At that time, he threw the gift she carefully offered him into the fireplace.
In front of her, too.
It was a kind of warning. Don’t ever pull a trick like this again.
…But was that really a trick?
Why did he think she was trying to deceive him at the time? Now that he thought back about it, that gift must have carried her sincerity.
His misunderstandings ran too deep. He wanted to blame it on that. It’s all because he misunderstood her.
He wanted to say that and ask for her forgiveness. If only he could once again receive the affection in her green eyes…
Then this pain and anxiety will go away in an instant.
But how dare he do that? It’s a luxury to even hope for forgiveness? For his ridiculously absurd reasons, he misunderstood her.
‘I’m sure. This letter was forged by my father. And the client… She was some kind of noble lady. She did not want to give her name, but she gave us a large sum of money that will sustain our family for 20 years. However…’
‘…….’
‘Shortly after receiving that money… My father was murdered. He got stabbed by a robber while walking down the street.’
‘…….’
‘Everyone said it was unlucky and that it was no different from an accident, but my family all noticed. My father’s death… It’s no different from a warning. My father was silenced by his death. And my family was no longer able to say anything about the request.’
The handwriting forger’s daughter whom Carmen found told her everything.
About a year and a half ago, the letter that Missus Seymour said she found in Lily’s bedroom was forged.
The letter contained confidential information that Lily had closely exchanged with Owen.
[ …Do not worry, Brother. I will do as you wish. Theodore Valentino is an easy person to lure. He already has feelings for me.
…….
I will never forget it. I am an Everett. Don’t worry, I will never betray our household. ]
The letter detailed what Lily planned to do to give Everett complete control of Valentino.
The whole misunderstanding started with that letter.
Why didn’t he suspect at the time that it was his aunt’s doing? He couldn’t understand his past self.
Maybe he only believed what he wanted to believe.
…He needed a reason to reject Lily. At a time when he had to do everything in his power to revive the family, he did not want to be swayed by anything.
‘…It was my own rationalization.’
There was some misunderstanding. However, he was given several opportunities to resolve the misunderstanding.
Because she, the person involved, wanted to tell him everything.
…How desperate must she have been?
How much resentment did she have?
Why on earth did he do that?
What he did was just rationalization. The misunderstanding was an excuse.
A painful feeling rose up from deep inside his heart. He couldn’t even breathe properly.
Just as they reached Avordige Hall, Lily looked at him with wide eyes.
Theodore did not immediately realize the reason.
It was only after she hesitated a little and reached out her hand and gently cupped his cheek that she realized why.
…Unbelievably, tears were flowing from his eyes.
* * *
‘Is he really crying? Really…?’
I couldn’t believe it, so I checked it again and again. I thought I had seen wrong. But no matter how, that thing flowed down his cheek…
…They were definitely tears.
“Why…”
I wanted to ask why he was suddenly crying, but no voice came out. It’s because I was so surprised. We were just walking, and suddenly…?
“…Ah……”
He mumbled a few words and then quickly opened his eyes.
He blinked with a very perplexing look.
I was just as confused, but for now I reached out and wiped away his tears. Because he won’t be able to wipe away his tears while holding me.
“…I’m sorry. Oh…”
For some reason, he seemed even more upset when I wiped away his tears. He was about to shed another tear again, so I quickly turned my attention away.
“We’ve reached Avoridge Hall, so please put me down now.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
Although he answered calmly, he had a distraught look. I felt somewhat embarrassed and stood a little away from him. For some reason, I had a strong feeling of wanting to avoid him.
“What is it that made you ask me to come all the way here? Why was Missus Seymour dragged out again?”
“…First, let’s go in and I’ll tell you the details.”
He said, looking like he had found some sense of reason. I approached the door of the hall, keeping a short distance between me and him.
The two attendants who were waiting for us opened the door on both sides. The door opened with the sound of hinges moving, and the scene in the hall came into view.
The first thing I saw was Missus Seymour sitting blankly, looking in a daze
And someone standing nearby slowly shifted her gaze to me.
I had never seen this woman before. She bowed politely towards me.
“Greetings Duchess Valentino. My name is Rita Norman.”
‘Norman…?’
I had heard that name somewhere before.
It was… I think Harriet, the master of the ‘Forest Wind’ guild, mentioned it to me in passing during my last trip.
‘Norman… Norman, obviously… from what I heard…’
In an instant, a forgotten memory flashed into my mind.
‘A handwriting forger named Alphonse Norman died about a year and a half ago, and his daughter seems to be investigating the case these days. Our guild also received a request. However… Where on earth did she get this much money…’
My head turned quickly.
A dead handwriting forger, his daughter, and Missus Seymour.
Why Theodore brought me here.
“…Lily.”
I slowly turned around when I heard his voice calling me.
Chills started going down my whole body, as if cold water had been poured on me. And, an ominous feeling.
My heart started beating faster. Theodore took something out of his coat pocket.
…It was a letter. A very old letter, as if it had been stored for a long time.
He said as he handed the letter to me.
“…I think you should read this letter yourself.”
At that time, he threw the gift she carefully offered him into the fireplace.
In front of her, too.
It was a kind of warning. Don’t ever pull a trick like this again.
…But was that really a trick?
Why did he think she was trying to deceive him at the time? Now that he thought back about it, that gift must have carried her sincerity.
His misunderstandings ran too deep. He wanted to blame it on that. It’s all because he misunderstood her.
He wanted to say that and ask for her forgiveness. If only he could once again receive the affection in her green eyes…
Then this pain and anxiety will go away in an instant.
But how dare he do that? It’s a luxury to even hope for forgiveness? For his ridiculously absurd reasons, he misunderstood her.
‘I’m sure. This letter was forged by my father. And the client… She was some kind of noble lady. She did not want to give her name, but she gave us a large sum of money that will sustain our family for 20 years. However…’
‘…….’
‘Shortly after receiving that money… My father was murdered. He got stabbed by a robber while walking down the street.’
‘…….’
‘Everyone said it was unlucky and that it was no different from an accident, but my family all noticed. My father’s death… It’s no different from a warning. My father was silenced by his death. And my family was no longer able to say anything about the request.’
The handwriting forger’s daughter whom Carmen found told her everything.
About a year and a half ago, the letter that Missus Seymour said she found in Lily’s bedroom was forged.
The letter contained confidential information that Lily had closely exchanged with Owen.
[ …Do not worry, Brother. I will do as you wish. Theodore Valentino is an easy person to lure. He already has feelings for me.
…….
I will never forget it. I am an Everett. Don’t worry, I will never betray our household. ]
The letter detailed what Lily planned to do to give Everett complete control of Valentino.
The whole misunderstanding started with that letter.
Why didn’t he suspect at the time that it was his aunt’s doing? He couldn’t understand his past self.
Maybe he only believed what he wanted to believe.
…He needed a reason to reject Lily. At a time when he had to do everything in his power to revive the family, he did not want to be swayed by anything.
‘…It was my own rationalization.’
There was some misunderstanding. However, he was given several opportunities to resolve the misunderstanding.
Because she, the person involved, wanted to tell him everything.
…How desperate must she have been?
How much resentment did she have?
Why on earth did he do that?
What he did was just rationalization. The misunderstanding was an excuse.
A painful feeling rose up from deep inside his heart. He couldn’t even breathe properly.
Just as they reached Avordige Hall, Lily looked at him with wide eyes.
Theodore did not immediately realize the reason.
It was only after she hesitated a little and reached out her hand and gently cupped his cheek that she realized why.
…Unbelievably, tears were flowing from his eyes.
* * *
‘Is he really crying? Really…?’
I couldn’t believe it, so I checked it again and again. I thought I had seen wrong. But no matter how, that thing flowed down his cheek…
…They were definitely tears.
“Why…”
I wanted to ask why he was suddenly crying, but no voice came out. It’s because I was so surprised. We were just walking, and suddenly…?
“…Ah……”
He mumbled a few words and then quickly opened his eyes.
He blinked with a very perplexing look.
I was just as confused, but for now I reached out and wiped away his tears. Because he won’t be able to wipe away his tears while holding me.
“…I’m sorry. Oh…”
For some reason, he seemed even more upset when I wiped away his tears. He was about to shed another tear again, so I quickly turned my attention away.
“We’ve reached Avoridge Hall, so please put me down now.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
Although he answered calmly, he had a distraught look. I felt somewhat embarrassed and stood a little away from him. For some reason, I had a strong feeling of wanting to avoid him.
“What is it that made you ask me to come all the way here? Why was Missus Seymour dragged out again?”
“…First, let’s go in and I’ll tell you the details.”
He said, looking like he had found some sense of reason. I approached the door of the hall, keeping a short distance between me and him.
The two attendants who were waiting for us opened the door on both sides. The door opened with the sound of hinges moving, and the scene in the hall came into view.
The first thing I saw was Missus Seymour sitting blankly, looking in a daze
And someone standing nearby slowly shifted her gaze to me.
I had never seen this woman before. She bowed politely towards me.
“Greetings Duchess Valentino. My name is Rita Norman.”
‘Norman…?’
I had heard that name somewhere before.
It was… I think Harriet, the master of the ‘Forest Wind’ guild, mentioned it to me in passing during my last trip.
‘Norman… Norman, obviously… from what I heard…’
In an instant, a forgotten memory flashed into my mind.
‘A handwriting forger named Alphonse Norman died about a year and a half ago, and his daughter seems to be investigating the case these days. Our guild also received a request. However… Where on earth did she get this much money…’
My head turned quickly.
A dead handwriting forger, his daughter, and Missus Seymour.
Why Theodore brought me here.
“…Lily.”
I slowly turned around when I heard his voice calling me.
Chills started going down my whole body, as if cold water had been poured on me. And, an ominous feeling.
My heart started beating faster. Theodore took something out of his coat pocket.
…It was a letter. A very old letter, as if it had been stored for a long time.
He said as he handed the letter to me.
“…I think you should read this letter yourself.”
