CH 27

After meeting Anton, Leslie returned to the villa and visited Olivia’s guest room. He was on his way after hearing from Billy that Olivia was in bed even at luncheon, too.

Knock, knock–.

When no one inside answered, Leslie knocked again, starting to get worried.

Knock–.

No reply this time, either.

Are you asleep? Are you hurt somewhere?

Worried and unable to leave, Leslie said to the door, “Olivia, it’s me, Leslie. May I come in for a second?”

“…”

When he carefully opened the still-unanswered door, he saw Olivia lying in bed. 

Olivia, who looked pale, opened her eyes and saw Leslie approaching her.

“Leslie.” 

“Do you feel unwell? They told me you didn’t even eat.”

Leslie went to the side of the bed and looked down in concern at Olivia. 

“I don’t have an appetite.”

Leslie’s brow was wrinkled when he heard her speak in a glum voice, unlike the usual Olivia.

He never claimed to unconditionally understand Olivia, who would say she wanted something if she wanted it and didn’t give up until she had it, but seeing her depressed made him feel bad. 

How bad do you feel to skip meals and look so down like this?

“Get up. Let’s go out and take a walk. The weather is great.”

“I don’t want to. I just want to rest for today.”

A shadow fell over Leslie’s rejected face. If it were hyung who asked you to go for a walk, not me, you would have followed right away, smiling brightly with that pretty face.

But you still don’t get it. To hyung, you’re just a childhood friend. Now, admit it and accept reality, Olivia.

“Is it because of Brandon that you’re lying here like this? What did Brandon say?”

“Brandon told me not to talk to him anymore. He told me to go back to the Gonette mansion, but I decided to stay a little to help Callie with party preparations. Now, it’s hard for me to stay here. When I was young, we spent a lot of time together here and at the Gonette mansion.”

“You can stay as my guest. That’s why I came running like this.”

“You really are a good friend. How lonely I would have been without you. Thank you, Leslie.”

Friend… To you, I’m still just a friend. Even if I rush to you when you send a letter asking me to come quickly, your eyes are still on Brandon.

I thought the time of your marriage was the last time I’d be sad to see you like that, but it’s like this again. 

How long will I have to be your friend, Olivia?

“Right… We’re good friends. For a long time.”

“I’m glad you came, Leslie. It’s been a long time since the three of us got together like this. In the past, when Brandon and you came, we would go out to the lake, ride boats together, and ride horses. I miss those days so much. I think that was the happiest time of my life.”

“You’ll be happier in the future.”

“Can I?”

“Of course.”

I’m here, Olivia. I’ll help you do that, right by your side.

“So don’t be so down, be Olivia.”

It’s always been like that.

When Leslie saw Olivia drooping, he thought he shouldn’t care, but it didn’t work out as he thought. Eventually, he couldn’t ignore it and did what she wanted. 

That’s how it’s always been.

This time too, Leslie comforted Olivia and cheered her on.

“Be me?”

“Yeah. Like you.”

Olivia, who had been lying helplessly and lifelessly, widened her eyes with a twinkle.

Then she quickly got up and sat.

Yes, just like that. Be the Olivia Gonette who had to have everything she wanted.

That’s the way it worked.

“Leslie, I have a favor to ask of you. Will you help me this time too?”

Four people sat in the dining room for dinner.

Olivia, the last to enter, focused on the cutlery of the newlyweds.

“This is the first cutlery I’ve seen here. It must be Callie’s taste, right?”

She never considered the design since the cutlery had its special uses. But for others who didn’t know, it was just rustic cutlery that didn’t suit a wealthy family. 

“Yes. My acquaintance gave it to me, and I like it.”

“It’s simple, too.”

“I’ll take it as a compliment. It’s definitely better to hear than to say it’s extravagant.”

“Of course, it’s a compliment. No matter how hard I try, I don’t think I can do it.”

Leslie interrupted and changed the subject between the two women, who were exchanging poorly veiled barbed words.

“Are you really not going to go rowing?”

“I already said I wasn’t. A guy who needs to look good to a woman would go out of their way and do things like that, but as you know, I already have a wife, so there’s no reason to do such a childish show.”

Rowing was the most popular annual event in Vihiru, famous for its beauty. Women came out to the lakeside to cheer on the men in the rowing competition, and the size of the cheer could tell you who was the most popular man of the year.

So, not only the men participating in the game but also the women spectators were excited about what kind of man would appear this year and show how to cut through the water.

Callie had heard a lot about the competition.

“Is the rowing competition only for men?” Callie asked, curious.

Brandon answered as he continued his meal. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman participate.”

“A woman rowing a boat… that’s too unladylike. Whew, I feel strange just thinking about it.” Olivia voiced her disapproval and shuddered.

Did she hate the thought of a woman rowing a boat so much? Callie didn’t agree, but since Olivia did, she didn’t bother to voice her dissent.

“Really? I think it would be cool if a woman participated. Unfortunately, not a single woman has ever joined. Wouldn’t she be the most popular woman in Vihiru when she wins the championship?”

Leslie was of the same opinion as Callie.

“If a lady says she has feelings for Leslie, then I should advise her to go rowing.”

Neither Brandon nor Leslie commented on Olivia’s words.

Their meal was quiet, save for a few conversations, but it was nothing special. Soon after dinner, they moved to another place and drank tea. 

Olivia asked about the party Callie was hosting and talked about a party held by another noble family during the rowing competition. A baroness would throw a dance party, a viscountess would host a gallery featuring paintings by a famous artist, and another baroness would call an astrologer to do palm reading.

After such fun parties, Olivia worried about who would attend Callie’s party. But, of course, that concern wasn’t genuine. It was obvious Olivia was laughing inwardly at the thought of the empty party hall.

Hosting a party this time, I realized for the first time that the socialite experience is essential. If it had been Olivia, not me, hosting the party, the party hall would have been full.

Olivia, who compared her to the other parties and spoke as if she was concerned, was mean, but Callie didn’t refute it. She would only know whether the party would succeed or fail on the day of the party.

As Callie was about to get up to get ready for bed, Olivia asked her, “Callie, why don’t you let the two boring guys go to bed and have the girls talk a little more?”

Was there anything else left to say? But whatever it was, Callie didn’t want to listen to it anymore today.

“I’m sorry, Olivia. I put a lot of thought into preparing for the party, but I’m tired, so I want to rest today.”

“Ah, I’m sure. Since you’re still unfamiliar with this house… I was worried you wouldn’t be able to sleep well if you go to bed alone… I thought it would be better to chat more.”

Callie noticed as Olivia’s eyes narrowed when she said, ‘To go to bed alone.’

Oliva knew Callie and Brandon weren’t sleeping together. It wasn’t a deeply hidden secret since the servants waited on each person waking up in their rooms in the morning.

When Olivia said it, Callie was upset because she felt like a woman denied a place to sleep by her husband.

Thankfully, Brandon stepped up for her. “Olivia, thank you for the consideration, but you don’t have to worry about my wife’s bed because I, her husband, will take care of it. So, you can talk more about whatever you plan to talk about tomorrow morning. Callie, let’s go to bed. In fact, I was only thinking of leaving this boring place quickly and heading to the bedroom, but I was holding it in because I was afraid you would scold me for being shameless.”

Brandon smiled crookedly, wrapped his arms around Callie’s shoulder, and walked out the door.