100. I won't accept it
Hardius left the factory right away. Grojean, who was following him, couldn't help but ask.
“Your Excellency, why did you make such a promise?”
What he heard a moment later was not an answer, but a question out of the blue.
“...It was the second steel mill, right? That’s where a strike broke out because a worker died.”
Grojean searched his memory diligently, his eyes blank.
“...Yes, probably... It was the No. 2 steel mill in Eringer. It was a really terrible and regrettable thing. But why all of a sudden...”
“They’re trying to use him.”
“If it’s him...”
Grojean tilted his head, trying to understand the enigmatic words.
A few years ago, when Kaitlyn Meyer was president of Meyer Steel, there was a terrible accident where one of the workers fell into boiling molten iron and died.
This was because the device that served as a platform over the furnace was broken, but Kaitlyn and other staff members concluded that the cause of the accident was the negligence of a careless worker.
Hundreds of workers went on strike in protest, locking the factory doors and even protesting outside the Meyer Steel offices where Kaitlyn was.
“Who was in charge at that time?”
“It must be Viscount Erdua.”
“No, not the factory manager, but the workers’ representative.”
"Yes?"
Grosjean couldn't help but ask again. Why is he suddenly asking for the name of the strike leader?
“...The name... was probably... ‘Andrey’...”
The moment he answered, a shocking realization flashed through his mind.
Why is the owner asking about that now, of all times?
Shortage of manpower, lack of funds, a worker representative who had been held responsible for a large-scale strike a few years ago and was thrown in jail...
“I have to meet him.”
As expected.
The young master must be trying to use the situation at the time to his advantage. It could be reckless and dangerous, but if done well, it could solve this stagnant situation in one fell swoop.
“Yes, I will prepare it.”
Thus, Hardius's carriage, equipped with new horses and harness, headed without a moment's rest to Eringer, a small town where the second ironworks was located.
It took three whole days for the secret journey from Nowak to Kunt and Eringer to be completed.
Even for Grojean, who had never done anything he had not done as a spy for his master, the past three days had been a memorable, sudden, and harsh schedule.
When he had finished all the planned work, Hardius was about to return to Nowak.
But the tired horses and coachman were a problem. They were eventually forced to spend the night at an inn.
“Your Excellency, why are you in such a hurry?”
Grojean asked, pouring a drink into the master's glass.
“Do I look like I’m rushing? I feel like I’m dragging my feet.”
“But you always preferred the safe way, right?”
Hardius took a sip of his drink without answering.
Was it because of the alcohol? Grojean's mouth was moving on its own.
“Your Excellency, isn’t there a really easy, safe, and quick way? Just...”
Grojean had to swallow dry saliva to continue speaking.
“If you marry Lady Leichnen...”
Hardius chuckled.
“Yes, it would have been much easier and safer if that had been the case. War was inevitable, but if it had been Duke Meyer, not the heir, everything would have been easier.”
He turned away from Grojean and walked to the window. Outside, it was completely dark.
But Emilia, can you really accept me marrying another woman?
The cold alcohol touched his cold lips. Hardius suddenly felt an unbearable feeling.
“Go to bed early, Grojean. We have to leave at dawn.”
A glass of wine lay on the floor, half empty.
The next day, they left the inn before dawn. Hardius stared blankly at his dozing aide and then called the coachman. An hour later, the carriage stopped at Grojean’s house instead of Basilion’s.
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
Grojean bowed. Hardius raised his hand, and the carriage moved away. Watching the carriage disappear into a small dot, Grojean suddenly realized something.
Will the young master go home? He will definitely go to the zelkova forest.
A long sigh escaped from his tightly shut mouth.
As Grojean had guessed, Hardius turned his attention to Erndorf, not Nowak.
When the carriage arrived at the entrance to the forest, Emilia was discussing with her family the matter of moving to Rheinsbuch.
“A two-story house?”
“Yeah, it has five bedrooms, a stable, and a small orchard right next door.”
"Oh my god!"
Mitch and Kalia looked at each other with sparkling eyes.
“Of course, it’s not our real house. Mr. Angel said he’d lend it to us on the condition that we pay monthly. In return, he said we could tend the orchard as we pleased. We could even sell the fruit.”
Emilia quickly added.
“And one more thing to know. Miss Ingrid told me not to get my hopes up too much. I’ve heard that it’s a haunted house because no one has lived there for ten years. It might take months just to clear the cobwebs. Is that okay?”
“Are you okay, Emilia?”
Kalia intervened.
“It’s not far from the school, and there’s even an orchard. Honestly, I’m a little worried. I don’t know why God is blessing people like me so much these days. Of course...”
She looked back at Charlotte hesitantly.
“Charlotte, I’m worried about you. If we change houses, your furniture, your belongings, your location will all change.”
Contrary to fears, Charlotte did not lose her smile.
“It’s okay. Our whole family will have a better life. Don’t change your mind because of me.”
Charlotte was a child who regarded this forest and Katia Beach as a kind of paradise on earth.
Emilia couldn't help but feel sorry and hugged the child gently.
“Thank you, Charlotte. Instead, I’m thinking of hiring a tutor for the blind for you. Ms. Ingrid said she’d be happy to help you find a visiting tutor.”
“More than that, I...”
Charlotte replied, breaking free from her sister's embrace.
“I wish Brave and Uncle Beppy could live with me. I need them more than a tutor.”
“That’s right...”
Emilia hesitated. Brave was natural, but Uncle Beppy’s whereabouts were not yet decided.
“Let’s ask the old man himself. That’s first. I’ll bring the old man over.”
As Emilia spoke and opened the door, a carriage appeared in the distance, running from across the shabby forest of trees.
Hardius Myer. That's for sure.
Emilia was so embarrassed that she slammed the door shut again.
“Sister, what’s wrong?”
Mitch tilted his head and Charlotte jumped up, saying, “He's the young master?” Meanwhile, the carriage arrived at the front yard.
As usual, the sound of dogs barking and Beppy greeting followed.
“Why did Your Highness come again?”
Kalia opened the door and stepped out with a slightly darkened face. Mitch and Charlotte followed. Only Emilia ran back to her room as if she were escaping.
Emilia closed the door and leaned against the wall, placing her hand on her pounding heart.
Outside, the family could be heard exchanging greetings. Kalia asked if he wanted some tea, and Hardius, as always, politely declined.
In the silence that followed, Emilia felt that he was looking for her.
I need to go out and say hello right now. But why am I doing this?
The answer was right in front of her. It was because of the birthday present she had impulsively bought a few days ago.
Her hands began to tremble and her heart pounded harder as she lifted the heavy box. Emilia took a few deep breaths and opened the door again.
As she went outside, the sight of the man filling the hallway made her vision even more dizzy.
"Hi."
“Hello, Young Master.”
Emilia greeted him stiffly and approached Hardius without realizing how strange she looked.
“Excuse me, mother... I’ll go talk to the master for a moment.”
“Huh? Uh... Yes.”
“Then goodbye.”
Hardius greeted her, but Kalia had no time to respond.
It was because of Emilia.
Emilia followed the young master, her face strangely red and her hair tucked into her ears. The wooden box that was clearly a gift also made her feel very strange.
"What?"
Mitch tilted his head as if something was strange, just like Kalia.
“Don’t you think my sister a little strange?”
As she watched the couple walking away from the window, Kalia felt her heart sink again.
Why does the master keep coming to see Emilia?
Of course, Mr. Grojean said that the young master wanted to take care of her family even after the breakup.
It was thanks to Master Meyer that the problem of Mitch's Squad was resolved, and according to Emilia, she also received an extravagant amount of money from His Majesty the King.
But that's enough.
Duchess Meyer would never be happy for her heir to be paying attention to his former fiancée. It was against everyone's logic.
Why is Emilia making such a weird face?
The child seemed to be welcoming her lover back from the front lines. She thought she was keeping a proper distance from the master and calming down her feelings...
During that time, many things that she had not been able to pay attention to while working at the factory were weighing heavily on Kalia's mind.
"Charlotte"
Kalia quickly turned to Charlotte.
“Can you be honest with me? About you and the master.”
Emilia walked along the path alongside Hardius, unaware of the conversation going on at home.
It's not the first time they've walked together, but today it feels strangely unfamiliar.
No, come to think of it, it wasn't just today.
Even when she went to the festival, she had a hard time raising her head because of the strange embarrassment that ran down her spine.
It was a very funny feeling to think about the night she spent with him, feeling embarrassed.
Emilia was a little dazed, both amused and embarrassed by herself. Hardius suddenly stopped walking and turned his head to Emilia, perhaps because her blank stare was strange.
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, no...”
He looked her up and down, still unsure.
“What is that?”
Eyes filled with pure questioning were fixed on the box.
“Huh? Ah... this is...”
Hardius looked down at her, who was crying and did not know what to do.
“Can I lift it for you? It looks heavy.”
“Oh, no, it’s okay.”
Emilia stubbornly held onto the box as if it were a treasure that could not be taken away.
Hardius walked back towards the beach. After a while, a wide ocean spread out before the two of them.
Emilia sat down on the hammock, and Hardius stood a few steps away with his back to her.
“...Would you like to sit down?”
She asked, and Hardius glanced away.
"It's okay."
He answered absentmindedly, turned back toward the sea, and put his hands in his pockets.
It wasn't awkward. It wasn't scary or unsettling. But Emilia's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to pierce her bones.
Maybe it was because she was so nervous, but her stomach started to churn and she felt like swearing. Emilia unconsciously covered her mouth with her hand, and Hardius somehow noticed that and turned around.
"You,"
Worried eyes poured down to her.
“Where does it hurt?”
“...No... It’s nothing. It’s been like this sometimes lately. Like I can’t digest food. Don’t worry, it’ll get better soon.”
The frozen face showed no sign of relaxing.
“Let’s go to the hospital. Or call a doctor...”
“Oh, this is it!”
Emilia almost screamed, interrupting him.
"This one..."
The box was blocking his approach. Hardius looked back and forth between the box and Emilia with an expression that seemed to indicate that he had no idea what was going on.
“This, it’s a gift. Actually.”
"Gift?"
Hardius asked back, as if it was the first time he had heard such a word.
“It’s your birthday... right? It’s still far away... but it’s your birthday, young master. Definitely...”
Emilia handed the box back to him with her eyes down, and Hardius accepted it absentmindedly.
"Birthday?"
He muttered as if talking to himself.
The sea breeze blew, gently brushing the man's heart that was beating uncontrollably and the woman's flushed cheeks.
“You can open it and take a look.”
"Now?"
"Yes."
But Hardius didn't even open it; he just froze and stared down at the box for a long time.
Hardius left the factory right away. Grojean, who was following him, couldn't help but ask.
“Your Excellency, why did you make such a promise?”
What he heard a moment later was not an answer, but a question out of the blue.
“...It was the second steel mill, right? That’s where a strike broke out because a worker died.”
Grojean searched his memory diligently, his eyes blank.
“...Yes, probably... It was the No. 2 steel mill in Eringer. It was a really terrible and regrettable thing. But why all of a sudden...”
“They’re trying to use him.”
“If it’s him...”
Grojean tilted his head, trying to understand the enigmatic words.
A few years ago, when Kaitlyn Meyer was president of Meyer Steel, there was a terrible accident where one of the workers fell into boiling molten iron and died.
This was because the device that served as a platform over the furnace was broken, but Kaitlyn and other staff members concluded that the cause of the accident was the negligence of a careless worker.
Hundreds of workers went on strike in protest, locking the factory doors and even protesting outside the Meyer Steel offices where Kaitlyn was.
“Who was in charge at that time?”
“It must be Viscount Erdua.”
“No, not the factory manager, but the workers’ representative.”
"Yes?"
Grosjean couldn't help but ask again. Why is he suddenly asking for the name of the strike leader?
“...The name... was probably... ‘Andrey’...”
The moment he answered, a shocking realization flashed through his mind.
Why is the owner asking about that now, of all times?
Shortage of manpower, lack of funds, a worker representative who had been held responsible for a large-scale strike a few years ago and was thrown in jail...
“I have to meet him.”
As expected.
The young master must be trying to use the situation at the time to his advantage. It could be reckless and dangerous, but if done well, it could solve this stagnant situation in one fell swoop.
“Yes, I will prepare it.”
Thus, Hardius's carriage, equipped with new horses and harness, headed without a moment's rest to Eringer, a small town where the second ironworks was located.
It took three whole days for the secret journey from Nowak to Kunt and Eringer to be completed.
Even for Grojean, who had never done anything he had not done as a spy for his master, the past three days had been a memorable, sudden, and harsh schedule.
When he had finished all the planned work, Hardius was about to return to Nowak.
But the tired horses and coachman were a problem. They were eventually forced to spend the night at an inn.
“Your Excellency, why are you in such a hurry?”
Grojean asked, pouring a drink into the master's glass.
“Do I look like I’m rushing? I feel like I’m dragging my feet.”
“But you always preferred the safe way, right?”
Hardius took a sip of his drink without answering.
Was it because of the alcohol? Grojean's mouth was moving on its own.
“Your Excellency, isn’t there a really easy, safe, and quick way? Just...”
Grojean had to swallow dry saliva to continue speaking.
“If you marry Lady Leichnen...”
Hardius chuckled.
“Yes, it would have been much easier and safer if that had been the case. War was inevitable, but if it had been Duke Meyer, not the heir, everything would have been easier.”
He turned away from Grojean and walked to the window. Outside, it was completely dark.
But Emilia, can you really accept me marrying another woman?
The cold alcohol touched his cold lips. Hardius suddenly felt an unbearable feeling.
“Go to bed early, Grojean. We have to leave at dawn.”
A glass of wine lay on the floor, half empty.
The next day, they left the inn before dawn. Hardius stared blankly at his dozing aide and then called the coachman. An hour later, the carriage stopped at Grojean’s house instead of Basilion’s.
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
Grojean bowed. Hardius raised his hand, and the carriage moved away. Watching the carriage disappear into a small dot, Grojean suddenly realized something.
Will the young master go home? He will definitely go to the zelkova forest.
A long sigh escaped from his tightly shut mouth.
As Grojean had guessed, Hardius turned his attention to Erndorf, not Nowak.
When the carriage arrived at the entrance to the forest, Emilia was discussing with her family the matter of moving to Rheinsbuch.
“A two-story house?”
“Yeah, it has five bedrooms, a stable, and a small orchard right next door.”
"Oh my god!"
Mitch and Kalia looked at each other with sparkling eyes.
“Of course, it’s not our real house. Mr. Angel said he’d lend it to us on the condition that we pay monthly. In return, he said we could tend the orchard as we pleased. We could even sell the fruit.”
Emilia quickly added.
“And one more thing to know. Miss Ingrid told me not to get my hopes up too much. I’ve heard that it’s a haunted house because no one has lived there for ten years. It might take months just to clear the cobwebs. Is that okay?”
“Are you okay, Emilia?”
Kalia intervened.
“It’s not far from the school, and there’s even an orchard. Honestly, I’m a little worried. I don’t know why God is blessing people like me so much these days. Of course...”
She looked back at Charlotte hesitantly.
“Charlotte, I’m worried about you. If we change houses, your furniture, your belongings, your location will all change.”
Contrary to fears, Charlotte did not lose her smile.
“It’s okay. Our whole family will have a better life. Don’t change your mind because of me.”
Charlotte was a child who regarded this forest and Katia Beach as a kind of paradise on earth.
Emilia couldn't help but feel sorry and hugged the child gently.
“Thank you, Charlotte. Instead, I’m thinking of hiring a tutor for the blind for you. Ms. Ingrid said she’d be happy to help you find a visiting tutor.”
“More than that, I...”
Charlotte replied, breaking free from her sister's embrace.
“I wish Brave and Uncle Beppy could live with me. I need them more than a tutor.”
“That’s right...”
Emilia hesitated. Brave was natural, but Uncle Beppy’s whereabouts were not yet decided.
“Let’s ask the old man himself. That’s first. I’ll bring the old man over.”
As Emilia spoke and opened the door, a carriage appeared in the distance, running from across the shabby forest of trees.
Hardius Myer. That's for sure.
Emilia was so embarrassed that she slammed the door shut again.
“Sister, what’s wrong?”
Mitch tilted his head and Charlotte jumped up, saying, “He's the young master?” Meanwhile, the carriage arrived at the front yard.
As usual, the sound of dogs barking and Beppy greeting followed.
“Why did Your Highness come again?”
Kalia opened the door and stepped out with a slightly darkened face. Mitch and Charlotte followed. Only Emilia ran back to her room as if she were escaping.
Emilia closed the door and leaned against the wall, placing her hand on her pounding heart.
Outside, the family could be heard exchanging greetings. Kalia asked if he wanted some tea, and Hardius, as always, politely declined.
In the silence that followed, Emilia felt that he was looking for her.
I need to go out and say hello right now. But why am I doing this?
The answer was right in front of her. It was because of the birthday present she had impulsively bought a few days ago.
Her hands began to tremble and her heart pounded harder as she lifted the heavy box. Emilia took a few deep breaths and opened the door again.
As she went outside, the sight of the man filling the hallway made her vision even more dizzy.
"Hi."
“Hello, Young Master.”
Emilia greeted him stiffly and approached Hardius without realizing how strange she looked.
“Excuse me, mother... I’ll go talk to the master for a moment.”
“Huh? Uh... Yes.”
“Then goodbye.”
Hardius greeted her, but Kalia had no time to respond.
It was because of Emilia.
Emilia followed the young master, her face strangely red and her hair tucked into her ears. The wooden box that was clearly a gift also made her feel very strange.
"What?"
Mitch tilted his head as if something was strange, just like Kalia.
“Don’t you think my sister a little strange?”
As she watched the couple walking away from the window, Kalia felt her heart sink again.
Why does the master keep coming to see Emilia?
Of course, Mr. Grojean said that the young master wanted to take care of her family even after the breakup.
It was thanks to Master Meyer that the problem of Mitch's Squad was resolved, and according to Emilia, she also received an extravagant amount of money from His Majesty the King.
But that's enough.
Duchess Meyer would never be happy for her heir to be paying attention to his former fiancée. It was against everyone's logic.
Why is Emilia making such a weird face?
The child seemed to be welcoming her lover back from the front lines. She thought she was keeping a proper distance from the master and calming down her feelings...
During that time, many things that she had not been able to pay attention to while working at the factory were weighing heavily on Kalia's mind.
"Charlotte"
Kalia quickly turned to Charlotte.
“Can you be honest with me? About you and the master.”
Emilia walked along the path alongside Hardius, unaware of the conversation going on at home.
It's not the first time they've walked together, but today it feels strangely unfamiliar.
No, come to think of it, it wasn't just today.
Even when she went to the festival, she had a hard time raising her head because of the strange embarrassment that ran down her spine.
It was a very funny feeling to think about the night she spent with him, feeling embarrassed.
Emilia was a little dazed, both amused and embarrassed by herself. Hardius suddenly stopped walking and turned his head to Emilia, perhaps because her blank stare was strange.
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, no...”
He looked her up and down, still unsure.
“What is that?”
Eyes filled with pure questioning were fixed on the box.
“Huh? Ah... this is...”
Hardius looked down at her, who was crying and did not know what to do.
“Can I lift it for you? It looks heavy.”
“Oh, no, it’s okay.”
Emilia stubbornly held onto the box as if it were a treasure that could not be taken away.
Hardius walked back towards the beach. After a while, a wide ocean spread out before the two of them.
Emilia sat down on the hammock, and Hardius stood a few steps away with his back to her.
“...Would you like to sit down?”
She asked, and Hardius glanced away.
"It's okay."
He answered absentmindedly, turned back toward the sea, and put his hands in his pockets.
It wasn't awkward. It wasn't scary or unsettling. But Emilia's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to pierce her bones.
Maybe it was because she was so nervous, but her stomach started to churn and she felt like swearing. Emilia unconsciously covered her mouth with her hand, and Hardius somehow noticed that and turned around.
"You,"
Worried eyes poured down to her.
“Where does it hurt?”
“...No... It’s nothing. It’s been like this sometimes lately. Like I can’t digest food. Don’t worry, it’ll get better soon.”
The frozen face showed no sign of relaxing.
“Let’s go to the hospital. Or call a doctor...”
“Oh, this is it!”
Emilia almost screamed, interrupting him.
"This one..."
The box was blocking his approach. Hardius looked back and forth between the box and Emilia with an expression that seemed to indicate that he had no idea what was going on.
“This, it’s a gift. Actually.”
"Gift?"
Hardius asked back, as if it was the first time he had heard such a word.
“It’s your birthday... right? It’s still far away... but it’s your birthday, young master. Definitely...”
Emilia handed the box back to him with her eyes down, and Hardius accepted it absentmindedly.
"Birthday?"
He muttered as if talking to himself.
The sea breeze blew, gently brushing the man's heart that was beating uncontrollably and the woman's flushed cheeks.
“You can open it and take a look.”
"Now?"
"Yes."
But Hardius didn't even open it; he just froze and stared down at the box for a long time.
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