Chapter 5
“By the way, my name is Chaplin.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Chaplin. Can I call you Uncle Chaplin?”
“You can just call me an old man. Hoho."
After a relatively warm greeting like that, Mr. Chaplin, who was still too young to be called an old man, left.
I looked around the bathroom and other places before returning to the dressing room. The room was spacious enough to be shared by two maids.
Whoa, I don't think most aristocratic ladies' dressing rooms are like this...
As I wandered around, my fingers came across something that caught my attention – an odd-looking object placed on a shelf between a shoe rack and hat racks filled with shiny shoes.
“… Mr. Wendy?”
Yes, it was Mr. Wendy. Not the crude imitations I made countless times in that bell tower, but the original Mr. Wendy.
A stuffed rabbit with real rabbit fur and real sapphires for eyes – the one the duke bought for Estelle on her 5th birthday.
As if I was possessed by something, I reached out to pick up the doll.
The texture of its hair, which had faded and stiffened over the years, was unfamiliar, but the cracked ear and the tiny mark on him confirmed that it was indeed Mr. Wendy.
Haha, I guess it's nice to meet you again…?
Suddenly, I thought I heard the chatter of young girls, causing me to look around, startled. Of course, it was just my imagination.
"Do you like it?"
I blinked and turned my head. There was Benya, appearing out of sight, leaning against the doorway. His gaze quickly scanned me holding the old rabbit doll tightly.
“… I didn’t know Mr. Wendy would be here.”
“We didn’t know either. It was unexpected.”
“Were… there any other keepsakes left?”
“We burned everything. This is the only one we left.”
I see… They must have burned all the items left in the tower. Well, anything that brings back memories of that time must be difficult to handle...
I carefully placed Mr. Wendy back on the shelf. Then I turned back, smiling as if nothing had happened.
“This is amazing. You've done a great job with the place.”
Benya approached with his arms crossed and took my hand. His hand, now seemingly twice the size of mine... Yet, it still held the same warmth from when we were young.
“It’s yours.”
A moment of silence followed. While I struggled to find the right words, Benya gazed at me with penetrating eyes, a gaze I still couldn't quite get used to.
It's embarrassing, you rascal! From now on, I'll call you Snake-eyed.
“You know, I’m satisfied with you just giving me the room I used to share with my mom. I am your... I don't think it's appropriate for others to see me using your sister's room.”
“What's the matter with other people knowing?”
He genuinely sounded curious. Well, it was a remark that didn't sit well with me.
“Of course, I am extremely grateful and honored… Objectively, I'm just a servant who studied with your support. I’m not from noble birth; I'm just the daughter of the princess's nanny, but I...”
“You are not our nanny. You’re not just our nanny's daughter.”
“… I know. I was just being silly... It's because you didn't respond to my letters."
As I playfully dragged out my words like that, he finally let go of his stern expression. It was a relief to see a faint smile in his light blue eyes, but at the same time, a strangely sad feeling crept in.
"I’m sorry."
"Is that all you're going to do? Just apologize? I even thought that maybe you had decided to forget about me completely."
I wanted to act a little annoyed while saying that, so I quickly pretended to turn my body around. Darn it, I've been so nervous even though I haven't shown it on my face!
You rascal, I couldn't even sleep because I was afraid you might get shot and die on the battlefield! And now you just cling to me like this! You heartless jerk!
“… Benya?”
I thought he had grabbed my arm, but soon I felt a tickle on the nape of my neck. Benya held my arms from behind, bent his head, buried his face in my shoulder, and muttered in a low voice.
“How can I forget you… At that time, the only thing that comforted me was your eyes.”
My shoulders twitched. It brought back memories of a time we hadn't mentioned in seven years. A time before...
Who in the world can know and understand what we went through then, all that we had to endure together? If Estelle had been alive, things might have been a little different.
But Estelle was gone, and each of us who remained carried our own scars. I'm living all the lives Estelle never got to experience, Lethias sees me as Estelle's replacement and Benya...
Well, I'm not sure yet.
I raised my hand and gently stroked his head on my shoulder. Soft, smooth silver-gray hair. It felt like touching a kitten's fur.
“You’re such an idiot.”
"I know."
"Well, I'll let it slide this time because you gave me such an amazing gift. What can I do for you in return?"
Words are fascinating, this was just unconventional.
It was true that I was drawn to all these luxuries, but what moved me the most was that it created a space where Estelle and my childhood memories intertwined. Above all, there's Mr. Wendy.
Hand in hand, we left the dressing room. Beyond the balcony with the half-drawn curtains, the darkened courtyard and conservatory could be faintly seen.
The bell tower was obviously hidden from view. The chapel with the tower was far behind the north side of the main building and would not be visible from here.
"Oh, by the way, what was that commotion at the hotel earlier?"
On the carriage ride back to the duke's residence, he remained silent, and I felt awkward asking. Shouldn't I now inquire about other matters since we've already resolved the previous ones?
Instead of answering my question directly, Benya changed the topic.
"The interior design of the hotel."
"What?"
"I'd like you to repay me with your interior design skills, as I mentioned earlier."
"What? Are you serious now?"
"Can't you do it?"
A mischievous smile played on his lips as he turned around slowly. Suddenly, a sparkling earring caught my eye on one of his ears. Are those earrings adorned with real diamonds?
"Of course, it's not impossible... But wouldn't it be better to leave it to the experts?"
"You're an expert too."
"I only learned a little about interior decoration when I chose one of my electives. I don't have much experience."
"That's how you build a career."
Well, that makes sense. If I had experience in interior design for a hotel built in Serpente, I could proudly showcase it anywhere. Assuming I don't mess it up...
"If it's too difficult, you can quit halfway. There are people who can help you, so don't worry too much."
"Will those people be like Mr. Yann earlier?"
As I tossed those words out, the hand I was holding trembled slightly. Oh, really? Is this guy for real? Sneaking around like a sly snake, trying to jump the fence?
"He's just an architect."
"Ah, it seems fashionable these days for architects to carry guns. I was expecting something shady and exciting related to the Night Butterflies."
Apart from the rumors that reached the public, and from what I remember from the original story, I had an idea of who they were.
Besides the Night Butterfly, are there any other gangs? So, my assumption that the Python Bank, which raised and supported them, was involved, is correct.
After the end of the war, Yann Fiest became the head of the Dallas Myer Club, a new group that rapidly grew and overtook Fibonacci, who originally controlled the empire's underworld.
The only plausible explanation for such rapid growth in a short period was their connection with someone from the aristocracy, an equivalent to all the influential forces involved with Fibonacci.
Though I wasn't sure how the relationship began...
Before I could ask the question, Benya answered, confessing on his own.
"We're in a camaraderie."
"...with Mr. Yann?"
"On the battlefield, whether you're an aristocratic lord or a slum pickpocket, everyone becomes equal. That's when I found out... We just help each other with our respective businesses."
"Benya, aren't you afraid I'll be scared?"
"...No?"
What? Look at him innocently blinking. He turned into a fox while we were apart, didn't he?
"Why are you two doing this to me after we defeated those monsters together? Do you think I'd be that scared?"
The fox, disguised as Snake-eyed, fell silent again. Instead, he pulled my hand closer and gave it strength. Ouch, that hurts, jerk!
"There won't be anything like today again. Don't worry."
It was a somewhat unfamiliar voice. To the point where I was slightly concerned.
"That's not what I'm worried about..."
"Hey, have you already seen everything? How is it, Sasha, do you like it?!"
We both turned our heads in unison at the loud voice that came out of nowhere. Then, I saw our duke entering with a triumphant gesture, like a victorious general.
Before I could answer, Benya spoke first.
"You didn't get arrested today. That's a relief."
"You jerk, what do you mean... What do you even think of your Hyung?! That was just because I drank a little bit last time!"
"Whether you're drunk or sober, it doesn't change that you're a disgrace to the family."
At this point, Lethias should have been outraged and expressed all sorts of objections, but to my surprise, he didn't. Instead, he just grunted and pouted.
It wasn't a scene worth looking at, so I interjected, gazing at the beautiful wallpaper.
"Has everyone had dinner yet?"
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