Chapter 83
The first time I came to the mansion was because of Estelle’s elegance score.
Her elegance score had been lowered by farming work, and it needed to be restored through Claude’s etiquette lessons.
After coming and going a few times for that…
I thought I wouldn’t have any reason to come once Estelle entered the academy.
No, I didn’t expect I’d end up coming this often even if I did.
‘Actually, after she entered the academy, some major incidents happened, and because of those incidents, I’m coming here…’
That’s right.
Following last time, this time as well, I had come to Claude because of something that happened at the academy.
Just as I had felt an ominous aura from the letter I received from Claude, the content of the letter was serious.
‘Of course, it wasn’t serious right from the start. It only lightly mentioned the classes Estelle attended at the academy, which professors praised her, and that she was maintaining excellent grades.’
Hmm… that part probably filled about three pages?
I think there was even a note somewhere in the middle that it had been shortened because it was too long.
That much was perfectly normal for our Estelle.
Three pages alone didn’t worry me at all.
It was only natural.
But the problem started after that.
[…The children of the noble faction she had opposed last time…]
It said that Estelle had gotten into another problem with the children of that family, the same ones she had conflicts with last time.
“…….”
As I read the letter, my hands began to tremble.
Of course, I wasn’t trembling with anger.
‘I’m worried sick!’
Naturally, it was because I was so worried about Estelle.
‘Should I storm the mansion immediately? Should I go ask what exactly happened?’
My heart was pounding so hard.
It felt like I had a heart in my head instead of a brain, as I could hear it thumping in my ears.
The accomplishments of Estelle that had filled the first three pages vanished from my mind, and I couldn’t even focus on the words right in front of me.
But I grabbed onto the last thread of my reason and forcibly held back my feet, which seemed ready to run off.
I didn’t want to feel embarrassed again like last time for not finishing the letter.
So I held onto that last thread of reason tighter than ever.
Then, I forced the unreadable words into my brain and processed them.
All the way to the very last page of the letter.
But…
‘Huh? Wait. Why does the letter end here?’
I had clearly read the entire letter.
I had gone through it at least five times, including the three pages praising Estelle.
‘So what happened?! Why doesn’t it say the conclusion!’
I panicked.
“Ah! Right. I must not have read it properly. Of course, I read it five times, but it must be that I didn’t see it properly. Yes, that’s it. Maybe I didn’t even take one more page out of the envelope. Haha. I really am scatterbrained.”
Thwack!
I hit my own head while muttering.
Then, I opened the envelope again and carefully checked each page, reading the letter thoroughly once more.
But no matter how many times I checked the envelope, no matter how many times I read the letter…
“It’s not there.”
It wasn’t there.
“It wasn’t there before, it’s not like it disappeared…”
It simply wasn’t there.
I clutched the letter and shivered.
Was it because I was anxious and worried?
No.
It was because I was angry.
“Ugh!”
What did they fight about?! How did they fight?! Why did they fight?!
Shouldn’t that have been written?
So why does it only say who, when, and where they fought?!
I shouted.
And then I rushed straight to the Genopecia Duke’s mansion.
To ask Claude what was going on, clutching the crumpled letter in my hand.
“Please, sit.”
Claude, who had been sitting at his personal desk in the office, got up.
He walked with a strong stride, then pointed to the sofa in front of his desk.
“…….”
I nodded, waited for him to sit first, and then took my seat.
“I hope this isn’t rude, but may I ask my question first?”
“Of course.”
As soon as I sat on the sofa, I spoke.
Normally, I would have asked about his well-being first… but now there was no time for that.
Perhaps Claude understood my expression, full of worry and anxiety.
He nodded and replied that it was fine.
I gave him a brief word of thanks, then immediately continued.
“Is Estelle alright?”
Naturally, my first question was about Estelle.
Is she okay? Physically, mentally, or regarding her situation or condition?
I was so worried and curious that I had no choice but to ask a question that encompassed everything.
Right now, there was only Estelle in my mind.
‘This moment must be fleeting.’
Maybe because every second felt like a whole day, the process of Claude opening his mouth to answer my question felt incredibly long.
As if time had stopped for everyone except me.
My back and tightly clenched hands grew stiffer with each passing moment, waiting for his answer.
It felt like the blood wasn’t circulating because of the tension.
“Of course. She wasn’t hurt or shocked. The situation progressed smoothly, thanks to an unexpected helper.”
“Phew… thank goodness.”
The moment I heard Claude’s answer, a sigh of relief escaped me.
Hearing that everything was okay made all the tension in my body dissipate.
My stiff back slumped against the sofa, and my hands loosened, letting the blood flow again.
‘Oh, focus, me! This isn’t the time!’
I straightened up immediately.
Then, leaning toward Claude, I asked him,
“Then why didn’t you write in the letter that she was okay? If you had just said she was fine, I wouldn’t have come running here so recklessly!”
I raised my eyebrows and questioned him sharply.
One hand rested on the table, the other on my waist.
Claude looked at me quietly and spoke.
“I wanted you to come.”
“Me…?”
“Yes.”
I was taken aback by his answer.
I leaned back in my seat, clasping my hands on my lap, tidy and composed, despite the shock.
Then Claude continued.
“They found out that Estelle isn’t a noble.”
He said it plainly, in a low voice.
‘I guess it’s time to be cautious now.’
Hearing Claude’s words, I thought,
‘Wait, what did Claude just say? They found out… what?’
I thought I must have misheard.
No, I did mishear.
After all, there are so many words starting with “귀” (gui) in Korean: cute, precious, noble person, VIP…
If you only hear the first syllable and miss the next, it’s no wonder you can’t understand.
‘Gui… gui… Ah, right. He meant “nobility,” that she exudes nobility.’
Yes.
I didn’t hear Claude correctly, but logically, he meant that Estelle exudes nobility.
First of all, “nobility” starts with the same syllable, “gui.”
‘And everyone already knows that Estelle exudes nobility. She looks proud and elegant at first glance, and her personality matches.’
It’s a little late to have realized it, but…
Anyway, finally, even at the academy, people have recognized Estelle’s elegance, right?
Yes, exactly.
I laughed heartily.
It wasn’t that I heard the word “noble” incorrectly; I just misheard it.
I convinced myself that Claude was talking about her nobility.
But something felt off.
It was about Estelle, it was praise, so I should have been happy to hear it.
But Claude’s expression was far from ordinary.
“…….”
Yes. At this point, I had no choice but to admit it.
I had heard correctly. Claude wasn’t talking about nobility, or a noble person, or a VIP, or any other “gui” word.
