Chapter 82. Day Off
—I don’t think I can come every day anymore.
That was what the woman had said before leaving the bedroom last night.
She had seemed strangely hesitant, lingering long after meticulously buttoning up her clothes to the very top, and then, after a long silence, that difficult
statement had come out.
For a moment, he wondered what she meant.
Why suddenly now, when just moments ago she had been beautifully crying out in his arms?
It was natural for such a question to arise.
It even made him wonder if he had been out of his mind during the act and had somehow made her uncomfortable—such a trivial thought.
When he asked for the reason, the woman hesitated for a long time again before whispering like a murmur.
—I’m just… tired.
—…
He was briefly speechless, seeing the woman’s face flushed red as if her words were something shameful.
In truth, he had somewhat anticipated it.
That the moment would come when the woman would gradually find it difficult to endure their daily, hours-long lovemaking.
Honestly, it was already remarkable that she had lasted this long.
—…Is that so?
Knowing this, he responded calmly, feigning indifference, yet a feeling of regret was truly stuck in his throat.
The fact that he managed not to outwardly express that feeling was perhaps due to the last shred of reason remaining in him.
Raymond was currently discovering a new version of himself every single day.
He was amazed at himself, wondering if such aspects had always existed within him, every moment was extremely turbulent.
Even the first time he had known a woman in his life, he had merely felt deflated, thinking, Was this all that everyone made such a fuss about?
Yet, now, he found himself utterly absorbed in his relationship with the woman every night, completely oblivious to the break of dawn.
—Stop, stop… I can’t handle any more now.
Only after hearing the woman’s words that she couldn’t continue, accompanied by short, ragged gasps, could he finally stop.
He knew that his actions were a little—no, yes—excessive.
The woman had to return to her attic and begin strenuous work early in the morning, and he knew he should let her go earlier, but the problem was that it was not as easy as it sounded.
If he tried to reduce or exclude her duties, she would get serious and protest, so his head was becoming more and more complicated.
Knock-knock—
Just as he was lost in thought, a knock sounded.
He told them to enter, and the door opened, and Robin stepped in.
“Lord Edward has arrived.”
Ah, right. Today…
The forgotten appointment finally popped into his mind.
It was about time to stop this foolishness.
Raymond stood up, shaking off his thoughts, and quickly strode across the study.
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– I always stop by here on holidays and stay for an hour or two So, if you want to see me, come to the bookstore anytime.
On the way to Wilkins Bookstore to meet Miss Helena.
The sky, clear without a single cloud, made her steps feel even lighter.
Despite having anticipated this meeting so much, truthfully, she hadn’t been able to have a proper conversation last time.
This was partly because she hadn’t been able to fully compose her overwhelming emotions, but also because she had to return to Elfengreen almost immediately due to the short time frame of only half a day.
Still, it was fortunate that now she could see her whenever she wanted.
Of course, there was still the time constraint of only Saturday morning.
In any case, she thought she would spend time slowly today, talking about all the things they hadn’t been able to discuss—and with that thought, her steps began to quicken.
She walked diligently, turned the corner of a secluded alley, and finally, the green sign reading ‘Wilkins Bookstore’ came into view.
A smile spread naturally across her face, and her steps gained more energy.
When she pulled the handle, the small bell hanging on the door rang out with a clear sound and shook.
At that sound, a few people inside glanced toward the door, but it was only momentary before they turned their attention back to the books they were reading and became engrossed.
Except for one person.
“Deborah!”
At the sight of Jade approaching with a bright smile, a smile also spread across Deborah’s lips.
She noticed it every time she saw him, but his smile possessed a strange charm that made the viewer feel good.
Though their relationship evolved by chance and they became friends, Deborah actually rather liked the man in front of her from the start.
He was someone who readily offered a helping hand to a child who had lost her mother while he was rushing somewhere.
It was only natural to feel an affinity for such a person.
“Hello.”
“Welcome.”
Deborah returned the greeting by slightly bowing her head toward the person who welcomed her warmly.
“But what to do. Miss Helena isn’t here yet.”
She must have glanced inside without realizing it.
Jade, seeing her action, smiled gently and informed her of Helena’s absence.
Ah, she hasn’t arrived yet… Deborah, unable to hide her disappointment, sighed briefly.
“But she’ll be here soon. She usually stops by around this time.”
“Ah, yes…”
“Oh, right, come on in.”
Jade, who realized they had been talking while standing at the entrance, gestured inside, urging her to enter.
Deborah followed his guidance and finally stepped inside the bookstore.
“…….”
Deborah’s gaze went to the bookshelves that reached densely up to the ceiling.
She hadn’t been able to fully observe it last time due to the situation, but looking at it again now, the sheer number of books stacked on each shelf was incredible.
She had simply thought it was a small-scale bookstore, but it was amazing how all these books were acquired and arranged one by one.
“Would you like some tea?”
Her gaze, which had been lost in the indoor scenery, turned back to the side.
Deborah hesitated for a moment before moving her lips as if she had decided.
“Um, could I perhaps look around at the books… rather than tea?”
She was extremely careful, as it felt like she was refusing his kindness, but honestly, her true feeling was that she wanted to look around the books first, rather than drinking tea.
In truth, Deborah had always kept books close, even being called a bookworm at the orphanage.
Of course, she was also followed by mocking remarks like, What good is it for the likes of you to read books? but thanks to Miss Helena’s full support, she was able to read a substantial number of books.
However, for the past few months, she had lived without encountering books almost at all.
This was partly due to the lack of free time in her changed circumstances, but the biggest reason was that there was no place to borrow books from, nor anyone who would lend them.
This was because, like the majority of lower-class women, only an extremely small number of maids could read.
Perhaps because of that, seeing a place surrounded by books like this made the forgotten excitement pound in her chest again.
Did that show in her expression?
Jade stared intently at Deborah’s face with a strange look.
Just as the obvious gaze began to feel awkward, his mouth opened again.
“Like teacher, like student.”
“……Pardon?”
“Miss Helena, I mean. She’s an incredible book lover, isn’t she?”
“Ah…”
“Honestly, I’m the type who doesn’t fall behind anywhere when it comes to reading volume, but I can’t even begin to speak in front of Miss Helena.”
Ha ha ha, seeing Jade laugh heartily, Deborah finally understood and nodded.
It was a fact known to most people who knew her, but Miss Helena’s reading volume was so tremendous that virtually no one could keep up.
This was partly because she was practically married to books, always keeping them close, but more so because her speed-reading skills were so excellent that she could finish even a thick book in just a few hours if she put her mind to it.
—Is that… fun?
—This? Hmm, it is fun. Would you like to look at it too, Deborah?
—…No.
—Why? Didn’t you ask because you were curious?
—I… I don’t know how to read…
—Ah…
—…
—Well, then you can learn. Shall your teacher teach you?
Deborah always thought that learning to read from her and getting many opportunities to see books was the greatest fortune of her life.
“Alright then, shall we look around?”
She must have drifted off into another thought path for a moment.
Deborah quickly shook her head at Jade’s offer to guide her.
“It’s fine… I can just look around by myself.”
She already felt incredibly grateful—more than words could express—just for his kind offer to provide a place for her to meet Miss Helena.
She tried to refuse him carefully, thinking she couldn’t impose any further, but it must have been evident on her face.
“Why, are you uncomfortable?”
“…….”
“We agreed to be friends, didn’t we? Or not?”
“……Still.”
“This place is mostly run based on regulars, so the books are mixed up and messy. People who come here for the first time tend to get confused about where things are.”
Didn’t he say this was his bookstore… she certainly thought she heard that.
Deborah slightly tilted her head, feeling a little doubtful at his words, which sounded as if he were talking about someone else’s place.
Regardless, Jade simply grinned brightly, showing his white teeth.
“Anyway, I have nothing to do right now, and I was getting bored.”
“…….”
“Now, please follow me this way.”
Thinking that the man, contrary to his appearance, had an unexpectedly headstrong side to him, Deborah quietly followed him a moment later.
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