Chapter 051. Robin’s Confession
The unexpected incident happened when several maids were taking a break on the lawn to welcome the weekend.
Today, since Duke Cheister’s guest was scheduled to visit, they settled in a shaded spot behind the main building to avoid overlapping paths.
Everyone ate the food they had prepared until full, some reading books, some taking naps, and some humming tunes, creating a very leisurely scene.
Deborah was also leaning against a large tree trunk, enjoying a rare break.
That peaceful time was shattered when mysterious footsteps were heard.
Rustle.
At the sound of grass being stepped on, everyone’s gaze who was resting turned toward it all at once.
Seeing the approaching person, everyone there felt a sense of déjà vu.
It seemed like something similar had happened not long ago— that kind of feeling.
The reason was that the approaching person was exactly the same as back then.
Robin.
“Robin?”
Deborah was the first to speak upon seeing Robin approaching hesitantly.
After that, several who were sprawled on the linen cloth hurriedly got up and straightened their disheveled clothes.
“I’m, sorry for disturbing your rest……”
Looking at the opponent politely apologizing, everyone nodded with dumbfounded faces.
Even amidst that, the sharp glances dissecting Robin from head to toe were gleaming so keenly.
Ignoring those stinging glances as best as he could, Robin turned his gaze and took one more step closer to Deborah, who was sitting in front of the tree trunk.
“Deborah, um, just for a moment…… could you spare some time?”
“…….”
Deborah thought for a moment.
She hadn’t known the person in front of her for very long, but during those few meetings, she felt that he was quite bright and kind.
A person who readily extended a helping hand even to her, whom he was seeing for the first time.
Unlike her introverted self, he was sociable and affable enough to be friendly with everyone in the mansion.
A person who always greeted her warmly whenever they met anywhere in the mansion.
The unfamiliar emotion that appeared on such Robin’s face felt very strange.
-“Why, St. Morian’s Day is coming up soon.”
She didn’t know why that phrase she had heard not long ago came to mind at that moment-.
‘No way.’
Deborah soon shook her head, thinking it was a ridiculous idea.
Then, she nodded toward Robin, who was waiting with a tense face.
“Okay.”
At the permission that finally came, Robin’s face brightened up in an instant.
“Then, over there! Shall we…… go over there?”
Glancing at the curious gazes behind, Robin pointed to a spot a little further away.
‘What story does he have to tell that we need to move seats for?’
That thought briefly crossed her mind, but well, it could be a story uncomfortable to tell in front of many— understanding it that way, she nodded.
Then, using the tree trunk for support, she stood up from her seat.
“I’ll be back in a bit.”
Several who were staring this way nodded repeatedly as soon as those words ended.
“Yeah! Come back quick- no, take your time, take your time!”
“Yeah, yeah!”
Seeing everyone with overly flushed faces waving their hands, Deborah unwittingly furrowed her brows.
As she walked away, faint giggling sounds came from behind, but Deborah first followed Robin ahead.
‘Ah…….’
A short sigh escaped from Deborah’s mouth in that moment.
She had hoped it wasn’t, but.
Deborah stared blankly at what was in Robin’s hand for a while.
Just a moment ago, the flower that the hesitant Robin suddenly thrust in front of her— one stem.
‘Red begonia.’
The emotion that appeared on Deborah’s face, who finally realized the situation, was just one.
Bewilderment.
Perhaps due to being so tense, Robin didn’t notice Deborah’s emotion at all.
“W-Would you, if you have time today, like to…… go to the park or the market with me?”
“…….”
Even the dull Deborah couldn’t fail to understand what this proposal meant.
And knowing well what day it was today made it even more so.
‘St. Morian’s Day’.
She had no idea what to say in such a moment, how to respond; her mind was a complete mess.
Then, one thing she suddenly realized—
That she wasn’t pondering whether to accept this flower or not, but worrying about how to respond while rejecting this flower,
Deborah’s heart sank heavily at the answer that had already come out.
After hesitating for a long time, Deborah finally voiced what she had organized in her mind.
It was because she thought that dragging out a decision her heart had already made wouldn’t be polite to the other person.
“I’m sorry, Robin…….”
The moment she conveyed her refusal with apology, Robin’s expression immediately darkened.
Seeing that, Deborah’s heart also sank heavily.
“……D-Do you not like me-.”
“No, no. Robin, that’s not it…….”
Deborah immediately shook her head at the absurd words.
Not like him— that really wasn’t it.
Deborah wanted to maintain a good relationship with Robin if he was okay with it.
She strongly denied it hoping that feeling would be conveyed even a little, but unfortunately, Robin’s expression didn’t improve at all.
After a period of silence, Robin spoke again.
“Then, by any chance…… can I ask if there’s someone else you like……?”
“…….”
He knew it was a voice dripping with lingering attachment, but from Robin’s position, he mustered courage to ask because he wanted to hold onto the last hope.
If there wasn’t someone else she liked, then the chance wouldn’t completely disappear.
An opportunity to try and change the other’s mind again.
But unfortunately, contrary to Robin’s such feelings, there was one face that flashed through Deborah’s mind at that moment.
Deborah’s golden eyes began to shake greatly in that instant.
‘Crazy…….’
Deborah bit her lips hard and then shook her head vigorously as if erasing the afterimage that appeared in her mind.
“No…… there’s no such person.”
“…….”
Whether relieved by the words that there was no such person, a faint emotion appeared on the darkened expression.
Even so, seeing the opponent who couldn’t bring himself to say ‘I’ll wait’, Deborah finally uttered that difficult last word again.
“Really…… I’m sorry, Robin.”
It was a polite way of refusal.
When she returned with heavy steps, the three who were waiting rushed toward Deborah like arrows.
“What did Robin say?”
“Did he confess he likes you?”
“I saw him holding a begonia earlier- right?”
The three who were making a fuss stopped for a moment upon seeing Deborah’s empty hands.
“Huh? But why no flower?”
“Wasn’t it for you?”
Deborah, who had kept her mouth shut until then, finally shook her head slightly.
“……It’s not like that.”
“No way! I clearly saw Robin holding a begonia earlier, why are you pretending!”
“…….”
She tried to make it as if nothing happened to avoid unnecessary rumors, but with their quick wits, no one fell for that flimsy lie.
“You, no way!”
“Did you reject him?!”
“You rejected? Robin?”
Deborah shut her mouth tight again at the screams bursting out simultaneously.
“No, why?!”
This time, the exact same words burst out at the same time.
“No, Robin is handsome, right? Isn’t he?”
“And he’s even an aide.”
“There’s no reason to reject.”
“…….”
Everyone looked at Deborah with expressions of complete incomprehension, as if asking what on earth she had done.
“Why…… I’ve never thought like that even once…….”
She said that hoping the conversation would end there, but the three showed no sign of that at all.
“You’re really something, if you haven’t thought about it, you can take it slow from now on- why reject outright?”
“Exactly, and it’s not like you have someone you like. Do you?”
Deborah immediately shook her head no to those words.
Then, she added a request.
“Anyway, everyone, don’t spread unnecessary rumors.”
Upon hearing that, the three exchanged subtle glances and then nodded, saying okay.
“Yeah, we have to be careful…… if Ludmilla finds out about this…….”
At the words someone brought up, everyone shook their heads as if they didn’t even want to imagine it.
And, that concern became reality not long after.
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By Anna 💓
Greetings, I hope you’re doing okay. I’d like to propose some novels that I’ve translated that may interest you:
The goal is five divorces.
The Ruffian and the Mad Warrior Get Married.
