Oscar had sent a servant to the designer in charge of his clothes, and in the meantime, he had intended to look around the mansion to relieve his boredom because he couldn’t relax in his uniform.
His attitude toward Aria had softened due to various misunderstandings.
She could’ve kept talking until the servant had come back, but at that point, she had to pull herself out. It was better to leave a little bit of regret than to spend time with useless chatter.
“Then please, rest in peace.”
“Yes, you too.”
Oscar’s eyes were glued to Aria’s back, which headed to the third floor. In many ways, it was natural to pay attention to her, who was unlike the rumors. Even if his interest was not borne out of her being of the opposite sex, she was enough to attract his interest as a person.
Oscar thought of Aria’s enthralling smile, which he had seen in the dining hall. It certainly wasn’t a look she should’ve been able to make at her age. Then, he seemed to have lost his words for a while due to her beautiful face, which had attracted him instantly.
On the other hand, the fact that no one had called her even though lunchtime had already passed, or that she had been watering the garden by herself, or that her eyes had welled with tears even though she had only made a small mistake confused him.
‘What in the world is she really like? No, are both versions real?’
He could see her turn around when he approached the stairs. He didn’t know if it was by coincidence, but somehow his eyes seemed to have run into Aria’s, so she looked at him questioningly.
The fragile look he had just seen was gone, but she had a strange look about her, the one he had seen at the dining hall.
Oscar shook his head, thinking, ‘What would I do with such a thought?’
It was a useless conjecture that didn’t help at all. Their relationship would end as soon as he sent someone to return the handkerchief. At least, he thought so.
* * *
Mielle and Cain returned to the mansion shortly after going out. Because they had wanted to go out with Oscar in the first place, his absence had been like a gift box with no content, which was of no use for anything. Even in that short period of time, Mielle had bought several items, including something to present to Oscar.
However, for fear that Oscar would reject her gift, Cain acted in her stead. Oscar had just finished a bath, so his hair was slightly wet. When Cain saw him, he cocked his head questioningly.
“I was uncomfortable.”
“You washed up at this time of the day because you were uncomfortable?”
Cain’s gaze went out of the sunny window. It was only three in the afternoon, so he couldn’t understand how he had been so uncomfortable that he had needed to wash.
“I even had new clothes brought in.”
“Oh, that’s right. Your clothes are different.”
Oscar was dressed in his favorite style of garment, so Cain shrugged, thinking that he had ordered a servant to bring him new clothes since there was no such design among the guest garments prepared by the family of the count.
“Take this.”
“What is it?”
“Didn’t you say you lost the nib of your pen? I bought this when I remembered it.”
When Oscar opened the fancy box that Cain had given him, he saw at a glance that the finely-made nib was of higher quality than the old one he had lost, and it should’ve cost double the price.
“… Did you buy this yourself?”
Usually, it was Cain who said that the nib and the ink were consumables, so he could use any kind. Oscar did not sign important documents with his pen since it was an object that was supposed to only be used at the academy.
Perhaps, Cain understood the meaning behind Oscar’s question, so Cain fake coughed. He had told Mielle about it, thinking the item to be extremely necessary for Oscar, but now that Cain thought about it, after having given it to Oscar, it was somewhat strange.
“You can think of it as a birthday present.”
“That was a while back.”
Oscar’s birthday was only three months ago, so Cain stormed out of his room in anger, saying that Oscar was too talkative. Whatever it was, it was a nib that he had already received. There was no immediate inconvenience to having extra ones, but only one was enough, so he felt uneasy.
He thought it wouldn’t be too bad to accept it since it had been a long time since Cain had bought him anything. Cain usually just brought him presents, so even though the act had been a little ambiguous just now, it had not been strange.
Most of the gifts he received were sent by his sister, Mielle, but Cain often told him the truth after he gave them to him, so he could not return them, using them instead. It was a shameful insult to return goods received from a lady.
‘That may be the case this time as well…’
The nib might be a present from Mielle. It was a small gift, though he felt it burdensome when he thought of returning it as the act could hurt Mielle’s feelings. Any fool would understand the kindness she was showing him.
Oscar was in agony for a moment. But, as always, he put the present on the table without returning it since it was clear it was a gift from her.
Anyway, there had been a lot of marital talks between them, so suddenly refusing her was not desirable for him. As the successor of the duke, he considered his family’s benefit a priority and so chose to act without discrediting their honor. It was the same this time.
Mielle was an elegant and graceful woman, who had also been welcomed by the family of the duke. He didn’t have to go out and try to be friendly, but causing trouble by returning the gift was not necessary. Thinking that way, Oscar looked at the nib on the table.
* * *
That evening at the dinner table, Mielle made sure to ask about the nib. Oscar answered her casually, having already guessed that she had bought it, “I got it just in time. I was having a hard time since losing my old one.”
“I thought it would be necessary since you learn at the academy. I’m so glad to hear that.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
Aria looked at the warmth between them and put the salad in her plate in her mouth. She thought Mielle’s gift was certainly one sided, but he had to have accepted it to some extent. Well, she guessed that that was why he had responded to begin with.
Obviously, when she had talked to him in the garden, there had seemed to be a lot of room for intervention, but not now. Although they did not seem to be close to each other, she felt a sense of stability between them, without a hint of awkwardness.
‘Is it trust?
That was all she could see. Perhaps, it was the trust in each other’s families, in their origins and nobility, and finally, in their statuses and temperaments that would not clash with or damage each other. It was all that Aria couldn’t have.
She had the same last name as Mielle, Roscent, but it wasn’t originally hers. At the same time, she came from humble origins, and the rumors surrounding her were terrible. She became irritated when she saw them conversing in that harmonious manner, as if from the beginning there’d been no room for the humble to intervene.
‘If I bring up the handkerchief story here… How would Mielle react? Would she keep that pretty face? Or would she look like a demon? Oscar would be embarrassed by her. The same would be true of Cain. The warm atmosphere would end immediately. That would be worth seeing.’
Aria’s hand holding the fork was energized. The back of her hand and fingers turned white. But such a foolish act for a moment of change in the mood was nothing for the Aria that had died in the past. If she talked about her handkerchief for no reason, Oscar might figure out she’d given it to him because she had indecent desires for him. Anyhow, it wouldn’t be long before she got it back. She could see Mielle’s broken face then.
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