🔊 TTS Settings
Click.
A pitch-black darkness fell.
Under Marie’s instructions, Mildred and the viscount’s housemaid had turned off all the lights at once.
“······!”
Viscountess Brian’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Oh my…”
Starlight sparkled in her dark brown eyes. Countless stars glittered brilliantly from the ceiling above, like a night sky.
She hadn’t noticed while the lights were on, but the cloud-patterned wallpaper was covered in small white stars. When the lights went out, the tiny stars shimmered magically.
“What… is this?”
“These are called glow-in-the-dark stars.”
“Glow… stars?”
“Yes. It’s an interior product I recently patented under my name.”
“Oh my…”
The viscountess wandered through the room, unable to close her mouth.
The glow from the stars spread across her navy dress.
In the darkness, the gentle starlight seemed to bless only her.
“Sean…”
Tears rolled down the viscountess’s cheeks again.
“It feels like Sean became a star in heaven and is watching over me…”
“…Yes. That’s a comforting thought. Even when the night sky is obscured by clouds, you can still see the stars here.”
“······.”
“You can remember Sean as much as you want, along with the baby that’s about to be born. No need to worry about your husband’s reaction either.”
“Ugh!”
The viscountess broke down in tears again.
“Thank you, thank you…”
“You’re welcome. I’m happy you like it.”
She sank into a chair nearby, exhausted.
“My lady, how have you been hiding such talent at home all this time? I had no idea you were such a genius.”
“Haha, genius? Not at all.”
“Not at all? The cloud wallpaper, those cushions, and now these glow-in-the-dark stars! To think you came up with all this, and even filed a patent…”
Marie smiled awkwardly.
“I’m glad you like it. I just did my best for you.”
“No, you really are a genius. Such talent cannot stay hidden. Like a diamond buried in mud—it will eventually shine for everyone to see.”
The viscountess held Marie’s hand with her tear-stained hands.
“Miss Whitehouse… It’s a little late, but may I call you Marianne?”
“Of course.”
As soon as Marie answered, the viscountess shook her hand firmly.
“Trust me. I’ll make the social circles aware of your interior design talent. No more hiding yourself away!”
“I’d be really grateful if you did.”
“Compared to what you’ve done for me, it’s nothing.”
Viscountess Brian’s voice brightened.
The woman who had just been crying was now planning how to introduce Marie to the social elite.
A short while later.
After bidding farewell to the viscountess and leaving the viscount’s mansion, Marie was surprised.
“Um… the carriage?”
Opposite the viscount’s house, the Bloodstone Duke’s carriage was waiting.
Approaching the carriage, she saw Calix with a slightly flushed expression.
“Meeting here is unexpected.”
“Indeed! Calix, did you have business around here?”
“…You could say that. Tasio, escort her to the count’s house as well.”
“Thank you.”
Given the recent unsettling incident, Marie didn’t refuse.
Once seated, the black carriage immediately set off, with Dwayne’s carriage following behind.
“······.”
Calix struggled to control his confused emotions.
In truth, he had arrived late at the viscount’s house and had been shown the nursery Marie had designed.
And now he could see, with his own eyes, a room she had decorated.
‘I knew she was talented, but…’
A bright and cheerful nursery, a unique wallpaper that would instantly capture any mother’s heart, delicate cushions… and glow-in-the-dark stars.
‘Another patent already, after the roller one?’
Moreover, this glow-in-the-dark star material wasn’t just a clever novelty. It was something that would appeal not only to children but to sensitive young noblewomen as well. He found the woman sitting in front of him truly impressive.
“······.”
Her large green eyes, glossy red lips, light brown hair like blonde, and ivory-colored dress gave off a delicate aura, seemingly raised in protective luxury.
‘As Viscountess Brian said… could she really be a genius in interior design?’
Perhaps her plan to showcase her talent to the Whitehouse social circles wasn’t so far-fetched after all.
“Are you alright…?”
He noticed that Marie seemed more tense than usual.
“Yes. I’m fine.”
Probably because she had seen him kill someone.
Seeing the monster people rumored him to be, she must have been scared.
“······.”
His voice turned somewhat curt.
“Did you do the interior design?”
“Yes. I added glow-in-the-dark stars to the nursery, and she loved it. I knew she would.”
“…How did you make these glow-in-the-dark stars?”
“Oh, that? I used a reagent that emits light.”
Marie smiled, seeming to relax.
“You made the reagent yourself?”
“No, of course not. I hired an alchemist named Tamara. I ended up setting up a guesthouse on the side.”
“A guesthouse…?”
An unfamiliar term to Calix.
“Yes. Tamara asked for lodging and meals in exchange for producing the glowing reagent. She said it was difficult to work from her home.”
“What exactly do you mean by guesthouse?”
“Something like a short-term inn where guests can cook their own meals.”
“So you’re turning the Whitehouse into a hotel?”
“No. There’s not enough staff or facilities for that. But leaving the vast space empty while providing another room elsewhere seemed silly, right?”
Calix crossed his arms and leaned back.
“You’re not planning to operate a guesthouse for commoners, are you?”
“Of course not. Since we’re targeting the nobility for interior design, reputation is important.”
“Good. You must be cautious when dealing with commoners.”
“It’s not like we’re immediately opening a paid guesthouse. It’s just that some long-term guests ended up staying, like in a guesthouse.”
“…That sounds like you’re limiting it to the alchemist.”
“Yes, she’s part of the household helping me work.”
“…I see.”
He turned his gaze to the window again, looking disinterested.
“By the way, I owe you thanks.”
“…For what?”
“At the Ranid slums.”
“······!”
Calix flinched and straightened up in his seat. Marie was referring to the day he had rampaged like a monster.
“Oh, that day… it couldn’t be helped.”
It was unlike him, yet the words escaped as a natural excuse. But before he could fully explain, Marie continued.
“I was so scared. It was my first time seeing someone die.”
He wanted to stop the carriage and let her down immediately, before she said she was afraid of being with a monstrous man.
“I was too frightened by the attackers to even thank you properly.”
“…What did you say?”
“Thank you, Calix. You saved my life.”
At once, the calm expression he always wore shattered. In all the years he’d worn his mask, he had never heard those words.
“Th-That’s…”
He stammered, unable to find words, while Marie’s gaze seemed to pierce through him. His eyes drifted between the window and empty space.
Hii-hi-hiing—
The carriage stopped. They had arrived at the Whitehouse.
“We’re here.”
“Oh… yes…”
Calix hurriedly got out and extended his hand.
“You’re late. Hurry up and get down.”
“Yes? Yes.”
“Well then.”
As soon as Marie got out, he gave a curt farewell and re-entered the carriage, careful not to let his flushed face show.
Bang—
The closing of the carriage door startled Marie.
“C-Calix…?”
But the Bloodstone Duke’s carriage immediately departed.
“Was he upset that I thanked him late? I didn’t mean it…”
Marie sighed, then straightened her shoulders and smiled widely.
“I never realized Marianne was such a brilliant genius.”
The praise she heard today made her feel full of happiness all day.
“Hohohoho.”
“Miss…?”
“Oh! You startled me!”
Suddenly, Josh poked his head in, holding the reins of his horse, ready to speak.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, Josh. You’re still here. I’m fine. Thank you for that day in Ranid.”
“No, I didn’t do anything.”
Dwayne’s carriage arrived, and Mildred got out.
“So the secretary has arrived too.”
“Officer? What brings you here?”
Mildred adjusted her new glasses. She wasn’t pleased to see Josh.
He had scolded her harshly while she retrieved clothes from Viscount Brian’s young master with Father Thomas in the Ranid slums.
“Coming to the slums at this hour without proper protection! Do you even realize you serve the lady?”
But Josh wasn’t there for Mildred. He turned from her and spoke to Marie.
“Miss Whitehouse, I have something urgent to discuss with you.”
