Chapter – 07
Only then did Logan begin to somewhat understand what Usher had been talking about.
It wasn’t that Eleanor seemed like fate itself. At that moment, the light pouring over Eleanor’s head and the faint, awkward smile she gave felt like a single scene in a painting. It was easy, perhaps too easy, to mistake a momentary image imprinted on the heart for love.
“You handle Olivia well.”
“I had a younger sibling.”
Eleanor spoke quietly. Olivia, meanwhile, was still concentrating intensely on keeping every drop of soup off herself as she held her spoon.
“You could have been good friends with Olivia.”
At Eleanor’s muttered words, Logan could easily guess what kind of situation Eleanor’s sibling had been in. That explained why Eleanor had no resistance toward Olivia and could approach her so effortlessly.
“Is that so?”
The soft, somewhat sad gaze directed at Olivia likely came from Eleanor’s experience of loss. Seeing that, Logan didn’t ask any further questions.
“You’re not asking more?”
Eleanor asked, seemingly surprised that Logan didn’t pursue the conversation further. She would have expected him to fire question after question about how to handle Olivia if her sibling had been in a similar situation, or whether Olivia could change.
“You are an employee, and I am the employer.”
“……”
“There’s no need to disclose Hudson’s personal life just because you get paid. That’s not your job.”
Yet Logan firmly said he wasn’t curious about Eleanor’s private matters. He stated it as her responsibility as a tutor, but in truth, he was smart enough to recognize it as an act of consideration.
Despite his indifferent expression, as if he wouldn’t be surprised even if a bomb fell, he had a surprisingly thoughtful attitude. Observing how he treated Olivia, someone whom others might see as a handful, it became clear that he could be unexpectedly kind.
“……Thank you.”
“There’s no need to feel that way.”
Logan replied matter-of-factly, swallowing the slightly bitter wine.
It was a peaceful meal, no different from usual, or so Logan thought.
Stepping out of the carriage, Usher checked his reflection in the window. It had become a new habit since frequenting the Clarben estate.
“Are you here?”
Considering he had been coming and going from the Clarben estate for over twenty years, it was a somewhat amusing habit. Recently, when George, the butler, saw him, he would give a subtle smile for this reason.
“And Logan?”
“He is waiting for you.”
George, although smiling more than usual, did not forget his duties. He informed Usher that Logan was in his study and guided him there in his usual composed manner.
“Olive seems quiet these days.”
Usher muttered after passing through the front door. Usually, by this time, something would have been broken or a scream heard, but it was calm. George acknowledged Usher’s remark with a slight nod.
“She’s probably in class. The young lady seems to really like her tutor.”
Indeed, it was widely known throughout the Clarben estate that Olivia adored Eleanor. Since Eleanor’s arrival, Olivia stuck close to her. Whatever Eleanor asked her to do, she tried to focus and accomplish it.
“The atmosphere of the mansion has improved considerably.”
“The Clarben matron must be pleased as well.”
George smiled in response. Usher’s assumption was correct: since Eleanor assigned homework, Olivia’s tendency to run around the mansion like a little ghost, overturning everything, had decreased. Naturally, Syndi’s mood improved too. Without the constant micromanagement, the overall atmosphere of the mansion became more harmonious.
“Your Grace, Usher from the Percysman Marquis house has arrived.”
“Show him in.”
Usher entered Logan’s study. The spacious study contained only a bookshelf, a sofa, and a desk—minimal and tidy.
“Have you obtained the permit?”
Logan’s question, casually thrown while glancing at Usher, reflected his meticulous nature. Usher clicked his tongue and removed his hat before sitting on the sofa. He thought he looked somewhat relaxed, but his posture remained upright and neat.
“Not yet.”
“Why not yet?”
Logan’s hand paused over the papers. The news was unexpected.
“The king refuses to grant the permit.”
Hearing Usher’s reply, Logan let out a small sigh. He had anticipated that the king, jealous and wary of the Clarben estate—a royal property—and of Sudden, would interfere, but the king’s opposition was overly obvious.
“No matter how much I explained the benefits and potential of the project, it had little effect.”
Sudden was the center of the western railway project. Since it was close to the capital, all travel between the west and the capital had to pass through it. When Logan announced plans to expand the railway from Sudden to connect the western and southeastern regions, the king openly obstructed him.
The reason was simple. The king viewed the railway project, which could bring economic benefits and higher fame to Sudden than the royal family, as a thorn in his side. If Logan were a more pliant person, things might have gone differently, but Logan had never bowed to the king without reason or offered bribes since becoming a duke.
Having graduated early from a military academy and serving as a young officer, Logan’s principles and strict adherence to rules left him no reason to bow to anyone unjustly. Naturally, he became more resolute.
“It seems the matter of marriage negotiations with the Percysman Marquis has angered him as well.”
Connecting the southern grain-producing regions by railway would facilitate transportation and wartime support, but these factors didn’t matter to the king.
It irritated him further that the Percysman Marquis seemed ready to support the Clarben estate. Though petty, it was typical behavior for those in power.
“It may be better to delay the marriage talks with the Percysman Marquis. It seems to have provoked the king.”
Usher advised. The royal family still held symbolic power, and many political forces operated under their influence. Even if their legitimacy was largely ceremonial, the inertia of public support made it dangerous to ignore.
“Or perhaps offer the king a bribe.”
Logan frowned at Usher’s suggestion. Usher wasn’t bothered by Logan’s reaction; he had anticipated it.
“If all you came to say was that the permit hadn’t been granted, you needn’t have come at all.”
Logan’s tone suggested Usher might as well leave if he had no meaningful news.
“I came for multiple reasons.”
Upon hearing Usher’s reply, Logan raised an eyebrow. He noticed that Usher had been visiting the estate more frequently lately for various reasons.
“Are you planning to follow Hudson around?”
“I’m not following her. I’m showing my face. So she gets used to me.”
Usher grinned shamelessly at Logan’s question.
“And once she gets used to you, does that become love?”
“Isn’t the resistance lessened as you gradually get to know the person?”
The exchange was meaningless—the person who could answer properly wasn’t there.
“Go see the young lady Hudson likes.”
Logan sighed lightly. His mind was too occupied to concern himself with Usher’s infatuation.
“That’s what I intend to do anyway.”
Usher stood, adjusting his jacket like a proud peacock. Logan thought that falling in love seemed foolish, and he never wanted to experience it.
Unaware of Logan’s thoughts, Usher walked out in his most elegant, yet orderly, manner. He stopped a passing maid to ask:
“I’d like to see Olivia’s face before I leave. Is she still in class?”
The maid hesitated; as a cleaner, she didn’t know what Olivia was doing.
“I’ll go check if the young lady is upstairs.”
“No need. I’ll go myself.”
Usher blocked the hesitant maid and headed up. If Olivia was alone, he could greet her, and if she was with Eleanor, he could pretend it was a chance encounter.
“So, how many is this?”
The corridor was quiet, and Eleanor’s gentle voice could be heard even through the wooden door. “Two!” Olivia’s clear voice followed.
“And this one?”
“Four?”
Olivia had difficulty understanding numbers. If she didn’t understand, Syndi would immediately hit her hand, so she had been afraid to try to learn. But she seemed to follow Eleanor’s teaching method quite well.
“And if the buttons are arranged like this? Two plus two more.”
Muttering in thought, Olivia’s voice reached Usher. He forgot to pretend this was a chance meeting and anxiously awaited her answer. Olivia had been a precious little sister to him since birth.
“Four!”
“Correct!”
Eleanor, delighted as if it were her own achievement, praised her. Olivia jumped up excitedly.
“I got it right! I’ll tell Logan!”
She flung the door open. Usher, intending to greet her, froze in shock at the sight of Eleanor. Eleanor, equally surprised, paused all motion, blinking in disbelief.
“Usher?”
The little firecracker, who seemed ready to dash to Logan, tilted her head in curiosity and called his name. Usher, dazed by the sight of Eleanor’s white chest exposed over her undergarments, couldn’t respond.
“Ah.”
…Chest?
Reality dawned, and Usher’s face turned bright red as fire. Eleanor, unable to scream, clutched her torn blouse and twisted her body to cover herself.
