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Chapter 15
‘Are we really looking at the same letter? Are you really excited about this?’
Sigh…
This guy… is such a pushover.
He’s actually happy about this rude, cold message… unbelievable.
I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even speak.
“How should I reply?”
Frederick asked excitedly, unable to hide his joy. His eyes were sparkling, and if he had a tail, I swear it would’ve wagged right off.
“Hold on.”
I walked up to Frederick and picked up the ink pen.
‘Charlier likes bad boys, right?’
I scribbled a reply quickly and handed it to Frederick.
“Here. Copy this in your handwriting and send it.”
Frederick read the reply and frowned hard.
“…‘Been busy lately. Let me know when you get to Shairo.’ …Is this really it?”
He read the short line out loud. I nodded to show that yes, that was it.
“That’s it? You’re saying I should send this?”
“I told you. Charlier likes bad boys. Just send it.”
Frederick’s face clouded over again.
“But what if… what if she doesn’t want to meet me after getting such a short reply?”
He started bouncing anxiously on the balls of his feet.
“She won’t ignore it.”
“How do you know?”
I widened my eyes dramatically. Oh, this guy. Let me just save him one more time.
“Right now, Charlier is the one who’s desperate. She wants that gift, and she’ll definitely come find you to get it. So straighten your shoulders, take a deep breath, and wait until she comes to you.”
Frederick still looked worried. Just from his reaction, I could guess how badly he’d been used by Charlier in the past.
“Anyway.”
I brushed my hands off and took a step back.
“Anyway, pay up. Today. Charlier sent a letter, so that’s 1,000 Luke.”
“Today?”
Frederick blinked.
“Yeah. You’re supposed to pay bonuses right away. I’ll take the money, have lunch, go to town, get some fresh air. Hand it over.”
“A deal’s a deal.”
Frederick opened a drawer and pulled out a blank check.
‘Whoa! A real blank check! He just lives with these lying around?’
He filled it out for 1,000 Luke.
‘Oh my gosh. This is amazing!’
That amount was more than enough to go shopping without looking at price tags and still have money left over.
There’s nothing more fun than spending money!
Frederick handed me the check.
I took it politely with both hands.
“Thank you, Young Master. Hope you have a great day!”
“You only use honorifics when you want something.”
Frederick scoffed, but I didn’t care. 1,000 Luke could make up for any insult.
‘Let’s go to town!’
I was about to leave the study but paused mid-step.
‘Wait a sec.’
I turned back to look at Frederick.
“…”
Ugh, he’s really bothering me.
“…”
Fine. Let’s help him out a bit.
“Young Master, what are you doing after lunch?”
“Why?”
“Come to town with me.”
“I’m not going.”
Frederick waved dismissively, looking annoyed.
“You’re gonna meet Charlier wearing that? It’s tacky. Come with me, get some proper clothes, and I’ll help you pick a gift too.”
“…”
Frederick stopped and glanced sideways. I could tell he was thinking hard.
“Charlier really likes guys who dress well.”
And that was true. Charlier was big on fashion.
“…”
He looked unsure.
“If you don’t want to, forget it. I was gonna help for free, but whatever.”
I shrugged and turned back toward the door.
“G…”
Huh?
“…Go. I’ll go.”
Frederick mumbled, barely loud enough to hear. It was unexpected.
‘Wow. Touching. This is real love.’
He hadn’t left the house in years, but he was willing to go outside for Charlier? That’s real love.
I waved my hand lazily and said,
“Get ready after lunch. I’ll come get you.”
Then I left the study and closed the door behind me. I didn’t even see Frederick’s face, but I could already picture him sitting there deep in thought.
—Clatter. Clatter.
The sound of cutlery echoed in the spacious dining room.
Ecor glanced at Frederick’s face while clearing the plates.
‘Yup. I wasn’t seeing things earlier.’
Frederick’s face was glowing. On his normally pale skin, a faint pink blush had bloomed.
‘He really has changed since Lady Delphine arrived.’
Ecor smiled silently as he turned away with the plates.
“Ecor.”
“Yes, Young Master?”
Frederick set down his fork and looked up.
“Get a carriage ready after lunch.”
“A… carriage?”
Ecor almost dropped the plate. Frederick hadn’t asked for a carriage in six years. Since moving into this mansion, he hadn’t stepped outside once.
‘The Young Master is leaving the house…?’
Ecor didn’t know whether to be happy or worried. He waited to hear more.
“Yeah, a carriage. I’m going to town. You know, with that noisy girl.”
‘Noisy girl…’
The only noisy people in this house were Bella and Delphine.
‘It must be Lady Delphine. He wouldn’t be going out with Bella.’
Ecor sighed in relief. If he was going out with Delphine, it should be fine. If he’d said he was going out alone, Ecor would’ve panicked like a parent losing their child in a crowd.
“Yes, sir. I’ll prepare it right away.”
Ecor couldn’t hide his smile. Frederick noticed and gave him a curious look.
“Ecor, what? What’s funny?”
“Oh, it’s not that… I’m just happy you’re going out again. I’ll make sure everything’s ready.”
Frederick didn’t respond and just picked up his fork again.
“This is the letter I’ll send to Charlier.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ecor turned around with the plates. Luckily, Frederick didn’t see the look on his face.
Like Bella, Ecor didn’t like Charlier either.
‘He still likes her, even after everything that happened…’
Ecor left the dining room with a deep ache in his chest. To him, Frederick was like a son. It was painful to see someone he loved not being treated properly.
‘Now that I think about it…’
Ecor handed the dishes to a maid and stood outside the dining room.
‘Charlier’s coming back to Shairo soon…’
“…”
He let out a quiet sigh so no one could hear.
‘Another storm is coming. I really hope Lady Charlier just leaves our Young Master alone.’
He closed his eyes. It felt like all the painful memories from that horrible time were coming back.
“Ecor! Bring them back! Bring my parents back!”
Frederick’s voice, crying and screaming like an animal in pain.
‘I don’t think we can keep seeing each other. Wait for me to reach out.’
Charlier’s cold, unexplained letter breaking things off.
“Ecor. It’s really over.”
Frederick staring blankly at the letter in his hands.
“Waaah! Waaaah!”
Baby Bella, screaming her lungs out after losing both her parents.
Just remembering it gave Ecor chills.
‘I never want to go through that again.’
He hugged himself. Just thinking about that nightmare made him shiver.
‘But things are different now.’
The Feredi family’s wealth had multiplied, and Frederick had become the richest man in Shairo. He was still just a Baron, but wealth-wise, he was richer than most Dukes.
‘And now a Duke’s daughter is working in our household.’
Ecor’s thoughts turned to Delphine.
“…”
She was… a strange person. Just thinking about her made the corners of his mouth twitch into a smile. She made you want to laugh without even trying.
‘Maybe… the biggest difference is that Lady Delphine came to our home.’
The coldness of his old trauma melted away.
Ecor thought Delphine might be a ray of sunshine for the Feredi family.
‘If you spend time with light, you eventually learn how to shine, too. Young Master…’
From the bottom of his heart, Ecor wished for Frederick’s happiness.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the dining room doors, Frederick was still grinning—lost in thoughts of Charlier, completely unaware of Ecor’s feelings.
“Hmmm. La-la-la!”
I couldn’t help but hum.
‘I thought this life was ruined because of my ex, but now I’m making money off all that ex-girlfriend nonsense! Being a side character might be the best thing ever!’
I carefully tucked the check from Frederick into my wallet and grabbed my bag.
‘Okay, first we get that rude guy a decent outfit, then I treat myself, grab a dessert at a cafe—perfect plan!’
Before I left, I checked myself in the mirror. The dresses my mom had bought were way too fancy, like wedding dresses, so I couldn’t wear them casually. Instead, I put on a simple ivory dress with mint lace details and a warm coat.
‘Hope the carriage is warm today!’
Feeling all giddy, I skipped down the stairs.
‘Ah, right. Almost forgot the little pushover.’
I was about to pass the second floor but turned around and opened a door wide. I headed not to the study, but to the room with the bed.
Knock knock.
“I’m coming in.”
I didn’t wait for a reply and opened the door.
“Yoo-hoo!”
