Love Doesn’t Matter - Chapter 36 – Little By Little

Chapter 36 – Little By Little

The cigarette was all burnt out. Grozhang quickly put out his cigarette and headed to the study where his master was.

“Young Master, this is Grozhang.”
“Come in.”

When he opened the door and entered, Hadius was buried in a pile of documents, as usual. Grozhang pulled out the first of several documents he had in his hand.

“This is the result of the investigation on Bernen Cavendish you mentioned earlier. As expected, Baron Cavendish dived into the Quirren wool business, and the process involved significant fraud and illegal deals. Debt is also at a dangerous level. Here.”

Hadius read the documents for a moment. When he looked up again, Hadius’ eyes were gleaming with satisfaction.

“Good work.”
“There is one thing you should know. It is said that William Richards visited Sir Cavendish a few days ago.”
“… William?”

There was not a crack in the face of the young man facing him, but Grozhang was well aware now. His master hides his emotions better than anyone else.
His eyes looked so composed, but perhaps he was boiling on the inside.

“It is said they sent back all the servants and exchanged a secret conversation. But strangely enough, his youngest daughter, Shayla Cavendish, was there with them.”
“And the reason was?”
“I couldn’t find out that much. I also have no idea what the conversation was. I couldn’t ask because there was a risk that Richards would notice it.”

Hadius released his crossed arms and closed the curtain. Standing on the windowsill, there was a feeling of anxiety he had never felt before.

“William Richards said he heard an interesting rumor about Miss Bern. He told me to ask my Mother if I was curious, so maybe that has something to do with it.”
“Maybe Mrs. Meyer noticed something?”
“No, if she had noticed something, she would have called you right away. Is there anything else?”

Grozhang took out his notebook and started reporting other things. Reports about spies planted everywhere, and rumors circulating here and there…
Hadius leaned back on the chair and listened silently. Grozhang quietly looked at his master and then turned over the notebook.

“Young Master, actually, a mercenary from Hilden Farm just came. Captain Maesen himself.”
“For what reason?”

Grozhang told him about the conversation with the mercenaries.

“I dare to advise you that I think it would be good to tell Miss Bern some of the truth now. As with the mercenaries at Hilden Farm, continuing to hide things will only make it more complicated.”
“I think I have sufficiently given an answer to that problem.”
“At least give them a priority. Is it security or secrecy?”
“Both.”

For a moment, Grozhang felt like he was suffocating. It felt like he was facing a wall as high as the sky.

“Then… I will leave now.”

Coming out, Grozhang shook his head to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling.

Well, people don’t change that easily.
Hadius Meyer will hide it until the end.

*** 

For the first time in a long time, it rained hard in the zelkova forest. A cool stream of water accompanied, by thunder and lightning, washed away the dust from the drought-ridden forest.

Is it correct to say that time heals everything?
Emilia felt the memories that had tormented her for several days gradually fade away. It seems like repeating the words, ‘Forget it, it was just a mistake.’, over and over again has worked.

Perhaps that carriage that she sees far away while climbing a big tree in the middle of the forest belongs to that man. There were times when she was surprised, but it was only for a short time.
Like a carriage moving far away without even reaching the vicinity of the forest, what happened in the ‘Elver’ disappeared from her mind.

Maybe they will never see each other like this again.
Considering his attitude just before parting ways that day and the fact that there has been no communication until now, Hadius must have regretted it too. Perhaps he is too busy negotiating the breakup with His Majesty the King.

Emilia prayed earnestly that he would do so.

After the heavy rain, the sky became bright again as if it had never happened. Emilia also returned to her peaceful daily life.

The vegetable garden in July, after the rain has stopped, was so hectic that it cannot be left alone even for a moment. The thick weeds were growing back again, and the poles must also be firmly secured in preparation for the next heavy rain. Removing insects and picking spoiled leaves was also an important routine. If this period is missed, the joy of harvesting may be cut in half in the coming autumn.

Charlotte, who was always locked up in the attic, also spent a lot of time outside. The child was worried that her sister’s face would get tanned dark under the blazing sun. She didn’t know exactly what it meant to ‘tan one’s face’, but noblewomen never stood in the sun without a parasol. So, she had no choice but to help her sister.

Charlotte used all her senses other than her eyes to pick out the diseased leaves. Then, she stopped for a moment.

“It’s weird. Who ate the leaves halfway like this and threw them away?”

Charlotte’s hands were full of torn and perforated leaves. Emilia, who was watching her from afar, smiled.

“Should I tell you who the culprit is?”

Emilia grabbed Charlotte’s hand, palm up.

“Don’t be surprised.”

After a moment, something green and long was placed on the small palm of the child. Charlotte flinched and made a surprised face.
Still, she quietly looked down at the wriggling creature on her hand. Like she would only see it if she did that.

“It’s a caterpillar. That little guy was the culprit.”
“Really? This is a caterpillar?”
“How is it?”
“It’s weird. It feels…”

Charlotte frowned and asked with a serious look on her face.

“Emilia, is it like this? Is this what ‘disgusting’ is?”
“Maybe.”

Charlotte suddenly turned sullen.
Emilia seemed to understand why. After one-eyed monster, the word ‘disgusting’ always followed, like a needle and thread.

“But there is something important you need to know. Do you know what this disgusting caterpillar becomes when it grows up?”
“What?”, Charlotte asked.
“That little guy will become a butterfly. A beautiful butterfly with snow-white wings.”
“That’s a lie.”
“I’m serious!”

Unfortunately, Charlotte never believed it. She must have thought that her sister was lying to comfort her.

“Where do all these disgusting legs go, and where do their wings come from?”
“It doesn’t go from a caterpillar to a butterfly straight away, but through a middle-process called the pupa.”
“Pupa?”

The moment Charlotte asked. Brave suddenly started barking frantically. The eyes of the two people turned to the place where the sound was coming from, at the same time.
It was obviously the sound of a carriage.

Words that made Emilia’s heart beat fast came out of Charlotte’s mouth.

“Isn’t it the Young Master?”
“What?”
“I’m sure of it. The sound of the carriage is exactly that of Young Master Meyer.”

Is there anything else that makes her heart palpitate so much?

Emilia put down the basket hurriedly and pulled Charlotte’s arm.

“Listen well, your sister isn’t here right now.”

Charlotte pursed her lips, as if asking what kind of bizarre thing she was saying. Why is it that the child who performs that mysterious magic is so ignorant at times like this? Emilia wondered, frustrated.

“Your sister is going to the market now with Mitch and Mr. Beppy. Do you understand?”

Charlotte finally understood and put on a sullen face.

“Please, I beg you. Help me. Hm?”

Meanwhile, the sound of the carriage was getting closer and closer. Emilia rushed into the house without listening to the child’s answer. She frantically climbed the stairs and locked the attic door.

She let out a sigh at that moment. Emilia leaned her sweaty back against the wall.

Crouching in the dark and cramped place, she felt ridiculous.

Why was she like this? She has always thought that avoiding and hiding was cowardly.
But she was afraid.

She was slowly forgetting the events of that day; but if she met Hadius again, it seemed like everything would go back to the starting point. She still doesn’t have the confidence to face him directly.

He should have arrived by now, right? Please, Charlotte must be good at lying…

Emilia rested her chin on her knees and waited impatiently. Time passed so slowly.

Charlotte should have returned at this point, so why is it taking so long?
Is he helping her ride the swing again?

The moment she slowly got up, unable to bear it, she heard a knock.