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Chapter : 33
This wasn’t the story Bella wanted. But she summoned all her patience.
“Yesterday, I cleaned the floor, but he made me redo it three times, saying ‘there’s still dust here.’ No matter how much I looked, I couldn’t see any dust.”
“That sounds exhausting.”
“Milena keeps apologizing to me… but Duke Kaisa just keeps criticizing endlessly.”
Marta’s voice grew increasingly exasperated.
“The most absurd part is that he washes the dishes I touched again. I cleaned them thoroughly, yet he rinses them in hot water… as if I were some germ-filled monster.”
Marta let out a sigh.
“Luckily, I only have to go twice a week. If it were every day, I probably would’ve collapsed by now.”
Bella nodded, understanding Marta’s frustration. But what Bella was curious about wasn’t these complaints. Even if Kaisa had obsessive-compulsive tendencies, it wasn’t her business.
‘Better than being dirty, anyway.’
Bella wasn’t the one cleaning. She spoke softly.
“But how do you think Milena and Kaisa get along?”
Marta paused, then answered with a voice free of suspicion.
“Hmm… I think Milena likes Duke Kaisa. Her expression definitely changes when he’s around. But Kaisa…”
“Kaisa?”
“I’m not sure. He hardly shows any expression. But… he seems a bit gentler with Milena.”
“Gentler?”
“Yes. He’s very cold to others, but when he talks to Miss Milena, his voice is a little different.”
Bella’s lips tightened slightly. This wasn’t the conversation she wanted to hear. Kaisa was indifferent to her as well. They had lessons every day, but he showed her no particular attention or glance. If anything, she was the one who felt anxious.
Yet he was different with Milena.
That thought gnawed at her. Kaisa being special only to Milena bothered her.
Milena had seen sides of Kaisa Bella hadn’t. And Milena probably knew things Bella didn’t. What kind of person was Kaisa really? Bella clenched her teeth at the thought.
The warm afternoon sunlight filtered through the bushes. On the white table, tea and small pastries were carefully arranged—snacks for Lady Elizabeth.
“Elizabeth, drink the tea before it gets cold.”
Milena spoke in a gentle voice. Lady Elizabeth gazed at the garden with vacant eyes, then slowly turned to look at Milena.
“Scarlet? Is that you, Sister Scarlet?”
There was a note of joy in the old lady’s voice. Now familiar with this, Milena smiled brightly.
“Yes, Elizabeth. It’s me. Still as spoiled as ever, huh? Why did you come to see me?”
Milena spoke in her best Scarlet impression, a tone she had mastered with Lady Sophia’s help.
“Sister, it’s been so long! Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you…”
Lady Elizabeth grabbed Milena’s hand tightly, her touch desperate.
“I had some errands to run.”
Milena gently stroked her godmother’s hand. Elizabeth cherished her only sister very much.
At that moment, footsteps sounded. Reivan appeared in the garden.
“Grandmother, hello.”
When Reivan approached, the old lady’s expression shifted to suspicion.
“Who is that? Why are you here…?”
“It’s me, Grandmother. Reivan.”
“Reivan? Who is Reivan? Scarlet, I don’t know this person. This is dangerous.”
The old lady gripped Milena’s hand even tighter.
Milena quickly assessed the situation and gave Reivan a subtle glance—warning him not to provoke the old lady. She swiftly calmed Elizabeth.
“It’s okay, Elizabeth. Look closely. He’s just our gardener, here to tend the roses.”
“Gardener?”
The old lady glanced at Reivan again, still wary.
“Yes. He’s here to check that the roses are growing well.”
Reivan bowed slightly, understanding the situation.
“Good day, ma’am. Your garden is truly beautiful. I’m glad the roses are doing well.”
“If you’re the gardener… please take good care of our roses. Especially those red ones—I treasure them the most.”
The old lady’s tone softened slightly, almost childlike.
“Yes, I will take care of them.”
Reivan’s voice trembled a little. Elizabeth’s failure to recognize him always moved him deeply.
“Scarlet, let’s have some tea. Gardener, would you like some too?”
The old lady looked at Milena.
“Sure, that’s fine.”
Milena picked up a teacup and looked at Reivan. Deep sadness lingered in his eyes.
“Grandmother, this tea is really delicious.”
“Right? Our house tea is special. You like it too, don’t you, sister?”
Reivan quietly sipped his tea, listening to the conversation. Milena had become quite adept at imitating Scarlet now.
“Sister, don’t go anywhere again. You’ll stay longer this time, right?”
“I will.”
Listening to Milena and Elizabeth talk, Reivan silently gazed at the garden. Memories of childhood spent here with his grandmother surfaced. But now, it wasn’t he comforting her—it was this stranger girl.
A mix of emotions weighed heavily on Reivan’s heart.
While they drank tea, the old lady suddenly stared intently at Milena.
“And you… who are you?”
Milena quickly smiled. In such moments, quick thinking was crucial. She couldn’t startle or scare the old lady—she had to remember that Elizabeth had dementia.
“I’m Milena.”
“Milena… that’s an odd name. You must not be from our country.”
“Yes, I came from far away.”
Reivan’s gaze shifted to the old lady. Elizabeth also noticed him.
“Who is this person? Why are they here?”
“That’s the gardener…”
While Reivan hesitated, Elizabeth’s pupils widened in panic.
“Mother! Mother, where are you! There’s a stranger! That person is going to hurt us! Mother, please save me!”
Suddenly, the old lady called out loudly for her mother.
“This person is scary. A stranger is in our house!”
“It’s okay. They’ll leave soon.”
Milena quickly comforted Elizabeth.
Reivan took a few steps back.
“Elizabeth, look at the roses. They’re blooming beautifully.”
Milena gently reassured the old lady.
“Oh… our roses?”
The old lady’s expression brightened a little. Her voice quickly returned to normal.
“Yes, especially those red roses—they’re beautiful.”
“My husband planted those. For our wedding anniversary…”
The old lady looked at the roses wistfully.
“He must have been a good man.”
“Yes… truly a good man. But he left early.”
Sadness crept into her voice.
Reivan watched his grandmother speak of his grandfather. Elizabeth seemed trapped in a long-past time.
“We had a grandchild here once. His name was Reivan. Have you seen him?”
Milena stole a quick glance at Reivan.
“Our grandchild has just turned five. So young.”
“Oh my, he must be really cute.”
Milena nodded enthusiastically. Reivan’s expression twisted with pain, yet he found himself strangely unable to look away from Milena. It was as if a halo of light surrounded her.
