TAHR 09

Chapter 09

Without even having time to calm her surprise that the woman knew her identity exactly, Elissa learned another shocking fact and opened her eyes wide. Her blue eyes trembled greatly.

“Why would Lord Grenville……?”

“Who knows? Perhaps for the same reason as you, Miss?”

That couldn’t be. Elissa did not know the exact reason, but she was certain that was absolutely not it.

Still, the woman’s ridiculous guess helped her recover from the shock, and another question came to mind.

“Is it really okay to casually reveal information about a client?”

“Normally, it isn’t, but this case is different.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hehe. That reason is a secret.”

What was that supposed to mean?

It was suspicious, but since the woman absolutely refused to tell her the reason, Elissa had no choice but to back down.

After leaving the Information Guild, Elissa spent the entire carriage ride back to the Leslie County estate thinking about why Derek Grenville had investigated Ethan.

Was it simply curiosity, just like everyone else?

She could not think of any other reason. More importantly, she desperately hoped that was the case.

Then his interest would soon die down.

It would be troublesome if that small flame grew any larger.

God, please.

While desperately praying to a god she did not normally believe in, she eventually arrived at the count’s estate. As Elissa got out of the carriage, the butler approached her and told her something unexpected.

“About an hour ago, the Young Lady asked for you.”

“……My aunt?”

Tania Leslie.

She was the elder sister of Count Leslie. Ten years ago, she had lost both her husband and child in an accident. After returning her husband’s family name, she had returned to the Leslie family.

However, she did not live together with the family at the count’s estate. Instead, she lived alone in a mansion on the outskirts of the capital.

Of course, that mansion was also owned by the Leslie family.

She must have called for me because of that child.

Elissa immediately guessed the reason. Since she had already been planning to go pick him up soon anyway, she climbed back into the carriage.

It took about an hour by carriage from the Leslie estate to the mansion where Tania Leslie lived.

Just before arriving, Elissa was fixing her messy hair and clothes when she suddenly stopped after noticing how shabby she looked compared to what was expected of a young lady from a noble family.

When she had gone to the Information Guild, she had dressed simply so that no one would notice she was a noble.

That was the problem.

I should have changed before coming to see Aunt.

Regret came too late. It was already too late to turn back.

Aunt is definitely going to say something.

Just imagining it made her sigh deeply.

Tania Leslie was known as the perfect example of a noble lady. She was rigid and placed great importance on etiquette.

Because of that, Elissa found meeting her aunt extremely uncomfortable and awkward.

She always tried her best to avoid meeting her aunt as much as possible, and even when they did meet, she tried not to catch her eye or do anything that might irritate her.

Yet it seemed she failed every time, making her sigh again.

After doing something like this, is it even possible not to get on Aunt’s nerves?

Realizing that only now, Elissa gave a bitter smile.

She was already troubled because of Ethan and Derek Grenville, and now her aunt had been added to the mix, making her headache even worse.

Even the irregular sound of the horse’s hooves, clattering against the road, irritated her.

As she held her throbbing head, they eventually arrived at their destination.

The mansion was beautiful, filled with the scent of roses from the garden that Tania Leslie had carefully cultivated.

But it made no impression on Elissa.

She only wanted to finish this quickly and go home.

“Welcome, Miss Elissa.”

As she entered the mansion, an elderly butler greeted her.

“I heard Aunt was looking for me.”

“Yes. She was quite disappointed when she heard that you were out.”

Was she really disappointed?

She probably got angry because Elissa had recovered enough to go out, yet had not come to see her sooner.

“My lady is currently in the drawing room.”

“The drawing room? Did she have a guest?”

“Lord Derek Grenville has arrived.”

Elissa froze when she heard her fiancé’s name in such an unexpected place.

That was the second time today.

And he was here right now?

Why?

Another question immediately followed Derek Grenville’s name.

Unlike earlier, however, this question could be answered immediately.

She already had an idea why he was here.

“What brings Lord Grenville here?”

“He said he came to see Young Master Noah. He also wanted to pay his respects to my lady while he was here.”

Just as she had expected.

That was exactly the reason.

But instead of feeling relieved, Elissa felt even more frustrated and grabbed her chest.

Her face, which was looking down at the floor, had become slightly pale.

“Are you all right, Miss?”

“……I’m fine. More importantly, could you take me to the drawing room?”

If it had been anyone else, she might have waited until the guest left or asked whether she should come another time.

But when the guest was her fiancé, there was no need for that.

The butler seemed to think the same and guided her to the drawing room without another word.

When she arrived in front of the drawing room, Elissa took a deep breath and fixed her clothes, which had become messy again.

When she gave the butler a glance to show that she was ready, he lightly knocked on the door and announced that Elissa Leslie had arrived.

“……Let her in.”

After a brief silence, permission was given.

Elissa took another deep breath before entering through the door the butler opened for her.

The drawing room perfectly reflected Tania Leslie’s taste and had an old-fashioned elegance.

The antique furniture bore traces of age, but none of it looked worn out.

Beyond the wide terrace, Tania Leslie’s prized rose garden could be seen clearly.

The terrace doors had been left wide open, allowing the scent of roses to drift into the drawing room.

As Elissa looked toward the terrace, breathing in the scent that filled her lungs with every breath, she suddenly felt something grab her leg.

She looked down.

A child with hair so dark it was almost black was tightly holding onto her leg.

“Noah.”

When Elissa called his name, the child smiled so brightly that his dimples appeared.

It was such a radiant smile that seemed capable of melting every worry in the world.

Color returned to Elissa’s previously pale face, and her stiff lips relaxed into a gentle smile.

“You do not even greet me anymore?”

Just as she opened both arms and hugged the child tightly, a sharp voice shattered the warm moment.

Oh no. I made a mistake.

Suppressing a sigh, Elissa slowly closed and opened her eyes before looking toward the sofa.

A noblewoman who appeared to be in her mid-to-late forties was sitting on a sofa decorated with golden embroidery.

“Long time no see, Aunt.”

She was Tania Leslie.

To her right sat Derek Grenville.

Elissa returned Derek’s smile with a faint one of her own and greeted him with a small nod.

“You should greet your fiancé properly when you see him. What was that? Your manners are terrible.”

Apparently displeased by Elissa’s behavior, Tania Leslie pointed it out.

Unlike Elissa, who could only bite her lips tightly without saying anything, Derek smiled pleasantly and spoke.

“If she is too formal, it will make us feel distant. I prefer her to treat me comfortably like this.”

“Indeed. You two will soon be husband and wife, so being overly formal would not look good.”

Tania Leslie was famous for being strict even with her own younger brother, Count Leslie.

Yet she spoke relatively gently to Derek Grenville.

Ah, there is one more person.

Elissa looked down at Noah, who was still holding tightly onto her leg.

Tania Leslie was not particularly fond of children, but strangely, she treated Noah well.

The fact that she had taken him away because she was worried he might catch Elissa’s cold was proof enough.

“Elissa. I have something to say to you, so come over here and sit.”

Elissa sat in the spot her aunt pointed to without complaint.

When the child who had followed her like a shadow tried to sit beside her, Tania Leslie spoke.

“Derek, the child seems restless. Why don’t you take him outside for a while and play with him?”

It sounded like a suggestion on the surface, but it was clearly an order.

Instead of answering immediately, Derek looked at Elissa.

His eyes asked if it was all right.

Elissa silently nodded.

“All right. Come here, Noah.”

Even when Derek called him, the child remained glued to Elissa and refused to let go.

His gray eyes, which reminded Elissa of someone every time she saw them, stared at her so pitifully that her heart ached.

“It’s all right. Go outside and play for a while.”

Only after Elissa gently stroked his head and spoke in a soft voice did the child finally take Derek’s hand.

“What are those clothes?”

The moment Derek and Noah left, an irritated voice struck her ears.

“How many times have I told you? Wherever you go, you should dress elegantly and beautifully. That is how you avoid bringing shame to the family name.”

“I’m sorry.”

There seemed to be no point in explaining herself at length. She doubted her aunt would listen, and she would probably only receive an even longer lecture.

So Elissa kept quiet.

“As always, you only ever say you’re sorry.”

Perhaps even her obedient attitude displeased her. Tania Leslie clicked her tongue.

She stared intently at her niece, who had lowered her head like a criminal, then put down her teacup and continued.

“About Noah. He is three years old this year, but I heard he still cannot speak.”