053. Sponsor
The Malvins' carriage headed straight for Erndorf the next day. The formalities of informing them of their intention to visit and setting up an appointment were omitted. Nathan was unusually enthusiastic.
He was going to make them pay for insulting him. He was going to call in Sheila Cavendish and the entire family, including her servants, and make them kneel down.
Perfect retribution, that was all he could think about.
But Nathan had to turn back without even getting through the iron gate, let alone meeting Baron Cavendish. There was a gold sign erected along the perimeter of the mansion’s walls. The coachman who had been asking around told him some surprising news.
“Under investigation? By the Royal Inspectorate?”
“Yes. Lord Cavendish and his family, as well as all his servants, are said to be under house arrest.”
“What is the charge?”
“It is not certain, but it seems that cheap wool was sold as quinine.”
Wool from Mount Quiren is so strictly controlled that it requires the Society's approval, and wool fraud is a serious crime. But even so, it is still under investigation by the Royal Inspectorate.
Nathan stared at the mansion that had turned into a shabby place with cold eyes for a long time.
He wants to rush in and scold Cavendish right away, even though it's a gold medal. However, he can't just disobey the royal order for the sake of his family's honor and personal revenge. He can only postpone punishment until later...
His pensive gaze drifted through the air and settled on the rose bushes in the entrance hall of the mansion.
Although they were now withered and hideous, Nathan remembered that day a few months ago when the roses were in full bloom and the fragrance of the flowers filled the air.
To be exact, the woman standing below with sparkling eyes.
There are plenty of reasons why they shouldn't meet.
Nathan, however, instructed his coachman to wait in the square. He pretended not to notice his bewilderment and untied a horse from the carriage.
The place Nathan headed to was, of course, the zelkova forest where she lived.
When Nathan's white horse arrived at the cabin, Emilia was gathering firewood with Beppy.
The moment the sound of chopping wood was mixed with the sound of horse hooves, the two stopped what they were doing and turned their heads without saying a word. Emilia froze for a moment as she realized that the face that appeared through the dusty dirt was Nathan Malvin.
It has been less than a week since the incident at the ball. The two people involved in the rumor should avoid meeting each other if possible.
Above all, Emilia was still suffering from the aftereffects of her carriage ride. The man who had been calling her a 'horny bastard' was still occupying her mind, far from disappearing.
But it was impossible to coldly ignore someone who approached her with a gentle smile. Emilia's stiff face softened, and the corners of her lips curled up.
“Hello, Young Master.”
The moment he first encountered Emilia, Nathan was overcome with a strange, unexpected feeling.
Who is that woman? The woman in front of him is so unfamiliar. Her sculptural and beautiful face has become even clearer, and her calm eyes are filled with maturity.
At Cavendish Manor, he had definitely thought she was more of a 'girl', but now that he looked at her, that wasn't the case at all. Was it because he saw her guarding Hardy Meyer? Whether it was just her name or not, his heart started beating out of sync when he realized that she was another man's woman.
“Hello, Emilia.”
Although he greeted her calmly, it was difficult to meet her eyes. For the first time in his life, Nathan could not look a woman straight in the eye and had to turn his head away.
The coachman he often encountered at Cavendish Manor stands there, casting an ominous shadow.
“I need to speak to your master for a moment. Tie this guy up in the stable and give him some water.”
Beppy glanced at the pure white horse behind Nathan.
“His name is Chantal. He is a difficult and sensitive child, so handle him with care.”
Beppy went straight to Chantal. Chantal, who was difficult and sensitive, brought his head to him like a docile lamb when Beppy scratched the back of his neck.
Nathan watched the coachman lead the horse away into the stables. Now it was time to focus on the woman in front of him again. But his body, strangely trembling, refused to move.
“How did you come..?”
Emilia asked cautiously, looking like a cat with its tail up. It was natural. There was an unspoken agreement that they should not meet for the time being because of the ball.
He doesn't know if Emilia knows, but Hardius Meyer also warned him that day.
“I hope my fiancée doesn’t get caught up in any strange rumors.”
Hardy Meyer was very polite and gentlemanly. He showed no emotional reaction, such as jealousy or anger, even in front of a stranger who showed personal interest in his fiancée. Thanks to this, Nathan was able to confirm once again that their relationship was nominally an engagement, nothing more, nothing less.
Still, it was unpleasant.
How dare you claim your rights to the black swan and teach it to me?
Even though he knew it was irrational anger, Nathan hated the sight of Hardy Meyer. Especially when he forced her to dance despite her disapproval...
"Master?"
Nathan quickly softened his hard lips.
“First of all, I want to apologize.”
“... Apologize?”
“About the rumors surrounding us. I promised to take responsibility if there was any trouble. But I couldn’t keep my promise. It’s all my fault. I should have been more careful.”
“No. Don’t say that.”
Her crimson lips curled up gently on both sides, forming a bright smile. Nathan felt dizzy again. Her face gradually came into view.
Her cheeks are flushed, and sweat is beading on her forehead, as if she had been working until just before. The slightly disheveled appearance of the woman somehow makes hia legs lose strength.
“It’s just a rumor. I don’t care. Don’t worry about it.”
It's just a rumor... It's true, but he doesn't know why he's still offended. Nathan smiled bitterly without realizing it, finding it funny how he didn't know where his emotions would lead.
“I stopped by Cavendish’s mansion before coming here.”
The smile disappeared from Emilia's face in an instant.
“I tried to hold the entire Cavendish family, not just the servants, accountable, but I failed.”
“Why... are you here?”
“The gold standard has been set up, and investigators are swarming the area. It looks like Bernen Cavendish has committed some kind of corruption.”
Nathan continued speaking, not noticing that the woman in front of him was strangely frozen.
“It won’t be safe since the Royal Inspectorate has stepped in. Because of that, I’ve lost the opportunity to punish them myself.”
Emilia suddenly became speechless, and so did Nathan. The two of them were lost in their own thoughts for a moment.
“I was just going home when I thought of you. I have something to tell you.”
“What do you want to say?”
Nathan's mouth went dry as he realized that the blue eyes were starting to look wary again.
“I told you that day... I wanted to support you.”
Emilia's head suddenly bowed to the ground.
She blinked, seemed to think about something, then looked back at Nathan. Her mouth was smiling softly, but her eyes were not smiling at all.
“You know, my lord. We have to be careful with each other for the time being. To be honest, I feel anxious and nervous even meeting like this right now.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t intend to repeat the same mistake. Just listen. It’s not too late to make a judgment after listening.”
“No, I can’t. No matter what you suggest, my answer will be the same. I really appreciate it, but I will only accept your heart.”
Nathan had no idea that the reason she was so resolutely refusing was actually because of her fiancé. He just felt a sting in his chest, like he had swallowed a grain of sand.
Are you that indifferent to me? So much so that you can't even offer me support or friendship?
Do you hate me?
He had to strain his throat to hold back the childish question he wanted to ask.
“You are the most dignified, kind, and warm person I have ever met. I hope you understand how difficult and uncomfortable it is to reject someone like you.”
Dignity and respect. These were the words Nathan wanted to hear most from people. But they were also the words he absolutely did not want to hear from that woman.
“I appreciate the fact that you want to support me. You’ve already done me more than enough.”
He didn't come here to hear words of thanks. Nathan wanted Emilia Bern to be wary of him. He wanted her to be completely aware of it and avoid it.
Why don't you notice? There's a man in front of you who thinks you're a woman.
There stands a 'man' with a fair and beautiful face with wavy hair, a round forehead, and delicate features, trying not to look at the feminine curves underneath.
Nathan barely managed to suppress his surging emotions with a fake smile.
“I told you. Our family has been passionate about charity and support work for a long time. My father, my grandfather, and his grandfather did the same. It doesn’t matter whether it’s art or academics, it doesn’t discriminate between men, women, or children.”
“No, my lord, I tell you again that I cannot receive your support...”
“Yes, I know. How scared are you? You can’t even calculate that and say something like that.”
Nathan, who had interrupted, smiled leisurely and crossed his arms.
“I also must not have anything to do with you for the time being, under Malvin’s name. My father found out about the rumors between us and is currently under surveillance.”
Pale cracks appeared on her smooth, pale face.
Nathan was even happy about that. Anything but cold indifference would have been nice.
“You will be sponsored by some businessman who has no connection to our family. Without anyone knowing. If necessary, you can even appoint a female guardian. Do you intend to refuse that?”
Emilia's mouth opened, and a ragged breath escaped her. One could read quite a bit from her shaking pupils.
There was anxiety, confusion, and a little anticipation.
“Of course, I’m not forcing you. You have plenty of time to think about it. Until you break off the engagement and become free, no, even after that, the offer will remain valid. Whenever you want.”
“I don’t know why you are doing this to me... Why are you doing this to me...”
“I just want to have the good fortune of sponsoring the first female accountant.”
The woman's mouth, which had been smirking, slowly closes, and her face turns deep and mature.
Nathan suddenly felt as if the world had disappeared and he was left alone with Emilia.
His heart had been pounding uncontrollably for a long time, and he felt like he would say something strange if he stayed in that place any longer.
“Think about it slowly, and if you change your mind, come back anytime. To this place.”
Nathan handed over a card.
There was the address of a brewery on the outskirts of Grossen, the latest business Nathan had inherited as the heir to the Malvin family.
“I would like to ask you to help me with my work here, but I know you absolutely will not like that. It would make it seem like you are having an inappropriate relationship with a nobleman.”
When Nathan saw her with Haspel, didn't he suspect the same thing?
As he recalled that moment, blood rushed to his face. Fearing that his face would be caught blushing in embarrassment, he quickly turned to the coachman.
“Get ready. I have finished speaking with your master.”
He never looked back until he was out of the forest.
The Malvins' carriage headed straight for Erndorf the next day. The formalities of informing them of their intention to visit and setting up an appointment were omitted. Nathan was unusually enthusiastic.
He was going to make them pay for insulting him. He was going to call in Sheila Cavendish and the entire family, including her servants, and make them kneel down.
Perfect retribution, that was all he could think about.
But Nathan had to turn back without even getting through the iron gate, let alone meeting Baron Cavendish. There was a gold sign erected along the perimeter of the mansion’s walls. The coachman who had been asking around told him some surprising news.
“Under investigation? By the Royal Inspectorate?”
“Yes. Lord Cavendish and his family, as well as all his servants, are said to be under house arrest.”
“What is the charge?”
“It is not certain, but it seems that cheap wool was sold as quinine.”
Wool from Mount Quiren is so strictly controlled that it requires the Society's approval, and wool fraud is a serious crime. But even so, it is still under investigation by the Royal Inspectorate.
Nathan stared at the mansion that had turned into a shabby place with cold eyes for a long time.
He wants to rush in and scold Cavendish right away, even though it's a gold medal. However, he can't just disobey the royal order for the sake of his family's honor and personal revenge. He can only postpone punishment until later...
His pensive gaze drifted through the air and settled on the rose bushes in the entrance hall of the mansion.
Although they were now withered and hideous, Nathan remembered that day a few months ago when the roses were in full bloom and the fragrance of the flowers filled the air.
To be exact, the woman standing below with sparkling eyes.
There are plenty of reasons why they shouldn't meet.
Nathan, however, instructed his coachman to wait in the square. He pretended not to notice his bewilderment and untied a horse from the carriage.
The place Nathan headed to was, of course, the zelkova forest where she lived.
***
When Nathan's white horse arrived at the cabin, Emilia was gathering firewood with Beppy.
The moment the sound of chopping wood was mixed with the sound of horse hooves, the two stopped what they were doing and turned their heads without saying a word. Emilia froze for a moment as she realized that the face that appeared through the dusty dirt was Nathan Malvin.
It has been less than a week since the incident at the ball. The two people involved in the rumor should avoid meeting each other if possible.
Above all, Emilia was still suffering from the aftereffects of her carriage ride. The man who had been calling her a 'horny bastard' was still occupying her mind, far from disappearing.
But it was impossible to coldly ignore someone who approached her with a gentle smile. Emilia's stiff face softened, and the corners of her lips curled up.
“Hello, Young Master.”
The moment he first encountered Emilia, Nathan was overcome with a strange, unexpected feeling.
Who is that woman? The woman in front of him is so unfamiliar. Her sculptural and beautiful face has become even clearer, and her calm eyes are filled with maturity.
At Cavendish Manor, he had definitely thought she was more of a 'girl', but now that he looked at her, that wasn't the case at all. Was it because he saw her guarding Hardy Meyer? Whether it was just her name or not, his heart started beating out of sync when he realized that she was another man's woman.
“Hello, Emilia.”
Although he greeted her calmly, it was difficult to meet her eyes. For the first time in his life, Nathan could not look a woman straight in the eye and had to turn his head away.
The coachman he often encountered at Cavendish Manor stands there, casting an ominous shadow.
“I need to speak to your master for a moment. Tie this guy up in the stable and give him some water.”
Beppy glanced at the pure white horse behind Nathan.
“His name is Chantal. He is a difficult and sensitive child, so handle him with care.”
Beppy went straight to Chantal. Chantal, who was difficult and sensitive, brought his head to him like a docile lamb when Beppy scratched the back of his neck.
Nathan watched the coachman lead the horse away into the stables. Now it was time to focus on the woman in front of him again. But his body, strangely trembling, refused to move.
“How did you come..?”
Emilia asked cautiously, looking like a cat with its tail up. It was natural. There was an unspoken agreement that they should not meet for the time being because of the ball.
He doesn't know if Emilia knows, but Hardius Meyer also warned him that day.
“I hope my fiancée doesn’t get caught up in any strange rumors.”
Hardy Meyer was very polite and gentlemanly. He showed no emotional reaction, such as jealousy or anger, even in front of a stranger who showed personal interest in his fiancée. Thanks to this, Nathan was able to confirm once again that their relationship was nominally an engagement, nothing more, nothing less.
Still, it was unpleasant.
How dare you claim your rights to the black swan and teach it to me?
Even though he knew it was irrational anger, Nathan hated the sight of Hardy Meyer. Especially when he forced her to dance despite her disapproval...
"Master?"
Nathan quickly softened his hard lips.
“First of all, I want to apologize.”
“... Apologize?”
“About the rumors surrounding us. I promised to take responsibility if there was any trouble. But I couldn’t keep my promise. It’s all my fault. I should have been more careful.”
“No. Don’t say that.”
Her crimson lips curled up gently on both sides, forming a bright smile. Nathan felt dizzy again. Her face gradually came into view.
Her cheeks are flushed, and sweat is beading on her forehead, as if she had been working until just before. The slightly disheveled appearance of the woman somehow makes hia legs lose strength.
“It’s just a rumor. I don’t care. Don’t worry about it.”
It's just a rumor... It's true, but he doesn't know why he's still offended. Nathan smiled bitterly without realizing it, finding it funny how he didn't know where his emotions would lead.
“I stopped by Cavendish’s mansion before coming here.”
The smile disappeared from Emilia's face in an instant.
“I tried to hold the entire Cavendish family, not just the servants, accountable, but I failed.”
“Why... are you here?”
“The gold standard has been set up, and investigators are swarming the area. It looks like Bernen Cavendish has committed some kind of corruption.”
Nathan continued speaking, not noticing that the woman in front of him was strangely frozen.
“It won’t be safe since the Royal Inspectorate has stepped in. Because of that, I’ve lost the opportunity to punish them myself.”
Emilia suddenly became speechless, and so did Nathan. The two of them were lost in their own thoughts for a moment.
“I was just going home when I thought of you. I have something to tell you.”
“What do you want to say?”
Nathan's mouth went dry as he realized that the blue eyes were starting to look wary again.
“I told you that day... I wanted to support you.”
Emilia's head suddenly bowed to the ground.
She blinked, seemed to think about something, then looked back at Nathan. Her mouth was smiling softly, but her eyes were not smiling at all.
“You know, my lord. We have to be careful with each other for the time being. To be honest, I feel anxious and nervous even meeting like this right now.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t intend to repeat the same mistake. Just listen. It’s not too late to make a judgment after listening.”
“No, I can’t. No matter what you suggest, my answer will be the same. I really appreciate it, but I will only accept your heart.”
Nathan had no idea that the reason she was so resolutely refusing was actually because of her fiancé. He just felt a sting in his chest, like he had swallowed a grain of sand.
Are you that indifferent to me? So much so that you can't even offer me support or friendship?
Do you hate me?
He had to strain his throat to hold back the childish question he wanted to ask.
“You are the most dignified, kind, and warm person I have ever met. I hope you understand how difficult and uncomfortable it is to reject someone like you.”
Dignity and respect. These were the words Nathan wanted to hear most from people. But they were also the words he absolutely did not want to hear from that woman.
“I appreciate the fact that you want to support me. You’ve already done me more than enough.”
He didn't come here to hear words of thanks. Nathan wanted Emilia Bern to be wary of him. He wanted her to be completely aware of it and avoid it.
Why don't you notice? There's a man in front of you who thinks you're a woman.
There stands a 'man' with a fair and beautiful face with wavy hair, a round forehead, and delicate features, trying not to look at the feminine curves underneath.
Nathan barely managed to suppress his surging emotions with a fake smile.
“I told you. Our family has been passionate about charity and support work for a long time. My father, my grandfather, and his grandfather did the same. It doesn’t matter whether it’s art or academics, it doesn’t discriminate between men, women, or children.”
“No, my lord, I tell you again that I cannot receive your support...”
“Yes, I know. How scared are you? You can’t even calculate that and say something like that.”
Nathan, who had interrupted, smiled leisurely and crossed his arms.
“I also must not have anything to do with you for the time being, under Malvin’s name. My father found out about the rumors between us and is currently under surveillance.”
Pale cracks appeared on her smooth, pale face.
Nathan was even happy about that. Anything but cold indifference would have been nice.
“You will be sponsored by some businessman who has no connection to our family. Without anyone knowing. If necessary, you can even appoint a female guardian. Do you intend to refuse that?”
Emilia's mouth opened, and a ragged breath escaped her. One could read quite a bit from her shaking pupils.
There was anxiety, confusion, and a little anticipation.
“Of course, I’m not forcing you. You have plenty of time to think about it. Until you break off the engagement and become free, no, even after that, the offer will remain valid. Whenever you want.”
“I don’t know why you are doing this to me... Why are you doing this to me...”
“I just want to have the good fortune of sponsoring the first female accountant.”
The woman's mouth, which had been smirking, slowly closes, and her face turns deep and mature.
Nathan suddenly felt as if the world had disappeared and he was left alone with Emilia.
His heart had been pounding uncontrollably for a long time, and he felt like he would say something strange if he stayed in that place any longer.
“Think about it slowly, and if you change your mind, come back anytime. To this place.”
Nathan handed over a card.
There was the address of a brewery on the outskirts of Grossen, the latest business Nathan had inherited as the heir to the Malvin family.
“I would like to ask you to help me with my work here, but I know you absolutely will not like that. It would make it seem like you are having an inappropriate relationship with a nobleman.”
When Nathan saw her with Haspel, didn't he suspect the same thing?
As he recalled that moment, blood rushed to his face. Fearing that his face would be caught blushing in embarrassment, he quickly turned to the coachman.
“Get ready. I have finished speaking with your master.”
He never looked back until he was out of the forest.
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