Chapter 40 – Take Responsibility (1)

As I strolled through the mansion, I took note of my quiet surroundings. The halls were normally peaceful to begin with, but they were even more so since the house staff were trying their best to stay out of Kyle’s way. Now that I had the time to look around, I realized that there were quite a few things to take notice of, such as the seasonal decorations. Fresh, colorful autumn flowers adorned each nook and cranny, filling the air with a warm, lovely aroma.

“We have finished decorating the mansion with all the flowers that the Archduke brought back with him. Do you like it, Your Highness?”

One of the workers saw that I had stopped to appreciate their handiwork and decided to ask if it was to my liking. For a second, I had to double-check I understood his words. Oh my God, I thought. These were all the flowers that Kyle intended to gift me? Not just the ones Marina had brought to the room? I was only meaning to ask about the size of the bouquet he brought. How many flowers did he actually buy?

Still bewildered, I made my way to the main dining room where Jean was already waiting for me. Dark circles hung under his eyes. His gloomy expression indicated he likely hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep last night. Upon noticing my entrance, he seemed relieved to see me.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness,” he brightened and pulled out a chair for me. “It is nice to see you.”

“Good afternoon, Jean,” I nodded. “It is nice to see you, too.”

The conversation between us didn’t continue further after we exchanged greetings.

As I took my seat, I caught sight of a large, ornate vase situated in the middle of the table. The porcelain vessel was filled to the brim with a bustling bouquet of golden blossoms.

“Those are marigold and rudbeckia flowers that the master brought back with him,” Jean explained, noticing what had captured my attention. “Both are summer flowers, but they are still in bloom since autumn has only just begun.”

“… Happiness.”

He looked surprised at my words.

“Ah,” he smiled, “Your Highness knows the meaning of the flowers.”

I was by no means an expert in the language of flowers, but I did recall a few things from when I was younger and interested in flora.

Happiness.

As I took my midday meal, that word stayed in the forefront of my mind. All of a sudden, I heard a great commotion coming from outside the dining room. I leaned back slightly in my chair to peek into the hall where I saw maids and servants running frantically back and forth. The hallway itself was cluttered and several unknown faces traveled to and fro. Wondering what could have caused such abrupt chaos, I turned to Jean while he served me my dessert.

“Jean, is there something going on in the mansion?”

“It’s not something you need to worry yourself over, Your Highness.”

He had replied with a pleasant expression, but I could sense a bit of anxiousness in his tone.

“But I have the right to worry about it,” another voice interrupted us from afar.

Jean rubbed at his temples and breathed a long sigh as Elvin entered the dining hall.

“In the end, you were kicked out too.”

“I’m glad I got kicked out,” Elvin shrugged. “I’ve been treated coldly since the beginning.”

He smiled, though I sensed he was being disingenuous.

I glanced at Jean in confusion and he replied with a look of defeat.

“Yesterday… the master came back with his shoulder grievously wounded. We have been trying to tend to him, but he does not wish to seek treatment.”

“His shoulder?”

“Yes,” Jean cast his gaze downward, “we have summoned doctors and healers, but the master doesn’t want to leave his office… Ah! You don’t have to worry about it, Your Highness.”

He waved his hands to assure me everything was under control, but Elvin stepped between us and interjected.

“No, you should worry about it,” he said while firmly meeting my gaze. “If you leave him to his own devices, the wound may become infected and lead to him losing his arm.”

“How can you say that so thoughtlessly?!” Jean shouted angrily.

I quietly recalled how Kyle had stood before me yesterday, his white armor caked in blood.

Was it his blood? Not other people’s?

The situation seemed dire to my understanding. Kyle’s wound must have been very serious to cause the whole house to be in disarray. If not even someone like Jean could persuade Kyle to seek treatment for his wound, then it seemed like an almost hopeless cause.

“That’s why you have to take responsibility, Your Highness,” Elvin looked purposefully at me as he spoke.

Huh? Hold on a second, what is he talking about? Take responsibility?

I doubted whether I heard him correctly.

“Hey!” Jean snapped, furious. “What on earth are you trying to say to Her Highness when you know full well what happened yesterday?!”

Elvin smiled furtively at me.

Ah, I shouldn’t have looked at him.

Determined not to falter, I smiled back at Elvin while tightening my guard.

“I do know full well what happened,” he continued. “That’s why I must apologize since I have to ask you one more thing.”

“Yes,” I replied, “please go ahead.”

“Did the master attack you yesterday?”

“… No.”

I answered his question honestly. By all accounts, Kyle should have struck me down, but I had escaped unscathed simply due to a stroke of luck. Nonetheless, it was true that he did not harm me despite the fact that I had knowingly broken the rules. I myself still couldn’t believe Kyle hadn’t chosen to kill me right then and there for whatever reason.

Upon hearing my response, Elvin looked knowingly at Jean.

“Head butler, have you ever seen anyone come out alive after attempting to visit the fifth floor?”

“…”

Jean grit his teeth and kept his mouth shut. I also had nothing to say, because the answer was clear.

Elvin leveled his gaze at me, “That’s why I’m asking you to resolve this.”

Wow. He’s really good at saying crazy things.

Even though he ended up sparing me, it wasn’t as if Kyle had let me off easy. Remembering how intensely his eyes had thirsted for blood still frightened me. At times, I could hardly breathe from the vicious pressure in the air. If Kyle refused to listen to someone as close to him as Jean, then there was absolutely no way he would listen to anything I of all people had to say.

“But, if you can’t do it, then I won’t force you.”

Elvin’s eyes clearly said otherwise.

I’m amazed at how you can look so insincere while claiming to ask for help.