It rained. The signs were ominous, and a storm raged as if to overturn the estate. Many of the rice paddies and fields cultivated by the villagers were destroyed.
"It's dangerous, so you stay put. I'll go check the situation."
"I'll go and help too."
"You're not feeling well, either."
Kendrick gave Stella a quick kiss on the forehead and stepped out the door. Fortunately, the Duke's mansion was located on high ground, so it suffered relatively less damage. Stella stroked the blanket Kendrick had wrapped around her. She gazed at the heavy rain pouring down outside the window.
'At this rate, even the orphanage would be leaking.'
She felt heavy-hearted. However, Stella knew. Because she had experienced this once before. During Stella's time as Adrian's Duchess, there had never been a storm that caused such heavy loss of life. If there had been, it would have remained a vivid memory for her.
"Lady Stella, don't let the cold air in."
Rincasta served Stella by her side. He closed the window tightly. Neither Rincasta nor Stella mentioned what had happened that day.
"The tea has cooled down. I'll bring you a fresh batch."
A short while later, he returned. While Rincasta was out, Stella thought.
'I don't think it's going to work out.'
She felt she needed to check if the children at the orphanage were okay. It was the first time in their lives they had experienced such a storm. They might have been trembling with fear. She pictured Lina's face, especially how terrified she must have looked.
"Where are you going?"
As Stella grabbed her coat, Rincasta looked surprised.
"Yeah. You go too. We need extra hands."
The orphanage was a newly built building, but it was situated on low ground. Even if the roof didn't leak, water might rise.
"You're going to get scolded by the Duke."
"Hurry."
At Stella's urging, Rincasta had no choice but to get ready to leave. Even though the terrain was high, the rising water made it difficult to walk. The other servants were also frantic, preparing for the flooding. She walked to the orphanage instead of taking the carriage. It seemed to take twice as long as usual.
"Ugh, Lady Stella, aren't you going to catch a cold at this rate?"
Rincasta frowned. Stella paid little attention to his concerns and pushed forward, cutting through the current. Since the knights were all busy, no one stopped Stella.
"We're here."
"Is it here?"
Rincasta followed Stella without knowing the destination. He saw the orphanage building. The sign had fallen, broken, and the surroundings were in disarray from the debris.
"Rincasta, can you roughly tidy up this area?"
"Yes."
Stella went into the orphanage first.
Fortunately, the building was not destroyed, and no one was injured. However, just as she had feared, water had risen up the floor below. The children were huddled together in the kitchen. Just as they felt the humid air, the children spotted Stella.
"Wowww. It's Lady Stella."
The children welcomed her with cheers.
"Lady Stella, how did you get here?"
The director approached Stella.
"Because I'm so worried about the children."
"Did you come alone?"
Stella shook her head. At this, the director looked relieved. Just then, through the window, she could see Rincasta placing the sign on the outside of the warehouse to prevent it from floating away.
"Huh? But who is that person in the back?"
A child who had recently arrived at the orphanage spotted Rincasta. Suddenly, the commotion intensified. A child who had been at the orphanage for a long time recognized Rincasta.
"That person... isn't that brother Lino?"
"Huh? It really is Lino! You look exactly alike."
Stella asked in a puzzled tone.
"Lino?"
Lina's older brother.
She remembered the name Lino without the children having to explain it to her. She was simply puzzled. Why were they calling Rincasta Lino? Was she someone who looked like her? Stella looked around.
"By the way, where did Lina go?"
"Ah, this place is cramped, so the others are gathered in the storage room on the second floor."
A child suddenly sat up.
"I'll bring it here. Lady Stella and Lino are here."
The name Lino was heard again.
"Phew, finally finished. LadyStella, but where is this...?"
Rincasta came inside after finishing the cleanup. Just then, Lina also came out, pushed by the children's insistence. The two children's gazes met in the empty air. Stella watched Lina's eyes, trembling helplessly. Unable to contain her surprise, Lina covered her mouth.
"Lina?"
It was Rincasta who spoke first. Lina was still unable to speak, trembling and pressing her lips with her hand. Rincasta approached her and hugged her.
"Waaah!"
"Lino really came."
"Lina is lucky now."
He looked around. It seemed as though the surrounding situation had finally come into view.
"Here, why?"
They seemed unable to believe that the children from the orphanage where they had lived were gathered here.
"Are you really Lina's older brother?"
Stella approached Rinkaste first and asked.
"Lady Stella, what on earth is this?"
Just as Stella couldn't believe the situation, Rincasta couldn't believe it either. Hmph. Just then, the sound of someone sobbing was heard. It was Lina. Rincasta's gaze rested on Lina again.
"Why are you here?"
"Oh..."
Lina mumbled. Then she covered her mouth with both hands. Rincasta approached her and patted her back. The two of them had the same hair and eye color.
"Brother..."
As Lina spoke, the surroundings stirred.
"Lina spoke!"
"It's been so long."
The children watched the two with joy as if it were their own business.
"Brother... can I... say it now?"
Stella knew that Lina could speak, but her eyes widened for a different reason. So, as expected, the reason Lina didn't speak was because of her older brother, Lino.
Rincasta nodded.
"Lina."
"Brother... I missed you so much..."
As if she had a lot of pent-up emotions from holding back, Lina sobbed and spoke. Her pronunciation was so slurred that not a single word was clearly audible, yet Rincasta listened intently to her. Instead of explaining the situation or verifying the facts, Stella gave the two time to be alone. Several hours passed.
"Aren't you going?"
Stella couldn't be away for long. Although she had left a letter, Kendrick would be worried. Rincasta couldn't move, as if his feet were tied. He bit his lip tightly. His eyes welled up.
"Then, come back later when the rain stops."
Even in the midst of this, Rincasta cared about Stella.
"Isn't it dangerous?"
"It's okay. You should be by your younger sibling's side."
The outside world, which had been a sea of water, seemed to be drying up, perhaps due to the efforts of Kendrick and the knights. As Stella stepped out with an umbrella and raincoat, the children and Rincasta came out to see her off.
"Um..."
"Huh? Why? Do you have something to say?"
Rincasta wore a look of deep contemplation. He wanted to say something to Stella, but as if the words were not coming out easily, he shook his head with a subdued expression.
"It's nothing."
Stella nodded without any particular question and turned back around. Just then, Rincasta shouted.
"If I don't go back, what will you do?"
The fact that Rincasta was Lino meant that he, too, had a lot of pain, just like those children. Considering he had even experienced abandonment, that said it all. I didn't know how he ended up under the care of Duchess Lanedict, but it was clear that Rincasta had a long story.
"If you're going to take Lina with you, at least tell me where you're going."
And Stella did not want to be the one to bring a crisis into Rincasta's life. If Rincasta had a change of heart and left Adrian, Stella would not need to be wary of him. Stella took small steps forward.
It was a belief for which she could not understand. When Stella returned to the Duke's mansion, it was quite chaotic. Stella went straight to find Kendrick. He was soaked from the rain. Water droplets fell one by one from his black hair. As he dried her with a towel, Stella briefly told him that she had been to the orphanage. Even so, Kendrick's expression did not soften.
'The rain has stopped, so it seems like the situation is calming down a bit, though.'
"Kendrick, are things really bad?"
"The ledger is missing."
"Yes?"
He shook his head, as if feeling conflicted about the situation.
"It looks like someone stole it while I was distracted by the flood."
Stella wore the same surprised expression. Kendrick spoke as if to soothe her.
"I keep an emergency ledger for times like this."
"Still, taking the ledger means they approached Adrian with malice."
If they possessed the ledgers, they could know every detail regarding the business or estate management. I had no idea how they might take the ledgers and misuse them. It would have been a relief if they had threatened me with a huge sum of money. If they were to sell the ledgers elsewhere...
"Adrian will suffer a significant loss."
"I'm looking for the culprit. They probably couldn't have escaped far because of the flood. You focus on writing."
Kendrick pulled Stella into his arms as if to calm her down.
"By the way, where did Rincasta go?"
Stella lifted her head.
"He's one of the few people who know where the ledger is."
Kendrick's expression was very stiff.
"If he has disappeared, there is a high probability that he is the culprit."
Stella shook her head.
"Since he's been with me the whole time, it probably isn't him."
Stella, just like Kendrick, had also suspected him. She had kept him by her side in preparation for something like this to happen. In conclusion, Rincasta had been with Stella ever since the flood broke out, so he couldn't possibly be the culprit.
"Yes?"
Kendrick still seemed skeptical, but he nodded at Stella's words.
"Yes."
Even after several days, the culprit was not caught. Rincasta did not return either. Kendrick began to suspect Rincasta again. The storm had subsided, and the knights were just about to set out in earnest to search for him.
"Duke, look over there. Rincasta has returned of his own accord."
Early in the morning, he visited Duke Adrian's mansion, holding Lina's hand in one. Stella, who had been secretly worried that Rincasta might have taken the ledger and not return, was relieved to see him. Sure enough, the first person he sought out was Stella. As soon as Rincasta saw Stella, he immediately knelt down.
"I'm sorry."
"It's dangerous, so you stay put. I'll go check the situation."
"I'll go and help too."
"You're not feeling well, either."
Kendrick gave Stella a quick kiss on the forehead and stepped out the door. Fortunately, the Duke's mansion was located on high ground, so it suffered relatively less damage. Stella stroked the blanket Kendrick had wrapped around her. She gazed at the heavy rain pouring down outside the window.
'At this rate, even the orphanage would be leaking.'
She felt heavy-hearted. However, Stella knew. Because she had experienced this once before. During Stella's time as Adrian's Duchess, there had never been a storm that caused such heavy loss of life. If there had been, it would have remained a vivid memory for her.
"Lady Stella, don't let the cold air in."
Rincasta served Stella by her side. He closed the window tightly. Neither Rincasta nor Stella mentioned what had happened that day.
"The tea has cooled down. I'll bring you a fresh batch."
A short while later, he returned. While Rincasta was out, Stella thought.
'I don't think it's going to work out.'
She felt she needed to check if the children at the orphanage were okay. It was the first time in their lives they had experienced such a storm. They might have been trembling with fear. She pictured Lina's face, especially how terrified she must have looked.
"Where are you going?"
As Stella grabbed her coat, Rincasta looked surprised.
"Yeah. You go too. We need extra hands."
The orphanage was a newly built building, but it was situated on low ground. Even if the roof didn't leak, water might rise.
"You're going to get scolded by the Duke."
"Hurry."
At Stella's urging, Rincasta had no choice but to get ready to leave. Even though the terrain was high, the rising water made it difficult to walk. The other servants were also frantic, preparing for the flooding. She walked to the orphanage instead of taking the carriage. It seemed to take twice as long as usual.
"Ugh, Lady Stella, aren't you going to catch a cold at this rate?"
Rincasta frowned. Stella paid little attention to his concerns and pushed forward, cutting through the current. Since the knights were all busy, no one stopped Stella.
"We're here."
"Is it here?"
Rincasta followed Stella without knowing the destination. He saw the orphanage building. The sign had fallen, broken, and the surroundings were in disarray from the debris.
"Rincasta, can you roughly tidy up this area?"
"Yes."
Stella went into the orphanage first.
Fortunately, the building was not destroyed, and no one was injured. However, just as she had feared, water had risen up the floor below. The children were huddled together in the kitchen. Just as they felt the humid air, the children spotted Stella.
"Wowww. It's Lady Stella."
The children welcomed her with cheers.
"Lady Stella, how did you get here?"
The director approached Stella.
"Because I'm so worried about the children."
"Did you come alone?"
Stella shook her head. At this, the director looked relieved. Just then, through the window, she could see Rincasta placing the sign on the outside of the warehouse to prevent it from floating away.
"Huh? But who is that person in the back?"
A child who had recently arrived at the orphanage spotted Rincasta. Suddenly, the commotion intensified. A child who had been at the orphanage for a long time recognized Rincasta.
"That person... isn't that brother Lino?"
"Huh? It really is Lino! You look exactly alike."
Stella asked in a puzzled tone.
"Lino?"
Lina's older brother.
She remembered the name Lino without the children having to explain it to her. She was simply puzzled. Why were they calling Rincasta Lino? Was she someone who looked like her? Stella looked around.
"By the way, where did Lina go?"
"Ah, this place is cramped, so the others are gathered in the storage room on the second floor."
A child suddenly sat up.
"I'll bring it here. Lady Stella and Lino are here."
The name Lino was heard again.
"Phew, finally finished. LadyStella, but where is this...?"
Rincasta came inside after finishing the cleanup. Just then, Lina also came out, pushed by the children's insistence. The two children's gazes met in the empty air. Stella watched Lina's eyes, trembling helplessly. Unable to contain her surprise, Lina covered her mouth.
"Lina?"
It was Rincasta who spoke first. Lina was still unable to speak, trembling and pressing her lips with her hand. Rincasta approached her and hugged her.
"Waaah!"
"Lino really came."
"Lina is lucky now."
He looked around. It seemed as though the surrounding situation had finally come into view.
"Here, why?"
They seemed unable to believe that the children from the orphanage where they had lived were gathered here.
"Are you really Lina's older brother?"
Stella approached Rinkaste first and asked.
"Lady Stella, what on earth is this?"
Just as Stella couldn't believe the situation, Rincasta couldn't believe it either. Hmph. Just then, the sound of someone sobbing was heard. It was Lina. Rincasta's gaze rested on Lina again.
"Why are you here?"
"Oh..."
Lina mumbled. Then she covered her mouth with both hands. Rincasta approached her and patted her back. The two of them had the same hair and eye color.
"Brother..."
As Lina spoke, the surroundings stirred.
"Lina spoke!"
"It's been so long."
The children watched the two with joy as if it were their own business.
"Brother... can I... say it now?"
Stella knew that Lina could speak, but her eyes widened for a different reason. So, as expected, the reason Lina didn't speak was because of her older brother, Lino.
Rincasta nodded.
"Lina."
"Brother... I missed you so much..."
As if she had a lot of pent-up emotions from holding back, Lina sobbed and spoke. Her pronunciation was so slurred that not a single word was clearly audible, yet Rincasta listened intently to her. Instead of explaining the situation or verifying the facts, Stella gave the two time to be alone. Several hours passed.
"Aren't you going?"
Stella couldn't be away for long. Although she had left a letter, Kendrick would be worried. Rincasta couldn't move, as if his feet were tied. He bit his lip tightly. His eyes welled up.
"Then, come back later when the rain stops."
Even in the midst of this, Rincasta cared about Stella.
"Isn't it dangerous?"
"It's okay. You should be by your younger sibling's side."
The outside world, which had been a sea of water, seemed to be drying up, perhaps due to the efforts of Kendrick and the knights. As Stella stepped out with an umbrella and raincoat, the children and Rincasta came out to see her off.
"Um..."
"Huh? Why? Do you have something to say?"
Rincasta wore a look of deep contemplation. He wanted to say something to Stella, but as if the words were not coming out easily, he shook his head with a subdued expression.
"It's nothing."
Stella nodded without any particular question and turned back around. Just then, Rincasta shouted.
"If I don't go back, what will you do?"
The fact that Rincasta was Lino meant that he, too, had a lot of pain, just like those children. Considering he had even experienced abandonment, that said it all. I didn't know how he ended up under the care of Duchess Lanedict, but it was clear that Rincasta had a long story.
"If you're going to take Lina with you, at least tell me where you're going."
And Stella did not want to be the one to bring a crisis into Rincasta's life. If Rincasta had a change of heart and left Adrian, Stella would not need to be wary of him. Stella took small steps forward.
It was a belief for which she could not understand. When Stella returned to the Duke's mansion, it was quite chaotic. Stella went straight to find Kendrick. He was soaked from the rain. Water droplets fell one by one from his black hair. As he dried her with a towel, Stella briefly told him that she had been to the orphanage. Even so, Kendrick's expression did not soften.
'The rain has stopped, so it seems like the situation is calming down a bit, though.'
"Kendrick, are things really bad?"
"The ledger is missing."
"Yes?"
He shook his head, as if feeling conflicted about the situation.
"It looks like someone stole it while I was distracted by the flood."
Stella wore the same surprised expression. Kendrick spoke as if to soothe her.
"I keep an emergency ledger for times like this."
"Still, taking the ledger means they approached Adrian with malice."
If they possessed the ledgers, they could know every detail regarding the business or estate management. I had no idea how they might take the ledgers and misuse them. It would have been a relief if they had threatened me with a huge sum of money. If they were to sell the ledgers elsewhere...
"Adrian will suffer a significant loss."
"I'm looking for the culprit. They probably couldn't have escaped far because of the flood. You focus on writing."
Kendrick pulled Stella into his arms as if to calm her down.
"By the way, where did Rincasta go?"
Stella lifted her head.
"He's one of the few people who know where the ledger is."
Kendrick's expression was very stiff.
"If he has disappeared, there is a high probability that he is the culprit."
Stella shook her head.
"Since he's been with me the whole time, it probably isn't him."
Stella, just like Kendrick, had also suspected him. She had kept him by her side in preparation for something like this to happen. In conclusion, Rincasta had been with Stella ever since the flood broke out, so he couldn't possibly be the culprit.
"Yes?"
Kendrick still seemed skeptical, but he nodded at Stella's words.
"Yes."
Even after several days, the culprit was not caught. Rincasta did not return either. Kendrick began to suspect Rincasta again. The storm had subsided, and the knights were just about to set out in earnest to search for him.
"Duke, look over there. Rincasta has returned of his own accord."
Early in the morning, he visited Duke Adrian's mansion, holding Lina's hand in one. Stella, who had been secretly worried that Rincasta might have taken the ledger and not return, was relieved to see him. Sure enough, the first person he sought out was Stella. As soon as Rincasta saw Stella, he immediately knelt down.
"I'm sorry."
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