Chapter 4 – Part 1 (The First Soirée)

The warm afternoon sun shone down on the green apple orchard. Liese leaned her arms over the window sill and stared at the leafy trees. It was a peaceful scene.

“Is something bothering you?”

Liese turned around at the sound of a voice behind her. Ian, sitting in a kitchen chair sipping orange juice, raised an eyebrow.

“The earth is turning off, Liese.”

“Uh… did I sigh?”

“No. You just sounded like you were.”

Ian wasn’t the most perceptive of people, but he was naturally caring and compassionate, so he was often able to accurately read other people’s feelings.. Liese shook her head with a smile.

“It’s nothing like that. I guess I’m just feeling a little tired because it’s a hot day.”

“Is the workload too much?”

“Oh, come on, you’re helping me out so much, how could it be?”

“I mean your second job, besides the orchard?”

Ian glanced at her with concern, his orange hair glistening with sweat.

Ian had come to work in the orchard as usual, and when he saw her, he wondered why she’d gotten so thin in just a few days.

Deciding that she must be suffering under someone else’s roof, Ian, more cheerful than usual, took on Liese’s share of the work in the orchard.

He even helped with the chores that Joanna hadn’t been able to do while she was caring for her grandfather in the hospital.

“I guess that’s what working for someone else does. In a way, Ian, you’re working for me for a living.”

“No employee is as lucky as I am. There’s no employer in the world as kind as you.”

Liese laughed out loud. Even if he didn’t know the details of being the Duke’s partner, it was comforting to have someone to share a secret she couldn’t bear alone. Ian rubbed the bridge of his nose with the back of his hand.

“I’m glad you don’t have to work today, though.”

“Isn’t it? Actually, I decided to stop the part-time job after the summer.”

“Really?”

“Harvest season is coming up, and I want to be prepared. I need to start looking for places to deliver apples and get busy.”

Ian’s face flushed a deep shade of red. His fists balled into tight fists.

“If you’re looking for a place to supply, don’t worry. Our shop needs apples, even if it’s a small amount,and we have a greengrocer we’re working with. Just trust me, Liese. I’ll take care of it and sell them all.”

“How would I ever run an orchard if it weren’t for you?”

She asked seriously, and Ian looked even more proud.

“What are you going to do now, anyway? We’re done for the day.”

“I was going to stop by the school to pick up Charlie, then go to the hospital with him to see his grandfather.”

“I’ll drive you, I’ve got my dad’s carriage with me again today.”

“Again? You seem to be driving your dad’s carriage a lot lately.”

“Yeah….”

Ian swallowed the words and smirked, ‘Having a carriage means I have more places to take you.’

“It’s convenient.”

“Then do me a favor, Ian. I’ll get you another bottle of fresh orange juice.”

“You’re welcome for all that. Shall we leave now?”

“I’ll just change my clothes. Just give me a minute.”

Liese left Ian behind and went upstairs to her bedroom. She closed the door tightly behind her and opened her closet. The first thing she grabbed, before her going-out clothes, was her savings box.

She counted out the bills from the Duke and began stuffing them into a paper bag.

‘I must give Countess Smith the money for her treatment.’

On her way out from visiting her grandfather the other day, she stopped at a law office near the square. After consulting with a lawyer, she was advised to make a nominal payment to the victimized Countess Smith.

This would give Liese and Charlie a chance to be heard in the event of a court battle.

In the midst of all this, Liesé wanted to apologize properly and pay the money, so she went to the school and asked for a meeting with the countess, but was denied.

Judging by the nature of the woman who was screaming in the principal’s office, it was certain that she would have to pay for the treatment right away. So even if she couldn’t meet in person, she planned to pass it on through the teacher.

Liese put the money box back in its place and cast a quick glance at the fine dresses, jewelry, and shoes she had hidden in the deep recesses of her closet, as if they were not to be seen. Without hesitation, she closed the closet door.

She tucked the envelope of money into her bag and climbed into the car with Ian. The carriage quickly descended the hill and headed toward the school near the square.

A cool breeze blew through the open car windows. Her stray hairs tickled the back of her neck. Watching the cityscape whizz by felt like a relief from the worries that had been weighing on her mind for a while.

Arriving at her destination, Liese waved goodbye to Ian and started walking, her small bag strapped across her torso. She didn’t get far before she had to stop.

Standing in the doorway leading to the grounds was Countess Smith. Beside her, a man in a bowler hat and dark brown suit was waiting for someone, his face full of poison.

It was almost dismissal time. They could have been picking up their son, but she had an ominous feeling that they were preparing for something.

‘No way.’

Liese couldn’t pretend not to see her, so she took a long, determined breath and strode over.

“Good afternoon, Countess Smith.”

The lady turned her head casually and her complexion turned frightening as she recognized Liese. Liese bowed politely.

“I apologize for our behavior last time, and we sincerely regret any untoward incident.”

“Ha…. That’s so ridiculous. You have the audacity to show your face in front of?”

Countess Smith nudged the man she assumed was her husband.

“This is the woman, the sister of that ungodly bastard of a man.”

The man, who appeared to be in his mid-to-late thirties, narrowed his eyes. Liese barely suppressed a surge of anger.

“I wanted to formally apologize to you and your wife, but I never got the chance.”

“You think I’m mad to see you, and yet you appear before me in such an unceremonious manner and pretend to be so nice.”

The countess crossed her arms over her chest.

“I’ve heard it all, you asked the teacher to separate the children’s classes?”

“I thought it was best for the two children.”

“You didn’t even think about how my son must have felt to have a nasty mark on his face when he didn’t do anything wrong? He didn’t even get a proper apology?”

It was a dispute that arose when the Count’s son, who had transferred, harassed Charlie. But Liese didn’t want to argue about right or wrong when it came to a child who had been hurt.

“As I said, I wanted to apologize to you in person, but I never had the chance, and I didn’t think it was polite to barge into your home unannounced.”

“Ha, I don’t want to hear it, so spare me the excuses, my kid was absent again today and went to the hospital to get his scar treated!”

The child who had been at odds with Charlie didn’t come to school today, so who were the they waiting for, looking as frightening as a knife from a distance.

Liese glanced at the door. The students hadn’t shown up yet.

“I don’t think this is an appropriate topic for conversation here. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a moment to go to….”

“How were you going to apologize?”

The man who had been standing there, staring at Liese, spoke up. Dressed in a suit, he appeared to be a high ranking nobleman.

“I apologize for the delay in greeting you, I am the Count of Smith. I’m the father of the child your younger brother injured.”

“…I beg your pardon. I am Lieselotte Brennan.”

The count stared at Liese. Hesitantly, Liese dug through her bag. She pulled out a white envelope filled with cash and carefully held it out. The counts’ eyes widened.

“I wanted to show some sincerity, even if it’s a small amount. I am truly sorry for the incident with your son.”

“Don’t take it, my dear!”

The woman exclaimed urgently, but Count Smith accepted the thick envelope. He counted the bills with a haughty expression, his eyebrows drawn together to the point of wrinkling his forehead, a sharp smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“From what your son told me, your family comes from the countryside. I honestly didn’t expect this much money. You’ve done quite well for yourself on a tight budget.”

“My brother has injured your son, so I have no words to say. However…”

“However?”

Liese’s eyes grew weak as she stared at the Count and Countess.

“I kindly request that you refrain from directly approaching my brother.”