Episode 20
To anyone else, the words might have sounded like a blessing, but Lucien seemed entirely unable to believe what was happening. Lars lifted his teacup, watching her curled, slender hands tremble faintly.
A common enough tale. In impoverished households, shedding even a single mouth to feed was paramount. And so young girls were sold off as maids, or to brothels.
A bitter taste settled in Lars’s mouth, and he set down his teacup. Kirhin’s voice softened considerably.
Startled by the peculiar moniker ‘little pebble,’ Lucien flinched, but the corners of her mouth soon softened. Lars, studying the two with a quizzical eye, pointed a finger at her.
When Kirhin shook the handbell loudly, Nina appeared as if from nowhere, carrying a tray laid with a vial of salve and a towel. Lars, sitting casually in his chair as if the seat had been prepared for him from the start, quietly observed Nina’s profile as she applied the medicine to the pale nape of Lucien’s neck without a word of complaint.
In place of the two useless sons, the ones holding the helm to keep the vessel of House Beekman from running aground were Nina, the head maid, and Brook, the butler.
Between the two capable retainers lay a clear distinction: while loyalty to their master came first for Brook, generating greater profit came first for Nina.
For an instant, Nina’s eyes quivered faintly.
To a woman who currently held real power comparable to the mistress of the baronial estate, the appearance of a new young lady could hardly be welcome. Though Nina kept her face completely blank, Lars could see the quiet, suppressed rage lurking beneath.
Lars rested his chin on one hand, fixing her with a steady gaze. Nina appeared to be weighing whether to obediently accept the new young master’s command or assert her own views.
Soon, having evidently reached a decision, she lowered the hand that had been dabbing on the medicine and raised her head. A stern voice slipped past her lips.
A faint smirk tilted Lars’s lips.
He had no intention of intervening. Having made the choice, the one who had to resolve this was Kirhin. Unlike Brook, who would naturally accept him as master, Nina maintained an attitude that she would serve him as master only if he met her standards.
Kirhin, on the other hand, blinked with his lips puckered, as if this reaction had caught him entirely off guard. Lars ignored the sidelong glance creeping his way and placidly plucked a single grape, popping it into his mouth.
Letting out a petulant huff, Kirhin abruptly strode off somewhere.
When Lars addressed Lucien, who was standing frozen like a totem pole, she jerked her head around in surprise. With tension written plain across her face, she resembled a snow hare. Had she possessed fur, one might have scooped her into their arms to stroke it.
The quick-witted girl acted with utmost caution, perhaps sensing the friction between Kirhin and Nina. She was undeniably clever, but for some reason, seeing her act so circumspectly rubbed Lars the wrong way, and he spoke nonchalantly.
Detecting the chill embedded in his pointed words, Nina swallowed hard.
Though she did not know precisely who the man was, she had witnessed the late Baron’s conduct around him. Toward this man who appeared young enough to be his son, the Baron had been exceedingly courteous and perpetually on edge. He had always bowed his head, making it simple enough to grasp who held the upper hand.
‘Do not look upon that gentleman's face without leave.’
When she had brought in wine and refreshments and found herself unable to tear her gaze from the man's countenance, Beekman had personally escorted her from the room and given that warning.
Because the master's face had carried a tension unimaginable under normal circumstances when saying those words, bowing her head whenever this man appeared had become a reflex for Nina ever since.
The man's status was exalted. High enough, perhaps, to bring a baronial house to its knees.
Believing this, she could afford his remarks even less to pass unheeded.
Glancing at Nina, who kept her eyes cast low, Lars turned his head. Then he let out a chuckle at Lucien, who was listening with perked ears and an earnest expression.
Wrinkling her nose at him for deliberately tossing in such spiteful words, Lucien ventured cautiously.
While Lars watched her seemingly innocent face lost in thought, the vial of salve slipped from Nina’s hands as she gathered the towels. Lucien quickly bent her waist.
Lars gave a light flick of his fingers. The water glass resting on the dining table fell and shattered with a sharp clatter, instantly drawing both of their gazes.
While he leisurely crossed one leg without a word, Nina hurried forward to clean up the mess. It all unfolded naturally.
Lucien, who had been shifting her eyes about in bewilderment, gave a start as realization struck. Her eyes shifted from the vial at her feet, to Nina gathering the shards of glass, and finally to him, lounging motionless as if this were only natural. When their eyes met, Lars spoke with an impassive face.
“Practice doing nothing first. Consider the people around you as your hands and feet. That is where it begins.”
Her gray eyes gleamed with clear understanding. He could tell Lucien was absorbing his words entirely.
Teaching a clever pupil was always enjoyable. Magnanimously, he added another piece of advice.
Having laid down this much, Nina would have no choice but to accept it even if Lucien acted a bit arrogant. After all, it would merely be in obedience to his words. While it wouldn't serve as an impenetrable shield, it was certainly better than having none at all.
As he leisurely plucked and ate another grape, footsteps echoed. Kirhin returned with long, sweeping strides and set something down onto the table with a clack.
All three pairs of eyes turned toward the small jewel box on the table. Crafted entirely of silver, it was studded with sizable rubies at all four corners.
Nina’s eyes went wide. Kirhin, his face beaming with triumph, declared grandly.
Lars took a fresh water glass brought by a maid he had summoned with a gesture, speaking coolly.
Evidently having failed to consider that far, Kirhin’s face lost its color like a wilting flower. Swallowing a sigh, Lars rose to his feet.
Giving a gesture indicating business was concluded, Lars walked toward the study as if he owned the manor. Kirhin stared blankly after him before letting out a long sigh. Pouting his lips in disgruntled protest, he soon turned to beam at Lucien.
Winking at Lucien as she offered a polite bow, he hurried after Lars. For all he knew, failing to follow might earn him a swift kick in the backside right in front of everyone.
