Chapter 8 – Home and Reunion (8)
“Wow, this…”
As promised, Mason arrived at Uncle Reggie’s house early in the morning. But it wasn’t Uncle Reggie who was loading her cart with her supplies, but rather the Uncle, sitting on the steps in front of her house, smoking her cigarette with a dejected look on her face.
“Mister? What are you doing?”
“Mason, this is awesome, I made a promise to you. I’m so sorry…”
When I asked the man who buried his head and sighed about the situation, he said that it was quick to show him and took him to the stable behind the house.
There, Uncle Reggie’s two mules sat down to catch their breath.
“They were healthy guys not too long ago… Whoa…”
Mason looked at the mules while the old man, frustrated, lit the cigarette again. The mules, which had been healthy the last time she rode in her cart, were so dry that their bones could be seen under their skin, as if they had starved for a long time.
“…Genji who picked up and ate something by mistake, this is really…”
“No Mister, it can’t be helped that the mule is sick. Rather, you said that you would do something that you shouldn’t have to do, and I am grateful from the bottom of my heart.”
Mason shook her hand and she returned home, but she couldn’t help but feel frustrated.
The town was a two-hour walk, and by the time I got there, other people would have had the letters to ghostwrite.
“Whoa…”
She went up to her room again, careful not to break her cianna. Her head is pounding. She tried to apologize after picking up her Isabella yesterday, but she didn’t come out, apparently angry at Cianna.
“…Now what?”
Taking care of Siana was important, but work is more important now. In the first place, Mason’s plan was to visit the city with Uncle Reggie early in the morning to bring a ghostwriting job, and when he returned after delivering all the items, the plan to return together was ruined in an instant.
“As I take care of Sianna, the only thing I can do in her house is write letters…”
Her pride wasn’t the only reason she refused to do what her Isabella recommended. What if something happened to her while she was away? Especially since something like yesterday had already happened once, she couldn’t help but be more concerned.
But,
“If I can’t ghostwrite, the best job I can get is working at Mr. Gordon’s house.”
She has already met Mr. Gordon a few times since her childhood, and surely her Isabella will help her.
‘…Really, if you go that far, you won’t be able to ask me to work anymore. But if you change your mind later, please tell me.’
I rejected it so resolutely at the time, but I asked him to tell me if he changed his mind later. Should I go and talk right now?
It was important to take care of Shiana, but without a job, she couldn’t even live a basic life. Mason pondered for a moment, weighing her pride against her prudence, but it didn’t take long for the results to come.
Early in the morning after dawn, Mason headed for Isabella’s house. Isabella’s house, the Gordons’ mansion, which she had not seen yesterday because of the darkness, looked far grander than in her memory.
A huge gate, a garden leading into it, and gardeners and other employees come and go. It was a huge four-story mansion with a fountain merged with a statue, an antique staircase leading to the front door, and a dark red brick overall with a brown roof.
Mason gazed at the scene in admiration for a moment. She wasn’t quite as noble as the aristocrats she had seen when she was in her order, but she was an unmistakable display of the riches of the great planters.
‘I heard that Mr. Gordon’s farm won a contract for the nobles’ wool business.’
Recalling the contents of her letter from Lucia, she passed through the gate, knocked three times on the doorknob of the front door of her mansion, and while waiting, she wiped her sweaty hands on the hem of her dress.
Kiik-
The person who opened the door was an old butler with gray hair and wrinkles that could not hide the traces of his height and age.
“Who are you?”
Mason let out a sigh of relief inside her. I greet her after a long time with a smile on her face.
“Hello Mr. Germaine, long time no see.”
“Hmm…? Wait, by any chance… Are you Miss Mason?”
He looked at her with her momentary surprise on her face, then smiled at her.
“Oh, you have grown into such a wonderful lady. It is very nice to see you after thirteen years.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, he went up and down to tell Isabella about Mason’s visit.
“Miss Mason, Miss Isabella asked you to wait for a moment. It’s embarrassing, but you’re asking for some time to clean up your room. Please come in first.”
The interior was not much different from what I remember. It’s just that there were a lot more employees than before, and they were diligently cleaning the ornaments and corridors in the mansion.
“How are you Mr. Gordon?”
“You are very healthy. Fortresses don’t come to the mansion often. The wool business is so booming that you spend most of your time in the city.”
While they waited and talked for a while on the central staircase on the third floor, the servants who had finished cleaning her came out of Isabella’s room and Germaine escorted her to her door.
“Then, I hope you have a good time.”
Mason knocked on the door and went into the room. Inside, Isabella was sitting at the table in a white dress. She got up with a big smile as Mason’s eyes met hers.
“Sister! What’s going on in the morning!”
Mason, who was hesitant with a bit of awkwardness, felt a little more at ease when he saw her hugging and welcoming her. She lightly patted Isabella on her back and pushed her lightly out of her arms.
“Sit down sister, I will bring tea soon.”
Mason thanked her and sat down opposite Isabella. The sight of Isabella humming her joyfully made Mason uncomfortable.
Is it okay to ask a younger sibling who cares so much about her, even how old she is?
But her pride doesn’t feed her.
“Mason, I-“
Thud-
Mason stopped her and looked in the direction of her noise. Seeing her appearance, Isabella laughed and talked.
“Roxy must have entered the room next door. I think he’s probably playing with a ball in his room.”
“Roxy? That little puppy?”
“Unni, what, he’s sixteen now. Older than Jimmy and Rupert.”
As soon as we talked about dogs for a while, people with tea and simple snacks came and went. After being polite and praising the taste and aroma of the tea, I slowly brought up the story.
“By any chance, haven’t you heard of Uncle Reggie yet?”
“Yes? Are you Reggie?”
“Reggie’s uncle’s mules are very sick. When I went today, I couldn’t wake up.”
Isabella frowned at her slightly. And that’s because Mr. Reggie was transporting goods from Mr. Gordon’s farm to town every morning.
“I will have to use another transport method for the time being. But then what about my sister? Wasn’t Reggie trying to get a letter for her sister to ghostwrite while she was on her way to and from town?”
“…Yes, that. That’s why I’m here…”
Mason finally shared her thoughts.
“That, if you want to find a job, is it possible even now?”
Mason, who was feeling desperate, couldn’t properly see Isabella’s hidden eyes behind her bright smile.
“Of course, sister! I’m so glad I can be of help. I will find out as soon as possible!”
Isabella’s reaction made Mason feel more guilty, and she started talking.
“And, by any chance… Is there anything I can do at home? You know… Because of Siana.”
At her words, Isabella paused for a moment and fell into thought. In the meantime, there were several more thuds coming from the wall.
Is Roxy messing around the room? While she thought of her and Mason distracted her for a moment, she looked wistfully and Isabella shook her head.
“Sister, I think that might be a little difficult. If you want, I can look into office work for you, but I can’t even help you create an environment where you can work from home.”
That’s right, because I was greedy too much. The moment Mason nodded her head in thought, her face lit up as if Isabella had an idea.
“How about this? I’ll take care of Sianna!”
“You… Siana?”
“Yes! Anyway, Shiana-san and I are acquaintances, and if you’re a guest, you’re like my guest! I will help Sianna a lot to adjust to her village and her daily life, how is it?”
It was like a dream come true for Mason, but she didn’t agree easily.
“Th-Siana hurt you, isn’t that a little…?”
At her words, Isabella laughed, covering her cheek with her bandage.
“Ah, this much is fine! And I like Sianna-san. Are you very pretty? I will definitely help.”
Mason was at a loss for Isabella’s generosity and consideration. She unconsciously grabbed Isabella’s hand as she reached out to drink her tea.
“Eh, sister?”
“…Thank you, Isabella. I’m serious.”
Because she had her head down, she didn’t see Isabella, her face flushed like a blush.
“Oh no, sister, I’m glad I could be of help. I will contact you in a few days about work.”
After the talk, Isabella said that she should start her job soon.
“I’m sorry sister, it’s been a while since I’ve come and I need to treat you better.”
“Ugh, no. It’s my fault for coming here so early in the morning. Thank you for just listening to my request.”
Mason greeted her, packed her things, and went out into the hallway. A quiet silence came suddenly as the door to Isabella’s room closed behind her.
Mason, who was about to go down her stairs, suddenly remembered Roxy and turned her steps to Isabella’s next room.
Will Roxy still remember me? The moment she pulls the doorknob of the room next to her,
Clap-
The door where Roxy was supposed to be was firmly closed. Slightly puzzled, Mason shook the doorknob a little. The door was locked tightly.
Mason went down the stairs, quickly forgetting who had taken him.
“Come out now.”
At Isabella’s words, Becky came out of her closet. She was still as she was the day before, naked, without a single thread on her back.
“Becky, Mason just came and went.”
At the sight of the owner smiling and talking, Becky felt her jealousy burning inside. The longer he has been with him, the more he loves her, whose master is her only interest in the object of her childhood envy.
“Mason told me, he just gave me the news that you did a great job. That mules don’t recover, that’s great.”
Becky felt her anger melt away at her praise.
“Thank you, Master…”
Coming back to her waiting posture, Isabella lifted her chin. Purple eyes shining like jewels, filled with happiness deeper than ever.
“Great job. This is a special award from me.”
Isabella said as she pressed her soft lips to Becky’s lips.
Becky quietly closed her eyes, accepting her master’s reward.
