Chapter: 21
So that was the gift Ian had sent.
“Uh… what should I do? I’m sorry, Ian. I never got the letter or the gift you sent…”
My heart ached at the thought that the gift and letter Ian had sent never reached me and had been discarded. Surely they had contained Ian’s precious feelings.
Even though I hadn’t mentioned the missing letter and gift, Ian nodded as if he understood.
“Your aunt didn’t give you any of it, huh?”
“Yeah…”
I buried my face in my hands and lowered my head.
“If I had known you sent it, I would’ve secretly picked it up and kept it safe. And you just watched it get thrown away…”
“It’s okay, Mary.”
“No, it’s not okay! They were all precious things filled with Ian’s feelings…”
Tears welled up in my eyes, a mix of guilt and anger.
And I hadn’t realized any of this.
I had just assumed Ian had forgotten me.
I felt a bit hurt, but I thought it was fine if Ian had forgotten me because he was happily adjusting to his new home.
But it wasn’t like that.
I grabbed Ian’s hand firmly and said,
“Thank you, Ian. I’m really happy that you didn’t forget me and sent me letters and gifts. I’ll treasure your feelings. Oh, do you remember the letter you sent back then? I can write simple sentences now, so I’ll reply to everything I couldn’t before!”
“Calm down, Mary. The letter wasn’t anything important. Just trivial daily stuff.”
“Then I’ll write about my daily life too.”
Ian blinked in surprise, then smiled softly.
“Alright. I’ll look forward to it.”
I lost track of time talking with Ian after such a long time, so I ended up getting home later than expected.
By the time I arrived in Hamilton, the sun was already setting.
“Miss Mary.”
Lisa called me while I was unpacking in my room, her expression oddly troubled.
“Go to Master’s room right away.”
“Is Master looking for me?”
“Yes. He hasn’t eaten all day and has been waiting for you alone.”
My heart dropped.
I threw my luggage down roughly and hurried to Master’s room, clutching the gift tightly to my chest.
Knock knock—
I knocked, but no answer came.
Knock knock—
“Master, it’s Mary.”
No response, even when I called out.
Maybe he was taking a nap? But if Lisa came looking for me in such a hurry, that didn’t seem likely.
“I’ll come in.”
I opened the door cautiously.
The room was dark, with curtains drawn over every window.
“Master, I’ll turn on the light.”
I flicked the switch, and what I saw made me gasp.
The pillows and blankets that should have been on the bed were scattered across the floor. That wasn’t all—broken clocks, vases, ornaments…
Everything that Master could have lifted with his strength was smashed and lying across the floor.
“Oh my… what happened to this room?”
I carefully stepped around the debris and approached Master.
He was crouched in the corner of the bed, staring at the wall. Even when he heard my voice, he didn’t look my way.
Oh no. He must be really angry.
I cautiously reached out and started to gently smooth his messy light brown hair.
Master flinched, then slowly leaned toward me, as if allowing me to touch him, like a cat giving permission.
I spoke softly to soothe him.
“I’m not going anywhere. How could I leave such a wonderful job and a kind Master?”
“……”
“Serving you isn’t difficult… um, well, it is a bit tough.”
“…Usually people say it’s not tough in times like this, don’t they?”
“But I can’t say it’s not tough when it is. You make me work so hard…”
“……”
“But I still like you, Master. So I won’t go anywhere and will stay by your side.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of Master’s mouth. His dark expression brightened a little.
“From now on, don’t go out on your own without my permission.”
“Okay. Then you promise not to destroy everything in your room in anger too.”
“Why would it matter if I destroy my own things?”
“I’m worried you might get hurt.”
“…I see how you are.”
“Don’t argue, just sleep.”
I extended my pinky. Master glanced at it, then quickly turned his head away.
Still not fully appeased, huh? Can’t be helped.
I pulled out the box I had been holding like a secret weapon.
“I also bought a gift for you, Master.”
“…A gift?”
His green eyes sparkled. Master looked at the box with anticipation, then cleared his throat with a little start.
“What is it?”
“I’ll give it to you if you promise me first.”
“Are you threatening me right now?”
“Not threatening! I’m asking nicely.”
“If you’re asking nicely, be more polite.”
“Yes! I really want to give you the gift I bought thinking of you, so will you promise?”
Master furrowed his brow.
Though he looked displeased, he reluctantly extended his finger. I hooked our pinkies together, pressed my thumb as a seal, and handed him the gift.
I’m not a child… I won’t be happy over such a small gift.
…But as I thought that, Ricardo’s lips twitched upward repeatedly. He fumbled a few times while unwrapping the box.
All for just this small box.
“I still like you, Master. So I won’t go anywhere and will stay by your side.”
Just those words erased the anxiety and fear that had tormented Ricardo all day.
Ricardo opened the box with a racing heart.
A handkerchief?
It was clearly a luxurious handkerchief.
Ricardo froze.
A handkerchief was traditionally a gift between lovers—a symbol of affection and love.
W-what was she thinking giving this…
His face flushed red.
Calm down. Mary probably didn’t know the implications.
Mary was a commoner. Among commoners, there likely wasn’t a culture of giving handkerchiefs as romantic gifts.
Handkerchiefs were easy gifts for anyone, so this gift probably had no special meaning.
But… does it really have no meaning?
Thanks to the logo on the box, Ricardo immediately recognized it as a department store item.
She went all the way to a department store to buy a luxurious handkerchief—surely there must be some meaning behind it…
A handkerchief isn’t just for lovers.
Among nobles, it was customary to gift handkerchiefs to close friends who were going on a hunt or a tournament, often embroidered by hand.
So the handkerchief probably had that sort of meaning.
Yes. That must be it.
Ricardo calmed his racing heart and thought rationally.
In any case, he couldn’t receive a gift from a lady without giving something in return. A proper gentleman must reciprocate a lady’s feelings.
I can’t hunt yet, so maybe I should give her fur.
Something suitable for Mary… perhaps a pure white fox fur scarf or a thick coat made of bear fur.
After pondering which would be better, he concluded he could give both.
It’s spring now, so I’ll wait until winter.
Giving fur in spring would be odd, and returning a gift immediately might make Mary uncomfortable.
Having arrived at a reasonable, rational conclusion, Ricardo calmly took the handkerchief out of the box.
