He thought that if a person lives like such a pushover, they could accumulate such a bad reputation.
Whether she defended herself or others spread bad rumors about her, it seemed like she would have pretended not to know about any of it.
“So, is this good enough?”
“Ah, ah… Yes. But are you really okay with this content? I’m fine with it, but…”
“Yes, I’m satisfied with it as well.”
Bartolin felt guilty.
However, from Serena’s perspective, it was quite a reasonable proposal with almost no unfair content, so there was nothing to modify.
Since Serena, who had been through thick and thin, saw it and thought there was nothing wrong, the other person must be quite conscientious.
Serena highly evaluated Bartolin.
“But didn’t you say you were looking for a workshop?”
“Yes.”
“The Duchess?”
The grounds of the Kelahinum Duchy are so vast, couldn’t she just use one of the warehouses there?
‘Is there really a need to look for another place?’
Or is she trying to purchase a new building under that pretext?
Serena nodded at Bartolin’s words.
“I’m in the middle of divorce proceedings, so I’ll be leaving that mansion soon.”
“Ah…? What??”
Bartolin, who was organizing the documents, ended up doing something rude.
‘Ugh, I made a mistake.’
Serena, who he thought would get very angry, was surprisingly calm.
Normally, people tend to get angry when someone accidentally touches on what they consider to be their weak points.
“I… I’ve committed rudeness. I’m sorry.”
“Fourth…”
“……”
Serena held grudges for a long time.
Bartolin lowered his eyes. With his perfectionist tendencies, he blamed himself.
He couldn’t believe that he was breaking the words he had spoken with his own mouth.
“…I’m sorry.”
Bartolin said dejectedly.
Seeing the dejected Bartolin, Serena smiled slightly.
“…Ah.”
Bartolin’s eyes widened.
It was the most natural and beautiful smile he had ever seen. Even her curving eyes seemed to captivate his gaze.
Thump–
His heart beat loudly.
“The fact that I’m in divorce proceedings is something that most people in high society know, but please keep it a secret for a while.”
“Of course. I won’t carelessly open my mouth about it.”
“Yes.”
Serena answered plainly.
“But then, aren’t you going back to the Marquis family…?”
As famous as Serena, the Duchess of Kelahinum was, Serena, the young lady of the Lavernia Marquis family, was equally famous.
“I’ll be leaving there soon too.”
“Pardon…?”
“I’m going to be expelled. That’s why I needed a steady income.”
Bartolin dared to think that there had never been a day as bewildering as today.
It’s now getting to the point where she seems amazing, talking about such significant matters without even blinking an eye.
“How can that be…”
If she’s no longer going to be a duchess and not even a marquis’s daughter, what will she become?
“If that happens, won’t you become… a commoner?”
“That’s right.”
Serena answered calmly.
For her, it was something she had already prepared for, so there was no reason to be more surprised.
“…Would it be alright if I help you find that workshop?”
“Pardon?”
“There are many empty rooms in this Merchants Association. For now, if you’re in a hurry, how about staying here while we look for a place you need?”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course, we provide all benefits once you’ve joined the association.”
“Hmm…, but I still think it would be better to have a separate place that serves as both a workshop and a home.”
Serena said after pondering for a moment.
“If you tell me your budget and conditions, I’ll look into it and pass on some candidates to you.”
‘…What, how kind…’
Serena was a bit touched.
It was because she couldn’t even imagine someone helping her with this, as it had always been Serena’s role to look into such things.
“What do you think?”
Serena nodded willingly at Bartolin’s attitude, who asked carefully while tilting his head slightly.
Of course, she was more than welcome to the offer.
* * *
“Ms. Serena?”
“Ah, yes.”
Today was the day they were supposed to meet again after checking the samples.
Serena, who had been lost in long thoughts, raised her head at Bartolin’s call.
“I’ve confirmed a few of the effects you mentioned, but some will need to be observed over a longer period.”
“It’s okay to postpone the sale until all of that is done.”
“The divorce approval will come soon, won’t it? I believe there’s less than a month left in the cooling-off period.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
She wondered how time had passed so quickly.
Serena lightly swallowed some warm black tea with a fresh feeling.
“But I heard that the expulsion was canceled…”
“Yes.”
“That, the Marquis with roses and a ring…”
Bartolin carefully brought up the shocking story he had heard.
Serena’s movements stopped abruptly.
“It’s not like that. His Gra–, no, Father is just clumsy and acted strangely.”
Serena said firmly.
Bartolin felt a bit relieved as her expression turned pale white, clearly showing her disgust.
With a slightly brighter face, he continued to speak.
“Then what are you going to do about the workshop you were looking for?”
“Ah, I’m going to do that. I need a workshop anyway…”
For now, she didn’t even dare to enter that mansion.
It was because she didn’t have the confidence to face the servants in the mansion with a straight face.
‘Sigh.’
Who would have thought she’d get caught up in such a happening while living.
‘Who on earth would take that as a request to cancel the expulsion?’
If there was such a person, they must truly be a psychic who could read minds.
“Ah! That’s great. I’ve sorted out some good places here that meet your conditions. How about you take a look and then we can go see the ones you like in person?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
“And… do you happen to have some time in a few days?”
“Time?”
Serena tilted her head at Bartolin’s suggestion.
‘Why is he suddenly asking about time? Is he trying to set up a meeting?’
Since business meetings were happening frequently, Serena nodded after gauging her schedule.
In fact, she had nothing much to do except preparing for the business.
“I think it should be fine.”
“Then… would you go on a date with me that day?”
“Sure… What?”
Serena, who had reflexively nodded thinking it was about a meeting, stupidly asked back.
When she looked up, Bartolin was looking at her with his cheeks flushed.
His earlobes were bright red, clearly showing his nervousness.
Serena was also flustered by this.
“A da…te?”
“Yes.”
“…Uh, you mean a date in the sense of two people of the opposite s*x spending time together because they feel some attraction or to express that attraction?”
Serena spoke bluntly and verbosely in her bewilderment.
“…Yes.”
Bartolin seemed flustered but soon nodded firmly.
‘What is this? Is this some kind of seduction strategy for negotiation?’
Serena, whose romance cells were all dead, thought.
“The contract is now finalized with that. I won’t budge on the ratio anymore.”
“…What? No, that’s not it!”
Bartolin shook his head in bewilderment.
Serena became even more confused by this.
“A date with me?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you want to date someone like me…?”
“Pardon?”
Serena became a bit serious.
She wondered if he might not know about the rumors circulating about her.
“There are many bad rumors about me.”
“Yes, I’ve heard a lot of them.”
He’s heard them?
Once again, Serena was taken aback. She hadn’t even thought he might have heard them.
No, if he’s heard them, that’s even stranger.
Why on earth?
“If you’ve heard them, why… If there’s something you want, just tell me. If it’s something that can be adjusted, I can…”
“That’s not it…!”
Bartolin felt a bit offended that his pure goodwill was being treated as a business tactic.
However, he could tell that she was a very clumsy person.
At least when it came to this kind of emotional exchange.
Bartolin was different from Magnus.
He had never truly liked someone before, but he understood people’s hearts well.
“I just… have a liking for you, Ms. Serena. That’s why I’m doing this.”
Bartolin spoke honestly, even though he thought his words might seem a bit uncool.
“…So, I want to get to know you a little better.”
“Ah.”
Serena was honestly flustered by Bartolin’s words.
Firstly, she never thought someone would have a liking for her, and secondly, the fact that the other person was blushing as if truly embarrassed but still maintaining eye contact.
“So… could you spare a day for me?”
“If you go around with me, you won’t see anything good, you know…?”
“I’ll protect you. Despite how I look, I’m good with a sword.”
Bartolin smiled and lightly touched the pure white scabbard hanging at his waist.
Serena raised her hand in surprise and rubbed the back of her neck. She nodded slightly.
It was her first date invitation in her life.
“…If you’re okay with it, sure.”
Even as she answered like that, Serena thought that Bartolin probably wouldn’t have a very pleasant time spending a day with her.
She thought that even that pure, innocent feeling would soon fade away like the light of an oil lamp running out of fuel.
“Thank you!”
Yet, she didn’t dislike seeing him so happy.
‘Well, if I meet someone, it would be easier for Magnus to meet other women too.’
Magnus is a man too, after all.
Remembering Magnus who had asked her to introduce him to women not long ago, Serena gave a slight smile to Bartolin.
‘I’m glad it was successful…’
Bartolin still tried to calm his pounding heart.
It was also his first time to initiate a date proposal.
‘I should think about where to go.’
Bartolin was, to use a metaphor, a frog that had already left the well, unlike the tadpoles scattered everywhere.
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renrenigot
I love this story. I love that even when she’s exhausted emotionally the world tree is making ways to have her connect with people, and maybe by doing that, she’ll understand or have some emotions again despite the deaths and exploitation she’s experienced from those professors.
I LOVE THIS!! 🥲😍