Vol. 2 Chapter 3.1 - Cant escape

Vol. 2 Chapter 3.1 - Can't escape

“But still, he was our mother! Even if he may have been an enemy to you, Father, he was the only mother I had!”

With blue eyes resembling the man’s, he glared at him with anger and resentment. The man couldn’t understand why his beloved son was furious with him. He had only tried his best for their mother’s sake.

“I loved your mother. I couldn’t forgive the person who made him die so tragically.”

“Our mother! Mother was the person who died at Father’s hands! Please stop your lies full of deceit!”

“Your mother is not that person, but Rayfiel Westport! You were named after him because you resemble him!”

“...I don’t need that name. I’m no longer Rayfiel. You should have named me ... If you wanted to name me after Mother.”

The old man raised his fist in anger, while his grown son stared back at him without backing down. The raised hand couldn’t come down. Tears streamed down the eyes of his resentful son.

“I will never return to this estate again.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I can’t live in the place where my mother died so tragically.”

With those words, his son left. The man immediately chased after his back.

“Rayfiel!”

Before opening the front door, the son stood in the middle of the stairs and looked at his father. In between them, an old housekeeper stood with a pale face, constantly shedding tears and pleading, “Young master, please.” His son gave her a cold glare and then turned back to face the man.

“Goodbye, Viscount Klopp Bandyke.”

“Rayfiel!”

The son left. And he never ever returned again.

The man who lost his eldest son ran toward that person’s tombstone and cursed him. Even after he died, he was still tormenting him to tears. Soon, he came carrying a hammer to smash that tombstone. His second son rushed in to stop his madness and was hit by the swinging hammer, causing a severe injury.

That was the man’s second madness.

***

“... Why is Rayfiel my son? And what’s with me going mad and smashing the tombstone? What absurd dream ....”

Because of the wild dream, he woke up with annoyance surging through him. He got out of bed, massaged his dizzy head, and rubbed his eyes with his palm. Barefoot, he went down from his bed and headed to the nearest large window to draw back the heavy curtains.

“What incredibly amazing weather. Just perfect.”

The gloomy sky seemed as if it could bring a gust of wind accompanied by hail at any moment, letting out a distant roar. Perhaps it was a sign of something. His dream was bad too. It’s all because of that damn count. Today was the day he would be visiting the count’s estate. Could there be a more fitting beginning than this? Gẹtt the latest novels at n.o/(v)/e/l/bin(.)com

Klopp dismissed the lingering dream with irritation and swiftly discarded the pajamas he was wearing. After a reluctant and meager breakfast, amidst the murmurs of the dream that still lingered, he barely caught the waiting carriage with his footsteps before a hailstorm poured down. The road quickly turned into a sheet of ice. While worrying needlessly about the carriage wheels on the road, the hail transformed into a hazy drizzle, making the mood gloomy.

“I didn’t come here just to leisurely drink tea. I’m busy. I had to carve out time for this.”

“Are you not going to spare the whole day for this? Viscount Derbyshire told me that you would have a full day of conversation with the other contractors...”

“I have an appointment in the afternoon. Don’t forget that you came to find me unexpectedly.”

When Klopp drew a firm line, Aelock silently accepted it. Then he stood up and gracefully shook the bell that was placed nearby. The butler appeared right away into the study, carrying even more than the anticipated towering stacks of documents. It vividly showed the ancient lineage and immense wealth of the aristocratic family, along with their reckless management. Klopp was astounded as he looked at the disorganized pile of documents.

“Damn it. If it was this much, you should have organized this beforehand.”

“I’ve heard that it’s better to show it as it is, without any tampering.”

“That’s referring to organized ledgers! Where are the receipts for this?”

Putting on a stern expression, the confused count’s words made him feel absurd.

“Do I have to gather receipts too?”

“...”

Klopp looked at him in silence, and the count glanced elsewhere for a moment before their gazes met again, and he smiled. Yes, go ahead and smile. At least if you smile, I won’t swear at you. No, I might even want to swear at you more. I don’t know anymore. Klopp looked at the dusty ledgers, let out a deep sigh, and unbuttoned his sleeves, rolling up his shirt.

“I guess it would be hard for me to meet Rayfiel today.”

“Ah.”

He looked through the pile of documents, picked up what appeared to be a book, and said it to himself, but the count suddenly looked at this side with a nervous and serious face.

“I apologize. I really failed to consider your circumstances at all. You can come next time. Or perhaps I’ll organize these documents myself first and send them to you.”

“Nevermind it. I’m already here. Besides, I don’t think you’ve ever done it before, if you mess with it now, it’ll only be more of a hindrance.”

“I’m truly sorry. To have interrupted your time with your loved one...”

The count’s words seemed a bit strange, Klopp frowned and stared at Aelock intently. He must really be sorry, even in his smile, Aelock had a slightly pained expression with his face down.

“If you have time to worry about other people’s personal life, why don’t you lift that file rack over there onto the desk?”

“Ah.”

Aelock quickly grabbed the documents Klopp was pointing at and lifted them up. Meanwhile, Klopp sat on the luxurious leather chair with a scowl on his face. He was slightly surprised at how perfectly comfortable it fit him as if he had been using it for twenty years. However, he showed no expression and opened the ledger, tightening the muscles on his face.

As expected, it was taking him a very long time. The third cup of cold tea had already gone cold. Aelock, who had been sitting on the sofa, kept flipping through the books gathered around, observing Klopp. Suddenly, he got up from his seat and headed outside.

Did he get bored of waiting and leave to do something else? I’m still left with his work.

Klopp had been thinking that he couldn’t concentrate well because Aelock was in his mind. It was probably a good thing that he left since he was in the way. However, after a while, the study door opened again, and Aelock came in carrying something on a tray. He continued reviewing the ledger and making notes, but when he took a short glance, he saw that Aelock had brought a small silver tray with snacks. It seemed like he brought snacks, including sandwiches and cookies.

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