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chapter 58
From Grace’s perspective, Aborant seemed like a flashy guy who couldn’t give up on dressing well despite having a failed business.
Anyway, he would succeed greatly in the future, so at least he didn’t look entirely pathetic.
“It seems you think the same way as I do. Most merchants, when they fail, just accept it—they never carry themselves with the confidence and elegance like I do. Haha, this is purely my belief. I may lack money, but I am not without pride.”
Quite the show-off.
Grace’s expression turned slightly sour.
“Everyone laughed at me and thought I was pathetic, but to meet someone who thinks like me in a place like this! And let me give you a tip: I may have failed, but I haven’t really failed.”
“Excuse me?”
“I will succeed again. Imagine that, and anything is possible.”
He was full of audacity and even a touch of madness.
Was his imagination really just imagination?
It sounded nice, but if he didn’t succeed, it would have just ended as delusion.
“So, what was the name of the trading company you ran?”
“Plat Trading Company. Though it’s currently on a brief pause, I will surely succeed as a merchant.”
Aborant clenched his fist and spoke determinedly, as if making a vow to himself.
“I wish you all the best in your future.”
“Thank you. By the way, what’s your name? I’d like to get to know you better, since it’s been a while I’ve met someone I can actually talk to.”
Whether he was a show-off or a little crazy, he was someone who would succeed greatly in the future.
Grace had no reason to refuse his desire to build a connection first.
“Shall we go now?”
But Livanu intervened, saying something different.
“Excuse me?”
“It’s an urgent matter.”
Was it really urgent?
“It seems I’ve interrupted your urgent business. Then we’ll just have to meet next time.”
At the word “urgent,” Aborant stepped back politely, and Livanu held Grace’s hand and strode past him without looking back.
Despite his rough steps, the way he held Grace’s hand was careful.
Watching the five people leave, Aborant asked Mrs. Johnson, with whom he had just been conversing:
“I’ve been here over a week, yet these are people I’ve never seen?”
The town was so small that he had already gotten to know all the residents in just a few days.
Even so, there were barely 30 households.
“They live in the mansion.”
“Oh, those young masters… Then who’s the lady?”
“She’s Grace, the maid who takes care of the young masters. She’s kind, pleasant, and loved by everyone in town.”
“Grace…”
Aborant murmured her name.
He had seen the mansion a few times while passing by.
It was the largest estate in the territory, so it was visible from anywhere.
The sons of a prominent family, he had heard, and it seemed the ones he saw earlier were indeed those people he had only heard about.
Though there were three men, all three were blond, so he assumed they were brothers.
“Hmm.”
However, the unfortunate thing was that the man holding Grace’s hand was particularly unattractive.
He didn’t know which family he belonged to, but he had never seen someone so ugly in his life.
To be the only plain-looking person among shining siblings, it seemed almost pitiful.
“How can one get into the mansion? Do they come out often?”
Still, that aside, Aborant had taken an interest in Grace and hoped to see her more often.
The encounter had been too brief, and he wanted to talk with her more.
“No villager ever goes into the mansion. When they do come out, they return quickly, and Grace rarely comes out. The young masters have been coming out a bit more frequently recently, though.”
“I see.”
Aborant sighed at how disappointing that was.
“Haha, seems you really liked Grace,” Mrs. Johnson said, laughing heartily at his expression.
“Yes. I wasn’t just saying things earlier.”
“Grace is a charming woman.”
“That’s true.”
Aborant wore a dreamy expression, lost in his imagination.
‘Was it love at first sight?’
Mrs. Johnson anticipated that something quite interesting might happen.
Livanu wasn’t in a good mood.
Although the village visit was to celebrate his accomplishments, it had been ruined by that failed merchant, Aborant.
“Grace, do you like that merchant?”
Normally sociable, Grace’s gaze toward Aborant was filled with fondness.
Though she seemed to regard him as a bit ridiculous, her eyes were fundamentally positive.
“Yes.”
“…Yes?”
“Yes, I think it’d be nice to become friends.”
Livanu would also succeed, but in a different field.
Being friends would be beneficial, like Ahin, and never harmful.
“Is there a reason?”
“Do there have to be reasons?”
There was a purpose, but Livanu didn’t need to know it.
“…Not really.”
“Anyway, the important thing is today is the young master’s celebration, not about Aborant. Let’s enjoy our meal.”
By then, they arrived at Aunt Stella’s shop and began eating.
Livanu was usually quiet at meals, but today he was unusually silent and distracted.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“No.”
“Well, try this too—it’s good.”
Grace handed him the food, and he naturally ate it.
“How is it?”
“Rich and savory. Delicious.”
“Want some more?”
“Thanks. Grace, you try some too.”
Only then did Livanu smile and start eating properly.
Seeing Grace smile slightly, seemingly relieved, he couldn’t understand his own feelings.
‘How should I put this?’
He was clearly unsettled.
But he didn’t want Grace to notice. He couldn’t let her know.
‘Why do I dislike it when others are interested in Grace, or when Grace is interested in others?’
Ahin, Leto, and even Ahin.
‘Grace doesn’t seem like that at all… so why just me…’
The most intrigued by this was Ahin.
“Don’t just feed the young master—Grace, eat some too.”
Deliberately mimicking how Grace had cared for Livanu earlier.
“This is good too, want some?”
“You eat more.”
Though Grace didn’t give Ahin any opening.
“You, cold-hearted woman! Ah, a wintry gust blows through my heart. No place to hide my lonely heart.”
“Why are you rambling again?”
“I’m reciting a sensitive poem, how is that rambling? Grace, you heartless person.”
“…Do you want to see what being truly heartless is?”
Livanu disliked Ahin but could tolerate it for now.
Grace was selectively attentive—kind to Essi and Leto, merciless to Ahin.
She wasn’t cruel, but her indifferent gaze toward trivial, bothersome things was stark.
“Fine, I’ll just shut up and eat.”
Ahin, who had been dramatically reciting, finally fell silent.
Then, Grace, who had been cold to the pestering Ahin, asked Livanu:
“Young master, are you feeling unwell?”
“Why?”
“You suddenly looked unwell.”
“I’m fine. Sorry if I worried you.”
“No, it’s my job.”
Still, realizing she was fully focused on him relieved him somewhat.
She would treat that merchant the same way, he thought, which eased his mind.
A few days later.
Grace had to go into town briefly.
Immediately, Livanu asked:
“Can I come too?”
“You’ll be back soon.”
“I’m bored. I want to go with you.”
Worried she might encounter Aborant, Livanu insisted on accompanying her.
“Hmm, then let’s go out and have some fun while we’re at it.”
“Alright.”
They sent a letter and stopped by a café for drinks.
Having visited often over the past two years, they knew all the menu items and could order freely.
Grace liked cream black tea the most, while Livanu preferred a cleaner taste over sweet drinks.
“Same as usual?”
“Yes, the same.”
But Livanu also ordered cocoa, Grace’s second favorite drink.
She thought cocoa was his favorite.
“No need to order.”
“Eh?”
“It was already being prepared.”
The café owner, familiar with their regular orders, had already made the drinks by the time they arrived, smiling as he held them.
“Thanks!”
Grace took the drinks and sat by the window.
“I prefer this spot today.”
Livanu chose a secluded spot, out of sight.
“Here?”
Though he usually liked corners when hiding his skin condition, after being publicly exposed, he preferred windows. Grace blinked, surprised.
“Why suddenly…?”
“Just felt like it this time.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“That’s really it?”
“Yes. Next time we’ll sit by the window. Today, I really wanted this spot.”
“Alright then.”
No sooner had they sat than Aborant, the person Livanu wanted to avoid, appeared wandering near the café.
