037. Someone else
“Sister.”
Emilia almost stumbled on the spot when she confirmed that the voice coming through the crack in the door was Charlotte. As she opened the door, Charlotte poked her head out.
“The young master has gone.”
“Really? Did he really go there obediently? Didn’t he seem suspicious?”
"Yes."
Emilia, who was sweeping her chest, felt embarrassed for no reason.
Charlotte is not an expressive child, but it was quite hurtful to see her sticking out her tongue like that.
“Take it. The master asked me to convey it.”
Charlotte blurted out an envelope.
Emilia quickly accepted it and took out the contents. There was a memo at the very front of the thick stack of documents.
When she looks at Hardius's neat handwriting, her heart races and she feels suffocated.
The content was concise.
[This is the evidence that Bernen Cavendish invested in the Quiren Wool business and that there was corruption in the process. Of course, I have other evidence. If you come to me within three days, I will give you all the remaining documents. I hope you know that I am doing my best not to deal with Cavendish on my own. ]
Emilia put down the letter and was speechless for a while.
"What's the matter?"
“Huh? No... It’s nothing.”
She stood there, shuffling through the papers.
The twenty or so sheets of paper were filled with numbers and legalese. They were definitely double ledgers related to the wool business. Emilia, who helped Lord Cavendish keep his books, had never seen them...
Could Mr. Haspel be involved, too?
She felt a strange sense of worry and anxiety. The strength and tenacity of the man who dug into someone's back and found such secret evidence was a little creepy.
“What did the master give you?”
“Huh? Uh... Documents related to the broken engagement.”
Emilia just lied.
“But why did you come back so late? Did that person give you a ride again?”
“No, that’s not it. The master told me a story.”
"Story?"
“I mean, the caterpillar. I asked the creepy thing if it really turned into a butterfly.”
"So?"
A faint smile appeared on Charlotte's lips.
“The master said that what my sister said was true and told me the story of the pupa.”
Charlotte recited the exact process by which a butterfly hatches.
“But Master Meyer said something very strange.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Caterpillars indeed become beautiful butterflies, but the master doesn’t find caterpillars disgusting at all. He says he likes caterpillars much better than butterflies.”
"Ah..."
“The master said so. Feeling dirty is just a feeling, not a fact, and this.”
Charlotte held up a book. It was a new Braille textbook.
“The master gave it to me as a gift. But he said that if I really wanted to become a butterfly, I had to study hard.”
Emilia unconsciously placed her hand on her chest. Could it be that the caterpillar she had shown Charlotte had hidden away?
Her heart keeps pounding.
'Sister Emilia isn't here. If you ask where she is, I'll say she seems to have gone to the market.'
Charlotte Bern swallowed dryly as she said such strange words.
'Of course, you don't have to believe me. If you want to go inside the house right now and look for my sister, you can do that.'
As the child continued to speak, her hair gradually fell back, revealing a large lump.
Anyone who saw it would find it hideous and grotesque. But strangely, Hardius kept seeing Emilia overlapping with her.
She was exactly like that when she was fourteen. She was very nervous, but she said everything she wanted to say naturally.
'Would you like me to help you find your sister?'
Hardius smiled and said that it was okay. His eyes turned to the shabby cottage over Charlotte's shoulder.
Emilia is probably hiding somewhere with her ears perked up like a rabbit.
In an attempt to lure the rabbit out of its hole, Hardius lit another fire, using the Cavendish papers as bait.
“Sister.”
Emilia almost stumbled on the spot when she confirmed that the voice coming through the crack in the door was Charlotte. As she opened the door, Charlotte poked her head out.
“The young master has gone.”
“Really? Did he really go there obediently? Didn’t he seem suspicious?”
"Yes."
Emilia, who was sweeping her chest, felt embarrassed for no reason.
Charlotte is not an expressive child, but it was quite hurtful to see her sticking out her tongue like that.
“Take it. The master asked me to convey it.”
Charlotte blurted out an envelope.
Emilia quickly accepted it and took out the contents. There was a memo at the very front of the thick stack of documents.
When she looks at Hardius's neat handwriting, her heart races and she feels suffocated.
The content was concise.
[This is the evidence that Bernen Cavendish invested in the Quiren Wool business and that there was corruption in the process. Of course, I have other evidence. If you come to me within three days, I will give you all the remaining documents. I hope you know that I am doing my best not to deal with Cavendish on my own. ]
Emilia put down the letter and was speechless for a while.
"What's the matter?"
“Huh? No... It’s nothing.”
She stood there, shuffling through the papers.
The twenty or so sheets of paper were filled with numbers and legalese. They were definitely double ledgers related to the wool business. Emilia, who helped Lord Cavendish keep his books, had never seen them...
Could Mr. Haspel be involved, too?
She felt a strange sense of worry and anxiety. The strength and tenacity of the man who dug into someone's back and found such secret evidence was a little creepy.
“What did the master give you?”
“Huh? Uh... Documents related to the broken engagement.”
Emilia just lied.
“But why did you come back so late? Did that person give you a ride again?”
“No, that’s not it. The master told me a story.”
"Story?"
“I mean, the caterpillar. I asked the creepy thing if it really turned into a butterfly.”
"So?"
A faint smile appeared on Charlotte's lips.
“The master said that what my sister said was true and told me the story of the pupa.”
Charlotte recited the exact process by which a butterfly hatches.
“But Master Meyer said something very strange.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Caterpillars indeed become beautiful butterflies, but the master doesn’t find caterpillars disgusting at all. He says he likes caterpillars much better than butterflies.”
"Ah..."
“The master said so. Feeling dirty is just a feeling, not a fact, and this.”
Charlotte held up a book. It was a new Braille textbook.
“The master gave it to me as a gift. But he said that if I really wanted to become a butterfly, I had to study hard.”
Emilia unconsciously placed her hand on her chest. Could it be that the caterpillar she had shown Charlotte had hidden away?
Her heart keeps pounding.
***
'Sister Emilia isn't here. If you ask where she is, I'll say she seems to have gone to the market.'
Charlotte Bern swallowed dryly as she said such strange words.
'Of course, you don't have to believe me. If you want to go inside the house right now and look for my sister, you can do that.'
As the child continued to speak, her hair gradually fell back, revealing a large lump.
Anyone who saw it would find it hideous and grotesque. But strangely, Hardius kept seeing Emilia overlapping with her.
She was exactly like that when she was fourteen. She was very nervous, but she said everything she wanted to say naturally.
'Would you like me to help you find your sister?'
Hardius smiled and said that it was okay. His eyes turned to the shabby cottage over Charlotte's shoulder.
Emilia is probably hiding somewhere with her ears perked up like a rabbit.
In an attempt to lure the rabbit out of its hole, Hardius lit another fire, using the Cavendish papers as bait.
He knew that this was the way Emilia hated the most, but there was nothing he could do about it.
She always thought of running away, and Hardius didn't want to wait any longer.
'I dare advise you to tell Miss Bern some of the truth now. Keeping it a secret from the mercenaries at Hilden Farm will only complicate matters further.'
Hardius stared at the shabby house for a long time, recalling Grojean's words. His pensive eyes scanned the dense forest surrounding it, then turned back to the child right in front of him.
Emilia Bern loves her blind younger sister more than her own life.
Is it just her sister? Het stepmother and younger brother, who are not related by blood, are also the same. They are tightly bound together with a bond that Hardius could not even imagine.
That's why he had no choice but to create the Hilden Farm. Her family would also risk their lives to protect Emilia.
What would happen if she knew all these facts?
There were many complex reasons why Hardius decided to keep his mouth shut forever, but the most decisive of these was that the answer to that question was so obvious.
She will never forgive him. She may burn her whole body with hatred and resentment and disappear like smoke.
To a place where she can never find the man who put her life in danger.
Emilia is right. This is an extremely selfish and vicious greed. It will never be forgiven...
“Your Excellency, we have arrived at the Kramwitz Villa.”
The coachman stopped the carriage and opened the door. As Hardius got out, the butler of the villa greeted him with a bright smile.
“You are here. Your mother is waiting.”
Hardius headed straight for the study. Kaitlyn Meyer was with Haness in the inner secret study. They were discussing William's new plan, the 'Cheating Fiancée'.
The two people happily welcomed Hardius, who had just opened the door and appeared.
“You heard from Sir William? About our new plan.”
"Yes."
“What do you think?”
"Well."
The ambiguous answer leaves a strange aftertaste.
“There’s one thing I’m curious about.”
Kaitlyn nodded as if to continue.
“If you want to get involved in a scandal, you need someone to link her to. Who will that be?”
Kaitlyn and Haness looked at each other. Kaitlyn, with an incomprehensible smile, slowly opened her mouth.
“Have you heard of Cavendish? That’s where the boy is taking his priestly training.”
"Yes."
“Sir Richard went there a while ago. He said that there must have been some power behind the scenes for the Parliamentarians to suddenly question your engagement. So he wanted to investigate Cavendish as well.”
Hardius shrugged nonchalantly.
“I found out something very interesting there. I heard it directly from the youngest daughter of that house. It seems that there were quite a few young noblemen of similar age coming and going to that mansion for a while. One of them was a young man named Nathan Malvin. He was the eldest son of the Count of Malvin, who owned a large ranch in the western region, and he seemed quite useful. He looked manly and handsome, so I think he was popular in the local society. Anyway, according to Cavendish’s youngest daughter, that country girl...”
Kaitlyn stopped talking and just laughed in disbelief.
“She seems to be completely smitten with the eldest son of the Malvin family.”
Kaitlyn waited for Hardius's reaction.
Like me, you might be surprised, or laugh, or feel offended...
But the opponent is frighteningly unchanging.
“I see,” Hardius muttered, bringing the teacup to his lips.
Kaitlyn stared at her son, holding a cigarette in one hand and resting her chin on the other. Haness intervened in the silence.
“That’s why she agreed to break off the engagement so easily. In a way, it’s quite natural. She was a woman who dared to dream of becoming a Duchess. She had no choice but to choose the lesser of two evils.”
“You know what’s even more interesting? It’s not just the country girl's one-sided feelings. Nathan Malvin seems to be in love with her, too. Like most country aristocrats, the Cavendish family bullied her a little and showed their territoriality. But the eldest son of the Malvin family swaddled her like a baby in his arms?”
“There’s even a bet going on among the lower ranks. It’s about whether or not she will join that bastard’s government as soon as she breaks off the engagement with you.”
Kaitlyn's brow furrows slightly at the continued silence.
“Say something.”
“That’s interesting.”
Hardius put down his teacup with a light smile, like dust.
“Do you get why we’re telling this story?”
“Are you trying to use him as a target for scandal?”
"Yes."
Hannes, who had been leaning against the fireplace, came over to them, rubbing his hands together as if he were very happy.
“If word gets out that that girl and Malvin are having an affair, no one, not even the King or the council, will be able to force you to marry.”
“Why did I only think of such a great method now?”
“Thanks to Sir Richard. He certainly deserves to be called a big shot.”
Hannes clapped his hands as if he were already feeling refreshed.
“That dance you were supposed to attend with that kid. I heard Nathan Malvin is going too. So I’m going to start from there. I’m going to ask the host, Luen, to arrange for the two of you to sit next to each other.”
“It would be enough to just have a few newspaper reporters come up with a story.”
“It worked out really well. It worked out well for everyone.”
Hardius stood silently with his back to them, one hand in his pocket and his gaze out the window, still calm.
So far, everything has gone according to his plan. Since it was a matter of life and death, he had been anticipating every possible variable and preparing for it.
But what he just heard opened up a whole new possibility that he hadn't considered for the past five years.
They are not insignificant things that stick around like flies.
He dared to wrap what was his in his arms like a baby.
Someone else, just waiting for Emilia to be free.
She always thought of running away, and Hardius didn't want to wait any longer.
'I dare advise you to tell Miss Bern some of the truth now. Keeping it a secret from the mercenaries at Hilden Farm will only complicate matters further.'
Hardius stared at the shabby house for a long time, recalling Grojean's words. His pensive eyes scanned the dense forest surrounding it, then turned back to the child right in front of him.
Emilia Bern loves her blind younger sister more than her own life.
Is it just her sister? Het stepmother and younger brother, who are not related by blood, are also the same. They are tightly bound together with a bond that Hardius could not even imagine.
That's why he had no choice but to create the Hilden Farm. Her family would also risk their lives to protect Emilia.
What would happen if she knew all these facts?
There were many complex reasons why Hardius decided to keep his mouth shut forever, but the most decisive of these was that the answer to that question was so obvious.
She will never forgive him. She may burn her whole body with hatred and resentment and disappear like smoke.
To a place where she can never find the man who put her life in danger.
Emilia is right. This is an extremely selfish and vicious greed. It will never be forgiven...
“Your Excellency, we have arrived at the Kramwitz Villa.”
The coachman stopped the carriage and opened the door. As Hardius got out, the butler of the villa greeted him with a bright smile.
“You are here. Your mother is waiting.”
Hardius headed straight for the study. Kaitlyn Meyer was with Haness in the inner secret study. They were discussing William's new plan, the 'Cheating Fiancée'.
The two people happily welcomed Hardius, who had just opened the door and appeared.
“You heard from Sir William? About our new plan.”
"Yes."
“What do you think?”
"Well."
The ambiguous answer leaves a strange aftertaste.
“There’s one thing I’m curious about.”
Kaitlyn nodded as if to continue.
“If you want to get involved in a scandal, you need someone to link her to. Who will that be?”
Kaitlyn and Haness looked at each other. Kaitlyn, with an incomprehensible smile, slowly opened her mouth.
“Have you heard of Cavendish? That’s where the boy is taking his priestly training.”
"Yes."
“Sir Richard went there a while ago. He said that there must have been some power behind the scenes for the Parliamentarians to suddenly question your engagement. So he wanted to investigate Cavendish as well.”
Hardius shrugged nonchalantly.
“I found out something very interesting there. I heard it directly from the youngest daughter of that house. It seems that there were quite a few young noblemen of similar age coming and going to that mansion for a while. One of them was a young man named Nathan Malvin. He was the eldest son of the Count of Malvin, who owned a large ranch in the western region, and he seemed quite useful. He looked manly and handsome, so I think he was popular in the local society. Anyway, according to Cavendish’s youngest daughter, that country girl...”
Kaitlyn stopped talking and just laughed in disbelief.
“She seems to be completely smitten with the eldest son of the Malvin family.”
Kaitlyn waited for Hardius's reaction.
Like me, you might be surprised, or laugh, or feel offended...
But the opponent is frighteningly unchanging.
“I see,” Hardius muttered, bringing the teacup to his lips.
Kaitlyn stared at her son, holding a cigarette in one hand and resting her chin on the other. Haness intervened in the silence.
“That’s why she agreed to break off the engagement so easily. In a way, it’s quite natural. She was a woman who dared to dream of becoming a Duchess. She had no choice but to choose the lesser of two evils.”
“You know what’s even more interesting? It’s not just the country girl's one-sided feelings. Nathan Malvin seems to be in love with her, too. Like most country aristocrats, the Cavendish family bullied her a little and showed their territoriality. But the eldest son of the Malvin family swaddled her like a baby in his arms?”
“There’s even a bet going on among the lower ranks. It’s about whether or not she will join that bastard’s government as soon as she breaks off the engagement with you.”
Kaitlyn's brow furrows slightly at the continued silence.
“Say something.”
“That’s interesting.”
Hardius put down his teacup with a light smile, like dust.
“Do you get why we’re telling this story?”
“Are you trying to use him as a target for scandal?”
"Yes."
Hannes, who had been leaning against the fireplace, came over to them, rubbing his hands together as if he were very happy.
“If word gets out that that girl and Malvin are having an affair, no one, not even the King or the council, will be able to force you to marry.”
“Why did I only think of such a great method now?”
“Thanks to Sir Richard. He certainly deserves to be called a big shot.”
Hannes clapped his hands as if he were already feeling refreshed.
“That dance you were supposed to attend with that kid. I heard Nathan Malvin is going too. So I’m going to start from there. I’m going to ask the host, Luen, to arrange for the two of you to sit next to each other.”
“It would be enough to just have a few newspaper reporters come up with a story.”
“It worked out really well. It worked out well for everyone.”
Hardius stood silently with his back to them, one hand in his pocket and his gaze out the window, still calm.
So far, everything has gone according to his plan. Since it was a matter of life and death, he had been anticipating every possible variable and preparing for it.
But what he just heard opened up a whole new possibility that he hadn't considered for the past five years.
They are not insignificant things that stick around like flies.
He dared to wrap what was his in his arms like a baby.
Someone else, just waiting for Emilia to be free.
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