The Beast of the Albard Mansion - Chapter 38
Sister wiped her sweat with an exhausted face, breathing heavily.
“I don’t feel ashamed of my decision. I don’t regret it. It’s just that you’re too young to talk about these things.”
“Weren’t you the one who said I was a lady now? I’ve come of age too!”
“…”
Sister’s cheeks turned as pink as a peach. I was surprised to see her shy, as she was always assertive and mature.
She glanced at me for a moment and then changed the subject.
“By the way, did our parents say anything about me? When is my fiancé, whom I’ve never seen, coming?”
“He’ll probably come tomorrow. Father has been putting a lot of effort into this. The family recently succeeded in a trade business and is well-known in high society.”
“So what? I don’t even know what he looks like.”
“Right. You have a man who loves everything about you.”
Sister blushed anew and playfully slapped my back.
She might cause a scene during the meeting tomorrow. Father would be furious, and she might end up running away like those ladies who eloped with knights.
Imagining Sister’s future like that, I felt she would be happy in any chaos. She would live with the man she chose and lead the life she wanted. Despite any difficulties, she would overcome them with her tenacity and determination.
Sister was the kind of person who would risk everything, even death, to get what she wanted.
Then I wondered what would happen to me.
I would remain in this mansion. I wouldn’t go to the academy. In the end, I would probably follow the path of nine out of ten noble ladies, marrying into a family chosen by Father.
Listening to Sister made me think deeply about marriage. Reflecting on my feelings, I realized my stomach was churning uncomfortably.
I didn’t want to be married to a man chosen by Father.
Especially, I didn’t want to spend my life with someone like Father. Somehow, it seemed likely that Father would find a man who resembled himself. He was the kind of person who would do that.
I returned to my room. Desi wasn’t there, possibly out somewhere.
I sat there idly, waiting for Desi. What has he been doing lately? My patience was wearing thin.
Around the time the sunset appeared and the birds returned to their nests, Desi jumped through the open window.
“Desi, you’re back?”
I greeted Desi with a bright face. When I leaped into his arms, he effortlessly lifted me. My hat fell off from the movement.
Desi smelled of grass and the earth, probably from running around the forest.
“I waited for you.”
At my words, Desi’s face lit up. His neck turned slightly pink, and his eyes softened. He liked it when I said things like that.
Even though he couldn’t find words and seemed at a loss, his expression gave it away. He bit his lower lip, his eyebrows relaxed, and his throat moved with a low hum.
I enjoyed seeing Desi’s expression like that, so I sometimes did things to melt his heart.
After listening to Sister’s love story, I suddenly wanted to see Desi. She looked happy talking about her man.
She seemed completely content, often staring dreamily into space.
I stroked Desi’s face and asked,
“Where have you been, Desi?”
“I went hunting.”
As I was about to accept that answer, I noticed a strand of red hair on Desi’s collar. It was long.
Desi had black hair, and I had light blonde hair. Whose hair was this? None of the servants had this hair color.
I pulled the hair off and held it up to Desi.
“What is this?”
“Oh.”
My eyes narrowed sharply.
“I’m asking what this is.”
Suddenly, I felt a surge of anger. It wasn’t just because of the hair. It was because Desi looked flustered. Why is he flustered? I felt a burst of anger.
My chest tightened, and my pulse quickened.
“Desi!”
My voice grew louder without me realizing it.
“It’s nothing.”
“Then explain why it’s nothing.”
I bit my lip and waited. I had a deep trust in Desi. But lately, he had been acting strange.
He was spending more time outside and often didn’t return all night. His vague explanations only increased my anxiety. If he just explained everything honestly, I would feel at ease.
But I trusted and waited for him. Desi probably needed his own time. He must have his reasons. He would tell me everything eventually.
So, I endured.
“…”
But Desi remained silent. He even avoided my gaze, as if he didn’t want to talk about it.
I was shocked, thinking he would explain everything honestly. My mouth dropped open, and tears welled up. How could Desi do this to me? I trusted and depended on him the most.
