Love Doesn’t Matter - Chapter 15

The stable was completed in exactly one week.

Beppy’s last step was setting up the fence. Emilia couldn’t help but admire the fast and precise nailing that was close to magic.

“That’s great, Mister.”
“Beppy is a house builder. Laura also said that. Beppy builds a house as well as a seamstress.”

The sudden mention of ‘Laura’ made Emilia’s heart a little heavy.

“Right, about your sister.”

Beppy made an expression of ‘What?’.

“How about this? I’ve been thinking… How about I ask Young Master Meyer to save your little sister first?”
“Ah!”

He suddenly tapped his forehead with his hand.

“Laura got a new house. She got a new job too.”

Emilia was confused for a moment. New house, new job… Does that mean Laura has already come out of the brothel?

“Laura invites Emilia to Sitmer. Laura is an apple pie maker.”
“Does this mean that your sister has already returned?”
“Hadius took her out. From Tranco.”

Emilia opened her mouth in surprise.

“Ah… Really… That is a relief. Really…”
“Laura invites Emilia. Laura is an apple pie maker.”
“She invited me? Your sister?”

Beppy nodded.

“Oh, that’s great. Mister. But… Can I really accept the invitation…”

If his sister has just escaped from the dangerous place called Tranco or whatever, it will be overwhelming to keep herself together.
Whether he knows how she feels or not, Beppy repeated the words ‘invite’ and ‘Laura is an apple pie maker’ like a parrot.

“Alright. I understand. I will think about it.”

The moment Emilia replied, Brave, who was slowly licking its feet, suddenly raised his ears and barked without hesitation. Dust was rising from the forest road far away.

… It’s a carriage.
White body wrapped in gold leaf, a typical noblewoman’s carriage.
No way…

Emilia was horrified when she noticed that Mister Beppy’s hand was creeping towards the axe.

“Mister?”
“If it’s a bad person I will teach them a lesson.”

Emilia was a little shocked seeing Beppy grinding his teeth. There is no way a robber would come in such a gorgeous carriage in broad daylight.

“N-No…”

The moment she stood in front of Beppy to stop him, the carriage arrived.

Emilia felt embarrassed once again. The carriage and the coachman were somewhat familiar. The door opened and a noble lady, with her back upright, appeared.

Caitlyn Meyer, Hadius’ mother.

As Hadius had warned, the woman really came.

Emilia, who was stunned in surprise, noticed that Beppy still hadn’t let go of the axe.

“M-Mister, don’t worry. She is Young Master Meyer’s Mother. She’s not a strange person.”
“I know.”
“You know?”

At that moment, Caitlyn Meyer got off the carriage.

“This is not just the countryside; this is completely isolated.”

She muttered, spreading out her fan.

“I’m sorry to visit you suddenly without saying anything.”

The coachman spread out a long walking carpet to protect her silk shoes.

Emilia quickly looked back at Beppy. Putting down the axe, he bowed his head towards his Master.

Looking quietly at his big back made her feel weird without a reason.

“How are you?”

Emilia came to her senses at the friendly greeting. Perhaps if it weren’t for the ‘breakup agreement’, she would have greeted her politely.

But Emilia didn’t want to do that anymore.

“Why did you come here?”

The middle-aged woman’s body stopped at the cold voice. Then, she smiled softly and approached her.

“Can you spare me some time? Let us talk a little.”

Caitlyn asked so and glanced sideways at Beppy, who was next to Emilia. Her investigative gaze flowed from the completed stable and horse, to the carriage, and to the old house beyond their shoulders. Then, it turned to Beppy again.

“Are you the coachman? Did Hadius send you?”

Beppy was strangely silent, with only his head down. What was even more strange was Caitlyn. She suddenly looked sorry.

“Even if it was my son who appointed such a person as a worker, it is too much. I will apologize instead.”

Emilia kept her mouth shut.

“If I think about your hardships in the meantime, a carriage is not enough. I wish I could build a new house for you in a nice place.”

At that moment, she came to her senses.

Don’t be fooled. There is no way that woman came here to apologize. If you’re not careful, the whole family could be kicked out of here.

“I heard from the Young Master. We must show we are keeping the engagement until we get permission from His Majesty the King. I also have no intention of breaking the royal command, so don’t worry. So, you don’t have to say anything you don’t mean.”

Caitlyn’s subtle smile faltered for a moment.

“What exactly do you want? I do not wish to talk with Madam for long. Just tell me your point. Did you come because of the breakup?”

Caitlyn stared at Emilia without losing her gentle facade.

“Of course, I will cooperate. I will also sign the breakup agreement. Young Master Meyer said he wants freedom, and that’s exactly what I want. Instead, I have a condition.”
“A condition?”
“If you really intend to kick us out of here, I will never sign it. I will fight somehow, even at the risk of everything.”

Whether Caitlyn got angry or laughed at her, she knew she would get a reaction. But strangely, she gave no answer.

“Don’t push me into a corner. You did everything you wanted for the past 5 years.”
“…”
“I want one thing. Just let me live here even after breaking up. Even if we write an agreement, doesn’t the Madam want a peaceful breakup?”

At that moment, she couldn’t control her emotions and was about to cry. Emilia frowned heavily.

“I don’t know why you’re being so heartless. I don’t need compensation…. I said I will live quietly…”

Only then was Caitlyn sure.

Everything that child says is sincere. The breakup agreement was also sincere, and the words about being kicked out were real. Caitlyn’s inner wrath calmed down.

“That’s right, there’s nothing good about biting and fighting each other. I just want peace. I will also apologize for Hadius being so hard on you.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. If you just cooperate with the breakup, I will think of a way for you to stay here.”

That wasn’t good enough to Emilia.

“No, I don’t trust the Young Master nor the Madam anymore. Promise that you will not kick me and my family out and leave it as a contract. So you can’t change your words later.”

Caitlyn chuckled. With a look that said, ‘you’re better than expected’.

“Don’t worry. I don’t know what you’re going to think, but I’m an infinitely generous person when I’m convinced that the other person doesn’t lie.”
“… I don’t know that.”

Startled for a moment at the cold answer, Caitlyn smiled benevolently again.

“Alright, I’ll think about it. A way for you to continue living here.”

Emilia opened her eyes wide as if she could not believe that she had accepted so easily.

“However, you must not cause any problems during the breaking up process. No more conditions. The next time you dare ask for something, I won’t stand still. Do you understand?”

Her heartless eyes were frightening.

But Emilia couldn’t feel anything. She just felt that her whole body was going to collapse with a sense of relief.

After taking a long deep breath, she looked straight at Caitlyn Meyer again.

“That’s what I was hoping for, too.”

***

Except for the social season, the Meyer family’s evenings are always quiet. Every day, beautiful floral decorations and gorgeous tableware are placed on top of the long table in the large dining room, but there is just one person who actually takes a seat.

That day, for some reason, there were two; the lady, Mrs. Meyer, and her son, Hadius Meyer. The two were having dinner together.

Of course, that didn’t mean that the atmosphere was friendly or that a conversation blossomed. In the silent atmosphere, only the sound of plates clinking could be heard from time to time.

The servants too have long been accustomed to the mother and son, who rarely talked. However, no one thought it was weird because they didn’t hate nor argue with each other. They were more like strangers who are polite to each other.

When desserts and tea were placed on the table after the quiet dinner, Caitlyn broke the long silence and opened her mouth for the first time.

“That country child, I went to meet her in person a few days ago.”

Caitlyn revealed everything that happened that day, including the conversation she had with Emilia as well as the confirmation that he had given her a carriage and a coachman as compensation.

“My pride was hurt a lot. We should not push her too hard. As you said, it would be better to postpone the issue of moving to the New World for now. I even promised to let her keep living there if the breakup goes well, but the problem lies with Reinen. I wonder how I will persuade Hannes.”
“…”
“We should meet Bianca and talk to her. Unlike her father, she might let go of the ex-fiancée problem without giving it much importance. Since she was young, she was a very generous and good-natured child.”

Looking down at her teacup, Caitlyn realized that Hadius was too silent.

“Hady?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Then, can I take care of that problem?”
“Do as you please.”

Hadius was completely focused on the documents. Caitlyn wondered what had occupied her son’s mind so much. Her wrinkled eyes secretly turned towards the paper.

“Ah, should we go to Trunia soon? Are the preparations for the negotiation going well? I hope you’re not too unreasonable, you’re getting two mines instead of one.”
“I’m not unreasonable. It’s possible enough.”
“The King of Trunia is a vain and incompetent man who only cares about women. He will pretend to be strong on the outside and ignore you because you are young. But the truth is, he is terrified because of the rebels. You can take advantage of that.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Then, I will leave first. Prepare thoroughly.”

Getting up after dissuading her son, she came out of the hall with soft steps. Her round face was filled with a pleased smile for the first time in a while.