TLVGAJ 64

~Chapter 64~

“……”

“……”

Harry and Emily worked hard cleaning the warehouse.

Thanks to the servants working all day, the dusty warehouse had become spotless.

The lady directly pointed out Harry and Emily to handle the final cleaning.

If it had been someone else, they might have disliked the order since it meant working late, but the two of them worked harder than anyone else, almost like they were competing.

Everyone else had left, leaving only Harry and Emily in the warehouse.

While cleaning in silence, Emily suddenly let out a small cry.

Thud, splaaaash!

Water spilled across the warehouse floor from the bucket she had dropped.

Harry, who had been arranging items, approached Emily.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah. Yes, I’m fine… But now there’s even more work to do.”

“Let’s do it together.”

The two of them began cleaning the spilled water.

In the silence, the only sound was the two of them wiping the floor side by side.

Then Emily glanced at Harry and opened her mouth.

“About the young lady…”

“……”

“Seeing her in person, she’s really beautiful, isn’t she?”

Harry gave a small laugh.

The sudden mention of the young lady felt pleasant.

“Yes. The young lady is truly beautiful.”

“…I never knew someone that beautiful could exist in this world. Seeing her was the first time I realized it. She’s like a single rose. Don’t you think so?”

“Not only that, her heart is beautiful too. Lady Hartmann.”

When Harry replied softly, Emily nodded strongly in agreement.

“That’s right. I don’t know why people speak badly of her. In truth, she’s such a kind person.”

“……”

“By the way, do you also like the young lady?”

Emily tilted her head and asked lightly. Harry nodded.

“I… owe her a great debt. She saved my younger brother’s life.”

“What? The young lady even saved someone’s life? I didn’t know that.”

Emily opened her mouth wide in surprise and continued.

“The young lady is more amazing than I thought.”

“Yes. Truly…”

—Someone I want to devote my whole life to.
Someone I must devote my whole life to.

Feelings like love are something I don’t even dare to have.

That’s what kind of person she is.

Harry swallowed those words and instead gave a quiet smile.

“…All done. Thank you for your help. Thanks to you, it was finished faster.”

After wiping all the spilled water, Emily smiled and reached out her hand.

“I’m Emily Bell. Let’s get along. Maybe because you’re a painter, but your hands are beautiful too.”

“…Do you know me?”

“Ah.”

Emily looked flustered, rolling her eyes before answering.

“Actually, I’ve seen your work before. I saw the name Harry Jackson signed in the corner.”

He used to earn money painting on the streets, or sometimes by painting portraits for low-ranking nobles, so it was possible she had seen one.

But she shouldn’t know my face. How did she know it was me?

Harry found it strange for a moment but soon reached out his hand.

“I’m Harry Jackson. Let’s get along.”

He thought happily that he had found a friend he could talk with about the young lady.

“Hehe.”

I laughed alone. I had been reading in the garden when a small laugh slipped out.

Sophie, who was beside me checking cosmetics, spoke.

“Did something good happen, my lady?”

“Mm? Well…”

Yes, something good happened.

It was because…

‘I’m so excited to watch the male lead and heroine fall in love soon!’

I had worked so hard to make Harry and Emily spend time together.

After the warehouse cleaning, I kept ordering more: cleaning old storerooms, cleaning unused attic rooms, cleaning the servants’ quarters, even the garden (which was usually handled by hired gardeners).

Because of that, the mansion became cleaner by the day. Thanks to this, Irene (me) was becoming known as a cleaning maniac…

Anyway, by now they must have become close, right?

I always left Harry and Emily to handle the last bits of cleaning together.

If that doesn’t make them close, what will?

Or maybe… are they already sneaking around together every morning?

I laughed again.

Even if “sneaking around every morning” was too much, surely the two of them had gotten closer.

If they spent more and more time together, feelings would naturally grow.

Honestly, I wanted to directly ask the two of them about their relationship.

I thought about asking Fin, but if I asked the child, Harry might find out about my plan.

So instead, I closed my book and glanced at Sophie.

“Hey, Sophie.”

“Yes?”

“Harry… how do you think he’s doing these days?”

“Harry? That person?”

Sophie tilted her head. I nodded.

“Yeah, I was just wondering if he’s doing well.”

“Uh…?”

“Maybe… has he met someone special in the mansion?”

“Hmm… I don’t think I’ve seen anything like that.”

Sophie frowned, thinking, then answered. I tilted my head.

“Really…?”

Hmm. Maybe I wasn’t doing enough.

I twitched my brows and spoke again.

“Um… try to make Harry spend more time with the new servants, especially that maid named Emily. Don’t you think they match well? I want to help them connect.”

“Ah, you mean the girl you always order to do the final cleaning with Harry? No wonder…”

Sophie seemed to finally understand.

“But my lady, our family forbids romance among servants.”

“Everyone knows that even if it’s forbidden, people still do it. And the rule only applies to servants of the same household, not from different ones, right?”

Countess Elina’s household also had the same rule, but people still dated there. Why not here?

They say even during war, love blooms.

“Just help me, Sophie. I want Harry and Emily to have a good connection.”

“…Are you talking about me?”

“Ah! You scared me!”

My heart jumped at the sudden voice from behind.

Turning quickly, I saw Harry standing there.

“H-Harry…?”

I put my hand on my chest. How long had he been standing there?

My eyes dropped to the broom in his hand. He must have come out to sweep fallen leaves in the garden and overheard us.

Oh no, I got caught…

I felt embarrassed, but I looked at him confidently.

Surely he would be thankful for my efforts.

Not only was I taking care of Fin, but I was also helping him meet someone special.

But… his expression was strange.

Harry repeated my words with a stiff face before speaking.

“My lady. I… have no interest in other women.”

“Huh…?”

“So please don’t worry about me like that. Actually, the one I like is—”

Harry stopped, sighed deeply, and shook his head.

“Anyway… please don’t do that anymore, my lady.”

He gripped the broom and walked away with long strides.

…What?

Weird.

Is it just me, or does Harry really not care about Emily at all?