Episode 33

“Can’t you speak? Aren’t these your lips right here?”

He asked fiercely, pointing at my lips.

“No, they’re not.”

I replied calmly. But it seemed that in his mind, I was already stamped as a woman.

His eyes flickered. My face reflected in his black eyes was full of fear.

“You, don’t underestimate me.”

“Do you want to tell the truth, or do you want to be chased away while stripped down here? Choose, woman.”

Theodore’s eyes looking at me were filled with contempt. I clenched my fists tightly and tried to speak calmly.

“I am a man.”

But he just glared at me. Unable to meet his gaze, I struggled to add, “…Working at Akaruth with the physique of a servant should be evidence enough.”

“Ha…”

Was my words a slight against his pride? He seemed angry. His eyes, seething with anger, stared at me.

“You filthy scum.”

And his following words furrowed his brows. Of course, he quickly controlled his expression.

He seemed like he could threaten me at any moment. The thought of needing to leave this place quickly filled my mind.

“Well then, I’ll excuse myself first.”

I hastily picked up Elizabeth’s dishes and fled as if escaping.

My heart was pounding so fiercely it felt sickening.

* * *

Fortunately, after that day, I didn’t encounter Theodore again. I wondered if he would call for me, but time passed as usual.

Earlier than usual, Flynn and I prepared breakfast, loading dishes and utensils onto the trolley.

“Flynn!”

At that moment, Peter rushed into the dining room, calling for Flynn urgently. He looked around and then spotted Flynn, making his way over.

“What’s, what’s the matter?”

“Do we have any desserts from the south?”

“…Desserts from the south? Right now? Are you serious?”

Peter’s face was drenched in sweat as he ran into the restaurant. He wiped his face with his hand and nodded.

“Lord Theodore requested a dessert that’s only available from the ‘south.’ It’s really… something.”

Peter emphasized ‘south.’

“If we check the city right now…”

Flynn’s face also turned pale at his words.

If it’s a dessert only available in the south, it must be referring to cherry candies and Velosan chocolates. Those are the two most famous desserts from the southern region.

“I have Velosan chocolates in my room.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Peter’s face lit up in an instant.

“…But I’m not sure how much is left.”

“A little will do.”

I had almost finished the chocolates that Redin gave me before. But the chocolates given by the lord of Seville were still intact, as I treasured them. If even this was gone, it would feel like severing the last connection with Seville.

‘But if I had known, I would have finished them all!’

Though it left a bitter taste in my mouth to give chocolates to Theodore, it was inevitable. Seeing how Peter couldn’t get cherry candies or Velosan chocolates, it was obvious how frustrated he would be.

I immediately went to my room and brought out the chocolates. I tried one just in case it had gone bad, but the taste was still amazing.

“Thanks to you, I’m saved, really…”

Peter’s eyes even teared up. Flynn quickly unwrapped the chocolates and placed them on a plate. Then, he delicately plated them around the edges.

“I’ll grant you one favor in return. You’ve saved me, after all.”

“What kind of debt is this for…”

I was about to continue speaking as if nothing was wrong, but I hesitated for a moment. Sensing my hesitation, Peter lightly tapped my arm.

“Then, perhaps…”

I cautiously asked him.

“Are there any additional guests added to the guest list for the banquet?”

“Additional guests?”

Peter asked, looking puzzled.

The last time we sent out invitations, there were no members of the Seville family. But I still wanted to make sure.

“Well, I don’t think so… Why do you ask all of a sudden?”

I smiled awkwardly and opened my mouth.

“You know I came from Seville, right? I was just wondering if there were any familiar faces…”

“There probably won’t be. Seville and Akaruth…”

“Uh, plating’s done here!”

Peter’s words were drowned out by Flynn’s voice. But curious about what he was going to say next, I urgently grabbed Peter.

“You should go after him!”

Peter, upon reconsideration, seemed to think that what he had to say wasn’t for me, so he just avoided eye contact. His face seemed to indicate that he had made a mistake.

“Why are you so curious?”

“Ah, anyway… There won’t be any Seville people coming to Akaruth this year.”

Leaving only those words behind, Peter hurriedly left the restaurant. But unlike him, I couldn’t move.

Why won’t they come this year? Is it because Isis is very sick?

Although I couldn’t hear his follow-up, I sensed intuitively that it was not good news.

But I had never heard that Akaruth and Seville had a bad relationship. There were no rumors spreading around, either…

Moreover, if the relationship between the two families was bad, the lord of Seville wouldn’t have written a recommendation letter for us to be admitted to the duke’s estate. And the duke wouldn’t have welcomed Abel and me either.

There was no reason for Seville to welcome us. And if the relationship was really bad, wouldn’t servants like Roy and Peter also be hostile towards us?

“Chase?”

As I stared at the firmly closed restaurant door, I moved my feet again at Flynn’s voice calling me to resume work.

* * *

“If you’re a senior, you’ll know the reason.”

With that thought in mind, I headed towards the main building. I wanted to see if he was free.

“Chase.”

But just for a moment, I hesitated upon hearing Amy’s voice from behind.

“It seems like it’s been a long time.”

But I quickly regained my composure and greeted her.

“Good morning, miss.”

“Skip the greetings. Instead, could you escort me? I want to take a walk.”

Amy reached out her hand to me. A ring with a ruby on her second finger gleamed on the smooth surface.

“Of course.”

I took her hand and lightly kissed the back of it. Amy then naturally hooked her arm through mine, seeming satisfied.

“I haven’t seen your face lately. Is everything okay?”

“I was assigned to the restaurant during the banquet period. That’s why.”

Amy sighed softly.

“I see…”

“Miss, are you doing well?”

As soon as I uttered those words, I involuntarily held my breath. I realized that the words I had just spoken to Amy were the same ones I wanted to ask Isis.

“Chase?”

Amy, sensing my hesitation, called me.

“Ah, it’s nothing…”

Even as I said that, Amy nonchalantly continued.

“Thanks to you, I’m doing well. It’s enjoyable to learn about Akaruth day by day.”

As we chatted with Amy, we arrived near the lakeside.

“Who’s this?”

The voice of a guest who didn’t seem too pleased pierced my ears. And as soon as I heard that voice, I stiffened.

“Is that really you, Theodore?” Amy called out in astonishment.

“It’s been a while, miss,” Theodore replied, completely different from the threatening tone he had used last time. He seemed like a completely different person.

He approached us with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. I greeted him.

“I can’t remember the last time we met.”

“Five years. You’ve become quite the lady since then.”

“And you are…”

Amy couldn’t finish her sentence. It was because Theodore had taken her hand and bowed to her.

Theodore’s red lips pressed firmly against Amy’s hand. His gaze remained fixed on me.

I quickly averted my gaze from him. I was scared. Even though he hadn’t done anything particularly menacing yet, I felt an inexplicable fear.

While Reed was unpredictable in his actions, at least he wasn’t as violent as this.

“You…”

Amy realized she was being mocked and her face flushed instantly. She quickly pulled her hand away from him.

Whether she said anything or not, Theodore’s gaze towards me didn’t falter.

Seeing her puzzled, Amy glanced at me briefly.

“…Do you know each other?” she asked.

Theodore let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“Know each other or not.”

“…How?”

Amy narrowed her eyes at Theodore, who seemed unsure of how to respond properly.

Amy glanced at Theodore.

…Can’t they just talk alone, and I stay out of it? But he held onto me, inching away little by little.

“By the way, where are you going with this lady?”

“…Lady?”

Amy wrinkled her face as if asking what he meant, and Theodore shrugged lightly.

“My mistake. He’s just so pretty. I thought he might be to the duke’s taste.”

He lightly tapped my shoulder.

“Theo, please!”

Amy shivered as if annoyed.

“Do you think he’s 16?”

“Sorry.”

Theodore briefly apologized to me while keeping his gaze fixed on me. But even that was brief. He smirked as if he found something amusing, then turned to Amy and spoke.

“Sorry for that, while I’m at it…”

“What?”

Theodore swiftly removed Amy’s hat.

“Theodore!”

Amy’s shocked voice echoed by the lakeside. But Theodore didn’t care and just let go of the hat.

The hat flew into the air and landed on the surface of the lake. Ripples spread on the calm surface of the lake. Along the waves, the hat slowly began to drift away.

I couldn’t close my mouth, unable to understand the situation. But Theodore observed me with a relaxed expression, as if finding me amusing.

“What are you standing there for? Go get it.”