to write a letter.”

 

She received a letter informing her that the banquet would not be cancelled, so she would have to respond. She said she would just read this letter and follow along and sit down. It is a report rather than a letter. Lauren submitted a general report on ship operations. It was a report that meticulously recorded not only expenditures and income, but also the number of visitors and how many actually led to expenditures.

 

“You stay with your mother for a while.”

 

Just in case, she was calculating whether the numbers Lauren wrote down were correct, when Oliver came up next to her and said. It’s mom. She took a step back, startled by the sight of Oliver’s face, which was much closer than she expected.

 

“Go away.”

 

Where are you showing your face? Oliver spoke again, paying no heed to the disgusted me.

 

“You shouldn’t go alone either.”

 

She guessed it’s because of that story earlier. She sighed and picked up the dropped report. Why was there so much fuss over just one incident? Besides, just like her mother said, she and her mother don’t go out late at night.

 

“I think that’s what you need to hear, right?”

 

“I’m not kidding. It’s because I heard something.”

 

Oh really. She sighed and raised her head. Then Oliver, who was still sitting close to her, picked up the newspaper he had put down on the table and said,

 

“This incident. There is a saying that he was really targeting a noble lady.”

 

Come to think of it, she didn’t see anything like that in the newspaper. There was no mention of how many victims were reported in the newspaper. Naturally, there was only speculation that the culprit was a robber aiming for money.

 

“Who said this?”

 

She asked just to be sure. Gossip was mostly false or distorted stories.

 

“At the club. There are already a few more victims, but they are all quiet.”

 

That couldn’t be possible. She was about to say that out of reflex, but she kept her mouth shut. t could be so. When they hear that someone was robbed while wandering around late at night, people start whispering, asking where on earth he was wandering around so late at night. The person in today’s newspaper was returning from a concert, but the others may not be.

 

“Robbery?”

 

“Maybe. Fortunately, I don’t think anyone was hurt.”

 

This means that everyone just got their money stolen. She didn’t know if that’s a good thing.

 

As someone who has been attacked, the shock of being attacked lasts quite a long time. She nodded slowly. Oliver was right. They, her mother and she, were invited to two dinner parties again this week. There were five places including tea parties and luncheons.

 

“I heard that Baroness Kernell is probably one of those victims.”

 

Then, Oliver spoke again, huh? Her eyes widened when she heard the name of someone she had never thought of. Why was Baroness Kernell here?

 

“Baroness Kernell. She is an unconscious person. That person was also walking around late at night and she was attacked.”

 

It was like that. She said she was attacked outside her home late at night. It was even discovered late that she was already unconscious. Everyone was whispering that she had suffered such a misfortune while on her way to meet her mistress. Maybe that’s right. So, she was on her way to meet her mistress.

 

“Baroness Kernel was more unlucky. So be careful.”

 

She slowly nodded to Oliver’s next request. You better be really careful.

 

“Do not worry.”

 

That evening, Sir Ryan, who had accompanied me to the party, reassured his mother. He also knew that there was a robber targeting a noble wife.

 

Well, Oliver heard it at the club, so Sir Ryan must have heard it too. The two are also friends.

 

She looked annoyed, but her mother looked a little touched. Sir Ryan spoke resolutely to his mother.

 

“We will keep you safe until you return home.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

The mother said, and then she continued her words, looking around her.

 

“But I can’t see where the servant went. I’m thirsty.”

 

“I will get it.”

 

Sir Ryan said so kindly and left. He’s such a kind person that it’s hard to believe he’s Oliver’s friend. As she was thinking so, her mother tilted her head towards her and whispered.

 

“He’s a good guy. It’s kind.”

 

Yes. Sir Ryan was a decent man. When she didn’t say anything, her mother added.

 

“But Count Burns is better.”

 

“Mother.”

 

She frowned reflexively. There’s no need to say that now. But she didn’t seem to be his mother. She leaned closer to me and whispered.

 

“I don’t know why you’re wasting your time. Anyone can see that Count Burns is better.”

 

“You don’t know that.”

 

At her words, her mother snorted, “Hmph,” and then she whispered again.

 

“Tell me one thing that he is better than Count Burns.”

 

Shit. There was none. She desperately tried to shake her head and finally managed to say:

 

“Oliver’s friend.”

 

“That has to be a drawback.”

 

“Oh my God, mother.”

 

She didn’t know that her mother saw being Oliver’s friend as a disadvantage rather than an advantage. She was so dumbfounded that she started laughing. Then her mother, who had been laughing along with me, spoke again with a serious expression.

 

“I’m telling you to stop betrothed to Count Burns and let that poor guy go. Anyone can see that it is a fight that cannot be competed.”

 

Not to that extent. She gave her a look that made her mother’s words even crueler. And she said with a grin.

 

“Count Burns did not court me.”

 

Elliot, Sir Ryan, and Sir Heinz visited her, took walks with her, and saw her at shows, but no one had asked her to marry them. It means that although there were suitors, there was no one actually suiting her. To be honest, she was thankful that Elliot didn’t court her. Because if he were to court her now, she would have no choice but to refuse. But she didn’t know why the other two weren’t courting her. She was thinking of rejecting even the mere mention of courtship. Perhaps Lord Heinz and Lord Ryan knew that too. That’s her attitude. She mostly refuse visits or date requests from two people.

 

“I don’t understand that guy. I don’t know why he doesn’t court me.”

 

She shrugged her shoulders. She didn’t know why Elliot didn’t court her. No, actually, she thought she kind of knew. He must know that this was a difficult situation for her to accept. 

So what about Sir Ryan? She grinned as she spotted Sir Ryan walking in the distance carrying two drinks for her mother and she. And whispered to her mother.

 

“I’ll ask him next time we meet.”

 

“Don’t do that.”

 

To her surprise, her mother objected, shaking her head. And she smiled at Sir Ryan as well as at her, she added.

 

“You look impatient.”

 

“It wasn’t actually true?”

 

Didn’t Elliot want her to marry him? She asked, surprised by her mother’s words. Her mother wiped her smile, looked at her, and she said seriously:

 

“For now, I just like him because he is the best suitor. I hope you marry whoever you want.”

 

Really? She opened her eyes wide at the unbelievable words. Sir Ryan, who had already gotten closer, stopped a short distance away when he saw the expressions on her and her mother’s faces. She quickly turned to her mother and whispered:

 

“Really? But you got me and Awning engaged, right?”

 

Her mother was much more active. A complex expression appeared on her mother’s face at her question. She held both of her shoulders and whispered.

 

“I thought it would be good for you.”

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: