Chapter 10
"I mean... I have no idea when it will be even slightly safer outside. As I mentioned before, we can't afford to lose any of you either. I won't bother explaining the state most of the nobles, especially the young ones, are in right now. We must ensure your safety at any cost until this accursed disease subsides... As much as you..."
The voice trembled, resembling a cry. Not only I, but none of the siblings dared to utter a word.
It was at that moment that it occurred to me that any of my friends could be dead, and I felt guilty for complaining under such circumstances.
However, it was undeniable that life here had become unbearable. Even rational adults find it challenging to endure, let alone energetic adolescent children who must be horrified.
Lethias was the first to speak, his tone softer and more cautious.
"Uncle... Then just tell us when we can go outside. No matter how many days it takes, I'll be patient until then. Just make it clear. Postponing and waiting only adds to the torment."
The response came surprisingly quickly.
"One month."
"... A month?"
"Yes, one month. I know that anything beyond that is too much for you to bear. It's challenging even for grown adults, so how can you guys handle it... If you endure for a month and stay here, I'll send you to Fzeia regardless of the situation. Got it?"
A week turned into two weeks, and now it stretched into a month. Judging by the expressions on the siblings' faces, it felt so distant that it seemed unreal. I was no exception.
If this situation had been described in the book I read in my previous life, perhaps I would have dealt with it differently.
But at the moment, we were utterly helpless, and so was I. I wasn't in a position to question the siblings' uncles.
All we could do was try to make the gloomy and uncertain reality at our doorstep as bearable as possible.
* * *
With the extension of the grace period to one month, Viscount Hippolyte made several more arrangements and went out.
Firstly, they provided me with clothes to wear, changing the menu daily as they found a new chef (even the assistant chefs mentioned that it was difficult to prepare elaborate dishes due to illness).
Whenever we needed something, we would write a list and place it on a tray cart, assured that Mr. Harris would see and review it.
To write the required list, we needed paper and a pen, which could be found in the library. Additionally, a stove and kettle for heating water, extra towels, and detergent were necessary.
Fortunately, the aforementioned items arrived the following morning on a tray cart.
Among them was a small, obviously new red stove, ensuring that my frail sister, who was unwell, would no longer have to wash herself with cold water.
When I informed Estelle about it, she didn't seem pleased and responded with a sulky tone.
"Well, what's the use? It's so stuffy that I feel like I'm going to suffocate."
Undoubtedly, spending the next month here in the same way we had for the past two weeks would be too much. Finding ways to pass the time became the most pressing issue.
It would be nice if there was a place where we could walk around without intruding and perhaps find something to read, like the library.
A place where we could play hide-and-seek, surrounded by various books, and with a window next to the upstairs bedroom.
The problem was that the library was incredibly dusty and dirty, making it an unappealing place to play.
Although Benya occasionally entered through the window to do something risky, like meeting Mr. Gargoyle.
"Sasha, what are you doing? Why are you standing there like that?"
"... I'm thinking about how we can transform this library into a pleasant space. If we can clean it up a bit, Estelle can play here, and it won't feel as stuffy."
When I suggested it gently, Lethias stared at me with genuine interest and finally spoke up.
"That sounds like a great idea, but... how do we clean it?"
...Oops. I forgot that they were young aristocrats and probably didn't even know what mopping was.
Certainly, in my previous life, I didn't engage in anything particularly dirty while growing up, but I did have practical experience from my memories.
"What are you two discussing there?"
"Oh, Sasha says she can make this place clean."
"How? We can't even call for the attendants."
It seemed that, in their dictionary, cleaning was something the attendants took care of magically. For some reason, I felt tempted to shatter that innocence (?).
"You already have the solution. Here. Me."
As I intentionally patted my chest with a nonchalant gesture, both of them looked puzzled at once. Seizing that opportunity, I smiled and added.
"I think we can do it if both of you help me. You'll have to stay here for a while anyway, so why not make the time a bit less boring?"
And so, the two naive young masters came over, and that night before going to bed, I placed a list of cleaning tools on the tray cart.
Cleaning the vast library took several days. No one knew who built it there or for what purpose.
The floors, desks, bookshelves, and reachable walls were all covered in dust, making the task even more challenging.
Benya's earlier find of decent ladders came in handy when cleaning the walls and bookshelves.
While Benya diligently went back and forth, fetching water in a bucket, Lethias learned to mop and dust from me. To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly he picked it up.
Moreover, both of them had much greater physical strength than me, so we achieved quite satisfactory results.
"Look at my work. This is the dignity of Serpente's successor."
"Hyung's dignity looks quite tarnished now. Tsk, what a disgrace to our family..."
"Are you mocking me?!"
In the end, they turned it into a competition to see who could clean better. I did my best to keep up, but it turned out that I couldn't surpass the natural talent of the two young masters in this aspect.
A career cannot beat inherent abilities.
"Achoo! Ah, why is my nose so itchy? I hope I'm not getting sick."
"It's just because of the dust, Oppa. You're not sick."
"Oh, so the dust can do that too? Fascinating."
Anyway, it was quite amusing to see Lethias and Benya crawling on the floor, mopping like servants, with their sleeves rolled up. It was a mix of humor, sadness, and pride.
"I want you two to wipe the tops of the bookshelves up there."
"But there's no other way."
"You can climb the ladder, hold onto the ledge, and reach up."
"What? No, it's too dangerous."
Whether I stopped him or not, Benya ended up climbing to the top of the bookshelf, activated by his unique sense of benevolence.
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if he had been a circus performer in his previous life.
"Haa! Wouldn't it be great to take a nap here?!"
...Or maybe he was a cat in his past life.
"Sasha, would you like to come up too? Hyung is too much of a coward to try."
"Who are you calling a coward?!"
"Don't involve me, Lethy-oppa!"
Fortunately, Estelle appeared just in time to prevent Lethias from joining in that dangerous eccentricity.
Estelle looked around the partially polished library with a bewildered expression, seemingly wondering what we had been doing down there all day.
Her expression changed when she spotted Benya perched on top of a bookshelf, looking down proudly.
"Can I go up there too?"
"Estelle!"
Even though she had a fear of heights, Estelle said those words! Well, I never thought that a dull life of confinement could be so perilous!
* * *
The task of cleaning the library over several days left us sweaty, dusty, and exhausted, but it was worth it.
The library now looked so clean that it was hard to imagine its original state, and we felt a sense of pride and reward for our hard work.
The windows were also cleaned, allowing some sunlight to filter in, although the space was small.
The floor still creaked in some places, but at least now we had a playground in this little hideaway. Finally, we had a place to pass the time besides eating.
We ran around for a while, just like we did when we were children.
Estelle curiously peeked between the bookshelves, and after a while, she spoke up.
"It feels so stuffy in here."
...Of course, no matter how clean and spacious the library was, we were still trapped. Compared to the days when we freely roamed the expansive mansion, it was nothing.
"It's inevitable. Just think of it as an opportunity to broaden your knowledge. When else will we have a chance to read so many books?"
Indeed, Lethias' statement was dignified and fitting for Serpente's successor. Is this why they say the younger brother is nothing compared to his elder brother?
"Wow, wouldn't it be great if we hung a hammock here?"
Meanwhile, Benya, who had climbed up the bookshelf again, made a condescending remark.
At this point, we decided to ignore him. No matter how worried we were about his safety, it was clear that he wouldn't listen to us. If he fell and hurt himself, I wouldn't care anymore.
In any case, Lethias' suggestion was quite reasonable, and everyone picked out a few books, sat down at the desk, and began reading.
Most of the books were old and challenging, so I resorted to reading outdated socialite magazines and history books. It was somewhat embarrassing.
After cleaning the library, things went relatively smoothly for a while. Apart from meal times, we spent most of our day in the library.
When we grew tired of burying our noses in books, the four of us played hide-and-seek or tag, jumping around.
We were all past the age for such games, but there was no other way to endure the long days of confinement.
Hmm, isn't there a saying that regression to childlike behavior is a means to protect the mind? Besides, I had a mission to help these siblings as best as I could.
Whether it was regression or something else, we tried to make the best of our confinement, where each day felt like a week.
It seemed that not only I, but everyone was trying to brush away the premonition that was lingering unconsciously.
We spent our days playing chess on an old, worn-out chessboard we found in one corner of the library, scribbling on old, faded paper bundles with ink pens, competing to see who could read the longest, drawing candles on the floor, and playing the game of "eating the ground" (ttangtameokgi).
(eating the ground: also known as ttangtameokgi. It is a game in which gold is cut according to the flick of a finger and the land is occupied, and the person who occupies the most land wins.)
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