Misfortune 112

Chapter 112

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‘If all else fails, there's always the option of buying the slave deed myself.’

Of course, Delnia wasn't unaware. She knew the sum she could muster would be nothing but a laughable pittance to a man who squandered money like this.

Yet instead of resigning herself prematurely, she picked up the needle she had completely abandoned after Mariane's death.

This time, not for family or anyone else, but solely for herself.

Perhaps that was why. Even as she massaged her aching hands, the work didn't feel so grueling.

Moreover, the experience of steadily completing even small tasks proved an excellent way to pull herself out of her lethargy.

Thanks to that, the lace pieces she'd thought would never be finished were already completed and paid for, and now she was knitting an entirely new piece.

"Really? Then can I buy some too?"

"I'll just give it to Lena."

"Oh, you shouldn't say things like that carelessly. I don't refuse things out of politeness, you know. When it's free, my eyes light up first."

Delnia was smiling foolishly at the exaggerated joke.

"Oh, I was actually going to ask you something."

As if it couldn't have come at a better time, Delnia turned to Lena.

"Is there any work the merchant guild might have for me?"

"Work? For the lady?"

Lena's eyes widened in surprise at the question.

Requesting work from a major trading company was a whole different ballgame from sewing or other minor tasks. Even Lena was taken aback by the sight of a noblewoman, a woman no less, actively seeking employment.

But Delnia calmly nodded and continued.

"I can write, you know. I was wondering if there might be anything you need."

"Well, there are some documents that need organizing, but..."

They were definitely short-handed. Since most guild members were from the Eastern Continent, while they could speak the language to some extent, those who had mastered writing were extremely rare.

But entrusting top-secret documents to just anyone was out of the question, so Lena had been shouldering the burden alone.

But even so, was it really okay to ask the young lady to do this work?

After a moment of internal conflict, Lena finally spoke, as if conceding.

"I understand. I'll bring you some tasks. But."

Delnia listened quietly, sensing the implication of a condition.

"On the condition that you accept every gift my brother gives you without complaint."

"What?"

Unexpectedly, Delnia slightly furrowed her brow.

But Lena paid no heed and pressed on with her unreasonable demand.

"If you're going to take something, you have to give something in return. I won't give anything to the lady who interferes with my business."

Delnia was rendered speechless by Lena’s attitude, which bordered on brazen audacity. At that moment, she even began to wonder if she should be the one to refuse.

"Miss, you really don't need to worry about it. My brother is just doing this because he wants to."

Unlike before, Lena's tone had settled into a calmness. It didn't seem like she was merely trying to persuade her.

"I don’t know his true feelings, but I doubt he expects any particular response from you. It's more like a way for him to vent, you see."

"...."

"Couldn't you just let it go, thinking he's probably doing it because he's burdened by his own sins?"

Delnia could sense this was closer to Lena's true feelings than her earlier words. That's why she couldn't readily deny it.

Though a sharp thorn had pricked a corner of her heart.

'Yet he never grants what I truly want.'

How could she not find it ridiculous that this man acted like he’d grant everything except that one thing?

But she couldn't very well take it out on Lena. She had no right to stop him from wasting his own money.

"Alright. I understand."

A satisfied smile blossomed on Lena's face when she finally got the affirmative answer.

And then, as if everything before had been merely a taste, precious treasures poured out like snow. There was barely room to step into the room.

Though she accepted them quietly since it was what they'd agreed upon, Delnia showed interest only in the small tasks Lena brought her, never touching the gifts at all.

"Miss. It's funny for me to say this, but..."

One day, Lena said as she looked at the pile of gifts, still wrapped and stacked high.

"If you need money, wouldn't it be better to sell the gifts my brother gives you than to take on this meager, troublesome work?"

It was sincere advice, but Delnia just laughed it off as a joke.

She wasn't stupid; she knew Lena was right. But she couldn't bring herself to do it, perhaps because she didn't feel they were truly hers.

To be honest, ever since she resolved to escape her life as a slave, every mundane act—eating, resting—made her feel uneasy. Like a freeloader living off someone else.

But the reality was there was no immediate way to escape him. So she tried to at least reduce his influence over her.

Part of that was never giving the man who visited her room every single day so much as a glance. Unless he changed his mind, there was no reason for her to engage him anyway.

Then, one day, as this peculiar standoff dragged on indefinitely.

As if finally realizing his gift offensive was having no effect, he prepared a different card than usual.

"Delnia, we have a welcome guest!"

She was chatting with Margaret while knitting lace by the fireplace when Leticia called out to her in an unusually excited voice.

At the mention of a welcome guest, Delnia couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion. No matter how hard she thought, no one immediately came to mind.

Delnia cast a puzzled glance toward the doorway, but when she saw the person emerging behind Leticia, she couldn't help but be startled.

"Jack?"

Dark skin and a gentle smile. The one who always carried the scent of earth and a faint floral fragrance with him, her once-only friend.

It was Jack, the gardener of the Barthez mansion in the capital.

"Delnia. Long time no see."

He cheerfully smiled as he removed his cap.

Delnia, now fully recovered, jumped up and rushed toward him. Her face still bore a mixture of surprise and joy that hadn't faded.

"I never thought I'd see Jack in Blois."

"I'm here on business. The Colonel asked me to tidy up the gardens at the residence."

The unwelcome name that slipped from the familiar lips made Delnia's expression involuntarily sour.

"In this weather?"

Her gaze drifted toward the window. Even in Blois, where the climate was usually mild, a gloomy sky threatened snow, casting a melancholy hue over the world.

But Jack replied in a matter-of-fact tone, as if nothing was amiss.

"The trees need to prepare for winter too. Actually, it's a bit late this time."

"Right. You should have come once when Delnia arrived. I was wondering why you didn't come then anyway."

Leticia chimed in from beside him. Judging by her words, Jack had apparently been tending the gardens while shuttling between the mansion and the residence in the capital.

"I see. Welcome."

Though Delnia couldn't completely shake the suspicion that Roan might be up to something, she still welcomed Jack with a cheerful smile.

She wanted to focus on seeing an old friend again rather than dwell on her disillusionment with the cowardly man who dragged even those she couldn't bring herself to dislike into this.

"I'm so glad we could meet again like this."

"Me too."

Jack replied with a sly grin. It was the same kind, innocent smile that had once comforted Delnia.

"Don't just stand there. Sit down. There's no rush, so let's catch up on everything we missed."

Leticia, thrilled that the mansion's atmosphere had brightened with a rare visitor, promptly offered him a seat.

Jack obediently pulled over the chair Leticia indicated and sat down.

"By the way, your way with words has improved a lot, Jack."

"Thanks to Delnia."

Unlike Leticia, who conversed warmly with Jack, Margaret kept rolling her eyes, sizing up the atmosphere. When her gaze met Jack's, she hastily cleared her throat.

They had met briefly while working at the mansion in the capital, but never interacted closely, so the awkwardness was palpable.

"Hmm, shall I bring some warm tea?"

Leticia clapped her hands at Margaret's suggestion.

"Yes, that would be lovely. Goodness, I was so delighted to see you I completely forgot to offer anything."

"I'll go prepare it. Please continue your conversation."

Margaret hurried out of the room.

While Leticia stoked the embers in the fireplace for Jack, who had walked a long way in the cold, Jack handed the paper bundle he was holding to Delnia.

"Here, a gift."