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“Why are you avoiding me?”
“I’m not avoiding you.”
I did my best to avoid Dylan’s eyes as I held on to the brush which was familiar as if it was my body.
“Aren’t you avoiding me right now?”
“Not at all.”
I couldn’t find any excuses for him with his reproachful eyes. After all, he was correct that I was avoiding him.
“Then why won’t you meet my eyes?”
“I’m just b-busy. What do you mean I’ve been avoiding you?”
Nonetheless, I casually lied and turned my head to the other side.
‘Is he putting honey on his face every night?’
Dylan, who was still dashingly handsome, looked at me. Looking at his deep red eyes under the sun, my heart wavered again.
‘Maybe it’s because he’s too handsome.’
I didn’t think I was a person who would easily give their heart to just anyone.
“Please don’t look at me like that.”
I thought maybe it was because of those eyes.
Those desperate eyes.
Those eyes looked at me fondly as if they wanted me and looked so sorrowful like he would cry any time soon making me feel like I had to do something right away.
“And now you’re telling me not to look at you?”
Dylan looked at me gruffly while chewing on his lips as I squinted my eyes in order not to look at him.
“It’s not like that…”
I hastily waved my hands at his stiff face.
“I was truly busy. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
Rather than being disappointed because he was a womanizer, I was more scared.
There were so many stories about a man coming from the city and a woman doing chores and falling in love in this small country town.
Though the Viscounty was a quiet place, it was a simple beauty so there were always tourists.
When knights claiming to be warriors passed by this small town saying they were on an adventure, one of them always falls in love with a village girl as if it was predetermined.
However, not a single man settled in this town just because he fell in love.
‘I’ll be back.’
There may no longer be women who believe those words, but even the shrewd Lindsay believed that love really blinds people.
‘If I don’t come back, look at this token and find me.’
There were countless men who left their daggers or amulets saying they were family heirlooms.
Likewise, Lindsay had received a purple fir tree imprinted on an amulet from her lover, but it didn’t take long to find out that the ‘heirloom’ was a garbage that couldn’t even be accepted in junk shops.
I could still see Lindsay’s crying appearance lingering in my eyes.
‘I will never be like that.’
If I fall in love with Dylan, I’ll be the only one to get hurt. It would be better for him to remain as a kind servant from Lagrange to me.
I hardened my heart and determined to push Dylan’s earnest face away.
“So please move out of the way. I’m working right now.”
At my request, he grimaced even as he slightly moved his body away.
‘He listens so well.’
I had thought that but instead of leaving, he started following me.
“Why are you following me?”
The Grand Duchy of Lagrange seemed to have leftover money. I couldn’t believe they’re still paying a playboy like Dylan.
“I’m going to help you work.”
“Don’t you have anything else to do?”
“That’s right. That’s why I’m going to help you with your work.”
I shrugged my shoulders at Dylan’s words which sounded like a pledge and pointed at the upper floor.
“Just in time, you’ve heard that the Duke of Euclid has visited the Viscounty right? Don’t follow me and serve His Grace instead.”
Before I could finish my words, I heard a loud cracking sound at my side. Surprised, I turned around and saw the small statue that had been adorning the hallway had fallen and rolled down.
‘Did it fall because it’s already old?’
Dylan, who was standing blankly nearby, seemed unwilling to pick up the statue, so I bent over and held the small bird-shaped piece in my arms instead.
“Why are you just standing there? I told you to go see him.”
“.........Did you just tell me to take care of that bastard right now?”
I looked around, startled by Dylan’s ignorant words. Fortunately, the hallway was quiet.
“Wh-what do you mean that bastard! How could you call the Duke of Euclid like that?”
He was already causing enough trouble with the way he calls the Grand Duke of Lagrange and the Viscount and his wife!
However, the Duke of Euclid had a higher reputation than the Grand Duke of Lagrange. After all, he was someone who could freely use the power of the sun.
‘Though in the novel, Dietrich Lagrange was a bit stronger.’
Dylan, who was looking at my flustered face, pressed down on his temple. He answered with gritted teeth as if he was being patient about something.
“The Duke of Euclid …. His Grace won’t be needing my help.”
I didn’t think I could send him now even if His Grace needed help. A servant with such a cheeky tongue would have been decapitated right off the bat.
I nodded as I checked Dylan’s neck if it was still well-attached.
“I see, well. If you don’t have anything to do, then follow me.”
I couldn’t just leave his hands with nothing to do just because I was uncomfortable. I strung Dylan along on my back and headed to the garden which was full of dead spring flowers in time for summer.
“I’ll sweep the garden first. Dylan…ah, please wipe the fountain.”
Normally, we’d work together and chat, but I wanted to keep a strictly business relationship with him so I pointed to the fountain at a distance.
“Are we not doing it together?”
Dylan, who looked at the white rag I handed over indifferently, seemed full of dissatisfaction instead of reaching out his hand.
“Let’s work separately today. Also, if you’re good with your hands, please attach the head of this statue.”
Perhaps it had fallen and cracked, but under the bright sunlight, the statue seemed to have been crushed as if someone had put a lot of strength into it.
If I took it to the head maid as it was, she would likely suspect that I was the one who broke it.
“Wait.”
After Dylan took the bird piece, he grabbed me who had walked away quickly.
I bit my lip at his consideration of not giving strength to his grip as if he feared I might get hurt.
‘If you hold me like this, how could anyone not be able to shake you off.’
However, contrary to what I had thought, his grip wasn’t easily shaken off. Wasn’t it because he was so considerate to people like this that anyone could mistake him for a womanizer?
“What is it?”
I turned around and looked at Dylan, who moved his lips as if he had something to say to me.
“Tell me now if you have any business with me, Dylan.”
“Are you angry with me?”
“Why would I be?”
“.......Because I’m a womanizer and a degenerate?”
I smiled lightly as I looked at Dylan raising his eyebrow.
‘It’s funny since he’s saying that with such a serious face.’
I didn’t know how Dylan interpreted my smile but he added urgently.
“Don’t think like that. It’s a misunderstanding.”
“Yes, I know it’s a misunderstanding.”
“What?”
“It looked like that at first, but when I thought about it more, I knew it was a misunderstanding.”
“Then why–”
I pressed my forefinger at Dylan’s lips, stopping him from pressing me further.
‘I don’t want to say “because I don’t want to like you’ since it sounds like a confession.’
He already had someone he loved.
I stared at the face of the man who was holding my hand and opened my mouth.
“Did you find the person you love?”
“..........Yes.”
“That’s great.”
If you're not reading this at blogspot, you're probably reading from an aggregator site. Read this translation at https://notmysisteryoufool.blogspot.com/.
That’s right, that was a very good thing.
Though I haven’t known him for a long time, Dylan was my friend so it’s right that I should congratulate him.
He slowly opened his lips at my insincere congratulations.
“But she doesn’t remember me.”
“Excuse me?”
“Me. I said she doesn’t remember me.”
As he said that, Dylan’s hands were pale as if they had spent winter alone.
He continued, sweeping his eyebrow with an anxious face.
“There’s no end to my greed. I thought it would have been fortunate just to see her again, but now I want her to remember me as well.”
“.........The woman you love doesn’t recognize you?”
“That’s right.”
I unconsciously placed my hand on Dylan’s cheek at his self-deprecation and forlorn appearance. His skin was cool to the touch maybe because he was someone who came from the North.
“I don’t think it’s greed. Don’t you think it’s natural to want that? It’s too difficult to be the only one who remembers.”
"..........."
“I think I’d be resentful, if it was me.”
Like men who leave their lovers in this small town after whispering love last night, that woman may have also forgotten Dylan completely.
It would have been buried like a memory along with the amulet and token one held in their arms.
The memories of making love would last forever, but how sad it must be to remember it alone.
My heart ached and I stroked Dylan’s drawn cheeks.
“You’re free to resent that person.”
He twisted his lips at my words as if he was smiling and shook his head.
“I won’t resent her. I rather think it’s a relief.”
“What’s a relief? Didn’t she completely forget you?”
“It’s my portion to remember.”
His low, mellow voice blended into the sound of the wind rustling the leaves.
“Even in the mornings when I realize that she’s not by my side and it feels like the ground on my feet is caving in, and even in the evenings when I hurry to sleep because she might come to my dreams.”
"......................"
“Because she doesn’t have them.”
You don’t know how relieved I am because I’m the only one who suffers this despair.
I felt like I heard a whisper like that.