Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 113
Richelle blinked. Her fluttering eyelashes caught the light, making it dance.
Alan blinked back at her before quickly waving his hands in a fluster.
“I-I didn’t mean it like that! I was just asking if you think I’m someone worth loving, not that…”
“Ah.”
“Yeah. I wasn’t… asking you to love me or anything…”
“I thought you were angry.”
“I was just asking a simple question… Wait, what?”
Alan, who had been gesturing wildly, suddenly froze. Richelle scratched the back of her neck, feeling awkward.
“I thought you were asking, ‘Do you think someone like you could love me?’ I was worried that I’d said something to upset you.”
“…”
“But what did you say earlier? I didn’t quite catch it.”
“…Never mind.”
Alan’s shoulders slumped. Richelle, still unsure what had just happened, moved a bit closer to him.
“Young Master Otis.”
“Yeah.”
“I already like you.”
“…What?”
Alan, who had been stubbornly staring at the ground, quickly turned his head toward her. Richelle met his gaze steadily, hoping he could feel the sincerity in her words.
“You’re a very kind person, Young Master Otis. You’re responsible, and I’m always amazed by your courage.”
“…”
“There’s no reason in the world not to love someone like you.”
The only sound between them was the soft crackling of the fire. Alan couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. Her unwavering gaze seemed to reach into the deepest parts of his heart.
Eventually, Alan covered his face with his hands and let out a breathy laugh.
“I can’t handle this, really.”
“Do you not believe me? That’s disappointing. I wasn’t just saying what you’d want to hear. Every word was the absolute truth.”
Richelle feigned indignation, and Alan’s expression softened as he looked at her.
“I know.”
I’ve always known. Every word you’ve said to me, every kindness you’ve shown—it’s all been honest.
The apology, the gratitude, the offer to help, even when you told me it wasn’t my fault.
Alan closed his eyes, his face relaxing into something more peaceful.
“It’s just that… no one’s ever said anything like that to me before. Actually, everything you’ve done for me… it’s all been a first.”
My heart, which had always been parched, had never known such kindness. You came into my life like rain on a dry, barren land.
“So I guess that’s why I kept hanging around you.”
His once-cold, sky-blue eyes now held a warmth that was almost sweet. The trust and affection that shone from them were directed solely at Richelle, as if he were ready to give her his everything.
‘I know this is just gratitude for saving me…’
But even so, Richelle felt a warmth rising within her. She fluttered her skirt and, without meaning to, raised her voice.
“So, will you grant my request? You still need to answer me.”
“Yes, I will.”
The agreement came easily. Alan stretched out his arms, his posture straight and confident.
“I’ll give it a try. I’m not really sure I’m capable of it yet… but if it’s someone you care about, I think I can try to like myself too.”
Alan Otis smiled—a shy, yet hopeful smile.
It was strange. No matter how much Richelle fanned herself, the mysterious heat that enveloped her wouldn’t go away. She pressed her cool hand to her cheek.
Wait… is my hand actually cool? Or is my face just burning up?
Why am I like this?
“But, uh, Young Master Otis?”
“Y-Yes?”
“Why are you so startled?”
“N-Nothing…”
Alan raised a skeptical eyebrow. Trying to act natural, Richelle quickly pulled a few logs from the fireplace.
“I-It’s just… it feels hot. Yeah, really hot.”
“Is that so? Your face is red, you know.”
Alan reached out to touch Richelle’s forehead, but she flinched back.
“I’ll be fine in a minute! But anyway, what were you going to say, Young Master Otis?”
“…”
Alan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned closer toward her.
“There’s something I’ve been wondering.”
“W-What is it?”
“Why do you call that guy ‘Rogéros’, but you call me ‘Young Master Otis’?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, you address Rogéros so casually by his name, like you’re close. So why are you so formal with me, calling me ‘Young Master Otis’?”
It was an unexpected complaint. Richelle started to explain, but found herself pouting instead.
“Well, you call me ‘teacher’, don’t you?”
“Agh—.”
“Do you have anything else to say?”
Alan opened and closed his mouth like a fish before averting his eyes and fidgeting with the hem of his clothes.
“T-That’s because…”
“Because?”
“Because I didn’t want to get too close to you…”
Because I was afraid that, because of me, you’d never be able to leave this mansion.
Alan’s voice trailed off into a whisper, and Richelle quietly observed him.
