Chapter 42

 

After a long ride, the carriage stopped at the castle of her grandfather, William.

 

Evely gasped nervously and heaved herself up. The carriage door opened and Alec got out first, followed by Evely. As soon as she was about to step down, a man’s hand was in her field of vision.

 

Knowing that she should take his hand and step down, Evely hesitated.

 

It would be easier for someone to help her, though, since the dress they suddenly bought on the way here was somewhat long, but… as soon as she faltered, Alec grabbed her hand.

 

Evely tilted and at the same time felt her heart drop with a thud.

Alec quickly grabbed her and helped her to her feet.

 

She felt strangely nervous because it was his hand that she hadn’t come in contact with in a long time.

 

The temperature of his hands was unusually high. Through the thin lace gloves, she could feel the heat and the firmness of his hand. Just as Evely swallowed her breath and blinked in tension, a strange man’s voice was heard in the distance.

 

“Ah! Thank you for coming.”

 

It seemed to be a servant who worked here. Then Evely finally came to her senses and looked at the landscape in front of her.

 

This was where her grandfather lived.

 

It was much smaller than the one she worked in. A slightly larger mansion than a castle would have been more appropriate.

 

Everything was unfamiliar, perhaps because it was the first time she had seen it.

 

Evely stood still and watched the figure as if she was possessed. The servants who immediately rushed over to her greeted her kindly and checked on her feelings and physical condition. While Evely was telling them that she was fine, just a little sore, she saw an elderly man walking towards her step by step in the distance.

 

The way he dressed up and his energy, he seemed to be the master of the mansion.

 

He opened his mouth with a slightly faltering voice.

 

“So….you are Roy’s daughter?”

 

Evely immediately looked puzzled and bowed, lightly grasping the hem of her dress. The way she had seen the aristocrats did it and copied them.

 

“I’m Evely Siranen.”

 

“Yes, you’re my son’s, Roy’s …….”

 

Soon tears welled up in the old man’s eyes.

 

He probably found traces of his son in Evely’s face, as he would not have cried at the sight of a strange granddaughter he had never seen before.

 

“No. Your name is Evely Sarnia.”

 

His voice was still trembling.

 

“You will be my granddaughter from now on.”

 

***

 

Evely was not familiar with the castle, nor with her grandfather, whom she had never met before. William greeted his granddaughter poorly but enthusiastically, and the awkwardness slowly began to fade as time went on. Before she met her grandfather in person, she was anxious and nervous about this and that, but once she actually met him, she felt rather calm and at ease. Perhaps it was because his heart touched hers as well, as he made an effort for his granddaughter, whom he had never met before.

 

When she was very young, her father died and eventually her mother passed away. Evely accepted as fate that she would live alone without any family. But the fact that there was another bloodline left and that she remembered her parents was a greater comfort than she thought.

 

Evely was kind to William with his peculiarly cheerful and gentle nature, and William was very fond of her as such.

 

And he wanted Evely to be around as much as possible. William was quite gentle, contrary to his public reputation of being stubborn and inflexible. He was as soft and fluffy as a softened slice of bread. Evely’s grandmother died, and William had a new wife shortly after her death. Between them, they had one son, born late in life.

 

The table, which was set up to welcome Evely, was splendid, and the number of people sitting around was shortened, and the relationship was a little complicated.

 

There was something awkward in William’s wife’s eyes as she looked at Evely, a granddaughter of her husband’s late wife. Evely thought she wouldn’t be able to sit here for a long time.

 

Just as Evely was complicating her thoughts, Alec’s voice came through the gap.

 

“Would you like to see Brianna?”

 

Evely averted her gaze and looked at Alec. she wondered what he was going to say.

 

“You know Brianna is pregnant. But she’s not married yet.”

 

‘She’s pregnant? Oh my gosh!’

 

Surely a child that looked like Brianna would be beautiful. She had heard that it was common for servants to delay their marriages for their masters’ reasons, but she still felt like Brianna should have gotten married sooner.

 

“Perhaps with you by my side, Brianna will be able to marry sooner.”

 

‘Huh? He’s threatening me now?’

 

It wasn’t only William who wanted to keep Evely close to him, but Alec as well.

 

Evely turned her head away dumbfoundedly.

 

In short, if she doesn’t come back, he won’t allow Brianna to get married.

 

Evely stared at Alec with a look of disappointment.

 

‘Do as you please.’

 

She thought that he still hadn’t gotten rid of that overbearing personality. Evely didn’t want Brianna to delay her marriage for her sake. Evely turned her head slightly as if she didn’t want to speak.

 

“If I go back, will you let Brianna marry without delay?”

 

Alec looked at Evely, who turned her head away from him. Even if she was disappointed in himself or wanted out, he knew better than to let her leave. But when she turned her head as if she didn’t even want to look at his face, Alec felt heavy. Could a human’s vows be so flimsy that he would want even her heart?

 

‘If I told you I’ll let Brianna get married….’

 

Immediately Alec shook his head in frustration.

 

‘You won’t go back with me.’

 

Evely fell silent, neither confirming nor denying.

 

‘But it is true that Brianna misses you. She wanted to see you more especially after her pregnancy.’

 

Then Evely spoke.

 

“I would like to see Brianna’s face as well.”

 

Thus Evely returned to his castle again. When Evely appeared, everyone looked at her in surprise. However, she immediately smiled politely as if nothing had happened.

 

It had been a while since she had been here.

 

As soon as Evely stepped into the castle, she went to see Brianna.

 

“Evely! You went away so long. You left me alone! Do you know how much I missed you?”

 

Soon Brianna’s eyes filled with tears. Evely reached out and gently dabbed at her eyes. The sight was so full of affection and sadness.

 

“You’re pregnant? I’m so glad. She’ll be very beautiful like you.”

 

“Yes. When the baby is born, I’ll name her after you.”

 

Evely gave a small laugh. Then she said in a gentle voice.

 

“Did master bully you or torment you while I was away?”

 

“No, he was very considerate of me.”

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

Brianna, who had been babbling breathlessly about the stories that had accumulated so far, clasped her hands together and spoke brightly.

 

“Yes, Charlotte is no longer here. Master fired her.”

 

“..What?”

 

“Master asked me if there were any more maidservants who were mean to you, and I told him everything. They’ve all changed since all the people who were bullying you got fired.”

 

There were no more mean servants, and Evely’s room was perfectly prepared. There was nothing missing from the clothes, bedding, dressing table, and everything else for convenience. As if he had expected her to come back.

 

There were times when she wished Charlotte would get fired, but then again, when she did, she felt as if it was her doing.

 

As soon as her head was complicated with countless thoughts, she heard a man’s voice in the distance.

 

“Evely.”

 

At the sound of Alec’s voice, Brianna hurriedly bowed her head, then turned away. Soon Alec came over and started talking again.

 

“You must be tired, so let’s eat first.”

 

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Brianna so can I….”

 

“It’s not good to eat late. You’ve traveled a long way, it must be hard.”

 

It was true.

 

In a decisive voice, Evely nodded, “I understand,” and Brianna mimed that she was tired and should get up and go. The servant led Evely to her room. She was a new maid.

 

Alec hired many new servants. They called her Lady and were polite to her. It was unfamiliar and even embarrassing. Evely couldn’t adapt to the honorific they called her.

 

The room given to Evely was a guest room where she had stayed when she collapsed. The room was lavishly and luxuriously decorated for the guests staying there.

 

Eventually, after changing into a more comfortable dress, Evely went downstairs where the dining table was. Across from her sat Alec. Evely bowed her head and began to eat, sitting in a chair that the servant pulled out for her. It was embarrassing to receive this kind of treatment.

 

“Try to get used to it.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

“Does it suit your palate?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Alec glanced at Evely and spoke in a hushed voice.

 

“You’ve been quiet today. You’ve always been good at talking. If you have any inconveniences, you can tell me anything.”

 

“Yes, I will try to do that. Oh, my grandfather told me to come often, so I’m thinking of going there tomorrow.”

 

She added in a quiet voice.

 

“…because I’m new to the family.”

 

“Would you like to join me for tea later?”

 

“I’m a little tired.”

 

“How about tomorrow?”

 

Alec asked, looking at Evely again.

 

“I told you earlier that I would visit your grandfather tomorrow…”

 

To which he replied shortly, “Oh.”

 

“Yes, you did.”

 

In the past, Evely would whisper, “This is good and that is good,” but today she ate in silence. Thanks to that, it was quiet on the dining table. After finishing the meal in the quiet atmosphere, Evely spoke.

 

“I’m done eating. Thank you for the meal.”

 

“When do you plan to go tomorrow?”

 

“About afternoon.”

 

“All right.”

 

Evely then bowed, and just as she turned around, she heard his voice.

 

“Well then, good night.”

 

“Yes, sweet dreams…..”

 

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 

Alec kept his eyes on his plate as he spoke. It was a gentle tone as usual, but strangely unexpected. For a moment, Evely just blinked, then she bowed again.

 

Because somehow the words “see you tomorrow” sounded a little plausible.

 

“Tomorrow, then.”

 

Evely came into the room after dinner and lay down on the bed to think about what Alec had said. She traveled a long way and her whole body was tired. Her body hung sluggishly, but Alec’s voice was clear in her ears.

 

“Don’t you want to marry me?”

 

A moment later, his voice passed by again, grazing her ears. But Evely shook her head to muffle the voice.

 

‘What is the reason for you to want to marry me?’

 

“I don’t know….”

 

She couldn’t figure out what was going on. Her heart, this situation.

 

When she was a child, she used to play a game where she would spin around in the village and then stop, and that was how she felt right now. It was like the world around her was spinning so fast that she lost track of all sides, feeling dizzy.

 

On one hand, she wanted to get away from him, but on the other hand, she wanted to be with him.

 

‘Because I liked him. That’s absolutely true. But …….’

 

“…I don’t know how I feel.”

 

Evely shook her head again, trying not to think about it anymore.

 

Then she started counting sheep in her head. One, two, three…

 

By the time there were less than twenty of them, Evely had already fallen asleep.

 

***