Chapter 119. I’m Sorry for Dropping by So Suddenly
The next morning, Deborah packed her bags early and left the inn.
Perhaps because she hadn’t slept a wink all night, her already fair face was not just pale, but nearly ghostly—at a glance, she almost looked like a finely crafted wax doll.
Even the innkeeper she encountered at the entrance flinched for a moment upon seeing Deborah’s face, so there was little need for further description.
Of course, the situation was not one where she could sleep peacefully, but the reason she couldn’t close her eyes for even a moment was the terrible surrounding noise.
The rattling of the cracked window in the wind all night was practically a lullaby compared to the loud snoring coming from God knows where.
She thought she had been somewhat trained because of Hanna, but the snoring that sounded like it belonged to adult men—and at least two of them at that—alternating back and forth was truly more terrible than she could have imagined.
She tried covering her ears and even covering her head with a pillow out of desperation, but it was no use.
Thanks to that, she didn’t have time to sink into gloomy thoughts, she wondered if she should consider that one thing a blessing.
After spending such a long night, Deborah left the inn and headed straight for the stagecoach station.
It was to go to Helena’s house.
She had to buy a stagecoach ticket to that vicinity, and to do that, she had to hurry as much as possible to obtain an even slightly earlier trip.
In fact, going to Helena’s house was a bit dangerous for Deborah.
It was because she might catch the eye of the orphanage director or the old merchant Godric.
However, in this situation, Helena was the only person she could think of.
She knew it was very shameless to seek out her teacher at every such moment, but in Deborah’s position with no one to lean on, she was the only one who felt like both family and a friend…
Fortunately, it had already been several months since Deborah had run away, and she had heard that lately, they seemed to have almost given up.
If she went as carefully as possible, it would be fine; Deborah thought so as she moved her feet diligently.
“…….”
Before she knew it, the street had turned dark.
Deborah stared up at the signboard coming into her view for a long time.
At the green sign that read ‘Wilkins Bookstore.’
She had been doing that for over ten minutes already.
Unable to enter, yet unable to turn back, she remained there.
‘I really…… intended not to come here…….’
A long sigh escaped Deborah’s lips.
This morning, having finally arrived at Helena’s house, Deborah waited in front of it for several hours only to hear thunderous news.
—Are you waiting for the woman in the house across the way?
—Ah…… yes.
—Well, you’ve made a wasted trip.
—Pardon? What do you mean……?
—That house is empty now. Where did they say she went? Balte…… something. Anyway, she said she’d be away from home for a few months.
Saying she must have come without knowing the news, the man clicked his tongue while looking at Deborah holding her luggage and soon left the spot.
After standing there with a dazed face for a long time, Deborah finally came to her senses and boarded the stagecoach coming back to Denborough.
And after much hesitation, she ended up coming here.
Jade—
If it were him, he would likely know news of Helena.
However, because she had abruptly stopped visiting for a while due to a previous incident, she hesitated greatly to seek him out again like this.
Furthermore, after learning about the complicated relationship entangled between the Duke and Jade, her heart felt even more that way.
Since it was the time the sun was setting, she thought it might be closed, but the lights inside the bookstore were still brightly lit.
‘……What do I do now?’
It was when Deborah let out a long sigh while fidgeting with the hand holding her bag.
Tinkle—
Not long after the cheerful sound of a bell pierced her ears, someone’s voice followed immediately.
“……Deborah?”
Startled, Deborah’s gaze slowly rose upward.
She already knew from hearing the voice calling her, but the person who opened the door and stepped out was, as expected, Jade.
As if surprised, his blue eyes shook for a moment, and Deborah watched him with a strange gaze.
To think those eyes that resembled him so much would be this welcoming, yet so painful…….
It was something she hadn’t known before.
“How did you, no, when did you get here?”
Multiple emotions were etched on Jade’s face as he quickly strode toward her.
Surprise, embarrassment, and…… gladness.
“If you’re here, you should come in; why are you standing here like this?”
“…….”
The other person’s behavior of welcoming her casually, as if nothing had happened, made Deborah’s heart feel even more apologetic and heavy.
Even though she had coldly stopped her visits then, for fear of upsetting the feelings of the man she liked even a little.
Looking at Deborah, who bit her lip tightly not knowing how to respond, Jade smiled brightly and took the luggage bag from her hand.
“Ah, I’m fi—”
“Hurry and go inside.”
Lightly avoiding her outstretched hand in embarrassment, Jade gently pushed her back.
Thus, Deborah ended up entering the bookstore in a daze.
“Sit there.”
Upon entering, Jade led Deborah to an inner table.
When she sat on the chair as he instructed, he disappeared somewhere, telling her to wait just a moment.
Deborah sat blankly and soon looked around the surroundings slowly.
Perhaps because she had always come only on holiday afternoons, the scenery inside the bookstore at this late hour felt extremely unfamiliar.
Including the empty appearance with not a single person around.
Not long after she had been looking around like that, Jade returned to the table.
In his hand, he held a teacup with warm steam rising from it.
“Drink this, it’s lavender tea.”
As she took a sip of the warm herbal tea with its fragrant scent, the fatigue accumulated from busily wandering here and there all day seemed to be washed away a little.
While Deborah drank the tea like that, Jade asked nothing.
Even though it must seem strange for her to visit at this time on a weekday.
Furthermore, since he saw the luggage bag in her hand, he must have many things he wanted to ask.
Nevertheless, he waited until Deborah spoke first.
How could she not know that?
Deborah finally set the teacup down on the table and looked at Jade before her
“I’m sorry for…… dropping by so suddenly like this.”
“There’s no need for that. Didn’t I tell you to visit anytime?”
She had felt it since their first meeting, but…… truly, he was a good person.
That must be why Helena told her he was someone she could trust.
Perhaps if they weren’t connected by such a fate with the Duke, they might have become truly good friends…… such a thought brushed through her mind.
But that could not be.
As if shaking useless thoughts from her head, Deborah brought up the next story.
“I went to Helena’s house, but I heard that she has been away from home for a few months.”
At the words asking what on earth that meant, a short groan of “Ah” escaped Jade’s mouth.
“I thought perhaps…… Jade might know what happened, so I came to see you at this hour even though I knew it was a discourtesy.”
At her rapid question, Jade nodded once and stood up from his seat.
“Wait just a moment.”
“…….”
Although his action of suddenly standing up in the middle of a conversation was puzzling, Deborah soon nodded her head in understanding.
It wasn’t long before Jade, who had left his seat, returned.
This time too, something was held in his hand.
“Here, take this.”
Deborah stared blankly at the brown envelope he held out for a long time, then looked back at Jade’s face.
It was an expression asking what this was.
“It’s a letter Helena left with me. She told me to give it to Deborah if you came.”
“Ah…….”
“Go ahead and read it.”
At his action of nodding with a bright smile, Deborah’s gaze moved back to the table.
As she slowly opened the envelope and unfolded the paper inside, handwriting that Deborah knew all too well was written upon it.
The neat and tidy script that reflected Helena’s personality perfectly.
[Deborah.
By the time you read this letter, I will probably be spending busy days doing missionary work in Balteon.
I really wanted to see you at least once before I left…….
I heard everything that happened that day from Jade.
Since you are all grown up now, I thought that someday someone who suits you well would appear, but still, it is such a formidable opponent I never even imagined, so I don’t know what to say…….
While I can guess to some extent the reason you cannot come, I was also worried…… wondering if it was perhaps due to coercion.
By the way, the reason I am going to Balteon is actually something I have been thinking about for a long time.
However, because of the harsh reality, I simply couldn’t muster the courage every time.
But this time, what do you know, an unexpectedly good opportunity came along.
This is all thanks to the efforts Jade made.
When I think of you, I can hardly bring myself to leave, but I finally made up my mind because it felt like I shouldn’t delay any longer.
The time we meet again will probably be around the time it becomes a cold season when white snowflakes fall.
This must never happen, but if anything occurs while I am away, do not worry alone and be sure to consult with Jade.
Even though we are far apart, I will always pray for you.
Please, stay healthy and well until the day we meet again.
Helena.]
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