Ch#108
Chapter 108At that moment, Laslo clearly heard the cry echoing from deep within his heart.
[No.]
He hated it.
He didn't want to see one of those guys from earlier standing next to Edel, smirking away.
Edel probably wouldn't be happy about it either. She might even realize her wretched circumstances and feel sorrow.
Rather than wasting time picking the least bad one from these guys...
The thought following 'rather than' made his face harden frighteningly.
"Sir Criserus? Your expression suddenly looks bad.... Did I perhaps make some mistake...?"
Even as Allen fidgeted and asked, Laslo remained lost in thought without responding. Then, at some point, Laslo slowly lifted his head and smiled faintly.
"No, it's nothing. Just forget what I said."
"Pardon? There's no need to feel burdened! After all you've done for me, how could I not fulfill such a simple request?"
"No. It seems there's no need to look after all."
Allen tilted his head at those words, but Laslo stood from his seat with a refreshed expression. His previously muddled mind felt neatly sorted.
As December arrived, the air turned distinctly chillier.
Before full winter set in, large estates made every preparation to maintain their massive structures through the cold months.
Edel had been busy all through November finishing the Criserus estate's winter preparations, and today was the day to confirm them with Laslo.
"I've reported and received approval on the major expenditures along the way, but would you like to review everything once more?"
- 2 -
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As Edel handed over the documents, Laslo—who hadn't met her eyes once since she entered the study—finally glanced at her briefly and took them.
But the speed at which he skimmed them was too fast; it seemed he wasn't really reading.
Just as Edel began to feel a bit puzzled, he set the papers down on the desk, stood, and walked toward the window.
"It's the kind of weather where a cold snap tomorrow wouldn't be surprising."
It was an out-of-place remark, but one that naturally came to mind looking at the view outside.
Gray clouds hovering gloomily low over the ground seemed to sigh, making the bare, dry branches tremble.
The increasingly bleak daily scenery made one clutch their collar just looking at it. It also made one aware of the emptiness within.
"Usually the river doesn't freeze until late December, so we have some leeway. If there are any shortcomings in the winter preparations, please point them out. I'll correct them immediately."
Edel's response was impeccably that of a diligent, polite steward. And Laslo felt a bitterness in it.
"There were times I thought we'd grown closer, but that must have been my illusion alone."
Laslo, quietly watching a lone black bird flying far off, spoke on impulse.
"Honestly, just looking at the documents, I have no idea if this is sufficient or not. If you're not too busy, I'd like to inspect the entire estate."
"If the Count inspects it personally, that's something I'd be grateful for. I happen to have no other schedule—shall we look now?"
"When the busiest person in this house makes time for me, how could I possibly refuse?"
Laslo smiled faintly as he donned his jacket.
His smile was no different from usual, making Edel wonder if the strange distance she'd felt upon entering the study had been her imagination.
Of course. There's no rule saying the Count of Criserus has to smile at me every time.
She gathered the documents she'd handed him, then left the study with him.
The chilly corridor air cooled her cheeks.
"We have to tour inside and out—wouldn't it be better to wrap a muffler around your neck? Or at least a cloak..."
As she voiced sudden concern for Laslo, he looked down at her instead and chuckled.
"You should bundle up more yourself, no? Surely that thick shawl isn't all you've got on?"
"This is a pretty warm shawl. And I've layered up properly underneath."
"Doesn't seem reliable."
They walked the corridor slowly, chatting lightly as if joking.
That was when Laslo newly noticed the knights' lineup of winter curtains.
The gray curtains tinged with blue looked cold at first glance, but they matched the estate's walls and window frames quite well—and above all, they were thick enough to firmly block the cold seeping through window cracks.
"What color were the curtains here originally...?"
"Orange."
"Ah, right, yeah."
The word 'orange' immediately brought to mind curtains that didn't suit his taste at all, even feeling a bit tacky.
They had gold-embossed patterns, but the rustling fabric felt thin.
He really hadn't liked them, but lacking the eye to judge curtains, he'd kept quiet.
"The curtains. Well chosen."
"Thank you."
He'd delegated all decisions to Edel from the start, so he had no intention of nitpicking her choices—but seeing curtains that perfectly matched his taste made Laslo feel inexplicably proud.
"Did you hang those curtains on every window in the estate?"
"No, I made them differently according to each area's atmosphere and purpose. The Count's study and bedroom mainly used dark red, and Miss Linia's room used dried moss color. The drawing room and banquet hall were matched to their respective atmospheres as well."
"...So that's the 'dried moss color.'"
Laslo recalled Linia's room, which he'd briefly visited not long ago. He'd only thought the atmosphere was calm yet not dark, but upon closer reflection, the 'dried moss color' curtains on every window had created that mood.
'Her room used to make my head spin before...'
.
Previously, it had been cluttered with decorative knickknacks of unknown meaning everywhere, naturally furrowing his brows.
When had they all disappeared...?
As Laslo mulled that over, the grand staircase leading to the entrance appeared before them.
A thick carpet covered the stairs, muffling footsteps entirely, and atop the pillar at the railing's end sat a modest pot of white poinsettias.
"I thought those were for leaning your arm on, but they're for pots?"
"They're used however you like, but usually, you place seasonal pots or sculptural ornaments up there."
"Well, anything's better than seeing the guys lounging against them."
Edel let out a small "pfft" of laughter, and Laslo felt good from the warm aftertaste of the sound.
They stepped out the entrance and headed to the wine cellar and storage shed.
But several heavy-looking sacks blocked the wine cellar door—someone must have left them there.
"Looks like the extra coal we ordered. Why leave them there? Sorry, I'll call servants to move them right away."
Unlike flustered Edel, embarrassed at showing an unorganized sight before Laslo, he remained nonchalant.
"No need to bother calling more people."
With that casual remark, he effortlessly lifted a coal sack that would make two servants grunt, carrying it into the adjacent firewood storage.
Even with some coal dust on his clothes, Laslo just brushed it off casually, not making a fuss about the dirt.
"Is that all?"
"Yes. Sorry. It must have been heavy..."
"If a man can lift a person, this is nothing."
Edel looked up to Laslo a bit as he brushed his hands as if it were no big deal.
'To stand by His Majesty's side, he must be this strong...'
Laslo suddenly felt strangely distant, from head to toe having seemingly nothing in common with her.
Though Edel admired Laslo so, he couldn't meet her gaze.
"Edel likes men who can lift her up."
Linia's words resurfaced, making his added remark feel belatedly embarrassing.
'Did I say something unnecessary about lifting people...?'
His nape burned, so Laslo feigned seriousness and entered the wine cellar.
"Seems like more wine than before?"
At that, Edel switched fully to a businesslike demeanor.
"This winter, besides Delroso wine and Webburn champagne, we added twenty bottles from the Arcomo region. Since it seemed to your liking, Count."
"Arcomo wine? When did I drink that?"
"It was the wine served when you dined with Lord Roso and the other executives not long ago."
"Ahh...!"
He recalled the occasion immediately, but had no memory of the wine.
"Did I say I liked that wine?"
"No. You just nodded briefly after tasting it."
"Did I...?"
Still no memory.
As he furrowed his brow and tilted his head, Edel explained further.
"You have a habit of nodding when food suits your taste."
"Really?"
It was a fact he'd never known about himself.
.
And that Edel had noticed such an unconscious small habit of his was surprising.
"Have you been observing me so closely?"
"To serve you well, I need to know you in every way... and I can't ask about everything one by one..."
"Not blaming you—just... it makes me wonder if I did anything foolish unconsciously all this time."
Laslo suddenly grew self-conscious, wondering if he'd scratched his head or side in front of her watchful eyes, or shown the sloppy mercenary side from back alleys.
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