Chapter 408 – Ha-Ok (5)
It was early morning.
The blue sunlight breaks and catches on the long eyelashes.
Rays of light hang, piece by piece, on the black enamel shoes, on the neatly pulled up hair, and on the breasts with tightly tied front hair.
As soon as the early morning sunlight began to brighten, Adela and Sonya came out to the backyard carrying a sheet.
The tip of her nose turned red from the cold air, but she didn’t mind. Because I’m used to it.
He scooped up a bucket full of hot water and poured it into a large bucket several times.
When the water rose to a certain level, he threw away her sheet and rolled up her skirt.
Sonya’s ankles were thin, like a woman’s, and she had no flab at all.
On the contrary, Adela’s thighs were firm and long.
She puts her toe in the water and shakes her head when she thinks the temperature is somewhat okay.
Splash…!
“Ah tsk…!”
“Be careful. “You have to go in slowly.”
The water rose up to around my calves.
When I step on it with a lot of force, a sheet soaked in moisture starts to float between my toes.
Adela and Sonya held on to the hem of their skirts and stepped on them diligently until all the scum was gone.
“You know, Adela…”
Meanwhile, Sonya suddenly calls out to her, puffing out her hazy breath.
Very cautiously, in a small voice.
“Uh? Huh?”
Adela raised her head and suppressed her embarrassment.
Sonya’s cheeks were turning red.
It’s probably not just because of the cold. Looking at the emotions in her hazy eyes – why do I feel a strange sense of déjà vu?
“To Seojun…”
Splash, splash, splash…
Adela played with her legs even more and pretended like nothing had happened – she waited quietly for Sonya’s words.
“Well… “Yes, confession, I received it.”
“···Really?”
My head dropped.
Fortunately, her hair fell down and covered her face.
There was no way to know what my expression was, so it would be better to cover it up, Adela thought.
“Um, so…?”
I try to sound somewhat emotionless.
Why? Why to you?
I swallow that question.
Then, what happened yesterday, what were all the things you did to me during that time? I suppressed the desire to ask her like a wet sheet under her feet.
“… I’m going to think about it.”
Only then did Adela raise her head.
Sonya was looking at Adela with a smiling face.
The weak and timid child did not avoid her gaze and instead faced her.
Adela shed her sleep.
This child, she is about to sacrifice again.
Splash…
Adela stopped her teasing legs, sighed, stretched out her hands, and grabbed Sonya’s cheeks.
“···Uh? Aella?”
Sonya had a funny look with her lips sticking out like a duck’s.
Adela chuckled and shook her head.
“I have nothing to think about. Sonya.”
“···Huh?”
“Just do whatever you feel like. Because I really want it.”
Because I want you to be happy-.
After speaking, I felt a little relieved.
The feeling of frustration and guilt that had been gnawing at her heart for the past few days is disappearing like her snow melting in the spring sun.
It should have been like this a long time ago.
I feel so good after talking about it.
Adela thought about that and splashed down – stepping on her sheets again. Her water droplets splashed in all directions – a small rainbow hung over her mouth.
It was a very refreshing day.
Feeling sorry, thankful… Sonya’s cute frowning expression, as if she was a little confused, also played a role.
I will never go see that man again.
No matter whether he protests that he won’t eat food or uses any kind of force, Adela won’t care at all anymore.
However…
But the moment you actually face him, all that resolution will be in vain. Maybe Adela knew it herself.
“`
“Please do me a favor, Adela…”
“···.”
Sonya’s face is all in tears.
The face I saw in the morning was everywhere.
You can’t see the white-hot cheeks, the happy, tearful eyes, or the tiny fingers twitching because you don’t know what to do.
What takes their place are eyebrows distorted by anxiety, messy hair, and bloodshot eyes.
All morning.
Sonya, who had washed the sheets with Adela, grabbed some food and headed to the basement.
However, because she was so anxious to see Adela that she had no one to ask her to accompany her, she had no one to watch over her.
Sonya stood in front of the door leading to the basement and thought for a moment, wondering if something could happen? With complacency in mind, he went into the basement.
But sure enough. They said he could catch people, but he was just that person.
On the way out of the basement, he ran into Lord Serra Camelot, the Prince’s guard knight, and was caught.
“I’m sorry. “I should have been more careful.”
“···So? So what did Lord Sera say?”
Fortunately, no one reprimanded her.
However, he just glared at that man, Seojun, with an expression that made him feel like he was about to explode and a look of pathetic eyes.
“He said he was already suspicious when he saw that his complexion was improving…”
“Well…”
Still, he couldn’t leave me alone, so he warned me that if he was seen again, he would do anything to get me fired.
“Then there is nothing we can do… “It would be better not to visit again in the future.”
“Huh···. But, there are only a few days left until the competition…”
As Sonya said, the jousting tournament was just around the corner.
What did he look like when he first visited the basement?
Lord Sera had imprisoned him there for the sole purpose of disturbing him.
Although it was used in the name of mental education, no matter how poorly educated the maids were, they were not that stupid.
In a situation where it was clear that he was driving his physical condition to the worst by controlling not only food but also water to drink, Sonya could not just stand by and watch.
“Therefore···. Um, Adela…”
“···.”
I could tell what Sonya was going to say next without even having to listen.
They’re probably asking you to go instead.
Adela clearly made a promise.
I decided not to visit him no matter what. If we ever encounter each other, we will treat each other indifferently.
I thought it was for Sonya’s sake, and I also thought it was for our sake.
However, the current situation was not so easy.
She was too hard a person to listen to Sir Sarah’s words.
She was conservative and a tight-lipped person. She was never one to speak twice, so if she got caught again, Sonya would have to resign from her position as maid.
In the end, she had no choice but Adela herself.
“···I understand.”
Adela shook her head incessantly.
“Thank you!”
Looking at Sonya’s brightly smiling face, she smiled bitterly.
Okay, all you have to do is deliver the food.
That’s enough. If you don’t exchange a single word or make eye contact, that’s it.
With that thought in mind, Adela waited for the sky to darken.
I hope it will be a leisurely night, with fewer steps going to and from the mansion.
“`
Rustle-
The day became dark.
Adela rose from her seat as carefully as possible without making a sound and slipped her toes into her shoes. The inside of the shoe is so cold that skin grows on the skin.
I came to my senses when I took out the maid’s uniform, put it on, and tied the front strap tightly.
Whoo-
The moment I let out a quiet breath and tried to get up from the bed-.
“Adela.”
“···Hi!”
I was startled by the sudden sound of her voice, and when I turned to her side, I saw Sonya sticking her head out from behind the blanket.
Sonya didn’t say or show anything about Seojun throughout her day, saying that the maids who had been tipped off by Sir Sarah might be watching her.
Still, I felt sorry that my friend took a risk because of her own greed, so I guess this was the way to send her off.
Adela let out a soft laugh and whispered in a low, barely audible voice.
“···I’ll be back soon.”
“Yes…”
He adjusted the hem of Sonya’s blanket and kissed her forehead.
She smiles.
“Thank you. Adela.”
“What…,”
We smiled and came out of the haengrang.
Squeak-clack-
When I close the door without making a sound and look back, the completely dark hallway of the mansion comes into view.
Although candles were hung here and there, it was dark as if a ghost would come out at any moment because of the time.
Cracking-
I carefully took out the lantern hanging on the wall and walked down the hallway.
She stopped by the galley and gathered her snacks and put them in the front dish.
I didn’t bring soup.
It’s too bulky, and if she suddenly has to run away, she could leave the dish behind and get caught.
She came out into the hallway again, looked around for her son-in-law, and carefully headed to the landing leading to her basement.
“Surprisingly!”
But as soon as she turned the corner, Adela took a shaky breath.
Isn’t someone guarding the street…!
Adela was so surprised that she almost dropped her lantern. She placed her hand on her chest and stood there for a moment.
A servant was sitting on a chair on the landing.
It was a familiar face.
Was her name Robin? She was an immature young woman who had just passed her term.
He was dozing, resting his chin on his head and rolling his freckled face.
It seems that Lord Sera ordered us to guard the road…
Adela stood against the wall and took a moment to catch her breath.
What should I do-. Should I just quit and go back-.
The hesitation was only momentary.
Tying the hem of her skirt around her lantern to dim the light, she walked slowly and very cautiously.
The young man was standing right in the middle of the landing, so Adela had to take a deep breath, tighten her stomach, and stand against the wall.
Then, by mistake, her protruding breasts brush against the young man’s cheeks.
“Hmm…?”
“Hmph…”
I must have woken up from a nap – I adjusted my posture, but fortunately I didn’t open my eyes.
It was probably because I didn’t even think about someone passing by at this time.
Thank goodness…
Adela brushed her chest and went down the stairs one by one very carefully.
