TNKBP~10

Chapter 10

Dieter stopped by several dessert shops along the way, buying a little bit of everything.

The moment the employees recognized him, they apologized to the customers waiting in line and hurriedly brought out beautifully packaged desserts.

By the time he was finished, both of his hands were overflowing with boxes and bags.

And somehow, before I knew it, he had escorted me all the way back to the carriage bearing the crest of House Ritberg.

“Please, Lady Lindsey.”

Apparently, his offer to escort me hadn’t been an empty courtesy.

The entire walk, he had offered me his arm and opened every door for me.

Bill looked thoroughly bewildered, but seemed content to observe the situation rather than interfere.

Dieter greeted him with a nod before handing over the desserts and the fountain pen he had been carrying.

“I feel responsible for taking up your time. It seems Lady Lindsey didn’t get the chance to properly finish shopping for desserts.”

Then he glanced at me.

“You’re heading to Martin’s house, aren’t you?”

“Huh…? How did you know that?”

Dieter laughed softly.

“I just had a feeling.”

He gestured toward the packages.

“These are Martin’s favorites. If you give them to him, he’ll be very, very happy.”

A mischievous smile tugged at his lips.

“Though I suspect he’ll be even happier to see Lady Lindsey herself.”

My face immediately grew warm.

Dieter simply smiled and offered a polite bow.

“One more thing.”

His expression became slightly more serious.

“Please don’t tell Martin that you met me today. I’ll introduce myself at the proper time.”

I folded my arms.

“You still haven’t told me who you are.”

Dieter burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha! Lady Lindsey, meeting you today has been remarkably entertaining.”

He stepped back from the carriage.

“I do hope the three of us can sit down together someday.”

Then he lightly tapped the roof of the carriage twice.

“Now, off you go. At this rate, you’ll arrive far too late.”

As expected, he offered no real answer.

The carriage door closed gently.

Dieter stepped back and waved.

Bill climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

The powerful rumble filled the carriage.

Slowly, we began pulling away.

I watched through the window.

Dieter remained standing exactly where we’d left him.

Watching us go.

Only when distance swallowed him from view did I finally look away.

* * *

We traveled in silence for quite some time.

Eventually, Bill cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Ahem… My lady.”

I noticed him glancing at me repeatedly through the rearview mirror.

“How did you become acquainted with that gentleman?”

He quickly added,

“Not that I’m interrogating you, of course. If the question is inappropriate, please forgive me.”

“Oh, no need to apologize.”

I shook my head.

“He said he’s a friend of Martin’s. We just happened to meet while I was shopping for Martin’s gift.”

I smiled.

“That’s all.”

Perhaps my answer was too brief.

Bill opened his mouth as though he wanted to say more, then thought better of it.

For a while, only the sound of the carriage remained.

Eventually, he spoke again.

“I see.”

His voice was careful.

“Even so, I hope you’ll be cautious around unfamiliar gentlemen.”

He hesitated.

Then continued.

“You are… precious to all of us servants, Lady Lindsey.”

The sincerity in his words made me pause.

“It isn’t simply because it’s our duty to serve you.”

His grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel.

“You’re someone very important to us.”

Warmth spread through my chest.

Of course they worried.

A young lady who had lost her mother early in life.

A child living away from her father for the first time.

The servants couldn’t help but care.

Understanding their feelings, I smiled softly.

“You’re right.”

I nodded.

“I didn’t think about it that way.”

Then I added,

“I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Bill immediately looked flustered.

“I wasn’t trying to scold you, my lady. If it sounded that way—”

“It didn’t.”

I shook my head.

“Actually, I’m grateful.”

His shoulders visibly relaxed.

Turning toward the seat beside me, my gaze fell upon the collection of boxes and bags swaying gently with the movement of the carriage.

The fountain pen.

The ink.

The carrot cake and oatmeal cookies Dieter had given me.

And the bottle filled with fresh fruit juice.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, reflecting off glass and ribbons alike.

Tiny rainbows danced across the interior.

…This feels nice.

A warmth I hadn’t felt in a long time settled over me.

Before transmigrating, I had never had the luxury of appreciating things like this.

Growing up without parents—

Without anyone to protect you—

Was cruel.

The government subsidies had helped, but they were never enough.

Especially after I’d stubbornly chosen an academic high school.

Schoolwork and part-time jobs had constantly battled for dominance in my life.

Compared to that… this is heaven.

Exactly the kind of heaven I’d dreamed about.

A family.

People who cared.

Hot baths every day.

Delicious meals.

The freedom to study without worrying about survival.

If this wasn’t heaven, what was?

All I have to do is work hard.

That was enough.

In this world, that was enough.

So I would do my best.

At school.

For my future.

For my friendships.

For everything.

As I stared absentmindedly out the window, a familiar road gradually came into view.

“We can see Young Master’s residence now.”

Bill’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“We’re almost there. You may want to prepare to get out.”

“Okay.”

I straightened my skirt and gathered my belongings.

Somehow, just catching sight of the estate made my heart race.

It felt absurd.

As though I had already spotted Martin waiting at the end of a hallway.

Pressing a hand against my chest, I tried to calm my excitement.

The snacks can stay with Bill.

I adjusted my grip on the packages.

I’ll carry the fountain pen and documents myself.

Those needed to be delivered personally.

Before long, a large iron gate appeared ahead.

A guard standing outside raised a hand, signaling for the carriage to stop.

Bill lowered the window and greeted him politely.

“We’ve come from House Ritberg.”

The guard’s eyebrows rose slightly.

“This isn’t official business. Our young lady is a friend of the young master here. She has something academy-related she’d like to deliver.”

“I wasn’t informed of any visitors.”

The guard peered inside the carriage.

His eyes landed on the Ritberg crest.

Then on me.

After a moment, he nodded.

“If you’re a friend of the young master, then please proceed.”

The gates slowly opened.

Bill guided the carriage through.

We passed a beautiful garden where a fountain sprayed sparkling arcs of water into the air.

Soon, broad gray stone steps came into view.

At the top stood an enormous mahogany front door.

The carriage stopped.

Bill hurried around and opened my door.

“After you, my lady. I’ll carry the rest.”

“Thank you.”

Together, we gathered the packages and climbed the stairs.

I rang the bell.

Once.

Twice.

A few moments later, the door opened.

A neatly dressed man wearing gold-rimmed glasses greeted us.

“Good afternoon.”

He bowed politely.

“May I ask the purpose of your visit? I wasn’t informed we would be receiving guests today.”

“Oh.”

I smiled.

“I’m Martin’s classmate. Our homeroom teacher asked me to deliver something.”

“Ah, I see.”

His expression immediately softened.

“My apologies. Please come in.”

Judging by his appearance, he was probably the estate’s butler.

Stepping aside, he ushered Bill and me inside.

The exterior had already looked impressive.

The interior was even more stunning.

Without realizing it, I found myself glancing around.

The dignity of nobility…

The elegance of nobility…

I was absolutely not supposed to gawp at another family’s home like some country bumpkin.

But honestly—

How could I not?

The chandelier hanging overhead was larger and more extravagant than the one in the mansion I currently lived in.

That was when it truly hit me.

Martin comes from a ridiculously wealthy family.

Immediately, I straightened my back.

Lifted my chin.

And silently reminded myself:

I am also rich.

Do not be intimidated.

The butler tilted his head slightly, clearly confused by my sudden transformation.

Then he approached politely.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I’ll inform the young master.”

He paused.

“May I have your name, my lady?”

“Lindsey.”

I smiled.

“Lindsey Ritberg.”

“Lady… Lindsey Ritberg?”

For the briefest moment, something flickered across his face.

Surprise.

Perhaps disbelief.

But it vanished almost instantly.

“My apologies.”

He bowed.

“What an honored guest.”

Then he turned toward the grand staircase.

“I shall inform the young master that a lady of House Ritberg has arrived.”

As he ascended to the second floor, I noticed him repeatedly tilting his head in confusion.

Well.

I couldn’t exactly blame him.

A marquis’s daughter had suddenly appeared at the estate carrying enough gifts to stock a small bakery.

That probably looked suspicious no matter how you spun it.

So Bill and I stood quietly in the center of the entrance hall and waited.

And waited.

Then—

CRASH! THUD!

A tremendous commotion erupted upstairs.

A moment later, someone came barreling into view at the top of the staircase.