Chapter 67
“What preparations are there? The day comes and we simply leave… Hita. Are you truly not going to come with us?”
As if he’d been waiting for exactly this question, Hitaon set down his cutlery and rubbed at his neck.
“Since returning to the capital, the matters requiring my attention have been considerable. There are already those who regard me as the heir apparent and seek to ingratiate themselves.”
“Even so—busy as you are, you must still catch your breath.”
“It’s all right. I can rest well enough here.”
“Still…”
The Marquis, who’d been listening quietly, stepped in.
“This period is critical for heirs. It may be a summer retreat, but the eastern territory has its own share of problems that have only been reported in writing—there’s plenty to look into here and there. If we took Hita along, knowing his disposition, he’d just follow me around without a moment’s rest. Let him be, my wife.”
“Yes. So please, go and enjoy your summer retreat to the fullest, the two of you.”
With the Marquis joining in, the Marchioness at last gave up her persuasion. Hitaon wet his throat with water and quietly counted the days until they would leave for the territory and the mansion would stand empty. He felt sorry for them, but he was counting down the days to the coming heat with eager anticipation.
* * *
Before she knew it, the world was submerged in the thick, lush light of summer.
The mansion’s summer holiday began smoothly as well.
The Marquis and Marchioness were the first to leave for the territory, and with more than half its people gone, a tranquil air settled over the mansion day and night.
Luirene paused in her reading and looked outside. The garden, where people had always been coming and going, stood completely empty. She’d stayed here for years now, but this was the first time the mansion had felt so devoid of human presence.
With the masters away, the servants took their holidays in turns—but Luirene was the exception. The former Marchioness was bedridden at the mansion. In return, she was to receive slightly higher wages during this period. If that extra pay could help her recover the pocket watch, Luirene was only too glad for it.
Even if she’d been offered a holiday, she would have turned it down. There was a reason she’d been counting down the days to this sweltering season that everyone else dreaded.
As she rested after finishing her day’s work, a scrap of the maids’ chatter drifted back to her—something about how the hydrangeas had bloomed prettily in the garden and they’d snip a few stems to decorate their rooms.
Even if you level the soil and change the water often, once a flower is past its season, it will wilt. Luirene checked the lilac sprig she’d arranged in a vase earlier and found it had dried slightly. Thinking she might as well replace it, she went out to the rear garden.
The main garden was a space kept for the masters, so if the servants wanted to claim a share, they had to use the rear garden, tucked away behind the building.
She was crouched in a corner, examining flower stems, when it came—a whistle, low and rhythmic, from somewhere close. The sound was familiar. It was like the sound you’d make to catch the attention of an animal you were still taming…
She turned her head and spotted the culprit at once. Hitaon was leaning against the window, looking down at her.
“In the dead of night, someone creeping through the rear garden—I thought some cheeky thief had slipped in.”
“…….”
“So you’re… my grandmother’s caretaker, was it?”
He played it up, acting as if addressing someone he barely knew. Baffled for a moment, Luirene remembered that this was the outdoors—anyone could pass by and see. And that was why he was putting on this ridiculous act.
“Yes, young master. My name is Luirene.”
“Luirene. A name with a pleasant ring to it.”
“Thank you.”
As if settling in for a proper conversation, he leaned his arm on the windowsill.
“Why are you still at the mansion? I was given to understand the other servants have all left for their holidays.”
“I’m assigned to Her Ladyship, so I wasn’t granted a holiday.”
“Is that so? That must be disappointing.”
“Not at all. It’s work that someone has to do.”
The conversation, begun with the intent of just playing along, was growing more amusing little by little.
“I hear you also serve as my grandmother’s companion.”
“My skills are lacking, but yes.”
“You must like books, then.”
“I try to read as much as I can.”
“That’s fortunate. As it happens, this night feels particularly long to me.”
“…….”
“Would you fetch me a book from the library?”
“I will. What sort of book would you like?”
“It’s already gotten so hot, after all… Yes. 『The Shadow’s Confession』 would be good.”
“…You know of that book as well, young master?”
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