04. Unsent Letter
To His Excellency Duke Damian Ernst von Tisse,
How have you been, Your Highness? It has been three months since I returned from Swanton, where the scent of roses filled the entire city. It is a cliché to say that time flies like an arrow, but it seems to be true.
Verdier's estate is now covered in thick greenery and filled with the scent of the forest. The summers here where I live are famous for being hot, but being in the forest makes it cool and gives me a break from the heat. Every time I do that, I recall the time the Duke gave to my family as a gift.
My sister Alice is currently corresponding with a gentleman she met at the party that day. He is a very good gentleman of high character and virtue, and our whole family is very happy.
I know very well that this is all a result of the Duke inviting us and taking care of us, but I was worried about how I could repay the Duke, and it ended up like this...
"Ah..."
Chloe stopped writing and frowned, then looked up. Another failure. She had clearly intended to write this 'time' in her head, but the word she had actually written was this 'state'. Perhaps because she was nervous, her word choices were becoming more and more extreme.
“I've just wasted valuable paper.”
Chloe sighed as she looked at the sheets of paper scattered across her desk. She had never had trouble keeping a household account book or writing paperwork, but letters were a different story. Especially when they were written to an unwelcome person.
"Miss."
Chloe turned her head at the sound and saw Gray standing in the doorway. Her heart felt a little heavy as she saw the maids who had not been paid leave and the groom himself appearing with a drink in his hand.
“Thank you, Gray. I was already feeling suffocated. Sit down.”
Chloe cleared her dry throat and looked at him.
“What about Alice?”
“...She went out for a bit in the morning and when she came back, she said she felt sick and didn’t eat anything and just stayed in her room.”
"I see."
Chloe swallowed the sigh that was about to burst out and lowered her voice secretly.
“Surely... She didn’t meet that gypsy, did she?”
When Alice was delighted to have made a friend of a wandering gypsy with the band last winter, Chloe had never imagined that things would turn out this seriously. She had no idea how the gypsy had managed to sneak in under the patronage of the Duke of Tisse, pretending to be a nobleman, and she had no desire to know.
"Well."
Gray hesitated for a moment before adding:
“Probably not. Miss Alice is a person with her own thoughts.”
Chloe looked out the window, hoping that Gray was right. It was after Count Cromwell, the last person Alice had danced with at the party, sent her a letter saying that he would soon visit Verdier's estate. Both Chloe and Alice knew that there was a high probability that he would propose.
“How can you marry someone you don’t even love?”
Chloe bit her lip slightly as she recalled Alice's brown eyes as she spat out her words. She shook her head slightly and muttered as if reciting a spell to herself.
“...Alice will definitely be happy.”
Anyone but Alice's family would have done this. It was impossible to allow a relationship with a wandering gypsy with no origins and no future.
“The Count is a good man and has a good reputation.”
Gray called out to Chloe softly as she repeated the words over and over again as if praying.
"Miss."
“...Huh? Gray.”
Gray hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth quietly.
“I think Miss Alice will be very lonely when she gets married and leaves the castle.”
Chloe smiled softly, looking at Gray's face, which still had faint freckles.
“Are you worried about me?”
“Are you off topic?”
Gray blinked, lowering his gaze. When he first came to this castle, he had been smaller than Chloe, but now, seeing that he was much taller than Uncle Chester, Chloe realized that a lot of time had passed.
“Yeah, that was off-topic.”
Gray looked up, startled. His tanned nose turned even redder.
“I’m sorry, Miss Chloe. I’ll be more careful next time.”
Chloe, who had been pretending to frown, eventually burst into laughter.
“I have my father and you, so why am I lonely?”
It wasn't Chloe's hobby to harass good servants. Especially with Gray, who had been living together in the castle for so long that it was no exaggeration to say that she was his friend. Of course, it was a story that would terrify her father if he heard it.
“Alice will go to the capital and live comfortably, and soon we will have many beautiful nieces and nephews. The Count has promised to send manpower to cultivate the land, so the situation of our land will soon improve, and then we will be able to pay you a ridiculously low salary.”
“Miss, I don’t mind receiving any amount.”
“I know, Gray.”
Chloe looked into his dark eyes and spoke again as if to confirm.
“Even when we had to send all the servants away because we didn’t have money to give them, you tried to persuade them by giving them your share of the money.”
“I have received so much more from you and my master.”
“I don’t know about anything else, but I’m sure I was your tutor.”
Gray, who had learned to read and write thanks to her, nodded shyly. The thick hair covering his forehead still made him feel like a boy.
“I don’t want to be a master who worries his servants, so I’ll leave my worries at that. Can you come here and read this letter? Actually, I’ve been holding onto it all morning.”
Only then did a smile appear on Gray's face.
“If I can be of any help, then by all means.”
“I’m writing a thank you letter to Duke Tisse for inviting me to the party, but no matter how I look at it, it seems like something is missing.”
“When I read it, it just seemed like a polite, formal, and well-mannered thank-you note, Miss.”
When Gray read the letter carefully and made a questioning face, Chloe shook her head.
“That's exactly the problem.”
“Why is that a problem?”
“I have a bad feeling that Duke Tisse’s personality is so eccentric that he will definitely find fault with whatever I send him.”
That's why Chloe should have sent the letter earlier, but she hesitated several times and didn't send it. Gray felt a little awkward as he watched Chloe bite her lip a little. It was a little strange because he had never seen her gossip about anyone before, but he soon came to the conclusion that she was the kind of person who would do something like that.
“If he has such an eccentric personality, wouldn’t he be even more upset about not sending a letter?”
Chloe thought so too, so she forced herself to pick up the pen.
“That’s right. I’ll finish everything by this afternoon and send the telegram. Can you come out to town later? I don’t feel like leaving Alice alone.”
“Yes, Miss.”
At that moment, the sound of the Viscount Verdier’s footsteps was heard through the study. Gray straightened his posture slightly and immediately took a step back to put some distance between himself and her. Viscount Verdier was a generous master to his servants, but that did not mean that he would let his children get along with his servants without any pretense.
“You’re here, Father.”
“My daughter.”
The Viscount of Verdier strode toward her with a face that could not hide his excitement. Chloe blinked quietly. Her father's expression looked very happy, but on the contrary, Chloe's heart was filled with inexplicable anxiety. When was the last time she saw her father's expression like that? It was right before something very unpleasant happened.
“I heard that Duke Tisse is coming to our territory to hunt.”
Chloe realized that her anxious premonition was right on the mark. The Viscount Verdier had the same look on his face as when she had first received the invitation to the party from the Duke.
“Yes... Yes? What’s that all of a sudden...”
“Aren’t there many wild animals in the forests of our territory? It is clear that they know that it is much more enjoyable than the easy hunting of deliberately releasing animals and catching them.”
It was hunting season. But if he wants to enjoy the high-class sport of hunting, there are far better castles than this countryside. Chloe's face turned even paler as she became convinced that the Duke had come here on purpose. Could she have prevented this misfortune if she had sent the letter sooner?
“Father, but right now our castle doesn’t have the space to receive guests.”
The Viscount Verdier was also not unaware of her concerns. Hunting was a social gathering place for men, so it was unlikely that the Duke would come alone. The Viscount glanced at Gray, who was standing silently, pretending not to hear anything, and cleared his throat.
“Don’t worry. I still have that much room. And the Duke has sent me food and servants because he thinks his friends might be bothering me while they are staying.”
“Father, then when...”
As soon as she finished speaking, Chloe turned her head to look out the window at the sound of a carriage. She could clearly see at least ten wagons entering the castle.
“They said it was nearby, but it seems the Duke came sooner than expected.”
Viscount Verdier looked back and forth between the telegram in his hand and the outside window and laughed in vain.
“It’s only natural for a man crazy about hunting to get impatient.”
As soon as he heard the news, Viscount Verdier, who had come to greet the Duke, could not hide his embarrassment.
“I must go out and greet the Duke. Gray, go and gather the servants. Chloe, you quickly bring Alice down.”
Chloe put her hand to her forehead as it felt hot. Her eyes, looking out the window, wavered with both despair and anxiety.
“...Chloe, honey.”
The one who rode in front on a horse that boasted of excellent bloodlines at a glance was the Duke of Tisse, whom she had desperately hoped she would never meet again. The Duke jumped down from his horse and walked toward the castle gate. He raised his head and looked straight at her through the window, making her feel as if she was right in front of him even from that far away.
“Daughter, are you listening to me?”
“Yes, father.”
Chloe got up from her seat, turning her head in a sense of deja vu. The letter, still with ink on it, fluttered in the wind and fell under the desk, disappearing under the piano.
***
The number of people who lined up at the castle of Verdier to welcome the Duke was extremely small. The number of servants the Duke had brought was much larger. The Viscount welcomed the Duke of Tisse's visit and belatedly congratulated him on his victory.
The Duke listened to the Viscount, who was old enough to be his father, heaping praises, then nodded and said, “There are fewer servants.” From the Duke’s perspective, he might have just said what he saw, but it was natural for the Viscount, who was struggling financially, to blush.
“I, that’s because the harvest has been poor for the past few years...”
Chloe took a step forward and opened her mouth slightly before her bewildered father could tell him the truth about the situation in the castle.
“The news of Your Excellency’s arrival was delivered late, and the castle is in disarray. We will do our best to accommodate you without any inconvenience.”
“Lady Chloe.”
The Duke, who had not made eye contact with Chloe until now, slowly turned his head and called her name. Chloe took a short breath inwardly and bent down to bow.
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“I hope you will keep your word that you will do your best to accommodate us without any inconvenience.”
Chloe looked up and met the Duke's eyes without realizing it. The Duke added with his characteristically arrogant smile.
“An ungrateful noble has no reason to have a title.”
She had never thought that her words would be returned in this way. Chloe felt the air around her become heavy. The moment she saw Alice's fist twitching beside her, Chloe gathered her wits.
“I am grateful to you for allowing me to repay the favor you have shown me, Your Excellency.”
The Duke, who had been staring intently at Chloe, who was trying hard to smile, smiled faintly. He glanced at the bewildered Viscount Verdier.
“I understand why you boast so much about your wise and beautiful daughter, Sir Verdier.”
The best dress she had packed to greet the Duke was thick and unseasonably warm. Chloe’s face was burning hot. As the Duke approached, the sun was now blazing on the crown of his head. The summers of Verdier’s estate were famous for their high temperatures, but a heat that could not be explained by the heat alone was gnawing at her head.
“There is a second daughter who knows very well that it is better to keep her mouth shut and remain silent than to talk nonsense.”
In midsummer, the cicadas on the poplar trees were all chirping loudly, as if they were mocking her.
***
After the Duke had ignored the two daughters of the Verdiers in their own way, he immediately packed up and went hunting. Alice was upset that she couldn't say anything to the Duke who was so openly rude to her sister, but Chloe thought it was fortunate that things ended there. With the marriage talks with Count Cromwell in full swing, she had to prevent the Duke from getting angry and causing Alice to be embroiled in scandal.
The Duke and his party, who had gone out hunting at noon, returned to the castle just as the sun was setting over the mountains. The Duke's valet appeared carrying on his shoulder the reindeer he had killed, which the Duke presented to the Viscount. The Viscount Verdier expressed his gratitude by saying he would stuff the Duke's game and hang it on his wall, but Chloe had to suppress the goosebumps that rose on her arms at the thought of passing by the poor beast every day.
Alice did not attend the dinner with the Duke, pretending to be unwell. The Viscount was worried that the Duke would be offended, but fortunately, he reacted indifferently.
“I hope it’s not a serious illness.”
“Thank you for your concern, Your Excellency. We are even more grateful for preparing such a wonderful banquet. It was originally our duty to entertain...”
“Don’t worry about it.”
The Viscount of Verdier's concerns about having to entertain his distinguished guests proved unfounded. Among the servants the Duke brought was a cook dispatched from Swanton, and the cart was plentiful with seasonal fruit for dessert.
Chloe had to grimly admit that dinner that day was the most sumptuous meal she had had in years. But no matter how good the food was, it was impossible to fully appreciate its flavor when the seating was uncomfortable.
“But it seems like Lady Chloe doesn’t like the food.”
The Duke suddenly changed the subject to her. It was a question that seemed to change the roles of the owner and guest of the castle. Chloe quickly opened her mouth, watching the face of the chef standing next to him harden silently.
“No way. I guess it’s because of the heat, but I’ve just had less of an appetite lately.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.”
The Duke spat it out with an expression that showed no regret at all. There was no unnecessary movement in the way he precisely cut the bird he had hunted and prepared for the table with his knife.
“Ladies these days avoid the sun, but these problems can arise even if they don’t do enough outdoor activities.”
Chloe tried to keep her composure as she brought the glass of water to her lips without saying a word. The Viscount of Verdier spoke with a friendly smile.
“I think my daughter is probably nervous. She actually loves going for walks more than anyone else. When she was little, she fell asleep while reading a book in the forest, and all the servants from the castle came out to see her. Hehe. Maybe that’s why she’s so smart.”
The Viscount began to brag about his daughter again without any ill intention. Embarrassed, Chloe smiled slightly and stopped him, saying, “Father,” but instead of cutting him off, the Duke continued the conversation.
“If it’s true that you like to walk, then she must know the geography of the forest very well.”
“Yes. Especially, the forest leading to the mountain is this child’s personal garden. There was a time when she came back from a walk in the rain and was groaning, but she still went to the forest.”
“Has that ever happened?”
As the Duke frowned, Viscount Verdier nodded with an expression that still made him dizzy when he thought about it.
“Yes. Fortunately, it didn’t develop into pneumonia. I almost thought my daughter was going to be sent to God. She had a nightmare where she turned pale and babbled as if she had seen a snake... Now that I think about it...”
The Viscount, who had been squinting his eyes, quickly shook his head after realizing belatedly that the period overlapped with the time when the Duke of Tisse left the castle.
“Anyway, that means she likes the forest that much. She probably goes in and out of the forest more than the caretaker. Don’t you think so, Chloe?”
As Chloe forced a smile onto her stern face and answered in silence, the Duke looked at her and raised his voice.
“Good. Next time I go hunting, I’ll ask Chloe to show me the way.”
Chloe almost dropped the glass of water she was holding at the sudden words. She barely managed to hold onto the glass and place it on the table, when Gray, who was standing next to her as a servant, handed her a napkin. Chloe slightly moved her lips toward him, who noticed that the water had dripped onto the hem of her skirt and was taking care of it.
“Thank you, Gray.”
The Duke's eyes narrowed in interest, then quickly returned to their usual state. His knife cut through the meat again without hesitation.
“Your Excellency, I am afraid that my daughter is weak and may be a hindrance. I am ashamed to say that she does not know how to handle horses, so I will send someone else to be your guide. I can also go myself.”
The Duke chewed and swallowed the meat, emptied the glass in one gulp, and tapped the empty glass with his knife. The silverware clanked against each other, making a sharp, “clink” sound. The rude way of asking for a refill was completely out of sync with the table manners of a high-class Duke. The Viscount was taken aback but soon nodded to Gray.
"Hurry."
The Duke looked at Chloe, lifting the empty glass that Gray was filling.
“I wonder what your opinion is.”
The Duke's expression was grim. It was a question whose answer had already been decided from the beginning. Chloe would go hunting with him tomorrow. She barely managed to open her mouth.
“I would be happy to have you allow me to accompany you on your horse ride.”
“Young Lady will ride with me. I’m not used to following someone.”
Chloe was overcome with despair. She felt more and more afraid of the Duke who was squeezing her as if it was just the calm before the storm. Was it just her delusion that the beautiful but poisonous golden snake was staring at her and licking its lips?
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