Chapter 25 – Swindler, Villain, Thug

The next morning, as promised, Damien took Sasha right to Eloise’s house as soon as the sun rose.

“Sasha. Don’t be too uncomfortable with me.”

He spoke calmly in front of the bull statue, just as Eloise had directed.

“I like you. I’ve liked you for a long time. Back then, and now, I’m serious. So this time, please don’t remember it as a joke.”

Sasha hesitated before speaking.

“Damien, I…”

“The marriage talk… Yeah, that was my mistake. I got too excited thinking you were coming to Laurent. My uncle and aunt are like parents to me, so I wanted to show you off. I’ll tell them it was a misunderstanding, so don’t worry.”

Damien quickly cut Sasha off.

“Even if you want to refuse, just think about it for a few more days. After all, when summer ends, I’ll go back to Manolie too. Answer me then, okay? Just until then.”

Sasha couldn’t say anything more in the face of his earnest request. If there was ever a ‘best choice’ for marriage, she might choose Damien. Just as he said, her family liked him too. In the end, she nodded.

“Have a good time with Eloise, Sasha. See you in Manolie later.”

Damien’s back looked drained as he left. Sasha turned away with a heavy heart. For now, there was nothing more she could do for Damien.

* * *

Sasha knocked on the red door of the brick house covered in ivy. A nervous shout came from inside, and the door swung open.

“Who is it!”

Sasha, holding her luggage, was startled by the sharp voice.

“Hello. I’m a friend who came to see Eloise.”

The unfamiliar woman glanced Sasha up and down, then softened a little.

“Are you from Manolie?”

“Yes. If Eloise is inside, could I see her?”

“Come in. That lazy girl is probably sprawled out somewhere sleeping.”

The woman, who introduced herself as Madame Michonnet, led Sasha to the living room.

“Sasha!”

A crash sounded from inside, and Eloise rushed out. The girl who had been cutting tabloid papers at the living room table glanced at Sasha, didn’t seem to like her, and abruptly left the house.

“It’s fine. Come in. When did you arrive? I thought you’d come a few days later. Madame Michonnet, could we use just two teacups?”

At Eloise’s question, Madame Michonnet, arms crossed, chuckled and nodded. Eloise went straight to the kitchen and brewed two cups of tea, then pulled Sasha in with a bright smile.

* * *

“So this is your room.”

Sasha looked around the old, cramped room and murmured. Eloise, embarrassed that she hadn’t tidied up, hurried Sasha to sit on the bed.

“Eloise, who was that girl who left earlier? She seemed to be wearing your clothes.”

While Eloise fetched snacks from the drawer, Sasha asked what she was curious about. The yellow floral dress she’d seen was Eloise’s sixteenth birthday present, a dress she cherished so much that she never even lent it to close friends.

“Rose is my cousin. She really wanted that dress, so I just gave it to her. You saw it, right? My aunt, Madame Michonnet, treats me really well. I felt bad just receiving things, so I gave her that. It’s nothing.”

To Sasha, Madame Michonnet didn’t seem to care much for Eloise. Her questions weren’t answered, but Eloise appeared unwilling to talk further about it.

Instead of pressing, Sasha told Eloise other stories she was curious about: the return of Hawthorn Mansion’s owner, friends who left for vacation in Metz, and meeting Damien in Laurent. Eloise laughed loudly, saying she knew this would happen ever since Damien had chased her to the girls’ school. Eloise’s lively mood made Sasha feel a bit better.

* * *

The softened atmosphere quickly disappeared at dinner. Madame Michonnet demanded double the rent if Sasha stayed in Eloise’s room.

“Sasha will sleep in my room.”

Eloise protested loudly, but Madame Michonnet ignored her.

“It’s different to have two people in one room. You’ll use more water, won’t you?”

“That’s not fair! Last time you said…”

“Eloise, if you have complaints, tell your uncle directly. Should I mention to him tonight that you have something to ask?”

Madame Michonnet snapped, and Eloise retreated. Sasha quickly smiled and interjected.

“It’s alright. I have money. I’ll pay.”

Sasha took out the coin pouch she’d hidden under her luggage. Madame Michonnet, as if she’d expected this, took out ten days’ rent and returned the rest. Rose watched and giggled, stomping her feet.

Seeing Eloise glance at her anxiously, Sasha sighed. Eloise didn’t seem to be doing as well as she’d written in her letter.

* * *

That night, Eloise left Sasha alone and went to the factory. The textile factory where Eloise worked ran nonstop, with two workers alternating day and night shifts.

Sasha, sleeping alone in the unfamiliar house, woke up earlier than usual. Morning in Laurent was chaotic, cold and foggy. Early risers sometimes greeted people returning from late-night work.

From Eloise’s room window, the bull statue in the square was visible. Sitting on the bed, watching people pass by, Sasha suddenly stood up.

‘Eloise?’

Eloise, apparently returning from the factory in work clothes, was being grabbed by a man Sasha had never seen before. Sasha moved closer to the window to listen to their conversation.

“Rose told me everything. You talked back to my wife while I was gone, didn’t you?”

“I’m sorry, Uncle. She suddenly changed her mind about the rent, so I was just surprised. I didn’t mean to talk back.”

Eloise, shoulders hunched, looked like a mouse before a cat.

“Ungrateful country mouse. Do you know how much I lose taking care of you? I even kicked out the boarder who used to stay in your room. All that money is your debt.”

“I have more debt? I’ve given you all my wages from the factory!”

“Your measly wages aren’t enough for rent. With food and water bills, I should charge you double.”

Monsieur Michonnet snorted, and Eloise, despairing, screamed.

“That’s nonsense! You swindler! Villain! Uncle, you’re no better than a thug!”

Eloise shouted, and Monsieur Michonnet’s hand shot up as if to slap her. Sasha, watching, let out a short cry. Surprised, Monsieur Michonnet saw Sasha at the window and quietly lowered his hand. He awkwardly rubbed his hand on his pants, then quickly disappeared into the alley.

Sasha darted outside. Eloise was trembling with shame and fear. The cold, damp morning air brushed her shoulders.

“Eloise. Let’s go back to Manolie.”

Sasha grabbed her arm, urging her to pack and leave, but Eloise pushed her away roughly.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not going back. I’m sick of that country village with just sea and forest. I’ll succeed in the city, no matter what. I told Mom and Dad that.”

Shocked, Sasha stubbornly replied.

“Don’t be stupid, Eloise. Are you really going to stay here? Your uncle tried to hit you!”

“I didn’t get hit!”

Eloise shouted.

“Honestly, you wanted me to get hit, didn’t you? You’re a painter with noble patrons, and I’m just a country girl milking cows. You thought I’d always be like that. But now I came to the city by myself, and you didn’t like it, right? Isn’t that it?”

Eloise’s sarcastic words left Sasha stunned.

“No, I never thought that. In fact, I always thought you were much more amazing than me. All I can do is paint, but you weren’t like that. Eloise, you studied much better than me, and you were grown-up enough to leave for the city alone. That’s why I envied you.”

Sasha could swear she’d never looked down on Eloise. Thoughts from last night, feeling small left behind in the shadows of her grown-up friends, faded away.

“You envied me? Don’t be ridiculous. Sasha Vinoche, all the boys liked you and you painted well, so you must have thought I was silly. If you love Manolie so much, just go back yourself.”

Eloise snapped and shook off Sasha’s hand, running away. Left alone, Sasha stood for a while in front of the bull statue, unsure what to do. People passing by glanced at her.

The trip to Laurent she’d hoped for was ruined. She became awkward with Damien, and fought with Eloise for the first time.

‘What should I do now?’

She didn’t feel like going back to the house without Eloise. Wandering aimlessly around Laurent, Sasha headed for Etienne Forest. She saw the fountain spraying cool water in the distance, and beyond it, the grand hotel. Ladies in fine dresses and gentlemen in coats got out of cars and entered the hotel.

The chimes from the clock tower rang for evening. Sitting on the lawn of Etienne Forest, watching people, time passed quickly. Sasha dusted off her skirt and stood up lightly. First, she had to get Eloise out of that house. Even if Eloise didn’t return to Manolie, she couldn’t let her stay at Madame Michonnet’s. Sasha returned to the house, thinking about how to persuade Eloise.

Eloise hadn’t returned yet. Sasha entered the room alone and was startled by an unexpected sight.

‘Did Eloise throw this in anger?’

Her suitcase was wide open, as if someone had rummaged through it. Sasha carefully checked her belongings. Fortunately, her coin pouch was still with her. The only thing missing from her luggage was… the painting Sasha had brought for Baron Pierre-Auguste.