TRST 32

Chapter 32

The moment I saw Eins, it felt as if my heart had dropped—like I’d been caught gossiping behind someone’s back.

It made sense. I had clearly heard from Rachel that he wouldn’t be returning until late at night. So, I hadn’t expected to run into Eins while the royal banquet was still in full swing.

As I stared at him in surprise, his blue eyes met mine. Eins looked down at me with an unreadable gaze.

“Long time no see.”

Eins spoke to me. I hadn’t expected him to initiate conversation, so I awkwardly nodded.

“Yes, it’s been a while, Your Grace. Um… I was… as you already know, going to see grandfather…”

“I know. You don’t need to explain.”

Cutting off my words, Eins walked past me, standing by the door.

I turned my head to watch him. He walked straight toward grandfather, as if he had business with him.

For a moment, I had been on guard, wondering if he had come to see me—but that didn’t seem to be the case.

I watched Eins as he appeared to report something to grandfather, and then I left the room shortly afterward.

The sound of the door closing blocked out Eins’ voice from inside. Even then, my startled heart wouldn’t calm easily.

Placing my hand over my chest, I could feel my heart pounding rapidly. It was only natural, since I hadn’t expected to encounter him there.

I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, then began walking as if nothing had happened.

“Duke, I’m sorry. The master said he’d be late today, so I don’t know why he returned so early…”

Rachel, who had also seen Eins, approached me apologetically. I smiled faintly at her.

“It’s alright. I suppose His Grace had business that brought him back. Even you, Rachel, can’t possibly know all of the sudden changes in the duke’s schedule. You don’t need to apologize to me.”

“Yes…”

Seeing Rachel smile after me, I entered the room I had used before my divorce.

The room looked exactly as I remembered. I looked around with a strange mix of nostalgia and sentiment.

“It’s just as I remember.”

“Yes. We haven’t really changed anything since you left, Your Grace. We still clean every day, though.”

Rachel added beside me. I smiled silently at her.

Though my belongings were gone, leaving the room somewhat empty, the furniture remained, preserving enough memories to dwell on.

This was the room I had stayed in for nearly ten years after coming to the Graham estate. It was filled with countless memories accumulated over time.

Though I had already taken all the belongings I needed, I returned to this room for one object I had left behind.

I approached the familiar desk. Running my hand lightly across its surface, I bent down and opened the drawer.

In the last compartment of the desk drawer sat a small jewelry box.

I carefully picked it up. Inside, there was a necklace with a small locket and a fountain pen.

I picked up the locket necklace I had originally intended to take. Opening the locket revealed portraits of four people.

The portraits included grandfather, Eins’ father, Lord Alex, and young versions of Eins and me.

It had been drawn shortly after I came to the Graham estate. I remembered being fascinated when I saw the large portrait magically reduced to fit inside the locket. After receiving it, I wore it every day and checked the portraits frequently.

However, since father’s passing, the necklace had remained locked in the treasure box. I hadn’t dared to take it out, fearing that Eins might see it and feel pain again.

When I divorced and left the house, I had hesitated to take it but ultimately left it behind. Now, I had come back for it.

And…

My gaze inadvertently landed on the fountain pen remaining in the jewelry box. My name was engraved on it, albeit clumsily.

I picked it up gently. Eins had given it to me on my birthday when I had first arrived at the Graham estate.

I had written with it every day, without fail. After marriage, I had placed it in the jewelry box and never touched it again.

I stared at the pen in silence for a while.

I remembered putting it away in the box when my feelings for Eins had worn thin and I could no longer bear them.

It wasn’t something I had intended to take with me, so I thought about leaving it. Still, it seemed better to take it than to leave it behind.

In the end, I returned the locket and pen to the jewelry box and took the box with me.

“Your Grace, I’ll hold onto this and give it to you later when you leave.”

“Will you?”

Thinking it would be inconvenient to carry it while visiting grandfather, I handed the jewelry box to Rachel. Then, I left the room and headed toward grandfather’s room.

However, I had to stop in my tracks when I saw Eins standing in the corridor past the stairs.

Eins noticed I had come down and stared straight at me. I could feel the complex emotions burning in his eyes, fully directed at me.

“Could it be… you’ve been waiting for me?”

I hesitated before asking, and Eins nodded obediently in affirmation.

“Yes.”

“…May I ask what you were waiting for?”

Eins didn’t answer my question. I looked at him for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.

“You waited without anything to say? In that case, I’d like to pass by.”

“Are you doing alright learning mana from Master Cesare?”

Eins spoke, disrupting my plan to pass by silently.

“I’m fine, thanks to your concern. If that’s all, I don’t wish to discuss anything further.”

“If you change your mind, just tell me anytime.”

“That won’t happen. Even if circumstances prevent me from learning from Master Cesare, I don’t think I would ask you for help. Is that clear?”

“……”

Eins remained silent, watching me with eyes that seemed to burn.

I bowed slightly and continued walking. He didn’t stop me as I passed, though his expression was tense, and he stared straight ahead.

Wanting no further entanglement with him, I quickened my pace. Still, I carefully avoided appearing rushed.

I focused on hearing any sound behind me. Yet, there was nothing as I walked.

Once I returned to grandfather’s bedroom and confirmed the door was closed, I exhaled deeply.

“Why, Cecilia?”

Seeing me rush into the bedroom and sigh, grandfather asked with a puzzled look. I shook my head and smiled faintly.

“It’s nothing.”

After answering, I approached grandfather’s bed. He was propped up on his elbows, waiting for me.

“Is there something frightening outside? You don’t look well.”

I shook my head in response to his concerned question.

“No, it’s nothing. By the way, Duke Graham visited earlier—was there something going on?”

Trying to quickly change the subject, I asked. Grandfather looked at me with a pained expression before smiling bitterly.

“Cecilia, I suppose I must tell you as well.”

“Eh? Tell me what…?”

Grandfather began speaking slowly, as if reluctant.

“You know, my condition isn’t improving—it’s getting worse. You must have realized that, haven’t you?”

“….”

I did know. Watching grandfather grow weaker, I had already guessed that the time would come soon when I would need to prepare myself emotionally.

Still, I had tried not to dwell on such thoughts. Now, it seemed grandfather was choosing to tell me himself.

I wished I could avoid letting him speak about his condition directly, but there was no stopping him.

“You must have realized it, Cecilia. You’re perceptive, after all. And that meddling Dr. Watt surely wouldn’t have kept it from you. Isn’t that right?”

A cruel question aimed at me. I bit my lower lip and lowered my head, replying in a faint voice.

“I… I knew a little.”

Unable to refute, grandfather smiled kindly and spoke.

“That’s why, to sort out what remains for me, I’ve been asking Eins to handle various tasks recently.”