Chapter 28
“We’ll leave now.”
Even before Eden gave the order, the quick-witted Miller took the people in the room and left.
Once they were alone, Echo let out a sigh of relief. She seemed less nervous now.
“So, what brings you here?”
But as soon as Eden asked the question, Echo stiffened again with a sharp inhale.
Eden looked at her blankly.
She was acting this nervous over one question—what was she trying to say?
Actually, this was the first time the two had ever talked alone. Eden had always acted politely around Echo, but he didn’t really feel anything toward her. If Godell hadn’t cared about her so much, he wouldn’t have paid her any attention. He knew Echo found him scary, but he didn’t expect her to shake this much.
Still, since they lived in the same house, it was only a matter of time before they had to talk. He just didn’t expect it to be this soon.
“Um…”
But seeing her tremble so much made him feel like the bad guy.
He wanted to tell her to leave if she had nothing to say, but he had a feeling she might start crying if he did.
He didn’t care much about people’s tears, but if Echo cried, Godell would definitely get mad at him. She might even say it was a breach of their contract.
So Eden waited patiently.
“Um… did something happen between you and my aunt?”
Her question was much more direct than he expected. Eden looked a bit surprised.
But then he frowned—because that very question had been on his own mind all day.
“Why are you asking me that, Miss Echo?”
He still spoke politely, but his voice sounded sharp. Echo hesitated, then started talking.
“…My aunt has seemed very down lately. She hasn’t been eating well… and when we walk, she stares off into the distance. She says she’s fine, but she doesn’t look fine. A-And you, too, Duke… you’ve looked upset lately. So I was wondering…”
“Just get to the point.”
Eden rubbed his temple, sounding tired. Echo immediately closed her mouth. Most timid people would give up at this point.
“…Actually, I saw something.”
But Echo spoke up again. It wasn’t what Eden expected to hear.
He lowered his hand and looked at her.
“You saw something? What do you mean?”
“…A few nights ago, I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk in the hallway.”
Eden instantly knew what she meant.
She was talking about the night Godell entered that room.
“I was going to say hello, but she looked startled, so I hesitated. I didn’t want to scare her… and then she went into the nearest room.”
“……”
“And after that, you came…”
Echo stopped there, as if the rest didn’t need to be said.
Silence followed.
Echo anxiously waited for Eden to say something.
Then Eden let out a short laugh.
Using a child to make peace—what a cliché.
He thought maybe one of his overly loyal servants had put Echo up to this after noticing how upset he’d been.
Or worse, maybe Godell had told Echo to come here herself.
After all, if not for Godell, Echo wouldn’t even be living in this mansion. It would’ve been easy to convince her.
Yes, that made more sense.
But despite figuring it all out, Eden’s mood only worsened.
“…Now they’re using a kid, too.”
He muttered under his breath. Echo looked up, startled.
“Did I say something wrong…?”
“A mistake, huh. Well, if someone really thought using a child to fix things would work, then yes—it was a mistake.”
Eden gave a bitter smile. Echo realized then that he had misunderstood her.
She didn’t know her words could be taken that way.
This was going wrong. She quickly tried to explain.
“N-No, I really saw it. My aunt entered that room by chance, and after that you—”
“Stop.”
Eden cut her off. His voice was firm. Echo froze.
His face looked tired… and disappointed.
“I don’t think I can listen to you anymore today.”
That was clearly a dismissal. Echo’s lips trembled, but she couldn’t say anything more.
“…I’m sorry.”
She bowed deeply. Her eyes looked slightly red. But Eden had no energy to care anymore.
Once she was gone, Eden leaned back in his chair. His mood had hit rock bottom.
But honestly, that wasn’t anything new.
His life was already a mess—like a pit of mud. It was hell. So whatever heavy feelings pressed on him now, it wasn’t anything different.
He tried to focus on work, but realized something was missing.
“Miller…”
He called for his assistant, but remembered he had told him to leave earlier. He let out a sigh.
He had forgotten his own order. His head was really a mess.
Running a hand through his hair, Eden stood up and went to the study. He grabbed the doorknob.
‘Oh… I forgot the key…’
He was about to let go of the handle.
Click.
Surprisingly, the door opened.
Eden frowned.
This door was supposed to be locked. The study was his private space, and it was always locked unless being cleaned.
‘Why is this open…?’
Just then, Miller came back into the office.
“Are you looking for something, sir?”
“…This.”
“Pardon?”
“Why is this open?”
Eden’s voice was low. Miller looked confused, then replied casually.
“Oh, I think the lock checks weren’t finished.”
“…Lock checks?”
“Yes. Remember we did deep cleaning before Madam Godell and Miss Echo moved in? The maids cleaned everywhere—even locked rooms. I think some of the new staff forgot which rooms needed to be locked again.”
Miller mumbled something about new hires being careless. But Eden wasn’t listening anymore.
The meaning of Miller’s words was clear.
“N-No, I really saw it. My aunt entered that room by chance, and after that you—”
Echo had been telling the truth.
The door really had been unlocked. Godell had entered the room by accident. She hadn’t lied.
“I expected that answer.”
But Eden hadn’t believed her.
He had mocked her. He had crushed a child’s courage.
He had been the one who caused it all.
That look in her eyes, filled with hurt—that was all because of him.
“…Ha.”
He let out a dry laugh and looked down. Miller nervously asked,
“S-Sir, is something wrong…?”
But Eden didn’t wait for the question to finish. He marched to the door and flung it open.
“……!”
But he stopped immediately.
Echo was standing right there.
She looked surprised at the sudden door opening, but then quickly straightened up and looked at him.
“I-I know I was too hasty before. I understand why you didn’t believe me.”
“……”
“But this time, I’ll explain everything properly. Please, will you listen to me?”
Her voice was shaky, but she looked determined. Her hand clutched her chest, and her lips were pressed tightly together. She wouldn’t give up easily.
Her heart was pounding. She knew it was bold of her. But she couldn’t let things stay broken. She didn’t want to cause her aunt more pain.
She would endure whatever scolding came her way.
Echo closed her eyes tightly.
“…Come in.”
But what she heard above her head was a calm invitation.
Echo opened her eyes in surprise.
Eden no longer looked angry. His expression had softened.
Echo paused, then nodded and stepped into the room.
Seeing the situation, Miller quietly closed the door behind them and left.
They sat down, but silence filled the room. Neither spoke.
Echo glanced at Eden.
She had already confirmed through Hannah that several doors had been left unlocked.
If she could just share that truth, maybe the misunderstanding could be fixed.
She opened her mouth to speak—
“Locks.”
But Eden spoke first, in a soft voice.
“Several locks were found open. Just like you said, Miss Echo.”
“…!”
He had brought it up himself—before she could say a word.
Echo was caught off guard.
But Eden wasn’t trying to steal her idea. He was simply stating a fact.
Only then could Echo look him in the eyes.
What she saw was… guilt.
Her eyes widened, then she swallowed hard and spoke.
“…My aunt is really down.”
Eden looked up.
Normally, Echo would have shrunk back under that stare. But she kept going. She had to.
“So if the misunderstanding is cleared up… I hope you’ll apologize to her.”
Her voice trembled, but she finished her words. She didn’t run away. She faced him head-on.
Eden suddenly wondered—why did Godell care so much about this girl?
And where did Echo’s deep trust come from?
Yes, adults should protect children. But the world doesn’t always work that way.
Besides, there had been enough reasons for the two of them to hate each other.
Yet, they cared deeply for one another. It wasn’t just duty—it was real.
“…Miss Echo.”
Eden looked at her quietly, then asked without thinking:
“You seem to trust your aunt a lot.”
Otherwise, this timid girl would never have come to him directly.
“…Yes.”
She nodded—but unlike before, there was a slight hesitation.
Eden raised an eyebrow, and Echo quickly added—
