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Chapter 72: Everything Has Changed
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“Do you want me to wash your body if it’s hot?”
“N-no….”
“Ah! Lady, are you being shy again?”
Sandra’s eyes lit up as I clenched my fists over the tea table. Like watching an exciting sports game.
I’m going to snort at this rate…….
“Ahem, anyway, there is no doubt that Master Alan  treasures you, so there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
You’re already calling him by his name. Sandra’s eyes gleamed again as she muttered. She seems to be clueless.
“Treasure me, It’s not like that. First of all, he’s got the name…….”
Phew, I don’t think this is going to work. Those are eyes that are blindly faithful no matter how I look at them.
Instead of talking about Alan’s true nature, which she won’t believe, I’ve decided to focus on getting to know the exact circumstances and gathering clues that will help me get out of this place.
“Sandra, I want to ask you something…….”
“Yes! Feel free to ask me anything. If a difficult story comes up, I will avoid it.”
With that said, I immediately asked a question.
“Does Alan have a lover?”
“Master? Are you asking if he has any other lovers?”
“What do you mean by other lovers?”
“Are you worried whether he has a lover other than you?”
“…What?”
I thought she meant he had several lovers……. The amber eyes that were so innocent that I felt dizzy.
“I’m not his lover, Sandra.”
“You’re not?”
It was me who felt embarrassed, but she looked surprised. I don’t know if she heard anything strange from Alan, or if Sandra is an admirer of love.
“Look at that window. Does it make sense to have that kind of bar in your lover’s room? Besides, I can’t even get out of this detached house. I’m stuck…….”
“…….”
“How can I be a lover?”
Sandra paused for a moment as if choosing her words, and then answered in a voice different from before.
“I’ve heard that you’re a person who writes love stories. Then you know that there are many different forms of love. There’s love in which the person hides what is valuable and precious to them.”
“No, that kind of love….”
“He kept your name a secret.”
“…….”
At those words, I turned pale. Was the reason why the maids or Mr. Maurice didn’t call my name, because Alan hid my name?
…How come?
Sandra quickly continued, as if she felt my expression was unusual.
“Master is a person who is not good at expressing his emotions. But there are unavoidable circumstances.”
“…Unavoidable circumstances?”
“Yes, My Lady. So, don’t be too resentful and can’t you wait a little bit for the master?”
Sandra had serious eyes. Her voice is also calm and subdued. But do I have to understand Alan Leopold and wait? Why?
It’s true that I had a crush on him for many years, but it’s only because of his integrity and brilliance. His misfortunes and circumstances are not strictly my concern.
Who is better suited to the word misfortune in the first place? A faint sneer  burst out when I recalled the straight face that called himself a weakling.
……It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
“I can’t help it if he is cold because he grew up in such a lonely and harsh environment, but if you know how much he has been working on charity and relief for the poor…”
“He’s a businessman, Sandra. Is there anything he won’t do as long as he can make people feel good and make a profit from it?”
Then Sandra, who put down the cookie she had eaten in a firm motion, continued.
“Thank you for doing me a favor, miss. But why are you denigrating Master Alan? You don’t even know him.”
What denigration… I thought as I smoothed my temple, which had begun to throb again.
I didn’t mean to say this.
“Sandra, I’ve actually watched him for quite a long time. It was a one-sided love. I can’t say I know everything about Alan Leopold, but it’s wrong to say I know nothing.”
“I know, miss. You even delivered a letter to the master.”
“Lett…”
…..Although it didn’t look like it did, how far did this matter spread? I broke out a cold sweat with embarrassment.
Then Sandra pushed the untouched teacup toward me a little more and said with a worried face.
“I heard you drank too much yesterday. That’s why I brought this tea, miss. I think it’s herbal tea.”
“What?”
“You have a headache. Do you not like the smell of tea?”
Ah… I felt a strange sense of emptiness.
“……No, I’ll drink. Thank you.”
I drank the tea in silence, feeling like I had lost to her somehow. Then Sandra continued, looking a little relieved.
“Don’t fight with your feelings right now, lady. Can’t you trust and give the master a little time?”
“…….”
The words made me wonder for a moment. How could Alan Leopold give his maid such firm faith? I don’t think he would have been a very gentle master.
Sandra’s weird, too. Does she think that if she tells someone whom she met for the first time to trust her, they’ll believe her? Seriously?
Such blind trust.
“I think sincerity always works. The master and the lady—”
“All right, Sandra.”
I had neither the will nor the confidence to turn Sandra back by revealing all of Allen’s misdeeds.  So, first of all, I decided to block her words.
I was actually all over the place last night because of Alan’s strangely painted attitude and the dream that made me blush just by recalling it. It’s hard to keep listening to people talking about whether we’re lovers or anything serious.
I decided to ask the story I’ve been curious about all along, just hoping my face wasn’t too hot. About Mr. Maurice who will visit me again tomorrow afternoon.
“I’d like to ask you something else, do you happen to know Mr. Maurice?”
“……Mr. Maurice?”
“Yes. Green eyes, dark hair and glasses. He has a sensitive impression.….”
“I know who he is, miss!”
Sandra hurriedly stopped me as I folded my fingers and began to recite his impressions.
“Really? I thought you wouldn’t remember him because he has a hazy expression…….”
“I can’t remember. But I’m not sure if I can talk about him.”
“What does that mean? As expected, that person…….”
“Umm…….”
Sandra put the bite-sized cookie into her mouth, and with a serious face, diligently chewed it, then swallowed it.
Her next words were completely unexpected.
“The part I can’t tell you is not about Mr. Maurice. It is precisely about the one he loves.”
* * *
The restaurant, with the melody of elegant string instruments, had a very splendid and solemn appearance.  There was a huge chandelier hanging from the dome-shaped tall ceiling, and long windows surrounded it horizontally.
The floor was covered with dark red carpets, and the walls were filled with classical and elegant paintings. It was the grandeur of the oldest restaurant in Lunos, the capital of the Principality.
“Baby…”
Monica’s beautiful eyebrows curled pitifully.
“Did you sleep outside last night?”
“It’s none of your business.”
Alan, who was on the edge of his seat, responded with a cool face. She was ignorant of his mood and it only annoyed him again.
No, she came out of nowhere and she couldn’t be more annoying than this place.
“Come to me sometimes, Alan. Just like when we were young……. I’ll put you to sleep anytime.”
“Ha, is it because I don’t have anywhere to sleep?”
“But… rather than staying at a hotel or a social club…….”
Tsk. As Alan irritatingly gripped his cravat due to the noise, a man in neat clothes approached them. His face had a rather refreshing look, considering that he had the servants with ferocious eyes behind his back.
“Sir Alan, Miss Elwood.”
With a light greeting, he pulled down his black bowler hat, and the sunlight pouring in from the window made his brilliant blonde hair dazzle.
“Hello, Your Highness.”
“Your Highness, welcome.”
As Alan and Monica greeted him, Bentley sat down next to Monica as if waiting.  Then he waved his hand and sent his servants away.
“Hoo, the Principality is pretty hot. I came here suddenly, thank you for taking the time to come.  Especially Miss Elwood.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Alan’s forehead, listening to the abominable conversation between the two, crumpled. Having been busier than when he was in the kingdom, he only wanted to leave two idle people and go back to the office right away.
Indeed, his mind was full of determination to finish the early stages as soon as possible and get his hands on the daily routine of returning home every evening.
Last night, Alan paid tribute to his artist by kissing each one of her white little fingers. He felt a little better when he remembered her cheeks and neck, which had been colored with a beautiful color.
I hope she likes the maid.
“Sir Alan,”
At that moment, the prince broke his thoughts. Alan straightened his posture because he needed to focus on him to leave as quickly as possible.
“Your Highness, what brings you to the Principality all of a sudden?”
Bentley raised the champagne in front of him and curved his sharp eyes and smiled.
“Well, isn’t it natural that I came here to celebrate the launch of my close friend’s business unit?”
“Ha, I don’t know what to do with you.”
Alan smiled after him too. Of course, the cool eyes that didn’t match the season weren’t smiling at all.
Alan opened his mouth as the two people, who had given up waiting for him to raise his glass, gently clashed their own.  He gently sweeps his black hair as thick as the night sky.
“It is already an extraordinary celebration to see you in good health.  But I think I have to get up and go because I am busy with work.”
“……Alan!”
Monica screamed without realizing as Alan got up neatly. However, her red lips were soon closed because she was conscious of the eyes around her.
“I hope the food suits your taste. Then, I will take my leave.”
Alan, who was well-mannered and elegant, turned to the stairs without hesitation. Careful glances followed the tall stature, broad shoulders, and beautiful appearance that caught the eye. Of course, the gaze that stayed behind his back the longest was Monica’s.
“Monica.”
Monica turned her head in surprise at Bentley’s relaxed call, and her beautiful hair fluttered like a red wave.
Her blue eyes trembled as if she was not used to the name coming out of the prince’s mouth, no, it was as if she didn’t want to get used to it.
“Let’s talk now.”