035. Hilden Farm
Since returning from 'Elver', Emilia has been standing around blankly a lot more often.
Staring into space with unfocused eyes, she recalls and re-examines unfamiliar and eerie sensations.
Hailey clearly listed the kiss as the memory she most wants to erase from her life, so why on earth is she doing this?
She wants to erase it. She has to erase it.
Emilia unconsciously rubbed her lips roughly with the back of her hand.
“Sister?”
When she came to her senses, Mitch was waving his hands frantically.
“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”
“Huh ?....No. What about mother?”
“Uncle Beppy said we should leave before it rained, so they left early.”
Her head naturally turns to the sky. It's so cloudy that it looks like it's really going to rain.
“Let’s go and come back quickly before it rains, Mitch. We don’t want it to get wet.”
Emilia pointed to the pile of straw with her chin. The two walked towards the barn. To shake off the memories that clung to her like leeches, Emilia chose ‘labor’ again.
The forest before the rain was damp with moisture. The wet grass rustled and tickled her ankles. Everything she could see was deep and blue like a watercolor painting.
It was Emilia's favorite weather. Normally, she would feel refreshed by the smell of the green earth.
But her legs were getting heavier, and her chest was getting tighter. It felt like she wasn't walking, but sinking into a swamp. She was confused and upset.
Emilia, who was walking slowly, suddenly felt sick of herself.
She forced a cheerful voice.
“Why don’t we take Charlotte to the beach for a picnic this afternoon? This is the time of year when the seagulls lay their eggs in the sand. We might see a lot of baby birds.”
Emilia continued speaking as if she was very excited, not even noticing that Mitch was squinting his eyes.
“Or, how about going downtown? Let’s go check out the market and stop by the church. Haley said that a while ago. The pastor wants to see us. He wants us to come to church again.”
“...”
“How about making something special for dinner tonight? How about rye bread with lots of dried plums?”
The slow steps suddenly stop.
“Sister, just tell me. Don’t hide it.”
“...Huh? What?”
“That’s a lie, isn’t it? You said the Meyer family wouldn’t have any problems with me.”
This time, Emilia stopped dead in her tracks. The haystack she was holding began to flutter.
“There’s no way that petty nobleman would give in so easily. He clearly demanded something strange in return for forgiving me, and now you’re lying. You’re trying to put me at ease. Right?”
Emilia, who had been blinking repeatedly, shook her head and said, “Enough, let’s stop talking.”
“Then why do you act so cheerful?”
“Pretending to be cheerful?”
It was a bit painful, but she tried to laugh it off.
“Anyway, since we’re on the subject, please be careful what you say next time. The Meyer will let it slide once, but the second time won’t.”
After blinking his eyes for a while, Mitch muttered to himself, “I guess it’s real...” His skinny legs followed his older sister in a hurry.
“But how on earth did you get away with it so easily? Surely... you didn’t kneel down in front of him and beg?”
“I didn’t kneel or beg. But for the time being, I have to do whatever he says. Someone’s mouth was wrong, and it made the breakup even harder.”
Mitch's shoulders flinched, and his hand scratched the back of his head. Emilia, who had been stern, quickly relaxed her fierce gaze.
“The young master and I have cleared up our old feelings. I feel truly relieved and at ease now. We will break off the engagement peacefully. So please stop worrying about your sister’s problems.”
“What about me... It’s because my mom was so worried.”
“Your mother?”
“Yeah, my sister is really weird. She said you're been losing your voice ever since you met that guy and came back. She keeps harassing me, saying it’s all my fault...”
Emilia's hand unconsciously touched her face.
Was it that obvious?
It must have been really bad if even the insensitive stepmother noticed it.
“Anyway, I feel relieved to hear that you really reflected on your past. I’ll just stay quiet until the engagement is broken off, like you said. Don’t worry.”
“Yes, stop thinking useless thoughts and just study hard now.”
She thought he would just nod obediently, but who is Mitch Bern? The adolescent boy frowns as if he is dissatisfied with something.
“But, Sister, there’s another problem. There’s been a lot of strangers in this forest lately...”
Mitch suddenly lowered his body and grabbed Emilia's arm before speaking.
“Look! Look over there!”
In the distance, there was a man of strong build. Wearing overalls and carrying a small backpack, he was crossing a small stream.
“That’s exactly what I was saying. I said there are a lot more of those people...”
The man whispered in a low voice, his voice extremely tense. In the meantime, the man suddenly disappeared into the forest.
“Isn’t it suspicious?”
"Well..."
Emilia tilted her head. The Zelkova forest was relatively uninhabited, but that didn’t mean there were no people at all. During the vacation season, it was sometimes crowded with beachgoers.
“Uncle Beppy said that the workers from the new Hilden farm sometimes come down to cut wood. Some of them even say hello to the old man. Have you seen them?”
“But it’s strange. Why do the farm workers come here to cut wood? There must be trees all around the farm. And why do the people who come to cut wood come empty-handed more often than not?”
“That’s it...”
Emilia's brow furrowed.
He is a very sensitive and intelligent child. If this child says it's strange, then it's strange. It is not something to be ignored unconditionally.
“Yes. There’s nothing wrong with being careful. Let’s go to a place called Hilden Farm, as you suggested. If we see anything suspicious, we’ll go see the magistrate right away.”
“Good!”
Only then did color come back to Mitch's face. In the meantime, they arrive at the barn. Her brother opened the door without hesitation and went inside.
But Emilia couldn't do that.
This is no longer a playful 'secret base'. It is a place where soaking-drenched Hardius is completely engulfed.
The ignorant madman began to stack the haystacks he was holding. Emilia opened and closed the perfectly good door without even daring to go in.
After a while, Mitch said, “Okay, perfect,” and stood up, slapping his hands together.
“Are you done?”
“Yes, you can go now, Sister. I’ll stay here for the time being. I’ll ambush them and find out who those suspicious guys are.”
Emilia ended up chuckling. At times like that, he was just like a child who liked to play soldier.
“Be careful. Don’t go around messing around on your own. You have to get home before it gets dark.”
“Yes, don’t worry. But, sis, what do you think of this?”
As he answered like that, he covered himself with a pile of straw as if he were hiding. Emilia forgot her worries for a moment and burst into laughter. It was a rare real laugh.
“You mean the kid started getting suspicious? Asking questions like, ‘Where is Hilden Farm?’ and ‘Why do you have to come all the way to the forest to get wood?’"
“Yes, at first I just laughed it off, but one of my subordinates was sharper than I thought, which surprised me. I had a hard time finding the pistol on my waist.”
"Hmm..."
Grojean stroked his chin.
On the other side stood three sturdy men. They all looked like ordinary farmers, but if you looked at them with a suspicious eye like Mitch, they might have looked suspicious. Their broad shoulders and sharp eyes didn't seem like they belonged on a ranch.
One of them, a man with his hat pulled down, opened his mouth cautiously.
“The kid is a problem, but Beppy Dilson is also a problem. He’s a tight-lipped guy, but he doesn’t do much here.”
He tapped his head with his finger. He was a head taller than Grojean, had a square face, a sturdy build, and a somewhat grim expression.
“Of course, Beppy would never dare to disobey his master’s orders and tell the truth, but he could slip up. That’s if the clever little brat asks him questions.”
Grojean's eyes became very serious. As if he had been waiting, the man next to him stepped forward.
“The situation is not good. It may have been an impossible operation from the beginning.”
“Yes, that’s right. If we just leave it alone, it’s just a matter of time before we get caught.”
“Please, at least give me a priority. Security or secrecy?”
Grojean had a hard time answering.
Another man who had been quietly listening from behind uncrossed his arms and strode over to me.
“Grojean, I need you to step forward again. I want you to explain the situation to Master Meyer so that I can focus on protecting her.”
“Before that, let me ask you one thing. Are you neglecting your security because you’re so concerned about keeping secrets?”
“Well, not really like that...”
“Then, Maesen. Don’t even expect anything. He will never allow it.”
The man named Maesen's mouth is tightly shut in discontent.
“Anyway, I will tell the young master. It will be difficult, but I hope you can hold on for a little while longer. Sooner or later, the family will be ordered to evacuate. Then, your mission will be over.”
The men nodded reluctantly.
Grojean, now alone again, took out a cigarette and lit it. A deep fatigue was weighing heavily on his shoulders.
Since William Richard's unexpected visit, his master has been like a beast whose territory has been invaded. Basilion House is under a curfew, and the farm is on high alert.
As befitting the 'one responsible for the safety of Miss Bern', Grojean had to go back and forth between the farm and the forest several times a day to check and recheck Emilia Bern's safety. He had also given strict instructions to Beppy Dilson to be on high alert.
Beppy nodded resolutely without asking why. The fact that he was 'a man who didn't ask', or rather, 'a man who didn't know how to ask', must have pleased Hardius Meyer. The honest and loyal Beppy was guarding Emilia Bern's side, unaware of the details.
The reason Hardius chose such an unintelligent man as his front-line bodyguard was simple: anyone smart would be easily driven away by Emilia Bern.
She needed an emotional bond to keep a bodyguard by her side, something like sympathy or pity.
“Don’t forget, Beppy. Emilia Bern and her family must know nothing about the Hilden farm. You are just a coachman. You protect Miss Bern, who lives in a remote house, from gypsies and robbers.”
Hilden Farm was no ordinary farm. It was a hideout of sorts.
On the outside, it looked like an ordinary sheep ranch you could see anywhere in the countryside, but underground, it was full of all kinds of weapons, and all ten workers were mercenaries.
When Hardius came to see Grojean a year ago, the first thing he ordered was to build a farm in the Zelkova forest. They had been pretending to be ordinary workers and had been carrying out a strange operation for exactly half a year.
Stand at the border between the forest and the beach, unnoticed.
In return for carrying out such an absurd operation, Grojean and the mercenaries were left with a lot of grievances and complaints.
It is never easy to stand guard without the target knowing. As the mercenary captain Maesen said, you have been lucky so far, but it is only a matter of time before you get caught.
Grojean had repeatedly appealed to Hardius Meyer for help, but his master was uncompromising on this issue.
Emilia Bern must not know. She must not know until the end.
Since returning from 'Elver', Emilia has been standing around blankly a lot more often.
Staring into space with unfocused eyes, she recalls and re-examines unfamiliar and eerie sensations.
Hailey clearly listed the kiss as the memory she most wants to erase from her life, so why on earth is she doing this?
She wants to erase it. She has to erase it.
Emilia unconsciously rubbed her lips roughly with the back of her hand.
“Sister?”
When she came to her senses, Mitch was waving his hands frantically.
“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”
“Huh ?....No. What about mother?”
“Uncle Beppy said we should leave before it rained, so they left early.”
Her head naturally turns to the sky. It's so cloudy that it looks like it's really going to rain.
“Let’s go and come back quickly before it rains, Mitch. We don’t want it to get wet.”
Emilia pointed to the pile of straw with her chin. The two walked towards the barn. To shake off the memories that clung to her like leeches, Emilia chose ‘labor’ again.
The forest before the rain was damp with moisture. The wet grass rustled and tickled her ankles. Everything she could see was deep and blue like a watercolor painting.
It was Emilia's favorite weather. Normally, she would feel refreshed by the smell of the green earth.
But her legs were getting heavier, and her chest was getting tighter. It felt like she wasn't walking, but sinking into a swamp. She was confused and upset.
Emilia, who was walking slowly, suddenly felt sick of herself.
She forced a cheerful voice.
“Why don’t we take Charlotte to the beach for a picnic this afternoon? This is the time of year when the seagulls lay their eggs in the sand. We might see a lot of baby birds.”
Emilia continued speaking as if she was very excited, not even noticing that Mitch was squinting his eyes.
“Or, how about going downtown? Let’s go check out the market and stop by the church. Haley said that a while ago. The pastor wants to see us. He wants us to come to church again.”
“...”
“How about making something special for dinner tonight? How about rye bread with lots of dried plums?”
The slow steps suddenly stop.
“Sister, just tell me. Don’t hide it.”
“...Huh? What?”
“That’s a lie, isn’t it? You said the Meyer family wouldn’t have any problems with me.”
This time, Emilia stopped dead in her tracks. The haystack she was holding began to flutter.
“There’s no way that petty nobleman would give in so easily. He clearly demanded something strange in return for forgiving me, and now you’re lying. You’re trying to put me at ease. Right?”
Emilia, who had been blinking repeatedly, shook her head and said, “Enough, let’s stop talking.”
“Then why do you act so cheerful?”
“Pretending to be cheerful?”
It was a bit painful, but she tried to laugh it off.
“Anyway, since we’re on the subject, please be careful what you say next time. The Meyer will let it slide once, but the second time won’t.”
After blinking his eyes for a while, Mitch muttered to himself, “I guess it’s real...” His skinny legs followed his older sister in a hurry.
“But how on earth did you get away with it so easily? Surely... you didn’t kneel down in front of him and beg?”
“I didn’t kneel or beg. But for the time being, I have to do whatever he says. Someone’s mouth was wrong, and it made the breakup even harder.”
Mitch's shoulders flinched, and his hand scratched the back of his head. Emilia, who had been stern, quickly relaxed her fierce gaze.
“The young master and I have cleared up our old feelings. I feel truly relieved and at ease now. We will break off the engagement peacefully. So please stop worrying about your sister’s problems.”
“What about me... It’s because my mom was so worried.”
“Your mother?”
“Yeah, my sister is really weird. She said you're been losing your voice ever since you met that guy and came back. She keeps harassing me, saying it’s all my fault...”
Emilia's hand unconsciously touched her face.
Was it that obvious?
It must have been really bad if even the insensitive stepmother noticed it.
“Anyway, I feel relieved to hear that you really reflected on your past. I’ll just stay quiet until the engagement is broken off, like you said. Don’t worry.”
“Yes, stop thinking useless thoughts and just study hard now.”
She thought he would just nod obediently, but who is Mitch Bern? The adolescent boy frowns as if he is dissatisfied with something.
“But, Sister, there’s another problem. There’s been a lot of strangers in this forest lately...”
Mitch suddenly lowered his body and grabbed Emilia's arm before speaking.
“Look! Look over there!”
In the distance, there was a man of strong build. Wearing overalls and carrying a small backpack, he was crossing a small stream.
“That’s exactly what I was saying. I said there are a lot more of those people...”
The man whispered in a low voice, his voice extremely tense. In the meantime, the man suddenly disappeared into the forest.
“Isn’t it suspicious?”
"Well..."
Emilia tilted her head. The Zelkova forest was relatively uninhabited, but that didn’t mean there were no people at all. During the vacation season, it was sometimes crowded with beachgoers.
“Uncle Beppy said that the workers from the new Hilden farm sometimes come down to cut wood. Some of them even say hello to the old man. Have you seen them?”
“But it’s strange. Why do the farm workers come here to cut wood? There must be trees all around the farm. And why do the people who come to cut wood come empty-handed more often than not?”
“That’s it...”
Emilia's brow furrowed.
He is a very sensitive and intelligent child. If this child says it's strange, then it's strange. It is not something to be ignored unconditionally.
“Yes. There’s nothing wrong with being careful. Let’s go to a place called Hilden Farm, as you suggested. If we see anything suspicious, we’ll go see the magistrate right away.”
“Good!”
Only then did color come back to Mitch's face. In the meantime, they arrive at the barn. Her brother opened the door without hesitation and went inside.
But Emilia couldn't do that.
This is no longer a playful 'secret base'. It is a place where soaking-drenched Hardius is completely engulfed.
The ignorant madman began to stack the haystacks he was holding. Emilia opened and closed the perfectly good door without even daring to go in.
After a while, Mitch said, “Okay, perfect,” and stood up, slapping his hands together.
“Are you done?”
“Yes, you can go now, Sister. I’ll stay here for the time being. I’ll ambush them and find out who those suspicious guys are.”
Emilia ended up chuckling. At times like that, he was just like a child who liked to play soldier.
“Be careful. Don’t go around messing around on your own. You have to get home before it gets dark.”
“Yes, don’t worry. But, sis, what do you think of this?”
As he answered like that, he covered himself with a pile of straw as if he were hiding. Emilia forgot her worries for a moment and burst into laughter. It was a rare real laugh.
***
“You mean the kid started getting suspicious? Asking questions like, ‘Where is Hilden Farm?’ and ‘Why do you have to come all the way to the forest to get wood?’"
“Yes, at first I just laughed it off, but one of my subordinates was sharper than I thought, which surprised me. I had a hard time finding the pistol on my waist.”
"Hmm..."
Grojean stroked his chin.
On the other side stood three sturdy men. They all looked like ordinary farmers, but if you looked at them with a suspicious eye like Mitch, they might have looked suspicious. Their broad shoulders and sharp eyes didn't seem like they belonged on a ranch.
One of them, a man with his hat pulled down, opened his mouth cautiously.
“The kid is a problem, but Beppy Dilson is also a problem. He’s a tight-lipped guy, but he doesn’t do much here.”
He tapped his head with his finger. He was a head taller than Grojean, had a square face, a sturdy build, and a somewhat grim expression.
“Of course, Beppy would never dare to disobey his master’s orders and tell the truth, but he could slip up. That’s if the clever little brat asks him questions.”
Grojean's eyes became very serious. As if he had been waiting, the man next to him stepped forward.
“The situation is not good. It may have been an impossible operation from the beginning.”
“Yes, that’s right. If we just leave it alone, it’s just a matter of time before we get caught.”
“Please, at least give me a priority. Security or secrecy?”
Grojean had a hard time answering.
Another man who had been quietly listening from behind uncrossed his arms and strode over to me.
“Grojean, I need you to step forward again. I want you to explain the situation to Master Meyer so that I can focus on protecting her.”
“Before that, let me ask you one thing. Are you neglecting your security because you’re so concerned about keeping secrets?”
“Well, not really like that...”
“Then, Maesen. Don’t even expect anything. He will never allow it.”
The man named Maesen's mouth is tightly shut in discontent.
“Anyway, I will tell the young master. It will be difficult, but I hope you can hold on for a little while longer. Sooner or later, the family will be ordered to evacuate. Then, your mission will be over.”
The men nodded reluctantly.
Grojean, now alone again, took out a cigarette and lit it. A deep fatigue was weighing heavily on his shoulders.
Since William Richard's unexpected visit, his master has been like a beast whose territory has been invaded. Basilion House is under a curfew, and the farm is on high alert.
As befitting the 'one responsible for the safety of Miss Bern', Grojean had to go back and forth between the farm and the forest several times a day to check and recheck Emilia Bern's safety. He had also given strict instructions to Beppy Dilson to be on high alert.
Beppy nodded resolutely without asking why. The fact that he was 'a man who didn't ask', or rather, 'a man who didn't know how to ask', must have pleased Hardius Meyer. The honest and loyal Beppy was guarding Emilia Bern's side, unaware of the details.
The reason Hardius chose such an unintelligent man as his front-line bodyguard was simple: anyone smart would be easily driven away by Emilia Bern.
She needed an emotional bond to keep a bodyguard by her side, something like sympathy or pity.
“Don’t forget, Beppy. Emilia Bern and her family must know nothing about the Hilden farm. You are just a coachman. You protect Miss Bern, who lives in a remote house, from gypsies and robbers.”
Hilden Farm was no ordinary farm. It was a hideout of sorts.
On the outside, it looked like an ordinary sheep ranch you could see anywhere in the countryside, but underground, it was full of all kinds of weapons, and all ten workers were mercenaries.
When Hardius came to see Grojean a year ago, the first thing he ordered was to build a farm in the Zelkova forest. They had been pretending to be ordinary workers and had been carrying out a strange operation for exactly half a year.
Stand at the border between the forest and the beach, unnoticed.
In return for carrying out such an absurd operation, Grojean and the mercenaries were left with a lot of grievances and complaints.
It is never easy to stand guard without the target knowing. As the mercenary captain Maesen said, you have been lucky so far, but it is only a matter of time before you get caught.
Grojean had repeatedly appealed to Hardius Meyer for help, but his master was uncompromising on this issue.
Emilia Bern must not know. She must not know until the end.
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