Chapter 020: A Man with Only a Kind Face
Speak of the devil.
Roanne stared blankly at Alexis, who was standing at the doorway of the annex emitting a faint scent of alcohol. Alexis stood hesitantly in front of the door with a somewhat embarrassed face.
“Have you been drinking?”
When Roanne asked, Alexis’s face stiffened instantly. And then, did his eyes not turn red at the edges?
“I didn’t drink much……”
Alexis said. Roanne nodded. Indeed, although a faint scent of alcohol wafted from his body, it wasn’t very strong. Furthermore, Alexis’s state didn’t look intoxicated at all.
However, he seemed to have just returned from a party, and she couldn’t understand why he suddenly visited the annex at such an early evening hour. Fortunately, the butler had returned to the main building just a moment ago; otherwise, they would have almost run into each other again.
‘That was a close call.’
Roanne thought. He seemed to have harassed the butler for a while just for running into him here once, so if they had met again today, the butler might have collapsed from overwork. At any rate, he was precious labor who delivered food and supplies to her, and Roanne felt it would be a waste to lose the butler over such a thing.
“Then, what brings you……”
When Roanne asked, Alexis bit his lip. A face that looked somewhat anxious and, in some way, wounded in pride. What exactly do you want? As Roanne wondered, Alexis suddenly blurted out the next words.
“I’m hungry.”
“Pardon?”
Roanne doubted her ears. I’m hearing a lot of strange things today. Am I becoming hard of hearing? Roanne poked at her ear.
“I said I’m hungry.”
But when Alexis confirmed it with his next words, Roanne stared at him blankly with a dumbfounded face.
‘Since when did the Count’s financial situation become so bad?’
For the word ‘hungry’ to come out of the mouth of the Count’s direct descendant? As Roanne’s eyes widened, the face of Alexis, standing at the door, scowled deeply.
“What are you doing?”
His voice was strangely edged.
“Are you going to keep me standing here?”
“Ah……”
Only then did Roanne hurriedly let him in.
“First, please… come inside.”
She thought he hadn’t shown his face for a while. Just when she thought things were returning to the previous routine, Alexis had suddenly appeared like this after a long time.
After guiding him to the living room sofa, Roanne approached Leah, who was tidying up in the kitchen.
“Leah.”
Approaching Leah’s side as she was cleaning the kitchen, Roanne whispered softly in her ear.
“That man, he’s here again.”
“That man?”
The flustered Leah rolled her eyes and then inhaled sharply.
“No way……”
“Yes, Alexis.”
Gasp, Leah’s face was literally dyed with shock. Roanne shook her head and said to Leah.
“You can finish the tidying tomorrow, so for today, just go to your room and rest.”
“But then, Lady Roanne……”
You’ll have to handle that person alone, will you be okay? Leah’s eyes asked. Roanne nodded silently. One way or another, there was no need for Leah to carry this burden together.
“I’ll just feed him some leftover soup and food and send him on his way, so you go in for now. I’ll deal with him properly and send him back.”
“Th-Then……”
Leah did not refuse Roanne’s suggestion any further. Alexis’s presence was too massive and terrifying for Leah. Moreover, whenever those cold bluish-purple eyes turned toward her, her body shrank.
“I’ll be going now… Lady Roanne, I’m sorry.”
“What’s there to be sorry for. Instead, I’m going to sleep in late tomorrow, so keep that in mind.”
“Yes, please do. Get plenty of rest tomorrow.”
With a truly tearful face, Leah wiped her hands on her apron and scurried out of the kitchen. And upon seeing Alexis sitting on the living room sofa, she bowed her waist almost subserviently in greeting before running up to the second floor as if fleeing.
‘What a frantic maid.’
Alexis, who had no particular thoughts about Leah, merely clicked his tongue inwardly.
Roanne hurried to prepare dinner for Alexis. Of course, she was setting it with the food left over from her dinner with Leah earlier, but to prevent Alexis from noticing, she warmed it up and transferred it to dishes with as much care as possible.
“Since you said you were hungry, I prepared it quickly. Come and eat quickly, Alexis.”
Roanne called Alexis after finishing the preparations. In fact, rather than preparing it quickly, she had just warmed up leftovers, but Roanne didn’t bother adding unnecessary words. Alexis, who had no way of knowing this, silently followed Roanne’s call to the kitchen and sat at the dining table.
A few simple dishes were placed on the table. As he lifted the spoon to his mouth, it felt as though a savory warmth was filling his body.
‘It doesn’t seem like anything special.’
Normally, the banquets at the Count’s mansion were magnificent, and even when he went out, Alexis only enjoyed meals at top-tier restaurants. He had never encountered commoner’s food, nor had the opportunity.
Even so, why did this simple meal Roanne prepared for him make him feel so moved? Was it because it wasn’t made by ordering maids, but something she set personally? Or.
“How is it? Does it suit your palate?”
When he raised his eyes, Roanne, sitting in front of him, was smiling brightly. Alexis lowered his eyes again and focused on the meal in silence. In fact, there was another reason why Roanne was treating Alexis with such care and staying in his good graces. It was because of another piece of information the butler had told her today.
—But do you know this, Madam?
The butler had whispered secretly.
—The reason why the support budget for this annex suddenly surged?
And he continued. Alexis, who had visited the annex once, ran into the Countess and informed her that he would not stand still unless this East Annex was supported abundantly. Upon hearing this, Roanne had jumped for joy.
—Is that true?
—Why would I tell a lie regarding such a thing.
Even now, his feelings toward the young master aren’t great, the butler added.
—But facts are facts.
Thanks to that, I was able to pack plenty of supplies to bring here without having to be wary, he also said. Roanne was truly touched.
‘To think he’d do such a commendable thing.’
Yes, considering that, what’s a little dinner? Suddenly, Roanne’s heart became very generous. It’s just warming up some leftovers anyway.
Of course, this was a fact Alexis must never know.
“……I ate well.”
Alexis finished every bit of the meal Roanne had set for him. Clearing the empty dishes, Roanne thought.
‘He must have been really hungry.’
Since she provided a meal today as well, he’ll probably help again if someone picks a fight with this annex next time, right? With a satisfied heart, Roanne prepared warm tea and brought it to Alexis, who had gone to the living room sofa.
“It’s a tea that’s good for digestion, so drink at least a little.”
“…….”
Alexis quietly accepted the teacup Roanne offered, like a well-behaved, gentle child.
‘Somehow, he seems to have become a bit kinder lately.’
Looking at Alexis, Roanne nodded inwardly.
‘Yes, deep down he must be a kind person. At least his face is kind.’
There’s no way such a handsome face could be nothing but twisted.
Convinced by her own logic, Roanne watched him drink the tea with a soft smile. As Alexis saw Roanne looking at him with smiling eyes, he averted his gaze, feeling a sense of embarrassment that was unlike him.
Then, his eyes suddenly fell on a letter placed on the side table in front of the sofa. And he saw the name written on the envelope.
“It seems a letter has arrived from the House of Viscount Heartwood?”
He tossed the question out casually after setting down his teacup, but in an instant, Roanne’s face turned pale. Turning white, Roanne suddenly stammered and flashed an awkward smile. The natural and soft smile from just a moment ago had vanished without a trace.
“Ah, ah, that, haha… my parents were just very worried……”
I left that there without putting it away. I forgot! Roanne even waved her hands while laughing, but it only looked more suspicious. She hadn’t known Alexis would visit so suddenly.
“What is it?”
At Roanne’s sudden change, Alexis’s eyes grew sharp.
“It’s nothing special, just… haha. My family occasionally asks how I am, you know.”
But because it was a sudden, unprepared state, Roanne’s attitude appeared more and more strange. After staring at Roanne for a moment, Alexis suddenly picked up the letter.
“Huh? Oh! No, wait a minute!”
The flustered Roanne reached out her hand to stop him. But it was futile. Alexis had already opened the envelope and pulled out the letter.
“No, that’s! It’s a private matter from home! No, wait a minute! It’s my private business!”
“…….”
“Oh, no, that’s… Alexis!”
