Episode 11. Do I Still See You as My Little Brother?
“Only for those who are interested.”
Mark drank his tea while speaking with an indifferent expression. Adele also pretended not to hear with an indifferent expression. However, it was too awkward and embarrassing to be alone with the man who confessed to being interested in her.
“Oh, by the way, how is Jade?”
"Yeah, he’s always fun.”
Jade was Mark's son. His wife died giving birth to Jade.
“Can I wrap up some leftover pie for him when you leave? I think Jade would like it.”
“Of course, he would like it. But it sounds like you’re telling me to go back already.”
Adele couldn't say no. Then Mark got up coolly, packing his bag.
“Well, now that we’ve had some delicious pie, let’s go with some energy.”
Adele said cautiously, following him.
“I’m sorry. I still feel awkward being alone with you.”
Mark laughed heartily. His white, neat teeth were visible between his large lips, which were pleasing to the eye.
“Actually, I feel very awkward too.”
Adele was relieved by the honest answer.
“So I’ll come play again when I have time. That way it’ll be less awkward.”
Adele couldn't answer right away and smiled vaguely. He seemed to be a better man than she had thought. She felt sorry for having dragged him in to put an end to the rumors about Christine.
“Yes, come again next time. Then bring Jade with you.”
Then it will be a little less awkward.
“Haha, I bet you really like that Jade guy?”
But it seemed like the one she really liked was Mark. Adele carefully wrapped the remaining pie in parchment paper and tied it with a ribbon. She thought that this would at least ease her guilt a little. At that moment, the sound of a carriage could be heard outside the garden.
“...!”
Adele's face hardened as she looked out the window, wondering who was coming. In the meantime, the man got out of the carriage and approached her house without hesitation.
“Who are he?”
Mark asked, sensing an ominous atmosphere.
“Only for those who are interested.”
Mark drank his tea while speaking with an indifferent expression. Adele also pretended not to hear with an indifferent expression. However, it was too awkward and embarrassing to be alone with the man who confessed to being interested in her.
“Oh, by the way, how is Jade?”
"Yeah, he’s always fun.”
Jade was Mark's son. His wife died giving birth to Jade.
“Can I wrap up some leftover pie for him when you leave? I think Jade would like it.”
“Of course, he would like it. But it sounds like you’re telling me to go back already.”
Adele couldn't say no. Then Mark got up coolly, packing his bag.
“Well, now that we’ve had some delicious pie, let’s go with some energy.”
Adele said cautiously, following him.
“I’m sorry. I still feel awkward being alone with you.”
Mark laughed heartily. His white, neat teeth were visible between his large lips, which were pleasing to the eye.
“Actually, I feel very awkward too.”
Adele was relieved by the honest answer.
“So I’ll come play again when I have time. That way it’ll be less awkward.”
Adele couldn't answer right away and smiled vaguely. He seemed to be a better man than she had thought. She felt sorry for having dragged him in to put an end to the rumors about Christine.
“Yes, come again next time. Then bring Jade with you.”
Then it will be a little less awkward.
“Haha, I bet you really like that Jade guy?”
But it seemed like the one she really liked was Mark. Adele carefully wrapped the remaining pie in parchment paper and tied it with a ribbon. She thought that this would at least ease her guilt a little. At that moment, the sound of a carriage could be heard outside the garden.
“...!”
Adele's face hardened as she looked out the window, wondering who was coming. In the meantime, the man got out of the carriage and approached her house without hesitation.
“Who are he?”
Mark asked, sensing an ominous atmosphere.
Knock. At that moment, he thought she heard a knock, and the door opened.
“What happened without any contact?”
When Adele asked in surprise, Christine furrowed his brow and asked,
“Did I interrupt your good time?”
By now, it was obvious that he was misunderstanding something, but Adele didn't bother to correct him.
“Greetings. This is Baron Mark Caseler. This is...”
“You are Count Weiss, right? I have heard a lot from you.”
Mark greeted her with his characteristically sad expression. But Christine just looked at him. He had no expression, but his blue-gray eyes were cold and frosty.
"Chris..."
Adele called cautiously.
“I’m sorry. I have never heard of the Baron.”
“Excuse me, Chris.”
Christine laughed as Adele scolded him out of embarrassment. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes, looking at Mark, were more murderous than before.
“You should have told me in advance, Adele. The man you’re seeing is just a Baron.”
"Chris!"
“But since you are the former Marchioness, shouldn’t you meet at a certain level?”
“Count Christine Weiss!”
At the sharp voice, Christine turned to Adele. His face was still smiling. As the atmosphere became tense, Mark looked embarrassed and sorted out the situation.
“I’ll greet you formally next time. Then I’ll come back later with Jade, Adele.”
“It’s an invitation from the Princess.”
Christine was the first to break the silence. He tossed a pink envelope on the table. When Adele opened it, she found an invitation with the royal family’s emblem inside. It was an invitation to tea time that afternoon. It happened to be the day when she were supposed to deliver desserts to the royal family.
“Did you come here to give me this?”
“I just wanted to check if you forgot your promise.”
“Promise? Ahhh... apple pie.”
Adele, who had been tilting her head, said as if she had just remembered. But how could she forget? She had been studying every day to make an apple pie that tasted exactly like her mother's. She had planned to invite him over when she could make it taste somewhat similar. But she didn't want to tell him the truth right now. She was angry at his rudeness. In the meantime, Christine had found a wrapped apple pie on the table. Adele, surprised by Mark's sudden behavior, had not been able to tell him.
“It doesn’t look like it was made knowing I would come... Is it that guy’s?”
He said haughtily, leaning back on the sofa and resting his arms on the back of the chair.
“I packed it to give to his child.”
“Was he even a kid?”
His straight eyebrows were furrowed severely.
“I was married once, too.”
“Well, your first marriage was to an old Marquis, so it wouldn’t be strange for your second marriage to a Baron with a child.”
His chattering voice touched Adele's sore wound.
“It’s my wedding. What right do you have to...”
Christine leaned forward and pushed a strand of hair away from Adele's forehead.
“Didn’t you say with your own mouth that we’re like real siblings? So, I think I'm qualified to talk about this marriage?”
Adele quickly slapped his hand away.
“You must want to criticize me!”
The skin where his fingers brushed against her skin felt hot.
“Then you understood correctly.”
Adele was upset. Who is this...? ...She had finally been able to live quietly away from people’s attention, but her life had become complicated again since he showed up. Just being related to him made all the nobles of Greenhill nervous about Adele. If they found even the smallest thing to nitpick, they would all get excited and make a fuss. They would point fingers at her behind her back, whisper...
***
“What happened without any contact?”
When Adele asked in surprise, Christine furrowed his brow and asked,
“Did I interrupt your good time?”
By now, it was obvious that he was misunderstanding something, but Adele didn't bother to correct him.
“Greetings. This is Baron Mark Caseler. This is...”
“You are Count Weiss, right? I have heard a lot from you.”
Mark greeted her with his characteristically sad expression. But Christine just looked at him. He had no expression, but his blue-gray eyes were cold and frosty.
"Chris..."
Adele called cautiously.
“I’m sorry. I have never heard of the Baron.”
“Excuse me, Chris.”
Christine laughed as Adele scolded him out of embarrassment. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes, looking at Mark, were more murderous than before.
“You should have told me in advance, Adele. The man you’re seeing is just a Baron.”
"Chris!"
“But since you are the former Marchioness, shouldn’t you meet at a certain level?”
“Count Christine Weiss!”
At the sharp voice, Christine turned to Adele. His face was still smiling. As the atmosphere became tense, Mark looked embarrassed and sorted out the situation.
“I’ll greet you formally next time. Then I’ll come back later with Jade, Adele.”
And then...
Cho-ok! He kissed Adele on the cheek.
“...!”
A completely unexpected action. Adele was so flustered that she just stared with her eyes wide open and said nothing. Meanwhile, Mark strode out of the mansion. Now, Adele and Christine were the only ones left in the house. It was evening, with dusk falling outside the window.
“...!”
A completely unexpected action. Adele was so flustered that she just stared with her eyes wide open and said nothing. Meanwhile, Mark strode out of the mansion. Now, Adele and Christine were the only ones left in the house. It was evening, with dusk falling outside the window.
***
“It’s an invitation from the Princess.”
Christine was the first to break the silence. He tossed a pink envelope on the table. When Adele opened it, she found an invitation with the royal family’s emblem inside. It was an invitation to tea time that afternoon. It happened to be the day when she were supposed to deliver desserts to the royal family.
“Did you come here to give me this?”
“I just wanted to check if you forgot your promise.”
“Promise? Ahhh... apple pie.”
Adele, who had been tilting her head, said as if she had just remembered. But how could she forget? She had been studying every day to make an apple pie that tasted exactly like her mother's. She had planned to invite him over when she could make it taste somewhat similar. But she didn't want to tell him the truth right now. She was angry at his rudeness. In the meantime, Christine had found a wrapped apple pie on the table. Adele, surprised by Mark's sudden behavior, had not been able to tell him.
“It doesn’t look like it was made knowing I would come... Is it that guy’s?”
He said haughtily, leaning back on the sofa and resting his arms on the back of the chair.
“I packed it to give to his child.”
“Was he even a kid?”
His straight eyebrows were furrowed severely.
“I was married once, too.”
“Well, your first marriage was to an old Marquis, so it wouldn’t be strange for your second marriage to a Baron with a child.”
His chattering voice touched Adele's sore wound.
“It’s my wedding. What right do you have to...”
Christine leaned forward and pushed a strand of hair away from Adele's forehead.
“Didn’t you say with your own mouth that we’re like real siblings? So, I think I'm qualified to talk about this marriage?”
Adele quickly slapped his hand away.
“You must want to criticize me!”
The skin where his fingers brushed against her skin felt hot.
“Then you understood correctly.”
Adele was upset. Who is this...? ...She had finally been able to live quietly away from people’s attention, but her life had become complicated again since he showed up. Just being related to him made all the nobles of Greenhill nervous about Adele. If they found even the smallest thing to nitpick, they would all get excited and make a fuss. They would point fingers at her behind her back, whisper...
She pretended to be fine on the outside, but now she was sick of it. Maybe she didn’t want to be entangled with him anymore, for her own sake.
“I’ll invite you later. When you’re done with your business, go back.”
“No, I want to eat apple pie today.”
“I told you I’d invite you next time!”
“Do I really need to be invited? Sister. I’m coming to your house.”
"Chris!"
He added with a lazy expression, leaning back on the sofa again.
“I’m thinking about going to sleep. It’s my sister’s house.”
“Count Christine Weiss!”
Christine finally chuckled as Adele shouted nervously.
“Is it natural to be angry? I bet you were planning to have some fun tonight, even sending the maid away.”
Adele was shocked by the ridiculous misunderstanding. When she was so angry, it seemed like she couldn't get any angrier.
“...You too.”
Christine stopped and watched as she muttered with an expression that looked like she was going to cry.
“You, like everyone else, believe only in rumors and think of me as that kind of woman. I poisoned my husband, and I'm blinded by lust and have sex with any man...”
Only then did Christine realize that he had hurt her. From the moment he entered the house, from the moment he saw her alone with another man, he had been so angry that he had given up on reason.
“If there was a misunderstanding, I apologize. But what’s with all that makeup? You even have flowers in your hair... You look like a woman who has lost her mind, so it’s inevitable that I’ll misunderstand.”
Only then did Adele realize that she looked like a crazy woman who had eaten rats. But she didn't explain that she didn't want to look like that.
“...Yeah. I wanted to look good for that guy. I don’t know if I wanted to have fun with it.”
He could hear Christine catching his breath softly.
“Are you really thinking of remarrying him?”
“It won’t be a problem. I’m just tired of being alone now.”
This was true. Adele had endured terrible rumors for the past eight years and had lived tenaciously. Every time, she might have wished deep down that she had someone to lean on... Then, ironically, sometimes Christine came to mind. The child from her happy childhood.
“You should know better than anyone that marriage cannot be salvation.”
His persistent gaze seemed to be tethering Adele. It seemed as if he was asking her. About her first marriage. No matter how much she had yearned for the life of a nobleman, why had she had to marry an old Marquis at the age of eighteen? And why was she living so unhappily now? What had happened in the meantime... But Adele unconsciously avoided his gaze and muttered.
“If I have someone to lean on, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t want anything more.”
“You’re getting married for just that reason?”
“What’s so special about marriage?”
Adele smiled with a resigned face. It was true. She had never thought of marrying Mark, but if she did, it wouldn't be so bad. He would definitely be a strong and faithful husband.
“You’d better lean on me.”
"Uh?"
Christine frowned as Adele looked up in surprise.
“If you need someone to lean on to get married, then you can lean on me.”
“That’s ridiculous...”
“Why, because I still look like a younger sibling?”
No way. It's annoying because it looks too masculine.
“You are going to marry the Princess.”
“What does that have to do with anything? Is it strange for siblings to rely on each other?”
“Those words really give me strength. But isn’t that why we get married, because we want to be that person’s strength as much as they rely on us?”
If it were you, you wouldn't have to lean on me.
“Is that him?”
A person who is so precious that just thinking about them brings comfort and makes you want to suffer for them instead.
'There was no one like you, Chris.'
But Adele nodded, swallowing those words deep in her heart.
"Maybe."
The tendons on Christine's temples stood up, but he soon smiled coolly and rose from his seat.
“I’m sorry for coming by and interrupting your good time.”
“It’s okay. Thank you for the invitation.”
Adele held up the invitation as if nothing had happened.
“I’ll invite you later. When you’re done with your business, go back.”
“No, I want to eat apple pie today.”
“I told you I’d invite you next time!”
“Do I really need to be invited? Sister. I’m coming to your house.”
"Chris!"
He added with a lazy expression, leaning back on the sofa again.
“I’m thinking about going to sleep. It’s my sister’s house.”
“Count Christine Weiss!”
Christine finally chuckled as Adele shouted nervously.
“Is it natural to be angry? I bet you were planning to have some fun tonight, even sending the maid away.”
Adele was shocked by the ridiculous misunderstanding. When she was so angry, it seemed like she couldn't get any angrier.
“...You too.”
Christine stopped and watched as she muttered with an expression that looked like she was going to cry.
“You, like everyone else, believe only in rumors and think of me as that kind of woman. I poisoned my husband, and I'm blinded by lust and have sex with any man...”
Only then did Christine realize that he had hurt her. From the moment he entered the house, from the moment he saw her alone with another man, he had been so angry that he had given up on reason.
“If there was a misunderstanding, I apologize. But what’s with all that makeup? You even have flowers in your hair... You look like a woman who has lost her mind, so it’s inevitable that I’ll misunderstand.”
Only then did Adele realize that she looked like a crazy woman who had eaten rats. But she didn't explain that she didn't want to look like that.
“...Yeah. I wanted to look good for that guy. I don’t know if I wanted to have fun with it.”
He could hear Christine catching his breath softly.
“Are you really thinking of remarrying him?”
“It won’t be a problem. I’m just tired of being alone now.”
This was true. Adele had endured terrible rumors for the past eight years and had lived tenaciously. Every time, she might have wished deep down that she had someone to lean on... Then, ironically, sometimes Christine came to mind. The child from her happy childhood.
“You should know better than anyone that marriage cannot be salvation.”
His persistent gaze seemed to be tethering Adele. It seemed as if he was asking her. About her first marriage. No matter how much she had yearned for the life of a nobleman, why had she had to marry an old Marquis at the age of eighteen? And why was she living so unhappily now? What had happened in the meantime... But Adele unconsciously avoided his gaze and muttered.
“If I have someone to lean on, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t want anything more.”
“You’re getting married for just that reason?”
“What’s so special about marriage?”
Adele smiled with a resigned face. It was true. She had never thought of marrying Mark, but if she did, it wouldn't be so bad. He would definitely be a strong and faithful husband.
“You’d better lean on me.”
"Uh?"
Christine frowned as Adele looked up in surprise.
“If you need someone to lean on to get married, then you can lean on me.”
“That’s ridiculous...”
“Why, because I still look like a younger sibling?”
No way. It's annoying because it looks too masculine.
“You are going to marry the Princess.”
“What does that have to do with anything? Is it strange for siblings to rely on each other?”
“Those words really give me strength. But isn’t that why we get married, because we want to be that person’s strength as much as they rely on us?”
If it were you, you wouldn't have to lean on me.
“Is that him?”
A person who is so precious that just thinking about them brings comfort and makes you want to suffer for them instead.
'There was no one like you, Chris.'
But Adele nodded, swallowing those words deep in her heart.
"Maybe."
The tendons on Christine's temples stood up, but he soon smiled coolly and rose from his seat.
“I’m sorry for coming by and interrupting your good time.”
“It’s okay. Thank you for the invitation.”
Adele held up the invitation as if nothing had happened.
***
Bam!
Christine closed the door and left. Adele opened the curtains by the window and watched his back as he walked away. She couldn’t even blink for fear of missing a single moment. The carriage carrying him soon disappeared into the darkness of the setting sun. Only then did her legs give out, and she collapsed on the sofa.
'It's okay, I'm really okay...'
As usual, she will be able to shake it off as if nothing happened after taking a deep breath and waking up. If she wake up in the morning and bake bread and chat with Mia like she have done so far, she will be able to forget about Christine. She have lived well without him so far.
'I've endured more terrible and difficult things.'
Adele, who had gathered her courage, put firewood back into the fireplace and lit the lamp. The house, which had been cold and dark like her heart, quickly became bright and warm. That alone seemed to cheer her up a little.
“Don’t lose your mind, Adele. This is the time to get to work. When are you going to make the desserts that will be delivered to the royal family?”
She had to make a dessert to be delivered to the royal family by the end of the week. It was her first delivery, and she would have tea time with the Princess that day. Just thinking about it made Adele nervous, as if she were being tested.
'It's okay, I'm really okay...'
As usual, she will be able to shake it off as if nothing happened after taking a deep breath and waking up. If she wake up in the morning and bake bread and chat with Mia like she have done so far, she will be able to forget about Christine. She have lived well without him so far.
'I've endured more terrible and difficult things.'
Adele, who had gathered her courage, put firewood back into the fireplace and lit the lamp. The house, which had been cold and dark like her heart, quickly became bright and warm. That alone seemed to cheer her up a little.
“Don’t lose your mind, Adele. This is the time to get to work. When are you going to make the desserts that will be delivered to the royal family?”
She had to make a dessert to be delivered to the royal family by the end of the week. It was her first delivery, and she would have tea time with the Princess that day. Just thinking about it made Adele nervous, as if she were being tested.
Adele got up again, put on her apron, and rolled up her sleeves.
“Tanya, can I get some flour from the cellar...!”
Then Tanya wasn't there. Adele hesitated for a moment. Should I go and get it myself?
“Tanya, can I get some flour from the cellar...!”
Then Tanya wasn't there. Adele hesitated for a moment. Should I go and get it myself?
There was no choice since there was no flour left.
Creak. She carefully opened the old door next to the stairs. The sharp sound of the rusty hinges was eerie. A chilly air and the musty smell of the basement rose from inside the open door. Adele shivered without realizing it.
“I really never wanted to go into the basement again.”
After taking a deep breath, she turned on the light inside the door. In the dim light, she could see the stairs going down. Although there were only a few stairs, Adele carefully stepped forward, holding onto the wall with one hand and shining the light with the other. Her legs trembled involuntarily as she stepped on the stairs.
“I really never wanted to go into the basement again.”
After taking a deep breath, she turned on the light inside the door. In the dim light, she could see the stairs going down. Although there were only a few stairs, Adele carefully stepped forward, holding onto the wall with one hand and shining the light with the other. Her legs trembled involuntarily as she stepped on the stairs.
Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle...!
Then suddenly, a loud bell sound was heard. The bell was hung around the fence to scare away wild animals that occasionally came down to the village or intruders who tried to harm her. Most uninvited guests would run away in fear when they heard such a loud bell sound. Hanging a bell was very effective in scaring away uninvited guests. However, now the bell sound was continuous.
Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle...!
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