CWMBR SS6

Side story 6

***

Ain, who had come bearing a gift for Jane, had a cup of tea in the mansion’s front yard before leaving. Seeing that the bouquet he had given her was now in a vase on the outdoor table, he wore a look of quiet satisfaction. It was as clear as day that once he returned, he would bring even more bouquets with even greater enthusiasm.

As if the grand hall weren’t enough, she hadn’t realized the mansion would soon be filled with vases everywhere. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to just ask him to bring potted plants instead? Rather than a bouquet that bloomed briefly and then wilted, something she could nurture and watch grow…

As she thought about that, Bridget realized she hadn’t even considered refusing the flowers he gave her, and she let out a wry laugh.

It seemed she had grown accustomed to it at some point—to the things Ain quietly slipped her.

What Ain gave Bridget wasn’t just bouquets. For example, like this…

“Lord Wise dropped this off early this morning.”

What Kathleen handed her was a small box. Inside were a few inkwells.

If Ain had given her an expensive jewel or a dress, Bridget would have sent it back without a second thought.

In that regard, Ain was quite clever. He handed over gifts that were difficult to refuse with a straight face, as if they were nothing special. The letter paper on Bridget’s desk was one of them. Presenting the letter paper, which gave off a subtle fragrance, he remarked that his business acumen was evident in such small details. Since his advice was extremely useful when it came to work-related matters, Bridget couldn’t bring herself to dismiss it.

“I’m just letting you know this exists. If you try it and like it, I’ll introduce you to a supplier.”

Bridget lowered her gaze, recalling Ain speaking in a deliberately businesslike tone as he handed her the stationery.

For Bridget, who had always enjoyed writing as a hobby, paper was not an unfamiliar object. However, the paper she was accustomed to using was plain and unadorned. She did use stationery when writing letters, but even those weren’t particularly remarkable. To be honest, she didn’t really pay much attention to the appearance of the paper. What mattered more were her handwriting, the sentences, and the content as a whole.

It wasn’t that she didn’t know scented stationery existed. She just hadn’t gone out of her way to find and use it.

So, that meant this wasn’t some grand, burdensome gift for Bridget.

And the ink bottle Kathleen was handing over now was the same.

“When he came to the office a few days ago, he noticed the ink bottle on my desk was almost empty. He said he remembered it as he was passing by and left it here.”

“He really has a keen eye,” Kathleen muttered to herself before finishing her report and returning to her seat.

Yeah, he really did have a keen eye. When on earth did he even notice the inkwell was empty? And to say he left it by chance while passing by—the Glynford Grand Theater wasn’t exactly in the city center, the kind of place you’d drop by on a whim early in the morning. It was a truly half-hearted explanation.

Bridget let out a hollow laugh and fiddled with the inkwell. Last time it was stationery, and today it’s an inkwell.

And yesterday, it was a pen.

Bridget’s gaze drifted to one side of the desk. The pen sitting next to the stationery was the one she had received yesterday.

“Come to think of it, it would have been ridiculous to give her stationery without including a pen.”

Yesterday, when he came to give Jane a set of elegant-looking teapots, Ain handed Bridget a flat box wrapped in a neat but relatively common style. Inside was this very pen. Her reasoning was that it was only natural to change writing instruments depending on the type of paper, and his attitude was the same as when he gave her the stationery—as if he were simply recommending a practical pen suitable for work.

The pen, which looked all the more plain in contrast to Jane’s flashy gift, actually felt quite sleek once it was set down on the desk.

She hadn’t realized it yesterday since she’d only glanced at it before putting it away, but when she rolled the smooth, white barrel between her fingertips, she could feel how pleasant it was to the touch. Looking closely, she saw delicate engraved patterns, and the inside sparkled when it caught the light. It looked as if pearl powder had been sprinkled on it.

“It’s no big deal, so just try it out, and if it doesn’t suit you, you can just throw it away.”

It was clear that this was not an item to be treated so casually.

Bridget held the pen gently in her hand and pulled out a sheet of stationery. The faint scent was refreshing without being overpowering. Finally, she set aside the empty inkwell and opened the new one she’d just received. Since she had to write a letter to Mrs. Callaway anyway, she decided to go ahead and try it out right away.

<Dear>

Bridget dipped the pen in the ink and began writing at the top of the letter, but then paused. She had assumed the ink would be black, but the words on the paper were blue.

Only then did Bridget realize that each ink bottle contained a different color.

“Oh, no……………….”

Blue ink isn’t suitable for writing business correspondence. Frowning, Bridget clicked her tongue briefly and set the miswritten letter aside. Even so, her hand kept fiddling with the pen. Even with just a few short words, she could feel that the writing experience was quite pleasant. Moreover, the texture of the stationery was excellent, allowing her to draw smooth, flowing lines, and the ink didn’t smudge at all.

Staring blankly at the blue characters she had written by mistake, Bridget admitted it to herself. This was definitely a good gift. A gift she liked, one she wanted to use time and time again.

Even if using this kept reminding her of Ain, she didn’t particularly mind.

Because Ain no longer made her uncomfortable.

After a moment’s hesitation, Bridget picked up the sheet of paper she had set aside and unfolded it. Then, dipping the pen tip in blue ink, she slowly continued the sentence she had left unfinished.

***

Taking advantage of the opportunity to deliver the repaired clothes, and to meet Kathleen, who was just finishing her shift, Magella headed toward the Glynford Grand Theater. Set against the backdrop of the riverbank, which was growing dim, the Grand Theater building was brightly lit. 

As she hurried along, glancing at the brightly lit windows—particularly the one where her daughter, Bridget, was likely working—Magella stopped in her tracks, startled, upon spotting a doll standing motionless near the building. Leaning against the building’s wall, he was peering at a piece of paper held open in one hand. Wondering what on earth he was doing out on this dark evening, Magella took a closer look and her eyes widened. That handsome man, tall and with striking features, was someone Magella recognized.

“I’m just passing by……………….”

At Magella’s cautious words, the man, who had been staring intently at the paper, glanced up. Sure enough, up close, she could recognize him clearly. It was Ain Wise, the man said to have worn the threshold of the Glynford Grand Theater thin with his frequent visits.

After his blue eyes confirmed Mgella’s face, they fell on the load she was carrying.

“Is that for the Grand Theater?”

“Yes, it is.”

“It looks heavy. Let me help you carry it.”

At those words, Magella’s eyes widened in surprise. The bundle of clothes she was carrying was bulky, but not heavy. Magella immediately shook her head, but Ain merely urged her to hand over the load with a cold expression. Anyone could tell he wasn’t making that offer to help Magella.

Ain Wise was not the type to go out of his way to help a middle-aged woman carrying a heavy load. Having already heard various stories about him from Kathleen, Magella looked at Ain Wise with a wavering gaze.

And eventually, Magella’s bundle of clothes ended up in Ain Wise’s hands.

Kathleen, having finished getting ready to leave work, was waiting for Magella in the lobby.

Magella gave an awkward smile as she watched her daughter’s bright expression gradually turn strange upon spotting her entering through the main entrance of the theater. Kathleen, who had been looking behind Magella with a puzzled expression, cautiously crept closer to her.

“Um, Mom?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Those are our theater costumes……………….”

Just as Magella was trying to calm her daughter, who was whispering while struggling to control her expression, Ain—who was holding a bundle of clothes—spoke to Kathleen.

“Is she still in her office?”

“Oh, yes………………”

Kathleen nodded reflexively. Upon hearing her reply, Ain handed the bundle of clothes to another employee in the lobby and strode up the stairs, disappearing from sight. The way she skipped up the stairs two at a time looked very urgent. Tilting her head in puzzlement, Kathleen recalled that Bridget had given Ain a letter earlier. Bridget had handed it to Ain with a nonchalant expression as he was about to leave after their usual work discussion. Maybe her boss had a dinner date or something. The two of them did occasionally have dinner together.

But then, was it a date? What, exactly, was the difference between their relationship and a romantic one?

Kathleen let her thoughts wander for a moment before shrugging. Her boss’s personal life was none of her business.

Besides, her rumbling stomach was a more pressing concern.

“Let’s go, Mom. I’m hungry.”

It was a pleasant end to the workday.