Chapter 90 – Espionage(1)
That afternoon.
As promised, Mason did not leave the mansion. She clenched her fists as she watched through the window in Isabella’s office as her gate closed and her iron grates trembled slightly.
I felt ominous about the twilight that was setting, and the indigo darkness that had come twilight above me.
Mason sat quietly in her chair and waited for Isabella to come. Isabella should be thankful that no extra surveillance was put on her. Of course, it was not possible to escape without surveillance, but the fact that there was no one following her all the time reduced her psychological burden.
Smart tock-
Startled by the knock on the door, I looked towards the doorway, then the door opened and someone entered the room with a small tray. A white and black outfit commonly seen in mansions. Isabella’s servant was clear.
It was a woman with red hair and light freckles, a familiar face she knew.
“… Jennifer?”
Of the town’s two little rascals, Jimmy and Rupert, she was Rupert’s older sister. That bright red hair wasn’t a common color in town, so Mason could easily recognize her. Hearing her mason’s murmur, Jennifer set her tray down on her table and turned to face her.
“Sister Mason. Long time no see.”
The last time I saw her, she was just a little kid, but now she looked like a full-fledged young lady. Her body relaxed a little and she smiled a little.
“I was really young the last time I saw you, but you were working in this mansion.”
“There are not many places to work in this small town. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work here.”
Her words reminded Mason of something she had forgotten. Isabella was from a wealthy family that was like the landlord of this area, and many villagers depended on Mr. Gordon’s farm for her livelihood.
Mason quietly looked at Jennifer, but she was busy tidying up around the table without saying anything. Instantly, the smell wafting from the tray crossed her nose. It was the smell of cooking.
“Isabella’s sister, no, is now the master. She asked her sister to send her meals.”
At her gesture, Mason cautiously approached the table. Grilled meat and potatoes, vegetable salad and bread. It was a little luxurious meal for an ordinary table. Mason then realized that she hadn’t eaten much today, but she was reluctant to touch her meal.
“Why is the meal for two people?”
The dishes, plates and utensils on the tray were all in two. Jennifer smiled softly at her question.
“Since we haven’t seen each other in a while, she sent me to eat with her sister and me. Please tell me that I am sorry that I cannot have dinner with you because I am busy with work.”
“…”
Even as Mason sat down at her table, he couldn’t shake her discomfort. Jennifer’s tone of voice made her feel compelled to do something she didn’t want to do, or to have no information about who Isabella really was.
It was bad news for her in many ways.
The fact that the people working in this mansion didn’t know Isabella’s real face also meant how thoroughly she hid her own true nature. She didn’t know if she would believe Isabella if she told everyone what she’d been up to.
Here was a practical problem. If the source of income for many people in the village was intertwined with this farm, or across a bridge, there was no guarantee that they would be on their side even if they knew the truth.
“She heard the news that her sister came a long time ago, but why did she rarely have a chance to meet her, but it’s nice to see her like this.”
Jennifer grinned, but Mason couldn’t get her smile back.
She didn’t want to doubt the villagers because it was a village with memories of her childhood and her parents, but she always had to separate her wishes from reality. She knew all too well what kind of situation her easy judgment had brought on.
“… Sister?”
When Mason held her utensils without starting her meal, Jennifer, puzzled by her, called out to her. Blaming herself for thinking too much, she hurriedly began her meal. Although her own circumstances were hopeless, her rather excessive caution could arouse her unwanted attention.
Mason hurriedly tore up her meat and put one of hers in her mouth. The juicy taste of the well-cooked meat quenched her hungry stomach. As she started eating her meal, Jennifer followed suit and ate her food.
“Hey, what is Jennifer doing here?”
At her question, Jennifer’s gray eyes turned from her food to her.
“I used to do miscellaneous jobs, but now I’m the master’s exclusive servant.”
“Full speed… A servant?”
Mason’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. If she was Isabella’s personal servant, she was Jermaine, whom she had known since her childhood. At her question, Jennifer nodded her head.
“Since Germaine is old now, she asked me to try it. Of course, I’m not managing the mansion, but I’m easing other burdens. Things like running simple errands, delivering letters, and congratulations.”
Her explanation was plausible, but Mason couldn’t get rid of his mixed feelings. Thinking of her laments that her Germaine had vomited upon her, she could not shake her suspicion that he was trying to get away with interfering with her own plans.
“When do you think Isabella will come?”
When she asked again, Jennifer put her spoon down to her mouth and spoke.
“Well, I think you’ll be here by bedtime tonight. She said she told her sister, didn’t she hear?”
“Ah, it was. Look at my mind.”
To Jennifer’s question, Mason quickly gave a plausible answer. The good news was that Isabella did not come until evening. If she was lucky, she might be able to search her office a bit and find something about her.
Any clues about drugs.
While she was thinking about that, her Jennifer’s gray eyes turned to her.
“Come to think of it, there was a story that my sister would also stay at her mansion for a long time. What happen?”
Jennifer’s question was unexpected. She thought Isabella would have made it up, but Mason was trying to come up with a suitable story, and she started talking out of a sudden idea.
“… In fact, you may not have known it because you were young, but Isabella has relatives.”
“… Relatives, you say?”
Jennifer’s gray eyes widened as she reacted to the story she had heard for the first time. Mason hopes that this irrational number will bring her Shiana out of the arid environment, she continued.
“Yeah, I’ve seen it a few times. We played together sometimes.”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of it. So, why are your relatives?”
“I came down here for recuperation because my family situation was very low and I was very ill. However, his condition worsened, so I was asked to help him. Because I know you too.”
Watching Jennifer nod her head at her words, Mason secretly gave her a sigh of relief. She reared her head, though a little guilty about telling her lies to Jennifer, but also felt fortunate that, unlike her former days, she could lie calmly.
Mason continued her meal, talking about this and that. Fortunately, there were no questions she had trouble answering after that. The story revolves around what she was doing while she was out of town.
Isabella, even if this story spreads, will you be able to keep Cyana there?
If rumors circulated that her relatives were almost locked up in an underground room, it would surely attract strange stares from others. So, Sianna would have no choice but to come out of her strange room, and naturally, Sianna would be protected from her gaze as ‘Isabella’s relative’.
After finishing her meal, Mason helped Jennifer clean up. She stubbornly refused, but Mason forced her to tidy up her tray and put it in her hand.
“Thanks Jennifer. It was nice to see you after a long time.”
“I was happy too. I hope to see you often in the future.”
“I guess so. Are you going back to work now?”
She said, heading to her door to see her off. Sorry to her Jennifer, but I thought I’d send her out as soon as possible and search her office.
But Jennifer’s answer to her door knocked her back and made her freeze.
“If it’s a job, it’s a job. Once the dishes are in the kitchen, I have to prepare her sister’s bath water.”
“Bath?”
“Yes. Isabella asked me to accommodate her sister for the rest of the day. The allowance is a bonus.”
Jennifer said with a small smile before closing the door.
“I’ll be back soon, sister. She just wait a little bit.”
Jennifer shuts the door, leaving Mason alone in her office once more.
