Chapter 75
I recalled the mont when Leshan refused Kaysen’s escort earlier. It reminded
of when Ryan had co by and ntioned that Leshan would prefer us to et. Perhaps she had hoped for reconciliation between
and him.
Considering that she usually avoided direct confrontations, this might have been the first ti she explicitly expressed such a desire.
‘Ryan must have been upset by that.’
Perhaps Leshan was justifying her actions by convincing herself that she was being kind.
Whatever the case, it was clear that she was drawing a line between herself and both Ryan and Kaysen.
I cautiously asked, "Are you distancing yourself from them?"
Leshan gave an awkward smile.
‘The heroine distancing herself from the male leads?’
Could this be another change that I had brought about?
"It’s not exactly distancing myself…" she trailed off.
"…."
"I just want to beco a better person before I love anyone."
I began to understand why Leshan was the heroine. How many people realize their imperfections and strive to improve themselves?
"Leshan," I called her na softly, turning to face her. It had been a while since I had addressed her like this.
"Yes."
Her prompt response reminded
of the tis when we got along. I reminisced briefly before speaking.
"You’re already a good person."
This was the sincere truth that I could share with the changed Leshan.
Leshan whispered cautiously, "Lady Marceau, my grandfather will definitely help you."
"…."
"I believe in him."
Her voice was filled with conviction, and for a mont, I felt like everything would be okay.
Was I more exhausted than I realized? Her steady breathing soon filled the room. I turned my body toward her.
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could see her face more clearly.
Leshan’s face was graced with a peaceful smile.
The next morning, I was awakened by a commotion. Although no one had entered the room due to the note I left on the door, sothing seed to be happening.
"Lady Marceau! It’s urgent!"
"…What is it?"
Half-asleep, I asked with my eyes barely open.
"Marquis Ephekl has co to see you!"
"…Marquis Ephekl?"
That news snapped
wide awake.
‘It’s unexpected that he would co to see .’
Given the recent deterioration of my relationship with Leshan, I thought everyone in society knew that the Etwar estate was the last place she would go.
‘Does he know sothing?’
It seed necessary to et with Marquis Ephekl.
"Tell him I’ll be out shortly."
I quickly prepared myself to et him. It didn’t take long.
When I entered the parlor, I found Marquis Ephekl sitting there, looking pale and tense.
"What brings you here?"
I maintained a slightly annoyed deanor. I wanted to gain sothing from this encounter, and above all, I didn’t want him to read anything from my expression.
Marquis Ephekl scratched his chin before speaking.
"Has Leshan co here?"
I frowned as I listened to his question.
"You’re aware that Lady Leshan and I aren’t on good terms," I reminded him, reiterating what everyone knew.
"I’m not ignorant of that. But…" he hesitated, studying
intently. His gaze felt like a trap, sothing that ca from years of intuition.
"Still, I have a feeling she’s here."
He spoke with the authority of an investigator. Most young ladies would have confessed by now.
But I wasn’t just anyone.
I was Marceau Etwar, who had perfected her poker face after enduring the antics of Ryan and Kaysen.
"It seems you’re mistaken. I’ve cut ties with her long ago. Anyone you ask will tell you the sa."
He stared at
for a long ti, but nothing changed.
Thinking of Ryan’s face cald my racing heart and brought it back to a steady rhythm.
‘Ryan is useful sotis.’
Marquis Ephekl didn’t seem inclined to speak. Perhaps he was worried I might leak information.
So, it was ti for
to take the lead.
"But I am curious. Everyone knows how close you and Lady Leshan are. Why did she leave so suddenly?"
I poked at his conscience.
"What could have caused such a rift?"
He blinked rapidly at my words.
"That’s none of your concern. Don’t go around talking about it."
He warned .
He wasn’t soone who would overturn things lightly. He had co here because he was sure Leshan was here.
Even though he had co up empty-handed, his visit was beneficial to .
"Understood. But in return for today’s favor."
"…."
"I’ll visit you tomorrow."
This wasn’t a request; it was a notification. If he didn’t accept, it would an the end of our negotiations.
The implication was clear: let
in, or I’ll spread the word about today.
Marquis Ephekl chuckled bitterly, then took a sip of the tea in front of him.
After putting down the cup, he asked, "The Lady of Etwar has sothing to discuss with
directly?"
"Yes."
"About what?"
"I urgently need to discuss the magic stones from the mine I own."
His eyebrow twitched at the ntion of the magic stones.
He was keenly observing to see if I knew anything.
He was probably pondering whether my questions about his relationship with Leshan and my ntion of the magic stones were just coincidences or intentional. He was considering all possibilities.
I had to make sure he didn’t read anything from .
I t his gaze with the sa expression I had before we started talking.
"…I look forward to it."
In the end, Marquis Ephekl couldn’t glean anything and reluctantly agreed.
"Co by at 4 PM tomorrow."
He muttered, as if taking responsibility for his actions, and then left the estate. His departing figure seed unusually forlorn.
When I returned to my room, Leshan rushed over, her face filled with worry.
"Oh my… I didn’t expect my grandfather to co. I’m sorry."
"It’s fine, Leshan. Thanks to you, I’ve arranged a eting with him."
"Really, already?"
"There’s no ti to waste."
I had wanted to resolve this before eting the magicians, and it worked out well. Leshan’s arrival here might have been a stroke of luck.
…And I was glad to see her changed, even if it wasn’t a full reconciliation.
Leshan and I stood awkwardly, facing each other. We had said everything we needed to yesterday, so there wasn’t much left to discuss.
"Um…"
Leshan began to speak, but a knocking sound at the window interrupted her.
She fell silent, and we both listened closely. The sound was unmistakably made by a person.
‘But this is the third floor.’
Could it be Darcy?
With a bit of anticipation, I opened the window.
"Lord Darcy sent ."
Seeing Kaysen’s face, I felt a wave of disappointnt.
"…Don’t look at
like that. Lord Darcy thought I’d be needed to move Lady Leshan or bring Ethan here discreetly."
Kaysen protested, clearly catching my disappointed gaze.
…Well, if we were to continue our conversation from last night, soone who knew the situation and had excellent physical abilities was indeed needed. Either Darcy or Kaysen.
"What’s Darcy doing?"
"He’s eting with Marquis Etwar."
It made sense; Marquis Etwar needed to be inford of the situation.
Nodding, I gestured for Kaysen to co inside and pointed to Leshan, who was watching him.
"As you can see, Captain Kaysen, Lady Leshan is well and hasn’t been hard by ."
Of course, I didn’t forget to defend myself. Who knew when Kaysen might jump to another wild conclusion?
"…I didn’t say otherwise."
"Oh, you say that so often that I must have forgotten."
I responded with a cheerful smile. Even as I continued to needle him, Kaysen remained silent.
‘He was always like this in the book.’
It had been a long ti since I’d seen Kaysen in his role as the stoic, popular supporting male character.
‘…Leshan doesn’t seem likely to end up with Ryan anymore.’
Having realized that Ryan and Marquis Ephekl had been conspiring, it would be difficult for her to return to him.
So why not give the supporting male lead a chance?
Feeling generous, since things were going well between Darcy and , and I had secured a eting with Marquis Ephekl, I decided to give them so ti together.
"Then, could you take Leshan to the room where Ethan is? We should continue the conversation from yesterday."
"…Understood."
Kaysen’s eyes widened slightly at my request, but he nodded.
As Leshan approached Kaysen, she naturally stood close to him. Watching their awkward interaction, I blinked.
‘…Is this what people call chemistry?’
I had heard that Kaysen frequently visited Leshan’s estate… but had they not grown closer?
‘Not that it’s any of my business.’
I tilted my head slightly and reached for the door handle.
"Well, I’ll go on ahead."
I walked ahead to the study where Ethan was waiting. He was leaning against the wall, deep in thought. His haggard face suggested he hadn’t slept much.
"How… is this possible…"
He seed to be mulling over what we had discovered yesterday.
"That’s why we’re here to talk."
It was ti to solve both his questions and mine.
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