Chapter 25
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"Do you know who she’s learning from?"
A strange chill rose from the bottom of Edwin's chest.
"Master Theodore. He's in his study every day, teaching her to write and read himself."
I see.
Edwin barely managed to open his mouth, swallowing hard against the unidentifiable feelings bouncing around in his stomach.
"...Teddy?"
"Yeah, I was a little surprised, too, so I asked him why he wouldn't make me do it, and he said... Do you know what he said?"
Without waiting for an answer, Celeste continued.
"How do you think your pronunciation sounds?"
It was a cold, stiff imitation of Theodore. Celeste chuckled to herself like it was amusing.
Macmilan’s servants were always like that; they seemed to take their masters' insults and accusations as mere lighthearted banter.
"It's ruined my pride, but it's good for Lady Liana. It can't hurt to have a maid with an upper-class accent, can it?"
"That's true."
Edwin laughed lightly, feigning disinterest.
They continued walking. After a while, they came to a large pillar that separated the parlor from the hallway.
Theodore could be seen among the large and small artworks and large potted plants.
He was sitting cross-legged on a long tan sofa. His posture, one arm draped over the armrest, exuded his usual withering boredom.
"Lord Hastings has arrived."
Celeste's words made the small figure beside him flinch.
It was the girl.
Edwin could do nothing to stop his gaze from being drawn like a magnet. The next moment, it had gone rigid.
What in the world had happened in a matter of days?
She was wearing a beautiful dress that looked like dark blue paint released on a white background.
Her light brown hair, worn loose, glistened gold in the sunlight. Her long lashes fluttered like a fan beneath her lowered eyelids.
Was she that pretty?
Her small, dense features were like a doll's. In the center of her slender face, her blue-gray eyes were unusually deep and clear.
She wore makeup.
It wasn't the cheap, tacky kind, but the kind of makeup worn by young ladies who discussed art and literature in salons.
He had often seen maids wearing makeup out of their maid's uniforms, and it looked strange and tacky, as if they were borrowing someone else's clothes, but not her. She was dressed so perfectly, as if she had always been that way, that it shocked Edwin.
His eyes traveled down past the fine shoulders to the white, slender wrist, and beside it was a long, slender man's hand. It was Theodore's hand.
Edwin's eyes instantly lost perspective.
They were too close together. So close that if Theodore moved his fingers the slightest bit, they would touch...
"Come on."
Edwin's thoughts scattered in an instant. Turning his head, he saw Theodore approaching.
His gait was as confident and easy as always. His eyes, which seemed to have the world at his feet, were no different than usual.
Edwin felt a sinking feeling of displeasure.
"What's the matter with you? You didn't even bother to answer when I invited you."
Theodore laughed.
"I hope you didn't just drop in like this because you missed someone."
The frosty green eyes glanced at the maid, who stood helplessly.
It was at that moment that Edwin realized for sure what that uncomfortable feeling in his chest was.
The innocent girl was reeking of Theodore’s work.
From head to toe.
Edwin smiled nonchalantly. Then he turned to face Theodore.
"I did come to see you."
As soon as he finished, he turned to Dana.
"I can't leave you in charge of training and not be curious, and I have questions."
Edwin continued, not wanting to leave any room for doubt.
"Did you break his teacup by any chance?"
Theodore raised an eyebrow at the unexpected question, and Celeste gasped.
Dana was dumbfounded for a moment, not expecting something from the past to resurface. Then she shook her head vigorously.
"No, no, no, Master...."
"I'm not here to blame you, so you can be honest."
"Oh, no... I did not... Not at all...."
Her trembling lips could barely form words, mumbling incoherently, probably because she was already half in a trance.
Edwin turned to Theodore.
"The head maid says she broke the teacup, and I think you covered it up."
"If so, what are you going to do about it?"
Dana's frozen mouth opened like a thunderbolt.
"No!"
The shrill exclamation drew all three of their gazes together. But Dana's eyes saw nothing. All she could think about was stopping this before it got out of hand.
"I... I didn't... I didn't do that. I never...."
Dana wanted to explain, to make it sound nice and logical, but her mouth wouldn't cooperate.
In the meantime, Theodore walked slowly over and stood in front of her. His large back blocked Dana and Edwin completely.
"Answer me. What are you going to do, then? Make amends?"
"Of course."
Edwin answered without hesitation.
"She belongs to my family, and since this happened while she’s at the Shore, it's only right that I, the owner, take responsibility."
"Oh, really?"
Theodore shuffled over to Edwin. Edwin didn't back down, but straightened his back.
They were about the same height. Two pairs of piercing eyes locked in an orthodox confrontation.
"No... Really... No...."
Dana, who had been muttering stupidly behind him, shut up for a moment.
She realized that her frustrated reaction was making the situation worse. She mentally organized what she wanted to say first.
"No, you don't have to make it up. I didn't break the teacup. I didn't even touch it. It was Master Theodore who did it. He did it to... harass me... For no reason…”
The words she had been working so hard to form were strangely slurred as she moved backwards.
Can I get it all out?
What if it blows up in Master Edwin's face?
Dana was no longer as worried about "what if people don't believe me?" as she had been before.
Everything changed the moment she saw the documents from the Bank of Rodenschild.
Theodore Macmilan was no longer just her 'lady's fiancé' or Master Edwin’s brother-in-law.
He was the man at the top of the heap.
He was a top predator, standing on top of her, his maid, and, by extension, Master Edwin Hastings.
And yet she asked Master Edwin for help? From the man who stood above them all?
Dana was at a loss for words again and paled.
Edwin's eyes caught her as he stared at Theodore.
The wavering pupils, the bloodless face...
He realized that this situation was driving her further into panic. Edwin pushed Theodore out of the way and stood in front of her.
"Again, I'm not here to punish you, I'm here to help."
Edwin tried to keep his voice as soft as possible.
His eyes filled with warmth, his voice soothing, and Dana felt a tingling in her chest.
Master Edwin was a good man. Willing enough to fight the man who held her leash for a mere maid...
What had relieved Dana only yesterday was now heartbreaking.
"I really didn’t..."
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"...Master... I don't know why you thought that, but... I really didn’t. I mean it...."
Edwin paused for a moment, then laughed.
"Okay, okay... I can tell by the look on your face."
Dark lips drew a soft arc.
"Oh, my God, I don't know what the maid had in mind."
Celeste interrupted.
"Could it be that she just couldn't believe it? That our perfect Master Theodore would break a teacup?"
She patted Dana's doll-like stiffness gently on the shoulder, then snatched the teapot from her and poured water into the tea leaves.
"Anyway, I'm glad the misunderstanding is cleared up, now sit down."
Theodore held up his arms and sat down on the couch.
"That's what your servants are like, not very bright, but good at being presumptuous."
Edwin stood across from him, frowning.
"I suppose there's no harm in being meticulous and thorough, is there?"
"Why does it sound like you're clogged to my ears?"
"...Teddy,"
Edwin suddenly looked serious.
"People do what they believe in, and so do you, and we need to believe in them and encourage them."
Theodore put both hands on the back of his head.
"Maybe I should have called you Marcus, the pastor's sermon is starting."
"If you can't recognize what's right, that's what you lose."
"I'm good."
Celeste, noticing the tension in the air again, interjected.
"Whether it's a sermon or a joke, just hearing your voice like this, Master Edwin, makes me feel good, so please sit down."
Edwin didn't move.
"No, I don't have time for that. I'm just stopping by on my way to Pemburg. Don't prepare anything for me."
He glanced at Celeste, then back at Dana.
"I'm just going to check one more thing."
Dana couldn't help but gasp again.
"I heard you’re learning to write from him?"
"..."
"Is it worth learning?"
Dana froze, unable to breathe in front of the worried gaze.
If only the Master had come a day earlier, she would have told him everything right then and there...
"You can quit if you don't want to. Anytime."
But Dana wouldn't budge.
"It's okay to be honest. If he gives you a hard time...."
"Then what are you going to do? Challenge me to a duel?"
Dana realized the moment she heard Theodore’s nonchalant voice.
Theodore MacMilan didn’t care. Whether his atrocities were exposed or not, it was all so ridiculous that he didn’t care.
"Teddy."
Edwin called his name again. His voice was heavy, as if pleading for something.
"You still don't understand why I'm doing this?"
"...Is there any reason I should know?"
"I never forget about Vincent."
Theodore laughed, a muffled laugh.
"Oh, him?"
Dana could hardly stand anymore.
She didn't know who Vincent was, but hearing the sarcasm was enough. She remembered Nicola staggering drunkenly, Theodore laughing lazily in front of her...
He was the kind of person who enjoyed seeing his opponents fall to their knees in front of him for no reason at all. And Dana feared that Master Edwin would have the same fate.
In her blurry vision, she remembered the bond from the back. She could almost feel Theodore ordering her to bring it to him. He would wave it in front of Master Edwin's face and laugh like the devil...
Dana wanted to stop that, or if she couldn't, at least she didn't want to be a part of it.
"Hey...."
Dana forced herself to speak.
"...I, I, I... I'm okay... I know you're worried, but... Nothing really happened... Everybody's been... nice... ... It's fun to learn and...."
A pair of blank eyes turned to Theodore.
Expecting to see a guilty look on his face.
But he seemed unaffected.
"Oh, my God, how could master Edwin be so sweet? Dana, is this why you've missed Belvida so much?"
Celeste interjected again, wrapping her arms around Dana's shoulders. Her head turned toward Edwin.
"There's a reason you're so popular among people like us...."
Celeste led Dana slowly toward the pillar.
"But it's a shame that you're giving Master Theodore such a hard time. He's been working so hard to teach her, he even gave her a fountain pen the other day to encourage her to work harder."
They were in a hallway leading to a hall. Celeste suddenly looked at Dana, surprised.
"Oh, this is not the time. Go and see the head maid. Master Edwin will be leaving for Pemburg soon, and we must say goodbye before he does."
Her strong hand pushed Dana's back. Her small body was jerked forward, hidden behind a pillar.
"Go on."
Celeste whispered. Dana suddenly realized that she was saving her life. There was no time for gratitude. The only goal was to get out of this moment.
Dana didn't stop walking. Instead of solid ground, it felt like she was treading through a swamp.
Her eyes squeezed shut as she walked aimlessly.
She'd just squashed the last bit of hope.
Well done...
Good job.
It may only be a few days for her, but it could be years for Master Edwin...
She looked up into those sweet blue eyes, filled with worry. Something deep in her chest ignited again. Her eyes grew hot.
Don't cry, please...
Dana chewed her cheek until she tasted blood.
***
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Write a comment
Virginie (Friday, 04 October 2024 21:09)
Oh no , she won't be able to tell Edwin, Theodore is a jerk.