“So… Are you saying that Deertes is alone in her room as we speak?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“…Oh.”
Lachlan frowned at Helen who had come to find him in the city hall. While he was away, he had left all Deertes-related work to her. When Lachlan had first gained the title of Governor, Helen had been the one to manage all the chaotic government offices.
After a new butler had been employed, she quit her job. However, he still asked for her assistance when there was an upcoming big event.
Not many people are aware that even though the governor’s residence functions well. It functions much better with her. As such, he wasn’t worried when he had left Deertes in her care. Hence why hearing the words, “I won’t continue to take care of Deertes,” was incredibly shocking.
“What happened when working under her?”
“Nothing happened. She must’ve been frustrated since she spilt some water.”
“Ah, I see, but…”
Lachlan’s frown deepened. He is well aware of the personality that Helen has. Helen, who had come from Ramedes, had calmly dealt with an annoying merchant with a bad personality. It was unlike Helen to want out of taking care of Deertes this badly.
Helen quietly observed Lachlan with curious eyes. She was nearly twice Lachlan’s age and they almost shared a mother-son relationship. However, in front of Lachlan, she still bowed politely. He was her saviour who had rescued her from being treated as a parrot for the rest of her life.
Helen asked him.
“Lord Lachlan, what are your plans with Lady Deertes?”
“…”
“When you had first brought her here, I had assumed it would be to make her your woman. Yet, what I saw yesterday wasn’t like that…”
“What? Were you outside yesterday?”
At Helen’s words, Lachlan’s frown deepened even further. Behind such an expression held a hint of embarrassment that he could not shake away.
“I had only stayed inside for a long time because Lady Deertes had difficulty falling asleep. After all, she hadn’t taken the medicine. Anyways…”
“What did Deertes eat yesterday?”
“…The usual. Soft bread, fruits and a salad.”
Should he have asked her for an answer first? Helen, who had caught onto what he was thinking, answered his question.
“Meat?”
“It was left at the side.”
“I see…”
Lachlan, who had murmured his answer, seemed to be once again lost in his sea of thoughts. Noticing how Lachlan’s fingers were pressed tightly onto his temple, Helen contemplated asking about Deertes again. She had no clue what was planning to do.
One day, he had just appeared with a woman who seemed more like a dead body and started shouting orders like a madman for Craig to save her. When he was out of breath, he ended up going past the closed entrance with Deertes in his arms. This was the first time he had done so ever since he became a governor. This was also the first time he had brought back a girl.
At one glance, Helen could tell that this unfamiliar version of him was Lachlan’s true self. So, Helen had thought to herself, ‘Once she wakes up, wouldn’t he just take her to the church immediately?’.
No, if they had plans of marriage Lachlan wouldn’t bring in a priest as it could cause rumours to spread. Even so, if he was thinking of going through with it, she had assumed he’d at least let her know. Even now, Lachlan has barely done anything. Changing her clothes every night and staying for a while, just like last night, were all that Lachlan had done for her so far.
Lachlan, who seemed to have finally cleared all his worries, lifted up his head. Picking up an object in front of him, he spoke.
“You’ve done a great job thus far. Come back in three days.”
“I’ve told you, I’d like to quit.”
Helen instantly retorted in response to his words. Her words, ‘to quit’, were used as a sort of silent threat and protest against him.
Helen is recognised by Zebrem as being a talented individual. The rare occasions where she enters the governor’s residence is when she has to prepare for a meeting or a huge banquet.
Yet this time around, the reason she was called was to be a woman’s caretaker. Even so, Helen could handle such a task. After all, Lachlan had saved her from Ramedes, and this was her saviour’s request. Fulfilling his request was something she took pleasure in doing.
However, Deertes was different. Helen could not help but be worried about Lachlan’s attitude towards the woman.
Every time she would inquire of his plans for Deertes, he would dismiss the question and fail to answer. That’s why she had reached the decision to say that she would quit so that he would share more details of his plans for the future.
As if understanding the true intentions behind her words, Lachlan continued to speak comfortably.
“It’ll be for three days. Don’t worry, it’ll be a paid vacation so enjoy it. To be honest, it’s difficult to find someone as skilled as you so I’m begging you. Then, I’ll see you after you’re back.”
“No, it’s…”
“Ah, has what I ordered arrived yet?”
Upon hearing his words, Helen recalled the goods that had recently arrived at the governor’s residence. They were all meant for Deertes. Of the items that had arrived, there were various furniture, clothes, and some other miscellaneous goods. The moment she took a look at the large pile of items, did Helen realise that Deertes would be staying here much longer than she had thought.
“If you’re talking about those items then I’ve already arranged for them to be placed inside the first-floor room with the black door.”
“Ah, okay.”
Having nothing left to ask, Lachlan turned and opened a door. As he moved, Helen quickly asked again.
“Lord Lachlan, what are your plans with Lady Deertes?”
“…Deertes has made a vow with me. To be mine.”
“A vow?”
Helen was at a loss for words. This revelation was incredibly shocking to her. She was well aware what vows were in Ramedes and how important they were for women there. Helen had no idea how Lachlan had managed to receive such a vow from her. After all, Deertes is a textbook example of Ramedes nobility.
If Deertes had to pledge such a vow in front of Lachlan, Helen could only imagine how she must have felt at that moment. Perhaps that was the most humiliation and shame she had ever felt.
“Lord Lachlan, you…”
“So, I’ll have her live next to me. If not, she’ll not be able to survive for long on this land.”
At his words, Helen could feel a cool go down her spine. Lachlan waved gently before he left. Leaving Helen standing still in front of the door.
Deertes had no idea what she should do. It has been a while since Helen has left and no one has come for her.
With the sheet wrapped around her body, Deertes slowly and carefully made her way down to the first floor. Even now, she could not feel any eyes on her. Luckily, she could find a meal that had been prepared in the kitchen.
It must have been the breakfast prepared for her by Helen. On the numerous, neatly placed plates were the usual, warm bread, salads made with fresh vegetables, and soup with many pieces of meat.
One look at the try, Deertes could feel her stomach grumbling.
‘What to do…’
She had to eat it. She wanted to eat it. To do so, Deertes had to move to a location where there was at least a table for her to eat on. Not eat in the kitchen like this.
As she lifted the large tray that held all the plates, a strangely sharp pain shot through her shoulder.
Throughout her life, she has never moved such a heavy object before. Deertes had been extremely pampered as a child in the count’s mansion. Being countlessly praised by practically everyone for being a forest fairy, ‘labour’ is not a word that exists in her book. Even a simple cup in a banquet hall is handed to her by someone else. The heaviest things that she had picked up on her own was a bouquet and a book. Until now.
“It’s heavy…”
Having to stand and eat in such a place is imaginable for a person like Deertes. As long as it wasn’t a banquet, tables and chairs are needed before eating something. After looking around for a while, she reluctantly gave up looking for a table and barely was able to make her way to the second floor with the tray.
“Huff…”
All she had done was make her way up a floor and yet she was already sweating bullets. As she thought back on Helen’s expression then, it might have been due to the fact her body was still in the midst of recovery, but she felt pathetic.
“Ah!”
At that moment, the sheet that she had wrapped around her body dropped to the ground. Deertes immediately tried to reach down to grab the sheet, having forgotten the tray in her other hand. Said tray lost her hand’s support and too fell onto the stairs.
Clang!
Pieces and scraps of the food that had previously been on the plates now covered the stairs. Surprised by a little of said scraps hitting her face, she took a step back. Her barefoot made contact with the fragments of now broken plates and food.
“Ah…”
Deertes face scrunched up as she hurriedly wiped at her feet, leaving stains. Bright red blood was flowing out the top of her foot. The cut was made from the shards of the shattered plates and bowls scattered on the ground. Deertes slowly bent down as she refrained from moving haphazardly for fear of receiving another injury. Gently, she pushed the large fragments that were around her.
“What should I do…”
‘How do I continue from here?’
Deertes tried to remember an incident a long time ago where a maid had cleaned up a broken cup. But she just couldn’t bring up the memory. When the cup had broken, everyone crowded around, worried about whether she was injured anywhere. By the time she had come back to her senses, any traces of the cup breaking had already been removed. She had not been able to witness the cleaning up of the cup.
Deertes’ frown deepened as she picked up another large fragment. Where should she discard all these? Before that, how should she make her way out of this? Should she push the fragments away with the sheet? If so, then the food may end up getting onto her.
There, she stayed, unable to move from her spot for a long time.
***
Lachlan pushed open the door to the new building. A cool breeze blew past his cheeks. He scanned the room quietly as the door creaked open. There was no sign of anyone having been here. He lifted his head and looked to the second floor.
‘Could she still be in her room?’The governor’s residence is made up of numerous buildings. This building, in particular, is sometimes used to house those who came from the home country. Fortunately, there are no such people staying here for the time being. In other words, this was a perfect place for Deertes to stay separately at.
Lachlan was aware Deertes would not escape. After all, the front door was locked from the outside. And he knew Deertes would not be able to escape through the window.
The count’s daughter would rather stay in her room than ask for help from a stranger over the window while scantily dressed.
Something strange caught Lachlan’s eyes as his gaze turned to the stairs.
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“This… What is this?”
There, on the stairs. As his gaze lowered, he noticed many items scattered on the ground, fragments from various broken bowls and plates. The sour scent of oil wafted past, suggesting food had fallen here. Though, he could not see said food and instead stains left on the ground by an attempt to wipe it off.
Lachlan took another look up and down the stairs. White fragments were piled up at a corner of the stairs, likely having been pushed to one side. Among the mess of fragments and food, the shape of footprints can be seen, having not been cleaned off. The moment he took notice of the prints, he immediately got back up and ran upstairs.
“Deertes!”
He slammed Deertes’ door open. But he could not see a shadow of her anywhere.