Chapter 58
Could Hitaon be among them? From what the mansion staff had said, he was supposed to attend Sir Pesche’s engagement ceremony today. Luirene glanced around for a moment, then stepped into the pawnshop at the sound of the door opening.
“I’d like to leave an item with you.”
“What have you brought?”
The shopkeeper seemed indifferent, likely due to her modest attire. She’d come prepared for this, but now, with the watch actually in her hand, she hesitated. Was it all right to leave something Hitaon had given her so carelessly? …This wasn’t the time to agonize. If this could save an injured child, she had to give it. She was only leaving it here—she could come back for it later. Believing that if Hitaon were beside her, he would have backed her decision, Luirene held out the pocket watch. The shopkeeper examined it through a high-powered monocle, and his eyes bulged wide.
“Are you certain this is yours?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“No. It’s just… this is the first time I’ve received an item of such fine quality…”
The shopkeeper, practically drooling over the pocket watch as he appraised it, seemed to realize he’d lost his composure and cleared his throat before naming the sum. Twenty pence. A far higher amount than she’d expected.
“I’ll caution you in advance—should anything happen to this watch, I intend to bear no responsibility whatsoever. Do not forget that.”
He seemed to think Luirene had stolen the watch from somewhere. That was why he’d covered himself with that disclaimer. Luirene checked the amount on the banknotes she’d received and smiled faintly.
“Of course.”
She stepped out of the pawnshop and handed the money to Eneka.
“Here. Use this to cover Rika’s treatment.”
“Luirene. You.”
“We’ll talk later. This is more urgent right now.”
Fortunately, Eneka could weigh what mattered most. By the time they’d run back to the clinic, sweating, Rika was nearly at death’s door. The doctor glared at them, saying he didn’t know what might have happened if they’d been any later.
At last, they paid the fee and administered the medicine—a compound of various herbs—to Rika. As time passed, mercifully, color slowly returned to her face. Eneka sent the children home first since the clinic had become chaotic, then came and sat beside Luirene, who was waiting outside.
“…Thank you for helping. I don’t even know how many times I’ve said that now.”
“I told you there’s no need for thanks. This isn’t charity either. I lent you the money on the clear condition you’ll pay it back. That watch from earlier—it isn’t even mine.”
“I knew it!”
Eneka, who’d been fidgeting, raised her voice and grabbed Luirene’s shoulders.
“Honestly, I’ve been holding back from asking this whole time and it nearly killed me. Where did you get that watch? It looked incredibly expensive.”
“Well.”
“Don’t tell me… you really did steal it? Is that it?”
“What?”
“Oh God. Pawning something you stole… this isn’t some small matter. You saw the look on that shopkeeper’s face before we left, right? He was completely eyeing us like thieves. He might already be running his mouth to the constables by now. Damn it. What do we do? If we could just buy a little time…!”
“Eneka. I didn’t steal the watch. So calm down.”
“You didn’t steal it? Then?”
“It was… a gift.”
“From who?”
Once again, the moment had come—the moment her heart was put to the test, just like a few days ago. The moment when the thoughts in her head grew thick and dense, weighing whether or not to speak aloud about her relationship with Hitaon.
Luirene gazed into the empty air for a moment, then turned back to Eneka. The look in her eyes had steadied, unwavering—Eneka looked ready to accept whatever she might say. Eneka would soon leave the mansion. She would work at Luirene’s bookstore. And she was… Luirene’s only friend.
“The young master gave it to me.”
“The young master… Our young master? Young Master Glair?”
“Yes.”
“The young master gave you that expensive pocket watch? Why?”
“Well, you see…”
This time, embarrassment kept her lips from parting easily. As she fumbled for words, Eneka suddenly fell backward with a thud, landing hard. Her face was so stunned she couldn’t even muster a complaint about the pain.
“You… you’re the young master’s mistress?”
“What?”
Why her mind had leapt precisely there, of all places—after a moment’s thought, she could guess. But before the misunderstanding could deepen, Luirene denied it.
“I’m not his mistress.”
“You’re not?”
“Mm… let’s call it lovers.”
“What!”
Unbothered by the dirt on her hands, Eneka scrambled closer on all fours.
“S-Since when?”
“It’s been about four years, I suppose?”
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