Episode 14 – A Useless Family
When Everett knocked on the door of the small brick house, a familiar face greeted her.
Because both visitors wore hoods, Gemma didn’t recognize them right away.
“Who’s there?” she asked.
She looked thinner than the last time Everett had seen her.
Without answering, Everett stepped forward and hugged her. Then, she pulled back her hood, revealing her face.
Gemma’s wrinkled eyes widened in shock.
“Oh, my goodness, my lady!”
“You’ve lost even more weight, Nanny,” Everett said softly, her voice trembling.
Unlike herself—who had gained back some strength—Gemma looked frail and sickly.
“How… how did you come here, my lady?”
“I told you, didn’t I? I promised I’d come visit.”
“But you… you’re not supposed to go outside…”
Gemma couldn’t finish her sentence. She was afraid saying the truth would hurt Everett.
Instead, she just stared at her, trying to believe that this was real. Everett looked different—stronger, somehow.
“My lady… your hair is shorter,” Gemma noticed.
“Yes,” Everett smiled faintly. “They kept calling me a ghost, so I cut it. How do I look?”
“Who would call you a ghost! You’re the most beautiful and kind fairy in the world!”
Gemma’s eyes sparkled with devotion.
Fairy.
Even Frederick had never said something that sweet to her.
“By the way, Nanny…” Everett cleared her throat. “The butler is here too.”
She gestured behind her.
When Gemma saw the butler lower his hood, her eyes widened again. The sight of Everett and the Fellum family’s butler standing together was unexpected.
“Gemma, it’s been a while,” said the butler politely.
“Oh dear, sir, you’ve come such a long way.”
“I didn’t get to say goodbye when you left the mansion,” he replied. “I’m glad I can do it now.”
“No, no. I left in such a hurry that it’s my fault,” Gemma said kindly. “Please, come in.”
She guided them into the small house and led them to a modest table in the living room.
“I’m sorry, my house is small. There’s nowhere better to sit.”
“Just seeing your face is more than enough,” Everett replied warmly.
“Thank you, my lady,” Gemma said, smiling.
But Everett could see how pale and hollow her cheeks had become. Her heart ached.
I should have come sooner.
What if her illness has gotten worse already?
She couldn’t ignore it anymore.
“Nanny, how’s your health?”
“…My sister’s illness? It’s getting better,” Gemma said quickly.
Everett’s eyes narrowed. “No, I meant your illness. I know you quit because you were sick.”
Gemma froze. “How did you…”
“Don’t hide it. I know you didn’t want to worry me, but I already found out.”
Gemma’s shoulders trembled. She couldn’t lie to her precious lady anymore.
“I’m sorry, my lady,” Gemma whispered. “You were having nightmares, and I couldn’t tell you I was sick. I didn’t want to make you suffer more because of me.”
Tears fell as she sank to the floor.
“I understand,” Everett said softly. “I would’ve done the same.”
Neither wanted to be a burden to the other.
Everett took Gemma’s rough, thin hand and squeezed it. Then, she pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her tears and handed her a small pouch of coins.
“Call a doctor and buy your medicine. If it’s not enough, tell me.”
Gemma’s eyes widened when she saw the gold coins. She pushed them back.
“What? No, my lady, I can’t take your money!”
“It’s not mine,” Everett said with a small smirk. “Aunt Charlotte gave it to me. She told me to use it for your treatment.”
“Lady Charlotte… gave this?”
Gemma looked doubtful.
“It’s true,” Everett said. “She owes me a debt. Thanks to that, I was allowed to come see you—and got this money. So you can use it without worry.”
“Charlotte owes you? Then this money isn’t nearly enough!”
Gemma spoke with faint irritation, and Everett couldn’t help but laugh.
“Of course not. This is just a small part. I’ll take back everything she owes me, little by little.”
“My lady…”
Gemma gazed at her with watery eyes.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw you smile.”
Just that sight—Everett smiling—was enough to make her happy. She had spent so many nights worrying about Everett alone in that cold mansion.
Now, seeing her bright again, Gemma finally felt some peace.
It’s been so long since I heard her voice clearly, she thought.
“Please smile more often, my lady.”
“Did I smile?” Everett asked, as if surprised.
“Yes,” Gemma said gently. “A big, beautiful smile. Right, Butler?”
The butler nodded.
Gemma fetched a small mirror from the corner and held it up to Everett’s face.
In the reflection, a young woman with bright red hair and clear eyes smiled back.
She looked healthier, her skin glowing softly.
It wasn’t just better care that had changed her appearance—it was her determination.
Maybe this was the face the mansion servants had talked about—the “real Everett.”
“Do I look strange?” Everett asked, touching her cheek.
Gemma shook her head. “You look even more beautiful. I told you, you’re a fairy!”
Everett laughed quietly. “You always say things I can’t argue with.”
Then she placed the pouch back into Gemma’s hand, this time firmly.
“If you get sicker, I’ll have to go back to that mansion. So promise me you’ll get better.”
“Yes, my lady,” Gemma smiled. “Now that I’ve seen you, I can’t die yet. I’ll live long enough to see you take everything back from Lady Charlotte.”
Her energy made Everett laugh again. She unpacked a small basket of food she’d brought.
“I brought this for you. You haven’t been eating properly because Joanne kept stealing your meals, right?”
“You knew?” Gemma blinked.
“Of course. You were getting thinner by the day. How could I not notice?”
Everett picked up a ripe strawberry and gently placed it in Gemma’s mouth.
Gemma smiled as she chewed, though it took effort.
“But you’re still so thin,” Everett frowned. “I thought you’d be living comfortably here.”
Olberito wasn’t a slum—it was poor, yes, but not filthy or dangerous. Gemma had her own home and lived with her brother. Everett thought she would be fine.
So why did she look worse?
“Is it because of your illness?” Everett asked carefully.
Gemma hesitated. There was something else.
And soon, Everett found out what it was.
“Sis!”
The old door burst open.
A rough, middle-aged man stumbled inside, reeking of alcohol. His beard was thick, and his eyes were bloodshot.
“Who are these people?” he demanded.
“Maxim, mind your manners,” Gemma scolded. “This is the young lady I served.”
This was Maxim, Gemma’s much younger brother—or so Everett had been told. But with his balding head, he looked even older than Gemma.
“What? You mean she’s from the Fellum family? A noble?”
He pointed a thick finger at Everett and the butler. Gemma quickly pushed his hand down.
“Show some respect! I’m sorry, my lady. He’s been drinking since noon.”
“It’s fine,” Everett said calmly. “He’s your family. I understand.”
She gave a polite smile and nodded to him.
Maxim mumbled an awkward greeting, but his eyes wandered nervously around the room.
They stopped at the drawer—where Gemma had hidden the pouch of money.
He rushed to it like a wild animal, grabbed the pouch, and stuffed it into his coat.
“Sis! I just need to borrow some money!”
“Maxim! What are you doing? Give that back!”
“I’ll pay you back! I just need it right now!”
He shoved Gemma away when she tried to stop him. She fell hard onto the wooden floor.
“Ah—”
“I’m sorry! My mistake, I didn’t mean to—really!” Maxim said quickly, without helping her up.
Then he stumbled backward toward the door.
“Sis, I’ll be back later!”
“Maxim!” Gemma cried out.
Before he could escape, Everett stepped in front of him, blocking the doorway.
“Leave the money,” she said coldly, holding out her hand.
Her tone was calm, but her eyes were sharp as glass.
