Chapter 6 – Chester (Part 2)

The main building of the manor was far behind the garden. It was a three-story stone building with wings extending to both sides. The car stopped in front of the main entrance of that building. Two attendants waiting below the steps opened the door.

As the car door opened, the scent of roses wafted in. Evelyn, stepping outside, felt dizzy for a moment. The thick, sweet scent of roses permeated the air. The overwhelmingly sweet fragrance stifled her.

“Welcome, Mr. Clifton. Miss Dale. Welcome to Chester Manor.”

A middle-aged man in a butler’s uniform greeted them. His light brown hair was neatly combed back, and he was tall with a stout build.

“I am Robert Gordon, the butler of this manor.”

With the introduction, he bowed politely. Bryant nodded lightly in response and turned his head towards the garden.

“It’s a beautiful garden.”

“Thank you, Mr. Clifton.”

The unexpected compliment made the butler smile contentedly. Evelyn tried to smile as well.

“The roses were planted four years ago. They say it will take another year or two for them to fully mature.”

“They’re already quite lovely.”

“You’re very kind. The late Duke would have been pleased to hear that.”

At those words, Bryant turned his head. The butler continued speaking with a smile still on his face.

“It was Lord Herald who ordered the creation of this garden. Sadly, he never saw the flowers bloom, but the yellow rose garden has now become a symbol of the Baron’s estate.”

“He must have loved roses very much.”

“I believe he did. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to serve him.”

The butler said, looking at the garden. Evelyn alternated her gaze between the man’s somewhat wistful eyes and Bryant’s gaze fixed on his face.

“You must be tired from the long journey. It would be best to rest a bit before dinner. Please come in. I’ll show you to your rooms.”

The butler spoke kindly and led the way. Bryant naturally approached the lady and offered his arm. Evelyn met his gaze briefly, then responded with a faint smile and accepted the escort. The large entrance of the manor was already wide open.

*

The staff of the manor received the two guests without a hitch. The butler, Gordon, guided the gentleman, while Mrs. Nelson, the head maid, guided the lady to her room. Evelyn was shown to the second floor, and Bryant to the third. She was curious about the location of the Duke’s bedroom, but she didn’t ask. Nor did she express that the master suite she was given was too much.

Mrs. Nelson, who would be attending to her during her stay, organized the guest’s belongings with the help of a maid. Her luggage consisted only of clothes, a few cosmetics, a notebook, and a pen.

After the maid left, Evelyn stood by the window for a long time. She looked at the sky over Chester, slowly being dyed in reddish twilight, and the yellow roses blooming beneath it.

‘The roses were planted four years ago.’

She traced back the time. Four years ago, before the two of them were engaged. More precisely, it was when he was actively courting her.

‘It was Lord Herald who ordered the creation of this garden.’

Despite that, he had asked his brother early on. He couldn’t even wait for the title transfer process to be completed. The woman hadn’t even accepted his proposal yet. Nevertheless, he wanted to plant roses at this estate as soon as possible. As far as Evelyn knew, Jared Glenn wasn’t an impatient man.

So what kind of heart was that?

Evelyn was lost in thought for a long time, standing by the window, until a servant arrived to inform her that it was time for dinner.

Chester Manor was a relatively modern building. It didn’t have the majestic atmosphere that came from deep history, like the townhouses in Maxville or Issen. But that didn’t mean the manor was a modest house. The finest materials and decorations were used without reservation, and the furniture and fixtures were antique. Portraits of the former Lords of Chester, who were also Dukes of Windberg, hung in the corridor on the second floor.

The current Lord of Chester, Jared Glenn, invited the guests to dinner at exactly 7 PM that evening. The dining room, located on the first floor, had a long dining table that could seat 16. The two guests sat in a triangle close to the head of the table, as they had last time. Jared briefly explained the reason for using such a large table, saying he had many people wanting to meet him since it was his first visit to the manor.

“There are many people who wish to see me during my first visit here. I have to entertain several guests, so they brought out the large table. I apologize in advance if I seem inattentive to you over the next few days.”

It was a courteous gesture. Bryant fully understood and assured him it was nothing to worry about. He then praised the city’s vibrancy and the beauty of the manor. Evelyn was anxious that he might mention the garden, but fortunately, the conversation flowed in a different direction.

“Visiting the Artist Village here makes me even more excited.”

“I hope it won’t be disappointing. I’ve arranged for a visit tomorrow, if that’s alright with you.”

“Sounds good. Will you be joining us, Your Grace?”

“I wish I could, but I have other engagements, so I won’t be able to accompany you. Instead, my attendant will guide you.”

“If you keep lending us your attendant, it might be inconvenient for you. I’m concerned it might be causing you trouble.”

“It’s only fitting to provide proper hospitality to esteemed guests. Please don’t worry about it.”

The formal dinner began shortly. Several dishes, including sausages said to be a local specialty of Chester, were served. The wine served as the dinner drink was a fragrant and smooth Mendel Mountain wine.

Conversation continued throughout the meal. Evelyn tried to participate in the conversation as much as possible, but it wasn’t easy. She was afraid of making a slip of the tongue without realizing it, so she kept her mouth shut, feeling increasingly withdrawn.

Thus, the conversation mainly took place between the two men.

“The butler showed me the study, and the desk was quite impressive.”

“You have a keen eye. It’s the desk used by the great writer Sir Walcott Moore. It was originally in the study at Maxville, but my late brother moved it here.”

“No wonder. Sitting there, I felt as though even someone like me could write a masterpiece.”

“Do you write, Mr. Clifton?”

“No, I’m just a pure reader. I leave the immense effort of writing to the authors.”

At that point, Bryant smiled as he glanced at the lady. Jared also turned his gaze to her. It was a natural opportunity for Evelyn to join the conversation.

“Despite his modest words, Mr. Clifton does write.”

She smiled as comfortably as she could at the man at the head of the table. Her eyes met Jared’s, who had been watching her. Through several encounters, she had become accustomed enough that meeting his gaze no longer disturbed her as it once did. It was a good sign.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. He’s quite a sharp critic.”

“I see.”

Even after responding, Jared didn’t take his eyes off Evelyn. He looked at her intently with his low-saturated green eyes. Only after she lowered her gaze did he turn his attention back to the man.

“I didn’t realize you were a critic.”

“Nothing extraordinary. I published a few pieces during my university days, and I still occasionally receive requests. Since I’m in the publishing business, it’s awkward to refuse people I know every time.”

“Interesting.”

“Do you enjoy reading criticism, Your Grace?”

“Not at all. To be honest, I don’t trust critics.”

“……”

“The role of evaluating someone else’s work without having written their own doesn’t seem very credible to me.”

The conversation paused there. Evelyn quietly tensed. She continued cutting her food but lifted her eyes cautiously. Bryant had just taken a sip of wine. After setting the glass down with a smile and leisurely swallowing the wine in his mouth, he looked at Jared again.

“First, I should mention that there are critics who also write their own works. Of course, most critics don’t write poetry or novels, so your point has merit. It’s something that authors secretly complain about. They grumble that if critics wrote themselves, they wouldn’t be so harsh.”

He added a slight chuckle to his last sentence and looked at the lady as if seeking agreement. Evelyn responded with a small smile.

“But precisely because of that, I think critics are necessary. No matter how much effort goes into writing, to evaluate a work objectively, it must be judged solely by the result. Criticism is necessary for the development of writers.”

“Do you believe that art can be objectively evaluated, Mr. Clifton?”

“I think there’s certainly a standard to strive for. While tastes vary, most people agree on certain levels of achievement.”

“Achievement, you say.”

“A place not everyone can reach.”

“……”

“No matter how long and hard they try.”

The conversation halted again. In that peculiar silence, Evelyn felt a strange tension. The two men continued to meet each other’s gaze. Jared said nothing in response. After a brief pause, Bryant continued speaking.

“Effort doesn’t always guarantee reward. Talent plays a role in art.”

His tone was softer than usual. It even sounded kind, as if explaining a simple principle to someone unfamiliar with logic.

“It might sound a bit harsh, but time and effort don’t guarantee everything.”

Jared appeared to be listening attentively. He stopped eating and focused on the speaker. After the speech ended, he continued to gaze steadily at him before slowly nodding and speaking.

“I agree.”

Evelyn now listened to Jared’s words.

“There are many things in the world that don’t go as one wishes. With a bit of luck, temporary efforts might yield short-term results, but there are things that can’t be caught no matter how hard one tries. Overcoming inherent differences in any field is quite challenging.”

Jared spoke with a tone of complete agreement. He looked at Bryant with a serious yet amiable expression. Then, with a slight smile at the corners of his mouth,

“That’s what we call inherent limitations.”

He concluded his remarks with a very friendly expression.

Throughout the conversation, Evelyn kept her senses keenly alert. She tried to read every nuance in the choice of words, emphasis, and points of silence. It seemed as if there was some implication hidden in the men’s words, or perhaps there wasn’t. It might have just been the foolish overinterpretation of a frightened woman.

“You’re absolutely right, Your Grace.”

“I’m glad you agree.”

“I genuinely believe so as well.”

“This conversation is enjoyable.”

“It’s the pleasure of a courteous debate.”

“Were we debating?”

“I think we were.”

Bryant replied lightly with a laugh. Jared looked at his face for a moment, then responded with a gentle smile as well.

“Indeed.”

As he spoke, he nodded. He looked satisfied. So none of the butlers or attendants in the dining room could doubt that the Duke was pleased with this guest.

“You’re absolutely right, Mr. Clifton.”

The host emptied his glass. The guest’s glass was also empty. The butler had to open both bottles of wine they had prepared. Today, everyone thought, the Duke seems to be in an exceptionally good mood.