Ch 5.4
I had returned from my travels around the time summer began, and time was already passing in great strides.
After pondering for a moment on how to respond, I opened my mouth.
“Well, I’ll think about it.”
“Think… about it?”
I said I would think about it, but it was actually a roundabout refusal.
Eden seemed to have caught on, as I saw a hint of disappointment fill his complexion.
“I have a business I’m currently pushing forward, so I think I’ll be quite busy.”
To be honest, I wasn’t that busy.
Since I also had to participate in the riding competition, I did need to practice.
So we could have practiced together, but something inside me kept whispering to maintain a proper distance from him.
And I followed that inner voice.
“I understand.”
Eden was certainly different from Kane.
He didn’t make things difficult for people by being stubborn like Kane did.
He showed that he could give up cleanly at my answer.
While I liked that quite a bit, it felt strangely odd.
Disliking the fact that I felt such a strange sensation, I immediately brought up another topic to shake it off.
“How is Adela’s health?”
“…I thought she would get better with some rest, but there has been no sign of improvement.”
“Ah…”
I already knew, but hearing that her illness was still heavy made a sigh escape me involuntarily.
Is it not healing easily because it’s an illness of the heart?
Since she collapsed from the shock of Kane’s words back then, it was highly likely that the wound had not yet recovered.
There was absolutely no mention of Kane in the letters we exchanged.
Perhaps because I spoke firmly when I visited her, Adela had not mentioned anything regarding Kane to me since then.
“I heard you’ve been exchanging letters with my sister.”
“Did Adela tell you that?”
“Yes.”
Oh, so Eden knows that I’m staying on friendly terms with Adela.
That was truly a good thing.
“I think I should visit her once more. I suspect she feels frustrated being stuck only in the mansion.”
Having already tasted the outside world, being confined inside would be no different from hell.
The more my friendship with Adela grew, the bad feelings I initially had toward her gradually disappeared.
And in that empty space, pity and compassion for her began to pile up instead.
Perhaps it was natural and something I had prepared for.
However, I didn’t know my feelings would change this quickly, so even I have been feeling flustered lately.
While saying I would go for a visit, I met Eden’s eyes.
But for a split second, he wore an unreadable expression before it vanished
from his face.
Then he replied with a slight smile.
“Belita, you are still so warm and kind.”
Why do these siblings truly shower me with such high praise whenever I do just one thing?
As I told him last time, I wasn’t the kind of person to be called warm or kind.
It was just that Adela and Eden’s
evaluation of me was excessively high.
Well, it wasn’t a bad thing, so there was no need to go out of my way to deny it.
If they—especially Eden—perceived me as someone who wouldn’t harm Adela, then I would be safe.
So, I laughed awkwardly and changed the subject.
“By the way, how are the children at the orphanage doing? I haven’t been able to go see them lately.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to see the children as well.”
“I see. Did you find the person you were looking for?”
The story I heard from him a year ago suddenly came to mind.
Regarding the reason he was searching through circus troupes.
“…No. I didn’t see any circus troupes this time.”
A shadow momentarily cast over his face.
‘He must be looking for a very important person.’
Well, that’s likely why he’s scouring all sorts of circus troupes.
“Ah… I’m sure you’ll find them. So, cheer up.”
“Yes, I believe so too.”
“Yes, you will definitely find them. I asked before, but if there’s anything you need my help with, please tell me.”
“In that case, I have one favor to ask.”
“Wha—what is it?”
When I offered to help last time, he said it wasn’t necessary, so I thought it would be the same this time.
I had asked out of politeness, but because the words came out as if he had been waiting, I was slightly flustered and even stuttered.
“By any chance, have you ever told anyone else that I am looking for someone?”
“No, I haven’t.”
Too many things happened in the short time since returning from my travels.
So, it was more accurate to say I hadn’t even thought about telling anyone.
“Not even to my sister?”
“Yes, I didn’t tell her.”
It was the same for Adela.
There was no particular reason to do so, and it wasn’t the right situation.
“Then I would like you to keep it that way in the future as well.”
“Does that mean… it’s a secret?”
“It is.”
“Alright, I’ll keep the secret.”
Since it wasn’t a difficult request, I smiled and replied simply.
Then, Eden looked at me with a peculiar gaze and asked me.
“Won’t you ask the reason?”
“Are you going to tell me?”
“…No.”
“I didn’t ask because I knew that.”
“Thank you.”
I replaced my answer with a smile.
After that, we conversed without noticing the passage of time until the carriage arrived in front of the mansion.
Just like last time, when the carriage stopped at the main gate, Eden stepped out, and I followed him out to see him off.
“Thank you for the escort.”
“I’ll see you again next time.”
“Yes, have a safe trip.”
“Yes, then.”
Mounting his horse that had followed behind, he glanced at me once and then immediately moved away from me.
It was just as his retreating figure disappeared and I was about to get back into the carriage.
“My Lady.”
“Yes?”
Lian suddenly approached me.
“Why? Do you have something to say?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
By the look of it, his face suggested he had something he wanted to say, but his mouth was tightly shut.
“Let’s go in.”
“Pardon?”
“Tell the carriage to follow separately, and you walk in with me.”
“But…”
“I just want to walk for a bit. Let’s go.”
And so, taking Lian with me, I passed through the main gate and began to walk.
I walked ahead, and Lian followed behind.
“Wow, the weather is nice.”
Seeing how it was becoming cool as the sun set, autumn was definitely coming.
“Come here.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, come to my side.”
Wanting to see Lian’s face and talk, I turned around and beckoned with my hand.
Lian stood beside me in a single stride.
“You have something to say to me, don’t you?”
“…No, I don’t.”
“I think you do.”
“…….”
There was clearly something, but since he kept saying there wasn’t, I became even more curious.
“Are you and I the type to hide things like this? I suppose you’re doing this because you’ve grown up a bit, but I’m disappointed.”
“It’s just that, after thinking about it, I didn’t think it was something for my Lady to worry about.”
“I’ll judge that after I hear it. So, tell me.”
Even though I said this much, Lian still wore a hesitant face.
“You’re not going to tell me? Fine, fine. Don’t, then.”
I intentionally put on an upset expression as if I were sulking.
“I will tell you, my Lady. So please, don’t be upset.”
I tilted my chin up slightly, telling him to begin.
“…If someone else offers to escort you like today, must I step back?”
“Huh?”
Thinking about it, it wasn’t a very difficult question, but I was momentarily bewildered because such an unexpected question popped out.
“Uh, so, you’re asking about the fact that Eden told you to step back today?”
“That is correct.”
“Well, that’s natural. He is a noble.”
“…Yes.”
Lian’s response felt somewhat lukewarm.
“Did it make you feel not so good? Did it feel like your job was being taken away?”
“It’s not quite like that. It’s just that my Lady… no, it’s nothing.”
“What is it? Speak comfortably.”
Looking at him, it seemed that once again, something slightly deviating from my expectations was about to come out.
So I quickly prepared my heart and finished getting ready to listen.
“When my Lady, when my Lady took his hand, I felt as if you might leave me behind and go away.”
“Me?”
No, and in that situation?
How could someone even think like that?
‘Is it because he’s still young? His imagination is certainly rich.’
I was a bit flustered the moment I heard it, but soon Lian’s quirky thought was amusing.
So a laugh burst out immediately.
“Just how can you even think such a thing?”
“…….”
I was laughing out loud quite heartily, but it seemed I was the only one who found it funny.
“Ah, sorry for laughing.”
I cleared my voice and tried hard to suppress my laughter.
And as I soon calmed down, only then did Lian’s face come into view.
Unlike me, Lian was staring at me intently with an infinitely serious expression.
