TNBT 04

Chapter : 4

Heitsrind Manor had been bustling for several days.

Countless servants and maids scrubbed and polished every corner of the estate in preparation, while the kitchens were equally busy, cooking an endless variety of dishes.

The mansion was cleaned every single day, to the point where it seemed there was nothing left to polish, yet everyone continued working diligently.

The kitchen, in particular, was like a battlefield.

Adele’s room happened to be close to the kitchens, so every day delicious aromas drifted in through the crack beneath her door. Whenever she had nothing to do and boredom crept in, she amused herself by imagining the dishes being prepared.

That smells like a sweet fruitcake loaded with dried plums and raisins…

And now… roast chicken, crisped with olive oil and fragrant herbs…

It was surprisingly fun to picture the foods she recognized.

Though it always made her hungry afterward.

Bailey believed that children should have snacks often, so every now and then she secretly brought Adele little portions from the kitchen.

Thanks to her, Adele was finally able to enjoy buttery cookies and soft chocolate fudge—things she had never once tasted during her years at the charity school.

It didn’t take Bailey long to realize that Adele had unexpectedly refined tastes.

Then again, remembering what House Baden had been like before its bankruptcy, such refined preferences were hardly surprising.

Whatever the reason, thanks to Bailey’s warm kindness, Adele was able to live comfortably without ever going hungry.

Lately, Adele had become completely absorbed in reading.

Her room was more than spacious enough for a twelve-year-old, and the furnishings were almost as good as new.

The problem was that there was absolutely nothing in it that might entertain a child.

She had already grown accustomed to days without toys during her time at the charity school. But in this room, aside from sewing, there was literally nothing else to do.

So she spent every day reading.

On the third day after Adele arrived at Heitsrind, Duke Clausen summoned Bailey.

Norman had already informed him that Bailey had been placed in charge of Adele.

The Duke looked utterly exhausted.

Closing his dry, weary eyes, he spoke.

“Is Adele settling in well?”

“Yes, Your Grace. She’s doing quite well. She’s a very gentle and well-behaved young lady.”

“I see…”

After a brief pause, he continued.

“If she needs anything, tell Norman. I’d appreciate it if you looked after the girl’s comfort.”

“Of course, Your Grace.”

Bailey hesitated for a moment before asking,

“Would it be acceptable for Miss Adele to use the library?”

She recalled the conversation she had shared with Adele the previous day.

The Duke slowly opened his eyes again and considered the request.

“…Very well.”

After a brief silence, he added one condition.

“So long as she doesn’t attract Daniela’s attention.”

That was only natural.

The moment he finished speaking, the Duke picked up the whiskey glass before him and emptied it in a single swallow.

“I’ll take my leave now. We’ve prepared Miss Adele’s room at the far western end of the first floor.”

Bailey bowed respectfully before leaving the Duke’s study.

The Duke offered no response.

Apparently, Adele would be allowed to continue using that room.

Having received the Duke’s permission, Bailey carefully watched for an opportunity.

The Duchess’s daily routine was rather predictable.

Being deeply devout, she frequently visited the chapel even on weekdays. The rest of her schedule consisted mainly of shopping, medical appointments, and afternoon tea gatherings with noble ladies.

Today, Dana—who followed the Duchess like a shadow—had accompanied her on an outing.

It was the perfect opportunity.

Bailey immediately brought Adele to the library.

The instant they entered, an amazed gasp echoed through the room.

“Wow…! It’s even bigger than the library at our house!”

“The Master and the Young Master both enjoy reading,” Bailey explained.

“There are many priceless books here from every era and every corner of the world. Choose a few you’d like to read, and then we’ll head straight back to your room.”

“Yes!”

Adele’s eyes sparkled as she looked around.

Expensive mahogany bookshelves stood in double rows, while gleaming metal ladders rested neatly upon rails running along the shelves.

The library stretched upward toward an incredibly high ceiling.

To reach the books on the upper shelves, one had to climb the ladders.

For a twelve-year-old like Adele, those rolling ladders were almost irresistibly tempting.

Bailey, worried someone might enter at any moment, felt time crawling by painfully slowly.

Adele, meanwhile, was so intoxicated by the familiar scent of books that time seemed to fly.

Eventually she selected several books that looked interesting.

She also carefully memorized exactly where each one had been shelved.

If I return them to the proper place next time, they’ll probably let me borrow more.

As they returned to her room, Adele’s steps felt unusually light.

The library was on the third floor, while her room was on the first.

Naturally, they passed many servants hurrying about their duties.

As usual, they looked at Adele with equal measures of curiosity and disdain.

Today, however…

She hardly noticed.

All she could think about was getting back to her room and opening her new books.

Several days passed.

Bailey occasionally taught Adele embroidery and sewing, while Adele spent nearly all her free time reading.

At last, she received permission to go outside into the garden.

That day, the Duchess had gone to the chapel.

She also had parish activities afterward, meaning she would not return to Heitsrind until quite late.

While sewing, Bailey had noticed Adele repeatedly glancing toward the window and shutters.

With a solemn expression, she gave Adele several stern instructions before finally allowing her outside.

“Thank you so much!”

Quickly slipping on the shoes beside the shutters, Adele beamed.

A proper young lady would normally leave through the mansion’s front entrance.

But it was best if she remained unnoticed.

So Bailey instead let her leave through the side shutters.

“Remember everything I’ve told you.”

“I will.”

“You must come back exactly one hour from now and continue the sewing we were doing.”

“I won’t forget.”

“And as I just told you, under no circumstances are you to enter the garden behind the Golden Lion statue.”

“The gate is locked anyway, so you couldn’t get in even if you wanted to.”

“That is Her Grace’s private garden.”

“I understand.”

“And stay on the dry paths whenever possible.”

“Don’t step into any muddy patches.”

“Yes.”

Normally, Adele was calm and composed.

But now she could barely stand still.

She wanted nothing more than to dash into the bright summer sunshine waiting outside.

Yet Bailey seemed to have an endless list of warnings.

Back at the charity school, playing outdoors had been strictly forbidden.

The last time Adele had freely breathed fresh air must have been near the end of early spring.

She still remembered the smell of damp earth awakening beneath the season’s warmth.

Bailey seemed to notice how restless she was.

Smiling softly, she held out a small paper package.

“Here.”

“They’re ginger biscotti.”

“If you get hungry, find somewhere pleasant to sit and enjoy them.”

She slipped the paper-wrapped bundle—about the size of Adele’s fist—into her apron pocket.

“Thank you!”

Grinning brightly, Adele opened the shutters and ran outside.

“My, she’s excited…”

Bailey shook her head with a helpless smile as she left Adele’s room.

As she walked down the corridor, a faint smile still lingered on her lips.

Heitsrind Manor in June was breathtaking.

When Adele had first arrived, rain had been pouring from gloomy skies.

Her own heart had been just as overcast, leaving her unable to properly appreciate her surroundings.

Now, standing outside and looking back at the mansion from a distance, she finally saw how magnificent it truly was.

Its aged stone walls looked sturdy and dignified.

Long ivy vines climbed gracefully up one side.

The red rooftops and elegant towers stood beautifully against the brilliant blue summer sky.

Its grand arched entrance, countless lattice windows, and balconies all possessed timeless elegance.

Beyond the mansion stretched an endless emerald forest.

People had often praised the Baden estate where Adele had once lived.

But compared to Heitsrind, it simply couldn’t compare.

“Wow…”

The word escaped her without thinking.

This isn’t the time.

I should go see the garden.

Reluctantly, Adele tore her eyes away from the mansion.

Beautiful though it was, the rose garden she had admired through her bedroom window looked even more enchanting.

The warm scent of summer trees drifted gently through the air.

Perfectly trimmed hedges lined the pathways.

Following one of the paths, she soon reached a maze woven from blooming rose bushes.

It’s so beautiful…

Until now, she’d never realized roses came in so many different colors.

Tiny Tania roses bloomed like scattered jewels among the shrubs.

Soft pink Four Seasons roses swayed gently in the breeze.

Farther ahead, brilliant crimson roses flourished proudly in magnificent clusters.

Carefully avoiding the sharp thorns, Adele reached out and gently stroked a petal.

It felt as soft as her mother’s hand.

The countless rose bushes stretched onward, following their own careful order until they disappeared into the distance.

The gardener must have watered them not long ago.

Small puddles dotted the rich brown earth.

Within each puddle reflected Pforzheim’s blue summer sky…

…and beneath it, the countless roses blooming like a piece of heaven.

Remembering Bailey’s warning not to dirty her shoes, Adele stepped lightly around every puddle.

As she slowly admired the seemingly endless roses, she gradually grew hungry.

Walking through the fresh air after spending so long indoors had sharpened her appetite.

That reminded her of the biscotti tucked safely inside her apron pocket.

I wonder if there’s somewhere nice to sit…

The afternoon sun had grown rather strong.

She decided to find a shady tree where she could rest for a while and enjoy Bailey’s snack.

Since every rose bush was fairly short, she kept walking in search of taller trees and deeper shade.

Then—

Beyond the green hedges…

She spotted a blue iron gate in the distance.

As though enchanted, Adele found herself walking toward it.

The gate was decorated with carvings of beautiful sirens and a ship caught in a raging storm.

It stood slightly ajar…

As though inviting her inside.

The paint looked freshly applied.

Not even the smallest chip could be found.

Holding the gate, gleaming beneath the sunlight, she peered through the opening.

Beside it stood a stone wall almost completely covered in ivy.

Because of the wall, the only view inside came through the blue iron bars.

Leaning through the half-open gate, Adele looked around.

Unlike the low rose bushes of the rose garden, the trees inside grew tall and thick, gathering together like a small forest.

Instead of soft dirt paths, lush green grass covered the ground.

Farther away stood a graceful white birch tree.

I’ll eat my biscotti there and rest for a little while before heading back.

Just then…

Bailey’s warning suddenly resurfaced in her mind.

It’s fine.

Bailey said the Duchess’s garden would be locked.

Besides… I don’t see any Golden Lion statue.

Even though she knew the Duchess was away, she’d been nervously searching for that statue the entire time she’d walked through the rose garden.

With a soft creak, she pushed the iron gate open a little farther and stepped inside the unfamiliar garden.

The high stone walls had hidden just how spacious it really was.

The trees towered overhead.

Following a path lined with pine and oak trees, Adele headed toward the patch of shade she had noticed earlier.

Then—

A rustling sound came from beneath the trees.

Someone stepped quietly out of the shadows.