The girls surrounding the table followed his back with their eyes and lowered their voices.
“Michael is really so kind! His face and gentlemanly manner make him seem like a nobleman, don’t you think?”
“That’s right. He’s very dignified for a servant. He’s really handsome. Actually, I prefer Master Kyle... Master Kyle is too distant and unapproachable, but Michael is easy to approach.”
“Actually, Michael is realistic. You know what? Who among us would get along well with... Hehe. But Angie, it seems like you two have become quite close while you were the maid? Judging from the fact that he even carried your luggage to your house. Are you two perhaps more than friends?”
The girls all sighed in disappointment at Emma's guess.
“What? Is that really so? The two of you go well together, but... I can’t help but feel discouraged. Sob sob...”
“What? No, something like that!”
Angie waved her hands in embarrassment, then lowered her voice and whispered so that her mother in the kitchen would not hear.
“Michael and I are just friends. So please don’t spread rumors or anything...”
“Yes, if that’s what you say. But Michael is the nephew of Mrs. Hester, the head of the House of Commons, right? He’s the son of Edith Randall, the older sister of Mrs. Randall, who died a long time ago.”
“Yes. I don’t know for sure, but I heard he was a wealthy person. His father died during the war, so his mother, who was pregnant, came to the island with Mrs. Randall.”
“I see. He’s so handsome. Hmm... If you look closely, he kind of resembles the previous Duke.”
Maria and Stephanie nodded at Emma's words.
“Right? It wasn’t just me who saw it that way. If only his hair was black like Edward’s... Ah, if Michael had this cold, expressionless look on his face like Master Kyle, wouldn’t the two of them look alike?”
“That’s true! But there’s no way Michael would make that kind of face like Master. The atmosphere itself is too different.”
“That’s right. The young master is so cool, handsome, and perfect... So I also like the young master, but I’m still a little scared.”
The girls clasped their hands together in ecstasy, but their shoulders shuddered and shuddered. Angie looked around at her friends with a puzzled face.
“Hey... Are you that scared of the young master?”
Of course, when she looked at him from a distance as a maid, his cold and stern face gave off a completely different vibe. But Angie never felt scared. Could it be because he was so gentle and affectionate when they were alone?
“Of course. Angie, aren’t you scared?”
Before she could reply, the back door opened and the two men came back in. Zachary held out the box Jerome had asked her to deliver.
“Here it is. It looks like candy.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Angie took the box and placed it on the nightstand in the bedroom. Then, while Zachary and Michael were in the living room eating the remaining tea and cookies, she called her friends into the room and distributed the scented candles Mrs. Dunst had given them as a gift.
“Oh my, this is something precious that the Duke uses. Can we take it?”
“It’s okay. There’s enough left over even if you take two.”
“Wow, really? It was hard to choose, but then I’ll go with the lavender and freesia scents!”
There was a brief, pleasant commotion, and various shadows moved busily between the room and the living room. So no one saw it. The box on the side table opened silently, and a letter moved under the glass jar containing candy, but no one saw the hand.
'Wake up, Angie! You are nothing more than his remedy! You will be transformed into his flesh and blood, and your own existence will disappear without a trace...
“Michael is really so kind! His face and gentlemanly manner make him seem like a nobleman, don’t you think?”
“That’s right. He’s very dignified for a servant. He’s really handsome. Actually, I prefer Master Kyle... Master Kyle is too distant and unapproachable, but Michael is easy to approach.”
“Actually, Michael is realistic. You know what? Who among us would get along well with... Hehe. But Angie, it seems like you two have become quite close while you were the maid? Judging from the fact that he even carried your luggage to your house. Are you two perhaps more than friends?”
The girls all sighed in disappointment at Emma's guess.
“What? Is that really so? The two of you go well together, but... I can’t help but feel discouraged. Sob sob...”
“What? No, something like that!”
Angie waved her hands in embarrassment, then lowered her voice and whispered so that her mother in the kitchen would not hear.
“Michael and I are just friends. So please don’t spread rumors or anything...”
“Yes, if that’s what you say. But Michael is the nephew of Mrs. Hester, the head of the House of Commons, right? He’s the son of Edith Randall, the older sister of Mrs. Randall, who died a long time ago.”
“Yes. I don’t know for sure, but I heard he was a wealthy person. His father died during the war, so his mother, who was pregnant, came to the island with Mrs. Randall.”
“I see. He’s so handsome. Hmm... If you look closely, he kind of resembles the previous Duke.”
Maria and Stephanie nodded at Emma's words.
“Right? It wasn’t just me who saw it that way. If only his hair was black like Edward’s... Ah, if Michael had this cold, expressionless look on his face like Master Kyle, wouldn’t the two of them look alike?”
“That’s true! But there’s no way Michael would make that kind of face like Master. The atmosphere itself is too different.”
“That’s right. The young master is so cool, handsome, and perfect... So I also like the young master, but I’m still a little scared.”
The girls clasped their hands together in ecstasy, but their shoulders shuddered and shuddered. Angie looked around at her friends with a puzzled face.
“Hey... Are you that scared of the young master?”
Of course, when she looked at him from a distance as a maid, his cold and stern face gave off a completely different vibe. But Angie never felt scared. Could it be because he was so gentle and affectionate when they were alone?
“Of course. Angie, aren’t you scared?”
Before she could reply, the back door opened and the two men came back in. Zachary held out the box Jerome had asked her to deliver.
“Here it is. It looks like candy.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Angie took the box and placed it on the nightstand in the bedroom. Then, while Zachary and Michael were in the living room eating the remaining tea and cookies, she called her friends into the room and distributed the scented candles Mrs. Dunst had given them as a gift.
“Oh my, this is something precious that the Duke uses. Can we take it?”
“It’s okay. There’s enough left over even if you take two.”
“Wow, really? It was hard to choose, but then I’ll go with the lavender and freesia scents!”
There was a brief, pleasant commotion, and various shadows moved busily between the room and the living room. So no one saw it. The box on the side table opened silently, and a letter moved under the glass jar containing candy, but no one saw the hand.
***
'Wake up, Angie! You are nothing more than his remedy! You will be transformed into his flesh and blood, and your own existence will disappear without a trace...
No more precious lives must be sacrificed in such cruel ways. Everyone must escape the island safely... In the new world, so that only skin and bones will be left behind in the tragedy... Your hometown of Vintergar... We in Revan... '
Angie opened her eyes with a thud. Her pajamas were soaked with cold sweat. Martin Silva had appeared in her dreams for the first time in a long time. But this time, it was not a real interaction like before, but a literal dream.
In my dream, Martin's face was not visible. In the darkness, his familiar voice was desperately calling out something. However, it was interrupted by the sound of waves coming from somewhere. The last part was buried in the noise, so Angie woke up without even hearing it.
Her heart began to pound with anxiety. Angie got out of bed and lit a candle. Beyond the window, a purple dawn was spreading across the sky. The snow globe that Kyle had given her as her first gift, a pure white sphere, looked dark blue in the dawn light.
“Calm down. This time it was really a dream. Martin Silva didn’t show up...”
Angie sat on the edge of the bed, trying to calm her pounding heart. She remembered the time four days ago when she and her master had stood at the foot of the cliff, looking down at the mysterious night sea of fireflies. Then, the agitation caused by the strange dream began to subside. Thinking that she would be able to see her master again in three days, her heart was quickly regaining its composure as if it were a lie.
After washing up and changing into her everyday clothes, she braided her hair on both sides and tied it neatly into a single braid. Her long blonde hair, which had flowed lusciously, was tied in a knot near her crown, leaving only a few strands below her pure white nape.
Before leaving the room, Angie took out a violet candy from a glass jar and put it in her mouth. The sweet, sour, and refreshing scent of the flower-filled her mouth. The candy that the master had asked Jerome to give her was something she really liked. It was a candy that was always on the table with the snacks whenever she went to his bedroom to read books and tell him stories.
She hoped there might be a letter in the box, but there was only candy. She was a little disappointed, but she quickly shook it off. The Master must have been very busy, not even having time to write a few words. It's okay because they'll meet again soon anyway.
As the day dawned, the blue sky enveloped the entire island in a warm embrace. The temperature was still low, so it didn’t feel like spring yet. The three of them sat across from each other at the breakfast table next to the warm fireplace, and the savory flavor of the soup made with various vegetables was full. Laura put chopped croutons on top of her daughter’s soup and poured some more warm milk tea into her glass.
“Angie, it’s so good to have you home again. Don’t come to the North Shore cottage for a while rest at home. We have plenty of manpower to help out with the grown-up kids from South Beach. Was today the embroidery meeting?”
“Yes. I haven’t been able to attend the weekday meetings, so I’m planning to go today and finish the race.”
“Yes. It’s still cold outside, so dress warmly and go out so you don’t catch a cold.”
When Angie opened the side door leading to the backyard to see the Ridsdels off after dinner, the chilly early February air stung her skin. The breath between her lips rose like smoke and made her nose tingle. But her heart felt light and refreshed, perhaps because the sky was so clear.
But that bright mood didn't last long.
As they entered the chapel/community hall where the embroidery club was being held, everyone was in a cheerful mood. Angie greeted Emma, Maria, Stephanie, her best friends, and the other girls, and took out a guipure lace fabric from her bag.
“Oh, isn’t that Michael? He must have stopped by on his way to town to run an errand!”
When someone pointed out the window, the girls ran in the blink of an eye and lined up against the window. In the front yard of the hall, there was a carriage used by the Duke's errand boys. Behind it, Michael and some workers were carrying boxes and talking. Then, Michael felt a presence from above and looked up at the girls.
“Michael, hello?”
“Nice to meet you - are we meeting again today?”
Yesterday, at Angie's house, friends who had become acquainted with each other waved their hands and laughed heartily. Michael also smiled brightly and raised his hand. When he saw Angie's face, his expression seemed to brighten up a little. However, the cheerful atmosphere in the room did not last long.
Someone slammed open the salon door and came in, squeezing through the girls and stopping in front of Angie. It was Leticia Dervan and her followers. Their pretty faces were distorted unpleasantly. Angie was greeting them, even in her embarrassment.
“Hello, Leticia. Long time no see...”
“This fucking bitch!”
Everyone let out a loud gasp at the sound that cut through the air. Angie's body lurched violently and she hit her back hard against the window frame.
At first, she didn't realize what had happened. It was only when she felt a burning pain on her cheek that she realized that Leticia had hit her. She was so shocked that she couldn't even stand up straight until Emma and Stephanie came running to help her up.
“Dirty bitch. There was a reason I hated you from the beginning! I strangely hated you and didn’t feel affection for you... My instincts were telling me.”
“Leticia! What the hell is this? Angie, are you okay?”
“Oh my God! Look at those swollen cheeks... I need to ice them.”
“Get out of the way! Don’t argue when you don’t know anything.”
Leticia placed her hands on her hips, her heart pounding with excitement. Her lips twisted even more horribly, looking as if they would rush at Angie and bite her at any moment.
“Since everyone is here, I’ll tell you. Listen carefully! Angie Ridsdel is one hell of a slut. She seduced my fiancé, Master Kyle, and had secret affairs with him every night! Isn’t that just too horrible for me to even say?”
Angie opened her eyes with a thud. Her pajamas were soaked with cold sweat. Martin Silva had appeared in her dreams for the first time in a long time. But this time, it was not a real interaction like before, but a literal dream.
In my dream, Martin's face was not visible. In the darkness, his familiar voice was desperately calling out something. However, it was interrupted by the sound of waves coming from somewhere. The last part was buried in the noise, so Angie woke up without even hearing it.
Her heart began to pound with anxiety. Angie got out of bed and lit a candle. Beyond the window, a purple dawn was spreading across the sky. The snow globe that Kyle had given her as her first gift, a pure white sphere, looked dark blue in the dawn light.
“Calm down. This time it was really a dream. Martin Silva didn’t show up...”
Angie sat on the edge of the bed, trying to calm her pounding heart. She remembered the time four days ago when she and her master had stood at the foot of the cliff, looking down at the mysterious night sea of fireflies. Then, the agitation caused by the strange dream began to subside. Thinking that she would be able to see her master again in three days, her heart was quickly regaining its composure as if it were a lie.
After washing up and changing into her everyday clothes, she braided her hair on both sides and tied it neatly into a single braid. Her long blonde hair, which had flowed lusciously, was tied in a knot near her crown, leaving only a few strands below her pure white nape.
Before leaving the room, Angie took out a violet candy from a glass jar and put it in her mouth. The sweet, sour, and refreshing scent of the flower-filled her mouth. The candy that the master had asked Jerome to give her was something she really liked. It was a candy that was always on the table with the snacks whenever she went to his bedroom to read books and tell him stories.
She hoped there might be a letter in the box, but there was only candy. She was a little disappointed, but she quickly shook it off. The Master must have been very busy, not even having time to write a few words. It's okay because they'll meet again soon anyway.
As the day dawned, the blue sky enveloped the entire island in a warm embrace. The temperature was still low, so it didn’t feel like spring yet. The three of them sat across from each other at the breakfast table next to the warm fireplace, and the savory flavor of the soup made with various vegetables was full. Laura put chopped croutons on top of her daughter’s soup and poured some more warm milk tea into her glass.
“Angie, it’s so good to have you home again. Don’t come to the North Shore cottage for a while rest at home. We have plenty of manpower to help out with the grown-up kids from South Beach. Was today the embroidery meeting?”
“Yes. I haven’t been able to attend the weekday meetings, so I’m planning to go today and finish the race.”
“Yes. It’s still cold outside, so dress warmly and go out so you don’t catch a cold.”
When Angie opened the side door leading to the backyard to see the Ridsdels off after dinner, the chilly early February air stung her skin. The breath between her lips rose like smoke and made her nose tingle. But her heart felt light and refreshed, perhaps because the sky was so clear.
But that bright mood didn't last long.
***
As they entered the chapel/community hall where the embroidery club was being held, everyone was in a cheerful mood. Angie greeted Emma, Maria, Stephanie, her best friends, and the other girls, and took out a guipure lace fabric from her bag.
“Oh, isn’t that Michael? He must have stopped by on his way to town to run an errand!”
When someone pointed out the window, the girls ran in the blink of an eye and lined up against the window. In the front yard of the hall, there was a carriage used by the Duke's errand boys. Behind it, Michael and some workers were carrying boxes and talking. Then, Michael felt a presence from above and looked up at the girls.
“Michael, hello?”
“Nice to meet you - are we meeting again today?”
Yesterday, at Angie's house, friends who had become acquainted with each other waved their hands and laughed heartily. Michael also smiled brightly and raised his hand. When he saw Angie's face, his expression seemed to brighten up a little. However, the cheerful atmosphere in the room did not last long.
Someone slammed open the salon door and came in, squeezing through the girls and stopping in front of Angie. It was Leticia Dervan and her followers. Their pretty faces were distorted unpleasantly. Angie was greeting them, even in her embarrassment.
“Hello, Leticia. Long time no see...”
“This fucking bitch!”
Everyone let out a loud gasp at the sound that cut through the air. Angie's body lurched violently and she hit her back hard against the window frame.
At first, she didn't realize what had happened. It was only when she felt a burning pain on her cheek that she realized that Leticia had hit her. She was so shocked that she couldn't even stand up straight until Emma and Stephanie came running to help her up.
“Dirty bitch. There was a reason I hated you from the beginning! I strangely hated you and didn’t feel affection for you... My instincts were telling me.”
“Leticia! What the hell is this? Angie, are you okay?”
“Oh my God! Look at those swollen cheeks... I need to ice them.”
“Get out of the way! Don’t argue when you don’t know anything.”
Leticia placed her hands on her hips, her heart pounding with excitement. Her lips twisted even more horribly, looking as if they would rush at Angie and bite her at any moment.
“Since everyone is here, I’ll tell you. Listen carefully! Angie Ridsdel is one hell of a slut. She seduced my fiancé, Master Kyle, and had secret affairs with him every night! Isn’t that just too horrible for me to even say?”
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