Chapter 72: Chapter 72 – A weekend at school

"Is that what he told you?"

“Oh no. Albert is reserved in general, but he is even more so when it comes to relationships. You know? It's not just that he refuses to talk about who he's in love with anymore, it's that he's one of those who prefers not to even mention what kind of people he's attracted to.”

"Don't tell me why, but that suits his character pretty well," Oscar mused.

Ever since he met Albert when he transmigrated, and even before, when he was following the novel from the web, he always gave the impression that he was a difficult guy to read. At first he thought it was Dianne's fault, that she didn't pay enough attention to the secondaries and therefore didn't have a personality well defined. But no, it wasn't just his thing. Albert was so reserved!

Discreet as he always was, Oscar was convinced that if it hadn't been for the mix-up with the letters, he would never have found out about his sexual orientation.

“He was always like that, though for a while now he's gotten worse in that regard. He was a little more open before,” Letitia continued. “For this reason, I have asked you if you are dating because of an intuition of mine that I had been having for a few months, nothing more. I have no intention of judging you, whatever the answer.”

"Wouldn't it be better if you asked Albert?"

"I could, but it would take longer to make him speak. That is why I have preferred to address you, because I think I would save energy. Although, if it bothers you to tell me, it´s okay. I don't think it's something that should concern me, anyway.”

"No, I don't mind answering. I'm just a little surprised that you came to the point so suddenly, I didn't expect to talk about this today!”

And it is that, despite the fact that Oscar already assumed that Letitia sensed something and had the intention of talking with her about the relationship he had with her brother, his intention was to postpone such talk until they arrived in London a few days after. So that she could concentrate on her school event, having fun with her friends in their last days at boarding school, without thinking about the love future of her precious brother.

He wasn't expecting her to be the one to bring up the subject first.

"As for your question," he proceeded slowly, "yes, we're dating." Is it a problem?

"On the contrary, it's a relief to know," Letitia said with a smile. “Albert is usually alone. He has a couple of old friends in town, but as a hermit as he always appears, he doesn't visit them often. So it's gratifying to know that he now has you and that he likes you enough to let you get close.”

"Don't tell me more, he's not one of those who take their friends on a trip either," Oscar said, outlining a half smile and thinking about how strange it must be for someone with social phobia to voluntarily admit as a travel companion anyone who didn't belong to his family.

"No, he doesn't invite anyone on a trip. Unless it´s a case of force majeure and everyone is going in the same direction or there are no more carriages to have. That was another reason I figured you'd already be together when I saw you guys arrive this morning. Even if you are a good friend of ours, he would not have asked you to come if he did not have greater affection for you.”

“Speaking of imagining, since when...?”

“Did I know you were going out? I don't know, maybe a couple of months ago. Albert's letters were more about you than anything else, at least the first ones. Then I did the evil thing to ask him in writing if he was in love with you, since he talked about you so much, and he must have been upset” Letitia couldn't help but laugh when remembering this. “The next two or three letters that he sent, although he did not confirm or deny anything to me, he did not mention you again. I think I scared him, sorry.”

"I wasn't going to ask that, but…" Oscar laughed. “Rather I wanted to know when you noticed that he liked me.”

"Well, it's hard to say… I'd venture to guess that he already liked you in summer. Although perhaps more like a good friendship, well, despite the fact that he did allow you to come to our library on weekends, he would not have stayed there to receive you if he did not like you. Now, if we talk about a more romantic area… At Christmas, maybe? He may have liked you before, in his letters and some other previous visit, I already noticed something strange. But I only confirmed my suspicions at Christmas.”

"I guess I'll save asking how," Oscar decided, remembering the looks Albert gave him at New Year's Eve dinner and, also, the convenient way in which Letitia deflected the topic of conversation. “Ah, but I wish it were that easy for everyone to accept! Your father already found out about it and I'm banned from Thornfield.”

“What? Did my father do that?”

“As for how he found out,” Oscar went on, sensing that this would be the next thing she wanted to know, “it's no secret. An acquaintance of mine spilled the beans and now the whole town knows it. Not that it bothers me what the neighbors think, of course. But it's a bit fucked up not being able to visit Albert when I feel like it.”

“And that's not to mention that now I have to watch my back when he passes through town. I fear that they can arrest me at any time, with or without evidence,” he thought to himself. But he preferred not to add this so as not to scare Letitia when they were having such a cordial chat.

"I really don't understand why he would prevent you from going to Thornfield... I mean, if the rumors have gotten to this point, it's understandable that you should get away from my brother for a while, but my father is so adamant as to ban you from entering to our house from minute one…! That is almost like admitting that there is something to what people say.”

"I guess discretion isn't someone's strong point," Oscar murmured, low enough for Letitia not to hear.

Peter Northrop could, in order to somewhat safeguard his honor and that of his relatives, have dispensed with his services as secretary gradually. In other words, to give an example, instead of Oscar going to Thornfield every day, he only did it a couple of times a week. And, when he came, that he be accompanied by at least two people. Thus ensuring that nothing indecent would happen between those walls.

In this way, and using as an excuse that the amount of work at that time was reduced, it would not seem to the inhabitants of Snodland that there had been a great change in the routine of the former stable boy. And, at the same time, it would not give the impression that Oscar was too close to Albert.

Now then, having forbidden him entry to that house, with no other explanation than that he no longer required his assistance with the business accounts... Anyway, with all the gossip that was circulating, things didn't sound good to anyone. Even if Mr. Northrop didn't speak ill of Oscar to anyone, the flow of events would give anyone suspicion.

"I didn't even know Father had that kind of prejudice," Letitia went on thoughtfully. “I have to say that in my family we are quite liberal compared to others. Perhaps it is because, due to the business and the trips that father has to make because of it, we know quite a few people. And well, you know how things work. If you especially want to keep clients happy, whatever they do with their private life shouldn't be judged.”

"Are you saying this isn't the first time Mr. Northrop has come across someone breaking the law in some way?"

“That's one way of putting it, yes. As long as they are discreet about what they do and don't involve our family business, my father is not one to get involved in such matters. He doesn't even talk about it. That's why I was a little surprised that he was so harsh with you two, even though he disapproved, I didn't expect it to turn out like this.”

"Maybe it's because this is something that happens in his own house, so to speak," Oscar guessed.

After all, with outsiders it was relatively easy to be impartial. Well, whether they were convicted or not, it would be society as a whole that would have to deal with it. But what if the alleged act of dubious morality occurred in one's home or with one's own people? Impartial as Peter Northrop prided himself on being, it would be difficult for him to look the other way and pretend that he had no opinion on the matter.

"It's likely, my father must think about our well-being and that of the family business," continued Letitia. “You don't want him to know about any scandal involving any of us. Neither that nor… Wait, since when are you and my brother dating? Nobody told me anything.”

“It's been a little over two months. So I imagine that, with everything that has been unleashed, they will not have wanted to tell you anything so as not to worry you.”

"Yes, that must have been it. Both Albert and my father can be very secretive about certain things, especially if they don't want me to know. Which, as in this case, I see no reason. I wasn't going to get involved in whatever your decision was!”

"Couldn't that be why…?" Oscar began, although he never finished the matter.

Like the Cornells with Theresa, it occurred to him plausibly that Mr. Northrop did not listen to his daughter's opinion on this matter. In any case, this did not explain why it was so easy for the aforementioned to accept what Albert had chosen for himself. And this is why, deciding to completely change his question, Oscar ventured to inquire:

"If your brother had chosen a woman, or even any other man, would you have accepted it?"

"It all depends on who that person was," she said, after thinking about it for a few moments. “It is not difficult for me to accept you because I know you and I know that you have no bad intentions. If it was any other woman, or even a man, I would be more suspicious and I don't think would accept anyone until after dealing with them a few times. Although, it is not up to me to accept or reject anyone. I would just be more cautious when deciding if I like that person or not for my brother. I would not interfere in the relationship, whatever my verdict.”

Oscar nodded, pondering whether Letitia's attitude was due to an innate talent for accepting the faults and virtues of others or if, on the other hand, it was because she was so desperate for the villain to find someone to share his life with she would accept the first who seemed kind to him and came with such intentions.

"Maybe I shouldn't ask you, but now I'm curious," Oscar proceeded, thinking of how to sweeten the words he was about to say. “You don't happen to know if Albert has dated or liked someone else before?”

"Are you afraid he'll leave you?"

That can't happen, I haven't screwed up that much yet.

“It's not that, it's that since you mentioned that he´s so reserved with this type of business, it occurred to me to think, what if he liked another person? I'm not talking about now, of course, but about some vague point in the past. Would he have told you something?”

Because, as Oscar saw it, it was unlikely that Dianne would leave her male characters—those in the limelight, to be specific—without some love interest. Again, the gentlemen of this type of novels always needed someone to uselessly fight against the other guy on duty.

"Well, he never said anything to me, but as you've seen, his attitude gives him away relatively easily. When he likes someone he tends to let his guard down around that person and, if I'm not mistaken, I think it was about four or five years ago that I noticed it… I think it was Madeleine Cornell he liked.”

“Madeleine?” Oscar repeated, unable to believe it. “How can it be her?”

If it hadn't been for the fact that they were dealing with a serious subject that deserved to be taken with respect, he would have laughed right there. Because let's see, the fact that the villain would have liked Madeleine coincided with his previous theory that it was because of her that he accused himself of a crime he had not committed, even agreeing to a duel —perhaps, and thinking about it again, because he really wanted to curry favor with her— and proclaiming himself in the original manuscript to be Patrick Seymour's enemy. But that didn't match his current temperament at all!

He seemed to dislike the female lead extremely.

Although one might think that it was just an act to appear cold and distant in society, maintaining that facade of impassiveness regarding romantic relationships, Oscar was able to verify that it was real not long before he started dating him. No one who kept even the slightest appreciation for that woman would put her through so much rudeness!

"I know it seems unbelievable now," laughed Letitia, who seemed to be of the same opinion as Oscar. “But, luckily, it's over. I think there was a time when he liked her and, honestly, it was kind of awkward because she and I didn't get along. So he must not have wanted to go deeper into that relationship either.”

“Knowing him, he may not have wanted you to have to deal with Madeleine any more than you already did.”

Wasn't it that Madeleine used to pick on Letitia when they were younger? It was likely that Albert had been in an internal conflict, not knowing who to defend, and in the end he would have chosen to stay by his sister's side and ignore his feelings. The real soap opera, in such a case, would have begun with the arrival of Patrick... Because it should not be forgotten that the villain only began to act to get what he wanted when he appeared.

This certainly seemed like gossip that Kenneth would be interested in!

"It's most likely, but do you know the strangest thing of all? It seems that he dismissed his affections for Madeleine from one day to the next!”

“How was that?”

"I can't really say that it was that fast, since I was in school back then and I didn't see him that often, but... What I mean is that one day I asked him if he still liked her and he answered no. At first I thought he was lying, because he had liked her for years, but over time I realized he wasn't. He was serious. It was so sudden!”

"Maybe something happened to him to change his mind."

"He never told me. And I can't guess either, because it happened months before you started hanging out with us. So I'm assuming whatever it was, it has nothing to do with you.”

"It's strange, no doubt.”

"Anyway, I'm glad that's over," Letitia stated. “I don't think Madeleine is a bad person, but what I do know is that she´s no good for being in a relationship. She's too…” Stopping here, perhaps because she didn't feel it appropriate to complain about her longtime neighbor at that place and time, she concluded. “Anyway, I don't think her father would have liked it either. Except for Theresa, he never thought highly of the Cornell daughters.”

"I wonder what would have seemed more terrible to Mr. Northrop, if your brother had chosen Madeleine or me," Oscar joked, trying to downplay the matter by throwing some humor into it. “As things stand now, I'll venture to think that your father figured he'd talk Albert into leaving me before you came home.”

“Not very successful, apparently.”

“Albert and I had agreed that we would discuss this with you when you returned to London. But, since you've got the corpses out of the closet, why not sort them up now?”

“And here I thought that the wedding of Madeleine Cornell and Mr. Seymour would be the only interesting thing I would miss… But no!” Letitia laughed. “May I ask what you plan to do now? Because, if you are here, I deduce that my brother will not have wanted to leave you. And, stubborn as he is, my father won't give in that easily either”.

Being that the conversation had escalated to such a point, Oscar proceeded to briefly tell her what his plans were once he left the Cotswolds. From his decision to leave his job at the local newspaper to find a new job at a London publishing house, to the villain's to find an apartment to live in together. All this, of course, without forgetting to take Letitia to the capital and spend some time with her, until it was time to leave for her new home.

Letitia listened to everything attentively, without interrupting. Oscar did not go into details, much less was he explicit in expressing himself, so that if someone had listened to them, the only thing he would have deduced was that he was planning to start a new life in the big city. Without knowing more details about the individual with whom he planned to share a flat, since the aforementioned had referred to him in a sufficiently ambiguous way to confuse him with a simple acquaintance.

When at last she had finished her description of the life that awaited them away from Snodland, she commented with visibly amused:

"Who would have imagined that my dear brother would be such a bold person? Me here thinking that he was going to be single for life and, meanwhile, he was already planning to move in with you.”

That was funny, Oscar had to admit. And it is that, when he met the villain, he also took that impression of him. Not even in the original manuscript was it known that he had had affairs or that he was after someone who wanted to make him his mistress. Well, if you were talking about Madeleine in that regard, in the original novel you could say that both the protagonist and the villain competed for her favor. It wasn't a crush, as Dianne would have her readers believe, but a twisted way of competing for power, using one person as a trophy for the victor.

Be that as it may, the Albert Oscar remembered reading was increasingly far from the Albert he now interacted with. Which was appreciated.

And this was something that was demonstrated, once again, minutes before lunch was served for the guests. When that little tour was over and the three people who had spent the morning walking through the corridors of Cheltenham were reunited with a villain who was already waiting for them in the gardens, not far from the same place where they had decided to part.

It was possible that, after having chatted with some teachers about his sister's performance, Albert wanted to talk to Letitia about academic matters. Or, perhaps, about some idle activity that took place or would take place at some point that day. Oscar didn't know for sure, although knowing him, he saw him with every intention.

Only Letitia didn't even let him start because, determined as she was, she decided to charge as soon as he was close enough:

"You... How dare you start dating someone, in a formal way, and not say a word to me about it?!" Letitia sounded angry when she said this and, although she didn't shout it so loudly, it was true that Albert hadn't expected that outburst and took a couple of steps back unconsciously, maybe even scared. “Aren't we siblings? Those kinds of things count, as much as you want to keep your love life to yourself!”

Not knowing what to say in his defense, Albert looked first at his terrifying little sister and then at an Oscar who brushed him off saying:

"Don't look at me, she figured it out on her own. I just added fuel to the fire. Besides, I think she's right. Aren't you always lecturing me about how I should be a little more open and less hostile with my uncles? Apply the story, dear.”

It wasn't usual for Oscar to give him nicknames, which, aside from his amused expression, made it quite clear that he was having the time of his life witnessing that confrontation. And, being that it was two against one, the only thing that Albert could whisper in his defense, even though it was only to refute Oscar's words, was:

“It's different, you don't have a sister at the disposal of a device that she could use to run over you...”

"And you can be sure that I wouldn't hesitate to use it, if it weren't for the fact that father must have already put you on the line as a result of all this and I think you've had enough already!" Letitia blurted out, like Oscar, that nuance hadn't escaped her.

"Have I been so wrong not to tell you about it?" Albert asked cautiously.

He had made sure that they had already caught the attention of some people who were passing by, eager to witness any discussion.

“Obviously! That you didn't want to tell me anything that someone you liked has a pass, but not to talk to me about it even when you already have everything organized to go live together...! That does make me angry, especially knowing that I was the first to ask!”

This was a loose end, so to speak. Oscar found it curious that, despite the fact that these two were so close, they hardly had any knowledge of each other's love lives. Would it be plausible, then, that Albert didn't want to say anything to his sister because he wasn't sure how she would react to knowing that she was going out with a man? Or was it that he was simply uncomfortable talking about such things no matter who the person was?

In any case, Albert proceeded to apologize repeatedly, as if he felt that he had committed a deadly offense. Perhaps even fearing, even, that because of having been too silent his sister would not accept what was hers with Oscar either.

"Don't get me wrong," Letitia had said in the midst of those apologies, "I don't think you made the wrong choice. If you want to be with that person, you have my blessing. But that doesn't mean that I´m not angry about the tremendous lack of communication! On top of how dangerous it could be...” Seeing that Oscar was laughing at such a hilarious scene, she turned to him momentarily to point out. “And for the record, I'm not mad at you just because we weren't writing to each other! If it had been the case, and you hadn't mentioned anything to me either, you were going to find out!”

With that, Oscar laughed no more.

"Why so intense?" Theresa had asked quietly, having moved closer to Oscar and only he had heard her. “I also knew about you, without you telling me anything, and I didn't care if you didn't confirm it.”

"But you hadn't told your parents that those rumors were false?"

Not only her; Madeleine, due to the embarrassment she suffered in the theater, did too. And it is that, although the protagonist continued to abuse at least one of them outside her house, she did not want her parents and sisters to know that she was hanging around a man with those tastes. It would be so embarrassing if one day they arrested him and it was exposed before the whole region why he didn't fall for her charms...! Even worse. Since she Madeleine pursued him for a while, wouldn't that make her look like a desperate spinster?

Then, going back to Theresa and her own way of doing things, it was obvious that she didn't want the rumors to be taken so seriously.

Not if she wanted to be let out of town with them.

“I did, but that doesn't mean I don't know the truth. In fact, even my parents know it, only with the frustrated wedding and the rest of our financial and social problems, well… What to say? I guess this is the least of their problems.”

"I still don't understand why you haven't said anything about it."

"Can I comment?" She was surprised in turn. “If I haven't said anything, it's because I don't think it's in my position to do so… I don't want to either! I do not care if they are together, because it is not something that affects me personally. That's not going to change the good opinion I have of both of you. Otherwise, I would not have agreed to come.”

"Theresa, has anyone ever told you that despite your young age, you're worth more than all your sisters put together?" That was a rhetorical question that Oscar himself answered. “I hope you put that mind of yours to work on what you want and do not let yourself be guided by the low expectations of your parents, because that talent should not be wasted.”

Although Oscar didn't need to say this, Theresa had long since been convinced. As Letitia suggested, if there was an opportunity to go to study at a prestigious school, where she would be provided with a higher level of education than usual, she would try to take advantage of it.

Having gathered in the gardens, the four people soon forgot about resentments or long-term plans, harboring the intention of enjoying the rest of the day to the fullest.

Letitia was not lying when she said that a busy day awaited them: Immediately, after having finished showing the building to her visitors, she had to leave to meet with the rest of the members that made up the small orchestra in which she was a participant. The idea was that they would start playing around half past ten or eleven in the morning, so they needed at least fifteen minutes beforehand to gather the staff and finish organizing.

It should be noted, at this point, that neither Theresa nor Oscar had had time to visit the entire Cheltenham compound. Even having gone on in her explanation, and nearly being late for her appointment with the rest of her classmates, Letitia hadn't been able to take them to all the places she'd like them to see. But well, she wasn't in a hurry either, they had the whole weekend ahead of them.

As she vanished into the crowd, Albert and the others looked for a place to listen to a concert that would go on for almost three-quarters of an hour, with no pause other than the one between song and song.

Truly that music had the ability to captivate the masses! It was not only that Letitia played her violin wonderfully, it was that it seemed that the numerous hours of rehearsals to which each of the members of the orchestra underwent had an effect, since the coordination they possessed was absolute and the melodies emerged one after another with amazing ease.

Without so much as a missed note or a hint of out of tune, the first notes of a piece whose composer Oscar failed to recognize, perhaps because of his limited knowledge of classical music, began to spread through the gardens. As it was, ignorance would not prevent anyone from enjoying the concert; proof of this was that in the minutes that followed, more people began to gather around the seats arranged in front of the stage. And the songs, which began with that solemn touch of gala meetings, soon became something more cheerful and modern, worthy of an informal meeting.

It must have been so novel to have some music to entertain, that even the people who were entertained in the nearby stalls, or simply chatting with their relatives at a certain distance from the improvised forum, ended up getting closer to listen better.

By the time the orchestra wrapped up its morning performance, the stage was cleared, and it was time for lunch. Letitia did not completely abandon her friends, but instead took care to return with them to where Albert and the others were waiting for her, with the intention of introducing them to them and, incidentally, leaving all together —including the respective relatives of these girls— to the area where a small banquet awaited them.

The schedule for the afternoon would be as busy or even busier than for the morning, since when they finished eating, Letitia made a point of showing Theresa and Oscar the rest of the Cheltenham grounds. So, to be specific, most of the explanations and walks that came after two in the afternoon took place outside. This was not only intended to act as a guide for a possible future student, showing her everything that could be of interest in the school, but also to be able to enjoy most of the activities that took place in the gardens.

The small group of four, who had left behind an entire troupe of students and their relatives once they left the table where they had lunch, soon ran into more people willing to have a conversation with them, invite them to contemplate some sports competition or even recommend a position that their respective daughters were attending.

Between walks, concerts —because Letitia had to return with her group at a certain time, late in the afternoon—, contests that made no sense and people who came to greet them as if they had known them all their lives, it seemed like an eternity had passed when the clock barely struck four and Oscar lay down on the grass, completely exhausted, thinking that he hadn't been this fed up since he worked for the exploiter of Patrick Seymour.

"Where do these people get their energy from?" he wondered, practically on the verge of collapse. “Not that the place is that big either, but with what we've been going back and forth from one place to another today, it feels like we've walked about ten miles without a break.”

"Come on, don't exaggerate," Albert scolded, though it was obvious from the way he said it that he hadn't taken the complaint amiss. “You sound like an old man about to give up after a little exercise.”

"Am I not? Just look at all those young women, so cheerful and full of life despite having been working since dawn without more remuneration than a couple of kind words from their tutors, compared to them I must already be at the gates of death!”

“Don't say that so soon, the activities for the families haven't started yet.”

“ What activities?”

Could it be possible that Letitia had written them down for something during the time she was absent...?

Even now, even if it was only for a few moments, he and the villain had been left alone. Letitia took them all to see a tennis match in which some of her friends were participating and, taking advantage of the fact that she and Theresa were distracted, the two of them took the opportunity to sneak away for a few minutes. Maybe ten or fifteen, with the excuse of going to get something to drink, but with the only objective in mind being to get away from the tumult for that short time.

“Every year activities are organized for the families of the students. You know, the typical, some short race or a competition to see who has the best aim or finish their piece of the cake the fastest.”

"Oh, well, it's a good thing I don't have any relatives studying here. That bother of having to sign up for any stupidity, without having received prior notice, I do not wish it on anyone.”

“Right, in theory, Letitia's relative is just me. Because my father has not been able to come and, unfortunately, for some of these activities a minimum of two people are required in the same team...”

“No, no, no. I can see where you're going, and I refuse,” Oscar stopped him, fearing that this would end in a new catastrophe. “I know it never gets old to play the hero and seek victory on behalf of a third person. But, to be frank with you, I was never that kind of brave being.”

“You aren´t?”

“No, I'm more the type who waits behind the security line, with the rest of the spectators, and laughs when some hake stumbles and ends up with his face in the mud.”

You are reading story How to survive the worst novel ever written at novel35.com

"They say there's always room for change," laughed Albert, who couldn't have had a hard time imagining that scenario.

“In the case of stubborn people like me, I don't think so! Besides, with my bad luck, I'm sure I'd end up in the only ditch for a hundred kilometers, and when it came time to clear the field, they'd have to banish me.”

"At least you wouldn't suffer the disgrace alone. I would fall with you.”

"I know what you just said should sound nice to me," Oscar conceded with a smile. “And I appreciate it. But I can't help thinking wrong, anyway. I feel that one of these days, if I act recklessly, I will end up dead in the most absurd way.”

"Okay, you don't have to participate if you don't want to." The villain said this without intending to press the matter further, perhaps also omitting how overly dramatic that last statement seemed to him. “There is still time. I can ask them to unsubscribe us for certain games or, failing that, find someone to take your place.”

"I think it's a wise decision. That way I won't break into pieces and, on the other hand, another unconscious will have the opportunity to participate in his life's race.”

“Yes, though it will be a pity for Letitia. I think she would be excited if we were the ones to get the victory for her.”

"It's a shame I don´t have a hero complex... or a martyr complex." Seeing Albert staring at him silently, Oscar couldn't help but point. “And don't tell me that you have plenty of desire to participate. With how much you hate to draw people's attention and how little you´re friends with this type of activity... Besides, you are as or more tired than me.”

That was a truth impossible to hide. Recalling the Seymours' fair, Albert had not been what one would consider participatory when it came to games: All he had done then was escort his relatives and friends through the fairgrounds, stopping only when they did and just watching how they were. others those who proceeded to carry out any festive activity that involved a small physical effort.

Then there was the social. Oscar didn't consider himself an outgoing being, but it was clear that he handled himself better than Albert when the situation called for it. And if he, having had to make an extra effort to meet the expectations of Letitia and the rest of the guests who came to Cheltenham around that time, was already tired, he didn't even want to imagine how the villain was!

In fact, he didn't even need to strain his imagination too much to get an idea because, despite the fact that on other occasions Albert had been reluctant to occupy a place not intended for humans of a certain lineage to sit in public, in those ten minutes had not had any qualms about being next to him.

He didn't go so far as to lie down on the grass, as Oscar did when he felt his internal battery drain completely, but he did sit up. And that was already a breakthrough.

"Someone has to do it," Albert observed, neither confirming nor denying anything.

It was in this type of situation that one could realize how much value he had, as a character, not only in that plot, but in general. What was a supposed hero to do without the motivation to outdo the villain? Any! Oscar was clear. He could perfectly imagine the protagonists of the world from which he had been vegetating on the sofa at home, spending his free afternoon in front of a television, and guessing the identity of the murderer in a low-budget movie with the worst script was his only feat in the whole world.

No, ultimately, the villains were much more interesting. And he didn't think so just out of mere bias!

"Someone will," he finished then, "but it won't be me."

Oscar thought that Albert would refute this statement or that at least, as he did before, he would look at him with a hint of disappointment. As if he had been waiting years for her to agree to indulge him in something and now, suddenly and for no reason, it wasn't meant to be. Such a thing did not happen. He accepted the refusal well and did not mention the subject again.

Silence fell between them. An intentional silence, whose purpose was to enjoy those minutes in mutual company before returning to the stands, where the girls would be waiting for them.

The next time Albert spoke was precisely to warn Oscar that it was time to go back. He got up from the ground first, holding out his hand to help him to his feet. If it is that a few moments ago he had been afflicted by not being able to convince him to participate in the activities, now any trace of sorrow had disappeared. Doing thus that the villain returned to be the one of before.

There was no reason to regret having made that decision. Oscar had no obligation to Letitia, he wasn't good at sports and, of course, he didn't feel sorry that Albert had to go through this alone. After all, no one put a knife to his neck and coerced him into it.

If the villain wanted to act like an exemplary older brother, that was his business. He was not going to participate in the pantomime.

Or well, that's what he kept saying to himself for the next half hour, before said activities began and it was necessary to establish who would participate. Because let's see, one thing was theory, finding that he wouldn't change his mind for anything in the world, and another thing was practice. How the hell was he going to leave Albert alone in such a situation?

Perhaps Oscar was becoming too soft, giving in to a persuasion that hadn't even existed in the first place. But in the end, what was he going to do to him? In any case, he told himself most of the people there did not know him and it was probable that they would never see each other again. What did it matter if he made a fool of himself for a few minutes? Surely, two days later they would have already forgotten about him.

So, very much against his principles and his sense of self-preservation, he ended up going along with these characters who so graciously invited him to participate.

Now, was it really worth it? Albert thanked him over and over again for lending himself to that, even lending himself to pay for that favor in the near future, in some way he did not want to specify before the rest of those present.

Theresa, for her part, had mumbled something about not having minded taking Oscar's place... Although it was obvious that she was only saying it out of courtesy and that she, if anything, was even less amused than he was by being a part of it. that plot: This could be seen clearly when Letitia dismissed his proposal with a phrase similar to “let the boys handle it” and, shy as she was, Theresa did not speak again.

"It's okay, we'll make sure we win for you." Albert had said this trying to sound as sure of himself as possible, then, seeing that Oscar wasn't looking at all convinced, he retracted. “Or, at least, we will be among the first three places.”

It was quite plausible to suppose that, looking back at his partner, the villain was looking for some approval at his last heroic words. But, the only thing he found, apart from an awkward smile, was a quiet request that only he could hear due to the tone in which it was made:

“Please, at least let me lose with some dignity.”

The fact that Albert did not insist again, leaving it to his sister to give the next words of encouragement before beginning, implied that his attitude was also a farce. No, he wasn't convinced he had the skills to claim the top spot. He had only said it to sound admirable in Letitia's eyes.

Whether or not Letitia believed it was hard to tell.

What became clear, in the long run, was that there was something wrong with Albert's reasoning. Because still possessing the words of encouragement and a last-minute strategy, hastily planned with Oscar just moments before the three-legged race they were to enter began, they lost miserably.

Or well, not so miserable. There were about twenty-six couples competing and they placed seventeenth. They fell, yes, but not in a ditch. They also didn't crack their heads open with some conveniently placed stone in their path and, although by the time they did, most of the audience had retreated to the area where they were congratulating the winners, at least they crossed the finish line.

Late, badly and almost dragged, but they did it.

Maybe they would have moved up a couple more places if Oscar hadn't been so hell-bent on trying to beat up a guy who tried to push them to advance his own career, but hey, Albert wasn't too sharp either trying to talk him out of it. And it is that, not having time for words, he simply ignored that mishap and simply moved on as if nothing had happened.

The result? A mere failure of coordination and both ended up falling to the ground without even needing the help of the guy who earlier tried to sabotage them.

Fortunately there were no more races, just a nightmare baptized as the game of rope. An activity that Oscar knew well, from his elementary school days when he still had the good fortune not to have transmigrated, and that he hated as much or more than any race.

“Do you think there would be a trick to pretend that I contribute to the team even if I really don't do a damn thing?” Oscar asked this question to Albert, during the division of the teams, although more than anything it seemed like a rhetorical question since he immediately answered himself. “I've been thinking about it for years, but I've never figured it out.”

"If you don't want to do anything, you'd better go to the back of the line. If you're in the front or, especially, in the center, it's harder to fake it.” The villain commented this as if he himself had tried to get rid of this barbaric activity in the past and was giving him some useful advice on the matter. “The bad thing is that at the end of the line is also where those who put the most strength and effort usually stand, and it may not seem good to them to see that you do not participate as you should...”

“This being a good samaritan is costing me dearly, now all that's left is for them to ask me for my internal organs.”

There was no way to escape some other fall, if anything even more violent than the ones already suffered, or the injuries induced on his hands by pulling too hard on the rope.

"It will be over soon, as soon as the flag ends up crossing one line or another. And at least if we fall it won't be into a quagmire.”

“No, if the null desire to get dirty of the aristocrats had to serve for something.”

Not only was there no quagmire into which the poor suckers who had lost could fall, but the ground they stepped on wasn't even pure dirt; the grass continued to spread throughout the enclosure. As if not only should these noble people be prevented from getting stained by an unfortunate fall, but the organizers should also make sure that no one was hurt when landing on a hard surface.

As it was, the words of comfort pronounced by the villain were not the ones that managed to appease him. Rather, and strangely enough, it was an unknown person who achieved that purpose. And did it without realizing it, moreover, because the individual in question was talking to another person when Oscar overheard his conversation by chance.

They were all on the same team, the participants having been divided into two groups of ten, and thus were in the same area of ​​the outfield a few minutes before kick-off. Hence, anyone who was standing there could interfere, with astonishing ease, in other people's conversations.

"You don't have to try," the guy was saying; if he knew that others could hear him, he didn't even seem to care, "I've paid the other side to let us win."

“Really?” His interlocutor inquired with growing astonishment. “The Buckleys too?”

“Yes. When it comes to making a profit or, as in the case of that family, forgetting some past debts, they would do anything. Listen to me! We just need to pull the rope a little and victory will be ours.”

"I won't put too much pressure on it then, if it's going to be that simple."

"No, no, we'd better pull hard. I mean, even though the other team are not going to give it their all, we have to put on a good show in front of the referees. You know, not to notice that this is rigged.”

That guy nodded, implying that he accepted those terms. And Oscar could not help but turn to Albert to say in a low voice, with increasing amusement:

"Who would have thought that these pedigreed humans would turn out to be such cheaters even at an informal event like this? I might be expecting me at some illegal bridge games or at the racetrack. But in a family game where there are such a multitude of relatives and friends watching…! How disappointing, is this the example they want to set for their children?”

"We should notify the organizers," the villain proposed in the same tone, since he too must have heard that confession of the crime. “This is unethical.”

'No, it's not worth bothering the referee about these things. As he said, it's just a harmless game in the backyard of a school. Would they even give us a prize for winning? Because if that's not the case, I don't see what's wrong with pretending we don't know anything about this unfortunate affair.”

Albert didn't say anything for a few seconds, after hearing that. Then, still in confusion, and seeing that it was quite true that Oscar was not going to lift a finger to hand those cheats over to the organization, he cautiously inquired:

"Did you realize that this guy is the same guy who pushed you during the three-legged race?"

“Is he?”

Why are you helping him? Albert almost seemed to want to say, though he didn't quite put the question in those very words. Either way, he had nothing to do with the individual. Oscar, until he mentioned it, hadn't even noticed that it was the same guy.

"Anyway, yesterday's enemies are today's friends," he pointed out, recovering his good humor a little, "wasn't that the saying?"

“In this case, it's the enemies from not even half an hour ago,” Albert corrected him, immediately, and not wanting to argue what would be the right thing to do in such a case, he sighed. “I hope we don't get caught, because I'm not good at lying.”

They wouldn't, not on their own team's part, at least. The other side were less discreet.

Perhaps because they doubted that the opponent would fulfill his role of pretending that there was real competition, believing that they would not put an iota of brute force into the matter and, since everything that would be done there as soon as someone gave the signal to begin, would be to pretend to be doing an enormous job to win, what need would there be for pulling the rope at all?

So it was that, while on one side they confidently grabbed the rope, but without making any other movement, on the other they pulled with all their might as soon as the referee gave the start.

Casualties and damage on Oscar's side were minimal. Now, speaking of the other team… They got the worst of it. A single jerk, strong and forceful, was all it took for them to lose. Those idiots weren't even holding the rope right! And when the other team pulled, even without putting their full weight into it, the inevitable result was that they dragged the dozen opposing players onto their own turf in less than five seconds. It was ridiculous! Some competitors kissed the ground while others, those further back, went flying with the momentum.

If this turned out to be a major competition, like the Olympics, it would be certain that the organizers would want to conduct an investigation into what happened. It was impossible to say that all these people had made an effort! With a simple glance at what happened it was evident. But hey, these were supposed to be informal games, and it wasn't a good idea to go digging around in the shit in front of all those families who were anxiously awaiting an outcome.

That is why the judges had no choice but to smile, uncomfortable at the turn that had taken, and proceed with the congratulations to the winning team as if their victory had been lawful.

From where he was, Oscar could see the professors in charge of the organization sweating. Luckily, to receive the praise of those present and discuss the feat just achieved, those of his team - and especially that chump who had the idea to cheat the results - had better skills. Entangling people with cheap talk, no one thought again if the game had been fair or not.

As it was, there were no more group activities, so Oscar was able to disengage at that precise moment.

Albert, on the other hand, still had to participate in a couple more games. Tortuous as that sounded, he looked good to his sister even though he had failed to keep his promise to win the big victory. And it is that, speaking of winning, the most he achieved in that sense was when he was fifth in one of the individual competitions.

Whether it was because he was the villain, and the villain was destined to lose in this type of plot, or due to pure chance that could have affected anyone, the truth was that the glory went to others. Even in that game of tug-of-war where he theoretically did win, it was others who got all the credit. Although, yes, in that case it should be noted that it was because Albert had no interest in exposing himself, much less when the conditions of that contest had been so fraudulent.

"It doesn't make any sense," Oscar had commented once the games were over. These people run, crawl, make shady bets and fight for contests whose only prize is a paper decoration for the lapel of their suits.”

“They also offer free drinks for the winner and their family.”

Of course with drinks, and given that a significant number of the students and visitors were minors, they were referring to snacks without a single drop of alcohol. Something cheap and affordable anyone could have at home or, at least, would not be difficult to prepare.

"Remind me when we're in London to take you out for a drink sometime."

And Albert, despite not being a big drinker, agreed. Why not accept if someone was willing to invite him, that's what he must have thought.

"What happens is that the real prizes, that is, the diplomas and decorative objects that can be awarded, are destined for the students," Letitia had explained, having listened to them. “You guys only hang around here a couple of days a year, so...”

"Then we deserve nothing more than a pat on the back for the effort and a piece of paper in the lapel," Oscar finished ironically; More than bothering about that treatment, he even found it logical. "It makes sense."

"It's not that," she laughed. “It is that there would not be a budget to please everyone and, apart from that, it is a priority of the school to first reward the students for their good work. The adults have already passed this stage, they have not had to strain for the last exams or put effort for weeks to make this event possible. So, as ugly as it sounds, with a piece of paper and a voucher to drink free lemonade for the whole weekend, they should already be served.”

"So served, huh?", thought Oscar, while he watched out of the corner of his eye how a couple of subjects located a few meters from them were fighting for having wasted who knows how much money precisely for having bet on the wrong contestant on that day.

“Be that as it may, it's not that the school is stingy about offering something to take home for its visitors. See that stall over there? If you knock down all the cups, you can choose between the items they give away.”

The stall she was referring to was the classic fairground stall where one, in exchange for a small deposit, had the right to launch a few projectiles at the inanimate tower on duty. If he hit the target squarely, a prize awaited him. If he failed, however, he would have to walk away empty-handed.

"I don't know if it will help you, most of what they deliver is cheap things that were bought in the city and handicrafts from last year that were left without an owner," continued Letitia. “If you wanted something that really had monetary value you would have to wait for the school auction. But of course, that is organized every four or five years. And I think last year was the last.”

“Forget it, I don't need any old furniture to remember this day.”

He didn't even need remuneration, no matter how small, if he was honest. But he had suffered so many defeats that day that, somehow, he wanted his honor back.

For this reason, not long before the enclosure was closed for that day, he urged the three people who accompanied him to go to that place since it was still open and working, being run by a couple of girls who very kindly explained the rules and handed three balls, the size of golf balls, to Oscar so he could test his aim.

He was tired, yes, but he wasn't going to give up that easily! This was already something personal, he had failed too many times in front of the people he cared about and he had no plans to repeat it. Besides, this couldn't be that complicated, right? Oscar didn't have the best marksmanship in the world, but he wasn't a complete disaster either. And the mountain made up of fifteen vases to topple was barely three meters from him. How could he fail? It was not possible!

The key was to aim low, towards the base of the tower, to break its stability and knock over all the cups at once. Because let's see, that was another one, one would only receive the go-ahead if with a single shot they managed to take down all the glasses.

Thinking about it again, this required a greater concentration than it seemed at first.

Oscar understood it too late, when he had already thrown the first ball and it barely touched one of the containers located on one side. But hey, this wasn't all bad; it was just the first throw, anyone could miss it! At this point he was just warming up, preparing for the real winning move.

You could say that until the second ball also missed: Although he did manage to knock over at least six of the cups, it still wasn't enough.

For the last attempt, Oscar stopped for a full minute to consider the angle and power of the shot. Maybe he was taking this too seriously since, and as Albert had made sure to mention before he missed that last shot, he could always try again. After all, bail for three shots was less than a glass of that lemonade they tried to foist on visitors as an enticement to make fools of themselves in Cheltenham Gardens.

But Oscar had no intention of trying any further. Win or lose, he wouldn't take more than three shots.

The third ball did not hit the target, but it did cause the necessary damage… And even more than that! Not that he had hit the base of the tower, or the center. It's not like he, at least, he had managed to destroy half of the vessels that formed it. Nothing of that. Oscar went overboard, and instead of the thing hitting the fragile construction somewhere, he hit the edge of the table it stood on.

The table itself was flimsy, since it was made up of a few folding wooden boards, easy to disassemble. So yes, that caused the entire surface to move and it was several containers - not only from that pyramid, but from others - that fell.

Oscar took a couple of steps back involuntarily, as if he wanted to hide from a calamity, making sure that with this maneuver he not only lost, but had managed to break into the games of other visitors who were also trying their luck in the same position. .

At least, despite the fact that he did not smile at his fortune in other things, he did have someone willing to act as his shield. Even if it was just for that one time. And it was barely time for him to apologize to one of the girls who served them when Albert approached the counter and paid the bail for another shot, stating that he wanted to try it himself.

That was a bit embarrassing. Not because Oscar had failed miserably; he was already used to that. Not because Albert had gone out of his way to participate in something that normally wouldn't even catch his eye. Nothing of that. What was making Oscar a little uncomfortable was that Letitia and Theresa had stayed behind, murmuring and giggling as they watched them, as if they shared some secret that they didn't want them to know.

The villain didn't even notice, focused as he was on what he had in front of him. And so Oscar had to imitate him, pretending that he hadn't heard anything and just kept looking straight ahead.

If Albert had turned out to be the protagonist of that cliché, he would have been assured that he would bring down the tower with a single blow. Saving one of the girls tending the stall from having to reposition dropped containers after each failed throw. But, again, he did not have a leading role in that play. And although his fate was not comparable to that of a cannon fodder character like Oscar, he did not go so far as to unseat that of a certain individual.

To make a long story short, Albert also lost. None of his three shots managed to knock down more than ten glasses.

"It's going to sound childish, but I have the impression that there is a problem with the material these balls are made of," he murmured at the end, addressing the three people who were watching him, being careful not to be heard by those who attended the stall. “It is not possible that we have failed so resoundingly.”

"I'm sure it's because of the weight," Oscar chimed in, although they both knew they weren't serious. "Did you see what happened the last time I pitched? I almost took over the table.”

And in this he was not exaggerating at all, it took the attendants a couple of minutes to rearrange the furniture and put things back in their place before accepting customers again.

“Luckily the glasses are made of wood, I don't want to imagine what would happen if they were made of any other more fragile material.”

"Forget the glasses, the way things are now, what if someone got out of hand and didn't aim where they should? I could gouge out anyone's eye...”

"Can I try it myself?" Letitia interjected, perhaps in an attempt to nip that unfortunate act in the bud.

Her intrusion was so sudden that her brother needed a couple of seconds before reacting. Could she really try it from where she was sitting? The answer was no.

No, because the counter from which they served visitors stood between her and the damned tower to be knocked down. But anyway, that was not in itself a problem either; once Albert was sure that Letitia was determined to participate, they both chatted briefly with the girls who were waiting to convince them to move the counter to the side a little.

They didn't need too much space, half a meter would be enough. Letitia just needed that table to be moved out of her way so she could throw with precision, without fear of hitting what she shouldn't.

"Won't it be too low, though?" Oscar had asked in a whisper, addressing the villain, while he watched Letitia get into position.

Without the counter in the way in front of her, the surface on which the glasses rested was still a little high in relation to where Letitia stood.

Perhaps, having made that point, a new wave of concern might have reached Albert. Well, hearing him say this, he already had all the earmarks of wanting to go back to his sister to ask her if it wouldn't be better to make some other arrangement, to adults so that the competition would be fairer. However, as much as he would have liked to perform this last check, he didn't have time.

Before the dumbfounded look of both of them, Letitia threw the first ball of hers with such luck that she knocked over all the containers in one go, without even giving much thought to the angle or position from which it would be best to proceed.

"Should I try throwing some more?" she laughed, turning back to them. “I say this in case you want to make up for the ones you lost earlier.”

Oscar was going to say it wasn't necessary. Again, he preferred to lose with dignity. But, once again, Letitia beat him to it.

"No, you're right. It wouldn't make sense to do it, I already got what I wanted and you guys are adults anyway. You should know how to take a loss.”

That was the theory. A theory that neither Albert nor Oscar were willing to refute, for fear of losing in something worse than a game of chance. That is, a verbal contest. And hence they chose to remain silent, look the other way and not dwell on how a single move had been enough for an adolescent to destroy them both.

Be that as it may, they still had one more day left in Cheltenham to make amends or, even better, to go unnoticed and make sure that all this dismal business was forgotten.

 

 

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