Chapter 19
“She was a very nice person! I was a little surprised when I first met her, but…”
The maid trailed off awkwardly.
She was probably startled by the burn scars.
“She was a very refined and elegant lady. Even when the master was away, she waited without a single complaint, and she even brought gifts for the servants from time to time!”
“I see.”
Elisa had a strong personality—strong enough to step on the feet of those who badmouthed her—but she also had a considerate and delicate side.
A young lady who counted the days until her fiancé returned, personally taking care of even the servants.
That pure love ended with a one-sided notice of broken engagement.
Normally, a noble lady might hide herself away for a while out of sorrow and shame…
‘But would someone like Elisa really run away for that reason?’
She didn’t seem that weak.
What could have driven her to the point of disappearing?
You have entered the reception room of the Lerint estate.
As a first-time entry bonus, you have received 500 cash.
Importance: B
Danger Level: F
Hidden Cash: 2000
When I asked the maid to take us to the place where Elisa and Cal used to meet most often, she led us to the reception room.
Apparently, the two of them usually talked here.
‘Even so, they were engaged—was meeting in the reception room all they ever did?’
It felt like they were drawing a line, as if their relationship was nothing more than host and guest.
Did they not even go on proper dates?
He’s already stacked up quite a record of bad karma.
“……”
After the maid left, Damon removed the hat he had been pressing down and slowly looked around.
“There’s still some dust.”
“Yeah.”
He really does like housework.
Even in a place like this, he’s carefully examining things like the window frames.
“But the furniture isn’t worn out.”
“That’s true.”
Soon after, Damon looked straight into my eyes and said,
“It doesn’t seem like the roof leaks either.”
“……”
Alright, I get it. I’ll fix it.
Now you’re even speaking like high-society nobles?
“From the moment we entered, I could tell this estate isn’t well maintained. The decorations in the hallway were all in poor condition.”
Whether due to lack of staff or the owner’s indifference, the place did seem poorly managed.
Damon must have been paying close attention to that.
“But aside from a bit of dust, this reception room is in fairly good condition. It looks like some care was put into the furniture and interior.”
Well, it’s a space meant for receiving guests.
Still, Cal wasn’t particularly interested in socializing.
The only regular visitor to the estate had been Elisa.
‘Was it consideration for Elisa?’
Maybe Cal had tried, in his own way, to make sure she stayed in a pleasant space.
…No, then why not meet somewhere better than the reception room?
Or at least not make her wait?
Honestly, the “consideration” of regretful male leads is impossible to understand with normal logic.
You have found 300 cash at the ‘window where the waves resembling a loved one could be seen.’
You have found 200 cash on the ‘sofa where she sat absentmindedly.’
You have found 200 cash on the ‘poetry book she read while waiting.’
You have found 300 cash from the ‘clock that moved unbearably slowly.’
You have found 300 cash next to the ‘pen she used to write letters filled with longing.’
‘What are these overly emotional system messages…?’
It seemed Elisa had suffered quite a bit while waiting for Cal.
As expected of a cold, regretful male lead, he had thoroughly accumulated karma everywhere.
‘Anyway, it’s about time for a decisive clue to appear.’
After investigating the area, we had collected 1,300 cash out of the total 2,000.
Most of the clues worth 100–300 cash only revealed parts of the protagonist’s daily life.
That meant there had to be an important clue worth the remaining 700 cash somewhere.
‘Ah, right.’
Remembering how I once found a clue under a bed, I immediately lay flat on the floor.
Then I reached under the furniture, groping around.
“……”
Damon silently watched me.
“……”
“……”
“…This is part of the job.”
“Yes.”
“Detective work is tough.”
“I see.”
His face clearly said, ‘I didn’t ask.’
I found myself making excuses, worried I might look ridiculous.
I just hope there’s at least one obsessive person in the world who digs under furniture like this.
Otherwise, it’s lonely being the only one.
As I buried my head in embarrassment, Damon bent one knee and met my eyes.
“Is it necessary for you to do it yourself?”
His dark eyes were right in front of me.
“Hm?”
“Leave the rough work to me.”
Damon suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled it out. His touch was cold.
‘Has he grown taller—and his hands too?’
His hand was now big enough to completely cover mine and my wrist.
‘Back when we held hands escaping the harbor, they were about the same size…’
Do boys really grow this fast?
While I hesitated awkwardly, he reached under the cabinet without hesitation.
“You don’t have to do it.”
“…Are you worried my hands will get dirty?”
He looked at me expressionlessly.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t raised delicately enough to care about that.”
A moment later, something white emerged from his hand.
“A letter?”
What? It didn’t come out when I searched!
Why does it show up when he does it?!
“You…”
Are you… a mom?
I’ve never had one, but people say that things you can’t find no matter how hard you look magically appear when a mom searches.
“…Assistant.”
“Hm?”
“Did I seem like an assistant?”
He asked in a flat voice, eyes lowered.
“Did I seem like a useful assistant?”
It seemed he wanted to help me, like the assistants he had read about in books.
‘He’s just like me in the past.’
I remembered how I used to struggle desperately to be recognized as a member of society.
‘…What’s the point of being acknowledged by a boss who only nags?’
A complicated, uncomfortable feeling rose in my chest.
Just as I was wondering how to answer, I took the letter from him.
You have found 700 cash from the ‘unfinished, lost letter.’
“Of course. You were very useful.”
I patted his shoulder and nodded.
I mean, he found a 700-cash letter—credit where it’s due.
Damon has repaid his debt by bringing back cash. You deserve praise!
“……”
I saw his eyes widen slightly.
Soon after, he quickly turned his head away, as if he didn’t want me to see his expression.
Maybe I overreacted.
Feeling a bit awkward, I turned my gaze to the letter in my hand.
‘An unfinished, lost letter…’
Carefully, I unfolded it and read.
“(The beginning is torn and unreadable)
…Will it still be long before you return?
It feels as though your warmth still lingers in this room.
The garden where we sometimes sat and talked, the beach we walked together, the waves that resemble your blue eyes…
Your traces remain everywhere.
You said you must protect the world, but I realized my world is already filled with you.
I don’t know what meaning a world without you would have for me.”
The letter ended there.
It seemed she couldn’t bring herself to continue writing and simply closed it.
Perhaps she dropped it and lost it afterward.
‘Judging by the contents, Elisa must have written this to Cal.’
Elisa had spent a long time in the reception room.
Judging by the poetry books and pen left behind, she must have read and written letters here.
Perhaps, while waiting for Cal, she even wrote him love letters…
‘He broke off the engagement with someone who waited for him like this?’
I set the letter down and stared into the distance.
Sir Cal.
You really…
‘need to suffer a lot.’
Reception Room of the Lerint Estate — Cleared!
Cal and Elisa mainly met in the reception room.
However, it seems the time spent waiting was longer than the time they spent together.
Traces of longing for one another remain strongly throughout the room.
