CH 29

Chapter 29: Good News?

As soon as I got back from Longhorn Mansion, I wrote a letter to Toby. It was to inform him that Mr. Longhorn was not the stalker; I concluded by saying that I would wait in Libre on Saturday afternoon.

His face, saying that he had something he wanted to say, was still vivid in my mind. Those eyes were desperate for something.

Of course, I already knew what he was going to say. But when I think about the drastic change in my relationship with him…….

“I’m not sure….”

No wonder I was giddy.

* * *

Today, I arrived at the Libre Coffee Shop earlier than the promised time. Feeling the pathological burden of keeping others waiting, I liked to come to the appointment place first and think calmly.

Unlike Antris, with their wide windows that overlooked the scenery of the street, Libre was dark even in the middle of the day because it was located underground. It is a space with a strong smell of beer and old wood rather than the smell of coffee.

“Your Coffee is here.”

A server in an unorganized shirt and an old apron suddenly appeared and put down the coffee cup. Two drops of espresso splashed over an old wooden table, blackening it.

“Oh…! Thank you so much.….”

The server nodded his head and then turned around. Seeing his uncombed hair and the shirt sticking out, I somehow missed Antris’ servers.

However, it seemed that I was the only one that felt uncomfortable  here. The guests’ attire and topics of conversations are much more liberal than at Antris.

It certainly has a strange charm or atmosphere, but I also like Antris. The interior here, which has more pillars than necessary, is a little exaggerated and feels like it’s in the middle of a maze.….

“Oh my god!”

Suddenly, I dropped my glass on the red hair that popped up from behind the pillar. The white coffee cup was completely shattered with a sharp bang.

“Sorry! Are you okay?”

It was a young man who approached. He wasn’t a redhead but blonde. It must have been due to my anxiety that I mistakenly thought the red tassels that were hanging tightly on the brown redingot for hair.

“I was a little surprised…….It’s okay.”

“Miss Melissa!”

Toby came running to me like a miracle, who was still trembling from the afterimage. It was just amazing that he found me at once in this maze-like place.

He spoke to the man in the redingot.

“What’s going on? My woman seems surprised, so please tell me instead.”

My woman.

The unfamiliar echo even stopped my trembling shoulders. The man apologized again explaining the situation that surprised me while wandering around looking for another person, and Toby, who found out it was nothing, sent him away.

Toby’s persistent gaze followed the red tassel decoration that fluttered behind the man’s back.

“…….”

We sat facing each other and remained silent for a moment. I was consciously breathing evenly and feeling the tremors gradually subside. Meanwhile, Tobias looked at me with unwavering straight eyes.

“Miss Melissa.”

It was Toby who broke the silence between us. Of course, the surroundings were quite noisy.

“I was arbitrarily believing that Miss Melissa had regained her peace of mind.”

“…….”

He was talking about the stalking uproar.

“But… You were still nervous.”

Come to think of it, I had no intention of informing Toby about the stalker. When I heard that the stalker was standing behind my back, I just confessed it involuntarily.

Even though I was a victim, it was difficult to confess because I didn’t want to be misunderstood that my behavior provided the cause at first, and later I didn’t want to cause concern to Toby.

With that opportunity, Toby took the topic for granted since I haven’t talked about the topic since that day.

It was all because of the stalker that I didn’t go to New Ditch, after that the suspicious old woman rushed to me, and that I refused his escort home, but I hid it.

I’m afraid of that unknown stalker’s warning. I was so afraid that this dark shadow might fall on Tobias as well.

Whatever my situation is, Toby seems to have thought I had already let go of my fear of stalkers. Of course he did. Since that day, the stalker has never appeared*, and it seems that it has been a long time since it was blurred in his memory.

(* talking from Toby’s point of view—he only saw him once)

“I….  would like to protect you….”

Is it because of the dark interior?  Tobias’s eyes seemed unusually dark. Not as much as the day we first met, but his calm voice was subtly trembling.

“I’m sure I’ll be of help.”

“But…”

I couldn’t face his crystal clear sincerity and lowered my gaze.

“I don’t want to harm you.”

“You were like that last time too.  You say you are uncomfortable being indebted to me.”

Toby spoke like a sigh.

“Miss Melissa’s dependence on me is never a burden, I’m happy to help.

“Toby, I…….”

“But I’m the only one who thinks so, since our relationship is such that you don’t feel the same way about me yet.”

I had a hunch. That I’ll finally hear it (his confession).

That’s why I looked around in a hurry, hoping the server would appear while he was saying something important, since they had to clean up the broken glass and take Toby’s order.

“So now…….”

At that moment, Tobias came down from his chair and knelt down on one of his knees. My gaze was instantly captivated by his movement.

“…Toby.”

“Can’t you allow me to be your person….?”

Ah. I covered my mouth with both hands. I felt like my stance that this should be a light relationship was swaying.

What should I say about this feeling? It feels like soft feathers are tickling my heart. It’s unbearably itchy, so I want to get rid of it, but there’s no way…….

“From the moment I first saw you to this moment, my heart…… It belongs only to you, Miss Melissa.”

“…….”

Heat rose on my face without help due to his confession. It was the first time I felt grateful for Libre’s unnecessary pillars and disturbance.

I vaguely knew that he would confess today. It was harder not to know then know because his eyes and his voice were always full of his feelings.

And I had long been determined to accept him.

A love letter from someone, a genuinely affectionate interest, drinking coffee, eating, talking about life, and laughing together. I’ve never experienced such wonderful and shiny things in my previous life.

It is very fortunate that the other person is Tobias Miller. Because he’s a warm and thoughtful person. We don’t know each other yet, but I thought we would have a cozy, sweet companionship.

Therefore, even I didn’t expect that I would give such an answer:

“Give me time to think.”

“Ah……”

Toby’s eyes immediately headed to the floor. My eyes also followed his bowed head. Perhaps due to the low light, the bright brown hair looked exceptionally dark. Somehow it was a sad light.

“It must have been sudden… It must have been scary. I’m sorry for being hasty every time.”

“No, there’s nothing to be sorry about! I also like (you)…….”

At that moment, ironically, the feeling of the cold lips on my cheek came to my mind. I closed my eyes tightly.

“…..I think you’re a good person.”

Toby suddenly raised his head at my whisper.

“Then I didn’t offend you, did I?”

I shook my head over and over again

“Then, Miss Melissa has a positive heart for me…… Is that right?”

This time, when I nodded slowly twice, he raised himself with a bright smile.

“This is enough for today.”

He added shyly,

“I’ll give you time. What if we meet again here a week later at the same time? If you come out it means you’ve accepted my heart…….”

Was I making a silly face? Toby looked at me cautiously.

“Is it… Is it too soon?”

“No, Toby. It’s good.”

“Ah…”

An innocent smile spread across his nervous face again.

“I hope to see you in a week, Melissa.”

The dimples on his innocent, enthusiastic face deepened.

* * *

That day I couldn’t resist Toby, who was supposed to walk with me.

All the way home, my heart raced so much that I couldn’t concentrate properly on the conversation.  I just hoped the stalker wasn’t looking at us.

Time flew fast but steadily, and the promised Saturday is just two days away. Two days later, I was going to be his lover in Libre.

It was two days away. Therefore….

“Lady, it’s Miller!”

Julia, who ran up to my room with a loud noise, held out an envelope.

“Is it from Toby?”

I accepted it with a puzzled face. We’ve already decided where to meet again. Why did he send a letter?

Is he trying to cancel his confession? Did something happen to your family in New Ditch? Or…….

“I’ll go down, so read it comfortably!”

As soon as Julia ran out, I open the letter,

“Oh my god.”

I opened my eyes wide at the news that I had never thought of.

“…as a scholarship student to help Leopold’s business…… Selection?”

Obviously, it’s good news, but strangely I wasn’t happy. They haven’t even started recruiting yet. What happened?

For some reason, I feel empty. Is it because this all feels surreal? The starting condition for pursuing his dream was leaving for the Principality immediately.

“As I’m reading this letter…… He might already be on the ship going to Lunoa.….”

I couldn’t believe it even after seeing it, so I read it aloud, but it didn’t feel real.

But Toby is definitely Toby. He added affectionately.

It will not be easy to exchange letters from Lunoa to Sorne. His letter ended with a promise that he would notify me of his new address, but that he may be on ships often since he was working with Leopold.

I really felt indescribable. Can I handle his sudden absence? Can I really go abroad to study….

Among the intersecting emotions, the clearest thing I could feel was the anxiety that his mind might change. I put off the answer with a calm face at his confession, but now I’m regretting it.

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No, is this really regret? I was all confused.

But tomorrow the pain of his absence will be a little duller, I have to get used to it. Then I will be able to congratulate him with more sincerity than today. And so on for the next day and the next day.

“…….”

Putting the letter down on one side of the desk, I opened an old note with a short deep breath.

It was only a few days after I received another unexpected letter.