Chapter 5 – Part 7

Liese wasn’t accustomed to harboring dislike or resentment toward anyone.

She realized, while wandering around the square to buy Marcus’s gift, how deeply she was embroiled in her own thoughts.

She didn’t know much about him, nor did she have particularly favorable feelings for him. However, one undeniable fact was that he had helped her out of a predicament with the “understanding of a deal.” In that sense, the Duke was also somewhat of a benefactor to her.

So if she had to play along, she wanted to treat him in a more friendly manner than she was now.

Her meager pride, acting as a shield against petulance, threats, and sharp words, barely held up. It seemed that no matter what action she took, the situation only seemed to worsen.

But maybe that wasn’t the right answer either, because no matter what she did, it seemed like the hole was only getting deeper.

If she had known what the record of the Waltz of Porneff would mean to him, she would not have made the mistake of giving it to him.

In any case, she had no intention of pleasing the Duke. She knew she had to, but she wasn’t in a hurry to get paid.

Her suggestion to dance the waltz was more of an impulse, something that came from the heart. A heart that didn’t yet have a name but was surely not flattering.

“His condition is improving.”

A voice from out of nowhere woke Liese. Lost in thought as she sat beside the sleeping Viscount Brennan, she turned to see that it was her grandfather’s physician.

“He fell asleep because he had just taken the medicine, but you’d be convinced if you saw him awake.”

He walked past the open hospital room and stopped when he saw Liese. The doctor remembered her because his grandfather was a patient whose entire family visited him every day.

“I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you for letting me know.”

“He’ll need to stay here for a while to monitor his progress, but he should be able to go home soon, so you can rest easy.”

“Thank you.”

Liese’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the sleeping Viscount Brennan. She hoped that her grandfather would overcome the infection and be discharged from the hospital as soon as possible.

In the meantime, the house was eerily quiet without him. As the most cheerful and talkative member of the family, he was the rock of the household.

Liese gathered her bag and stood up to leave. Before leaving, she remembered to leave a copy of her grandfather’s favorite novel and a small note of regards on the bedside table.

Her steps out of the hospital were thankfully not heavy with the good news.

“How was your visit with Mr. Brennan?”

As soon as she walked out of the building, Ian came running up to her. He had been waiting outside the hospital so that Liese could spend some time alone with his grandfather.

“Yeah, he’s looking a lot better, and they think he might be discharged soon.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“By the way, you don’t have to follow me every time I come to the hospital, Ian.”

Liese, looking at Ian, who had once again accompanied her today, gave him not a gentle but a pointed remark. He looked crestfallen, lowering his chin and rubbing his forehead.

“Am I bothering you?”

“Not at all. It’s just that you must have your own schedule, and I feel bad for making you come with me every time.”

“I can always adjust my schedule, so it’s fine. Besides, Mr. Brennan seems to enjoy it when I come.”

Rather than saying that her grandfather likes Ian, he’s just happy to help Liese with her luggage and walk her to the carriage. Liese laughed out loud at Ian’s eagerness to return the favor.

They walked down to the square together and sat down at an open-air cafe in front of a fountain. They ate fruit parfaits while watching the splashing, tumbling water and children running around. It was a peaceful afternoon.

“So, Liese, what are you doing this weekend?”

Ian stirred the whipped cream with his spoon and glanced at Liese. She looked away to see a child playing ball and dropping it in the fountain.

“This weekend?”

“Yeah. Actually, it’s my close friend’s birthday, and there’s a party at a nearby bar. They’re all good people, and they’d be happy to have you join. If it’s okay with you, I’ll pick you up when you come and drop you off at home later. How about it?”

The rapid-fire words were obviously rehearsed. Liese blinked, but then realized she was stumped.

“I’d love to come if I had the time, but I actually have something important coming up this weekend. I’m sorry.”

“Well, that can’t be helped…”

Ian’s shoulders sagged. He looked like a dog who’d been excited about a walk but had come home bitterly disappointed by a sudden rain. Then, as if some thought had crossed his mind, he furrowed his eyebrows.

“Are you going to your part-time job on the weekend?”

“Not every time, but sometimes. I have to go when my employer calls, and sometimes my schedule changes.”

“Yeah… you mentioned that.”

Ian nodded, remembering Liese’s words. His disappointment was soon directed at Liese’s nonexistent employer.

“He’s so inconsiderate. He’s supposed to stick to a schedule, but he makes you come and go as he pleases?”

“He’s paying me, so it’s a fair trade.”

“Tch… is everything about money? People should keep their promises, you know, principles.”

Liese forced a bitter smile. Ian rested his chin on his folded arms and glanced up at Liese.

“I can’t wait for summer to be over.”

“Is it too hot?”

“No. Your side job ends when summer ends. Then, when the orchard work is over, we can hang out together. Or maybe we’ll be busy with autumn walks, so winter might be more leisurely. It would be fun if we all wore fur hats and went to a festival together.”

It wasn’t so different from what Charlie had said the day before. Charlie pouted his lips as he chased after Liese, who was busy cutting grass, saying that he couldn’t wait for winter to arrive so that he could play with her since there would be nothing to do once the orchard was overgrown.

Liese grinned, showing her teeth, and her shoulders shook. Ian, who laughed along without understanding the subject, asked, “Why are you laughing?”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because you remind me of Charlie.”

“…I reminded you of your brother, looking at me?”

Ian asked dazedly, half rising to his feet. Liese didn’t notice his mood; her attention was drawn back to the fountain.

“He said something similar recently. He can’t wait for winter to come after summer. He wants to have a snowball fight with me.”

“Your brother is ten years old…?”

“Yes. It’s his birthday soon, and he’ll be eleven then.”

Liese bit into the chocolate confection stuck in her parfait, and Ian was in shock for a while.

As the sunlight grew a little stronger, the clock tower’s bell rang out the hour. The birds that had been perched side by side soared into the sky, flapping their wings. The sun shone brightly on Liese’s face as she lifted her gaze.

“Time flies. I’d better get going and pick up Charlie.”

Liese cleared the table and prepared to leave. Ian pushed his chair out of the way and stood up.

“Stay seated. I’ll go settle the bill.”

“But I already paid.”

Ian asked, his head snapping around in disbelief.

“You already paid? When? Who? You?”

“I paid when you went to wash your hands as soon as we arrived.”

Liese shrugged nonchalantly. Ian’s mouth dropped open.

“It’s rude to let a woman pay.”

“There’s no such thing between friends. Whoever wants to pay pays.”

“…….”

“And I’m the one who owes you more than a few times. Let me treat you with a parfait. If you enjoyed it in this hot weather, I’d be really grateful.”

“When you put it that way, I have nothing to say…”

Ian, feeling awkward, rubbed the back of his neck. It was as if he’d been hit on the back of the head. He didn’t like all the things she projected onto him: ten-year-old, brother, friend.

Oblivious to Ian’s feelings, Liese pulled on her dunce cap and tied a string under her chin. Ian watched her with bitter eyes and narrowed his brow. He could see a dark bruise beneath her sleeve, where her arm had been rolled up.

“Did you fall and hurt yourself?

The marks stood out against her unusually white skin. He’d have to pull the sleeve up further to see, but it was definitely extensive.

As far as Ian knew, Liese hadn’t taken a hard fall or fallen off a ladder. It could have happened in his absence, but in retrospect, he was troubled by her unusual reaction.

She had been squinting and wincing ever since the two of them went looking for a fruit and vegetable store to deliver apples. When he asked her if she was uncomfortable, she would rush away, and when he asked her if she was hot because she was wearing long sleeves and thick fabrics in the hot weather, she would stammer and deflect.

Throughout the day, Liese’s behavior was puzzling, something he wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t been paying attention to her every move. Like a person desperately hiding something that should not be discovered.

“Let’s go, Ian.”

Liese laughed as he tilted his head. Ian followed her out the door, not daring to ask how she’d gotten hurt.

He couldn’t help but wonder if her injury had any connection to the employer who had been summoning her out of the blue.