CWMBR 142

Chapter 142

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Sponsored by Curufin. Thank you ❤️ (8/10)

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After Mrs. Callaway left, it was difficult to concentrate on the construction work.

Eventually, Bridget left the work to the workers and left the Grand Theater early. Not wanting to return straight to the mansion, she wandered around Glynford, and old memories naturally came flooding back. Specifically, the period when she worked as a city guide.

Bridget had taken up tour guiding purely because she loved stories. Born and raised between a father who wrote plays and a mother who did acting, every tale in the world was always a subject of inquiry that piqued her curiosity. The history embedded throughout the city was a splendid report to her, and as she explored it with interest, she became qualified as a tour guide.

Not being an official guide, she actually didn't have much work. Ironically, her busiest period as a guide came when she took on a private request from Ain Wise. It was precisely during that time she roamed the city alone with Ain.

Bridget suddenly realized how many places they had explored together. Was her excessive diligence back then due to the five times the usual rate he offered? Or was it simply the unguarded excitement of time spent alone together?

"This is another new area."

“I never came here."

Bridget lifted her head. It was an upscale residential district, lined with high walls.

During the period when she dined with Ain every evening, she would occasionally stroll leisurely beneath these tall walls. Even though taking a carriage would have been much better distance-wise, there were days she wanted to walk. It was probably because she wanted to hold onto that feeling she had just before meeting him a little longer. Perhaps it was excitement.

As she walked, thinking of that time, her steps naturally headed toward the mansion Ain had rented back then.

"Wow, that mansion is incredibly impressive....... Huh?"

Wayna, who had been admiring it and looking around, suddenly stopped. Staring intently at a spot, she muttered in a hesitant tone.

"Isn't that person... one of his subordinates?"

Bridget opened her eyes wide when she saw the person standing in the direction Wayna was pointing. A young man wearing glasses.

Though she hadn't seen his face directly, she thought she'd glimpsed him standing behind Ain a couple of times. Bridget, who had stopped without thinking, slowly began walking again.

Iliont, who had been looking this way, seemingly startled, snapped back to attention when he saw Bridget approaching.

"Good day."

"Ain's attendant, right?"

"Yes, I'm Iliont Colfrey."

Bridget watched him reply politely, then shifted her gaze to the mansion visible behind Iliont. Noticing her look, Iliont hesitated briefly before cautiously speaking.

"The master isn't here. He stopped coming long ago and won't be returning. I'm the only one who stops by occasionally to manage things."

"No need to explain to me."

"My apologies if I overstepped. I only meant to say that if you wish to look inside, you're welcome anytime."

"Is that necessary?"

At Bridget's question, Iliont pressed his lips tightly together and lowered his gaze.

"I thought it was a short-term rental."

"…………He purchased it before the rental period ended."

Purchased it before the period ended? That meant he'd simply bought the mansion during that time when he was actively exploring the city with Bridget.

Bridget hadn't known he'd bought this mansion. Since he hadn't mentioned it, she had no way of knowing.

Not that it really mattered, though.

"If we’ve cut ties, why not sell it?"

"………………Would you like to go inside?"

Instead of answering Bridget’s question, Iliont made an unexpected suggestion. Her gaze lingered on the mansion for a long moment.

The tension and excitement she felt when first stepping inside, emotions she thought she'd completely forgotten, seemed to faintly resurface. Wanting to trace those faint traces of feeling, she nodded.

Surprisingly, the mansion's scenery remained unchanged. Things like that golden doorknob, which had once reminded her of Bluebeard's castle, were exactly as she remembered.

"It's nice, but it's kind of scary with no one around."

Wayna whispered, her face turning pale. Hearing her voice, Bridget gave a faint smile. She had thought exactly the same thing back then. With few servants around, it felt even stranger that only certain areas were lit. Compared to then, now every section was silent and dim.

That way was the dining room, and this direction probably led to his bedroom. Countless locked rooms stretched between them, and... The moment she absentmindedly turned the handle of the locked door in her memory, it turned smoothly. Bridget, who had assumed it would be locked, was startled by the open door, and it slid open completely. The scene unfolding beyond the wide-open room left Bridget speechless.

"Oh my………………”

Wayna, who had let out an involuntary gasp, quickly glanced at Bridget. Bridget, who hadn't even blinked as she stared into the room, moved forward as if spellbound.

It seemed Iliont's claim that he often came to maintain it wasn't a lie; there was no dust. However, the room was filled with furniture that gave off a strangely old feel, likely from being unused and neglected.

A charmingly quaint dresser topped with an array of stuffed animals, an elegant rocking chair with graceful curves, a sofa upholstered in fur that looked incredibly soft, a perfectly round table with no sharp edges, a meticulously laid carpet covering the floor, and a long, semi-transparent lace canopy draped from the ceiling...

Bridget approached the canopy with a blank expression and reached out. Lifting the thin lace revealed a small cradle. Inside lay two identical rabbit dolls, differing only in color. Pink and blue. Something felt like it was clenching her throat shut.

Turning away with a frozen expression, just as she was about to leave the room, she spotted an old piece of paper on the table. It was a long list of items. Some names had long lines drawn through them, others had circles around them. The crossed-out items were things in this room, the circled ones were missing.

This room, then, was unfinished.

"There are several rooms similar to this one in other mansions across the region."

Bridget, who had been staring blankly at the paper, lifted her gaze.

"By the master's orders, preparations were made whenever possible. All work was halted midway, leaving it in this state now."

Iliont continued, addressing the silent Bridget.

"Showing you this was my decision."

Bridget stepped closer to Iliont. Her expression revealed no outward emotion, causing Iliont to tense up and fall silent. Facing him, who seemed ready for a slap, Bridget spoke in a quiet tone.

 "Would you mind stepping aside?"

"Pardon?"

"I'd like to look around elsewhere."

Iliont, who had been wearing a dazed expression, reflexively stepped back. Bridget glanced once more at the unfinished nursery before moving on.

She saw several more rooms that had once been locked but were now open. Some were packed full according to their purpose, while others were noticeably empty. As she explored each room one by one, her steps led her to the bedroom of the past.

It was exactly where she had assumed it would be—a study or gallery.

The bedroom was exactly as she remembered it. The fireplace had cooled completely, offering none of the warmth of that time, but the huge tapestry and the gaping passageway beside it remained. The large bed dominating the center was likely the one Ain had used back then.

And on the bedside table beside it...

Bridget stepped into the bedroom. Picking up the paper carefully placed on the nightstand, Bridget subtly twisted her lips.

"Mr. Colfrey, was it?"

Iliont, who had been pacing outside the room with anxious eyes, suddenly appeared at the call. Bridget turned to look at him.

"Would you bring that man here?"

***

When Ain arrived, sweat beading on his forehead, panting heavily, Bridget was in the study.

More accurately, it was a 'room being made into a study'. With more than half the bookshelves empty, it was still a room that didn't quite deserve the grand title of study. Bridget, sitting in a chair and quietly stroking a piece of paper, looked up at the sound of the door bursting open. Ain, his clothes still disheveled, stared at her with a startled expression.

The moment their eyes met, his face turned pale. Whatever thought crossed his mind, he immediately blurted out an excuse.

"I never ordered Iliont to bring you here. I wasn't trying to gain sympathy. This place is…………………"

"I know. You didn't order him. I came here by accident in the first place."

Bridget replied calmly and stood up. Ain checked the paper on the desk. It was an old-looking promotional poster. The very flyer Bridget had made by hand, the one that had been lying around Glynford Station.

Ain tried to figure out where it had originally been.

Bridget stared at Ain, who seemed speechless, then said flatly.

"I'll accept that you loved me."

Ain's blue eyes, frozen in bewilderment, widened. Bridget gazed into his eyes, full of turmoil, and spoke calmly.

"You don't have to remember me from back then as some pitiful person. So, yes. I did receive your love back then. I loved you too. I was probably happy deep down."

Bridget licked her lips and smiled faintly.

"Yes, we did love each other. Even if we didn't know it ourselves."