117 [117]

"Lord Raymond?"

"Yes."

"I called you because you were being carried away."

"I'm sorry."

Raymond apologized. Karen seemed to understand why Raymond was so carried away. Because he was like that sometimes. The rushing memories used to hit people's heads as if a spring would burst when they were a little careless.

Raymond said he lived longer than he did. Perhaps he could have experienced more diverse options and lives, both geographically and chronologically, than himself. However, I have lived that much longer. There is only one way to do that.

I just focus on the current moment and do my best.

Karen put her hand on Raymond's hand holding the reins.

"Don't just think about it."

"Yes."

The hands were warm and realistic.

"This area is nice to see in spring."

"It's time for flowers to start blooming soon, so it'll be better."

Karen looked up at the stream and saw the mansion on the green grassy meadow. I could hear the sound of water flowing under the arch bridge.

"We're almost there now."

I could see the Tess mansion in the distance. Karen liked that mansion. On a slight slope, Chase's mansion was a historic building and antique.

"It's always autumn or winter, and I'm looking forward to summer. I don't mind going out to the garden, do I?”

Because he never died in the garden. I thought it would be too hard if they told me not to go out there.

"Yes, but when 'the day' gets closer, you have to stay in the room."

When Raymond said, Karen nodded and asked.

"I know. How about the rose garden? I heard the landscaping was okay, but whenever I came here, the roses were crushed, so I wanted to see them myself.”

"They say it's pretty good."

Even though it was his home, he answered with little sincerity and no confidence. Karen tilted her head and asked.

"Don't you know?"

"I wasn't interested in rose gardens except when I was young.”

"You don't like flowers?”

"I don't hate it, but I'm usually in the capital or at work rather than at home. And they usually buy flowers from children who sell flowers rather than pay attention to the flowers in the house."

"It would be better to raise themselves in the garden than to sell them."

"It's just for the relief of the poor. I like to be hypocritical.”

"Don't take it down on your own. Direct redemption is a great comfort to them... Oh, we've said this many times, right?

Raymond laughed.

"Yes, it's a conversation I've had many times.

They talked to each other as if they planned to repeat similar conversations. It's ridiculous to recognize. Raymond smiled and asked Karen.

"But was that rose garden so famous?"

Karen hesitated for a moment and replied.

"Icella boasted a lot.”

Raymond also answered after a brief silence.

"I see."

The uncoordinated conversation ended a little awkwardly. Karen glanced at Raymond. Raymond was concentrating on handling horses. The speed of the horse is getting a little faster.

What happened to Isela?

Karen waited for Raymond to say something, but he didn't say any more.

So Karen was curious, but she didn't ask him any more. Isela was an important person in Karen's life. Even in Raymond's life. She was always next to them and Verdick was there. Because they were the first people to tie their heads together. The fact that Isela was coming when she married a man other than Raymond did not change. But this time she didn't come. Even her father, Berdick, doesn't know where his daughter is.

“…….”

What did Raymond do to Isela?

Raymond's silence about Isela gave a reverse impression that he had something to do with it. But Karen did not ask any more. If I need to say it, I will go then. It's polite not to ask any more questions now.

"Is Emily in the mansion now?"

Karen turned the horse around. Emily was an old housekeeper in Raymond. Raymond asked in a puzzled voice.

"No, there isn't. Why do you want to know?”

"I stopped learning about her home-style embroidery last time. I was wondering if I could learn it this time."

Karen thought about what she would do in the future. Karen recalled what she had done a few times before her life. Several times he stabbed his finger and let go, but he kept getting it wrong. It would be all right to complete it this time.

"I'm sorry. I fired them all because you didn't want to see anyone else."

"…I see."

"I'll be ready if you want."

Raymond suggested Karen's slightly sullen answer.

"Emily?"

"I'll learn how to turn myself in."

Karen bowed her head at Raymond's serious answer.

"It was kind of funny just now."

"I didn't mean to be funny....”

Raymond answered with a sullen face, but Karen couldn't hold back her laughter when she thought of him turning herself in with a stern and serious face.

"Anyway, I'll have to think about what to do. What should I do at the mansion?"

Karen liked that mansion.

In terms of size, it was no less than the castles used as royal villas, and most of all, the scenery was beautiful. At the back of the building, there was a mountain that made the mansion shine even more, and in front of the light brown house, there was a shallow stream, which was good for playing with water. Karen especially liked to sleep in the sun on a large plain in front of the mansion.

There were various beautiful trees in the garden made by gardeners, and many aristocrats visited in the summer. Peacocks and swans roamed the garden, and the rose garden was Karen's favorite part.

"It's been a long time since I've been here."

Surely one of the reasons why Berdick Evans coveted the Seyertes was the dignity of the Jertes mansion.

Berdick Evans also had several great houses, but owning such a mansion is another matter. There is not only one building in the land that the nobility has managed and occupied for decades and hundreds of years. It included all the old-style buildings, hunting grounds, and old decorations from the garden. Berdick's building was stylish and colorful, but it couldn't have been enough. As most rich people do.

"Carran, come down holding hands."

Karen grabbed Raymond's arm and got off the horse. I had a backache. Karen moved her body around. And looked up at the mansion. Under the bright noon sun, the mansion revealed its majesty.

Karen walked slowly beside Raymond. I've been here many times, but it was a new place.

"Come to think of it, the rose garden is a little dangerous."

"…why?"

"What if a rose thorn pricks your hand and you get a tetanus?”

"…Lord Raymond, stop it."

Karen pinched Raymond playfully. But Raymond's face was serious.

"I'm always serious."

"…anyway, I'll be in the mansion for a while. They didn't even bloom anyway."

"Yes, I'm sorry."

"I know why, so I don't have to."

I might have said no if the mansion was small. Karen thought of the Haier estate. It was definitely a big mansion considering the mansions of the residents, but it was frustrating enough to live in it.

However, Raymond's house deserved to be pleasantly packed for about a year. The four-story mansion alone had more than 170 rooms. Furthermore, each space was large enough to make it hard to feel stuffy.

Karen walked up the gate.

In front of the gate, however, the lion made a few thuds of a doorknob, but the door did not open. Raymond pulled out a big key as he approached Karen from behind.

"There are no servants now, so you have to open them yourself."

Raymond opened the door. The gate opened slowly with a rattle. You've reduced the number of people a lot. Karen nodded her head into the mansion.

"Whoow."

You haven't been here for a long time. Karen looked up at the chandelier in the hall and was moved. It was all made of crystal.

"Oh…."

Something feels strange.

There was no candle on the chandelier. Did you take it out because it was hard to manage because there were fewer people? But without it, it would be quite dark at night.

"Sir Raymond, there."

It's all the more spectacular when I turn my head.

Karen looked at the broken window at the front door.

What's that? The window on the front door is broken. Why is it still there?

Karen looked around Raymond.

"Lord Raymond, there's a broken window.”

"Oh, it must have broken a few days ago when I thought there was a strong gust of wind. I'll call the dealer right away."

"The chandelier doesn't have candles....”

"I left it out because I didn't need to take care of it. I'll put it back in if you want."

You're not making me do it?

Don't tell me.

Karen wiggled her hand and looked at Raymond's face. You have to ask. This really needs to be asked.

"Lord Raymond, you said you cut down on maids and servants.”

"Yes."

Don't tell me, you don't.

Karen asked calmly, trying to calm her pounding heart.

"How many are there?"

Raymond blinked and answered calmly.

"Two people."

Don't tell me there are only two servants? Karen seemed to have used violence against him if what was in front of her was not a soldier but a dried-up fuse. Don't tell me that.

It is a mansion of the nobility. There were more than 100 residents, and in the summer, it was a place where the royal family could visit.

"Two?"

"Oh… there was a mistake in what I said. There isn'

"…there isn't he?

Karen's hair seemed to turn white. What is this guy talking about? But Raymond answered with a grin as if he didn't know what Karen was thinking.

"Yes, it's just us two in the mansion. The porter has decided to bring the goods to the carriage once a week, so don't worry about it."

Let's hold it in.

Karen calmed down her trembling voice and asked again.

"A mansion like that right now... You know it's common for about 100 people to live on a regular basis, right?”

"Yes."

"Then the two of us will clean up... You want me to cook and take care of it? I mean, Lord Raymond and I... Cleaning, building management... The garden... more than 100 people used to do it?"

Raymond nodded.

"Yes, there's a lot to do, so you won't be bored. That's good. I've learned how to cook and clean up in the army."

"Cooking... Military cooking....”

Raymond nodded proudly at Karen's answer.

"All my men were amazed and ate it all."

"Cleaning… what do you mean…" ?”

"Carran, don't worry too much. I'm going to wear 100 uniforms in one day. Oh, my gosh!"

It's supposed to be a joke.

Karen clenched her fist. The road ahead was dark.

"…oh, what's wrong?"

Karen pinched Raymond strongly in the ribs, but Raymond looked down at him with a face that he just didn't know what was going on.

"That's a funny joke. It was really fun this time.”

Say it's a joke. quickly

But Raymond's expression was puzzled.

"…if you need anything else, feel free to pay….”

That's not the problem. Karen bit her teeth tight.

"Do you want to die?"

"What?"

"Sir Raymond, do you want to die?"