14.
“Yes. How shall we handle the employment agency?”
“Keep an eye on them and resolve it by the book.”
Jill recalled the manager’s face as he had spewed such vulgar remarks at Anita.
To think he knew the Boellony family had fallen, yet remained ignorant of the fact that Anita Boellony and Lancelot Edenbahir were close friends. This was why half-baked information was worse than knowing nothing at all.
“Since he connected her to an illegal dancer position at the Cabaret, we can frame it as quasi-human trafficking… but as it is merely ‘quasi,’ he will likely only receive a fine and be done with it.”
“Then make it not ‘quasi.’”
“Yes.”
He answered respectfully and remained standing in his place, prompting Lancelot to look at him with eyes that asked why he hadn’t left yet.
“Pardon my intrusion, but may I say one word?”
A look of annoyance was shot his way. However, Jill did not care about Lancelot’s irritable reaction and opened his mouth.
“You have been too harsh on Miss Anita. She is someone who lost her home and family overnight, is she not? You brought up the subject of marriage much too hastily.”
“Hastily?”
Lancelot mocked Jill’s meddling with a flat, emotionless voice.
“You seem to think I’m seducing some woman to have a romantic marriage.”
“Because it is not a romantic marriage, you must be all the more careful. Furthermore, Miss Anita has been the young master’s friend for ten years, has she not? You should show at least the minimum amount of courtesy.”
“I will listen to just one more word, so think carefully before you speak.”
One word was actually quite generous. Jill, as if he had been waiting for this, let his tongue run without even taking a breath.
“The young master can welcome a new wife at any time with a light heart, but that is not the case for her. If you intend to use her—no, if you are seeking her cooperation—you must consider her position as well to win her heart more easily. Miss Anita is not a business partner or an employee, but your friend, young master.”
*Hoo.* Jill took a short breath and continued.
“Furthermore, as this is a marriage intended for divorce, you must be even more meticulous. Of course, Miss Anita is a woman of rare fortitude in this day and age, someone who does not shrink even before the Grand Duchess. Even you know that she becomes infinitely fragile only in front of you….”
“I thought I told you to say just one word.”
“In any case, what I wish to say is, do not push her too hard.”
Lancelot did not even answer.
The silence dragged on, signaling that Jill should leave. Because Lancelot’s facial expressions were so guarded, it was impossible to tell whether he had accepted the advice or simply let it go in one ear and out the other.
*‘He’ll figure it out on his own, of course.’*
Still, he had wanted to interfere just this once.
Anita Boellony. Does a daughter of a Boellony family, who has only received a knighthood, truly fit the status of the Duchess of Edenbahir?
*‘An absurd question. If the Grand Duchess heard me, she would grab my hair and pull it out like weeds.’*
But Lancelot was trying to make that question a reality. If the other party had been a lady from a humble family whose name and face he didn’t know, he wouldn’t have bothered to intervene, but….
*‘To think that the little crybaby could become the mistress of the house. One really must live long to see everything.’*
Jill had watched Anita Boellony since she was a naive little girl. He had seen many women in his time, but he had never seen a lady as genuinely kind and gentle as her.
*‘If we’re talking human to human, Miss Anita is the one who is ten times more precious.’*
That was why he wanted her to be happy. He wanted to give her even a little bit of help if he could, even knowing that the world surrounding her wouldn’t allow it.
***
Immediately after dinner, after much deliberation, Anita headed to the Duke of Edenbahir’s bedroom.
The Duke had always been kind to her. There had been many days when she thought that if she had had an uncle or a granduncle, they would have been just like him. Her actual father and his brothers fought every single day, so she had no fond memories of them.
*Creak.*
Between the problems with her father and the house, compounded by the marriage issue, she felt stifled. Anita, who had intended to clear her complicated mind by facing the Duke, lost her voice the moment she entered his room.
The Duke lay in his bed, appearing so emaciated he looked like a mummy.
*‘I had anticipated it, since I hadn’t seen him in so long….’*
She began to regret not visiting once in the past two years. Anita stepped past the doctor, who seemed to have just finished his evening examination, and sat carefully on the chair beside the bed.
“It’s been a while, Duke. It’s me, Anita.”
She whispered quietly, but there was no reaction. Anita felt like a fool for having come with hope.
*‘He’s so ill he can’t even wake up.’*
That was when it happened. The doctor, who had been packing his bag, placed a small envelope on her lap. He leaned in and whispered.
“Do not show this to anyone. Not even to Lancelot. It is something the Duke prepared for Miss Anita.”
She stared blankly at the envelope, then asked urgently just before the doctor exited the room.
“Um, the Duke’s health….”
The doctor turned his head slightly and replied in a low voice.
“He does wake up occasionally, but….”
That was all. After the door closed, Anita picked up the letter.
*Don’t even show it to Lancelot?*
With a sense of doubt, she carefully opened the envelope. Inside was a single, worn-out ticket.
Chaliwood For Eden was a large amusement park in Shavalon. A storage ticket for an amusement park?
“Why did you give this to me, Duke?”
There was no way an answer would come back. Anita, who had been keeping watch by the Duke’s side, returned to her room with the old ticket, wishing for tomorrow to come as quickly as possible.
***
“Miss! Are you truly going to go alone? I have already kept a steam car and an attendant on standby.”
A voice called out to Anita as she was leaving the estate. It was Jill, who had followed her across the garden.
Anita straightened her crisp, brimmed hat. Thanks to the mansion’s maids who had washed and ironed her clothes the previous night, her attire was as neat as new.
“I’m just stopping by for a moment. I don’t want to be a nuisance.”
“How could you call a single car and an attendant a nuisance?”
Anita looked at Jill, who seemed not to understand at all, and gave a small smile. It was 3:00 PM—the perfect time for a light outing. Lancelot had been busy since the morning, and for Anita, who had to hide the existence of the ticket, it was an opportunity to leave without meeting his eyes.
“Lancelot said he would like to have dinner with you. Will that be alright?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Then please travel safely. If anything happens, go to the administration office and show them this business card. I will come to fetch you immediately.”
Anita took the business card from Jill and headed straight for the amusement park. Using the money she’d earned from selling her earrings, the journey took only twenty minutes from the bustling streets to the park gates.
“One adult, please.”
After purchasing her ticket and entering, she looked at the packed crowds with a sense of wonder. There were so many people.
*‘This isn’t the time for that. Storage locker, storage locker….’*
But no matter how much she looked around, there was no Green storage locker to be found, only red and blue ones. After reading the information posted at the entrance, she understood why.
The Green locker must be what they were calling the Old Storage. Given the worn appearance of the ticket, it was certain.
“Anita unni?”
A thin, graceful voice rang out from behind her. Anita’s eyes went round as she recognized the speaker.
“Sasha.”
The person who approached her to hug her was none other than Claunia’s younger sister, Sasha House.