Chapter 11: Brian-sama’s Visit 3
“I will report the results of this inquiry to the commander and leave the judgment to him.
Once a decision is made, I will contact you.”
After saying that, Brian-sama took his leave, and the family all sat in silence for a while.
“I need to rest a bit and think,”
Mother said, then took my still-silent sister with her and left the room.
My brother said he would talk with Father first and then return to his room, and the two of them began gulping down brandy together.
When Lloyd said, “I will bring another bottle of brandy,” and left the room, I followed him out as well.
“Hey, Lloyd.
Do you think everyone believed what I said?”
“They did.
I did as well.”
He said that with a very serious expression, then added,
“Young Lady, you made the right decision.
I am truly glad.”
“Lloyd, thank you.”
Then Lloyd suddenly looked at me with a slightly mischievous glint in his eyes.
“As for Jason-sama, that was the greatest stain of my career as a butler.
Please forgive me.
I have taken it to heart that I must judge people only after meeting them directly.
However, with Brian-sama, there is no mistake.
Young Lady, I can give him my strongest endorsement.”
Being confronted with such an impassioned speech about Brian-sama all of a sudden left me flustered.
“Yes, he truly is a reliable and admirable person.
I hear he is the same age as my brother, twenty years old.
Even so, he looks older than my brother.
Perhaps attaining the position of vice-captain of the Royal Guard at such a young age has given him that air of authority.”
“When did you hear that?”
“Just earlier, while we were having tea in the garden.
He told me various things.”
Lloyd stared intently at my face.
“At that time, Bell was standing nearby as well, correct?”
“Yes, she was.”
After thinking for a moment, Lloyd said,
“After I deliver the brandy to the Count and the others, may I come to your room for a short while?
There is something I would like to confirm with Bell.”
“Yes, that’s fine.
I don’t have any other plans.”
Lloyd briskly headed toward the kitchen.
Feeling a little puzzled, I returned to my room.
Bell was waiting there and immediately came over to me, smiling brightly and looking delighted.
“Young Lady, how did the discussion go?
Did it proceed well?”
“Yes.
Brian-sama told us about the situation at the Deal Marquis House.
They seem to have given up on hiding things and admitted everything except the plan to kill me.
But the fact that they tried to remove you and install the mistress as my personal maid practically confirms the suspicion, doesn’t it?”
“Oh my, then does that mean there will be no punishment for you, Young Lady?”
“I wonder.
Mother was shouting that the Marquis House was at fault.
Apparently the Marchioness fainted partway through the discussion.”
Bell said, “My, my, how dreadful,” while looking very pleased.
Watching Bell look so happy made me feel cheerful as well.
“Bell, you’re happy as if it were your own matter.
That makes me happy too.”
“Yes, Young Lady.
By the way, this is the first time I’ve ever seen you act so assertively.
Listening from behind made my heart race.
And Brian-sama didn’t seem displeased at all.
It feels like the future has suddenly become so bright.”
“Um… what are you talking about?”
“Eh?
What do you mean—”
Bell started to say something, then froze with her mouth open and closed it again.
There was a knock on the door, so I told Bell, “Lloyd said he had something he wanted to ask you.
Please let him in.”
Bell opened the door and invited Lloyd inside.
As soon as the two of them met eyes, they seemed to communicate silently with one another.
Then Lloyd stepped forward.
“Could you briefly tell me what you discussed with Brian-sama in the garden earlier?”
I had expected something more serious, but he was asking about our casual conversation.
“He said it would be better for the whole family to hear about the matter together, so we didn’t discuss the incident.
He told me about himself and his family instead.”
Bell added to that.
“Yes, it was the sort of talk you’d find in a formal profile.”
“Don’t put it like that.
It was just introductions.
Since it was our first meeting, that’s all.
And I shared similar things about myself.
My hobbies, my skills, that sort of harmless conversation.”
Bell peeked at my face hesitantly and asked,
“Um, you told Brian-sama that being with him felt comfortable, unlike when you were with Jason-sama, didn’t you?”
Lloyd let out an impressed sound.
“Yes, I did.
It felt completely different.
It’s strange, isn’t it?”
Bell and Lloyd exchanged looks.
“When the two of you entered the Count’s study, you appeared very close.
After that, Brian-sama arranged for Lady Maria to sit beside him, and when you were trembling, he touched your arm to calm you.
Lady Maria also expressed her gratitude to him.”
Saying that, the two of them stared at me intently.
“That’s true.
What about it?
Did I do something wrong?”
They stepped away slightly and whispered together for a moment.
Then Bell stood in front of me.
“Young Lady, a woman of marriageable age may say things that sound affectionate to a man only if she intends to encourage him.
Do you understand.
You must never say such things to someone you don’t care for.”
“…I understand.”
I tilted my head slightly as I said that, then suddenly my cheeks grew hot.
“Are you saying I was making an advance toward Brian-sama?
Oh my, what have I done.
What should I do?”
As I panicked, Bell held my arm and spoke soothingly.
“According to my and Lloyd-sama’s assessment, there is no problem.
Things are moving in a very good direction.
However, please be mindful of this when dealing with others in the future.”
“Should I apologize to Brian-sama the next time I see him?”
This time, Lloyd stepped forward firmly and said in a strong voice,
“Absolutely not.
From now on, do not overthink it and treat Brian-sama exactly the same way you did today.
Understood.”
I was tired again that day, so dinner was brought to my room.
It seemed the rest of the family also ate in their own rooms.
Before bed, I asked Bell to braid my hair loosely.
I thought I would sleep soundly like that, but once again I dreamed.
After our wedding night, leaving me exhausted and asleep, Jason-sama went to the adjoining room.
Mary was waiting there, and she clung to him laughing when he arrived.
Not wanting to see it, I turned away, and the scene changed to the following morning.
Jason-sama acting kindly toward me, a shy me, and the Marquis couple smiling happily.
At that time, I suspected nothing and knew nothing, believing I could be happy.
I thought the discomfort I felt around Jason-sama would fade once we were married and I grew used to it.
Mary was watching that foolish version of me.
Jason-sama and Mary exchanged smiles behind my back, hidden from the eyes of others.