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Chapter 13: New Ditch
Even though I have known Toby for a while I told him everything that happened at the last ball.  His kindness has always put me at ease.
He was a good talker. Much more than my mother who gives endless sermons about marriage or Mrs. Kerney, with whom I have a generational difference barrier.
Of course, he can’t be compared to my best friend, but the conversation with Toby was special. Viola and I are both eager to share our stories so we often need to balance the time between us, and if only one shares the other doesn’t have time to tell her story and can only listen, whereas Toby always saved his words so that I could talk more.
Thanks to him, I knew for the first time that telling my story was this much fun. I am also familiar with listening rather than speaking, but he was a much more skillful listener than me.
When I am with Tobias, I feel at ease and talk so much that in retrospect I am surprised by how much I was able to talk.
And today was the same.
I finished talking when half of the coffee was completely cooled down.
“…..That’s it.”
I couldn’t help but be surprised when I lifted my powerless gaze that was fixed on the milky white teacup. This is because Tobias had a dark face that he had never shown before.
“Toby, are you upset?”
After a moment’s hesitation, he answered silently.
“Yes, Miss Melissa.”
“…….”
“I’m upset.”
We were closer to friends than lovers. I know Tobias Miller is a good person, but I don’t feel any love towards him.
But this is only my own point of view.
The fact is, that everyone’s lover, Sir Alan, asked me to dance, and nobody else.  I can’t help but worry about him that I, who used to be so ordinary with just one thing, has become one of the hottest topics lately.
Even for me, it’s difficult to just talk about my affection for Alan because of my insecurities. How much must it be for Toby who has to hear the object of his affection talk about her infatuation with someone else?
Why didn’t it occur to me how it would make Toby feel before she started talking?
Moreover, didn’t he even send me a love letter?
While I was belatedly mulling over actions I could not take back with a complicated mind, Toby broke the silence
“It’s so painful to think about what Miss Melissa may have gone through.”
“……Toby..…”
At his words, I came to my senses as if I had fallen into an ice lake. Toby’s upset feelings were not because of his disparity with Alan, or about gossip going around about me and Alan.
He was agitated purely by the story of those women who insulted me.
“Aren’t you surprised? Alan Leopold asked me to dance at the Victory Ball.…? The ladies earlier…….”
“Actually, I knew.”
“What?”
I asked curiously.
“Even within the academy, there was a lot of talk. Even your name……”
“Even my name……?”
“Of course, when I first heard it, I doubted my ears. Then I received Ms. Melissa’s letter and I assumed you wanted to talk about it. So I thought I should listen to it.….”
At that time, Toby added, touching his eyebrows with an awkward face.
“I was happy to hear…..when you said you’ve never missed me this much”
“Toby, aren’t you jealous of him?”
……Oops, I said it.
I was embarrassed even after saying it out loud on my own, so I was looking for something to fix it, but he spoke with a very casual face.
“I’m not jealous. Because I respect him.”
“….. Respect?”
Somehow, I became contemplative when he was humbly admitting his admiration for Alan saying that he respects such an unsocial and cold man who was born into a great family and is six years younger than him. There were many people who idolized Alan, but there were also a lot of people who envied and disparaged him.
“I told you that I am learning trade.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“The Leopold family has announced that they will sponsor trade majors. I think they’ll be accepting the applicants sometime next year.”
This was news to me, since I wasn’t a student at the academy.
“If I get selected, I will be able to develop my capabilities by directly helping Leopold’s business.”
“…….”
“I want to be selected. There is nothing more fascinating than interacting with the world beyond the sea.”
He seemed to have a firmer direction than expected. He is trying to be a businessman and not succeeding his father. I thought Tobias would be a really good pastor.
“So, Sir Alan Leopold is an example for people like me.”
“Ah… I didn’t know that.”
I tried to tell him about my dream, but I quit.
This was a separate matter from Toby listening to me. If I had to talk about a dream that was unlikely to come true, wouldn’t it sound like I was complaining in vain? He will try to comfort me, and I will only recall the frustrations I have had over and over again.
Of course, just complaining to him may give me some comfort. But now was not the time, when he was talking about his firm dream.
“I haven’t heard that the three women insulted Miss Melissa.…. I’m angry and annoyed.”
“There’s nothing to be bothered about, Toby.”
On the night I returned from the victory ball, or even after I returned, I shed tears. Still, when I think of the memory of that day, my heart stings.
“It’s already in the past.”
Nevertheless, I was proud of myself for being able to make up such a calm smile. After my clumsy and weak past life, of course, I still lack a lot, but I’m definitely growing.
“But…The thing that annoys me the most is that I wasn’t there to accompany you.”
“…….”
“I want to be by your side, Miss Melissa, and protect you so that you won’t be hurt in the future. May I?”
His dark eyes shined desperately as he reached towards my hand. I was surprised even before his hand touched mine so he withdrew his hand
“It’s winter soon, so there won’t be an official event for the time being, but it would be an honor if I could escort you whenever I have a chance.”
“…..Yes.”
How can I refuse this?
Toby has neither an outstanding appearance nor an excellent background. But I didn’t know. His shining sincerity, who always cares for me and cares for me, is so valuable that I may never be able to meet someone like him again in my lifetime.
“Spring, when the new social season begins, is still far away, so why don’t we go somewhere together?”
“Somewhere….”
“What about my hometown, New Ditch? I have my family there, so we don’t have to prepare anything. I have a sister who is similar in age to Melissa, so it’ll be fun.”
Come to think of it, I was supposed to go to Piccom together with Viola, but it had faded. It was a welcoming suggestion because my heart was still depressed..
Even the stalker won’t chase me outside the capital. And if it’s New Ditch…….
“Isn’t it close to Solver?”
“You mean Solver? It’s not that far away.….”
When I was happy, Tobias added as if he remembered.
“Ah, your father is stationed in Solver and you can get there by carriage quickly. I’ll come with you.”
“I like it!”
I was happy enough to clap my hands. A trip to New Ditch and Solver was already perfect. How many months has it been since I met my father?
“The flowers have fallen, and the autumn leaves are at an end, but New Ditch Lake is beautiful enough to make you forget words. Even in the middle of winter.”
You’ll love it. Toby added.
The exact date was decided to be set by letter, but I was already excited as if I were floating in the air. Toby was more relaxed than ever since the exam was over and I am relaxed since the social season was also over.
Melissa Collins will travel alone with a man. I can’t believe I’m going to meet his family! The more I think about it, the more surprising it is.
Of course, he doesn’t make her heart flutter, but it’s true that I’m feeling excited right now, isn’t it?  Even if it’s more exhilarating than Tobi’s sudden travel plans or the thought of meeting my father.
However, on the one hand, after the New Ditch trip, I thought that my relationship with him would change in many ways.
Viola said she was in a relationship because she was lonely. I wonder if I have deluded myself that I am not lonely but maybe that’s the root of all my problems
All human beings are imperfect, and are destined to live in constant proof of their existence. If it was Tobias who relieved this loneliness, it would certainly be cozy and comfortable.
As I always think, love doesn’t have to be as hot as a flame. Finally, when I think of the word love, I have reached a stage that reminds me of Tobias’ face without difficulty.
“Famous food…… There’s one but it’s nothing much actually.”
“What is it? I’m curious.”
We walked side by side along the streets of the capital, where the wind had cooled down. Tobias was on his way home.
He said in a solemn way.
“You can’t laugh.”
“Yes.”
“…..potatoes.”
Toby, who said so, laughed bashfully. You told me not to laugh. Eventually, I followed him and burst into laughter.
“What’s that? When in our kingdom are potatoes not popular?”
“When we go to New Ditch, I’ll serve you a great potato dish, Miss Melissa. You’ll be amazed.”
“…….”
Looking at that friendly smile, I suddenly realized.
If Tobias Miller asks me to be his lover in New Ditch, I’ll probably…….
“Ack!”
At that moment, an old woman covered in a black rag suddenly popped out in front of me, penetrated my front, and ran away quickly. Her wrinkled and skinny hands that groped my chest were horrifyingly unpleasant.
“What……”
It happened so quickly that I had no idea. Is she really an old woman? She was small and her back was bent, but how can she run so fast?
“Are you okay?!”
“I think so…….”
I hugged both my shoulders and nodded blankly. The stench from the old woman’s body still remained at the tip of my nose.
“Seeing the trick, it seems like a habitual pickpocket. There are many people like that near the academy. The missing item…….”
“…There’s none, Toby. I guess she tried to snatch my necklace, but as you can see, I’m not wearing it.”
I smiled lightly, calming my surprised heart. Whenever something like this happens, it is unavoidable to feel that it would be good to live in a quiet countryside. Piccom or Solver…….
……New Ditch would be nice, too.
As we talked about New Ditch’s potatoes and the lake, I was in front of my house. It was only after confirming that he was turning around with a light greeting that I could enter the house with a smile on my lips.
As I entered the house, my mom made me promise to invite Toby next time. How happy would she be to go to New Ditch with him?
It was when I was taking off my dress with Julia’s help, thinking that the dinner table would be harmonious after a long time. Something fell to the floor with the tapping sound.
“Huh? Miss, I think something fell.”
“What is it?”
It was a small note.  I had no idea why this was in my clothes.  I unfolded the folded piece of paper with an apathetic face.
It was only after I read the note that I dropped it back to the floor.
***
Comments from Korean readers:
But in reality, filming romance with a guy like Toby is a fantasy. ㅜㅜㅜㅜ
Read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.eu
In reality, it’s hard for a person like Toby to be as handsome as Alan, who has a good personality and will remain the same, so if I have to choose between the two, of course, Alan.
The genre is thriller! Let’s check the tags again.
Toby, sorry. I’m Allen. Cold handsome guy is thrilling ㅠㅠ Something strange is also charming…Toby is a really good person too, I think I’m rotten. ㅠㅠ
Scary…ㅠㅠ
T/N: I loved the way how Korean readers still love Alan, it shows how rotten we are ????????