Ch 5.5
At that, the atmosphere instantly became solemn.
I shook myself out of it and pondered what words to say to him.
After a brief thought, I opened my mouth.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“…….”
“I don’t know why you had such a thought, but I will always be here, in this place.”
“…….”
“As long as you wish to stay by my side, I will never let you go. Understood?”
“……I understand.”
At my words, I saw the stiff expression on Lian’s face loosen slightly.
That was a relief.
Since things had turned out this way, I spoke to Lian with a playful smile to completely lighten the mood.
“You are far too serious about everything.”
“I am not particularly serious.”
“No, you are really, really serious.”
I repeatedly emphasized the word “really.”
“That is because it concerns my Lady. You are the most important person to me.”
He certainly has a way of leaving me speechless.
“Alright, thank you. I’ll be counting on you in the future as well.”
Saying so, I stepped in front of Lian and held out my hand.
“Come on, hurry.”
I meant for us to shake hands, but since he was just staring blankly at my hand, I
urged him.
Then Lian lifted his head, and my eyes met his cool green pupils, reminiscent of a lush, green forest.
Lian gripped my hand tightly.
Lian did not let go of my hand for a while, to the point where I could feel his determination to never let me leave, just as I had said.
A few days passed.
Permission for the orphanage project arrived from the Crown Prince.
‘I guess I was overthinking it.’
Judging by the Crown Prince’s attitude, I thought things might not go well, but that wasn’t the case.
It was a relief.
And now, it seemed I was going to be incredibly busy.
As it was my first project as the Lady of the House of Hates, a desire to do better than anyone else welled up within me.
I wanted to prepare everything well, step by step, from the very beginning.
Moreover, I had to practice riding for the upcoming competition.
Thinking I wouldn’t have much free time ahead, I sent a letter to the House of Bayon.
It was about wanting to visit Adela, just as I had mentioned to Eden.
Not long after I sent it, a reply arrived from Adela.
It contained a message saying she wanted to see me as soon as possible and that I could come whenever I liked.
So, the next day, I immediately prepared to go to the House of Bayon.
Then, I remembered that Adela likes flowers.
I went to the garden and personally selected the prettiest and most vibrant flowers among those in bloom to make a bouquet.
And with the bouquet in hand, I headed to the House of Bayon.
When I arrived at the mansion and stepped out of the carriage, Eden was not there today.
‘Did he go somewhere again for work?’
I thought he said he would be staying in the capital for a long time this time.
Perhaps because I had somehow assumed he would definitely be there, a wave of disappointment washed over me involuntarily for a moment.
No, he’s a busy person.
I shook off the thought and instead followed the butler, who had come to greet me, into the mansion.
“Lady Hates, the Duke has requested to see you first before you visit Lady Adela.”
The Duke of Bayon?
I suppose he was at the mansion today.
“I understand, please lead the way.”
“Yes, please come this way.”
After climbing the stairs and walking a few steps, I stood before a black door.
It was a dark, somber door, completely different from Adela’s ornate and colorful room door.
“Your Grace, Lady Belita Hates has arrived.”
“Tell her to enter.”
“Yes, understood. Please go inside.”
The thick, heavy door opened.
As I entered, a middle-aged man was sitting at a desk.
Since I had seen him at dinner before, his face was familiar.
As I entered, the Duke rose from his seat and approached me.
I greeted him first.
“It has been a while, Duke Bayon.”
“Welcome, Lady Hates.”
When I lifted my head after the greeting, the Duke was staring at me with piercing eyes.
Feeling as though our family would lose if I averted my eyes here, I met his gaze with a steady look.
“The Lady resembles the Duchess more than the Duke. Please, sit here.”
Then, words whose meaning was difficult to grasp came from the Duke’s mouth.
I wore a questioning expression but wiped it away immediately.
“Yes, thank you.”
And I moved to the sofa.
He sat in the seat of honor, and I took a spot on the sofa to the Duke’s right.
“Are the Duke and Duchess of Hates doing well?”
“Yes, they are both doing well.”
“I see. I heard this is your second visit to see Adela.”
“Yes, I wasn’t able to greet you during my first visit. I apologize.”
“I was away on business at that time. Right, I heard you’ve been exchanging letters with my daughter.”
It was a typical question.
A question parents might ask when curious about who their child is associating with and how.
However, just as my father was displeased with me associating with those of the House of Bayon, the eyes of Duke Bayon looking at me were not particularly kind either.
I kept my wits about me to ensure he found no fault.
“I witnessed Lady Bayon collapsing at the banquet last time, and out of concern, I couldn’t help but come to visit her. After visiting and talking with the Lady, we got along so well that we became friends, and since we cannot meet often outside, we began exchanging letters.”
“I see. But about that time.”
“Yes?”
“The day our Adela collapsed.”
When the Duke mentioned that day, a sudden wave of tension hit me, even though I had done nothing wrong.
“Ah, yes.”
“Do you happen to know why Adela collapsed that day? When I ask, she only says she suddenly felt dizzy and fell, but I am curious if there was perhaps another reason.”
The Duke doesn’t know what happened that day.
I pondered for a moment on how to answer.
Of course, I had no intention of telling him the truth.
When the party involved was keeping her mouth shut, I had no reason or need to let my tongue wag loosely.
“I was nearby, but as the Lady said, it is correct that she collapsed suddenly.”
“……I see.”
Looking at the Duke’s eyes, it was clear that while he accepted the answer, he didn’t believe it at all.
However, since this was a problem Adela had to solve, it was useless for me to worry about it.
“I understand. You may leave now.”
“Yes, then I shall be going.”
‘Phew.’
After leaving the Duke’s office, I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
I was glad it passed without incident.
“Then, Lady Hates, I will escort you to the Lady’s room.”
Walking behind the butler, I saw Adela’s room that I had seen before.
At the word that I had arrived, Adela’s voice, full of joy, could be heard even through the door.
And as I entered the room, Adela was sitting leaning against the headboard of the bed, her pretty face filled with a lovely smile.
“Belita!”
“Adela.”
“It’s been a while. Thank you for coming to see me again like this.”
“Not at all. It’s only right that the person who can move should be the one to come.”
“I’m so moved that you say so.”
A maid placed a chair near the bed where Adela was.
I sat there and handed Adela the flowers I had brought as a gift.
“Here.”
“Oh my! Are these for me?”
Upon seeing the bouquet, Adela wore an ecstatic expression and was deeply moved.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“They are so beautiful. What should I do, always being on the receiving end?”
“No, it’s alright.”
“Thank you so much. I will cherish them so that the flowers never wither.”
They were words she could never keep, but since I felt I knew how Adela felt receiving the gift, I nodded with a satisfied smile.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’ve gotten much better.”
She said she was better, but just as Eden had said, to my eyes as well, Adela’s complexion did not look very good.
In fact, she looked more ill than last time.
Perhaps noticing my expression, Adela quickly changed the subject.
“The Harvest Festival and the riding competition are coming up soon, aren’t they?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Will Belita be competing in the riding competition too?”
“Yes, I think I’ll be going as the representative of the House of Hates.”
“You must be good at riding horses, Belita.”
There was a clear hint of envy toward me in her eyes.
“I could have done it too if I were just a bit healthier; it’s so sad when my body is weak like this.”
“Get well soon, and let’s go riding together. Alright?”
Seeing Adela replying with a dejected expression and slumped shoulders, I wanted to encourage her.
So, the offer to go riding, which I had indirectly refused to Eden, came out naturally in front of Adela.
“Thank you, Belita.”
After that, we shared many stories and let our conversation bloom.
During this, WMPBU – Ch Adela suddenly asked me.
“I heard you saw my father?”
“Yes, I saw Duke Bayon before coming here. But……”
I hesitated whether to say this or not.
I was reluctant, as it felt like I might unnecessarily make a person who is still sick dwell on the events of that day again.
