Episode 28

"Keep a close eye on Lady Evangeline."

"...Huh?"

"Karen, you’re in her service, aren’t you?"

"Yes, but why?"

"Please find out why she suddenly came to the mansion."

The woman tilted her head quizzically.

Then Karen whispered in a hushed tone.

"Isn’t she following the master's aunt? To become the mistress?"

"For what reason?"

Lady Evangeline had never explicitly stated her intentions, yet the servants unanimously shared the same conjecture.

To depose the current countess, who had little influence, and usurp her position.

‘But why?’

Lady Evangeline.

As the count's childhood companion, her family would not be easily challenged either.

‘You're telling me she's attempting to disrupt a married household and insinuate herself all of a sudden?’

It was too risky.

Despite the notorious entanglements of noble bloodlines, there was no need to generate a scandal without a compelling reason.

"Karen, I want to understand her precise motive."

"Motive...? Isn’t it simply that she loves the master profoundly?"

Love, love.

The word felt all too familiar on her tongue.

How funny.

"Love... I don’t believe so."

"Not love?"

"No."

I was well-acquainted with the gaze of someone in love.

Lady Evangeline did not harbor affection for Carlyle Edwell.

"You can discern it merely by looking into her eyes."

"That’s speculation—"

"Regardless, please do this for me."

I lacked the patience for thorough persuasion.

‘She will comprehend once she witnesses it herself.’

Having served the mansion for nearly a decade, she must be far from clueless.

I adjusted the hair cascading over my chest as I spoke.

"You promised you would do anything for me, remember?"

"Yes, yes! I’ll do my utmost."

"You must."

"Even at the cost of my life!"

"It’s not about money. Just preserve your life."

Karen nodded resolutely and departed. Her movements were swifter than when she had clumsily trailed me earlier.

‘Thanks to her, my workload has been reduced.'

Since nobles never refrained from speaking their thoughts before their servants, she wouldn't be cautious around a maid constantly by her side.

I had more to relay to Ute Velvet.

‘Will he be pleased?’

I hoped he would.

I wished those long, lush eyelashes would cast a shadow over his eyes completely.

‘I haven't seen him in so long.’

I felt as though I might experience withdrawal symptoms.

His beauty was something I couldn’t live without once I'd seen it.

As soon as the examination room came into view, I hurriedly opened the door.

"Sir Ute!"

Sir Ute, Sir Ute...

The sound reflected off the walls, echoing hollowly.

Amidst the silence, a leisurely sound of footsteps was heard.

"Who?"

The eyes peering through the glasses were irritable.

The white coat reaching below his knees revealed his profession.

‘He mentioned sharing the clinic with other doctors.’

I’d completely forgotten because he was always alone whenever I visited.

I quickly donned a social smile.

"I am here to see Doctor Velvet."

"That guy? He’s out for a while."

"Ah. Do you know what for?"

"I don’t know. He didn’t say he’d be out long, so he should be back before sunset."

His thin lips curled upwards.

"Unless he’s out with a lover."

"..."

"Is he?"

"No, he doesn’t have one, does he?"

If he did, I would know.

‘He seemed rather disinterested in that area.’

He had emphasized it so much that it was hard to misinterpret his intentions.

The man spoke in a slurred voice.

"No, I meant you. Aren’t you Velvet's lover?"

"Me?"

"A few of the maids mentioned it."

"I am not."

"Is that so...?"

"I don’t want to date."

I didn’t want to engage in such cost-effective behavior with anyone.

‘Especially not with Ute Velvet, considering my cardiovascular concerns.’

As I waved my hands dismissively, the man seemed relieved.

"Surprisingly, you have a good eye."

"Pardon?"

"That guy acts so frivolously."

The man perched on the edge of the bed and narrowed his eyes.

"He’s frivolous, always smiling... an empty, insincere shell."

"Hmm..."

"Everyone’s deceived by him. Haven’t you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"I heard from a friend's friend that he was quite notorious before coming here."

"..."

"He got fired from his previous job for having too many affairs."

I wanted to leave since Ute wasn’t there, but the man’s mouth wouldn’t stop moving.

"Do you know what he was like on his first day? Flirting with the maids... such a slick bastard."

"The maids didn't have the time exactly for him to flirt with."

"If it weren’t for him, Rosie and I wouldn’t have split."

"..."

"Everything changed overnight after Velvet arrived! Damn him."

"..."

"What’s so great about someone who mocks people's feelings...?"

The man’s eyes changed as he rubbed his face with one hand.

He stood up from the bed and walked toward me.

"By the way, I don’t recognize you. Where are you stationed?"

"I’m currently assisting the madam."

"Ah, I see..."

His thin lips moved slowly.

"What business do you have with Velvet?"

His lowered voice echoed in my ears.

He was so close I could see the thickness of his glasses.

"I can help you. I have more experience than him, you know?"

"No, thank you."

"Don’t be shy. Are you one of those who think only Velvet can be of any help?"

What’s with this sudden nonsense?

‘Should I leave?’

But the positioning made it awkward to leave just like that.

I was trapped between the table and the man.

‘If worse comes to worst...’

A pen with its cap off gleamed on the corner of the table. The ink tip shone sharply.

‘I could stab his head.'

Let’s see how long this lasts.

My grip on the pen tightened.

"I’m not worse than him."

"Standards vary by person."

"Right? So, stop playing hard to get—"

"Miss Sonnet."

The door opened, and a cautious warmth covered my arm.

"Have you been waiting long? Sorry I’m late."

His silver eyelashes formed a perfect curve.

Ute Velvet gently separated me from the man.

"Excuse us for a moment."

"Ha! Ute Velvet, you—"

"Scold me when I’m alone. Let me speak to my guest first."

"You arrogant prick. Do you think you’ll always get away with that attitude?"

"..."

"Everyone will eventually see through you. A frivolous person like you—"

"Yes, perhaps. But for now, please leave."

A smile forced with all one's might.

The man yelled at his colleague as if spitting in his face.

"A piece of trash who steals other people's lovers."

Without affirming or denying it, Ute Velvet led me away.

---

"Excuse me—"

"No."

As soon as we reached his room, Ute spoke before I could say anything.

"Miss Sonnet, I..."

His red lips repeatedly opened and closed.

No words came out, but I knew what he wanted to say, so I responded first.

"I know."

"...What?"

"I know you’re not the hopeless scoundrel that man said you were."

"..."

"You didn’t have multiple affairs, steal someone else’s lover, or play with people’s hearts... I know."

His pupils trembled.

"How do you know?"

"You told me before."

"..."

"You pleaded so desperately not to misunderstand. How could I forget that?"

He nearly had a fit emphasizing that it wasn’t that kind of affection.

It had been slightly unsettling then, but in hindsight, he had every reason to be serious.

‘I would hate to be misunderstood for well-intended actions too.’

Especially if caught up in scandalous rumors like the ones I heard earlier.

"You don’t have to explain."

"Ah, well, so, Miss Sonnet, I..."

His pretty green eyes were distorted.

"Do you trust me?"

An expression I’d never seen before.

Slightly reddened eyes.

"Yes."

"...Thank you."

The atmosphere grew somewhat awkward.

The man who would usually prattle on about any trivial topic now kept his mouth shut.

"Why did you go out?"

"Ah, the outing! It was for this."

The items in the paper bag spilled out.

Ute's long fingers grasped them as he shyly smiled.

"Will you help me?"

Hey, what is this?

---

Prev || Toc || Next