“I spoke because I wanted to help, but… I’m worried that I took up your time or interfered unnecessarily.”
TL/N: SURE YOU DID :/
“Oh, no. It was helpful.”
Emilia shook her head quickly, realizing she didn’t know that Giorgio was meeting with Count Vallemont separately.
Alessandro smiled kindly, as if relieved. Emilia wondered if she had anything else to ask him, looking at his smile. She came because he had said he had something to tell her, but she was only interested in matters concerning her parents and wasn’t sure how much he knew.
As her thoughts were about to wander, there was a timely knock at the door. The dishes they had ordered quickly filled the table, and Alessandro gestured politely for them to begin eating.
The meal proceeded quietly. Her head was so complicated that she didn’t know if the food was going into her mouth or her nose, but it was nice to have some time to think.
‘I guess I should explain why I seemed more interested in Count Vallemont at the ball…’
Should I say that it was because I was interested in what he said about the automobile investment rights? I was a little curious if he had decided to find and claim the shares, as Enrico had said that a large number of investors were anonymous.
But is it right to ask Alessandro about that?
She wasn’t sure. But it seemed even stranger to just turn away someone who had shown up first to say they would let her know.
TL/N: AND THAT DIDN’T MAKE YOU SUSPECT ANYTHING, EMILIA:)
Emilia took a spoonful of the fruit ice cream that came out last and looked at Alessandro. Contrary to her expectation, he was enjoying the dessert, unlike Enrico who had no interest in such things.
“Um…Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“I’m hesitating because I feel like I’m asking about someone else’s personal life, but please let me know if you’re uncomfortable.”
“Haha, I see.”
“At the ball, Count Vallemont mentioned transferring bonds. Do you know who was going to transfer them? I heard that automobile investment rights are a promising business and aren’t usually transferred, so I was curious.”
“If it’s that… I haven’t had a detailed conversation about it, so I’m not sure. Is there an issue with the automobile investment rights? I believe the Viscount held a significant amount of them.”
Hmm, maybe Alessandro doesn’t know much about automobile investment rights. Emilia tilted her head slightly and slowly opened her mouth.
“I asked because I’m just curious, not because I’ve checked that far. After all, my uncle Giorgio manages all the property.”
“Aren’t you an adult now? Some rights should have been transferred.”
“Yes, I didn’t think about it before, but after hearing it at the ball, I thought maybe I should assert my rights to the property now.”
“That’s a good decision. If you need my help, please let me know anytime.”
“I appreciate the offer.”
Alessandro smiled, raising his glass filled with a pink drink. Emilia followed him and raised her glass slightly, then took a sip of the drink.
“…And there’s another reason I came to see you today.”
“Ah, please go ahead.”
Emilia nodded, putting down her glass.
“May I ask what your relationship is with Duke Michele?”
TL/N: UMM WHY TF DO U CARE:]
Because the two of them had stuck together at the ball, it might have looked suspicious. Was that why he called her here? Feeling frustrated, Emilia had accepted Alessandro’s invitation on impulse, but now she felt like she was caught in a trap.
Emilia parted her lips, then closed them again. What on earth is he talking about? That they are just friends who happened to go to the ball together? Or should she be honest about their sponsorship relationship? Would it be okay to tell Alessandro everything without hiding anything? Is he trustworthy? In that short time, question marks followed one after another.
What on earth was she thinking of when she came to meet Alessandro without hesitation? She knew from the beginning that it was an offer she couldn’t refuse, but she was surprised at herself for not hesitating at all, even though she didn’t know the purpose of the meeting.
“Emilia, I didn’t mean to pry. I didn’t investigate you separately. I just wanted to tell you in advance because I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“……What do you mean?”
Emilia looked at him with a puzzled expression. This time, Alessandro hesitated. As if he was a little troubled, but as if he had to say something. Finally, with a determined face, his two eyes that were looking at her again shone resolutely.
“Don’t trust Duke Michele too much.”
“……”
“Although he’s my uncle, Duke Michele, is a man you can’t read his true intentions. He knows a lot, even though he hides a lot, and he’s surprisingly possessive.”
“Ah……”
She thought she knew him better than anyone recently, that he was a man you couldn’t read his true intentions. But to hear that he hides a lot, so maybe there was something between the two of them.
Alessandro lowered his eyebrows and added cautiously.
“I sincerely hope you don’t get hurt.”
His light purple eyes shone transparently. She met his gaze and slowly nodded her head.
She hadn’t given Enrico her whole heart in the first place, and she felt his concern was excessive, but she knew that Alessandro didn’t mean any harm, so she accepted it without question. As she moved her head, her hair naturally fell forward.
‘Is the conversation over now?’
Having finished her dessert by now, she hoped they would get up soon. Emilia looked at him, flipping her hair back.
‘Why is he staring like that? My hair?’
Alessandro was looking at her with a dazed expression. Following his gaze, she saw her platinum hair hanging over her hand and looked back at him just in case.
Noticing Emilia’s puzzled gaze, his focus returned to his light purple eyes.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I was wondering if something was on my hair.”
Emilia smoothed her hair once and pushed it back. Alessandro’s gaze followed her hand before moving to her face.
TL/N: WHAT A CREEP!!!
“No, I just thought you had beautiful hair.”
“Ah……. Thank you.”
“And recently, there have been some disturbing incidents that have been on my mind, which is why I was looking worriedly.”
“Disturbing incidents?”
“Yes. Coincidentally, there have been an increasing number of disappearances involving blonde-haired women, which is concerning.”
She felt like she had heard something like that somewhere before, but she couldn’t remember it exactly. Emilia just nodded her head and listened to him.
“After all, aren’t you strikingly beautiful? Please try not to walk alone too much, and don’t walk too late at night. The world is quite unsettled these days, you know.”
TL/N: TBH, IF IT WERE ME I WOULD HAVE TAKE A RUN FOR IT THINKING YOU’RE THE CULPRIT?!
Alessandro spoke seriously, almost as if he were begging her. She couldn’t help but nod her head again at his expression, which seemed even more worried than when he talked about Enrico a while ago.
As soon as a sigh of relief escaped his lips at her meek assent, a pleasant smile spread across his lips. It was a face that was too bright for the gloomy weather outside.
* * *
It felt like a meeting that only raised more questions. Emilia stepped out of the carriage, replaying Alessandro’s words from earlier in her mind.
‘Don’t trust Duke Michele too much’
But there was too much at stake now to distrust the Duke. The truth about her parents’ deaths, and even his patronage. Could Alessandro know something about her parents’ deaths? No, surely he would have told her if he did. Emilia shook her head from side to side, trying to shake off the various thoughts, and opened the front door.
The house was quiet. There was no sound from Zaveta, who was likely resting in her room.
Rumble.
The sound of thunder rumbling in the sky suggested that the rain, which was expected in the evening, was about to start.
She was thinking how lucky she was to have arrived home before the rain started when she passed the hallway to the living room. Flash! – She could see Enrico Michele sitting on the sofa, illuminated by the light.
“Gasp…!”
She was so shocked she couldn’t even scream. Clutching her heart, Emilia sank to the floor. The delayed thunder crashed loudly, splitting the sky.
TL/N: LOL.
“Why are you so surprised?”
Enrico slowly rose up from his seat and approached her. Emilia couldn’t even think of getting up right away and just watched him approach.
He held out his hand as if to ask her to take it. Normally, she would have gotten up herself and told Enrico that she was surprised to see him, but maybe because of the backlight flashing from the window, his presence seemed unsettling.
Hesitantly, Emilia reached out her hand. As soon as she was about to touch his hand, Enrico grasped her wrist firmly. As if lifting a child, Emilia’s body was pulled up straight with immense force.
“…Thank you. It’s so quiet I didn’t know anyone was here.”
“Ah– I gave Zavetta some time to handle some errands outside.”
Enrico didn’t let go of her wrist and led her towards the sofa.
“But what brings you here without any notice?”
“I’ve come unannounced before, haven’t I?”
“That’s why you should give notice. I was surprised last time as well.”
“I just assumed that of course you’d be at home.”
“I could go out on my day off, you know.”
“True. It was surprising that you weren’t here.”
Why would that be surprising? Emilia muttered to herself and sat down on the sofa. Enrico, who sat down next to her, finally let go of her wrist.
* * * *
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