This kind of courtship is complicated - chapter 8
#008 Just Disgusting
After the Arzenga's lady, Rifiel Arzen, left the Christmas ball as soon as it ended, she came across Roseine's letter by chance. The more specific reason was the word 'engagement' that came out of Helios's mouth.
"Be careful with the letter you received today. If it catches the mistress's eye, it will surely be torn to shreds and flow down the Permwill River to Bricheun."
Deon's prediction was half correct and half wrong. Roseine's letter was torn to shreds by her own hands, but it was immediately thrown into the firewood without the need to go all the way to the Permwill River.
"How upset must Rifiel be to leave Winslet? Wouldn't it be better for you to go and bring her back?"
"Since she went on a warm trip to Brighton, she might as well enjoy herself while she's there."
Her tone was affectionate but firm. Helios Arzen had no intention of changing his mind. He understood that his mother, who was born a king's daughter and had lived her whole life as a duchess, despised the upstart capitalists who disrupted the nobility's order.
But that was only Rifiel Arzen's opinion. If he settled matters within reasonable limits, Helios had no reason not to give up the position of the duchess to Roseine.
"Roseine seems to mean that she will get engaged to that guy. That means she will continue this outrageous lifestyle without our permission until we allow it."
In the silence, Clorenette Arzen, who had been slowly surveying the forest hills rising high outside the large window and the plaster statue standing in the center of the garden, looked at her grandson again.
He was a beloved grandson to look at. He was a splendid lord of the Arzen family until he threw himself into this strange situation. Perhaps it was guilt. That's what had made this Arzen Duke, who always smiled but didn't truly smile, so upset.
Helios didn't respond at all. The ticking of the clock and the sound of the winter forest rustling were permeating the silence.
The white steam was no longer rising from the cold teacup that had been left unattended after the sudden visit.
It took Helios quite some time to raise his head again.
"Grandmother, are you feeling the same way as my mother?"
It was a somewhat unexpected question, with an unknown purpose. But Clorenette Arzen readily responded.
"Similar, but different. I hope the world doesn't change as much as I wish it would. Nowadays, due to the decrease in land income, everyone is marrying daughters of railroad kings or bankers with large dowries. It's a good thing for both parties, and there's nothing to complain about."
Beyond Clorenette Arzen's glasses, her eyes were sharply lit. Her voice, expressing her views, was dignified and firm.
"But Roseine is different. I can't stand that wicked girl. People's nature never changes, I believe that firmly. Even if it's prejudice, I can't help it. I hope the old man who's lived a long life like me is right most of the time."
Love. Helios had heard that word frequently lately. It was because of the casual love of that woman, which he thought was a persistent prank, that came to mind at the end of the meaningless conversation.
Was it really so important?
Clorenette Arzen, who examined her unchanging grandson's expression, got up to leave. Her daughter-in-law's hope that her mind would change if she left the house didn't seem likely to come true.
"I'm talking too much. I should go back around this time. When Rifiel comes back, you'll have another cold war with your mother, won't you?"
Helios also got up to see her off. Her lips, adorned with the same beautiful smile as before, were redder.
"See you later. I'll go down."
"But, Helios."
Just before leaving the room, Clorenette Arzen glanced briefly at the desk where Helios had been sitting, instead of responding to his warm farewell.
"Was there anything good that happened earlier?"
"No. There was nothing. Why do you ask?"
In response to the expected answer, Clorenette Arzen raised her head lightly, as if she didn't care, and looked at him.
"By the way, I plan to go out to Debianna in a few days. Won't you join me? I'd like to take a walk together after a long time."
****
"Are you writing letters with your face all day long?"
Piles of scattered paper, an open inkwell. Lately, this had been a common scene in Valia Devier's room.
She hadn't received a single response, so why was she working so diligently?
Evan, muttering discontentedly, closed the lid of the inkwell and clicked his tongue.
Valia lay on the desk with the letter she had carefully written, breathing softly. Her faint breath blended into the quiet morning air.
"What's she really up to?"
Evan, who had been watching her with half-closed eyes, cautiously reached out to wipe ink off Valia's face. When he saw the ink stain on her forehead, he almost burst out laughing but bit his lip to hold it back.
He didn't laugh at his friend's embarrassment. Violating Valia's emphasis on their friendship's promise might earn him a resentful gaze.
Of course, that gaze wouldn't last a day.
Evan, who had finished his task, leaned back on the leather sofa in Valia's room, the place he could call his own. On one side of the sofa, a book he had started reading before was still lying there.
Evan got up again to pick up the book. As he did, he noticed a bundle of papers under the sofa, purely by chance.
Evan, watching Valia sleep soundly, secretly picked up the letter.
It was a letter with only about half of the page left blank, filled with black handwriting.
Evan's eyes moved slowly from top to bottom.
"To Duke Arzen,
On nights like tonight, I want to fly in the sky like a bird. It's not just because I want to see Duke Arzen's beautiful eyes again. I suddenly felt an urge to climb Bern's bell tower. It's in the middle of the night. Even if you can't see the Rodrian Sea or the Alto Mountains now, the view of Ernel shrouded in darkness from the bell tower will undoubtedly be more special. Don't you think? Oh, by the way, when I say Bern's bell tower, I mean the tallest bell tower in the Ernel Kingdom. Evan and I call it Bern's bell tower. You might wonder why we call it that way. It's from a novel I read..."
Evan briefly hesitated, wondering if this letter was addressed correctly. It was definitely addressed to Duke Arzen, the one I knew. All the gossip that had been circulating around his name came to mind, and finally, Valia's eyes met his. Her eyes, still bright even in the shade, were as gentle as always.
No, it can't be.
After mentally scolding himself for putting this letter here, not putting it away, Evan put on a rather surprised expression that was quite different from earlier.
He cleared his throat and decided to advise his friend, who seemed to apologize for her wrongdoing.
"Maybe you should take some time to reply..."
Suddenly, the name Duke Arzen crossed Evan's mind. Many rumors had followed his name, and finally, Valia's eyes met his. Even in the shade, her eyes, which remained bright, were as soft as ever.
No, no.
Evan, who had made up his mind to fix his attitude and offer sincere advice to his friend, watched with a somewhat surprised expression.
"You wrote very well. If you keep writing like this, the Duke will be won over in no time, right? Frankly, I was a bit surprised."
"Really? Should I keep sending letters like this?"
"Yeah, just like now. Keep doing what you're doing, Valia."
Please, don't even look at the letter, and forget about Valia Devier's existence. Evan hoped for that with all his heart, while Valia, wearing a satisfied smile without knowing Evan's innermost thoughts, returned to her desk to finish writing the letter.
As the afternoon approached, even in the pale winter sunlight, warmth permeated the air. Valia, as usual, wrapped herself in her coat and muffler before leaving.
Seeing the letter envelope held in her small hand, Evan, as if resigned, got up and said, "Are you going to deliver a letter again? Is that why you called me?"
"No. You're in trouble. You secretly read the letter."
"What?"
Evan's hand, which had been reaching for the coat draped over the sofa, froze.
"Why are you in trouble?"
"It's the book return date. I'm going to Holt's Rental Books. Even though I have enough allowance to pay the overdue fees, it's a matter of trust. And Mr. Holt said he would set aside a very interesting book for me."
Phew, he sighed and sat back down, ignoring Evan's attempts to escape. Valia took a book she had placed on the shelf by the window.
"Just this time."
Without agreeing to Evan's condition, Valia waved her hand with a sunny smile. The sound of the door closing followed shortly.
Her careful descent down the walnut stairs was unusually cautious this time.