CH 82

Tuk, tuk, tuk, tuk. 

As he tapped the desk with his finger, he opened the drawer and pulled out a pile of papers.

Five days ago.

It was a business plan brought forward by Count Maient.

The Emperor, though not directly involved, was aware that Maient was after Count Deriens, famous for his shadow business.

He knew that Maient would ask for help.

Suddenly, he raised his hand and swept the top of the pile of papers aside.

More than half of the pile poured down to the ground and a new titled document appeared, which had been hidden before.

[Proposal for priority trading rights in Elbash Forest Mine]

He was sure that Count Maient would prepare something like this separately.

It’s also obvious that he’ll receive an obvious request to add a word so that Count Robbesta can pass on the rights to trade in minerals to him.

He knew everything.

But a map of the Elbash Forest.

He didn’t expect this to unfold before him. 

Because it’s something he has never experienced before.

Tuk, tuk, tuk. 

He was knocking on the desk again and pulled the rope.

The servant came in. 

“Tell Count Maient not to act like a dog. I don’t care whether he hits Count Deriens in the back of the head or not.”

The Emperor’s eyes glistened.

“Don’t touch Count Robbesta, tell him that straight away.”

The servant who received the order bowed his head.

“I’ll deliver what you said, Your Majesty.”

******

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The vassal, Viscount Chapelta, who was dropped off in front of the Robbesta’s mansion, returned the greetings.

The sun had already set, and the surroundings were dark. He seemed to have been waiting when she entered the gate.

“Lady.”

Blenn approached. 

Serdel passed by him casually.

“Lady!”

He ran and stood in front of her. Serdel turned right away.

“Lady, please. It was all my fault. I never deceived or tried to deceive you. It was because I was afraid of being abandoned. Lady, please.”

She stopped walking.

“Lady—”

“Are you the only one who’s afraid? You’re not the only one who’s afraid of being abandoned.”

“….”

“Don’t stand in front of me again.”

She passed him again.

No, she tried to do that. 

Swish. 

Blenn knelt down.

“Please forgive me once, Lady. I will never deceive you again.”

“I told you, right? I don’t trust you.”

“What can I do to make you believe me? If you ask me to give you my hand, I will. If you ask me to give you my eyes, I’ll give you my eyes.”

“Why?”

“…Yes?”

“Why are you doing this? You found your sister and the forest expedition have ended. The deal between you and me is completely over. Even if you swore allegiance, you are not an official knight, and strictly speaking, you are a guest. It’s enough if you pretend it didn’t exist and go away.”

Blenn’s mouth, which had been wide open, closed.

As Serdel said.

He found his younger sister, and he wasn’t a knight of the Count, so he could leave this place and live freely if he wanted to.

Obviously, he had such a dream at first.

However, at some point, it became natural to remain here.

No matter who he sees.

No matter what is in front of him. 

The smile that she always shows, who is always indifferent, is so warm.

At first glance, it seemed cold, but on the inside, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

He was confident that she would be different from everyone else.

She won’t betray him—.

Ah. 

He realized it for a second.

Serdel’s feelings. 

“I made a mistake. Lady, I’ve only been pushing my apology for what I’ve done— and I haven’t really thought about how hurt you must have been.”

Blenn’s voice, which was filled with anxiety, calmed down.

“By pushing only my feelings as an excuse, I hurt the Lady’s broken heart again. I apologize.”

Suddenly, he got up and looked straight at her. 

Sympathy shouldn’t be used as a weapon to apologize. Realizing how selfish and violent it was, he just bowed his head.

“It’s not that I don’t understand you. I know how hard you’ve been living up until now.”

Blenn couldn’t give any answer.

“But Blenn. I’ve lived as hard as you have, you know? So don’t hurt me. As much as I am considerate of you, you should be considerate of me too.”

“I swear, this will never happen again.”

“I’ll say it again. Don’t betray me.”

If the same thing happens again.

‘I might kill you to protect me. So, don’t hurt me. Don’t let me throw away the you I saved with my own hands.’

Even that will hurt her deeply.

“I won’t betray you. Never.”

Yeah, answering briefly, Serdel finally relaxed and turned away.

******

It was dawn. 

There were many meanings to entering the palace so many times in a row, and only after being dragged around for a long time by the hands of the maids that were shaking, Serdel, who had only now finished dressing up, stretched her shoulders.

‘I’m tired already.’

She had lost all her strength before she even met the Emperor.

With a sigh, she went to Cartal’s office.

“Father, this is Serdel.”

When she carefully opened the door and went in, it seemed that he was organizing the documents to bring to the Imperial Palace.

She saw Cartal busy hands giving things to the butler.

“You’re here. Today— you’re gorgeous.”

“You’re beautiful, Lady.”

Unlike Cartal, who left a rough and short impression, the butler put butter on his mouth.

“The green dress looks bright and cool, and the Lady wearing it is as beautiful as a spirit of the wind.”

“….”

“The exposed neck with her hair turned up looks pure, and the gorgeous accessories seem to double the beauty of the Lady.”

“That’s enough, butler.”

Why does she feel so embarrassed? 

When Serdel glared at him, the butler burst into laughter. 

For a moment, Serdel’s eyes widened. That’s the same with Cartal.

She had never seen the butler laugh like that before.

“—It’s been a while.”

“Yes?”

“It’s so nice to see you laugh happily.”

“Ah— Hahaha.”

The butler’s laugh turned awkward.

“Good.”

A smile spread around Cartal’s mouth. Even his eyes, which usually didn’t budge, became curved and contained softness to the fullest.

With that uncomfortable and natural appearance, he let go of the butler this time.

Serdel was also stunned.

Then her eyes met with Cartal. Embarrassed, Serdel hurriedly avoided his gaze.

The butler picked up a bag containing papers.

“I’ll go first.”

In the office, where there were only two of them, Serdel and Cartal looked at each other awkwardly for a moment.

It was Cartal who spoke first.

“If we go to the palace today, we will have a place to discuss negotiations on mining.”

Starting with that, he shared his thoughts and sought Serdel’s opinion.

The meeting between the two continued for a while.

The butler, who was walking in the hallway, stopped.

He looked at his way back for a moment, and remembered the smile that Cartal had just shown him.

It was the smile he often saw when the Countess was there.

And it was something he had never seen again since her death.

Along with his own really.

It’s been a long time since he laughed so comfortably.

He always maintained his day with the expression he made in front of the mirror.

Seeing Serdel staring at him, he thought of the person he had longed for and went back to the past for a moment.

Tears came out of the butler’s eyes.

His old body bent helplessly, covering his eyes with wrinkled hands.

Before getting into the carriage, he remembered what the Countess had said, holding his hand.

“Take care of my husband and my children. Butler. Please take care of them. Even if it’s hard, if you are the butler, you’ll be able to withstand it.”

He couldn’t keep it.

He couldn’t protect his master’s smile.

He failed to protect Addis, Redan and Serdel’s feelings. 

He just held out.

The smile of the master, which he saw when he was confused as to whether he was holding up well, will be stuck in his heart like this.

“Butler!”

The head maid who saw him from afar came running.

“What’s the matter with you! Did your head hurt again!”

“No, I don’t think so.”

The head maid helped him.

“I’ll guide you to your room, just in case.”

“It’s all right. Today the master—”

“It’s not okay. I’ll take care of it, so go get some rest.”

“….”

“…do you remember what you had for lunch yesterday? What about dinner?”

“….”

Arriving in the room, the head maid sat him in bed.

Then she pulled out the briefcase he was holding tight.

After that, he locked the window tightly.

He was also tied around his waist with a leather cord.

Paperwork is something he used to do, so he would have done it habitually.

The fact that he couldn’t even remember what he ate yesterday was a sign that his mind would soon go black. 

“I’m sorry, head maid.”

The head maid kept her lips shut.

Leaving the room, she locked the door with her trembling hands.

It was the promise between the butler and the head maid, Monem. 

Only for those who have been asked favor about the Count by the Countess.

Secretly.