Outside, a specially prepared carriage was waiting for Albert. Of course, he wasn’t the one to have called it.
Given that he was borrowing money from other people, he certainly didn’t have the budget to spend on a carriage.
On the surface, it seemed like a thoughtful gift. However, this was Marquis Evnen—the carriage was only to keep Albert on surveillance.
Nonetheless, Albert climbed onto the carriage calmly.
As he was seated, the vehicle rattled forward. Albert glanced outside the window for a moment, but he soon looked down at the floor with a rather nervous expression.
“Will holding my hand help?”
As I asked, I offered a hand for Albert to hold. Blinking, Albert nodded slowly.
“Albert.”
When I called his name in a hushed tone, I laced my fingers between his and brought my forehead to his.
He was calm just now, but he was soon flustered.
“W-What are you doing!”
Albert stammered, embarrassed. However, I drew closer to Albert even as he had pulled away from him. I brought our foreheads together once more.
The carriage was too narrow a space for Albert to hide in.
Knowing what was to happen didn’t mean that he was ready. Then, before he’d have to go in there, I just wanted to give him some of my strength so that he could endure.
In the close distance between us, our eyes met.
“Thank you for being born into this world, Albert. I am grateful that I was given the chance to meet you.”
These sudden remarks seemed to shock him. Albert gawked at me blankly as though he was at a loss for words.
His eyes reflected only me.
“Thank you for strengthening your resolve to continue living.”
These were the words of gratitude that I had always wanted to tell him.
Albert continued to stare at me. I pressed my forehead against his gently, then pulled away.
“No matter what happens today, please don’t get hurt.”
“……”
“No. Even if you do get hurt, tell me. So that I can be there for you.”
“…I can’t give anything back, but why do you keep wanting to give so many things to me?”
Finally, Albert opened his lips and asked this question. His gaze clearly conveyed his confusion.
But it was not true that he never gave me anything.
I had already received too much from him, both in the past and the future.
I answered with a big smile.
“Your existence alone brings happiness to every moment of my life.”
Taking his hand in mine, his hand was strained.
Why was it. Even though he had the same expression as always, it looked like he was on the verge of tears.
Did he want to hide his reaction? Albert bowed his head in a hurry and said nothing.
However, he never let go of my hand. With how tightly he held me, it was as if I was the final rope he could latch onto.
Soon, we arrived at Marquis Evnen’s villa.
* * *
From the mansion’s exterior alone, it was clearly enormous.
Evidently three times as luxurious as Albert’s villa, it was the epitome of grandeur. It was even larger than Liam’s ducal fortress up in the northern region.
When we alighted from the carriage, an attendant stepped forward and guided us inside.
Walking down the hallways, Albert and I were soon led to a large banquet hall, and the attendant left us after saying that the banquet would soon begin.
All the attendants who we passed by snuck glances at Albert.
Keeping his lips tightly closed, Albert did not reciprocate their gazes. There was a cold look on his face, completely different from the expression he showed me when we were all alone.
“This way.”
With melodious music flowing through the air, the hall itself was of a great size. But apart from that, there was not a touch of humanity anywhere.
The hall was splendidly decorated, yet gloom hung heavily in the air. The mansion seemed to show what Marquis Evnen’s true nature actually was.
The long table at the end was full of simple refreshments and wine for the attendees.
Dressed splendidly and ostentatiously, those people talked merrily amongst themselves as they clinked their wine glasses together. The high-pitched clangs blended together with the orchestra’s playing.
But the moment Albert stepped into the hall, everyone stopped what they were doing and focused their gazes on him.
As though time had come to a halt, no one moved. Their eyes were grotesquely persistent.
My senses were still dull, but I could almost feel a chill running down my spine, raising goosebumps. Albert endured their blatant gazes with his mouth closed shut.
Albert continued walking forward.
He greeted each person he passed by, one after another, then he soon approached a table.
“Young Count!”
Fortunately, here was a face we knew. Liam rushed to Albert’s side.
“It’s been a while.”
He greeted Albert with a broad smile. His bright atmosphere was in such stark contrast with the mansion’s atmosphere that he was sticking out like a sore thumb.
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
Albert took Liam’s hand, the ends of his eyes slightly curving. Seeing the two of them talking made me happy.
Looking around, I saw another familiar face.
It was Belfort, who had gotten threatened by Emmett not long ago. And Mercy, who was right behind him.
Mercy’s eyes twinkled as she glimpsed at the snacks on the long table, and she soon picked up a macaron to nibble.
It was with a child’s innocence that she ate those sweets and liked them.
While nibbling on the macaron, she looked over to Albert, eyes carrying curiosity.
Everything seemed peaceful enough, but strangely, the tension in the air was getting worse and worse.
And, my hunch came true the moment Marquis Evnen entered the hall.
As soon as he entered, the atmosphere was reversed once more.
Outside, a specially prepared carriage was waiting for Albert. Of course, he wasn’t the one to have called it.
Given that he was borrowing money from other people, he certainly didn’t have the budget to spend on a carriage.
On the surface, it seemed like a thoughtful gift. However, this was Marquis Evnen—the carriage was only to keep Albert on surveillance.
Nonetheless, Albert climbed onto the carriage calmly.
As he was seated, the vehicle rattled forward. Albert glanced outside the window for a moment, but he soon looked down at the floor with a rather nervous expression.
“Will holding my hand help?”
As I asked, I offered a hand for Albert to hold. Blinking, Albert nodded slowly.
“Albert.”
When I called his name in a hushed tone, I laced my fingers between his and brought my forehead to his.
He was calm just now, but he was soon flustered.
“W-What are you doing!”
Albert stammered, embarrassed. However, I drew closer to Albert even as he had pulled away from him. I brought our foreheads together once more.
The carriage was too narrow a space for Albert to hide in.
Knowing what was to happen didn’t mean that he was ready. Then, before he’d have to go in there, I just wanted to give him some of my strength so that he could endure.
In the close distance between us, our eyes met.
“Thank you for being born into this world, Albert. I am grateful that I was given the chance to meet you.”
These sudden remarks seemed to shock him. Albert gawked at me blankly as though he was at a loss for words.
His eyes reflected only me.
“Thank you for strengthening your resolve to continue living.”
These were the words of gratitude that I had always wanted to tell him.
Albert continued to stare at me. I pressed my forehead against his gently, then pulled away.
“No matter what happens today, please don’t get hurt.”
“……”
“No. Even if you do get hurt, tell me. So that I can be there for you.”
“…I can’t give anything back, but why do you keep wanting to give so many things to me?”
Finally, Albert opened his lips and asked this question. His gaze clearly conveyed his confusion.
But it was not true that he never gave me anything.
I had already received too much from him, both in the past and the future.
I answered with a big smile.
“Your existence alone brings happiness to every moment of my life.”
Taking his hand in mine, his hand was strained.
Why was it. Even though he had the same expression as always, it looked like he was on the verge of tears.
Did he want to hide his reaction? Albert bowed his head in a hurry and said nothing.
However, he never let go of my hand. With how tightly he held me, it was as if I was the final rope he could latch onto.
Soon, we arrived at Marquis Evnen’s villa.
* * *
From the mansion’s exterior alone, it was clearly enormous.
Evidently three times as luxurious as Albert’s villa, it was the epitome of grandeur. It was even larger than Liam’s ducal fortress up in the northern region.
When we alighted from the carriage, an attendant stepped forward and guided us inside.
Walking down the hallways, Albert and I were soon led to a large banquet hall, and the attendant left us after saying that the banquet would soon begin.
All the attendants who we passed by snuck glances at Albert.
Keeping his lips tightly closed, Albert did not reciprocate their gazes. There was a cold look on his face, completely different from the expression he showed me when we were all alone.
“This way.”
With melodious music flowing through the air, the hall itself was of a great size. But apart from that, there was not a touch of humanity anywhere.
The hall was splendidly decorated, yet gloom hung heavily in the air. The mansion seemed to show what Marquis Evnen’s true nature actually was.
The long table at the end was full of simple refreshments and wine for the attendees.
Dressed splendidly and ostentatiously, those people talked merrily amongst themselves as they clinked their wine glasses together. The high-pitched clangs blended together with the orchestra’s playing.
But the moment Albert stepped into the hall, everyone stopped what they were doing and focused their gazes on him.
As though time had come to a halt, no one moved. Their eyes were grotesquely persistent.
My senses were still dull, but I could almost feel a chill running down my spine, raising goosebumps. Albert endured their blatant gazes with his mouth closed shut.
Albert continued walking forward.
He greeted each person he passed by, one after another, then he soon approached a table.
“Young Count!”
Fortunately, here was a face we knew. Liam rushed to Albert’s side.
“It’s been a while.”
He greeted Albert with a broad smile. His bright atmosphere was in such stark contrast with the mansion’s atmosphere that he was sticking out like a sore thumb.
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
Albert took Liam’s hand, the ends of his eyes slightly curving. Seeing the two of them talking made me happy.
Looking around, I saw another familiar face.
It was Belfort, who had gotten threatened by Emmett not long ago. And Mercy, who was right behind him.
Mercy’s eyes twinkled as she glimpsed at the snacks on the long table, and she soon picked up a macaron to nibble.
It was with a child’s innocence that she ate those sweets and liked them.
While nibbling on the macaron, she looked over to Albert, eyes carrying curiosity.
Everything seemed peaceful enough, but strangely, the tension in the air was getting worse and worse.
And, my hunch came true the moment Marquis Evnen entered the hall.
As soon as he entered, the atmosphere was reversed once more.
