Chapter 38: 38

Chapter 38 – In the Name Of Friendship

Grossen, which borders the western part of the continent, has been the home of the Malvin family for generations.

Under the vast mountain range, the plains overgrown with trees and vegetation were perfect for a large-scale wool production. The wool produced there was of such good quality that it was exported across the continent to all over the world. Thanks to this, the head of the family, Elowie Malvin, was the epitome of a loafer aristocrat who liked to play around and eat.

And his family was the same. His wife, Pianne Malvin, was obsessed with poetry, songs, and art, and invited artists every day; and his youngest daughter, Cynthia, was the kind of child whose biggest concern was whether to wear a blue or white dress for next week’s party.

The most incomprehensible member of the family was their eldest son, Nathan Malvin. Enjoying books rather than people and contemplation rather than socializing, he was the most Malvin-like in that he enjoyed boredom; but at the same time, he was also the least Malvin-like, fascinated by distribution and justice, philosophy, and ideas.

The fact that Nathan had been getting weird lately was the first thing his younger sister, Cynthia, noticed.

Her brother was the kind of person who read a book about freedom and justice, a thick book that makes you tired just from hearing about it, with a serious face, and liked to loaf around like a prodigal man when he played with her.

But in the last few months, her brother’s smile has completely disappeared.

As Cynthia worried, today as well, Nathan was carelessly lying on the bed in her room. He was accepting and acknowledging the emotions that have been haunting him and keeping him sleepless for the past few months.

‘I am the fiancée of the Meyer family. I don’t want to be misunderstood.’

Her determined refusal doesn’t leave his head.
She was right. Was he in his right mind, asking a woman who is already engaged to go to the ball with him?

Yet, Nathan was unable to shake off his strange expectations. She clearly said, ‘I don’t want to be misunderstood’. She didn’t say ‘No’. Moreover, given the many rumors circulating in the social world, Emilia will soon break up her engagement. She will be free.

So what?

His boiling blood cooled down in an instant.

Even if Emilia becomes free, what will he do? Will he catch her? What will he do when he catches her?

Nathan frowned. During the past month, he had been divided and conflicted over that part.

What is the difference between Hadius Meyer and him?

A smile of self-mockery appeared on his face, as he faced the ceiling.
He shows off while saying he is different, but Nathan was always in the same place. It was the same logic for which he despised the Cavendish while seeing himself in them.

There is not much the eldest son of the Malvin family can promise a commoner woman. At most, something like a mistress…?
Would Emilia accept it?

“Ha!”

That’s ridiculous. Emilia Bern doesn’t even look at him, but he’s imagining turning her into a mistress.
Exactly, this is definitely a one-sided feeling. An obvious unrequited love.
Yet, he keeps wanting to see her.

Nathan supported his head with interlaced hands. Unorganized emotions rose again like a damp swamp.

He raised his droopy body and headed for the study. Whenever he thought of Emilia, something lingered in his mind.

〈Fundamentals of Accounting〉

Nathan caressed the cover of the book covered in luxurious leather.

She will definitely like it. She will smile the moment he gives this to her. Although it may be as short as a moment’s sunlight shining through the bitter cold winter.
No need to worry too much though. Anything can be wrapped up in the name of friendship. That much shouldn’t be a problem.
They’re going to break up the engagement anyway.

Nathan’s lips curled up softly.

 

***

 

“Alright, try reading it, Charlotte.”

Charlotte traced with her fingertips where Mitch was pointing. The grainy braille started creating sounds in the child’s head.

“F… Fa… Ther… Father?”
“Correct. Good job. Next.”
“… Pane… Pene?”

Charlotte tilted her head.

“Pine. It reads ‘pine’.”
“Pine? … Pine… Tree?”
“You’re pretty good? Alright, the last one.”

Charlotte frowned and traced over the last braille. After a moment, as she mumbled, “H… Hat?”, Mitch applauded and cheered.

“That’s great! Braille genius, Charlotte Bern!”

Mitch patted his sister on the back. Charlotte smiled. It looked like she was crying because of her humped eyes, but she was clearly smiling brightly.

“Since you got all the questions right, tell me something you want. I will give you anything.”

Mitch spoke confidently. He thought Charlotte would ask for things like doing the dishes and cleaning. But what came out of Charlotte’s mouth was that again.

“Don’t distress Emilia anymore. Don’t keep saying that you’re glad she broke up the engagement. Don’t you know what kind of face she makes every time you say that?”

Mitch was more than bewildered. How dare a blind child talk about facial expressions?

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Emilia like this. It was better when she pretended to be cheerful. Now she just closes her mouth completely. What on earth did Young Master Meyer give her that day? I’m dying of curiosity.”
“What do you want to know? It was the breakup papers. Who would be happy to receive something like that? Well, anyway, don’t worry too much. Emilia will recover soon. It’s not like they started a relationship because they liked each other anyway.”
“No, it’s not like that. If Emilia is upset because of the breakup papers, she would have been like that from the first time they talked about breaking up. Why would she be like that now?”

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Is that so? Mitch’s eyebrows gathered in the middle.

“The relationship between Emilia and Young Master Meyer is not that simple. There is something deeper between them.”
“What?”

This time, he frowned.

“Don’t make things up, Charlotte. How much does Emilia hate him? Is Emilia stupid? Would she give her heart to that bastard after suffering like that?”
“Ha! You don’t know because you sleep with Mother.”

Why is she talking about sleeping out of nowhere?

“I sleep with Emilia. She can’t sleep on days she meets with the Young Master.”

In an instant, Mitch felt a surge of irritation.

That can’t be…
Emilia clearly said she had no feelings. She said she really wanted to break up. She said she didn’t have any lingering feelings towards a noble man…
Was she lying?

“No matter how much you laugh at me, it won’t change my hunch. Young Master Meyer likes Emilia. And Emilia likes him too.”

Mitch glared at Charlotte as if he were dumbfounded.

“You’re completely crazy. Do you think it’s real just because we talk about your psychic powers?!”
“No! This is not about psychic powers!”

“Then show me proof.”
“Proof?”
“Proof that Hadius Meyer likes Emilia.”
“First of all, Mitch, he has forgiven you.”

Mitch’s face turned red like a beetroot.

“W-What do you mean forgiveness! Why would he forgive us? How much have we suffered…!”
“That’s right Mitch, you’re not wrong. But it’s wrong to lie like that. It was too harsh.”
“Ha!”
“And he gave us all kinds of gifts. Mr. Beppy, Brave; it’s something he couldn’t do if he didn’t like her.”

Mitch clicked his tongue.

“Get yourself together, Charlotte. He’s no ordinary man. He is a noble. He’s the kind of guy who treats commoners like us with indifference.”

But Charlotte didn’t seem to listen at all.

“Alright, let’s concede to it and say that you are right. Let’s say that there is something wrong with his head and he has strange feelings for Emilia. What will he do? Do you think he can get down on his knees and propose to her? Do you think he is going to ask her to marry him while saying he’s sorry for everything?”

Charlotte’s naive eyes answered yes. Mitch felt like a fire was burning in his chest.

“That’s why you are treated like a pig! You’re so naive that you’re being treated like an idiot!”

Charlotte doesn’t know much about the world.
Of course, the only window through which that child perceives the world is the books that her sister has read to her. In novels, the main character always wins and falls in love. Mitch wanted to remind Charlotte of the cold reality.

“The feelings that a noble man feels toward a commoner woman are not that romantic. Do you know what they usually say?”
“…?”
“They just call it ‘lust’.”

“Lust? What is that?”

As he faced the innocent questioning face, his heart pounded belatedly. Talking about dirty things men and women do in front of that child… If his sister finds out, he will be severely scolded.

“There is such a thing. You will know when you grow up.”

With a blank expression on his face, Mitch avoided Charlotte’s gaze and continued.

“Anyway, do you know what happens when a nobleman lusts for a commoner woman? And not just a commoner, I’m talking about a poor woman like us. There is nothing more unfortunate than that.”

Charlotte turned her unfocused eyes to Mitch once more.

“What do you mean?”
“You… Haven’t you heard of that?”
“Heard… What?”

Mitch hesitated for a moment. When he heard ‘that’ from his classmates at school, his blood rushed too.

Wouldn’t that be a shock to an innocent child who lives while shutting herself in the attic? Yet again, his mouth does not stop.

“Mistress.”
“Mis…tress?”
“Exactly, a mistress. It’s a very bad thing. It’s a shortcut that leads women to unhappiness. You don’t want Emilia to become that guy’s mistress, do you?”

At that moment, the door swung open.
It was Emilia. Charlotte flinched, and Mitch suddenly jumped as if he were going to collapse.

… Could she have heard?

“Were you studying?”

Emilia smiled brightly and put the chicken feed box she was holding into the cupboard. She walked towards the attic with a gentle, light footstep. A hum could be heard, followed by a rattle and her muttering, “Where is the hammer?”.

She surely didn’t hear. Mitch sighed in relief and turned to Charlotte.

“‘Mistress’ means ‘lover’. Not just a lover, but a married man’s lover!”

Charlotte’s mouth, which had been open wide, opened even wider.

After a moment, Emilia reappeared. She was holding the hammer she had been looking for. Pretending nothing had happened, Mitch asked.

“What? What are you going to do with that?”
“The fence is shaking. Mr. Beppy is fixing the swing, so I’m going to do that.”
“It’s fine, leave it. I will do that later…”
“No, you do your vacation homework. Didn’t you almost fail at writing last semester? Vacations are not for playing around. It’s an opportunity to make up for the subjects in which you are lacking.”

Emilia, who was nagging, murmured, “Charlotte, you too, study Braille diligently. Your sister will earn money from now on and send you to a school for the blind.”, and walked towards the door. The door opened and the older sister disappeared like the wind in front of the younger siblings.

Of course, Emilia heard the word ‘mistress’ clearly.

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