HST 31

Chapter 31

The pounding rain drenched the ground, soaking it thoroughly. Beneath a sky heavy with dark clouds, it poured down as if the heavens themselves had been pierced. The butler had firmly warned everyone not to follow him—if Doana were to see anyone seeing him off as he was being driven out, it could bring harm upon her. This line of work paid far better than most, and no household would welcome someone dismissed from another noble family. That was an unspoken rule of aristocratic society.

Unable even to see him off, the servants wept at the cruel reality. The butler lifted his head and stared blankly at the endlessly falling raindrops. His vision blurred. A hollow emptiness surged through his chest, as though a part of him had been blown away. The sky, blanketed in pitch-black clouds, looked no different from his own life—dark and overcast.

How bitter…

Though the rain came down in torrents, he neither wanted nor had the presence of mind to hold an umbrella. Being cast out like this from the place to which he had devoted his entire life was simply heartbreaking. For what purpose had he given his loyalty all these years? To receive no proper treatment and be expelled like this… A clear stream—whether rain or tears, he could not tell—ran down his cheek. Looking pitiably haggard, the butler wore an expression as if he had lost everything in the world.

Rose ran toward the butler standing there in a daze. She held an umbrella in one hand, but it was hardly enough to fend off the storm. The long hem of her skirt was already thoroughly soaked. Having run without even avoiding puddles, her shoes were filled with muddy water. With every step, they squelched heavily. Though Rose normally hated getting wet in the rain, her soaking shoes and dress did not even register. Had her dress ever felt this cumbersome before today?

So heavy.

Waterlogged, her steps slowed. At that moment, a carriage came racing in from afar. The clattering of hooves and the discordant sound of the wheels were unusually loud. Splashing through mud, the carriage stopped in front of the butler. Rose knew it instinctively—if she let him go like this, she would never see him again.

No…!

She couldn’t allow that. At the very least, she wanted to exchange a final farewell. Raising her voice, Rose called out toward the butler as he approached the carriage.

“Gwen!”

Her voice rang through the wind and rain. The butler, moving with weak steps, flinched. A woman’s voice from behind him.

I told them no one needed to see me off… someone came anyway.

He didn’t want to turn around. His situation was too miserable. He didn’t want to show such a broken 모습 even at the very end. Forcing a smile as he offered his farewell was the last shred of pride he had.

The head maid, perhaps…

She was likely the only one in that mansion who would defy his words and come out. Without turning back, the butler quietly continued on. Just then, a dark shadow fell over his bowed head. The rain that had been pouring down painfully suddenly stopped. It was still raining all around, but above his head, an umbrella had appeared.

Gwen slowly looked up at the umbrella now sheltering him.

“Gwen…”

A soft voice came from behind him. He knew who it was the moment he heard it.

That voice…

Unable to hide his surprise, Gwen turned around.

“My lady?”

Before him stood Rose, drenched by the rain. Her dress clung heavily with moisture, and her hair was soaked through. Seemingly unconcerned with the rain falling on her own head, she reached out toward Gwen and held the umbrella over him. When their eyes met, Rose forced the corners of her lips upward, unable to conceal the sorrow shadowing her eyes.

Gwen had never expected this—least of all that Rose, the countess herself, would come running to him like this. His startled gaze wavered. For a long while, neither of them spoke. The violently raging rain only weighed the atmosphere down further.

“You’re out in the rain without even an umbrella.”

It was Rose who broke the silence first. Sadness seeped through her voice despite her forced smile. The butler gazed at her without a word. Seeing his lack of response, Rose let out a bitter smile. He had always been immaculate and composed… yet now, his hair hung loose, his eyes unfocused. This was nothing like the dignified Gwen she had always known.

Staring blankly at Rose, Gwen hurriedly lowered his head. He didn’t want to face her with a face drenched in tears. Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, he spoke softly.

“My lady, it’s cold. Please go inside.”

Seeing Rose soaked through because of him made Gwen uncomfortable. How could his heart be at ease when the mistress he had served was standing in the rain because of him? He gently pushed the umbrella tilted toward his side, trying to keep her from getting any wetter.

“Thank you… for everything.”

Rose’s quiet voice echoed softly.

“Thanks to you, I was able to endure living here.”

It was true. His considerate care had been a great source of strength for her. She could never fully express how grateful she was for his silent support at her side.

“I was too flustered,” the butler said, lifting his monocle slightly. “I couldn’t even come to bid you farewell.”

Eric’s words—dismissed—had been quite a shock.

“No matter how busy I was, I should have come to see you, my lady.”

Rose shook her head at his apologetic words and replied gently.

“Please don’t say that. Gwen, I came because I wanted to tell you just how grateful I am to you.”

At her words, Gwen felt his nose sting. Ah… he mustn’t cry again. They said you grew more prone to tears with age—perhaps it was true. Just one sentence from her, and his emotions surged. Sniffling, the butler lifted his head. Though his eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Rose, his expression seemed lighter than before.

“That this old man was of help to you, my lady… I am truly glad.”

He had always felt sorry for Rose, being treated coldly in such a vast mansion. Having become a countess yet never receiving the respect befitting her position, being dismissed by the man she called her husband—it was painful to watch. That many of the servants treated Rose kindly was largely due to the butler’s influence. Gwen, who held great sway in the household, had taken the lead in looking after her, ensuring others did not treat her carelessly.

“…Where will you go now?”

Her thin voice was tangled with regret and sorrow—the sadness of losing the great pillar who had supported her, and the pain of knowing she might never see him again. The butler could not answer easily. What family would take in someone who had been expelled? He lowered his head with a bitter expression.

Shaa…

A heavy silence settled between them, broken only by the sound of the pounding rain. The butler’s hair, usually neatly combed back, now hung limply, drenched and unsightly.

Does he have nowhere to go…?

Rose could sense it from Gwen’s listless appearance—he had no destination.

It feels like he’s in trouble because of me…

Her heart was uneasy. Doana must surely have been involved in his dismissal. When whales fight, shrimp get crushed. Seeing the butler caught up in her affairs with Doana, Rose felt a measure of responsibility.

I can’t let him go like this.

She couldn’t just stand by while he was unfairly cast out. She wanted to help him somehow… but with her lack of connections and information, what could she do? Rose’s mind raced.

Wait… there was something I needed a butler for!

A thought flashed through her mind. Having made her decision, Rose looked straight at him, firm resolve shining in her eyes.

“I have a request. Would you hear me out?”

What kind of request could she possibly make of an old man?

“Well… now that I’m no longer a butler, I’m not sure how I could be of help to you, my lady…”

Gwen trailed off, sounding as though he might refuse—yet he added quietly,

“But if this old man can be of any use to you, then by all means.”

Rose smiled in response.

“Gwen, I need you. I have a business venture in mind.”

His eyes wavered at her words.

“A… business, you say?”

Had he ever seen her preparing for such a thing? Rose smiled at the stunned butler. It was something she had long deliberated. In truth, she had never planned to run a department store entirely on her own. The world was always harsh—working hard alone did not guarantee results. Could someone like her, once an ordinary salaried worker, really manage such a massive enterprise? Probably not. Even small shops often failed. She had never even traded stocks before.

High risk, high return had never been part of her life—it scared her. Her goal had simply been to live a long, quiet, ordinary life. There was nothing wrong with being ordinary. In her previous life, dreams had been a luxury. Having joined a large corporation, she was told endlessly to stop entertaining foolish ideas and just do her job. Believing that success wasn’t for just anyone, she abandoned her dreams without ever trying.

But she didn’t want to live that way in this second life. She no longer wanted a life where fear of failure stopped her from even attempting. Perhaps it was the effect of being the heroine—but courage welled up within her. The die had already been cast. Rather than fearing failure, it was better to think about how to successfully run the department store.

One thing she had always kept in mind while planning it was this: hiring someone to handle the actual operations.

Running a business requires professionals.

She would be the owner, but she intended to hire a CEO and CFO. Looking at Gwen, who was staring at her in shock, she thought:

He managed the Wens Count household’s finances and operations for thirty years.

She had heard it during her tutoring—the ones who saved the crumbling Wens household were the former count, Cedric, and Gwen. The reason the family’s finances were so solid was thanks to Gwen’s efforts. He was said to be a talent coveted even by the imperial family.

There’s no one better than him at managing finances.

The perfect candidate had been right in front of her all along, and she hadn’t even realized it. Gwen wasn’t a hidden gem—he was a fully cut diamond. Smiling, Rose extended her hand toward him.

Gwen quietly looked down at her delicate hand. It felt as though he had returned to that day thirty years ago—when Cedric had reached out to him, and he had stood at a crossroads, wondering whether to take that hand. Unlike Cedric’s firm grip, Rose’s hand was soft.

What kind of business is she planning…?

He was deeply curious. The woman who had once clung only to Eric, passive and obedient as if she had erased herself from life, was now preparing to step out into the world. Slowly lifting his head, light returned to Gwen’s once-dull eyes. Meeting her gaze directly, he took her hand.

“It would be my honor, my lady.”

Whatever the business might be, he would make it succeed. A burning determination surged in his chest. The rain, once driven fiercely by strong winds, began to thin. The stinging downpour subsided as if nothing had happened. A brief shower meant to cool the heat of summer.

A ray of sunlight broke through the dark clouds that had covered the sky. The butler who had been instrumental in building the count’s wealth now joined hands with Rose. Following the Grand Duke of Arteum, a formidable new ally had come to her side.