Chapter 41
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***
She just had to let go of Roan completely.
She would no longer have any expectations or feelings, and she would just have to accept that he could be as cruel as he wanted to be.
It was funny how she had beaten herself up over and over again for not being able to do something so simple and easy.
However, after shaking off the emotions that she couldn't tell if they were disappointment or regrets, her heart felt much lighter. Her sleepless nights were significantly reduced.
However, without the reward of arming herself, Roan hadn't visited her in days. Perhaps he was busy with work, or perhaps he was spending less time in the manor itself.
Not bad for Delnia. Of course, it wouldn't have mattered if she had been called back immediately.
She was no longer the foolish woman she had once been.
Therefore, it was not hopeless, but rather flat.
"Delnia."
Delnia looked up at the unexpected call as she spent the afternoon alone in the manor, the sun shining brightly after the rain that had been falling all day. Jack, who had been out in the morning, had finally returned.
She tried to greet him, but for some reason, his expression was somber. He even looked nervous.
"What's wrong?"
"It's just that................"
Slurring his words, Jack turned around and looked into the distance.
Delnia followed his gaze and found someone standing at the side door of the manor that led outside.
"Who's here, a worker from the flower garden?"
"Follow me and you'll see."
Delnia followed him obediently, though Jack's evasion of a precise answer was a bit puzzling. There was no way he was going to harm her.
At the same time, she didn't take her eyes off the stranger.
Judging by his height and bulk, he was a man, but his hood was pulled down to his nose, so she couldn't see his face.
Delnia closed the distance, curious and wary at the same time, until she finally caught a glimpse of the face beneath the hood and gasped.
"Delnia!"
The man’s hazel eyes lit up with joy as soon as he recognized her. It was Marcel.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to call you by that name when I haven't even been given permission to use it yet........"
Delnia's mouth hung slightly open, unable to speak, and Marcel stammered an apology.
"No, it's okay, you can call me whatever you want, that's not the point..................."
Delnia calmed him down, still dumbfounded. She really did like being called by her first name.
"Why are you here.................."
Delnia trailed off as she ran her eyes up and down Marcel's appearance.
His suspender pants were short enough to expose his ankles, and his ragged robes showed signs of use.
She realized immediately that he'd picked up someone else's clothes.
"Jack, can you explain what happened?"
At Delnia's prodding, Jack scratched his chin wordlessly and averted his gaze.
Instead, Marcel stepped up to explain.
"Don't be too hard on Jack. I threatened not to leave unless he let me see you in person."
Despite the harsh words, the man's tone was gentle.
With a shallow sigh, Delnia tore her gaze away from Jack and turned to face Marcel again.
"So, what brings you here, disguised as a flower garden worker?"
Her tone was straight to the point, like that of a high-born lady who couldn't take a joke.
But Marcel was unperturbed, and replied happily.
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"From me?"
"Yes. It's very important to me that I couldn't help but run over, even though I know it's rude."
Marcel pulled a thick sheaf of papers from the cloth bag he was wearing.
"I want you to transcribe this for me."
Delnia's eyes widened, and Marcel held out the wad of paper to her. She took it and felt a heavy weight on her arms.
"It's my unpublished paper, and I need it transcribed to send to other researchers, and I was hoping you could take care of it."
"Why would you want me to.................."
"It's usually my assistant's job, but I've been getting a lot of complaints that the handwriting is so bad they can't read it, and you have the most beautiful handwriting of anyone I know."
His voice was certain, as if he wasn't simply exaggerating.
"Of course, I'll pay you fairly if you'll take the job."
When Delnia didn't respond, Marcel hastened to add.
Delnia couldn't help but wonder what made him do something like this.
"Did you really have to disguise yourself and come to me to ask for that?"
Of course, it could be because the research was very important to Marcel. But even with that in mind, it was still a bit much.
A nobleman trespassing on someone else's property in disguise, even if it meant being publicly humiliated.
"I didn't think you would accept unless I asked you in person."
Unexpectedly, however, Marcel cut to the chase in his characteristically gentle voice.
"I could have sent it through Jack, but I'm sure you would have rejected it, so I figured the only way I could do it was to appeal to your kindness in person. Am I wrong?"
Delnia couldn't answer. She'd been the one who'd drawn the line at Marcel's wanting to help.
She lowered her gaze from Marcel's and stared far away at the heavy wad of paper.
It would be right to refuse.
He hadn't needed to ask her to do this, even if he'd given her a grandiose reason. It was likely that Marcel, eager to help her in any way he could, had found a job for her.
Still, Delnia didn't have an answer right away. Sophie's letter, delivered by the smiling man in front of her, flashed through her mind.
To be honest, it was a much-needed help. Not only did she not have a way to get money, but the day when she would get all the coins back that had been taken from her was long overdue.
“You must have needed money quite urgently, huh?”
“What...........”
“That’s right, you're doing this to get even with me.”
It was ridiculous that she had already been treated like that, and now she was trying to save face.
She was in desperate need of money, and she was in a bottomless pit.
It was foolish to wait for a man who she hadn’t heard from for days to return her money.
Delnia nodded, recalling her determination not to be foolish any more. Then, as if he had been waiting for it, Marcel’s joyful voice returned.
“Then I will ask you to take good care of it. It's not urgent, so you can take your time."
"Okay. I will."
"And..................."
Delnia listened intently, taking in Marcel's request. It didn't take long for the burning in her eyes to return to normal.
***
One Sunday, after the rainy season had ended and summer was well underway, Delnia was summoned by Roan again.
She walked, her feet firmly pressed against the noon sunlight pouring into the hallway. A peaceful silence descended upon the mansion, now that the servants were gone.
She didn't think about what Roan would look like when she saw him for the first time since that day, or what insults he might throw at her.
It was inevitable, and all she could do was brace herself.
Arriving at Roan's bedroom with the graceful stride of a well-mannered lady, she knocked on the door and pushed it open.
He was not there, and there was no sign of him in the room.
Delnia settled herself quietly by the window. The angled bedding and the furniture arranged by necessity isolated her like a useless decoration, but she didn't care.
The door swung open and Roan, unusually unaccompanied by a butler, entered the room alone.
Delnia bowed wordlessly, then slowly raised her head to face him.
Beads of sweat slid down his tanned skin. His sweat-soaked top clung to his skin, clearly outlining his lean, toned body.
But Delnia did not blush, nor was she embarrassed.
After a quick judgment that the not-so-faithful man had chosen exercise over Mass after all, she meekly averted her gaze.
"......"
Silence fell between them, neither of them speaking. Even more than when they were alone, the still air resembled death.
Instead of breaking the silence, Roan stared at Delnia as if he could pierce her.
The butler had asked him if he wanted to call in the slave, since it was a holiday and many people were absent. His tone was cautious, having made the same suggestion last week and been flatly rejected.
Roan gave a small nod of his head to indicate his approval this time.
****
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