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Chapter 16
“Something must have happened there. Did someone treat you badly? Just tell me. Even if I’m an old man relegated to the back room, I haven’t lost enough influence in high society for my words to carry no weight.”
Grandfather spoke with anger, as if it were his own matter.
If Grandfather chose to support me even once, people would surely at least greet me out of obligation. But I couldn’t keep being elevated by relying on something that wasn’t truly mine.
Even if he stood behind me now, it was something I would have to face again eventually.
As I realized at the ball, I was nothing more than the head of a powerless baron family. It was better not to covet things beyond my station from the start.
I had already once been driven to ruin by excessive greed. I didn’t want to go through that again. If it was something I had to endure anyway, I didn’t want to lean on Grandfather.
“Nothing happened. If something bad does happen later and I can’t handle it on my own, I’ll tell you then.”
I said that, but I would probably never ask him for help.
“Alright. If you ever need my help, make sure to tell me.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
I smiled gently so he wouldn’t worry.
After chatting with him for a while, a knock soon came at the door.
“Master, Baron Marbes, the meal is ready.”
“Alright, we’ll come.”
Recognizing Rachel’s familiar voice, I stood up. A servant who had been waiting nearby approached and supported Grandfather. He leaned on the servant as he rose.
He used to be able to walk on his own, but now even that seemed difficult.
Seeing his condition so clearly made my heart ache. Perhaps because of that, a sharp pain shot through my chest.
As I was about to take a step, I suddenly staggered.
Fortunately, Rivet, who was standing beside me, caught me. Holding onto her hand, I took a small, steady breath.
But the unsettling pain in my chest didn’t seem to subside.
“Cecil?”
When I remained still, holding onto Rivet, Grandfather called my name, sensing something was off.
He wasn’t in good health himself, and I didn’t want to worry him, so I forced a bright smile.
“It’s just… I got dizzy from standing up too quickly.”
“Must be anemia again. You need to take care of your health too.”
Grandfather didn’t know that I had Trintz disease. I had strongly asked Doctor Watt to keep my illness a secret. Because of that, he only thought I had simple anemia.
“Yes. I actually saw Doctor Watt and got some medicine prescribed. You don’t have to worry too much.”
“That’s good, but… just in case, I’d like you to get examined by him again. Your complexion hasn’t looked good lately.”
“Yes, I will. I promise.”
After confirming that Grandfather was reassured, I started walking. Thankfully, there was no problem moving my feet.
I matched my pace to his.
It was a relief that Grandfather walked slowly. If he strode like Eins, he would have noticed something was wrong immediately.
After walking a bit, I was able to move as if nothing had happened.
“Wouldn’t it be better to take your medicine?”
As I let go of Rivet’s support and walked on my own, she whispered quietly. After a brief moment of thought, I shook my head.
“Not yet. If it gets worse, I’ll take it myself.”
“…Alright.”
I lightly patted Rivet’s drooping shoulders and went down the stairs.
The dining room was on the first floor.
After descending the stairs, we entered. Grandfather sat at the head of the table, and I took a seat beside him.
As we waited for the meal to be served, the closed door suddenly opened and an unexpected person entered.
“…Eins?”
Without realizing it, I called his name and stood up.
Eins, having entered the dining room, checked Grandfather and me, then strode straight toward the table with his long legs.
Then he sat down directly across from me.
“What are you doing? Planning to keep standing?”
He spoke as if scolding me. I looked at him awkwardly before sitting down.
“I didn’t expect you to come, Duke. You don’t usually show up…”
Even if Eins had planned to dine here tonight, I thought he would leave his seat since I said I would be staying for dinner.
That was how it had always been before the divorce, so it felt natural.
But thinking about it more, I quickly realized how strange that assumption was.
To begin with, this mansion belonged to Eins.
Before the divorce, he avoided even seeing me and wouldn’t come to the dining room, but now he had no reason to avoid me.
If anything, as the guest, I should be the one to leave early if it was uncomfortable.
However, Eins didn’t seem particularly bothered by me sitting across from him.
“It’s not strange for me to eat in my own dining room, is it?”
“I just thought it might make you uncomfortable…”
I spoke as if ready to stand up at any moment, and Eins looked at me as if I were ridiculous. But he didn’t follow up with any sharp remark.
After staring at me in silence for a while, he let out a short laugh and crossed his arms.
“So what if I say I’m uncomfortable?”
“…Then I’ll leave. The master of the house shouldn’t have to.”
After finishing my sentence, I turned my head toward Grandfather. He was looking at me with a sorrowful gaze.
“Grandfather, I’m sorry, but for tonight—”
“Enough.”
Just as I was about to excuse myself, Eins cut me off.
I looked at him in confusion. He frowned, as if something displeased him.
“Forget it. Just eat. I came knowing you’d be here anyway.”
Though his tone was rough, it carried permission.
I hesitated for a moment before choosing to remain seated. Aside from my relationship with Eins, I didn’t want to worry Grandfather.
“You came knowing I’d be here?”
“Yeah. There’s no way I wouldn’t hear what happens in this mansion.”
That was obvious. Perhaps because I already knew that, it felt even more surprising.
Still, I didn’t show it and simply pressed my lips together. Eins also didn’t speak further.
Grandfather looked back and forth between us and let out a quiet sigh.
“Eins.”
Grandfather called him.
When Eins turned to look at him, Grandfather spoke with a stern expression.
“Cecilia was once your wife. Even if you’re divorced, you should treat her with respect.”
“It was an unwanted engagement and an unwanted marriage—one you forced on me, Grandfather. Yet you don’t seem to acknowledge the effort I put into enduring it until the divorce.”
“Eins!”
Grandfather shouted his name. Eins met his gaze for a moment before turning away.
“I’m doing my best already, so let’s drop the subject.”
As if declaring he wouldn’t listen to any more lecturing, Eins turned his eyes—toward me. His gaze was still cold and devoid of warmth.
A heavy silence settled over the dining room.
Neither I, nor Grandfather, nor Eins spoke, all feeling the same discomfort.
Fortunately, the dishes began arriving one by one. Otherwise, we might have ended up unable to eat at all.
“Before you leave tonight, take the documents with you.”
After a long stretch of silent dining, Eins suddenly spoke.
At first, I didn’t realize he was talking to me, so my response came a beat late.
“…What did you say?”
“The materials Jackson gathered on Baron Moldovan. It details how that bastard seduced the wives of wealthy merchants and noblewomen to extort jewelry and valuables.”
At his words, I recalled the day I ran into Eins while I was with Kadiya.
The memory made my brows knit slightly.
“I don’t think I need those documents.”
I had no feelings for Kadiya anyway.
Even if he was a wastrel after my fortune, he couldn’t take anything from me if I felt nothing for him.
Besides, I clearly remembered that Eins had already warned me twice about Kadiya. Because of that, I was already wary enough.
“I’ll handle my own affairs. Thank you for your concern, but let me say this one last time—please don’t interfere in my business.”
“….”
At my firm words, Eins frowned.
