Chapter 9
Even though I wanted to come up with a lie, nothing came to mind. In the end, I got up from the bed and bowed my head calmly.
“My name is Yvonne Crocus. I am not a suspicious person.”
“Yvonne Crocus.”
The man hummed my name in a meaningful tone. At that distinct voice, my heart gave an extra flutter for no reason. It was a voice that naturally sent a tingle through my entire body.
‘It sounds like a real adult man’s voice.’
As I glanced at the man, Rowan offered a friendly smile and spoke up.
“Just having a name doesn’t mean you aren’t suspicious.”
Honestly, having stayed only within Count Cline’s estate my whole life, this wary reaction was unfamiliar to me. I gathered both hands neatly and answered meekly:
“I am relying on Count Cline’s estate for shelter. I was simply worried that by revealing my name, I might cause trouble for the Count and Countess.”
At my words, the man’s brow furrowed deeply.
‘Did I answer something wrong?’
Feeling intimidated, I shrank my shoulders, prompting Rowan to ask in a gentle voice: “How did you come to take up residence at Count Cline’s estate? Are you a noble as well, My Lady? Seeing as your surname is different, you don’t seem to be Count Cline’s daughter.”
Since I couldn’t answer that I was found by Count Cline while being chased by unidentified people, I repeated the explanation Countess Cline used to introduce me to the public: “Even if I am called a noble, it is in name only. My parents passed away when I was very young, and I heard that Count Cline’s family—being close friends with my parents—took me in.”
“I see. That must have been tough.”
Unlike Rowan, who nodded sympathetically as if feeling sorry for me, the man stood with his lips pressed tight in a deeply discontented expression.
‘Why is his face scowling like that? Does it mean he doesn’t believe me?’
Having lived my entire life only at Count Cline’s estate, I didn’t even know how to prove one’s status. I gripped the hem of my skirt tightly with both hands.
‘I am this ignorant of the world.’
Perhaps that was why I hadn’t even noticed the relationship between Emile and Roseanne.
Recalling Emile and Roseanne kissing, my heart sank with a thud. Even so, in a corner of my heart, a wish flickered that everything was just a dream and a misunderstanding.
It was all lingering attachment.
‘My heart hurts so much.’
A sigh escaped me on its own from the sorrow. As if cutting through my gloomy thoughts, Rowan clapped her hands with a bright smile.
“Miss Yvonne, you passed the interview! Can you head to the capital right away?”
“Pardon? I passed? And right now?”
To pass when I had done nothing but introduce myself—as I wore a bewildered expression, Rowan grabbed both of my hands firmly.
“Yes! We have an extremely urgent matter. We absolutely need Miss Yvonne’s help.”
Rowan’s voice telling me that I was needed overlapped with Emile’s voice that I had heard through Pepe’s illusion.
〈Always clinging to that knitting basket…〉
To think he smiled and said he was happy every time he received what I made, while thinking like that behind my back—it was chilling. Yet, in a corner of my heart, a question arose: ‘Are you really going to just run away blindly like this? Won’t you regret it?’
I hadn’t even been able to talk with Emile yet.
The future I saw was something that hadn’t happened yet, and Emile, Roseanne, and I were friends who had spent over a decade together, no matter what.
‘Even if I leave, shouldn’t I wrap things up properly before I go?’
I wanted to receive an apology from the two of them for deceiving me. And I wanted to wish them happiness. Only then did it feel like no regrets would remain.
Having made up my mind, I lifted my head and spoke clearly: “Please give me just a little time.”
At my words, Rowan tilted her head with a picture-perfect social smile.
“Are you going to tell Count Cline before coming out?”
“No, it’s not that.”
I parted my lips hesitantly. Even if my heart had decided on that direction, shame and reluctance still surged up first when speaking to another person.
“Originally, my engagement ceremony was coming up soon. I think I ought to talk to my fiancé properly before coming along.”
“Engagement…”
Hearing my words, Rowan’s face clouded over. Shaking the hands of mine she was holding back and forth, she spoke in an energetic tone:
“I don’t know what the story is, but hang in there. It will all get sorted out well.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head to Rowan. Just as I was about to step out of the room, the man who had been standing like a statue with his arms crossed slowly stood up.
“Shall I go with you?”
At his unexpected words, my eyes opened wide.
“Pardon? Why would you?”
Then, narrowing his eyes openly, he countered:
“…After listening to you vent for hours, is this the answer I get?”
“Huh? Venting?”
“Yes. You cried, saying you were deceived by those two.”
It was a conversation I didn’t even remember. But there was no way that stiff face of his would lie.
Above all, I clearly remembered the ugly handkerchief he had held out to me. Startled, I lowered my head quickly.
“Eek! I-I-I did that? I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
“No need for apologies.”
“B-But still.”
What else am I supposed to do besides apologize?
As I rolled my eyes around in confusion, Rowan grabbed my hand again to pull my attention back to herself.
“So when can you leave for the capital? We are in a real hurry.”
When.
‘Either way, I won’t look back.’
Since a miserable future was waiting, there was no need to drag out lingering attachments.
I faced Rowan with serious eyes.
“I will go back right now, settle the situation firmly, and return here right away.”
“Sounds great, Miss Yvonne. We will be waiting.”
I bowed my head and was about to open the door to leave, when the man called out to me: “Why aren’t you answering my question?”
“Pardon?”
At those words, I turned around without realizing it. The black-haired man was still standing there with his forehead heavily creased, as if something displeased him greatly.
A question? What question?
‘The one where he asked if he should go with me?’
What would he even do by coming with me? Hit Emile or something?
His deep, sunken red eyes looked as though he truly would do anything for me. He clearly had a fierce and rigid impression, yet for some reason, I felt a sudden urge to lean on him.
However, confronting the two of them was my own task. I shook my head.
“No, I can go by myself.”
“…”
Even after holding me back again, he didn’t answer and whipped his head away instead. As I shrank my shoulders at his seemingly angry demeanor, Rowan waved her hand rapidly as if telling me to hurry along.
I bowed lightly, then turned around. The man’s face, maintaining a grumpy expression until the very end, flickered past the edge of my sight.
‘What a strange person.’
Come to think of it, I hadn’t even heard that black-haired man’s name yet.
‘When I return, I should ask for his name first. Somehow, I feel like his name will be stiff and heavy, too.’
Even though I was heading back with heavy footsteps into a terribly dismal situation, imagining the man’s name brought a faint smile to my face.
Opening the door and stepping outside, it was a hazy dawn. I hurried my steps along.
***
Returning to my room carefully so as not to catch anyone’s eye, Pepe—who had been waiting while nodding off—came dashing over rapidly.
「You kid! You kid! Making me worry like this! Staying out all night without a word! If you’re going to do that, take me with you!」
“Shh.”
When I raised my index finger to tell him to be quiet, Pepe was startled and looked around nervously. Then, he whispered to me:「Where on earth did you go? Do you have any idea how much I worried?」
“I’m sorry. Did anyone at the estate notice that I went out?”
「A maid came by once in the middle, but getting no answer, she assumed you went to bed early and left.」
“I see. Thank you.”
I kissed Pepe on the forehead. Taking off my robe and helping me change clothes, Pepe asked:「By the way, how did you end up staying out all night?」
“The place for the interview happened to be a tavern. While waiting for the people from the merchant guild to arrive, I tried beer for the first time, and before I knew it, I fell asleep.”
「Sheesh, why drink something that isn’t even good for your body?」
“I was curious about what it tasted like.”
I should have just stayed curious, though. Who knew my head would hurt like this and my consciousness would snap right off mid-drink?
‘In front of a man I met for the first time… ugh.’
I groaned softly. Fluttering over, Pepe placed his hand on my forehead.
“Huh?”
At that moment, wondrously, the headache vanished. Looking at Pepe with wide eyes, Pepe puffed out his chubby cotton belly and bragged:「You inherited the blood of fairies who are close to nature. That’s why you react more sensitively to poisons like alcohol. I can cure it for you, but still, don’t drink it in the future.」
