Chapter 113
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Chapter 113
* * *
"Tell him I'm sorry, but it seems difficult to meet right now. Say I'm busy for the time being."
"However, he says it doesn't matter when. He mentioned that even ten minutes would be fine, and he earnestly asked if you could spare some time."
"Sigh...."
I exhaled deeply at the Servant's words.
It had already been a week since I rejected Claude's gift. He had sent me a letter, saying he wanted to meet me in person and talk.
I refused to meet him, citing my busy schedule. I even had the Maid send my reply rather than writing it myself.
As my rejections continued, Claude finally resorted to sending a Messenger to the Bellomen Mansion. This time, his reason wasn't to meet me, but that Amelia wished to see Lucian and Edwin.
"Aunt, why haven't you been meeting the Captain lately?"
"I'm busy."
"Then can't I meet him instead? I want to see Amelia!"
As my refusals to see Claude stretched on, Lucian and Edwin naturally found themselves unable to meet Amelia as well.
'What fault do the children have in this?'
Amelia was Lucian and Edwin's closest friend. Moreover, both children adored her dearly.
I felt sorry that innocent children were suffering because of me.
"Huh? Aunt, Amelia wants to see me. Let me meet her."
Lucian, with a pleading expression, grasped my hand and shook it.
'He's not asking to see me—just for the children to meet each other. It would be strange for me to refuse outright.'
It might even appear as if I were being overly self-conscious.
"All right. Let's go see Amelia after all this time."
"Hooray!"
"But only for a little while. Your aunt is busy, so I can't stay longer than an hour."
"Okay!"
I instructed the Servant while Lucian bounced excitedly behind me, asking him to tell Claude that I would have time around noon tomorrow.
'Actually, this works out well. I'll see him face-to-face and give him a proper refusal.'
I couldn't simply avoid him out of mere apology.
This time, I had to make my rejection clear to him.
That I didn't love him. That he should start anew with someone else.
It was a painful truth, but one I had to speak.
* * *
"Master, the Messenger you sent to Miss Rilprey has returned."
"Is that so?"
Claude had only been doing push-ups for the toned physique that Lucella adored when he hastily threw on his clothes and rushed down to the first floor.
In the Lobby on the first floor stood a Messenger with a brighter expression than usual.
Claude sensed it immediately.
"Did she agree to meet?"
"Yes. She said to meet tomorrow at noon."
"!"
Claude covered his mouth with his hand. Otherwise, he feared an undignified cry would escape him.
Lucella had consistently rejected not only his gifts but also meetings with him.
Yet she had accepted his invitation.
'If it weren't for the children, this could have ended badly.'
Claude quietly wiped his chest in relief.
"Please choose a meeting place wherever you find most comfortable."
"Then...."
Claude's mind raced furiously.
Since she seemed to find him burdensome, an overly romantic venue wouldn't do, and since the children would be there, a formal place wouldn't work either.
Yet he didn't want somewhere too chaotic either....
Just as his deliberation deepened, a perfect location suddenly came to mind.
"Tell her I'll be waiting at Cafe Rosteria."
Cafe Rosteria was a shop located not far from the Bellomen Mansion, popular for its bright, soft interior design and delectable desserts.
Behind the building was a small playground for children, with dedicated safety staff ensuring the young ones could be left in capable hands.
'If I set the meeting place there, I can have a proper conversation with Miss Rilprey.'
The children could simply play at the playground on their own.
While the children were occupied with their games, I planned to ask Lucella why she had been avoiding me.
"Amelia."
After quickly making his decision, Claude promptly called for Amelia.
"What?"
Amelia came over to Claude, leaving her snack unfinished in the playroom.
"Miss Rilprey has finally agreed to meet us."
"What? Really?!"
Amelia's eyes widened at the joyous news.
"Though it won't be just the two of us."
"Still, she's willing to meet us. That's fortunate, Uncle."
Amelia swallowed the snack she had been chewing and opened her mouth.
"Have you decided what to wear? Your hair? Will you wear it up or down?"
"That's not what's important right now."
Claude shook his head firmly, causing Amelia to tilt her head in confusion.
What could be more important than making a good impression on Sister Lucella?
"Lucian and Edwin will be coming to the meeting place tomorrow as well."
"It's going to be incredibly noisy."
"That's why, Amelia—there's something I need you to do."
Claude's expression as he spoke to his niece was quite serious.
* * *
Not long after the messenger from House of Agris departed, a servant informed me of the meeting place.
"He said to meet at Cafe Bonita."
"Bonita? Isn't that on the outskirts of the Capital?"
The location the servant mentioned was a café situated on the Southern Outskirts of Capital.
Both Claude and I lived in the heart of the Capital, so why would he inconveniently choose the outskirts?
"There is a large lake beside that place, is there not? Various animals live there, including ducks, and I mentioned that the young masters would enjoy it."
"Is that so?"
Well, that wasn't exactly welcome news for the children to hear. It would be better to discuss such matters when they weren't around.
"Was there anything else mentioned?"
"No, sir."
"Very well. You may go now."
Upon my dismissal, the Servant bowed deeply and left the room.
* * *
The Servant who had left Lucella's room headed straight for the Stables.
There, he conveyed tomorrow's schedule to the Coachman—instructions to take Lucella and Lucian to Cafe Bonita.
He encountered Edwin just as he was about to leave that place.
Edwin, having finished his riding lesson, returned to the Stables with his Tutor, leading the horse.
"You did well today, young master. Please be careful as you dismount."
"Understood...."
As Edwin descended from the horse, his eyes fell upon the Servant.
He was no ordinary Servant. He was the man who had secretly sought Edwin out not long ago with a note promising assistance.
"Uncle, why are you here... Oh!"
Startled by this unexpected encounter, Edwin's foot slipped as he reached for the stirrup. He lost his balance and fell hard on his backside.
"Young master! Are you alright?"
The Tutor, alarmed, rushed over to Edwin.
"I'll fetch the Physician at once."
"I'm fine. I just landed on my backside."
"Even so, you might have injured something else. It would be best to see the Physician just in case."
The Tutor ignored Edwin's protests and hurried toward the Physician's Office. His face had gone deathly pale.
"I'm really fine...."
Besides, it was just a pony, so the fall wasn't even that high.
Edwin watched the Tutor's retreating figure for only a moment before turning his head toward the man responsible for his fall.
"Why are you here? You told me to keep our meeting secret, didn't you?"
So you shouldn't have revealed yourself like this.
"Did I not tell you then?"
The Mysterious Man checked once more that no one was nearby, then lowered his voice.
"That I would take care of Lucella Rilprey and Lucian Bellomen for you."
"That's...!"
"Tomorrow is precisely that day."
The Mysterious Man smiled as he spoke.
A chill ran down Edwin's spine.
"But I'm supposed to meet Amelia and the Marquis tomorrow...."
"Oh, how unfortunate."
The Mysterious Man opened his mouth with a genuinely regretful expression.
"It seems that won't be possible. Only Lucella and Lucian will be leaving the Mansion tomorrow."
"I-I'm going too!"
"Young Master injured his leg during horseback riding lessons and cannot leave the mansion. Lucella and Lucian have no choice but to go out without you."
"My leg is perfectly fine!"
"Do you not understand what I'm saying?"
The Mysterious Man's smile vanished in an instant, his eyes gleaming with menace.
"You must pretend to be injured so that I can eliminate those two easily. That's what I mean."
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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