CHAPTER 015
“Um… I’ve already received the funds to live independently from my parents. So, it’s only natural to move out, right?”
Strangely, my voice lost confidence as I went on. Maybe it was because I was in front of Lewis.
But why did he seem reluctant? He had moved out on his own a long time ago.
“Are you worried about me?”
Maybe he was worried since I’d be living alone.
Lewis’s eyes widened slightly at my question. Then he burst into laughter.
“Why, do you want me to be worried?”
“No, it’s not like that!”
I guess I just said it without thinking. I thought he was worried.
I waved my hands, trying to hide my embarrassment.
Two days later.
Charlotte came to the Duke’s residence.
Because the matter with Mr. Thomson ended inconclusively, Bella had called her to the mansion to discuss it separately.
“Selina keeps wandering around without me. Let’s talk comfortably.”
Bella spoke frankly and offered Charlotte a seat. She seemed intent on listening to my conversation with Charlotte.
But as time passed...
‘Huh, something feels off?’
It wasn’t my conversation with Charlotte.
Bella was bombarding Charlotte with questions.
“You introduced Selina to a house?”
“I introduced someone I know. Mr. Thomson has known my parents for a long time.”
“Selina couldn’t find a property no matter how much she searched, and suddenly one appeared?”
“It’s beneficial to have acquaintances like that.”
Even in front of Bella, who seemed displeased, Charlotte answered calmly.
I agreed with her.
“Lady Yanils is right, Bella. We wouldn’t have found such a house without the introduction.”
That’s the power of connections!
...Though the house disappeared because of Lewis.
Despite my support, Bella’s attitude didn’t change much.
“Now Selina has no place to move to. From what I hear, it seems like it’s all been called off.”
Bella was defensive, far from just an acquaintance made at a banquet.
“But my parents have other acquaintances in that area, so if we look more—”
“What did you say?”
Bella muttered ‘There’s more?’ and looked irritated. Anyone could see she wasn’t happy.
Bella, that’s why people find you scary!
Only Charlotte, unaware of the reason, shrank back at Bella’s reaction.
Ah, this is worrying.
I watched their conversation, waiting for a chance to intervene.
Then I noticed Bella adding three spoons of sugar to her tea. Sugar to a coffee that already had caramel syrup!
Ugh, I grimaced involuntarily and spoke up.
“Bella, you make your coffee way too sweet…”
Charlotte’s eyes widened, and Bella said confidently.
“You drink coffee for the sugar. It’s too bitter otherwise. Would you like to try it?”
That’s going to be incredibly sweet.
Bella offered the coffee, now sweet enough to make your tongue tingle, to Charlotte.
The very coffee Lewis criticized for ruining taste buds!
“Oh, thank you.”
Charlotte nodded readily.
Now Charlotte would lose her sense of taste...
When you eat something too sweet, your taste buds become numb. I silently consoled her, thinking she’d temporarily lose the joy of eating.
But what’s this?
Charlotte’s eyes widened slightly after tasting the coffee.
“It’s surprisingly good.”
No way. But Charlotte seemed sincere.
“Really? I thought I was the only one who liked this.”
Charlotte smiled brightly at the surprised Bella.
“No, I like sweet things too.”
At her words, Bella’s face brightened. She looked genuinely happy.
Just a moment ago, she was so guarded!
“Lady Yanils knows what she’s talking about.”
“It’s surprising that everyone else dislikes something so delicious...”
Somehow, a sense of camaraderie formed between them. I wasn’t sure if this was a good thing.
Thanks to this, Bella’s attitude became much softer than when she first welcomed Charlotte.
“I’d like Selina to stay here.”
Bella finally revealed why she had been so wary of Charlotte.
“My mother has suggested several times that she stays here. But you helped her escape!”
“Oh, I didn’t know.”
Charlotte looked flustered at Bella’s words.
“I didn’t realize I was interfering. I’m sorry…”
Um, did I just hear the word ‘escape’?
I was the only one who shivered at the word that felt out of place in an otherwise normal conversation.
That evening, the Croft family gathered in the drawing room of the mansion. Bella had arranged the meeting.
The Duke looked puzzled as he asked Bella,
“What’s this about?”
“It’s about Selina.”
Bella seemed determined after her conversation with Charlotte. She looked very resolute.
“It’s not enough for just me to speak; we all need to persuade her!”
After listening to Bella, Michael asked me,
“Did Lady Yanils visit earlier? Have you decided to move out?”
No, my connection has already fallen through. That’s why Bella arranged this meeting, to settle things definitively.
As I thought about what happened earlier, I felt a sense of futility.
The door to the drawing room opened, and Lewis entered.
“Am I the last to arrive?”
Hearing why Bella had called him, Lewis frowned.
“You called me for this? Wasn’t it already decided?”
Lewis looked at me.
“You said you wouldn’t leave.”
“I never said that…”
I mumbled, and Lewis looked displeased.
“Is there a reason you have to move out?”
I smiled awkwardly.
“I feel too sorry to stay here.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“Yes…”
Lewis’s stern expression made me nervous.
This is too much pressure for someone as weak-hearted as me.
This time, Michael asked,
“Do you feel uncomfortable living with us?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Everyone here is so kind and nice!
People think of the Duke’s mansion as a haunted house, but it’s much more livable than it seems.
“Then stay. Why are you so determined to leave?”
Bella tried to persuade me again. But—
“It’s not like we won’t see each other anymore. We’ll still meet, just living in different places!”
I tried to comfort Bella.
The reason I decided to leave the Duke’s mansion and live alone was simple.
“I feel too guilty staying here.”
It wasn’t something serious enough to hold a meeting about!
“What do you feel so guilty about?”
Lewis asked, seemingly unable to understand.
“It’s not like we dislike you being here. Everyone says it’s fine, but you still feel so guilty you have to leave?”
Then he crossed his arms and added indifferently,
“If the recipient feels burdened, then there’s nothing we can do. But in another sense, aren’t you the one constantly refusing?”
“What?”
“If you want to give to someone, but they keep refusing everything, wouldn’t that create distance?”
“Oh…”
I didn’t expect Lewis to say such things.
I was momentarily stunned and just blinked.
“You keep drawing a line whenever we try to get closer. So we can’t get any closer. If I can feel it, others have already felt it, probably unconsciously.”
“…”
“Do you feel guilty for causing trouble? Or is there another reason?”
I flinched, feeling like he hit the mark.
Feeling flustered, I glanced around and saw the Croft family looking at me seriously.
What should I say…?
“Is there a reason we don’t know about?”
The Duke broke the suffocating silence.
The Duke spoke to me gently.
“Tell us, Selina.”
All eyes were on me.
In the end, under the weight of their stares, I confessed.
“I believe there should be give and take.”
Give and take.
Receiving gifts from Bella always made me feel thrilled but also awkward because I couldn’t reciprocate as a friend should.
“I can’t return what I receive. Since I have the money my parents gave me, I thought I should at least take care of my living expenses myself…”
“We’re not giving you things expecting anything in return!”
Bella shouted, looking very concerned.
“Of course. We don’t expect anything in return.”
The Duke looked at me with pity.
“Has that been bothering you? My daughter’s friend is like my daughter. I’ve never expected anything in return.”
“Of course. I know that well.”
I nodded.
Of course, I know. How generous they are!
The Croft family wouldn’t have shown kindness expecting something in return. But still, accepting it was difficult…
Sigh, I couldn’t help but feel my shoulders slump.
“It’s so different from my previous family... I keep hesitating. It feels sincere, but I can’t be sure.”
My family never gave me unconditional love either.
I’d never received pure affection, so how could I be sure? I felt happy but also cautious.
Is it okay to accept this? Is it really okay? What if I trust them and it’s not?
It was a bit scary too.
“That’s something I need to resolve.”
“Selina…”
I forced a smile, and the Duke looked at me with a pained expression.
“I want you to think of us as family, Selina. There’s no need to feel burdened.”
“Yeah, just enjoy it!”
Bella chimed in.
“It’s because I like you. Don’t feel sorry. I couldn’t spend all my money in a lifetime anyway.”
“If you’re not sure, we’ll try to make you feel completely assured.”
Michael said reassuringly.
And finally, Lewis, who had been watching me with his chin in his hand, spoke without changing his expression.
“I won’t kill you, so don’t worry about your life.”
“…”
Indeed. If he wanted to take me away for research or something, he would have done it already.
Although he’s still someone to be cautious of.
Anyway, this was the first time I had opened up so much.
The Croft family and
I talked in the drawing room for quite a while.
Through our sincere conversation, I changed my mind. I decided to stay, not just temporarily, but for good.
I’ve never had a proper family, so I don’t know for sure, but I decided to try.
I can’t keep drawing a line when they show me such genuine kindness, right?
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