Chapter 62
“This is also one of the places I recommend. It’s close to the bustling area, yet there are parks and shops nearby, making it highly accessible. And it was built not long ago, so it’s very clean. Why don’t you take a look around?”
Listening to the confident words of the real estate agent, Eileen surveyed the house.
As he had said, the house was spotless. It wasn’t too big or too small—just right for her and Adrian to live in together.
Moreover, it was close to her shop, Premium, making commuting convenient.
Seeing the satisfied look in her eyes, the agent flashed a professional smile and asked,
“How does it feel?”
“It’s good. I’ll go ahead and sign the contract for this place.”
“Pardon? Um… are you sure you don’t want to hear the price first?”
Eileen abruptly turned her head to look at him, then pointed with her finger behind him.
Following her finger, the agent turned and saw a mansion under construction in the distance. Eileen spoke as he looked where she indicated:
“See that mansion?”
“Yes, I see it… but…”
“That one is mine.”
The agent’s eyes went wide as he turned around, and there she was, smiling faintly.
“Does that answer your question?”
“Y-yes! Of course! Let’s proceed with the contract right away!”
The agent dashed off, flustered, to fetch the contract. He had realized Eileen’s financial capability.
Left alone for a moment, Eileen once again surveyed the house. Being here reminded her of the dream she had once told Richard:
To have a modest house and live peacefully. It seemed like she could do just that here.
But as that thought crossed her mind, her expression darkened slightly. A question had surfaced subconsciously:
Really? Is that truly what you want right now?
Along with that question, memories from the morning came flooding back—the moment she had handed Richard the divorce papers.
Even knowing there was no turning back, a wave of melancholy swept over her. She realized she hadn’t properly sorted out her feelings yet.
In truth… in the Olden household, with Richard…
“Here’s the contract!”
The agent returned just in time with the paperwork, snapping Eileen out of her thoughts.
Back in the present, she shook her head lightly and returned to her usual expression.
Right. What’s the point in lingering on this now? There’s no turning back.
Without hesitation, Eileen signed the contract for the house. Though it felt somewhat rushed, everything was for her own sake.
She simply couldn’t stay in the Olden household any longer.
She also ordered the necessary furniture for the empty house. Only after her footing was somewhat secure following the divorce did Eileen return to the mansion.
The carriage she rode in stopped before the main gate of the mansion. As she descended, escorted by Kane, she felt a sudden urge to thank him.
Eileen looked intently at him, and Kane raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Yes… it’s a bit embarrassing, but… thank you for everything up to now, Kane.”
“Eh?”
Kane’s face showed utter confusion. He had no idea why she was saying that.
Come to think of it, Eileen’s behavior today had been unusual. Suddenly, she had gone house-hunting, then shopping for furniture for the new home, and now this greeting—it all seemed as if she were about to leave.
Kane’s expression turned serious. Noticing this, Eileen quickly added,
“I just wanted to say it at least once.”
“I see…”
“Yes.”
Despite her half-excuse, Kane’s stern face did not soften, leaving Eileen with an awkward smile.
At that moment, a familiar voice called out from inside the mansion.
“Big sis!”
Adrian ran toward her. Despite being scolded multiple times for running indoors, he never seemed to change.
Especially when she returned, he always behaved like this, leaving her unsure whether to scold him or welcome him warmly. In the end, Eileen let out a small chuckle.
Adrian stopped in front of her and held out both hands.
Knowing his intention, Eileen playfully asked,
“What are these hands for?”
“Big sissss!”
“Alright, alright. Here.”
Eileen handed him the cake she had bought on her way back to the mansion, pretending to give in. Adrian’s face immediately lit up.
“Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.”
Eileen gestured to Kane behind her, signaling that it was okay for him to leave. Kane still looked confused but bowed silently and departed.
Watching him go, Eileen turned back to Adrian, who asked,
“By the way, big sis, is something wrong with His Excellency?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because I haven’t seen him come out of the office today. I did see Sir Aimon leave earlier, but he looked like he’d seen a ghost.”
“Claude?”
Eileen tilted her head.
The Claude she had always known either wore a composed expression or looked utterly exhausted.
And now he supposedly looked as if he had seen a ghost?
He must have had a lot on his plate.
Hearing that Richard also hadn’t left his office, she concluded that there must indeed be an enormous workload.
Eileen, who had made her decision alone, replied to Adrian in a casual tone:
“Hmm… Claude must have been really tired.”
“That’s not the look he had…”
Adrian murmured. Eileen paused briefly before recalling something she wanted to tell him, leaning close to whisper:
“By the way, Adrian, are your lessons over?”
“Yes. They finished earlier.”
“Then, how about we have some cake and chat for a bit?”
Curious, Adrian tilted his head and nodded in agreement.
Soon, Eileen and Adrian entered the quiet parlor. The maids served tea alongside the cake she had bought.
Eileen subtly signaled to the maid who poured the tea. Understanding her meaning, the maid left with the others, leaving only Eileen and Adrian in the room.
Adrian, happy to be alone with her, nonetheless wore a slightly anxious expression. He sensed that what she was about to say was important.
Eileen gave him a warm, reassuring look and began to speak.
“Adrian, you know that my relationship with Richard is based on a contract, right?”
“Yes. The arrangement was that His Excellency would stay with you for a year, and in return, you would share the mana stones with him.”
“Exactly. And you know that the year is almost over.”
Adrian hesitated, then nodded. Unease clouded his eyes.
Eileen smiled gently and continued,
“So today, I gave Richard the divorce papers.”
“Eh?”
“And I’ve already looked for a house for us to live in.”
Adrian’s eyes widened, emerald orbs shaking with intensity.
Eileen moved to sit beside him and placed her hand on his shoulder, pulling him close.
Whispering to Adrian, who hugged her in return, she said,
“We can start a new life now, Adrian.”
She expected Adrian to burst into tears as before.
But unexpectedly, he asked,
“Big sis… are you okay?”
“Huh?”
Eileen looked down at him, silently asking what he meant.
Adrian looked at her with concern.
“Even though I don’t want to admit it, you and His Excellency are close. Are you really okay with parting like this?”
Eileen hadn’t expected such a question. She thought he would be happy, eager to live with her alone.
Unable to reply immediately, her lips parted slightly. Adrian’s worry deepened.
“If it’s because of me, then… just…”
“It’s not because of you.”
Eileen answered immediately.
Adrian looked up at her anxiously. She hesitated, then embraced him, saying,
“It’s not because of you, Adrian. It’s just… time for us to part.”
Richard wants it too.
She swallowed the urge to grumble. She couldn’t say such things to young Adrian yet.
“So, Adrian, there’s no need to worry. We’re just moving forward to live a better life.”
“…Yes.”
Finally reassured, Adrian let out a soft laugh in her arms. Thankfully, he didn’t lift his head.
She didn’t have to show him her conflicted expression.
❧ ❧ ❧
A few days later, when Eileen went to work at Premium, Hainel brought unexpected news.
“Ma’am, I heard you had an argument with the Duke?”
“Who said that?”
“I heard it when the little one went to his lesson. The staff were all whispering that it seemed like you two had a fight.”
Eileen remained silent. Hainel’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Could it really be true?”
“We didn’t fight, but…”
Eileen trailed off. It wasn’t that they fought, but Richard’s behavior had been unusual lately.
He hadn’t visited her recently. More accurately, he seemed to be avoiding her.
Whenever she accidentally saw him from afar, he would abruptly turn on his heels and walk hastily in the opposite direction. The memory of those moments made Eileen feel that he was running away.
This had been bothering her. Had she unknowingly done something wrong?
Or is he preparing to distance himself because we’re no longer connected?
Her mind knew he wasn’t that type of person, but her heart kept thinking otherwise.
Feeling bitter alone, she heard Hainel ask,
“So the rumor about you leaving home after a fight—is that true?”
“Leaving home?”
“That’s what everyone says. They heard you’ve been looking at houses recently. Isn’t that because you’re planning to leave?”
Eileen swallowed at the implication. It wasn’t a house for running away, but she had indeed been looking at one.
The divorce was known only to herself, Richard, Claude, and Adrian. No one else knew, so she understood why such a rumor had spread among the staff.
But she couldn’t openly say she was getting divorced, so she had to withhold her answer.
“That is…”
“That is?”
“…a secret.”
“What, so you really are running away!”
Hainel chuckled as if amused.
Though it wasn’t true, Eileen could only glare at him, unable to explain honestly.
