Chapter 58 – Reason To Live  

Just then, Mr. Osborne suddenly leaned his face forward.

“Well, can you do it?”

Eloise raised her head at the question that flew in like an arrow. Her response time was quick enough to suggest she was ready for military training.

“Yes, of course!”

“You’re not going to disappear tomorrow without a trace, right? You look rather hesitant.”

Feeling as if he had hit the nail on the head, Eloise calmly replied.

“……No, I wouldn’t act irresponsibly like that. It’s a position I was specially introduced to.”

“It’s not ideal to be pushed into a job out of obligation, Miss.”

She vaguely thought he would praise her answer, but contrary to her expectations, Mr. Osborne’s expression hardened.

He already had a rather rough demeanor, and with a shadow cast over his rugged face, it seemed almost intimidating.

However, Eloise had not come here to back down.

“Well…… it’s not just that, Mr. Osborne. I’ve decided not to run away anymore.”

Responding with resolute eyes, Eloise reminded herself once again.

Of the mindset with which she had left home.

Eloise knew that if she kept running away, she would only live as if being chased, and nothing could be restored to its rightful place.

She would only remain rationalizing her feelings for the man endlessly.

In the end, the day she could return proudly to her family, and her life as the second daughter of the Bailey family, simple yet warm, would gradually fade away.

That alone was something she didn’t want.

“Oh, really? Are you sure about that?”

“I can’t say I’m sure…… but…….”

“What’s this, not sure?”

“I’ll work hard so you won’t regret taking me in…….”

“Hmm. That’s not very reassuring.”

The man, who was clearly hiding an unusual story, slowly stroked his thick beard as he looked deeply into the eyes of the woman.

“Shall I pass on the secret to adapting quickly? My daughter is in her teens, so I’ll make an exception.”

“……Pardon? I’m twenty-two this year.”

“Don’t sweat the small stuff!”

“Oh, alright! What’s the secret?”

As a tense Eloise straightened her back, Mr. Osborne grinned, revealing his teeth once again.

She thought she had definitely met an eccentric, and at that moment, he spoke.

“Listen carefully, Miss Bailey. The secret is to take pride in the work you’ve been given.”

“How can I when I haven’t even done the work yet―”

“Imagine eating chicken soup and finding it full of feathers. How does that sound? Horrible, right?”

“……Certainly, it does.”

“Miss Bailey, you’re preventing that. So there’s only laughter at the family dinner table instead of screams.”

It was truly absurd, but it wasn’t something she could argue against.

When Eloise reluctantly nodded, the man asked in a serious voice, devoid of laughter.

“Are you in good health? No illnesses? I’ll tell you now, the work you’ll be doing isn’t easy.”

“Oh…….”

At that moment, for some reason, she felt that this was what he truly wanted to say. Eloise finally answered boldly without hesitation.

“Yes! I’m very healthy. That’s one thing I’m confident about.”

“Good! That’s all that matters. It’s worth giving you a chance.”

Her answer seemed to please him greatly, and he drew his big mouth into a wide grin. Eloise, tense, smiled along with him.

Plucking chicken feathers. In truth, she wasn’t even confident about handling a dead chicken. But having come this far, there was no turning back.

So, she had no choice but to face it head-on.

“Remember to keep that spirit. Once you start working, no whining is allowed, Miss Royal Arch.”

……After all, it’s better than cutting off the heads of cows or pigs.

“Yes! Please take care of me!”

* * *

“What brings you here today?”

The voice was exceedingly businesslike, almost as if addressing an intruder.

Lady Bianca Talbot, perfectly adorned as always, pouted with a sulky expression.

Her lips pouted in a manner unbefitting her elegant posture and attire, and she cast a slightly annoyed glance.

It was understandable, as Bianca had just returned from a short trip to the nearby area with her parents.

She had visited several times wanting to see him before leaving, but Ansel was absent each time.

Naturally, her reunion with Ansel only happened after her journey had ended.

She hadn’t even been able to say goodbye before the trip or ask what kind of gift he would like.

At the very least, she thought he would comment on how her skin seemed a bit tanned……

“Can’t you at least pretend to be happy to see me?”

“What kind of reaction are you expecting after barging in like this?”

Even while feigning coldness, Ansel didn’t seem angry or upset.

‘Hmm.’

No, to be honest, he seemed to be in quite a good mood.

It was rare for him to be enveloped in such a relaxed aura. Nevertheless, Bianca wasn’t pleased.

It was all too clear that it wasn’t because of her.

‘Hmmm…….’

Bianca recalled what the clerk who had guided her here had said.

Of course, he hadn’t initiated the conversation; he had merely answered her fervent questions.

‘Yes, lately he certainly goes out less. But he’s still often absent. He frequently runs on the training grounds.’

That was why she had to wait for Ansel for quite some time in the empty reception room today, and why the beautiful man sitting in front of her now exuded a fresh soap scent.

Truly, it was a refreshing fragrance that was hard to resist biting into.

‘If there’s anything else…… it seems he’s taken in something like a stray cat.’

‘If it’s a cat, it’s a cat. What’s something like a cat?’

‘Haha, it’s probably a cat. He must have been embarrassed to say it outright.’

Did Ansel like animals? Well, that couldn’t be. He wasn’t interested in animals, let alone people.

He might have the compassion to feed a poor stray blocking his path, but how could he bring something so scruffy and dirty into the house?

Whatever it was, Bianca disliked that he had a hobby she didn’t know about.

Ansel was already hard to get close to, and she didn’t want to grow any further apart from him.

“My parents are curious about how you’re doing. Won’t you come to say hello after a long time?”

“Is that why you came? I’ve told you before. I don’t want to be misunderstood by the public.”

“But it’s been so long…….”

“I’d rather not have any words follow me other than that I’m focused on work. As you know, I’m still on probation.”

Just then, he raised his hand to stop the clerk approaching with a tray of tea. Then he spoke in a truly cold manner, though softly.

“It seems your business here is done, so you should go. My subordinate will escort you to the carriage. Goodbye.”

“…….”

Until a few years ago, when I mentioned my parents, he would reluctantly visit us……

Whether he knew or didn’t know that people outside were predicting, if not certain of, their marriage, Ansel remained firm and dry.

It felt as though there was nothing left to hold onto him anymore.

Feeling as if she was being chased away, Bianca hurriedly opened her mouth.

“Is there a need to push me away like this? I’m coming like this because you never make time for me after work. Aren’t you even a little sorry for me, suddenly losing a friend?”

Defining him as a friend herself was not a pleasant thing, but she had no other choice.

“I’m not asking for anything grand, I just came to chat…….”

“…….”

“I understand your position. But can’t you consider mine? There’s no one I can talk to as comfortably as you.”

Her thin voice trembled slightly.

After all, as the daughter of a noble family, it was true that she couldn’t easily mingle with people.

However, Ansel didn’t feel particularly sympathetic.

He knew that the woman in front of him could be as weak or as fierce as she wanted to be to get what she wanted.

But the time and effort she had spent coming here, even if she had barged in on her own, was by no means worthless.

Aside from his wish that she would have used it elsewhere.

“……If all you want is a conversation, I can spare a moment. Not for long, though. I’m busy with work.”

“Haa.”

She resented Ansel for being so meticulous when he could easily delegate tasks to his subordinates.

But she had no choice but to accept him, so Bianca scattered a sigh into the air.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Let me ask you one thing. Why have you been absent so often lately?”

“Ah.”

Ansel chuckled softly as if sighing and lowered his gaze.

His eyes lingered on the hem of Bianca’s pale pink dress.

It looked like rose petals wrapped around the stamens and pistils. Realizing there was still a long time until evening, he suddenly felt a deep thirst.

“I was looking for something. I probably won’t have to leave the office much anymore.”

“……Did you find it?”

“Yes.”

Was he talking about a cat now? In such a low and gentle voice?

Bianca, unable to hide her doubts, asked again with a face that suggested she thought it was absurd.

“What is it, Ansel?”

“Well. A reason to live?”

“……What’s that supposed to mean?”

“There’s such a thing. Is that enough?”

With that bland answer, Ansel stood up abruptly, and a drop of water, not yet dry, fell from the tip of his hair.

Oddly enough, it stirred a passionate ripple in Bianca’s heart.

“There are so many things I don’t understand! Why are you running on the training grounds? If you’re so bored with work, take a vacation and come with me―”

“No.”

When she looked up with a somehow resentful face, Ansel gave a sincere but strange answer.

“It’s hard to fall asleep if I don’t tire myself out like this.”