Chapter 8: Between Friendship and Love (4)
Because their master, who had been coming home late every night for the past week, returned early—
The Blanchett mansion fell into a flurry.
It was always the servants who suffered from their superior’s sudden changes.
“Is the bath prepared?”
“Yes, sir.”
Albert, the old butler of the Blanchett household, checked everything one more time before welcoming his master.
“Zenya, how is dinner preparation?”
“It will be ready on time.”
“Good.”
Albert let out a relieved sigh.
At least the urgent matters were handled.
Ding, ding, ding.
“The master’s carriage has passed through the main gate!”
At the announcement, the servants quickly lined up at the entrance.
Albert walked through the center, inspecting them.
“Hans, your tie is loose. Fix it.”
“Emily, your hair is out of place. Tie it again.”
Only after correcting them did he stand at the front.
Gerard Blanchett stepped down from the carriage.
His face was tired.
“Welcome home, my lord.”
The servants greeted him respectfully.
“Good work.”
After acknowledging them, Gerard immediately asked:
“Has there been any word from my wife?”
“No, my lord.”
Albert felt strangely apologetic
seeing his master brush his lips in disappointment.
It had already been over ten days
since the marchioness left.
Even if not during travel—
They expected a message once she arrived in the North.
But there was nothing.
She must be busy…
Gerard tried to understand—
but still felt hurt.
He wanted to hear from her.
Was he the only one missing them?
“…I see.”
Though he looked calm,
Albert could tell—
His master was deeply disappointed.
“The bath is ready. Dinner will be served afterward.”
“Thank you.”
Wanting to lift his mood,
Albert followed him.
“The lobster that arrived today is very fresh. The chef is quite proud of it.”
Gerard stopped walking.
“…No.”
He turned back.
“I’ll pass. Let the staff eat it.”
“…Pardon?”
“I don’t feel like seafood today. Prepare something simple instead.”
Albert froze.
Come to think of it—
it had only been about eight years
since seafood started appearing regularly on his table.
So it wasn’t his taste…
He had simply been accommodating his wife.
As Gerard entered the bath,
Albert blamed himself.
“…I’m getting old.”
But there was no time to dwell—
He hurried to inform the kitchen.
* * *
After dinner,
Gerard went straight to bed.
He had been working late for ten days straight.
But if he pushed a little longer,
He might finally get a week or two of rest.
Then… I could go to the North.
Recently,
He had developed a strange habit.
Instead of sleeping on his usual side—
He slept on Chloe’s side of the bed.
For some reason,
He had been having unsettling dreams.
But lying in her place,
with her faint scent—
calmed him.
“…Hah.”
He buried his face in the blanket.
Still—
Something felt missing.
The mansion felt the same.
Even though it was full of people—
without Chloe and Abel,
It felt empty.
When will they return…
He quietly calculated the days—
then laughed at himself.
“…It’s only been ten days.”
“Ridiculous.”
He fell asleep like that.
Not knowing—
that the next morning,
he wouldn’t be able to hold back
and would write her a letter.
Ten days of restraint—
gone.
In truth,
His pride had simply been broken.
He had been waiting
for her to write first.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the North—
the two women moved to Leila’s private study
to look at old letters.
“Hahaha! Chloe, look at this! This is the letter you sent when Derek and I were fighting!”
Leila showed her a letter.
Her face was slightly flushed.
Chloe wasn’t interested in their letters—
but acted naturally.
“You should really be grateful to me. If I collected all my advice letters, I could publish a whole book.”
“Right! Thanks to you, I always made up with Derek quickly!”
Because Chloe knew their relationship in detail—
She had always given perfect advice.
“Look at this—
‘Leila, the more you love someone, the more afraid you become. But instead of misunderstanding and hiding it, why not express your feelings honestly?’”
Clap clap.
Leila applauded.
“Our smart Chloe! How were you this wise even back then?”
Leila slurred slightly—
already tipsy.
Chloe, however,
felt embarrassed.
Giving advice is easy…
Yet she herself—
had run away.
Chloe quietly sighed
and poured more wine.
“This wine is so sweet!”
Leila happily drank.
“I brought something good.”
Chloe smiled.
Good thing I prepared this.
She had brought two wines:
- a strong red
- a light sweet wine
They looked identical.
Leila drank the strong one.
Chloe drank the light one.
Soon,
Leila became tipsy.
That was when Chloe carefully asked the following:
“Do you still organize letters by person?”
“Yeah… yours, Derek’s, the kids’, my parents’, and…”
Leila trailed off—
then dozed.
“Leila?”
Chloe shook her gently.
“…Oh… Gerard’s letters are kept separately.”
“I see.”
Chloe drank calmly.
hiding her tension.
Along the wall—
The colored boxes were neatly arranged.
Letter boxes.
“Are these not locked?”
“No… no one can enter here without my permission… Do you want me to lock yours?”
Chloe shook her head.
smiling.
Then she encouraged Leila to drink more.
Once she falls asleep… I’ll find Gerard’s letters.
* * *
Leila soon fell asleep.
Chloe began searching.
“…This one…”
[To my beloved daughter]
“Not this.”
She quickly closed it.
It was from Leila’s parents.
Feeling guilty,
She brushed the dust off the box.
[To my one and only love]
That one—
Frederick’s.
She closed it again.
Then—
She picked up a green box.
The moment she opened the first letter—
She knew.
[To Leila]
It was Gerard’s handwriting.
